The Women and the Warlords [antikvár]

CHAPTER ONE Name: Yen Olass Ampadara Birthplace: Monogail Occupation: oracle Status: slave Description: heavy-built female of Skanagool race, age 30, hair black, eyes slate, height 11 qua, diamond tattoo on left inner thigh Residence: room 7, height 3 of tooth 44, Moon Stallion Strait, Eastern Quadrant, Gendormargensis It was Third Foal of Seventh Cohort in the year Khmar 18, and the season, of course, was snow. Yen Olass knew the date, but, with no sun, moon or starsign to guide her judgment, she could only guess at the time. A howling gale was blowing; the mouth of the cave offered only a prospect of indeterminate grey sky and gaunt black trees thrashing in the wind. Though it was certainly late in the day, she thought she could still get back to the hunting lodge at Brantzyn. If she ran out of daylight, she would just have to find her way in the dark. But before setting out, she had a little problem to sort out. The problem had four legs, a mouth like cast iron, and a definite will of its own. 'Come on, Snut,' said Yen Olass impatiently, slapping the problem. 'Ease up!' But her pony obstinately held his breath, refusing to let her tighten the saddle girth. 'Infidel!' she said, punching him in the flank.