horses were stolen from the royal courier service. To possess them is to be condemned to death. Impaled."
The peddler's mouth clamped shut. His eyes bulged.
Sanga raised his hand reassuringly.
"Have no fear. We have no interest in your execution. If you serve us well, we may even repay you for the loss of the horses."
Partly, he thought, watching the avarice leap back into the peddler's eyes. Whatever you paid for them. Which, I am quite certain, is much less than what they are worth. I think I am beginning to understand what that—that—fiend—
He took a deep breath.
No. What that fiendish mind has done here.
He glanced to the side. Thirty feet away, his Pathan tracker was holding up one of the horse's legs, examining the hoof. Very carefully.
Sanga turned back to the peddler.
"But now, man, you must tell me—very quickly, very simply, very clearly—how you got the horses."
"He was a Ye-tai," gasped out the peddler. Then, in a sudden rush of words:
"A deserter from the imperial bodyguard, I think. I'm not sure—I didn't ask!—not a Ye-tai—but. I think. I saw part of a uniform. Gold and red. He was on the run, I think. Had nothing but those fine horses, and seemed desperate to get out of Ajmer. So he—he—"
Suddenly, amazingly, the peddler burst into laughter. "Idiot Ye-tai! Stupid barbarian! He had no idea what those horses we're worth—none, I tell
The peddler's mouth clamped shut. His eyes bulged.
Sanga raised his hand reassuringly.
"Have no fear. We have no interest in your execution. If you serve us well, we may even repay you for the loss of the horses."
Partly, he thought, watching the avarice leap back into the peddler's eyes. Whatever you paid for them. Which, I am quite certain, is much less than what they are worth. I think I am beginning to understand what that—that—fiend—
He took a deep breath.
No. What that fiendish mind has done here.
He glanced to the side. Thirty feet away, his Pathan tracker was holding up one of the horse's legs, examining the hoof. Very carefully.
Sanga turned back to the peddler.
"But now, man, you must tell me—very quickly, very simply, very clearly—how you got the horses."
"He was a Ye-tai," gasped out the peddler. Then, in a sudden rush of words:
"A deserter from the imperial bodyguard, I think. I'm not sure—I didn't ask!—not a Ye-tai—but. I think. I saw part of a uniform. Gold and red. He was on the run, I think. Had nothing but those fine horses, and seemed desperate to get out of Ajmer. So he—he—"
Suddenly, amazingly, the peddler burst into laughter. "Idiot Ye-tai! Stupid barbarian! He had no idea what those horses we're worth—none, I tell