t was market day at Beltavia Keep by the time we arrived, after days of hard riding on creatures called 'horses'. These beasts, raised by the Beltavians, were slower than a shandix, but able to carry more; weaker than a tembu but also more agile, striking a happy medium between the two species but also possessing a plethora of anti-social habits. The ill-tempered beast that I was given (Dhalooth and I travelled in the company of 'hetmen', evidently an elite cavalry force) took a sadistic delight from stepping on toes and then feigning ignorance. Useful creatures they may well be, but I was not sorry to see the back of this one.

So imagine my joy at arriving at Beltavia Keep (with its strange onion-domed towers) to discover that horse-breeders from all over the Outer Anhui region had gathered to sell their biting, foot-crushing herds. Dhalooth, as usual, found my plight endlessly amusing. But he would. The horse he was given was a placid one.

Horses aside, I found the Beltavians pleasant company. The leader of the hetmen was one Vorsev who spoke a little Low Imperial with a strong Vaartan accent. He told me some stories from 'the old country', which he seemed to be deeply sentimental about despite having been born and raised in Beltavia, and despite his ancestors having been driven from the country by the threat of a slow and painful death at the hands of religious persecutors. The stories he told, of people freezing to death, or being lost in the endless forests and getting killed by wild man-beasts, or being cursed with endless bad luck did little to inspire me to want to visit, and the clear but deadly liquor that Vorsev produced (that made jinka rum seem like fruit juice) nearly blew my head off and reduced our hosts to blubbering wrecks singing maudlin songs about the Mother Country. Nevertheless, the hetmen took such pleasure from their misery that I couldn't help but feel a kindred spirit.

I would have liked to explore the market more than I did (as you will see, circumstance cut my visit short). The denizens were mostly of Vaartan origin and I found many insights into their culture (even if exile had diluted it somewhat). I was toying with the idea of buying an ornate samovar as a gift for Ma and Pa when I bumped, literally, into Mei-Juin.

We both took a brief moment of surprise before tensing slightly to be ready for whatever the other did. I was aware that we were strangers in a strange land, and I wasn't sure how much authority my Agency would give me here. I hadn't seen any sign of a League presence so far and I didn't want to push things with the locals if I could help it.

"Doing some shopping, Rishta?" she asked calmly.

"Just out for a stroll," I replied. I grinned, but without a humour behind it. "Perhaps you'd care to join me? All the way back to Llaza."

She wrinkled her nose. "I'll give it a miss, thanks. It's not on my route." She turned and began to walk away. I moved up behind and gently took hold of her elbow. That got me a disdainful look. "That's not wise Vallans."

"I'll take the chance." I didn't let go. Instead I steered her towards where I'd left the hetmen, keeping alert for any sudden moves on her part. "So, where are you headed if not Llaza?" All I got in reply to that was a smile. Well, it could wait. What I needed to do right now was to get her bound. The hetmen had rope, or maybe a set of reins would do the trick. Having chased Mei-Juin all the way from Corbasal I wanted to make sure she stayed put this time. I was too busy expecting an attack against me that what she did next caught me by surprise.

Vorsev and his men had camped near one of the makeshift paddocks set up for the stockmen, and were admiring a herd of horses. As we approached, Mei-Juin lashed out with her foot and with a well-aimed piercing-strike kicked open one of the gates (that wasn't a Butterfly move). As I made to grab her she yelled out and the corralled horses made a bid for freedom. She swung a back-handed knife-hand strike at me and whilst I evaded she grabbed a passing horse and swung up onto the back of it. Twice now herd animals had foiled me in my attempts to apprehend her. I was going to have some very strong words with the Nai-hempashu of these creatures next time I was in temple.

For now, though, we had other worries. Dhalooth ran over and directed my attention to the market. The freed horses were running amok, and so were the people in panic.

"Get after her, Rishta," the little guy yelled. "I'll handle the stampede."

I raced to my horse, muttering some words to Vorsev about returning it soon. Dhalooth called out that he would catch up, leapt into his saddle and spurred his horse towards the herd. I wheeled and a raced after Mei-Juin. She wasn't getting away this time.

Excerpt from Dhalooth's personal writings.
Rishta cocked things up - again. Mei-Juin was escaping, horses stampeding. Sent him after Mei-Juin, could do less damage that way, plus thought chasing women was more in his line (ha ha).

Stopping stampede simple matter, assuming typical herd behaviour from horses. Probable, since looked like large stallion leading stampede. Rode to edge of herd, jumped onto back of nearest horse, made way towards him from horse to horse (not hard for matoo jockey but looks impressive!).

Made it to leader, luckily too busy running to try to throw me off. Had grip with all fours anyway, would have like to see him try. Hoped that Pas at meridians in horse were similar to human (are close in most four-limbed creatures). Applied soothing techniques (wanted to slow him, not stop dead - would have got trampled!). Seemed to work. Herd slowed, came to walking pace. Beltavians came to round up horses and congratulate me. Got given some sort of sausage - nice, but am vegetarian. Will give to Rishta when I see him next.

No time for thanks, set off after Rishta before he managed to mess anything else up.