Chapter 28

Fara shook her head. It would be much too painful. They would not have left those valuable tents and equipment unattended. Nothing would be there to see but the sad ghost of a garden and old paths overgrown with weeds. Kedar had left her now to her pensive memories. In a moment he returned with a saddle and bridle. Tossing the saddle across Hagar’s back, he fastened the girths; then turning to give Fara a candid head-to-foot survey, he adjusted the stirrup straps, mumbling, ‘It seems to me your legs aren’t much longer than when you left. A little, maybe…There you are! Up you go…She’s got a tender mouth—or pretends she has,’ still gripping the reins close against the filly’s chin. ‘Let her show you how she can pace. She’s very proud of it. She makes believe she is scared of anything white, just like her Aunt Saidi…That mare was an awful liar!’ he added, as he opened the paddock gate and released his hold on the reins. Fara gathered them up, gently but firmly, with practised hands and Hagar made off at a mincing rack. She was as beautiful as the legendary woman whose name she bore, and as vain as a peacock.

Fara laughed merrily and waved a hand to old Kedar, who stood beaming. How good it was to feel and watch again the ripple of a horse’s muscles! It had been so long! And Zendi had planned for her to have this incomparable filly! It was very confusing. Zendi was her friend, after all. Perhaps his conduct last night could be explained: it certainly needed an explanation!

‘Come out of it, Hagar!’ called Fara, digging her heels into the filly’s ribs. Hagar tossed her head and broke into an easy lope… It was an intoxicating sensation! The early-morning breeze tousled Fara’s hair. She was ecstatic. In spite of her decision not to visit the site of her old home, she found herself on the familiar trail.

As she had anticipated, nothing remained but the sturdily built paddocks. In the one nearest the vacant area where the tents had stood, a beautiful black horse was tied. His saddle-blanket bore the Arabian royal insignia. Dismounting at a little distance, Fara tied the filly and strolled to the dilapidated garden. On the weather-beaten rustic bench, where she had so often sat beside her mother during those anxious days of her illness, King Zendi smilingly watched her approach. She paused for a moment, slowly proceeded to the bench, and sat down beside him. He took her hand.

‘I have been waiting for you, dear child,’ he said, gently.

‘What made you think I might come?’ she asked.

‘I surmised you might be up early. You would want to talk to old Kedar, everyone else being unfriendly. You knew you could count on Kedar. He didn’t tell you I was here?’

She shook her head.

‘That’s good,’ said Zendi. ‘I told him not to tell you. You might not have come had you known. I hurt you badly last night.’

Fara made no comment. Tears stood in her eyes.