Alanna felt that once her true gender was revealed, all those she knew in the palace in Corus would despise her. This was, of course, absurd. Those who hated her for being a woman and lying never truly knew her. Still, she was determined to spend her early years as a knight wandering.
She went south-west first, towards Tyra through the Great Southern Desert. There the Bazhir lived, and though their land had been claimed by Tortall they were not all at peace with the king in the north. Alanna found herself among one of their tribes after a short battle with hillmen.
Among the Bazhir women wear veils, and only men are permitted to take up arms. The tribe that found her, the Bloody Hawk, did not acknowledge the northern king. They were uncertain what to do with a woman warrior, a knight sworn to the kingdom. They decided to let her try the combat. Naturally, she beat her opponent and they made her a man of the tribe.
The shaman at the time was a stupid, hateful man. He tried to kill her outside the laws of his tribe. He died in the effort, using magic he did not have and burning up his life in the process. As such, Alanna, the Woman Who Rides Like a Man, became shaman for the Bloody Hawk tribe. She had to stay with them until she finished training her replacements - two girls of the tribe with the Gift of magic.
She meant only to pass through, and instead became a beloved legend among the Bazhir, leaving two young female shamans in her wake.
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Alanna felt that once her true gender was revealed, all those she knew in the palace in Corus would despise her. This was, of course, absurd. Those who hated her for being a woman and lying never truly knew her. Still, she was determined to spend her early years as a knight wandering.
She went south-west first, towards Tyra through the Great Southern Desert. There the Bazhir lived, and though their land had been claimed by Tortall they were not all at peace with the king in the north. Alanna found herself among one of their tribes after a short battle with hillmen.
Among the Bazhir women wear veils, and only men are permitted to take up arms. The tribe that found her, the Bloody Hawk, did not acknowledge the northern king. They were uncertain what to do with a woman warrior, a knight sworn to the kingdom. They decided to let her try the combat. Naturally, she beat her opponent and they made her a man of the tribe.
The shaman at the time was a stupid, hateful man. He tried to kill her outside the laws of his tribe. He died in the effort, using magic he did not have and burning up his life in the process. As such, Alanna, the Woman Who Rides Like a Man, became shaman for the Bloody Hawk tribe. She had to stay with them until she finished training her replacements - two girls of the tribe with the Gift of magic.
She meant only to pass through, and instead became a beloved legend among the Bazhir, leaving two young female shamans in her wake.