To Battle The Gods

9 Healing—and an unexpected journey

I awoke in darkness to find not even Aysayn close beside me, still gripped in the upset of the nightmare which had robbed me of even the escape of sleep. I turned to my right side in the overwarmth of the furs, then resolutely brought my knees up so that I might reach the leather which held my ankles. A moment saw my ankles freed, and I put an arm out into the cool of the darkness, immeasurably relieved to regain that small sensation of freedom. Dreams, I knew, were very often sent by the gods, and the one I had just had, surely had been a sending of the dark god.

I turned to my back then with a sigh, seeing again against the darkness of the forest, the happenings which had occurred in my sleep. How strange it is that when within a dream, one rarely has knowledge that the doing is a dream. Rather does it seem that one walks another land, similar to one’s own land yet in some odd manner different. The land I had discovered about me had been the forest, yet an indistinct forest peopled with those more solid and real than it. I sat upon a lenga fur in the midst of that forest, leather about my ankles, neither breech nor weapons within sight or reach. Aysayn walked before me, then, and crouched to send me a look of amusement.

“Now that you are healed, sister, I have come to give the punishment I promised,” he said, locking his fingers between his knees. “You brought me uncalled for humiliation, and now I shall do the same for you.”

“You may not,” I had replied, striving to show naught of the upset I felt. “I am unarmed, and also am I bound. First free me, and give me my weapons.”

“No need,” said Mehrayn, who sat, I then saw, close upon my right. “My brother was not permitted the use of weapons, therefore neither shall you be.

“Nor shall you be unbound, save with our permission,” said Ceralt, as near to me upon the left, beyond my bent legs. “No wench may be unbound, save through the permission of men. ”

“You will use me unwillingly, then,” I had said to Aysayn, of a sudden greatly aware of how large the male was. Wide were his shoulders and deep his chest, full muscled the arms which rested upon his thighs. Large also was his manhood and greatly demanding, more than sufficient to bring mindlessness to a warrior. Great pleasure had he given me the time he had used me, yet had I no wish just then for pleasure from him.

“They will not permit me to use you,” said Aysayn with a glance of amusement for both Mehrayn and Ceralt. “No more am I permitted than to punish you, a punishment which they prescribe and approve of. There are matters in which you may not disobey them, woman, for they will not allow it. ”

“You must learn to be considerate of others, Jalav, else shall you be punished,” said Ceralt, a lock of his dark hair reaching for his eyes.

“Should this occur again, it is we who shall punish you,” said Mehrayn, his green eyes unrelenting. “We as well as the one you wrong.”

“My punishment must be use,” I had said to Aysayn, abruptly feeling a great desire for him. “I find much pleasure in use.”

“Too much pleasure,” said Aysayn with a shake of his head. “Punishment is not meant to bring pleasure. The punishment of men is meant to be more difficult to bear than the punishment of the gods, for a wench must learn to respect men as she does not respect the gods. They are far closer to her, and may do far more. We shall now begin.”

“No,” I had denied and began to turn from him, yet the leather upon me would not let me rise. Wide hands took my arms, the hands of Aysayn, his strength denying me escape. Though I struggled as I could I was taken across the thighs of the now-seated male, and then was I struck hard with his open hand. Again and again was I struck so, punished as though I were a child, given what Ceralt and Mehrayn had so often given me, with their full permission. Rather than feeling rage, tears quickly came to my eyes, and I looked over toward the two males who watched as Aysayn continued to strike me with strength. In place of the satisfaction I had expected to see, a great disturbance held the males, one which shifted them in place and brought strangeness to their eyes. Ceralt ran a broad hand through his dark hair, and Mehrayn sat with wide fist clenched, and both suddenly looked up to see the tears running down my cheeks. Abruptly I knew I had only to speak to have them halt the punishment, to have them jump to their feet and demand that Aysayn cease. I loathed that punishment more than the pain of a wound, more than the feel of a lash, yet did I know as well that were I to call upon them, they would halt Aysayn and then turn to face one another. Greater was the flow of tears, then, from the punishment Aysayn gave and the longing deep within me, yet was I unable to allow the words they awaited to pass my lips. Sobbing then took me, of a strength so great that I awakened to the dark of the true forest, unable at first to loosen the hold of desolation upon me. When the silent sobbing at last ended, I had turned to my side and removed the leather, then had I put myself to my back. I knew not what meaning such a dream might have, no more than the clear truth that I must not allow Ceralt and Mehrayn to face one another. No other thought occurred to me, nor did I seek others.

When the males discovered that I was awake, a meat broth was brought me and also more falum. The hollow within had again grown vocal, and this time was all the falum finished and the broth as well. After I had eaten my fill the warmed salve was again applied, the furs were tucked about me, and I was commanded to sleep. None of the males had attempted converse with me, a lack I had been grateful for. Sunk in the pall of the dream I had not refused the commands they gave and, unbound, again found the release of sleep.

The following fey was worse in that much of my strength seemed to have returned, yet was I denied permission to leave the furs. With first light was I given falum, a thick stew, when the light was highest and nilno when darkness came; between those times were there words of discord and shouting, commands and refusals, struggles and frustration. It was not my intention to obey Mehrayn and Ceralt, nor did I; obedience was forced upon me despite my objections, the strength of the two males too great to overcome. Aysayn did no more than observe their doings with soft laughter and deep amusement, most especially when they held the cover fur down upon me with the weight of their bodies and stroked my hair in an effort to calm my shouting and attempts at struggle. The salve must be kept warm, they continued to maintain, and that till my strength for struggle was gone.

That darkness brought a sleep I had not found for all of the fey, yet was I again awake before it was completely over. The new light would not be long in coming, I knew as I sat upon the pelt, for a moment putting my face in my hands. Ceralt and Mehrayn slept not far distant from where I sat, the dark shapes of their bodies at peace in the darkness which surrounded them, therefore was it necessary that I move with as little sound as possible. I slid from under the hated cover, crawled to the end of the pelt, then at last raised myself to my feet.

Much did it seem as though kalod had passed since last I had stood without pain and without difficulty. A stiffness was upon me by cause of the length of time I had been forced to lie unmoving in the furs, yet had the salve indeed healed nearly all of me, and the provender I had swallowed returned my strength. I stepped from pelt to grass with the silence of a Midanna, delighting in the cool of the darkness as it caressed my flesh, moving toward the still-burning fire and a step or two beyond it before stretching my body all about to remove what aches remained. Soon would the new light make its appearance, and then would I begin the return journey to Bellinard.

“They will be annoyed with you for having left your furs,” came a soft voice out of the darkness, from where I knew it would come. “Has the pain gone from you entirely, then?”

“As far as it shall till I have again accustomed myself to moving about,” I replied, turning to look upon Aysayn. The male stood his watch of the darkness, a watch earlier shared by Ceralt and Mehrayn.

“You mean to depart before they have awakened,” said Aysayn, no questioning in his tone. “You would do such a thing to them when they have toiled so tirelessly to return your health?”

He looked down upon me with sobriety in the depths of his eyes, the flicker of the fire playing across his face. In what manner was I to answer his query, when the only answer lay in discussing the most recent dream visited upon me? In that dream had Ceralt and Mehrayn again been to either side of me, yet not above and upon the covering fur. Without body cloth and breech were the two, beneath the cover and so close about me that there seemed insufficient air to breathe, and then did Mehrayn take me in his arms and press his lips to mine. Ah, Mida! So long had it been since last I called out to the goddess in my heart, yet the feel of those arms about me, the hard strength of his body pressed to mine, the demand and warmth of his lips! Willingly did I give the kiss which was taken, and then was I released so that Ceralt might then pull me to him. He lay upon his back and held me to his chest, and when his lips touched mine I nearly moaned with the pleasure of it. So long a time and so little had I had of him, and so great had my need grown.

So wildly whirling were my thoughts that at first I was unaware of the hands which took my thighs and raised me to my knees. Then did I know I was being entered and I moved in unbearable pleasure, seeking to welcome the presence within, seeking to voice a sound of ecstasy. Ceralt chuckled and his fist came to my hair, and then my lips were again his, to be released only when he willed it. Mehrayn thrust as ever he did, deeply and with strength, my hands and lips held to Ceralt with a kind of abandon, and never had I felt such overwhelming pleasure and release.

When Mehrayn had taken what use he wished, I was released by Ceralt so that I might lie upon the fur and again be held by Mehrayn. His use had brought me so great a pleasure that his arms about me and his lips to mine turned my soul to glowing, and then was I aware of another who sought me. In Mehrayn’s place had Ceralt now come, returning the demands of my body and immediately beginning to see to them. I moaned and moved in the arms which held me, striving to communicate the inexpressible heights to which I was being carried, and Mehrayn chuckled as Ceralt had, then happily continued the touching of lips. When a hand came to my breast I knew not whose hand it was, nor did I care; when I awoke to find myself entirely unheld, the moisture flowing freely from me, surely did I know from whom the dream had come. Never would the two males I desired above all others allow another to touch what was theirs. Never would either of them be yours, had said Mida, and in that instance had she spoken naught save the truth.

“I may do no other thing than depart before they have awakened,” I replied in what was nearly a whisper turning my face from the male who regarded me. “I have chosen another, and may not dally with these.”

“The wounds of your body have been healed, yet the wounds of your soul remain,” said he, gently touching my shoulder, his voice soft. “Is there no other solution to this thing, except lies and a rejection of them both? Would not the presence of one be better than neither?”

“The presence of the one who survives their meeting?” I asked, looking again upon him to see the pain and desperation he shared. “Should I choose one over the other, you believe the one not chosen will simply turn and walk from here? I have known males a shorter time than you, brother. Is this likely to occur?”

Silence held him briefly, a silence which the darkness sounds of the forest strove to overcome, and then his head shook slowly from side to side.

“No, there is little likelihood of such a thing occurring,” he allowed with defeat heavy upon him. “Under no circumstances would Mehrayn turn and walk from you, nor, I believe, would Ceralt. Should you not choose one, they will face one another; should you indeed choose one, they will still face one another. Is there naught to be done to free us all from this madness?”

“What more might be done than to choose one above them both?” I asked, searching anxiously the eyes which held to me. “You, I know, disbelieved there was another; did they also disbelieve?”

“No, their belief was complete enough,” he denied with a frown, rubbing one arm with a hand. “Also was their anger complete, that another would dare to step in the place which belonged to one of them. What will occur after the battle, when such a one must be produced?”

“First must battle be faced and survived,” I put him off, thinking of the time of rest I had been promised. “Riding off unnoticed may be done more than once. You have my weapons and breech?”

“And your kan as well, as you may have seen,” he said with a nod touched faintly with distraction. “Surely was it Sigurr’s will that it survived the forest alone till we found it, therefore did we take it with us when we returned. You will ride directly to Bellinard?”

“Indeed,” said I with a nod, reaching my hair to me so that I might unplait it. “There are those awaiting my return, and the strangers . . . .”

“Have taken this long, therefore shall they take a bit longer,” said another voice, bringing Aysayn’s head up and me about in surprise. Both Mehrayn and Ceralt appeared out of the dark into the circle of light by the fire, and it had been Mehrayn who had spoken. “There is another thing which first must be seen to, before you may return to Bellinard,” he said.

“A thing of great importance,” agreed Ceralt, his gaze as unwavering as Mehrayn’s. “You feel no doubt as to your ability to ride?”

“My ability to ride is as it ever was,” I replied, disliking the look the two bent upon me. “Also nothing is important enough to keep me from Bellinard.”

“There is one to the west who must first be visited,” said Mehrayn, gently stretching the muscles of his right shoulder as he looked about at the dawn sky. “Should we find him unwilling to renounce his place as your chosen, he may have his own choice as to which of us he will face. The results of that choice will make little difference, I think.”

“And then we may return to the farther Bellinard,” said Ceralt, fingers to his hips as he also looked about. “With none to distract you from a proper choice. What name is this man of yours called by?”

I looked upon the two with great consternation, a soft hiss of vexation to be heard from Aysayn, who stood behind me. Never had I thought Mehrayn and Ceralt would attempt to seek out the one I had put forward as chosen; S’Heernoh’s apprehension upon the point had clearly been correct. These two large, wide, well-muscled males would challenge any they believed about to usurp their place, an arrogance I would not have credited before I had come to know what I then did of males. They had agreed to allow me my choice, yet was that choice to be made solely at their direction and only in accordance with their will and desires. When I had spoken my choice, then would they see to curtailing it yet further.

“Jalav is interested only in the city of Bellinard,” said I to the two, with controlled fury. “It is to the city she shall ride, not toward the settlement called the same, for a journey to the west would be an undertaking for fools. Perhaps such is to be expected of males, yet Jalav remains Midanna. Now would I have my breech and weapons, Aysayn. ”

I had turned toward the third of the males, noting the manner in which he sought to conceal his vexation over the journey the others had proposed, yet was he given no opportunity for reply to my request.

“You will be given what we permit you to be given, wench,” said Ceralt, something of annoyance to be heard in his voice. “Previously when Jalav was Jalav there was naught to be done with her, yet shall that state of affairs no longer continue. You will ride with us, where we direct you to ride, and will obey what commands you are given. This is a matter between men, and your willfulness shall not be permitted to interfere.”

“All females must obey in such a circumstance,” said Mehrayn as I turned quickly back in fury toward Ceralt. “The rights of a man may not be denied, and among those rights is the one allowing him the woman of his desire, the woman he will fight to possess and keep. Not even the woman may deny him this, for he is larger and stronger than she and may take her despite her protests. Should another man attempt to deny him, that other must face him with weapons or withdraw his claim. What is the name of the man who accepted your choosing?”

Both had now again regarded me, heedless of my obvious fury. That they would look upon me as a city slave-woman, theirs for the taking, was so greatly enraging that surely did my hand reach for the hilt of the sword not yet returned to me. Had the sword been there, there would likely have been others of our set unable to ride; the males saw the empty reaching gesture, and knew it for what it was.

“You feel insult at being told how desirable you appear in the eyes of men,” observed Mehryan, with sobriety. “Did you believe, warrior, that men would find praise for no more than your weapon skill? Have none sought to possess you before this, that you would fall to anger upon being told of our intentions?”

“Intentions which we shall no longer allow to go unspoken,” said Ceralt, folding wide arms across broad chest. “Presenting our suits in the courteous manner did no more than allow you the belief that you might choose another before us, a belief that we would abide by such a decision. You hold the hearts and souls of two men already, wench; to permit the growth of such a collection would be absurd. We will first face this man you have chosen, and then we will return to the city. You have been asked to speak his name to us; now you must do so.”

I looked first upon Ceralt and then Mehrayn, then did I turn my back upon both, to stand with arms afold and continuing fury in my silence. It mattered not that I had no notion of what the slave-male’s name might be; even had I known it, I would not have shared that knowledge as had been demanded. Jalav was free, and a war leader to Midanna, and no male might make demands upon her. This the two behind me would learn, when they found I would not ride with them. It was Bellinard I had come from, and to Bellinard would I return.

“Perhaps it would be best to leave this seeking out of her chosen till after battle with the strangers is done,” said Aysayn to the males he rode with, a faint coaxing to be heard in the words. “The girl is barely recovered from the hurt she was given, and cannot be expected to consider your proposals with an unconcerned mind. Should she be left to her own devices for a short while longer, likely she will find that the one she has chosen no longer holds interest for her, and therefore may be put from our minds.”

“Yet scarcely is it likely that he will put the wench from his own mind, brother,” said Mehrayn with faint reproof. “And would you have us sneak about behind the back of one who considers her his, as though it were our intent to steal what belonged to another? This we cannot and shall not do; therefore must we go and face him. You, of course, may return to the city, should it be your wish to do so.”

“No, brother, I shall not return to the city alone,” said Aysayn with a sigh, realizing fully the futility of his attempt. “As this was begun together, so shall it end. Best we now break our fast, so that we may ride with the new light.”

The skies about us had already begun to lighten very faintly, showing that the birth of a new fey was not many reckid away. The damp of the grass beneath my feet was now more of an annoyance than a freedom, and intensely did I wish there was one I might question concerning the foolishness a warrior was prone to when among males. To believe it might be possible to live with them without strife was witless, yet had I seriously and bitterly resented my not being allowed my choice among them. For what reason would any warrior not bereft wish to choose among them? What was there for her to choose, save commands unending and unreasoning adherence to thoughtless ritual? That males found great pleasure in looking upon Jalav was already known to me; that they found considerably less of pleasure in her doings must again be made known to them.

I stood unmoving as the fire was coaxed higher and the males began to bustle about it, then did I begin, without undue fanfare, to take myself slowly toward the still-darkened forests. To survive the forests unarmed was no simple matter, yet would I be unarmed only till I was able to fashion a spear, and then would the danger be behind me. I would return quickly to Bellinard, and then would I . . .

“Where do you think you go, wench?” asked the voice of Ceralt as he abruptly stepped in my path. “One who is unarmed may not wander about as she pleases.”

I attempted to move about the male to the right, but he moved as I did, blocking my path, and the anger which had not yet cooled flared again within me. With something of deliberation I reached my left hand out toward his side, hand up and palm forward, not quite touching the ribs there. With curiosity did the male look down understanding naught of my purpose till the heel of my hand caught him hard in the ribs. Ceralt grunted with the force of the blow and doubled over, soon to be upon the ground rather than in the path of a Midanna, and I quickly began to step about him, to reach the screening of the forests before he might recover himself. It had pleased me to do him as I had not been able to during my time of capture to him, yet my pleasure was short in duration; before half a step had been taken, two wide arms circled me from behind and I was borne to the ground just before where Ceralt had knelt.

“Are you bereft, that you would merely stand uncaring before her attack?” demanded Mehrayn of Ceralt, his words somewhat shortened as he fought to keep me beneath him despite my struggles. “Had she reached the deeper forest, we would have been a considerable time finding her again.”

“I had not—expected attack,” returned Ceralt with effort, seating himself upon the grass so that he might look down upon me where I lay beneath the bulk of Mehrayn, my cheek and body to the damp of the grass, striving uselessly against the strength of the male who held me. “When last we were together, she knew naught of this—outrageousness. How did it come about that she was permitted to learn it?”

“Chaldrin is a master of the art, and is able to deny her nothing,” said Mehrayn with something like disgust, taking my wrists behind me as he continued to hold me flat with his body. “It was of great concern to him that she learn to defend herself without weapons, likely forgetting that attack is the far side of the coin of defense. To believe this one would refrain from attack, is to believe that the forests may be ridden without peril.”

“Indeed,” said Ceralt with a nod, leaning down to me with one hand still pressed to his side, anger in the eyes it was becoming increasingly less difficult to see. “Perhaps a short lesson in the advisability of refraining from attack would now be in order. Merely as an assistance to whichever of us ultimately possess her, of course.”

“Sooner shall this Midanna choose the endless dark than one of you,” I said amid the panting of struggles, meeting the gaze which looked down upon me. “By all the Midanna who have gone before me do I swear this! Beat me as those others did, and still shall it avail you naught! I shall not choose between you!”

Ceralt’s eyes glanced upward to where Mehrayn knelt across me, likely receiving a similar glance from the second male, no words immediately spoken in response to mine. Mehrayn continued to hold my wrists so that I might not free them, yet did one of his hands come to smooth my hair.

“The wench speaks now from anger,” said he to Ceralt, who seemed somehow touched with greater pain than that brought by the blow I had given him. “In time will she come to know the depth of the need which holds us, the need which we cannot deny. When anger is gone the need will be hers as well, and then shall she accept what must be done. For now we had best be quickly upon our way.”

With a nod filled with weariness Ceralt raised himself from the grass, and then was I, too, pulled to my feet. I immediately attempted to kick my way free of Mehrayn, yet this the male would not allow. His knowledge of the battle method was not as full as Chaldrin’s, yet was he knowledgeable enough to keep himself from harm. When I attempted to refuse being returned to the fire, Ceralt, in annoyance, assisted him by striking me with the flat of his hand behind, much as though I were a kan he wished in motion. The sting of the blow caused me to stumble forward, and once before the fire I was thrown to the grass at the feet of Aysayn.

“You will remain there till we have had our provender and are prepared to depart,” said Mehrayn as I turned to look furiously up at him. “Should you make another attempt to take yourself off, you will be bound in leather and then given the punishment you have earned by Ceralt. Had you not willfully chosen another before the two who desire you, this journey would not now be necessary, therefore shall you remain silent and obedient. I will not speak of this to you again.”

The green gaze held to me for a brief moment, and then did the male turn with Ceralt to the packs which Aysayn had brought from another part of the camp. I growled low in my throat and began to rise again to my feet, yet the hand of Aysayn came to my shoulder as he crouched at my side.

“They are now alert and you would not escape them,” said Aysayn very softly in warning, his hand hard upon my shoulder. “Wait till their eyes are no longer upon you—and without the additional difficulty of being bound. Once you have gone they will surely turn back, and then we may all return to Bellinard.”

“Should they show themselves again in the city, I will give them both to the Harra!” I snarled as I pulled my shoulder free of Aysayn’s grip, my fury difficult to contain. “Some time has it been since the Harra held male slaves, yet will they want to resume the practice. Had I had the wit of a lellin, surely would I have seen the thing done much the sooner. ”

“Such a doing would solve your problem without doubt,” said Aysayn with a chuckle of great amusement, resting arms upon thighs. “There would, however, be an even greater problem for you if they were to win free of their captivity. Best we think upon this together, and find a solution which will settle the problem in a more peaceful manner. We will find battle aplenty when the strangers honor us with their presence.”

“Should we survive to a great enough age to see the thing,” I muttered in response, settling myself cross-legged upon the grass. The words Chaldrin had spoken now grew within me, raising doubts I had not earlier felt. What would occur if the strangers did indeed take kalod to appear? Were warriors to sit forever in and about a city, awaiting those who would some fey come? The Sigurri warriors they now waited beside were large and strong and eager to find pleasure with the Midanna who greeted them; how soon before none save the war leaders of my warriors were fit to take sword in hand? Never before had Midanna had males in such numbers available to them; how soon before the clans were blessed—and my fighting force undone?

“In some manner do I believe that their arrival is soon to be,” said Aysayn soberly. “Our warriors shall have the time to do no more than taste of one another before the time for battle arrives, and perhaps such is for the best. Too long have ours found it necessary to go without wenches of their own, and a man with a woman beside him often finds interest in things other than battle. We shall see to the strangers—and then shall we see to what problems remain. What will you have to heal your hunger?”

“I have no hunger to heal,” I replied. Those who led warriors seemed ever possessed of difficulties and problems, no matter whether the warriors were male or female. Had it been possible, surely would I have chosen to carry immediate battle to the strangers and thereby be done with the thing.

The males fed upon provender prepared the previous fey, and then did they rise to break camp. I remained upon the grass in the growing light, lost in thoughts of my own, till I became aware of Ceralt and Mehrayn standing above me. I raised my eyes to them with little pleasure, and saw that Ceralt held my breech.

“Woods nymphs are wise to cover themselves in the presence of men,” said Mehrayn, his eyes taking me in in a thoughtful manner. “Should they fail to do so, they quickly find themselves put to use.”

Mehrayn stood in black body cloth and swordbelt, Ceralt in breech and swordbelt, and truly did the two look upon me as though they contemplated my use. I made a sound of derision as I rose to my feet, then moved forward till I stood directly before the Sigurri.

“First would it be necessary to decide in what order that use was to be taken,” I said, looking up into green pools of calm. “Also would it be necessary to agree that more than one was to be allowed that use. Surely shall Jalav be well beyond an age for use before two fools of males are able to find such agreement. Long before then shall I likely find the need to take Aysayn for use.”

I turned then from Mehrayn and took my breech from the unresisting hands of Ceralt, who looked toward Sigurr’s Sword with an expression nearly indescribable. Perhaps vexed bewilderment was a description which was best, as though the male saw the truth in my words yet saw no manner of altering it. Without interest I walked from them both, then donned my breech the while Aysayn strove valiantly to hide his laughter.

When at last we all were mounted and the kand were turned in a westerly direction, Aysayn was no longer amused. That my weapons would be kept by the males had been clear to both of us, yet had we not expected that the reins of my kan would also be denied me. Mehrayn led my kan behind his own, leaving me naught to do save retain my seat with my knees and silently curse all males. Softly did Aysayn speak of the possibility of my later slipping off the kan and away into the forest, yet was he as aware as I of the presence of Ceralt’s eyes upon me from the left. First was it necessary that the male look away, and only then would I find it possible to do what must be done.

The light had not yet reached its highest when we came to what I had not expected: the end of the forests and the beginning of a high-grassed plain. The trees had not thinned sufficiently to give warning of such a thing, and the males made no attempt to halt before leaving the forests behind.

“The second Bellinard is now not far ahead,” said Ceralt, gesturing in the direction in which we rode. “The wood for their settlement was brought from here to there, and when the settlers strove to erect its walls and houses, hunters from the first Bellinard assisted by keeping them provisioned. It has been some time since last I visited here.”

“And how far beyond the settlement does the city of her man lie?” asked Mehrayn, his gaze fixed ahead. “You have knowledge, you said, of the lands to the west.”

“Some small knowledge,” Ceralt agreed. “Less than five feyd beyond the settlement is a city I have never visited, merely have I heard of it from those who have caught sight of it. Surely is it there that we shall find him.”

“Sigurr grant that it be so,” said Mehrayn with calm satisfaction, glancing upward toward the fey’s light. “We may halt soon for our mid-fey meal, and then we may discuss what number of pelts and such to bring with us into the city of her man. We will require a good supply of the coin they use, for we may not locate him the moment we arrive.”

“Should we require a greater number of coins than we possess, there will be little difficulty in obtaining more,” replied Ceralt, his light eyes turning full upon me. “Many men would wish the use of a woods nymph, and would pay eagerly for that use. First to use her would be the first to come with the proper coin, and thereafter would be those others with similar coins. Do you agree, Mehrayn?”

“Indeed, Ceralt,” said Mehrayn, turning upon his kan to show amusement over the fury I sent to Ceralt with my gaze. “Many would indeed flock about for the use of a woods nymph, and the coins would come more easily than through hunting for pelts to trade. Perhaps we would do well to consider that before any other thing.”

The two chuckled well at the great anger they gave me, then did Mehrayn return his attention to where we rode the while Ceralt made certain to watch me carefully. Even so was I nearly of a mind to slide from my kan and return to the forests so close behind us, for the males spoke more with intent to give insult than in truth. Truly close to being brothers had they grown, and although it kept their hands well away from sword hilts, I liked it not. Aysayn, of course, was again amused, and that, too, darkened my humor.

Less than a hin passed in silence, and then did Mehrayn call a halt for the meal the males wished to partake of. A number of paslat had been slain by Aysayn before the forests were left behind, and these did the males mean to feed upon. Ceralt came to put his large hands to my waist and pull me from my kan, the while he and Mehrayn discussed the advisability of having “the wench” see to the preparation of the paslat catch. I spoke no word in refusal concerning their foolishness for I no longer wished to address ones such as they, yet was I prepared to mention the great hunger which would visit them were they to await the accomplishment of that which they discussed. Mehrayn and Aysayn staked the kand where they might feed upon the tall grass, Ceralt watching me closely the while this was done, and then did the two Sigurri return to where we stood.

“Perhaps we would do well to do without a fire,” observed Aysayn as he looked toward the west. “As the settlement is not far ahead of us, we would hardly wish to attract their attention. There are those within who would not look kindly upon Jalav.”

“They would look even less kindly upon her were we to return her sword and accompany her there,” said Mehrayn, left hand resting upon sword hilt as he turned to regard Aysayn. “Would you be averse to a bit of sport, brother?”

“Oh, indeed,” grinned Aysayn, suddenly brightening. “It would be the Shining Sands again, a time of brisk pleasure which you were denied, brother. To fully appreciate this wench, one must see the glory of her sword work.”

“You would allow her to jeopardize herself in such a manner?” demanded Ceralt as deep pleasure began to touch me at the words of the two Sigurri. “You would permit her to take sword in hand to achieve vengeance which we three might achieve for her?”

“What satisfaction in vengeance achieved by another?” asked Aysayn when Mehrayn stiffened silently at the accusation in Ceralt’s voice. “Trespass upon another may be revenged by another, trespass upon oneself only by oneself. What joy and sense of achievement would be yours if I faced Mehrayn in your place and won for you the possession of this wench? Would she then be yours—or in reality mine?”

“But to allow a woman to face such danger!” protested Ceralt, clearly more upset than seeking argument. “A man must protect the woman of his heart, with his own life, if need be!”

“Even when her skill is a full match to his?” asked Mehrayn, his calm returned. “Even when the warrior blood in her is as strong and demanding as that within him? To disallow her battle would be to disallow her life, a doing she would find more painful than to fall in that battle. No man may covet more of a warrior wench than her possession and use.”

“To covet her use would be foolishness,” denied Ceralt with a gesture of impatience. “The blood runs so hot in these warrior wenches that they are able to give pleasure to many men, and take the same for themselves. Ever are they prepared to greet a man properly—save when they lie sorely wounded from that which others have not denied them. Sooner should a man take the wounds himself, to spare a wench the pain of their presence.”

“And bring her the agony of denial in its stead?” demanded Mehrayn, no longer calm. “One does best to stand beside such a wench and give the support of his own blade, and then may he take her joyfully to his furs, knowing her warmth and greeting his alone. As it is his right to stand alone beside her, so is it his right to lie the same.”

“So that she will not be too soon used up?” scoffed Ceralt, fists to hips in ridicule. “No man can hope to match the capacity of a woman, for she has merely to receive the while he must be able to give. Sooner would she be used up by wounds, and then her capacity would be nil. What joy in lying beside a wench too badly wounded to be aware of your presence?”

“Wounds most often come to those of little skill, not to warriors born and bred,” growled Mehrayn with an icy stare. “A follower of Sigurr knows well of these things, just as he is able to bring full satisfaction to what wench he chooses. No need has he of . . . ”

“Brothers, we must not forget the man in the city to the west,” said Aysayn with a calm the other males failed to share, stepping quickly between them. My own anger was as great as theirs, and I found myself unable to keep from stepping forward and adding my own voice to the confusion of shout and countershout. Aysayn attempted to soothe me as well, Ceralt and Mehrayn denounced me as I denounced them, arms raised in gestures of anger, and none took note of the strengthening wind which suddenly blew the grass and our hair all about. As I had completely unplaited my hair, Ceralt and Mehrayn found the need to push thick locks of it from their faces, as did I, and only when we were again able to see, did we become aware of the stunned, disbelieving look which had silenced Aysayn. We all of us turned to look where he did, and were able to see the—thing which had silently appeared upon the grass behind us. As large as a small city dwelling was it, of metal so bright that it brought pain to the eye to look upon it, and in no manner had I ever before seen its like.

“It descended through the air,” said Aysayn in a voice so choked that it was no more than a hoarse whisper. “As a leaf floats from a tree did it descend, yet so fast—!”

No more was he able to say, and no more were we able to hear; a cloud of vapor shot from the thing, and then was there darkness all about.