Firmly Ceralt led me to the level above, yet was I not to return to the room which had been mine. Another room did we enter, one larger than the first, one of many shades of brown, both light and dark, upon the silks and floor cloth. Some white was there too, among the browns, and brightly did it stand in the glow of the fire. Up to the platform called bed did Ceralt lead me, and firmly did he point to it.
“This is what a civilized wench sleeps upon in the city,” said he, “and this is what my wench shall learn to use. Remove your bit of cloth, and the lesson shall begin.”
I looked upon the height of the platform, and then shook my head. “Jalav shall sleep upon the cloth by the fire,” said I, also pointing with my finger. “Sooner would I sleep upon gando-back than upon yon platform.”
“Unfortunately,” said Ceralt with a grin as he removed his covering, “my house lacks a gando, therefore must it be upon the platform—ah, Sigurr take it! Upon the bed! It is called a bed, Jalav.”
“I care naught for what it may be called,” said I, my arms folded upon my chest. “Jalav shall not use it.”
“Jalav shall,” said Ceralt, and he stepped to me and raised me in his arms. Full hard did I struggle so as not to be placed upon the platform, yet did Ceralt place me there, and himself as well, his arms about me preventing an escape. My clan covering yielded to his greater strength in turn, and then was I merely held as Ceralt sighed and closed his eyes. Great dislike did I have for the platform, yet was I uncomfortably aware of the hunter’s nearness, the great chest against which I lay, the male heat and smell of the body of him. Slightly did I move in the tight circle of his arms, then raised my head a bit.
“Jalav is captive to the hunter Ceralt,” said I, and his eyes opened somewhat. “Is Ceralt not to use her?”
The hunter smiled faintly, and his lips touched my forehead. “Ceralt has considered it,” he murmured, his hand amove upon me. “Has Jalav any wish of it?”
“Jalav has not the strength to halt the will of a male,” said I, rather unsteadily. The hand of Ceralt moved about me, and truly did I wish the chance to take him.
“Then, should Jalav have some interest,” murmured Ceralt, his leg as well upon me, “she must speak of it to Ceralt.”
In misery did I attempt to remain still, yet that was impossible. The feelings fired by Ceralt in me turned me weak with the need for him. “Jalav—Jalav—has some interest in her use by Ceralt,” I muttered faintly, and the hunter laughed gently.
“I feel it would do well for Jalav,” said he, “were she to request her use by Ceralt. I seem to recall another who was made to ask for use, and most fitting would the same from Jalav be.”
I groaned then, and struggled again to free myself, yet was freedom not to be mine, nor escape from the nearness of the male. My need could not be denied, and therefore was I forced to say, quite faintly, “Jalav—Jalav asks that she be used by Ceralt.”
“Let us not be quite so formal,” Ceralt grinned. “Who asks to be used by whom?”
Desperately, I threw myself about, then cried, “I ask to be used, Ceralt! In the name of Mida do I ask to be used!”
“And so you shall be, Jalav mine!” Ceralt laughed, yet no mockery was there in his laugh. Quickly did he take me then, and many times did I cry out at his use, for truly did Mida move him well.
19
A plague of strokes—and a further search
The new light brought the beginnings of much difficulty. Truly angered was Ceralt when he awoke to find that I slept upon the cloth before the fire. No sleep had come to me upon the platform, for thought of its height had kept my eyes wide till Ceralt had slept. Silently had I moved from his side and warmth to the fire, and there had slept well and easily. The reason for taking sleep upon a platform was beyond me, and further so with the floor cloth to be had by city folk. Should they not wish leather to sleep upon, as was proper, the cloth was there for use in its stead. Ceralt would not consider that, and gave his word that next I would be bound upon the platform, should I again attempt to leave it in the darkness. No word did I address to the matter, for already had I spoken, and Ceralt took a fresh covering, of a blue like the skies, and we both descended for a meal.
When we had fed, again was I plagued with strokes and the learning of them. No meaning could I find within the charcoal marks, and quickly fled my temper with Ceralt’s speaking of them, yet Ceralt refused to fall to anger. Again and again did he repeat the strokes and their callings, insisting that I, too, take charcoal in hand and attempt their forming. My attempts seemed the scratchings of a lellin upon the dirt, of no likeness at all to those of Ceralt, yet did Ceralt nod and smile most happily, as though something had been accomplished. For hind, then, I moved the charcoal about quite aimlessly, to Ceralt’s vast enjoyment, then did we feed once more. Immediately following our meal, Ceralt found the need to leave the dwelling, and firmly did he insist that I continue with the charcoal, yet no sooner was he gone than I abandoned useless waste of time, and considered the means by which my warriors and I might leave the city.
Ceralt returned in darkness, and once more did we go to the platform within his room. Most completely did the hunter see to the needs of both of us, yet was he not asleep when I rose to leave the platform. Quickly was I seized and held, and then was the hated collar placed about my throat and chained to the metal of the platform. Wildly, I struggled to remove it, yet was naught accomplished save the movement of a cover of cloth, which Ceralt had placed upon us. Ceralt rescued the cloth from loss, then was I taken in his arms for the matter of sleep. Little sleep did I find through the darkness, and Ceralt wakened before the new light, used me well once again, and then departed, the collar in place as it had been. The entire fey did I spend upon the platform, for Ceralt had taken a party of hunters to the forests, and most miserably did I note the passage of the light. Inala brought something to feed upon, and also brought the stiffened cloth and the charcoal. All did I cast from me in anger, and full fury was I filled with upon the return of Ceralt. The hunter cared little for my temper, placed himself beside me once again, and then used me despite my struggles. By deep fury was I held, yet sleep found me rather quickly.
The new light brought release, though no satisfaction. Ceralt vowed most solemnly that should I again attempt to leave the platform in darkness, two feyd would I pass chained so. I refused to speak on it, for already had I spoken my word upon the matter. No platform would Jalav pass the darkness upon, not if she could choose otherwise. Only just had we completed our meal, when two armed males in leather and metal were brought before us by Inala. They had come to inform Ceralt that the female Jalav was required by the High Seat, therefore did we all leave the dwelling and walk toward that of Galiose, before which many males and warriors were beginning to gather. Though the light was bright, the air was cool, yet did each of my warriors, like myself, appear in clan colors. Not easily were clan colors taken from Hosta.
Galiose waited before the entrance to his dwelling, therefore did we mount the steps to approach him. Easily might it be seen that the High Seat was displeased, and Ceralt walked quite near to me as the attention of Galiose centered upon my arrival. Galiose stepped forward to meet me.
“Now!” said he quite briskly, placing his hand upon my shoulder. “When all of your wenches have gathered, Jalav, you shall order them to cease this—this—activity of the darkness, and immediately! I shall not have dark-roving females in Ranistard!”
“Jalav may say naught,” said I with a shrug. “The Hosta are no longer hers.”