Galiose caused a stir among us, for the High Seat looked upon Inala and found her pleasing. The first darkness, he carried her to his sleeping pelt, yet the small city female refused the order to please him. The metal collar still about her neck, she held her head high and denied the needs of the High Seat, much to the annoyance of Galiose. Firmly he attempted the use of her without her will, and the forests rang with the sound of his shout when her teeth sank deep in his shoulder. In full disgust, he thrust her from him, and her look of satisfaction caused him irritation. For two feyd he spent the light in contemplation of her, and upon the coming of darkness upon the second, he threw her to his shoulder and strode off into the trees, saying that none might follow. No lenga pelt did he fetch with him, yet he did not return before the coming of the new light. Much quieter did Inala seem upon their return, and wary was her gaze when she looked upon the High Seat. The next darkness was the same thing done, and the next, and not till the fourth fey was I able to learn what had occurred. The High Seat had not again attempted use of her, yet had he, each darkness, taken her covering and placed himself beside her. When the chill of the air had caused her to shudder where she lay, he had taken her in his arms and had merely held her. Yet the last darkness, so she said, he had made no attempt to place his warmth about her, but had waited till the chill had driven her to him. Soon, she knew, the nearness of him would begin to reach her, and she knew not what to do. Small council or comfort was I able to give, for strong was my memory of Ceralt before his betrayal, and deep was my hurt and need, never to be eased. I knew when Inala had been able to refuse Galiose no longer, and deeper did my misery grow.
The sight of Ranistard was welcome to all, yet Telion felt the most relief at its presence. Four feyd earlier, Larid had grown ill upon the trail, and thereafter had found herself unable to feed. Neither raw meat nor cooked could she retain, and each of the hunters searched most earnestly for something she might be fed. Roast lellin seemed the sole thing which she was able to feed upon, and little enough of that tempted her. Telion freed her wrists and held her before him upon his kan, his face pale and drawn with concern, his arms desperately about her. Larid lay herself upon his chest, her eyes closed, her breathing uneven, and well did I know that pain was hers, though she gave no other sign of it. I rode upon my kan with deep felt misery, for the punishment for failure should have been mine, not Larid’s. Oh, Mida! Will we never find success and approval in your eyes?
Once within Ranistard, Larid was taken to the dwelling of Galiose, and Fayan and I, again unbound, with Ceralt and Nidisar, were told we might accompany her. Inala rode close beside Galiose, at his bidding, and was not permitted to return to the dwelling of Ceralt. She had been ordered to remain with Galiose, and much fear had she that the High Seat would name her slave to him, for she had discovered deep feelings for the large, dark male. As free woman did she wish to serve him, not as slave, for, as she had said, her love was enslavement enough. Gimin and Binat had been met at the gates of the city by those males they had ridden from, and grim indeed were the looks upon the faces of the males. Two of the warriors of Galiose were they, yet had they seemed barely male to my warriors, who had scorned the softness of their ways. Now it seemed that their softness would be no more, for my warriors were pulled from their kand by the hair, and taken off by the males in such a manner. The males had spoken of much leather awaiting runaway wenches, and my warriors had not seemed at all pleased. By the sides of the males had they stumbled along, and we rode past them to the High Seat’s dwelling.
Within the dwelling did Telion carry Larid, and Fayan, Nidisar, Ceralt, and I were led by a slave to a room of wide seats and small platforms, and told that we might await word of Larid there. The males took their places upon the silk of the seats, and Fayan and I seated ourselves upon the cloth by the room’s fire. The cloth was a blue like the skies, and I recalled the words of Telion of the covering which he had wished Larid to don, and then I covered my eyes with my hand. In but a matter of reckid, Telion entered the room as well, saying that Phanisar had forbidden his presence, and he seated himself to one side of the room, desolation etched upon his features, tragedy deep within his eyes. None spoke with him of the pain we shared; when renth was brought, all partook of it.
More than two hind passed in the waiting, and often did my eyes move to Ceralt where he sat, a pot of renth clasped miserably within his fist. Over and again I found the need to remind myself that the dark-haired, light-eyed hunter had betrayed me, and over and again did the pain of such a memory twist me deep inside. Greatly did I long for the gentle touch of the male, the knowledge of his presence beside me in my misery, the feeling that he cared for more than just the use of me, yet never were these things to be had again, for truly had I been betrayed by him. Unbidden did the thought bring weakling tears to my eyes, and was I unable to stem the flow; down my cheeks they streamed as the hunter suddenly looked at my face. Shamed, I turned away again, not wishing my weakness to be seen by him, yet with a muffled cry he jumped to his feet and started toward me. Only two steps had he taken, when the appearance of Phanisar at the door caused all to halt what they had been about and rise quickly to their feet. No word did any of the males speak, and I, too, found great reluctance to voice a query, therefore was the matter left to Fayan.
“Does Larid live?” she asked quietly, a calmness to her voice which I did not share.
“Of a certainty, she lives,” responded Phanisar pleasantly, and he entered farther within the room. “It was merely a matter of too great an exertion, for the loss of the previous child weakened her somewhat. With rest and comfort, she shall soon be up and about.”
“Praise be to the Serene Oneness!” Telion choked out, and then he finished his renth in a swallow. Great relief flooded his features, until a moment later a frown appeared. “What meant you,” said he to Phanisar, “when you spoke of the previous child?”
“Surely you must know,” responded Phanisar with a chuckle. “The wench is again with child, and confidently assures me that the child is yours.”
“Mine,” breathed Telion, and then he raised his voice and shouted, “Mine! The child is mine!” An insane laughter roared from him, and then he raced from the room, unmindful of the stares of others. Some confusion did I feel over the exchange of the males, for surely they knew that the child was Larid’s, and not Telion’s, as they had insisted. Any but an infant or a dolt is aware that a male cannot bear a child.
Phanisar had come to stand by the fire between Fayan and myself, and now he looked about himself most comfortably. “Perhaps,” said he to the, rest of us, “you would care to see the device of the Crystals. It is now readied for use, although I wish to await the departure of the female Larid before it is activated. In but a hin or two, small men once again speak with the gods.”
Fayan and I exchanged looks of distaste, yet was it possible that Mida beckoned with the invitation, therefore did we nod our agreement. The males, too, indicated their interest, therefore Fayan and I began to walk toward the door.
“A moment,” called Phanisar from where he yet stood by the fire, and Fayan and I turned to see that he held our pots of renth. “Good renth should not be abandoned,” said he with a smile. “You may finish your flagons, should the deed not be beyond you.”
Again Fayan and I exchanged glances, then with a shrug returned to where the male stood. My pot contained a mere half of the renth it was able to hold, therefore I swallowed it quickly, seeing that Fayan did as I did. No reaction to the renth did Fayan show, yet mine seemed to have soured in the pot. Most bitter was the taste of it, and my face obviously showed this, for Phanisar laughed heartily,