The bear was gone and Drehkos’s sword was stabbing the air above the head of Zehpoor. The close bond which had been the brothers’ from boyhood to the rebellion had resumed from that hour.
Therefore, as they rode down from the mountains, Hari greeted Drehkos warmly, unabashed by the knowledge that this man, his younger brother, was immortal. “Come slumming, have you?” he joshed. “You’ve then tired of the life of an Undying God, already? What’ll you do for your next fifty-odd years, brother mine?”
Drehkos did not return the smile. “Both Milo and Aldora tried to farspeak Bili last night, Hari, and they could neither of them range his mind. And that bodes ill. That bodes exceedingly ill. Who is Bill’s heir? Djef Morguhn, isn’t it?”
“No, Drehkos,” Hari sighed. “Young Djef died at the siege of Morguhn Hall, last year. Tchahrlee be next eldest, and he be already holding the duchy as deputy thoheeks … but, dammit, Drehkos, I can’t tell you why, but … but I just don’t think Bili’s dead.”
Drehkos made the Sun-sign before his face. “I pray Sacred Sun you be right, brother Hari.”
Hari reached over to touch Drehkos’s skin and mind-spoke on a strictly personal level. “And, Undying Brother, I am not alone in my faith in Bili’s ability to survive. Last night, Sir Geros Lahvoheetos and Pawl Raikuh rode southwest, along with fourscore Freefighters of the old Morguhn Troop, twice that number of warriors of the Soormehlyuhn Tribe and thirty-four of the Moon Maidens who rode north with me.
“I’m prepared to swear that I knew nothing of their intended desertion until they were long gone, Drehkos. Candidly, however, I did all I could to see them well provided, well armed and well mounted. And they know, too, that they ride with my blessing. Sun and Wind grant those brave men success, I say, for Duke Bili is a man in a million, Steel keep him.”
XII
It had been full night before Kogh and Zehpoor had had the opportunity to find a place apart. His first words were simple and blunt.
“It is really you then, Zehpoor Frainyuhn?” She had smiled a little sadly. “Yes, father-in-law-who-might-have-been, I am Zehpoor of the Tribe of Frainyuhn, daughter of Kehroon. How … how is Behdrohz, your son?”
“He is dead these twenty years, child, killed on a raid against the Duhnkin Stahn. They all told him that you were dead, Zehpoor. Your father showed him your grave. Why were we so deceived?”
The woman hung her head, half-whispering. “I am so very sorry, Der Kogh, so very very sorry. But my poor father had no choice. Mother Djainoosh announced suddenly that she had chosen me. She would not relent even when she was told it was your son I was promised to. What else could my father do?”
His arm went about her shoulders in a gentle embrace. “Nothing but what he did do, child. Do not grieve, I understand, and I am certain that my fine, brave Behdrohz would have, too. I can but regret that he is not here to see how lovely is that woman I choose to bear my grandchildren. The Taishyuhns would have made you both welcome and happy, Zehpoor.”
The lamplight glinted from her hair as she raised her head. “And does that welcome still stand, nahkhahrahll. A faint smile tugged at her lips. “Would still Zehpoor Frainyuhn be made happy in the Taishyuhn Tribe?”
“Why … why, of course, child, if you wish to give up your Vows. I have no sons left to wed you, but the winter has been hard and there are certain widowers …” His high forehead crinkled in concentration. “Let’s see, there is a man, a hetman of a large, prosperous village. He is a raider of some renown and his house is rich with his spoils. Though he was one of my Behdrohz’s cronies, age sits lightly on him and he is a strong and lusty man, he—”
She shook her head forcefully. “Not good enough.”
“Well,” the nahkhahrah tugged at his earlobe, “he’s not a Taishyuhn, but I know of a dehrehbeh who recently lost a wife. But he be an older man.”
Pushing herself away from him, she gazed levelly into his eyes. “It is not right that I should toy with you; credit the fact that I have to my woman’s nature.
“On the night of the day the Bahrohnyuhn girl came to me, all bruised and ravaged by the lowlander raiders, I put her to the healing sleep and saw to her hurts. Then I ate the Sacred Plant and sojourned with Our Lady. She allowed me to see the futures She willed, among them my own.
“Kogh Taishyuhn, Our Lady wills that I repay old debts, so far as I now can. I am to remain faithful to all my Vows, save one. She will preserve me in my Powers only if I give the virginity, once pledged to her, to the dehrehbeh of the Taishyuhn Tribe.”
“Zehpoor, child, I am a very old man. That son of mine to whom you were betrothed was the last child ever I sired, and his mother was the third wife I buried. His sister, who has ordered my house and slaves for about fifteen years, is herself almost old enough to be your mother, so it is most doubtful that I can quicken you, as a good husband should.” She just smiled. “That doesn’t matter, Kogh Taishyuhn.”
“Of course it matters, Zehpoor. What use is a marriage if it does not produce children? Our Lady would be the first to—”
She continued to shape her lips in a smile, but her voice hardened perceptibly. “You have often spoken for Her, Kogh Taishyuhn, but you do not now. I speak Her will, Her desires, Her commands, this time. I am to render up to you that which was long ago promised your tribe, not because I so desire, but because I am so bidden. As regards age, I am no spring chicken, Kogh, and I cannot say that I honestly wish to undergo a carriage and birthing, especially not a first one, at my age. But I am Hers and must bow to Her Holy Will. You, too, are Hers, Kogh, by your roan’s rites, and you must add your own submission to mine.”
“But who,” the nahkhahrah demanded stubbornly, “is there to marry us? There now is no Taishyuhn older than ami.”
She nodded once. “True, Kogh, true. But the stahn is wisely become part of a larger stahn. And the nahkhahrah of this Confederation has at least ten times your moons.”
Again would he have spoken, but she raised a finger. “No, Kogh, husband-to-be, hear me out. This Milo of Moral will say the words, taking those words and the proper usages from your mind. We will be joined three days hence, in the splendor of Her Newness.
“And soon, shortly after Her next Newness, you will perform the rites for Pehroosz Bahrohnyuhn and him who is war chief of the Ageless One’s hosts. And the issue of that marriage will heap glory and honor upon both Confederation and Ahrmehnee Stahn, though we two will not live to see.”
And he was too wise a man to think his stubbornness could prevail over the will of the Goddess. He bowed his snowy head and made the Moon-sign. Then he took the woman’s head between his hands and pressed his lips tenderly to each closed eyelid, then to the full lips. Sitting back, he ritually squeezed her two breasts, then thrust his left hand far up beneath her skirt to make the Sacred Sign upon her pudenda.
“Thus, Zehpoor Frainyuhn, are you once more promised to the Taishyuhn Tribe. Your father is dead, child, so to whom should the brideprice be paid?”—“Give it to the dehrehbeh of Frainyuhn, Kogh, and tell him to equally divide it among my living brothers, keeping a share for himself.” She extended a hand to touch him, then slowly and gingerly kneaded the swelling, throbbing flesh beneath her fingers. Smiling again, but now with a hint of mischief, she said, “Ah, Kogh, Kogh, I fear you have exaggerated your aged infirmity.”
He returned her smile, placed his own hand over hers. “You are a lovely woman, Zehpoor, well formed and pleasing to both sight and touch.” He hooked an arm about her waist and drew her closer to him, his other hand commencing another foray beneath her skirt For a moment, she seemed to melt, then she tore away from him and came to her feet in one lithe movement Her face flushed and, her high breasts rapidly rising and falling, her laughter trilled. “Oh, no, my Kogh, there’ll be no sampling of the viands today. You … and I, too… must wait for the feast.”