“Nine clans, you said,” remarked Wedin, clearly a warrior alert to all which went on about her. “You are aware, then, of the disappearance of the Silla. Their actions were exceedingly strange for some time, and then were they one fey gone from their home tents, no word left even with the Keeper’s Attendants who cared for their warriors-to-be. Have you knowledge of their fate?”
“Indeed I do,” said I, looking about me at the greater stirrings among the Sigurri males. Soon would they be prepared to do whatever it was that they meant to do, therefore would it be best if the Summa and I departed. I gestured toward the cavern opening, directly across the cavern floor rather than through the shadows, and said, “As we journey, I shall be pleased to inform you of the happenings which now concern your clans as well as ours. Best would be that we depart as quickly as possible.”
“Indeed,” agreed Wedin, looking about as I had, Dotil also aware of the stirring. “I find discomfort in the midst of so many males, despite their having offered us no indignity and no harm. Had our weapons not been returned to us, surely would we have awaited you in the forests to extend our thanks. I dislike the way these males look upon me.”
“And yet have they some of them proven worthy of a warrior’s attention,” said Dotil, showing a grin of amused satisfaction. “The three I approached were not unwilling to allow me to taste them, and far superior were they to those who took us in capture. One of the three was truly excellent, and I regret being unable to offer him the opportunity of following me.”
“I, too, have tasted a small number of them,” said Wedin with a shrug, “yet is it their sword skill which I find most amazing. With practice would many of them reach nearly to the level of a warrior, and never have I before seen such a thing. What manner of males are these?”
“They are called Sigurri,” said I, draining the cup of falar before tossing it from me. “Their swords will stand beside ours in the coming battle, for it is Mida’s will that it be so. This, too, shall you be told of upon the journey.”
I turned from their nods and began to make my way across the cavern, my stride quick and my heart eager to be free within the forests once again. There is little to compare with the glorious freedom of Mida’s forests, and I continued to find myself unable to comprehend the attraction found by males in shelters of all sorts. When they were without dwellings they sought caves, forever locking themselves away from—
My thoughts ceased abruptly as my foot came down upon that which was not stone, my stride sending me forward another full pace before surprise and curiosity halted me. The Summa, following behind, halted as well, questioning clear in their eyes as I turned and bent to that which lay upon the stone floor of the cavern. My fingers found a small leather pouch, the strings of which had been cleanly severed, and within—within was a good supply of small, coarse brown grains well mixed with some bits of yellow grains. I stood unmoving as I gazed within the sack, not comprehending, but growing excited nevertheless.
“A sack without a pipe,” said Wedin, some small interest in her tone. “Of what use is a sack without a pipe?”
“None,” said I, finally bestirring myself to draw the sack closed again and knot the severed strings to a tie of my breech. “This sack, however, was that which was cut from the belt of the male Gengan when Nobain slew him. By the male’s own words was he a Pathfinder, one whose spirit is released to walk free in the White Land when enveloped in the Clouds of Seeing. These grains will allow my spirit the same freedom—with none to halt me. Has either of you a pipe?”
“Not I,” said Wedin, Dotil agreeing with a shrug and a shake of her head. “What is this White Land you speak of, and what might be the Clouds of Seeing?”
“Our journey may prove of insufficient length to allow the telling of all I have learned in the service of Mida,” said I, considerably annoyed yet unable to alter matters. Clearly had I been set upon the trail of the males for a purpose other than simply freeing and following the Summa, for now the White Land was mine with Lialt unable to keep me from it as he had upon the first occasion. The brother of Ceralt was also a Pathfinder, the chief tracker of the White Lands for those of his village, a male who had feared my presence in a place where heretofore only he had gone. I recalled that the male Gengan had spoken of seeing Nobain’s death upon the Snows, yet had the male clearly been less skilled at reading the tracks of the White Land than Lialt. Red-haired Gengan had failed to see that his own death would occur first, Nobain’s coming only later at the hands of Mehrayn, who was also red-haired. It was perhaps possible that their signs were nearly the same upon the Snows. I would need to spend much time in the White Lands before I might claim familiarity with the place, yet at the end of that time would my skill far exceed that of Lialt. There was little a male might do that a warrior could not easily match and better, and as soon as I found the opportunity to make a pipe, I would begin my conquest of the White Land.
Again I turned toward the egress from the cavern which would lead to Mida’s sweet air, yet is there ever a balance struck between good fortune and ill. I had paused to speak with the Summa and to find the sack which would give me the White Lands, and the delays had been enough to allow the awakening and presence of the greatest thorn of my flesh. From my right came a large arm which reached past me to my left shoulder, and then did I find myself turned to face Mehrayn.
“I have not yet given you greeting for the new light, wench,” said he, gazing down into my eyes as he drew me close. “The taste of that which will break my fast is far inferior to the taste of your lips. First I shall have the superior, and the inferior.”
His lips lowered to mine, hungrily demanding as ever they were, yet was I filled full with the memory of the darkness. The nearness of the male was as naught to me, my body completely uncaring; in no more than a moment was the male aware of my lack of response, and then did his head raise once again.
“When my hands are upon you, my wits are ever elsewhere,” he muttered, annoyance clear in the green of his eyes. “Your life sign must first be removed before the softness and warmth again return to you, and this has not been done. Let us see to it quickly, and then we may—”
His words ended as his eyes sought my life sign in vain, his hand lifting to where it normally hung, halting as well. No more than my breasts did his seeking gaze find, and when his eyes returned to mine they at last perceived the coldness therein. I had no words for the male for my fury remained too high; I had no wish to speak except in challenge, and such speech was useless. The male would meet me if I pressed the matter, yet would he refuse to strike, just as Chaldrin had said. Honor forbade that I draw weapon against him for the matter between us was not a blood debt, yet was I perilously close to the wish that it was. All this was the male able to see in my eyes, and a deep sigh took him.
“I would know, O Sigurr, why all females must be cut from the same cloth,” said he, raising his eyes to the unseen roof of the cavern far above as he folded his arms across his chest. “Ever do they insist upon doing as they wish, yet when those doings earn them a punishment it is the man who punishes them whom they blame, rather than the doings they, themselves, have insisted upon. As a man is able to forgive their foolishness, so should they find it within themselves to forgive that man the doing of the necessary.”
The foolishness of the male was incredible, therefore did I turn and walk from him, again attempting to depart. I had no understanding of the nonsense he spoke, nor did I feel a wish to understand. I wished for no more than a great deal of distance between us, yet was my wish fated to be ignored.
“The while you ready kand for yourself and those other wenches,” Mehrayn called after me, “I shall gather up that which will break my fast upon the trail. I have no wish to cause further delay in our departure.”