“The suggestion that they remain behind was mine,” said Aysayn, stepping forward while Galiose continued to glare at me, this time wordlessly. “There is little need for so many others to be about while we discuss what requires discussion. Should you later discover a need for their presence, you may send for them.”
“Send for them,” echoed Galiose in a grumble, sending toward Aysayn a look considerably darker than that which he had sent toward me. “And of what use will they be, as disarmed as the balance of us? For a wench to know naught of proper male dealings is to be expected, yet for a man to do the same as a wench—” Though outraged, Galiose’s sense of propriety kept him from being even more insulting then his attention turned to me again. “Where is the High Seat of Bellinard?” he demanded. “Have you slain him?”
“The High Seat of Bellinard is indeed no more,” said I with a further shrug, rising to my feet so that I might more easily see he who was High Seat of another place. “Earnestly was I assured that the male held his place through the blessing of his god, an approval which kept all others from challenging him for it. To test that I, myself, challenged that blessing, and met the High Seat’s chosen champion with swords. When his champion fell, the High Seat did the same, and was thereafter sent to the fate he had so often given to others. Whether he remains alive I know not; should it be your wish to take yourself beneath this dwelling to see, you have my permission to do so.”
The face of Galiose worked in silent agitation. Some paces behind him were his three companions, Telion in some manner amused, Lialt faintly annoyed, and Ceralt—expressionless despite the trace of anger in his light eyes. To the left of them, at a distance of no less than three paces, stood the three who accompanied Aysayn, their eyes as directly upon the first males as the gazes of those three fixed on me.
“As the matter of challenge has been mentioned,” I said, looking up into the disturbance of Galiose’s eyes, “perhaps you would be kind enough to say where the male called Nolthis is. It was my intention to seek him out when once the strangers had been seen to, yet there may be time enough before their arrival for a bit of—dallying.”
“Dallying,” echoed Galiose, looking down at me quizzically, no longer angry, yet more disturbed. “Since the fey I learned of what he had done to you, I well knew what sort of dallying you would seek with him were you ever to encounter him again. For that you have more than my apologies, wench, for I had never meant such a thing to be.”
“And his current whereabouts?” I pressed, uninterested in apologies. Words do naught to calm the battle lust in one, the need for vengeance, the memory of agony. No less than a meeting of swords will accomplish such an end, and I wet my lips in anticipation of such a meeting.
“He undoubtedly burns in the dark god’s realm,” said Galiose with a shrug of indifference. “I, myself, faced him when I learned of his doing, the fool eager in his belief that he might best me. So I informed Ceralt when he came seeking him, and now do I so inform you.”
I then looked at Ceralt, seeing the way his head came up, the way he looked upon me. Galiose had stolen the satisfaction which rightfully was mine, and the look Ceralt sent said he would have done the slime, proudly, happily, despite the lack of honor in such a doing. That’s how males regard vengeance, as though it were free for the taking. Midanna knew that vengeance belonged first to she who had been wronged, yet were these males far from the true honor of Midanna.
“Perhaps it would be best if we all now partook of what food and drink there is,” said Aysayn as I did no more than bring the insulted annoyance of my gaze back to a Galiose who saw naught of it. The male was well pleased with what he had done, unsuspecting of the additional debt now between us, yet Aysayn saw what Galiose did not. One must enter battle beside another in order to truly know them, and Aysayn and I had stood so together twice.
“At last we find a subject upon which we might agree,” said Galiose to Aysayn, a hint of humor now to be seen upon him. “Let us indeed fortify ourselves for the coming discussions—and against a possible extension of hospitality. It has come to me that those who are called High Seat are not looked upon with favor in this place.”
Aysayn chuckled with amusement at Galiose’s sally, and then did the two males take themselves off toward that place where the provender lay, drawing others with them. As I continued to hold a cup of daru I felt no inclination toward joining them, therefore I seated myself upon a step of the platform to sip from the cup, attempting to calm the frustration which filled me at thought of being deprived of Nolthis’s life. It would soon be necessary to speak with those males about the strangers, to ease their outrage and see them quickly upon their way, and for such a thing one cannot join their feelings of outrage. Soon enough the strangers would arrive, and there would be time enough for outrage.
“I saw you found the need to put my teachings to use, wench,” said Chaldrin in his calm, familiar rumble, sitting on the step to my left. “Did the slave attempt to do you harm?”
“The slave sought a different path from the one he strode,” I said, seeing the amusement in the dark of Chaldrin’s eyes. “Merely did I give him a glimpse of what other path he might find himself upon. For what reason do you fail to take sustenance, Chaldrin?”
“Perhaps for the same reason you fail to do so,” replied the male, still amused. “Ilvin sought me out in the place I had been given to take my rest, and with her were a number of those wenches who were closest sisters to her among her Hitta. The wench had spoken so highly of my prowess in the furs that the others were of a mind to try me themselves, and all had come to ask if I were willing. I have not yet given them my decision, for I had hoped to have Ilvin alone this darkness, yet has the proposal centered my attention upon hunger for other than that which your table provides.”
“Should you agree, I feel sure you will not damage Ilvin’s estimate of you, brother,” said I, sharing his amusement. “Should you feel uncertain as to your capacity, however, you have only to ask and I will have you provided with a small supply of that which is used to sustain what sthuvad are taken to serve the clans. Once in the grip of the drug, service to the entire clan of Hitta will not be beyond you.”
“My sister’s generosity is greatly appreciated, yet have I heard of this sthuvad drug from Ilvin and Wedin and Dotil,” he said, dryly. “As it is scarcely my wish to need to serve so large a number of wenches, I shall make do without. I wonder, however, if your thoughts have also been drawn to considerations of things other than sustenance, and yet also other than pleasure. You knew from S’Heernoh that these men would be here; is their presence the reason for the foulness of your humor these past feyd?”
“For what reason should it not be?” I demanded looking down at the cup I held. “Much shame and humiliation was mine through the efforts of each of them, and deep insult as well. Would you have me greet them as brothers, only just returned home after too-lengthy an absence?”
“And yet, they look upon you as something other than an enemy,” said he, his voice now soft. “Even he of the blue cloth and leather, despite his displeasure, has no true wish to see you harmed. Can it be your agitation stems from a source other than anger?”
“You believe I feel no anger at those about me?” I asked with a snort of ridicule. “Should that truly be your belief, brother, best would be that you decrease rather than increase your time in the furs. Clearly have you already performed too often, to the detriment of your intellect.”