Óthaller Ingos milenale-ruvot erderofesta
thótaressi Ingos veithi folúmedor a-tautazar
úliter Melyúnas oinon im er-góta orboiniket óróter
Ingos walked upon the face of the world before all people
Ingos was to live until he had fulfilled his task
Melyúnas lusted for knowledge and sought to learn all things
Out of a bright mist, from the southern lands beyond the Sea, Ingos came. He came into Thrâyeldim, the Midworld, to be the Father of the Peoples of the Hyûvandri, of the men and women who to enter the Midworld after him. He came to be their Uplifter, Good Teacher, and Path-giver.
For half an age, the Long-lived ones, the Doitherúna, had been Guardians, preparing the Midworld, first for the coming of Ingos and for the coming, after him, of his people. The Entellári had blessed everything that grew, and cultivated all the useful plants; the Thendâ had tamed the serviceable beasts; the Silûna, who were later called the Fâwiengri, had made the waterways and seashores fair and comely; the Kabadri had devised the ways to fashion implements and tools; and the Gangri had carved the rocks in order to build great roads and bridges, walls and other works of masonry.
Now the greatest and fairest of the Doitherúna was named Melyúnas, and he was the most knowledgeable of them all, for at all their works he was present, watching and remembering. And Melyúnas too was a great master of the hidden arts; he had delved the secrets of the Deep and had learnt many runes and rimes of power by which he put all his knowledge to use. And so when the hour came for Ingos to enter into his inheritance in the Midworld, Melyúnas set himself forward as the one to instruct Ingos in all the ways and works of the world. And to this the chiefs of the Doitherúna assented, unwisely perhaps, for they were busy about their labours, which were not yet completed.
And so Melyúnas took Ingos by the hand, and led him up a great mountain, and showed him all the realms of the Midworld; and by his mighty art he was able to show Ingos things that were far off and beyond the power of ordinary sight, and also things that were too small to be seen. But Ingos said that he would like also to see the distant things at first hand. And so Melyúnas took him and showed him the great forests, the plains, the meadows, and the fields, upon which the Entellári had bestowed their labour and care.
And Ingos said: ‘I greatly desire to be instructed by the wise ones of the Entellári.’
And this displeased Melyúnas, yet he hid his displeasure and brought Ingos to the Entellári for instruction. Ingos made many friends among the Entellari of the Hyilavúna, and learnt the skills of cultivation and the virtues of the plants.
And in like manner, Melyúnas showed Ingos the rivers and lakes and waterways, the bays and beaches and shores.
And Ingos again said: ‘I beg that I may go aboard the vessels of the Silúna and visit the places that they have made beautiful.’
And again Melyúnas was impatient, but hid it, and Ingos journeyed with the Silúna. And so again he desired to ride and herd the beasts along with the Thendâ, and to observe all the arts of the Kabadri; and this irked Melyúnas greatly, but he concealed his thought, and complied with his wishes. And so Ingos learnt the ways of animals, wild and tame, and the virtues of the rocks and metals within the earth. And at the last, Ingos prayed that he might go among the Gangri and see their mighty works, the roads and bridges and walls that they had built; and to this Melyúnas again agreed, though his patience was now worn very thin. And also with all this, there were many things that Melyúnas did not show Ingos.
And Melyúnas brought Ingos to a very fair place in the North of the Midworld.
‘I shall here prepare a dwelling for thee,’ he said, ‘and from here thou canst journey with ease to every part of thy realm, for this will be thy realm when the Doitherúna have withdrawn to their own lands; and from here too it is but a short way to my home in Ombros, and so I may easily come to thee and counsel thee.’
But Ingos answered him ‘Nay, good Melyúnas, I shall not rule over these lands, for I have come to form and guide, to teach and serve, my people. And moreover the Hyûvandri shall dwell in the sunny Southlands, the Yivandâl, which the Hyilavúna have blessed by their presence, not in the cold northlands more suited to the Gangri and Kabadri. And I shall take to myself no dwelling, until I am released from this task, but I shall lodge with whomever will take me to them; for the good teacher deserves his keep, and the guide his recompense.’
At this Melyúnas was wroth, for his plan was to rule all the Midworld and all the Hyûvandri himself, using Ingos as his ready instrument. But now he saw that Ingos had given his love to the Entellári, the Thendâ, the Silúna, the Kabadri, and even the Gangri, and would strive to maintain the Midworld as they had fashioned it. But he concealed his anger, and instead he came close to Ingos and spoke low, saying:
‘There are arts that the Doitherúna will not divulge to thee, O Ingos; virtues in things and powers over things that are much needed in the world, skills indeed that a wise person can scarcely do without. All these Melyúnas can impart to thee.’
At this Ingos was troubled, for he felt truly that he might lack the power to perform all that his task demanded of him, but at the same time, he began to feel distrust of the sayings of Melyúnas, and wished to be free of his influence. But he resolved to deal courteously with him. ‘You are right, good Melyúnas, that I lack many skills and much wisdom. Now that I enter into my labours I will gather all the knowledge that the Doitherúna shall see fit to teach me. But if I come to a complete stand, and find myself without the power to act, then I will call upon your wisdom.’
Melyúnas was not greatly pleased with this response, but feared to show his hand by pressing Ingos further. So he thanked him for his gracious words, and assured him that he would be ready at any time to assist him with his special arts.
‘And,’ he said, ‘take and keep this curious stone.’ And he gave him a strange, unevenly shaped crystal. ‘It is called the Talyoran, and it comes from the stars, and with it you can call upon me at any time. And it has many other powers, in which I can instruct you when the time is right.’
Now the Talyoran was not the rightful property of Melyúnas to give or to keep, for the Queen of the Entellári had entrusted him with it for a particular purpose, and he had neglected to return it to her. Ingos knew none of this, so he thanked Melyúnas for the gift, and took it and kept it safely by his side. But he felt no need to call upon Melyúnas, and took little thought for the Talyoran.
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