Arbros and Vidnî: chapter 47 of Gantzor the Coldsword

The day of Zaikolinnwë came. It was sunny, clear, cold, and frosty. Queen Tithiánë came in state and ascended the stage on which she had proclaimed the Quest a year and a day before. All who had remained at Ravinnigos, in tents and huts, awaiting the outcome of the Quest and the raising of the first buildings of the new City, assembled again, in thick furs and skins, around Kapatingos, the Stone of Ingos. Pedrekkarpon was there, and Terve Mëolandi and the Thendâ of his thrâka-sarron.

Then came Mirutháli, leading by the hand Vidnî, who was clad in the sea-going attire of a Fâwienga, with the green baldric around her body, the Blade of Ingos at her side, and the Pereikatíri harvest chaplet on her head. They bowed to Tithiánë, and took up their places at her right hand.

Then also came Rauno, leading Arbros, clad as a rider without adornments of any kind except for the great Thendáka knife. They too bowed to Tithiánë, and took up their places at her left hand.

And the Queen said:

Now let these two declare   how the Quest has sped

And who can show tokens   of Tídris’ ruler.

Then greatly fearing, Vidnî stood forth and said:

‘The crown that I bring is no crown of gold, but a crown of straw. 

I received it from folk who loved Father Ingos. 

The sword that I bring is a blade of husbandry, not a sword of war. 

But it is the Blade of Ingos.’

At this there was a general murmur of approval and wonder, for few had known that Ingos possessed this sword of peace.

‘But I bring no ring. I grasped at a false show of gold, and I was almost drowned; and I have found no other.’

Then the Queen said: 

This crown we take   to be a true token

In goodwill woven   and given truly

By Ingos’ folk   in faithfulness.

The sword itself   speaks truthfully

That Ingos meant   his heir to hold.

But a rounded ring,   rude-wrought or rich,

Must come to council,   or the Quest fails.

And Vidnî stood aside, disappointed, but not surprised. Then Arbros, whose eyes had been downcast for shame at his poor success, looked up at Vidnî; and her beauty smote his heart. And her eyes met his, and he saw how much she cared for him. He took courage, stepped forward, and said:

‘I bring no crown and no sword. On my Quest I forfeited my claim to these things through my greed, but I learned that I want no lordship. I ask only two things. One is, to live the life of a rider, and I renounce my claim to the lordship of Tídris.’

And all wondered at this, and at what might be the second thing.

‘Yet, I bring a ring! It is no ring of gold, wrought perchance by the smiths of the Kabdath under the hills. It is a twisted silver wire that one child gave to another child, to plight his troth in play. I will give it to you, Vidnî, so that you may achieve the Quest and be Queen of Tídris, if —’

He faltered for a moment, and his voice broke, and he said:

‘And  — this is my second desire — if I can live with you always, and you can be mine.’

And Arbros held up the twisted ring so that Vidnî could see it and recognize it. And she looked on Arbros and saw how his heart would become whole; and she smiled at him, and held out her hand with the fingers spread, and Arbros placed the ring on her finger.

Then the whole assembly shouted for joy, and some that had horns and trumpets blew on them, and everyone broke into clapping.

Then the Queen arose, and there was quiet, and she proclaimed:

The Quest is ended:   let all here know

That Vidnî’s claim   is vindicated

To be rightful Queen   of the realm of Tídris; 

And that Rider Arbros,   when of age they come,

Shall be partner prince   to this people’s Queen.

And Arbros was always thereafter called Arbros ta-Saréga, Arbros the Rider. But Queen Vidnî liked to be known as Vidnî Fâwienya, Vidnî Waverider.

Then Pedrekkarpon came, bowing to Tithiánë and Vidnî, and begged that he might see the ring of wire, for he possessed the skills of a silversmith. And when he had examined it he said:

‘This is the finest silver, twisted wire though it be. May I be permitted to work for just a short while upon it? I will not mar the separateness of the strands, but I can gather them together so that they will always remain conjoined. And so it will make a fitting marriage ring.’

And he did this in a very short space of time, and returned the ring to Arbros, who kept it for the day of the crowning of Vidnî, when Vidnî and he should be wed.

Arbros returns to Tídris: chpater 46 of Gantzor the Coldsword

Yusstagë nófa hyiluvân inâ yithlama forolir.

Arbros awoke. Those were the words he had heard by the sacred stone of Uxul, but he was not there: he was lying by the side of a road with trees above him. Laid out next to him was a small figure in a blue cloak. Then he remembered it all with misery. And there was Rauno kneeling beside him. Rauno said:

‘You’ve taken no harm, Master Arbros, I’m glad to see. But here is one that it will please you to see more than me, I guess!’

Arbros turned the other way, and there was Borotíki, swishing his tail and coming close for a nuzzle. 

‘Oh, beloved Borotíki, I am so happy to see you! But where did he go, Rauno? What happened? And please forgive me for my foolishness!’

‘We do, Borotíki and I, as you see. He is a wise pony, and Uxul is an evil place. When you went in, he galloped back to us and told Tiratéma about it all. It took the two of them a little while to show me where to go. And then we were delayed, even longer, by some ruffians who assailed us…’

At this, Pedrekkarpon jumped to his feet; then winced and sat down again. He said:

‘Pedrekkarpon of Thémi Kabatigna at your service, master Entelláwa! Those ruffians must be the ones who beat me and stole my wares!’

‘Yes, my friend; but I fear they had fellows who had already made off with your wares before we met them. You will not see those treasures again.’

‘Aha, maybe, maybe; but you know that everything wrought by the Kabadri bears a curse on anyone who steals it!’

‘I guess that those for whom the goods were stolen are some who are already cursed, in Tesdámo, and beyond the Two Seas, and in Urlan-fên! Let us say no more of it for now. Master Pedrekkarpon, where are you bound now? You may not be safe on the road alone. Will you come west with us and see where the new City of the Hyûvandri is to be built’? They have need of Kabadka skills there!’

‘That would please me greatly. We Kabadri have been building, up at Thémi Kabatigna, and I am in good practice. I am not expected home these many months. But you, sirs, are mounted, and I have only my feet to go on.’

Arbros said: 

‘Master Pedrekkarpon, I’m sure that Borotíki would allow you to ride him. It is the least thing I can do to make up for my treatment of you. And Tiritéma is used to an extra rider.’

Rauno said:

‘Well said, Arbros lad.’

And so, after making camp for the night again, at a good distance from the unfriendly town of Istammet, they set off all three together towards Ravinnigos. It took some time to make their way to the great western road, but when they reached it, they got on more quickly, though they were hampered by the same foul weather that beset Vidnî and Mirutháli coming east.

Zaikolinnwë was drawing near when they arrived at Ravinnigos. Arbros went straight back to the Thendáka encampment with Borotíki. The life of the rider was what he wanted to have, not the life of a ruler, with a crown and a sword. When Arbros entered the tent, Terve Mëolandi merely said: 

‘Glad you’re back safe, lad. Borotíki took care of you, then.’

Return to Uxul: chapter 45 of Gantzor the Coldsword

Still trembling with excitement, Arbros made his way back to the great open space in the middle of the town where the assembly had been. He could see Rauno by the sacred stone, being addressed by a man who looked angry. As Arbros approached the man abruptly walked off. Rauno said:

‘We shall not sleep in the town tonight, Arbros lad. We are not welcome here. Let us make camp up on the hill overlooking the town.’ 

Arbros was delighted to find that Rauno had chosen a place for a camp near to the road that the Foul Rider had told him led directly to Uxul. He began making a plan for the morrow. Rauno and all the Thendári knew that Arbros loved riding Borotíki, and would take every opportunity to go out with him, often rising early in the morning to do that before they went on the road. Rauno permitted it, merely warning him to stay close to the camp. 

So the following day Arbros rose very early and saddled up Borotíki, reckoning that the ride to Uxul and back would be no longer than any other early ride. And if he were a little delayed, how pleased Rauno would be to see him return with a sword, a crown, and a ring.

Soon they were jogging along a beautiful hollow way with the autumn sunlight of early morning slanting through the trees. Arbros kept Borotíki at a good pace because he was anxious not to be late. But as they rounded a corner they came upon a small figure sitting by the roadside next to an immense bundle. It was a Kabáda in a blue cloak, who called out:

‘Please, kind young man, can you help an old Kabáda? I have a heavy bundle to carry to market, and my leg is lame. ’Tis only a mile or so to town, then you can be back on your way.’

Borotíki slowed right down and seemed to want to stop, but Arbros was in a hurry. He called out:

‘I’m sorry sir, my errand is urgent. I will help you on my way back,’ 

Arbros urged Borotíki forward. The old Kabáda called after him,

‘I can reward you richly! I have many treasures!’

Arbros felt a pang, but hardened his resolve, and they went on up the road among the woods. It seemed a great deal longer than Foul Rider had said. The morning was wearing away when they came out of the woods and there somewhat to the left of them was the familiar hill, topped with a palisade enclosing the thatched wooden houses: Uxul. Between them and the village was a crossroads, where a highway, no doubt built by the Giants of old, passed through the valley. They trotted down to this place, where a great stone stood. As they passed it, Borotíki became nervous and had to be coaxed forward, up the lane leading between overgrown fields to the village. It felt odd to Arbros to approach this place on Borotíki’s back. Getting closer, Arbros could see that the gates were hanging open, with broken hinges. 

When they reached the gates, Borotíki suddenly halted. Arbros urged him on, but he stood firm. He neighed and dashed his head to and fro. Arbros dismounting, said:

‘If you won’t go in, you must wait here. I shall not be long.’ 

He hurried along the street towards the well. How sad the empty houses looked. Some roofs had fallen in. Doors were wide open. Grass and weeds were growing everywhere. Arbros felt frightened, but told himself to be resolute. There was the sacred stone, and not far away, there was the sandy slope where the well’s entrance lay. He hurried to it and jumped down into the opening. How odd to be here alone, when the last time Vidnî had been with him. He felt another pang in his heart. But now he was at the bottom of the shallow shaft. There was the side chamber, with the little spring of water. And here was the flat blank inner wall — surely the entrance to the treasure cave. Arbros cried:

Gantë thûr, hlafaremef! 

And his voice echoed frighteningly. Nothing happened. He put his hands and his ear against the flat rock. He said again:

Gantë thûr, hlafaremef! 

He called the words out again, over and over. He explored the walls of the well with his hands. He scratched at them with his Thendáka knife. Nothing. No door. It was only too plain: Foul Rider had played a trick on him. 

Arbros felt the corners of his eyes prick with tears. He slumped down on the stone, and sat there for a long while, his mind a blank. He had found no treasure: no crown, ring, or sword. He had spurned the lame Kabáda. He had lost the Kabáda’s promised reward. He felt miserable.

As he sat there, a small grey object on the ground caught his eye. He stooped and picked it up. It was a curl of silver wire, roughly wound round itself to make a tiny circle. Suddenly Arbros remembered it. He and Vidnî had been playing at weddings when they were quite little. He had found this bit of silver wire and twisted it into a ring. He began to weep. He wanted only to see Vidnî again. He didn’t care about being Lord of Tídris. He made to throw the wire away, but thought better of it, and put it in his pocket. It might be his only reminder of Vidnî.

Suddenly he began to feel uneasy, as if there were someone else nearby in the deserted town. He got up and raced back to the gates, not daring to look behind him. It was much later in the day than he had expected. It was afternoon, and the sun was dipping beyond the western hills. Where had the time gone? What would Rauno think?

His heart seemed to jump into his mouth. Borotíki was not at the gates. Nor was he anywhere to be seen, along the lane down from the gates, or in the overgrown fields on the hillsides beside it. Perhaps he had gone back to their camp. But suppose someone had taken him away. The thought was unbearable. In a panic Arbros ran headlong down the lane, past the stone at the crossroads, back the way they had come, up into the wooded hills, and along the hollow way. It was very dark under the trees, for the sun had gone, and it felt cold and clammy. A mist was rising. Then he heard a voice. He stopped and listened. It called:

‘Help me! Please help me!’ 

Arbros hurried around the next bend in the road. Through the gloom and mist he saw the same old Kabáda in the blue cloak lying by the road, near where he had met him in the morning. Arbros ran to the Kabáda and helped him to sit up. He gave him water from the leather bottle at his side, which the Thendâ had given him. The Kabáda said:

‘Thank you, young sir,. I find I am not badly hurt, just bruised all over. Pedrekkarpon, of Thémi Kabatigna, at your service.’

He looked more closely at Arbros.

‘Ah, ’tis you, the young fellow who wouldn’t stop this morning. ’Tis a shame you didn’t come and help me then, for a gang of robbers set on me as I was coming back from market, and all my treasures are gone. From those I would have rewarded you. I had swords, and rings, and even a crown, all wrought under the hills by the smiths of the Kabdath. But thus it was fated. Tell me your name, young sir.’

‘I am called Arbros. I am sorry that I did not stop. I thought I was going to find hidden treasures at Uxul. I was tricked. And I’ve lost my pony too.’ 

He turned away to hide the tears that came again.

Even as they were speaking together, the shadows grew deeper, and the mist became so thick that they could scarcely see the road in either direction. Arbros shivered. And at that moment there came voices, voices in the mist, some wailing, some cackling, some moaning. Then there was chanting, chanting from both sides, words they did not know; but they heard the frequent repetition of the word Mikhan-dâ. Then the drumming began:

Dûmbû dâbûn dûbunda dâbunda

Dâbûn dûbunda dâbunda dûmbû

Dûbunda dâbunda dûmbû dâbûn

Dâbunda dûmbû dâbûn dûbunda

Pedrekkarpon said:

‘They’re coming closer.’

Cold with fear, Arbros asked:

‘Who are they?’

‘Don’t you know, young fellow? The Sheefra. Yon’s a Sheefra-mist. Not many people get home from one of them! We can’t run, so we’ll have to stand our ground. Or, in my case, sit.’ 

And abruptly Pedrekkarpon fell back on to the grassy bank, overcome, it seemed, with sleep.

Scarcely knowing what he was doing, Arbros drew out his long Thendáka knife and stood over the prostrate Kabáda. They seemed to be in a small pocket in the swirling mist. The drumming and chanting was deafening. Arbros’s senses began to whirl, and he felt sleep taking him, even as the fearful din filled his ears. He found himself crying out:

Éyvar kúmi netári, hlabû-san ta-Émarul Sápha!

Then he knew nothing.

Arbros in the East: chapter 44 of Gantzor the Coldsword

Riding eastwards with the Thendâ was exhilarating. The company of riders, Mëolande and her thráka-sarron, Rauno on Tiratéma, and Arbros on Borotíki, moved at a steady pace along the eastward high road, making camp along the way. At times they would gallop their horses, and Borotíki made his best effort to keep up, urged on by Arbros. Between them there was now a strong bond: they began almost to know each other’s thoughts. Apart from Vidnî, Arbros had never had such a friend.

After many days on the road, the Thendâ turned north, to join their comrades and the herds grazing on the high plains. Mëolande bade farewell to Arbros in her accustomed short-spoken way:

‘Go well, son Arbros. You have the makings of a fine rider, for a Hyûvanwa. Always listen to Borotíki. He is the wise foal of a wise mare!’

Then, to Arbros’s surprise, Mëolande embraced him and kissed him on both cheeks; then ran and vaulted on to her mare; and the thráka-sarron at once moved off. Arbros suddenly felt lonely. But Rauno came and said:

‘We shall soon have company enough. For now our work begins. We must ride to the land’s end, where the eastern seas are warm, and visit the fisher folk there.’

Then, like Vidnî and Mirutháli, they two went from one settlement of Hyûvandri to another, staying with friendly folk, speaking to the people about the Dolorous Stroke, the return of Negobith, and the founding of Tídris. At the very end of the land, where thick woods full of strange birds fringed a sandy shoreline, they found simple fisher folk who listened impassively to their words, but replied that they would be glad to have the protection of the Great City. For they had heard tales of the Kúmi Netári, and feared them.

They visited farmers and herdsfolk dwelling in the inland regions, and they too were glad to know that a great lord and his folk would take thought for them if indeed new dangers were arising. They spent a pleasant enough Spring, Summer, and Autumn in these travels; but always, for Arbros, it was riding and caring for Borotíki that gave him his chief happiness.

Of Ingos Earthstepper and his care for the Hyûvandri, the peoples in the East knew only the tales their fathers and mothers had told them. They had not seen him walking the earth, going forth with the sowers, joining in the harvest, herding the beasts. They could not mourn for him, and their response to the news of the Dolorous Stroke was only courteous regret.

As they travelled westward again, Arbros and Rauno came to small towns where folk were wary of them. They listened respectfully to their tidings. But they said:

‘Of this Ingos we know neither bad nor good; our fathers praised him, but he has not visited us. And as for the great City, we can make our own choices: other cities there be, and their lords are well disposed to us.’

Arbros could see that Rauno was greatly troubled at these words, and asked what they might mean.

‘I know naught for certain, son Arbros, but it was foretold that the sons of Oigenas, when they return, are to set up a great city in the East; and thither they will take all who receive the Yoke.

But now we have been guests in nearly all the settlements of the Hyûvandri that I know of in the East. The autumn is wearing on, and we must return to Tídris. There is one more town that we should go to, Istammet; it is a little way to the northwest of here.’

Then Arbros remembered the Quest, and was alarmed that he had found neither crown, nor sword, nor ring. He felt a sudden urgency to obtain them as soon as he could. Supposing Vidnî had all three, or even two, or even just one, and he came back with none! But Rauno said:

‘Fear not, Arbros lad, for the game is neither won nor lost till the last throw.’

The very next day they came into a land that Arbros recognized. The shapes of the hills were known to him. The village in which he grew up, Uxul, must lie only a few days’ journey away.

That evening they entered Istammet, the greatest town Arbros had yet seen. A crowd assembled to hear them, but they murmured at their words, and some even began to call out against them:

‘Ingos the Earthstepper! Of him our fathers prated, but none of us have ever seen him! What can he do for us, or has ever done? Build your mighty city if you wish, but we know who our friends are! We await the mighty ones who bring the Yoke of Negobith.’

Arbros shuddered at these words, for he had heard almost the same things before, at Uxul when the Entelláka maidens came to warn the people. The meeting soon broke up, and some folk stayed to speak, or perhaps to argue, with Rauno; but no one paid Arbros any heed, and he walked along the high street to see the big buildings, wondering if they would have such houses in Tídris.

He felt a touch on his arm and turned. A man of short stature, dressed like a horseman, stood there; he had a wizened smiling face and dark curling hair, and something like a drum slung on his back.

‘Son of Ingos! You are glum, for they will not listen. Now, I know that the tall Entelláwa’s story is quite true. I was a friend of the Lord Ingos myself. His loss is very terrible.’

Arbros had nothing to say. He could see the man was friendly, but he trembled inwardly. Was it fear or excitement?

‘But your story is most wonderful. You escaped from Uxul? You know, do you, that it is but a few miles from here. The road is easy to find. It runs between yonder hills and through some pleasant woods. Perhaps you walked in those woods yourself in former years?’

Arbros answered:

‘I do not think so, sir, for I was like a servant to those that I lived with, and I hardly ever had time for play. When we had no tasks we crept into the well—’

The man’s eyes crinkled with pleasure as he interrupted. 

‘Ah, now the well! That is the most interesting thing of all. For that was never a well at all! It is the entrance to a secret chamber. You do not know, I am sure, what “Uxul” means, in the language of old? “Treasure”! Yes, to be precise, its old name was Yir Uxul, “the place of treasure”. Because under that town are the chambers where the giants of old bestowed their treasures for safe keeping, and now the giants are no more, and the silly townsfolk who dwelt on top of it, and never knew about it, have gone away. So if anyone is looking for precious things to be freely had, such as, say, swords, or rings, or even crowns — well, it’s all there for the taking! But keep it to yourself, won’t you!’

This seemed almost too good to be true to Arbros. Now was surely his last chance to achieve the Quest, and all he had to do was grasp it. But he thought it wise not to seem eager.

‘That is very interesting, sir. I did not know. I will ask Rauno about it.’

‘Now, now, lad, as I said, keep it to yourself. This is a Hyûvanka matter. The Entellári have done their work, and they are entrusting everything to the Hyûvandri now. But if you should pass that way, and feel like exploring the place, there’s an ûthéa that opens the hidden door. It is easy to remember: Gantë thûr, hlafaremef. Now I must be gone: good luck to you!’

‘Excuse me, sir, but please stay a moment and tell me by what name I am to remember you? You seem to be a rider by your attire, but you are not a Thendáwa.’

‘Yes, I am a rider. The Foul Rider some call me, for folk do not like the look and smell of my mount. Farewell.’