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.’
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