After many days, Slungandi caught sight of another traveller coming towards him. It was a Hyûvanwa, an old man wearing a battered hat and big boots. But he was not any ordinary Hyûvanwa. Slungandi knew him at once, though he had never seen him before. It was Ingos, the Father of all the Hyûvandri, he who had been granted length of days like to one of the Doitherúna — until his tasks in the Midworld were finished.
The two travellers met at a place on the track that is called Tudhyotta Kwéni, the Meeting of the Two, where two oak trees overshadow the path. Slungandi bowed before Ingos and said:
Silûnakánti looks with reverence
On the Lord Ingos, Earthstepper wise,
Hyûvanka-friend, valiant striver,
And wonders whither he wends alone?
Ingos looked on Slungandi and knew him to be the leader of the Falakkazri he had seen on their skulldeer coming to the place of trading at Valkamet. That memory inclined him to be wary. For were not the Falakkazri now bound to the Runewives, and were not the Runewives the servants of Murnag ta-Valka, and was not Murnag the paramour of Melyúnas? So Ingos replied:
Friend, Father Ingos walks ~ up and down the earth-ways,
Roams along the Giants’ Roads ~ and paths of Entellári.
Not just for pleasure this, ~ but to help Hyûvandri,
And guard them from their unfriends ~ who might in some way harm them.
From Yew Tree town I come, ~ its memory is evil;
There I saw enslaved folk, ~ working all the day long,
Keeping masters at their ease, ~ trading fruits of labour
For the precious metalware ~ made by skilled Kabadri,
Brought by Falakkazri ~ on their antlered skulldeer.
And I saw the Mistress dark ~ with the great Melyúnas
Sending forth the Runewives ~ to another country.
Their intent I know not ~ but my heart misgave me.
Slungandi thought about this carefully. At last he said:
Silûnakánti has left the master
Who keeps Falakkazri and cossets Runewives.
Nor does Lady Murnag or Lord Melyúnas
Ordain his deeds. But a dear treasure
He bears along, that he can lend Ingos
To thrust down throngs, and thwart tyrants.
A strong star-gem to instruct your search
For your folk’s foemen and friends’ undoers,
That can give power to put them down.
For he thought: Let Melyúnas hunt down Ingos rather than me. Let Ingos be the bait when Melyúnas springs the trap.
But Ingos said:
Friend, I purpose simply ~ to reason with Melyúnas
To ask him why his pleasure is ~ to push down my people.
Ingos from the outset ~ disdained to use the crystal
That Lord Melyúnas lent ~ to make him rule Hyûvandri.
I’ll not fight with weapons ~ by example of Melyúnas.
Rather I shall meet with him ~ when the Moon is fullest,
She shall witness our debate ~ and shall judge between us.
If the great Melyúnas ~ deigns to meet Ingos
He must come and make ~ the tryst of my choosing:
Laukonoth the Moon-mountain ~ the abode of Astagant.
We have all met before ~ and not in great friendship!
Slungandi said:
Nay, Men’s Father, no force can fetch him.
The Lord Melyúnas wields mighty powers.
A rough rune-master who can read the heart,
And bind powers, and break peoples.
In shadow sheltering, he’ll shun Ingos,
And hide his head, while he hurls his spells.
You’ll get no sight of him, seek how you may,
Unless you wield the gem that he jealously craves,
Silûnakánti’s crystal shard.
Ingos said:
Then, O good Silûnakánti ~ you must be my fellow
And bring the gem along with you ~ that he wants so badly.
Climb the Mountain of the Moon ~ and draw Melyúnas thither.
Then the Moon shall judge ~ and Astagant be witness!
Slungandi perceived that Ingos had got the better of him, and with some ill grace, consented to accompany him to the tryst.
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