Slungandi, master of wiles, reckoned he had plenty of time during which he could go about his own business, before he had to find Ingos Earthstepper and appear before Negobith to deliver up the sword. He had no mind to hasten towards that tryst. He sent the skulldeer home without him, and, keeping clear of the old giants’ road, began a journey on foot into the Southlands. The course of the great western road lay far to the south of the Dagnath Nebren. He took a path that passed through the hills and joined the western road, hoping to pass undetected by the Netári in Kapgar Kûm.
The four Entelláka maidens, Mirutháli, Polanelya, Safataiwë, and Ventikiltis, continued on their journey, marvelling each morning that Kerorkîn Melainen had not returned to bring tidings of the coming of Ingos. And so it was that they came to the boundary stone where the narrow way through the hills from Mount Sabankos meets the great western road. And they rested there a while, enjoying the company of the old holly trees that grew round about, covered with nearly ripe berries. As they sat together their sharp ears picked up the sound of a soft footstep. Somebody was approaching. They rose quietly and each laid a hand on the low branch of a holly.
There soon appeared amid the bushes the brown wizened face, dark curled hair, and long arms of Slungandi the Drumster of the Deep. They knew him, of course, and their grip upon the holly branches tightened. He feigned surprise, pleasure, and respect as soon as his eyes met theirs; but in truth he had already detected their presence as he descended the hill path.
hEntellári! hÓmantallen!
Kevéï linnath oye-líren!
he said, bowing low, and intoning the opening stave of a praise-rune: which was indeed respectful, but, in his mouth, perhaps fell short of full sincerity. They replied:
We Entellári four ~ hail you with fair greetings!
Old Drumster of the Deep ~ where may you be faring?
Are you turning westward now ~ face towards the sunset?
That way we are bound ~ we go to meet Lord Ingos!
Slungandi stood still in the midst of the circle of Entelláka maidens. He could sense among them the air of the blessed realms of the Hyilavúna, which he had forfeited by his choice of the Deeps long ago. The brand of Negobith burned his shoulders. Then he recalled his burden. With a deft movement, his hand slipped behind him to the hilts of mighty Gantzor and he swung the blade down amidst them all and with little effort, thrust it into a large stone in the pathway. The Entellári each took a step back under the hollies. Slungandi said:
Lo, Sword Gantzor, stone-impaler!
I went an errand to win this blade
For the new Master, by name Negobith.
Gyúgri guarded it; I gained it back,
Dived deep waters and endured a blow.
Now round about I roam slowly
To return treasure when time is ripe.
But what he really wished to know was why the four Entellári were urgently seeking Ingos and whether he could turn that to his advantage. They replied:
If indeed your journey ~ to Kapgar Kûm takes you
Round by the western road ~ then we are fellow travellers.
That is not a pleasant place ~ that we would wish to go to,
But many miles yet there are ~ before the crossroads part us.
Then each Entelláya prayed her holly tree for the gift of the branch she held, and the trees granted it, and behold! the branches came away cleanly; and the new berries ripened red upon them. The four maidens now set off, bearing the prickly branches in their hands as shields, two of them on each side of Slungandi, who had slung Gantzor on his back once more. And so they all walked westward and the sun sank before them. When they halted for the night, Slungandi stretched himself out by the road and slept, or seemed to. The Entellári watched through the night as was their wont.
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