The encounter on Mount Laukonoth: chapter 30 of The Talyoran

 

Ingos and Slungandi came to the peak of the Mountain of the Moon just as the new Moon began to grow. Then Astagant the good fellgiant came forth and welcomed them. But he looked upon Slungandi and said:

Thy heart is caught   by crystal’s charm.

Let thy hand not wield it   to worldly harm.

Slungandi scowled and made no answer.

He and Ingos lodged with Astagant. They spoke of their coming encounter with Melyúnas. For Astagant was a friend of the Melainë, and they brought him news of everything that passed in Thrâyeldim.

The Moon grew day by day, but Melyúnas did not come. The Full Moon came, but he did not come. The Moon waned, but he did not come.

The time of the New Moon came, and Ingos stood alone in the darkness upon the top of Laukonoth. Behind him he heard a voice speak:

Thabus íleme lauko-ni! Dâbu brankin! Death to the Moon! 

Ingos turned and saw, in the light of a starfire torch, the face of Melyúnas. Despite the cruel words he had spoken, he was smiling.

Hyûvanka Father,   your full moon’s time

Is over and done.   All Hyûvandri

Shall be brought low   at Melyúnas’ name

And acknowledge Night   as their new mistress.

Each tribe’s name now   is netted in runes:

The web complete,   the woven spell,

Locked is the chain,   with no link lacking.

Now tender the Talyoran   you took from me

Here restore   the star-gem straight.

Ingos replied:

Great Lord Melyúnas ~ wise in all your knowledge

You overlook a few things ~ too small for your attention.

Your web cannot be knotted off ~ if any folk is nameless,

Without them all the rune fails ~ and every tribe is free.

The secret call that drew you here ~ is not the voice of Talyoran.

You won’t find that without a search ~ deep beneath the mountains.

So get you gone to Ombros ~ and chew upon your stratagems,

But Ingos soon will come behind ~ and make your webs unravel!

Melyúnas perceived that he had sprung his trap too soon. He was wroth,  but hid his anger as well as he could.

Ingos threatens,   but his thoughts are vain.

My Valka-people   have the Velgri hostage

In their hand’s hollow.   At a hint from me

The fist can close   and crush that crew.

So I counsel Ingos,   to come humbly

At next Death of Moon,   when Dark Night reigns,

To the web of Ombros,   to have your name

In gilded figure   fitly woven.

And bring in hand   the high star-gem,

Or the Moon-lovers   will remain no more.

Then he left Ingos in the darkness of the mountain. And thus Ingos ascertained that Melyúnas knew nothing of the Lost Tribe.