At Yivanówa, eight days of mourning for Ingos were kept. All those who had gathered at Ravinnigos remained together, including Queen Tithiánë and the Fáwiengri. Then they sailed back in the fleet of ships upriver to Ravinnigos. When they landed there, the Queen and her eight companions brought from the ship Êlestië Pereigus a great sea-stone.
Vidnî and Arbros desired greatly to know what this was.
Rauno said:
‘This great stone comes from Otset Ingos, the Isle where, as you have seen, Ingos lies, until his time comes. It is the foundation stone of your city, the new city of Tídris, and it shall be the centre of the city, and it shall be named Kapatingos, the Stone of Ingos. While the stone stands, the City shall never be taken by any enemy.’
Then with great solemnity, Kapatingos was set in its place at the very centre of Ravinnigos, the Island of Bridges. It was set up in the middle of the Giants’ road, and the road was remade so that it split into two parts, which passed on either side of the Stone. And around the stone was made a wide flat place where folk could assemble.
Next, a great assembly was held in that place. The Fáwiengri built a high platform. On it stood Queen Tithiánë and Rauno the Counsellor of King Olverúno. Around it were gathered the Hyúvandri envoys, the Thendâ with their horses, the eight Entelláka maidens, and Vidnî and Arbros. And Rauno stepped forward and solemnly proclaimed:
Hlabu-san ta-Émarul Sápha! Be it known to all here present that this day, with this Stone, Kapatingos, is founded the City of Tídris, to be a refuge for all the peoples of the Hyûvandri and an ensign to all friendly peoples of the Nyandri, till the end of the world. And the bounds of the City, when it has been fully built, shall be the banks of this isle Ravinnigos. And around this City shall be a realm, when they who shall be rulers have entered into their dominion. The Entellári will hand over their Guardianship of all lands between the seas of Thrâyeldim to the faithful Hyúvandri.
At this there were shouts of joy from the assembled multitude. But Rauno held up his hand for silence.
All this, my dear friends, is necessary, because the world has changed for the worse. The long dominion of the Three Gangri has ended. The peace which they upheld is no more. The Great Runes of Binding are broken. Oigenas has arisen in Ombros and set his yoke upon many. Worst of all, he has cast Father Ingos into Icesleep. By the mercy of Émarul Sápha, the Dolorous Stroke which Oigenas dealt shattered his own house of flesh. But his anya lives on. It will return to Kapgar Kûm. Already his servants are preparing to raise a great City of their own in which to pen all those who receive the Yoke. Soon, the Hyilavúna forebode, his cruel sons Prámiz the thief of Starfire and Groiznath his brother will free themselves from their bonds. They will take up the Lordship of the northern lands. And then they will seek to set the Yoke on all Hyûvandri. The realm of Night has come near!
At this, those around the Stone cried out in fear and anguish. Some of the Hyûvandri wept. But Rauno again called for silence, and made a sign to Silsawistë and Mirutháli, who stood with Vidnî and Arbros. They took the two children by the hand and led them up on to the platform. And Rauno said:
My dear friends, we have hope. We have the Children of Hope, Ilgurath Aphtu, who were saved from the Yoke by their quick wits and the name of Émarul Sápha.
Then Queen Tithiánë spoke to Vidnî and Arbros.
My dear children, you are very young to take any burden upon your shoulders, but by your wit and courage you escaped the burden of the accursed Yoke. The Entellári offer each of you this chance, if you are willing to take it. You, Arbros, or you, Vidnî, can be the first to rule over the City of Tídris and its future realm, or maybe, both of you, which would be the best thing of all! — yes, either one of you or both of you together. But this can only be if you will first undertake a Quest.
This Realm has no crown of glory, no ring of rulership, and no sword of justice. If you, Vidnî, or you, Arbros, aspire to become Ruler of this Realm, you must find those three things that rule requires: your crown, your ring, and your sword. To do that, you will have to journey to the furthest bounds of the future Realm, to the Eastern Sea or to the Western, and win the hearts of your future subjects; and among them, if you are faithful, you will find the crown, the ring, and the sword. And you will have a year and a day to accomplish the Quest. What do you say?
Then those two children were utterly silent with fear, uncertainty, and weakness. There was a pause, and many in the crowd whispered together. Arbros and Vidnî looked at each other wide-eyed. Then Vidnî said:
I will undertake this Quest, if Émarul Sápha will help me. What do you say, Arbros? Will you do the same?
And Arbros’s pride was stung by the simple readiness of Vidnî to take on this thing that was offered, and so, although his heart was unwilling, he said:
Yes, I also will undertake this Quest, if somehow I can. Can we go together?
Then Rauno looked with pity on Arbros, and he understood, and he said:
Nay, Arbros, if you both undertake the quest you must each go your own way. You, Arbros, shall go to the east, and you, Vidnî, to the west. But fear not! You will not go alone.
The children were again abashed at the thought they they must go separately and might not see each other for a year; or, if anything terrible should happen, ever again. Then Vidnî said:
Who then will go with us? And how will we go?
And Rauno said:
I, Rauno, will go with Arbros. And he will not need to sit behind me on Tiratéma. For the Thendâ will accompany us for much of the way, and they will give Arbros a pony and teach him to ride it, and this will ease our journey greatly!
And Mirutháli said:
And I will go with Vidnî, and we shall take ship in a little boat with two or three of my sister Entellári, and we shall teach Vidnî to steer, and row, and sail by the glorious stars, and the Fáwiengri will sail with us and give us counsel. And that will greatly ease our journey too!
The the faces of the two children brightened, because they would not be alone, and because each of them was to travel in a new and exciting way and learn skills unknown in Uxul.
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