From Líath Uludhyanedh to Uxul was no great distance for Entellári to go, and Mirutháli and her three companions set off at first light; but early as it was, they found the village of the Hyúvandri stirring. The Entellári walked as peacefully as they might up the road to the hilltop. They saw in front of them many people coming forth from the village to the fields, some leading animals. But when the Hyúvandri caught sight of them, they all fled back into the village, shouting warnings to those inside.
‘Shut the gates! The Witch Women with the yellow hair have come! Beware their gaze!’
Before ever the Entellári could get near, the gates were slammed shut. They could see heads peering over the palisade at them, and then, as they advanced, a sudden shower of arrows and stones came from over the walls, which of course had no effect upon the four Entellári. But Mirutháli cried out:
People of Uxul now, ~ do not be fearful
Entellári come in peace, ~ only blessings bringing
If you will receive them. ~ Can we hold a parley?
Then Ketumar, the headman of Uxul, called back to them from his vantage point behind the pallisade:
‘Get you gone, yellow Witch Women. We will not treat with you. Why do you wander the world casting your wicked glances. Where are your menfolk? Let them speak for you!’
Mirutháli replied:
You have no need to fear us, ~ Entelláka maidens,
But we can soon send you ~ a man to uplift you.
Your good father Ingos, ~ the gentle earthstepper
Will come to your aid, ~ when we give him warning.
Meantime, we counsel you, ~ pay no heed to Negobith,
When hawkheads come here, ~ do not let them enter.
Émarul Sápha’s name ~ will send them back to darkness!
Call on her in need ~ for she will not forget you!
But Ketumar replied:
‘Ingos the Earthstepper! Of him our fathers prated, but none of us have ever seen him! What can he do for us, or has ever done? Send all you like, but we know who our friends are! We await the mighty ones who bring the Yoke of Negobith. We need not the name of your Sápha, Witch-women.’
And with that he stepped down, and another hail of arrows and stones fell among the Entellári, accompanied by the raucous blowing of horns.
The four Entelláka maidens turned sadly away. Descending the hill they rejoined the westward road. Then Mirutháli said:
Now the case is urgent ~ and our pace too sluggish.
We must summon messengers ~ to haste the news to Ingos.
Kerorkîn Melainen ~ if he is in Westmain
Let us call to help us ~ so bend your thoughts upon him.
At this they halted and turned from the road into a grove of oaks and ash trees. They stood together in a ring, putting their heads together, each placing an arm upon the shoulder of her neighbour. They chanted a rune of summoning, and then fell silent, sending their thought out into the skies. Then they returned to the road.
They had continued on the way until nearly noon, when an immense shadow suddenly passed over the stony road ahead. They heard a loud cry, more tuneful than the croaking of a bird of prey, and a mighty creature in bird form alighted before them, the Master of the Melainë of the North, greatest of the Ainë, the princes of the air.
Why do you call me from cruising cloudland?
Marshalling forth the fowls that fly
Is labour that may not be left to mortals!
His tone was reproachful, but his round dark eye glinted with mirth as he greeted the Entelláka maidens.
Quickly they told him how Negobith had arisen from Ombros, had begun to send out emissaries, had won over the Kabadri of Kalípo Kalhondrim, and was about to set his yoke on the necks of the men and women of Uxul.
Fly fast to Ingos ~ we pray you with urgency
Entreat him to hasten east ~ bringing his companions.
We now will travel west ~ and meet him on this high road.
We beg you to return to us ~ to tell us he is coming.
Kerorkîn replied:
I can find Earthstepper in any weather
Far off, nearby, I know his haunts
Fast on wing will fetch old earth-friend,
For Entellári errand going.
Bending and beating his great wings, Kerorkîn Melainen launched himself back into the air and, with a few downsweeps, was soon speeding westwards in search of Ingos Earthstepper, shepherd of the Hyûvandri.
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