Great was the grief throughout all Tídris when the Lord Arbros returned in sorrow with the lifeless body of Thilfri the Fair. Queen Vidnî was stricken with anguish for the companion of her youth. She commanded Thilfri to be laid upon a soft couch, covered with a fine counterpane. As the word spread, great crowds of folk, not only of Tídris but from many parts of Dúmiel, streamed to the place of assembly in the midst of the city to grieve by the bed of Thilfri. Her skin was white as milk without a hint of colour. And all now called her Thilfri the White.
Then came the twin brother of Thilfri, Lansenet the Valiant, and looked upon his sister, still clad in the armour that was his, lying as if asleep upon the couch. He did not weep, but a cold anger came upon him, and he turned unfriendly eyes upon Arbros and Vidnî. Then he said:
How can it be that you, Lord Arbros, once our friend and protector, could let this fate befall her. You lay stunned, you say, as she struck the stroke that nigh slew her! Shame on you, Lord Arbros. And shame on Queen Vidní, she who conspired with my sister to send her to Kapgar Kûm in my stead. Would that I had perished in Onskabâ in her place!
And they began to take the armour from Thilfri’s body, but she stirred not. And Arbros said:
Here at least are Damarâw, your mount, and Daitharon, your sword, which was not girt at Thilfri’s side when I took her up. I guess she dropped it when she snatched up Daganarth, to perform that noble feat for which she shall ever be honoured. To sever the sword-arm of the Enemy was a greater deed than I, Arbros, ever dared hope to accomplish.
But Lansenet replied coldly:
A curse upon Tídris and upon the Ilgurath Aphtu! No more shall Lansenet abide in idleness in this hapless Higwatanya! He shall ride to the world’s end to avenge Thilfri the White!
And with that Lansenet seized his armour, slung his pack upon his back, sheathed Daitharon at his side, and mounted Damarâw. He took a shield and a spear too, as one going to war. And he said:
Farewell, Lord and Lady. You shall not see me till Thilfri is avenged or I am no more. Farewell.
And he rode away into the night.
Then Arbros remembered that he still had upon him the wandkey Sporni, and he surrendered it into the hands of Vidnî. And she said:
Arbros, let us see if Sporni can help in Thilfri’s need!
And she took the crystal shard, child of the Talyoran, and placed it gently to the lips of Thilfri. And they all harkened, and there came the smallest breath of a sigh. And all cried out with joy that Thilfri lived. So Vidnî plied Sporni as best she knew how about Thilfri’s body. She touched the cold hands that had wielded Daganarth against the foul arm of the Enemy, but they remained cold, and the body of the maiden lay stiff as if frozen. There was just the merest ghost of a trace of breath in her mouth, but she never moved, and her beautiful eyes were closed.
Then Vidnî sent out messengers in haste that might overtake Lansenet and tell him that his sister lived. Which road he he had taken, no man knew. They went north, south, east, and west, seeking him.
But meantime Lansenet rode as if possessed by something from the Deep. He little knew whither to go. A blind fury of grief drove him, but he knew well enough not to ride to the northern gate of Dúmiel, for that was always watched by the spies of Negobith. He took his way east into the hill country, following the same paths that he had taken with Arbros, Pedrekkarpon, and the three men of the Eskenári when they journeyed to rescue the captives from Magéraz Urlan-fên.
But as he came into the great forest of the Greenmarch, the guarded border of Dúmiel, it chanced that he missed his right way, or it may be that the paths had been changed; and he wandered, seeking the northern portals of the forest. And on the third evening he came to a fair clearing in the woods, wherein was a little hillside from which a spring poured forth a glittering stream of water. And there Lansenet halted, for he was both weary and thirsty, and he planted his spear in the earth, and set up his shield, and made himself a makeshift camp. And then he drank a long draught from the spring. Still his rage at Arbros and the fate of Thilfri tore at his mind, but whether from his weariness or some virtue of the spring, as soon as he lay down on his makeshift bed, he fell fast asleep.
And when it was dark night and the stars crowded in the sky, there befell a vision to Lansenet, whether in a dream of his sleep or in truth and waking. Three tall slender figures bearing torches drew nigh to him where he lay on the ground, and in the light of their torches Lansenet saw that they were very beautiful dark ladies with hair bejewelled and rich raiment, and yet clad as if they were riding or journeying. But Lansenet, like one in a dream, could not move or speak, but looked on and listened.
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