and on that set shelter-tents of hide. Within were couches covered with the skins of beasts, and some so carpeted also. There was a long, low table in the largest tent and it was spread with food.
I stroked a fine silver-white fur, beautiful enough to form a mantle for the lady of a great lord. It was dappled with a deeper grey and so well cured that it was as soft in my hands as a silken shift. Though all about us was leather red or fur, still there was a magnificence which spoke of honour offered and comfort promised.
Lord Imgry stood at the foot of the table as we finished those viands left for us, a bread with dried fruit baked therein, smoked meat of rich flavour, sweets which had the taste of wild honey and nutmeats. He had a shadow about him, I suddenly thought, as if between him and our company was forming a barrier-that indeed we were already forsaking our kind. But there was this time no fear in that thought, only again did I feel that prick of eagerness to be away-to be doing-where and what? I could not name either.
"Listen well." his voice was unduly harsh, sending us all into silence. "In the morn you shall hear a signal-the calling of a horn. Then will you take the marked path leading from this tent, and you will go down to where your lords await you-"
"But-" Solfinna protested, "there will have been no marriage, no giving by cup and flame."
He smiled at her as if that shaping of the lips came, for him, with vast effort.
"You pass from those who deal by Cup and Flame, my lady. Marriage awaits you true enough, but by other rites. However, they will be as binding. I bid you," he paused and looked at each in turn, coming at last to me, though his gaze did not linger, "good fortune." His hand moved in the green light of the table lamps. He was holding a cup. "As he who stands for all of you as father-kin, do I drink long years, fair life, and easy passing, kin-favour, roof-fortune, child-holding. Thus be it ever!"
So did the Lord Imgry perform for the twelve and one he had brought hither the father-kin farewell. And then , he was swiftly gone before any found tongue.
"So be it." I stood up and in that moment of bewilderment their eyes all swung to me. "I do not think we shall see my lord again."
"But to go alone-down to strangers-" one of them made protest.
"Alone?" I asked. Swiftly Kildas came in, as might a shield companion in a sharp skirmish.
"We are twelve and one, not one alone. Look you, girl-this may be a festive hall, yet I think we have been made good welcome here." She drew to her a lustrous length of black fur, with small diamond sparkles touching the hair tips in the light.
I had half expected trouble after the going of Imgry.
But, while there was little talk among them as they prepared for the waiting couches, also there was more a sense of expectancy and content. Almost as if each in truth did wait for a wedding she might have hoped for in the usual passing of time. They were quiet as if their thoughts were turned inward, and, now and again, one had a shadow of smile about her lips. As I drew the silver fur about my shoulders I wondered a little.
But I slept that night deeply dreamless, and knew no waking until the morning sun lay from the tent's entrance as a thin spear. "Gillan!"
Kildas stood there. She had looped aside the flap to look out, and now she glanced at me, plainly disturbed. "What make you of this?"
I crawled from my warm nest of furs and joined her. The horses we had ridden the night before were gone from the picket line our escort had set up. The other tent still stood, its flap looped up to show it empty. To all appearances the camp was deserted, save for the brides. "It would seem they feared some last minute changes of mind." I commented.
She smiled. "I think they need not have harboured such doubts. Is that not true, Gillan?"
With her asking I knew it was true. On this morn, had all the powers
I stroked a fine silver-white fur, beautiful enough to form a mantle for the lady of a great lord. It was dappled with a deeper grey and so well cured that it was as soft in my hands as a silken shift. Though all about us was leather red or fur, still there was a magnificence which spoke of honour offered and comfort promised.
Lord Imgry stood at the foot of the table as we finished those viands left for us, a bread with dried fruit baked therein, smoked meat of rich flavour, sweets which had the taste of wild honey and nutmeats. He had a shadow about him, I suddenly thought, as if between him and our company was forming a barrier-that indeed we were already forsaking our kind. But there was this time no fear in that thought, only again did I feel that prick of eagerness to be away-to be doing-where and what? I could not name either.
"Listen well." his voice was unduly harsh, sending us all into silence. "In the morn you shall hear a signal-the calling of a horn. Then will you take the marked path leading from this tent, and you will go down to where your lords await you-"
"But-" Solfinna protested, "there will have been no marriage, no giving by cup and flame."
He smiled at her as if that shaping of the lips came, for him, with vast effort.
"You pass from those who deal by Cup and Flame, my lady. Marriage awaits you true enough, but by other rites. However, they will be as binding. I bid you," he paused and looked at each in turn, coming at last to me, though his gaze did not linger, "good fortune." His hand moved in the green light of the table lamps. He was holding a cup. "As he who stands for all of you as father-kin, do I drink long years, fair life, and easy passing, kin-favour, roof-fortune, child-holding. Thus be it ever!"
So did the Lord Imgry perform for the twelve and one he had brought hither the father-kin farewell. And then , he was swiftly gone before any found tongue.
"So be it." I stood up and in that moment of bewilderment their eyes all swung to me. "I do not think we shall see my lord again."
"But to go alone-down to strangers-" one of them made protest.
"Alone?" I asked. Swiftly Kildas came in, as might a shield companion in a sharp skirmish.
"We are twelve and one, not one alone. Look you, girl-this may be a festive hall, yet I think we have been made good welcome here." She drew to her a lustrous length of black fur, with small diamond sparkles touching the hair tips in the light.
I had half expected trouble after the going of Imgry.
But, while there was little talk among them as they prepared for the waiting couches, also there was more a sense of expectancy and content. Almost as if each in truth did wait for a wedding she might have hoped for in the usual passing of time. They were quiet as if their thoughts were turned inward, and, now and again, one had a shadow of smile about her lips. As I drew the silver fur about my shoulders I wondered a little.
But I slept that night deeply dreamless, and knew no waking until the morning sun lay from the tent's entrance as a thin spear. "Gillan!"
Kildas stood there. She had looped aside the flap to look out, and now she glanced at me, plainly disturbed. "What make you of this?"
I crawled from my warm nest of furs and joined her. The horses we had ridden the night before were gone from the picket line our escort had set up. The other tent still stood, its flap looped up to show it empty. To all appearances the camp was deserted, save for the brides. "It would seem they feared some last minute changes of mind." I commented.
She smiled. "I think they need not have harboured such doubts. Is that not true, Gillan?"
With her asking I knew it was true. On this morn, had all the powers
Similar Books
