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I could not help it; the question bolted free. “Do you think they found it? The thing with the iron helm?”
“’Tis likely, and if so it will carry no tales to its master. We may be grateful for that much.” Aeredh’s smile turned passing bitter, though, and he did not look thankful at all.
“Usurpers,” Eol muttered.
I did not like the turn conversation had taken, and had to appear oblivious or merely curious while I examined the buildings, the glittering streets, the trees of several different kinds. A large, spike-limbed evergreen of a type I had never seen before thrust skyward as if it longed to reach the roof, and though its trunk was massive therewould be many a long year before its crown could reach close to its goal.
Certainly longer than a man’s life, or even two.
“Soft, my friend.” Aeredh did not sigh, but he looked very much like my mother when she wished to do so. I found myself wondering if he had any children, though he looked far too young. “I have left the matter behind; so should you.”
“Sol?” Arn, very quietly; did I wish to let these lords know I understood their ancient speech? Or perhaps she was asking something else. I did not like being unable to discern or anticipate my shieldmaid, but we were both disarranged by travel.
Not to mention our surroundings. This place was so vast, and so many Elder were breathing within it. I wondered they had not run out of air, andthatwas an uncomfortable thought indeed.
“I am hungry too,” I murmured, as if she had meant to inquire about that. “At least there is a chance of breakfast, small one. Though I am uncertain if the Elder have ale.”
“’Tis the time for winterwine.” Aeredh’s good humor returned, the sun freeing itself from a cloud. “You may find it a worthy substitute, shieldmaid.”
The breeze touching my braids was sweet indeed, but I was unsure if I could truly like this place. I took to studying where my slippers landed instead of the buildings or gardens; the ground was so easy I did not need buskin or boot. My bee-torc rested comfortingly against my collarbones, but I did not think its work would impress those who had hollowed out this lovely, uncanny place.
No one likes to feel insignificant. My delight in seeing the new and strange soured some little as the palace drew nearer, lifted voices and the sound of stringed instruments as well as pipes echoing from its wide-open doors. Hound and hunter were gone from view; so were the crowds of Elder folk, yet the music remained. Another chill touched my skin under heartsblood wool, and I looked to Arn.
She felt it as well. My shieldmaid’s dark eyes were wide, her freckles bright against paleness. For all that, the light suited her, burnishing every edge and glittering upon ring- or scale-mail. She had reapplied her woad-stripe, and it glowed reassuringly.
Of course the orbglimmer was likely picking out my own imperfections, butshewas beautiful. So I have ever thought of others, especially other women. Astrid would glow like the pearls carried upriver here, and I found myself not quite wishing they had asked for her as weregild instead.
Not quite. And yet.
“We are being followed,” Arn declared, flatly. “Though your people stay well back, still they come.”
“Yes.” Aeredh glanced at me, as if I had been the one to speak. “There has never been analkuinein Nithraen. Do not let it trouble you, my lady shieldmaid. They mean no harm.”
“No elementalists?” I could barely believe it. The Elder are mighty inseidhr; it never occurred to me that with all their inner sight and invisible strength they would lack even the rarest flowerings of the Allmother’s gift. Then again, Aeredh’s share did not bar him from carrying a weapon—was he counted weak among them?
It was a strange thought.
“You are the first of your kind to set foot here, my lady Solveig.” Aeredh’s smile was beneficent, and his pace did not alter, drawing me onward. “The Elder have only ever had onealkuine, and some hope we may never be afflicted by another. Yet you are blameless in that matter, and a remedy besides. Do not fear, I shall not let any ill come to you.”
It struck me, then, that the Northerners would not utter such a promise so often were there no danger of it needing fulfillment. And from Arn’s expression, she had realized as much too, though well before her charge.
I watched my slippers—not so fine as any Elder raiment, certainly—avoiding gems in white stone, and redoubled my efforts not to lay even a toe upon one gleaming jewel.
It seemed safest that way.
Sons of Faevril
Then did the king lay his circlet upon the throne, and declared that any his people would follow could wear it with his blessing. None moved, and the City of Caves was silent as he took his leave, walking beside Bjornwulf as two friends upon a summer day.
—Baelor of Quaencis,Saga of the Uncrowned
Broad white steps swept us through vast high-arched doors and into the palace of Nithraen; the many-pillared halls were magnificent indeed. As we crossed the threshold, silver chalices were brought by Elder in livery blazed with embroidered representation of two shining trees, their boughs interlaced.
Some say we learned of the welcome cup from the Elder, but others say each of the Allmother’s children hews to the ancient laws of hospitality in their own way. All agree it is best to do as your hosts require in the moment of arrival. A good guest is polite, as a good host shares both food and fireside.
Arn drank deep of hers; I took a token sip followed by a startled, much deeper mouthful as heat slid through me. It was close tosithevielbut far more substantial, with a taste slipping through many different forms. First, it was Albeig’s special crisp-crust harvest bread, the very thing I had been longing for though I knew it not until that moment. A second swallow was honey from hives Kolle’sfamily tended; there were fields of aromatic purple laventeli their bumble-winged gatherers loved to sup from, and it ever gave a fragrant tinge to their mead.
The third taste puzzled me, for it was roast mutton, and filled me the way only meat could. I lowered the silver chalice, disturbed and attempting to separate each ingredient in the draught from its fellows.
