The revenge on the metal-clad Stranger was still fresh in Theya's mind when she assembled all her family's belongings at the Jungardi -saeton for the final farewells to kin and clan. She knew in her heart that sacrificing the stead to the Stranger had had another purpose besides bait - she never could have left Jungardilands if her mothers' fields were still open to her. Her brothers and cousin made tearful orations of parting, and little Kaelis, only in her fourth year, bawled mightily when Theya took her from her father's arms. Theya was hearthkeeper for the family, and had to present a stoic acceptance of the future. Jarang never looked back.
Travel was slow. The sheep wanted to return to their home pastures, the pigs kept running for the forest, and the wicker poultry cages shifted as the wagon found every hole in the road. Through northern Heortland they accepted the generous hospitality of carls, and they told their stories of oppression by southerners at every stop. Sometimes Utag would signal to be quiet about the southerners, pointing to a large fort nearby, surrounded by grazing horses and indolent men. In these areas the carls were petty and mean spirited, cursing Svarr every time a heifer snicked a grape leaf off a vine. These poor, beaten carls made the Jarangsons even more resolved to head for the wilds.
The country grew wilder and hillier. Occasionally, they would meet barely-clad warriors covered in jewelry and blue tattoos, some even on chariots! Kaelis said they looked just like the heroes in the old stories. These folk were generous and kind, though they made it clear that their lands were already well-farmed. They pointed out the trail to the wilds.
One day Theya noticed that the forest took on a harder, darker aspect. The lower branches and foliage had all been chewed off. Steads grew scarce, and the family was forced to sleep in the open. Theya felt eyes watching from the darkness, and the brothers kept a close watch on the uneasy livestock. The next morning, fierce Kitori warriors challenged the travellers. They large, dark men were covered with very strange tatoos and they carried vicious looking clubs. Theya was quick to announce their kinship with Leika Spirit-Talker. Illig grunted a greeting in Darktongue to support their claim. The warriors returned the greeting enthusiastically, and led the family to the Kitori chiefs' hall.
Jarang presented the gift of a cow to his wife's kin, and the Kitori chief gave him permission to travel through their lands. At the feast that night, Theya and her brothers were surprised to find "spring stew". Leika used to make spring stew from insects and worms only when there was little else to eat. She always insisted everyone eat it, because it was the secret to raising healthy children. Theya had to agree with her, because the Jarangsons had been among the healthiest folk in Jungardiland! Theya made sure everyone ate some spring stew, for good luck. Even Heorl and Jarang ate some, though they hesitated most rudely!
After feasting, the Kitori chief stood and made an announcement: "Orlanth smiles on your journey, for tonight is the Night of Fear, when the Death Dealers prowl the night and invite the living to Hell. If you were outside tonight, you would all be dead! But you are safe here in the Great Hall of the Kitori." The doors of the hall were triple-barred, and powerful thanes, both human and troll, stood guard inside. All night, the family huddled next to each other, listening to the gutteral curses offered to the living by the Death Dealers. Even Illig, who always loved to talk, refused to translate those horrible sounds.
In the morning they rousted their animals out of the hall and resumed their journey. Theya wanted to stop and visit Leika's kin, but Jarang refused to delay.
The road, little more than a foot path now, began to climb through rocky ground, covered with short trees and brush. One day they came upon a giant stone cross, covered with strange runes. Theya cast her Spiritsee, and saw horrible visions of destruction. Dragons, blood and smoke covered the land! Terrified, she picked up Kaelis and ran back toward Kitori lands, alone, if need be. But Jarang called her back. He led a ceremony to Orlanth Dragonkiller. When Theya looked again, the visions had gone! Trusting in the protection of King Storm and her father, Theya crossed the dragon line - and lived. Thus did the Jarangsons enter the wilds.
The trail kept climbing, to the top of a pass surrounded by huge mountains. There they met the Balmyr, a disorganized group of unsuccessful farmers and cattle thieves, desperately trying to call themselves a clan. Jarang gave their chief another cow, because their warriors looked hungrily at his animals. Theya and Kealis took a goose to the Earthmother worship there, for it was the Mothersday of Fireseason. That night her brothers tried to join in the midsummer revels, but the local men, already out numbering the women, kept them away. Theya suggested they all have little to do with these desperate folk.
Another week's hard travel downhill through the forest brought them to the valley of the Colymar. By now, all the Jarangsons were exhausted and hungry, for hardbiscuit and wild rabbit do not feed a family well. The green, fertile valley was the most beautiful Theya had ever seen. At the Colymar Greathall, Chief Kagradus boasted of the history of his family, and how he had earned the right to collect tribute from all lands within a week's travel. Although he seemed to think rather a lot of himself, Theya knew he was a good chief, because he kept close council with the Earthmothers of his clan. He was the son of Hareva Earthmother, after all!
When Jarang asked of his kinsman Gulik the Stout, he was told that Gulik had
passed through here years ago, and was living in Ormsthane Vale, with Varmand the Storm Voice. Now, Varmand had been a famous and brutal bandit. He feuded with his neighbors, raided folk with whom he had no quarrel, andstole cattle, goods, and even people!
Theya was horrified to find the old custom of thralldom being practiced (1). She quietly asked Jarang if he wouldn't rather stay in this safe, lovely valley, with a good chief and good land. Jarang pointed out the options, to let his children decide: " Here we have nothing, not even kin. We would be bondi until some other man felt generous enough to give us land. But we would be safe. In Varmand's Vale life would be more uncertain, but we would have kin, and land of our own. You decide." Theya knew that her father was obsessed with the thought of his own wyrd. He wanted to continue on. But Kaelis was tired and thin, and her brothers didn't look nearly as big and well armed as Colymar's thanes. If Varmand's were the same, what was to keep Varmand from just taking the Jarangsons as thralls? As usual, it was Illig who swayed her thoughts - he spoke glowingly of Varmand, the brave and good chieftain who was maligned by his enemies! Having no real proof otherwise, Theya agreed to travel on.
Another week on the trail, except now there wasn't even a path to follow. Jarang asked diections of shepherds and hunters, and all pointed north. When Theya first saw Ormsthane valley, she hardly recognized it as clanlands. A few steads were sprinkled through the valley, with small fields and thick oaken forest between them. The local carls ran to meet them, and gave a hesitant welcome. Theya didn't much like the way they appraised Jarang's livestock - especially since the carls looked at her in much the same way. At Varmand's hall they were greeted by Eonislora, his most recent wife. Although she was hardly older than Theya, she dominated Varmands' hall while he was away.
That evening, Varmand stormed into his hall, followed by a host of scarred and boisterous warriors. Covered with blood, Varmand boasted that he had raided the Forestmother again! This angered Theya. She would have told him that he should instead thank the Forestmother for her gift, but her mothers had taught her not to be a rude guest.
Jarang stood to claim his kinship and land-rights, but the long weeks of poor food and exposure caught up with the old man. His speech was cut short by racking coughs. Varmand laughed at Jarang, and said he couldn't see how the Jarang and his skinny sons could be much help in his valley. Utag jumped to help his father, and took up his speech. But Utag was too worried about Jarang's health to think clearly. Varmand and all his thanes looked even more doubtful. Then Heorl, who always had an answer, spoke of Orlanth's kinship laws.
Reminded of his obligations as chief, Varmand agreed to put the Jarangsons' petition before the clan council, which met the next day. However, he told Jarang that the council was just a formality, and they could swear loyalty directly to him, then and there. Theya thought this seemed suspicious, but she worried even more when her cousin Heorl, who loved the law, looked very angry. Jarang was too sick to act. Theya, as the eldest, was about to refuse when Illig the Loud stepped forward and accepted! Svarr stood behind him, looking embarrassed. Heorl got madder. Then Utag spoke, and said he would swear to follow Varmand if he granted them land.
Then there was silence as the whole crowd looked at Theya, Heorl, and Jarang, who had finally caught his breath. Theya said: "We left our mothers' lands to escape a tyrant who took over our clan and denied the ring. With the blessing of Orlanth, we have traveled for weeks, seeking our kin in a new clan. We are a family and I will support my brothers, who have sworn oath to you. But I personally will wait for the decision of the clan ring, according to the sacred ways of Orlanth and Ernalda." Heorl also spoke of the valuable traditon of clan councils. Finally, Jarang staggered to his feat, and insisted that he would swear alliegence to no one man. Varmand carefully considered everyone's words, and then swore an oath with the brothers. Then everyone retired to await the morning - the meeting of the clan ring on Orlanth's Day.
(1) Here the teller emphasizes a negative opinion of thralldom, no doubt as a coment on modern Imperial practices.
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