Geoffrey received no less than seven proposals of marriage while we were in Galin. These were in addition to the numerous propositions for meetings of a much shorter duration. I think that in the end Geoffrey was glad to leave the city for he has always been a very quiet person, keeping much to himself that others would have voiced aloud. Indeed during those last few nights we would be walking the lantern path and I would see him eyeing the valleys beyond the city with more than a hint of longing.
Usamy had taken Marie with her into the city to take care of some business for Stonearm. Marie seems to have taken to not only the sword but also to the business, bless her larcenous heart. When they returned Usamy was laughing about how well Marie had bargained with the landsworn for the new varieties of corn that Stonearm had brought from Seshnela.
Richter spent at least a full day marvelling over Geoffrey's new horse. Not that Geoffrey had made any effort to acquire it. Quite the opposite in fact, the Goldhorse seems to have adopted Geoffrey. I aked Richter about it and he told me that in the lands around the Helby man and beast have formed a relationship that is unique. It seems that because the lake provides all that is needed for sustanence there has been no hunting of the animals.
Richter was unsure whether creatures from the Wonderwood had migrated down the Mislari Range and into peaceful aegis of the Helby but he thought it likely. Over the centuries the animals living in that peaceful land had developed intelligence and power that surely rivaled the creatures of the pre-dark. This was why Geoffrey was so upset when he saw the trader abusing a creature that had lived in harmony with man. A creature that was intelligent enough to understand the betrayal.
I was packing my saddlebags on our fourth day in the city when Marie poked her head into my room. She watched quietly as I stowed away a few tomes that I had been studying. "Why are you packing?" she asked.
"I thought we were leaving today."
"Change of plans. It seems we've arrived in time for 'The Running
of the Horse' festival."
"Never heard of it."
Marie perched herself on the edge of the bed. "Every year after the harvest the Galin herds are brought from the summer pastures in the Helb River valley to the winter pastures along the Nalar coast. For the last two weeks the young men have been in the valley gathering the horse. Tomorrow the adults will ride to meet them and bring the herds home."
She checked my face and saw the lack of interest that I was trying to hide. "When they get back from the ride they have a week long festival of music and dance. Marriages are arranged, blood debts settled, old friends made new. It should be great fun..."
"Great fun it may well be but I don't think Geoffrey can handle
another week of marriage proposals. Besides we have a deadline and the
season is growing late. We'll be lucky to make it to Istakahixa before the
winter snows as it is."
"Well Istakahixa isn't going anywhere and Stonearm told Geoffrey
about the ride and Geoffrey announced that he would go. Then Richter said
he would go too and now all three of them are downstairs draining the Inn's
supply of summer ale."
I cursed softly and went downstairs where I could see that the three of them had been joined by Galinini horse masters and fresh mugs. On the far side of the room Usamy sat nursing a steaming cup of Kalan root. I joined her and indicated to the Innkeep that I too would have Kalan.
"Everything is ready for our trip to the headwaters?" I inquired.
"Oh yes," she replied. "We'll be taking a smaller galley and
Kendall has picked the crew. He must like you for he has taken some of his
best men for this."
"How much smaller is the Galley from the one we journeyed here on?"
"About half the size. single sweep of ten oars per side. A single
mast and crew of fourty."
"Still," I mused. "A significant number to winter in such a place."
"Tis true," she answered with a grin. "But as you are paying the
way then we thought it prudent to stock the hold with supplies to last well
more than the winter."
We passed that day in pleasant conversation and planning. Eventually Usamy and I switched too a cool wine pressed from the late harvest of the year before. It was a cool sweet drink and it seemed to relax the normally reticent Usamy. I tried to get her talking about her background but other than discovering her to be of Yelornan origin I found nothing new. This time though she seemed to take pleasure in the verbal game of cat and mouse and did not end my attempts to draw her out with her usual curtness.
The next morning came too early for my brothers. I suspect that they had stayed up later than I and consumed a much larger portion of the Inn stock. They caught up with me in the stable where I was preparing my tack and currying my horse. Richter went quietly about the same business while Geoffrey disappeared out back. When he returned he had the Goldhorse in tow.
He led it to his tack and began to speak quietly to it in that strange and fluid tongue. The horse perked up its ears and occasionally snorted or tossed its head in seeming response to Geoffrey's words. I watched this and after a few minutes of this interaction I had to ask. "Geoffrey."
Both brother and horse swung their head to look at me. "What language is that? Is it the same tongue that you used with the awakener that we met in the forest?"
"Yes. It is the language spoken by the woodkin. Or at least as
close as we can get to it. They also use scent and movement as part of
their language. It is the language of wild things and often animals will
respond to it for it reaches them on a deeper level than our own tongue."
"Did you learn it when you traveled in the Erinwood?" I asked him.
"In part. Elsewhere too and Father took a hand in it later.."
It was starting out to be a beautiful day and I didn't want to spoil it with conversation about Father so I let the topic drop. I will pursue it at another time. We mounted and rode into the city. I noticed that Geoffrey had opted to leave his bridle behind. The Goldhorse seemed to read the pressure of his legs and hear the soft murmer of woodtongue which Geoffrey used in its place.
My initial immpression was that the whole city had come to life. I saw the horsemasters but also women and children. All mounted and heading northeast along the river. We joined them and soon were caught up in the festive spirit. Children would gallop off ahead and return with garlands of late blooming Doracinia that they looped about horse and person alike. In this manner we rode for two days. Slow and pleasant conversation interspaced by laughter seemed the norm and time ceased to have meaning. At one point I looked to the side and saw Richter engaged in a foot race with the children. It was a close race and it quicly turned into a giant tickle fest. Children ran from all over and jumped into the fray until Richter was lost to sight beneath a giant pile of laughing children.
We reached the herds midway through the second day and a camp was made. Riders came in from the assembled herd and joined the festivities. Lanterns were set up and instruments began to appear. Food was placed on large firepits and soon the smell of cooking blended with the music and lantern light.
When morning arrived I got my first real look at the herds. There must have been at least two thousand head of Horse, maybe more. There were horses of all size and color. Young and old they seemed an endless ocean of horseflesh. The riders from the city began to spread out behind the herd. I saw heads begin to toss as they sensed our excitement. Suddenly a horn cried out and I had time only for one quick glance towards my brothers.
I know now why it is called "The Running of the Horse". When they are moved from one grazing land to another there is no walking or trotting or light and easy canter. All it seemed we could do was to point the horses in the proper direction and let them go. The rest of it was simply a matter of trying to keep up.
The ride became a blur with images that seemed to freeze and stand out from the rest. I remember Marie, hair whipping and streaming behind, teeth gleaming and wind tears bright on her cheek. Richter, a garland of Doracinia bright around his neck with a Galinini child held before his saddle, head crooked to listen to her. Geoffrey and the Goldhorse in midleap over a stream. Horsemasters riding through the water looking up and watching as the Goldhorse's hoofs struck support in midair so that it seemed to run through the air.
It was a breathless, wild and exhilerating ride. We covered all the ground that we had traveled to get here in five or six hours. We rode back into the city and the sweet madness of the ride carried on late into the night and through more nights to follow.
Marie came to me and asked if I was glad we had delayed our departure and I realized that I had forgotten our plans. Lost in that long windfilled ride that had swept away my worries with my goals. Galin is a place indeed like no other that I have ever been..
I hope I can come back and find it untouched by the shadows I know are coming.
But I know too well the chances of that...
More later...
Bill Thompson
"Ask me a riddle and I reply:
"Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.""
ICQ #15348914
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