Azkun watched them as he and the others approached Menish and his wife. With his eyes he could see them locked in each other’s arms. With his mind he glimpsed their wordless sharing of hearts. It made him think of Vorish and Sonalish, yet for Vorish the Empress was his well of resolution, a thing he almost fed on. What lay between these two was a passion as deep as the sea, in its depths lay a peace they both shared.
They broke apart when the rest of the company stopped their horses. Adhara turned from Menish and smiled at them.
“Greetings, Master Hrangil, Althak, Drinagish. It's joy to see you again. And you, Strangers, welcome to Meyathal. Be at peace in our dwelling.”
Her gaze was fixed on Azkun as she spoke.
Adhara stood half a head taller than Menish. She wore tunic and breeches and a sword hung from her belt. Like Menish she was broad-shouldered and powerfully built. Her bare arms were muscled and looked as though they knew how to wield the sword. A straight scar that looked like an old sword cut ran down one forearm. Azkun could not imagine a woman less like those of the caravan.
Unlike Menish she wore some jewellery. Not nearly as much as Althak, however. Two silver bracelets and a heavy, silver necklace adorned her. Her hair hung loose down her back, a cascade of grey-threaded black, which caught in the breeze.
In a way she was reminiscent of Vorish. An arrogance lay in her face and mind. Her chin was out thrust and her eyes stared at him in open curiosity. But perhaps it was only that he expected her to be deferential like the caravan women.
Menish mounted Adhara’s horse and she sprang up behind him with the reins of Menish’s own horse in her hand. The rest of the company followed them to the gateway.
The gate led them into a courtyard where servants took their horses. Azkun was surprised at the attitude of the servants. They were no less respectful than those in Relanor were but there was something in their manner that echoed Adhara’s arrogance. They were free men. One of them spoke to Menish directly, greeting him as a friend. When she spoke Azkun realised that she and several more of these stable servants were women dressed in tunic and breeches like Adhara. All of the women he had seen in Relanor and in the caravan wore brightly coloured, loose robes and jackets. He had assumed the beardless servants here to be youths. When he thought of it, he remembered that two of the Anthorian horsemen who rode with the caravan had been beardless. He had not heard them speak.
Another thing he noticed while they led away the horses was that every one of the servants wore a sword.
The hall Menish led them to was much smaller than Vorish’s but larger than Holdarish’s. There were tapestries covering cold stone walls, rushes strewn on the floor and a huge hearth along one wall. Kitchen servants, also wearing swords, scurried around the hearth with pots and dishes. As in Holdarish’s house there were weapons hung on the walls in the bare spaces between the tapestries. The Anthorians were a warlike folk.
There were benches and tables scattered across the floor. They were ranged around a large, central pillar that rose to the roof. Most of the benches were empty because it was too early for the evening meal. A few old folk sat toothless near the fire, calling advice to the kitchen servants who seemed too busy to listen.
The bustle near the fire, and the advice, ceased when Menish entered the room. A member of the old folk’s group rose and walked towards them, smiling a greeting. One of the women by the hearth followed him.
“Sire! You've returned at last! For days now we've watched for you.”
The man’s eyes flicked to Adhara and Menish smiled.
“No doubt you had plenty of eyes willing to watch.” He turned to Azkun and Keashil. “This is Yarol, he's in charge of my house. He'll provide you with whatever you need while you stay here. If you need food or drink come to the hall. For clothing or other needs ask Yarol directly.”
Menish turned to the woman. “Neathy, I've some special duties for you. Here are Keashil, her son Olcish, and Tenari. I want you to take care of them. Keashil is blind, but she plays the harp better than any other I've heard. Tenari doesn't speak, we think she's suffered great harm. Take them to the women’s lodge and show them welcome.”
“Sire? The lad's a little old…”
“They don't know our ways, leave him with his mother a few days and we'll see.” Neathy nodded, though she looked concerned, and led the women and Olcish away. Tenari made no protest at being separated from Azkun and Azkun himself felt relieved to see her go. She was the eyes of the Monnar and he was out of her sight now.
Menish turned to Azkun.
“You have the freedom of my home. The hall is the place where we gather in the morning and evening for food and company. You may not wish the former but you're welcome to both.
“Althak and Drinagish will show you to the men’s lodge, a hall where the unmarried men sleep. The women’s lodge, where Neathy has taken Tenari and Keashil, is forbidden to men and the men’s lodge is forbidden to women. Do not take Tenari there under any circumstances and do not enter the women’s lodge yourself.
“Now that you know the rules, let's refresh ourselves and meet back here for the evening meal.”
The men’s lodge was much like the main hall, except it was smaller and there was a privy in one corner. A few forgotten sleeping furs lay on the straw and there were carved, wooden chests along the walls containing the personal effects of those who lived there. Althak and Drinagish found their chests and pulled out fresh clothing to replace their travel-stained garments. Hanging on the wall above Althak’s chest was a Vorthenki shield with a dragon painted on it. He hung the one he carried beside it.
“It was my father’s,” said Althak when he saw where Azkun was looking. “He brought it from the north. I don't use it myself but I keep it in his memory.”
Azkun changed into the clothes Vorish had given him to wear in Atonir, including the golden cord Tenari had tied about his waist.
“Where is Hrangil?”
“He has his own chamber, with all his books and things,” said Drinagish. “There aren't many such rooms here, most of us have to sleep in the lodges. Even me, though you'd think I'd get some preference now I'm the heir.”
“M'Lord said you could have your own chamber when you're twenty,” said Althak.
“And that's years away.”
“Little bitch!” said Neathy when they returned to the main hall. Tenari had a ripening black eye and Neathy’s face was scratched. “She seemed placid enough so I thought I’d help her to the privy and look what I got!” She ran her hand along the scratches on her face. “She can look after herself from now on. If she wasn’t simple I’d call her out.”
Keashil had said she needed sleep more than food so she had remained in the women’s lodge. Olcish had accompanied Neathy and Tenari back to the main hall. It was still almost empty and there was no sign of Menish.
“I don’t expect to see those two for hours yet. You know what they're like.” Neathy winked. “Olcish, you could get a bowl of mein and take it to your mother if you want. No one would mind.”
“I'll stay here,” the boy declared. “With the men.”
“You can come back,” said Althak. “But take her a bowl anyway. She'd like it.” Olcish nodded and silently fetched a bowl of mein for his mother.
Drinagish and Althak also fetched bowls of mein from the pots on the hearth. Tenari resumed her blank stare at Azkun. The bruise under her eye gave her a somewhat malevolent appearance.
“Have you eaten, Neathy?” asked Althak picking up a bowl for her and offering to fill it.
“No, I’m not hungry, but I suppose she is,” she said with a shrug. Althak put the bowl down.
“She doesn't eat.”
“What, never?”
“Not since we found her. That was weeks ago now.”
“She looks thin to me. Still, she won’t want the privy I suppose.”
“Probably not. All she does is follow Azkun around. The only time she seemed more alive than she does now was in the palace of Atonir. It seems Meyathal isn't so much to her liking.”
They sat at a bench near the fire and ate.
