were animated at the thought.
“Food,” the slightly yilane fargi said, with a crude modifier of movement. They started off towards the city and Vainte followed in their wake. Through the tree-arched streets, past the guarded hanale, to the banks of a river. There was excitement and bustle here, silver fish and tubs of prepared meat. The fargi went to the fish, the only food they had known in their short lives, to be among their own. There were Yilane near the meat, talking to each other, their conversation incomprehensible and confusing to the newcomers. Not so Vainte. She walked to the vats, and every movement of her body signed strength and ability. The Yilane of no rank moved aside for her and she reached in and ate. One of the Yilane was looking at her, welcomed her and wished good eating. With her mouth full Vainte could only sign appreciation and gratitude in return.
“What is this city?” she asked as she reached for more meat, her modifiers equal-to-equal.
“It is Yebeisk. The Eistaa of great authority is Saagakel.”
“Yebeisk and Saagakel are known in all of the cities of Entoban*.”
“You are a Yilane of wisdom. And which is your city?”
“I travel now and know many cities.” This was an accurate statement. Vainte took a bite of meat in order to avoid any amplification of detail. But she could not hide the overtones of strength and power that were associated with the cities she had visited and her listener was aware of this. When the other Yilane spoke again it was as from someone slightly lower down to one a good deal higher up.
“The city welcomes the visitor.”
“Well spoken. I would see the ambesed and look upon the Eistaa who sits there.”
“Pleasure of guidance when eating finished. May honored visitor’s name be known?”
“Vainte. And yours?”
“Opsotesi.”
The afternoon was warm so they took a shaded route through the streets and under the trees, wandered from the river to the foothills beyond, then back to the ambesed. By this time the midday heat was gone and the ambesed stirred with movement.
“Admirable,” Vainte said, with qualifiers of great appreciation. Opsotesi arched with pleasure.
The ambesed was an open glade with tall trees forming a backdrop behind it. Through the center a stream of fresh water flowed, its course turning back and forth in gentle arcs. The stream was spanned by shining metal arched bridges that were decorated with loops of wire and set with glinting stones.
Vainte and her new companion were standing on the public side of the ambesed along with many other Yilane. Some of these bent over and drank from the stream, others splashed it on their limbs to cool them. But on the far side of the water there were no crowds. The grass there was green and untrampled. Small groups talked together, while the largest group of all was around the Eistaa who sat in the place of honor.
“An ambesed reflects its eistaa,” Vainte said. “As I look at this my respect for your Eistaa grows.”
“Twice I have spoken to her,” Opsotesi said proudly. “I have skill at speaking and carry messages for many.”
“Appreciation of talents. Tell me of these messages for they must have been of importance if the Eistaa would hear of them.”
“Importance magnified. I stood on the dock when an uruketo arrived and there were those of high rank aboard. I took their names to great Saagakel.”
“Yilane of importance, Eistaa of greatness,” Vainte said, repeating the titles to hide her growing boredom. Opsotesi spoke well, but her only skill was in speaking; she would never rise very high. Yet she knew the city. “And what else did you speak of to the Eistaa?”
“Matter of darkness.” Her body moved in unhappy memory. “A stranger came to the city. I was told to bring notice of this stranger…”
Her speaking stopped, rigid, and she signed doubt, identification/clarity. Vainte spoke strongly and curtly.
“Opsotesi, you address me with dark questions. What is the reason?”
“Apologies! Doubts of stupidity. You are a stranger — but you could not be as that stranger was. She was —”
Again she broke off, moving with fear. Vainte signed friendship and curiosity of identification. She already had her suspicions. Opsotesi still could not speak so Vainte encouraged her.
“I know of those who are outcast. Though I am not of them, despise them, I know of them. So speak — was it of a Daughter of Life that you were informed?”
“It was! Apologies for fear. Vainte is above me, ahead of me in every way. That is the matter of which I spoke. There was anger, we fled.”
Vainte calmed her, flattered her strength and speaking ability. Then decided what she must do.
“I have come a long way, friend Opsotesi, and am tired. But not so tired that I cannot do my duty and speak my gratitude to your Eistaa for pleasures enjoyed of your city.”
Opsotesi was wide-mouthed now like a fargi. “You would do that? Just speak to her without being summoned?”
“She will speak to me if she wishes. I will simply make my presence known.”
Strength of purpose straightened Vainte’s back, fullness of knowledge glowed in her eyes. Opsotesi bid her farewell, lowest to highest and she acknowledged this with the slightest movement. When Vainte now walked forward the Yilane grew silent and made way for her. When she reached the shining bridge she stopped to admire it aloud, then went on. Those about the Eistaa saw her approach but did not move for they were proud of their positions and did not relinquish them easily. Vainte made no protest, just sat back slowly onto her tail, beyond the circle, her arms formed into a sign of respectful attention.
Curiosity won in the end as they became aware of the stranger and her dignified presence. The nearest, a fat Yilane with purple designs on her arms and down her chest, continuing onto the rolls of fat as well, looked at her with one cold eye. Then turned her head, wattles swinging and spoke a rude query.
“Explain presence, highest to lowest.”
Vainte gave her one disdainful glance, then looked back to the Eistaa. The fat one’s crest flared because she was not used to being dismissed this rudely. Saagakel, who was indeed an Eistaa of intelligence, was aware of this exchange and enjoyed it. Watched but did not interrupt. Ostuku was fat and lazy and deserved a little reduction of status as well as of weight.
“Answer demanded stranger!” Ostuku ordered.
Vainte looked at her coldly and spoke with minimum movements, rejection without insult. “I am commanded only by those of power: I speak only to those with grace.”
Ostuku gasped, angered and confused. The sureness of the visitor was real, her presence imposing. She turned away from Vainte, not willing to go on with the exchange.
“An accomplished Yilane,” Saagakel thought, and of course communicated this thought to those around her. Vainte heard it as well and signed respectful gratitude, pleasure of presence. All of the others were watching now and Vainte was suddenly the center of attention. She saw this, stood and spoke.
“Apologies, Saagakel Eistaa of power. I did not mean to impose myself on your presence, wishing just to experience the pleasures of your ambesed, the strength of your presence. I withdraw for I have caused an interruption.”
“A welcome one, for events of the day are boring beyond belief. Come forward and tell us of yourself and of your visit to Yebeisk.”
Vainte did as she had been commanded, moving closer to the Eistaa. “I am Vainte, she who was Eistaa of Alpeasak.” When she spoke the city’s name she added modifiers of darkness and termination. Saagakel responded with knowledge of circumstance.
“We have heard of your city and those who died there. Killer ustuzou, event of great unhappiness.”
“Happiness restored. Ustuzou driven out, the city Yilane once again — for Ikhalmenets has gone to Alpeasak.”
Saagakel signed knowledge and memory. “I have heard of that great event from uruketo of Ikhalmenets that called here. I also heard of one who drove out the ustuzou. Coincidence of great importance, for that Yilane also bore the name of Vainte.”
Vainte lowered her eyes and tried to speak humbly, succeeded slightly.
