So upset did the female seem that I attempted a smile as I placed my hand upon her shoulder. “There is little use in feeling the pain of others,” I informed her, yet gently. “Is it not enough that one must feel the pain? And what occasion for happiness might there be? I could well use a thing to lighten my mood.”
Tarla stared at me so long that I was able to don the covering before she spoke.
“You cannot mean you do not know,” said she, shaking her head. “It is the time we have so often spoken of, the time Ceralt has so impatiently been awaiting. This darkness you must circle before the elders, where Ceralt may drop his claiming leather upon you.”
I halted in the tightening of my garment’s ties, my hands’ motion frozen in shock. I had not escaped the confines of the village, and now the males would seek to make me as their own females were, mindless and without volition or pride. I shook my head and whispered, “No!” then rose quickly to my feet and shouted, “Never!”
Tarla gasped, the back of her hand to her mouth, but I paid her fear no mind. My eyes darted about, seeking escape from the dwelling, finding no more than the sealed windows and the door. I would not again be placed before males as a slave, a thing to be looked upon and taken. Brushing past Tarla, I made for a window, yet the door opened before I was able to reach it. Lialt and the other two males ran toward me, obviously knowing my intent, giving me no time to rip the maglessa weaving from its frame. Lialt reached me first, and my head whirled with fury and battle lust, sending my clawed hands to his eyes and face. The male shouted hoarsely, fending me off, and Tarla’s scream sounded as spur to the actions of the other males. Roughly was I taken by the arms and pulled from Lialt, one of the males treading upon my bare feet in his haste, and then my arms were fast behind me, held in the grip of those with greater strength than I. I struggled uselessly, attempting to reach flesh with my teeth, yet Lialt’s hand tangled itself in my hair, pulling my head back so that I must meet his eye.
“The time is written clearly upon the Snows, wench,” said he, his chest rising and falling rapidly with his exertions and the heat of his furs. “In order that all may survive, the hadat must bow before the strength of the lanthay. Should Ceralt fail with you, all will know a similar defeat. I do not believe Ceralt will fail. Complete her dressing.”
The last was to the males who held me, Lialt then releasing my hair so that they might obey his word. I continued to struggle, still furious, and the males cursed as they tightened the ties to my covering, forced the leg-furs upon me, and lastly put the furs about my upper body. The sweat covered me strongly as Lialt stepped forward to clasp the copper belt about my waist, and he studied me briefly before turning to a Tarla who was sunk in misery. The female wept softly as his arms circled her, and his lips touched her hair in a gesture of comfort.
“All shall soon be well, Tarla,” he murmured, stroking her back. “Her destined place is with Ceralt, and happiness shall one fey find her there. There is no longer time for her to visit the cleansing halyar, and we also could not wish the need to force her within clothing a second time. Ceralt himself shall see to her with the new light as he cannot do on the moment. Return now to your father’s halyar, and do not distress yourself further.”
At Tarla’s nod, Lialt released her and gestured to the males who held me. We then moved to leave the dwelling, Lialt going first, I being taken by the arms after him. The darkness without was a great deal colder than it had been, a thing I would not have believed possible had I not felt it in my own flesh. My breath emerged from my mouth as a cloud of white, torn immediately away by the ravening of the dagger-sharp wind. The darkness contained a palpable cold, one which entered one’s coverings at any point it might, clutching with a blue-chill hand to freeze the blood, turning the sweat upon my brow to ice. I shuddered and tried to cringe back from the awful feel of it, yet the grip upon my arms disallowed this. Further from the warmth of the dwelling was I taken, beneath the dark upon dark of a storm-cloud-filled sky, past the flicker of wind-blown torches upon the dwellings, over a thin layer of white which covered the ground and crackled as one stepped upon it. The breath was snatched from my lungs, my cheeks felt brittle and cut, my body shook to the onslaught of the elements, yet I was hurried forward by the males, they seemingly uncaring that the death of the world would soon be upon us. It then seemed impossible that warmth would ever be known again, or that anything or anyone would survive to know if it did.
The walk, seemingly a lifetime in length, led across the central ground of the village, to a very large dwelling which stood, across the span of the open place, opposite the dwellings of Ceralt and Lialt. Each dwelling of the village was lighted from within, yet this overlarge dwelling fairly blazed with light through its many windows. Tracks in the white covering upon the ground showed that many feet had approached as we did, and others came even as we reached the door and walked within, still preceded by Lialt. The dwelling was more than thrice the size of other dwellings, with two fires blazing at either end of the room, and torches set close upon the walls. Some females and many males were about, most speaking with others or walking slowly to greet those who were newly come. The heat of the place was incredible after the cold we had come through, yet I was forced to the far side of the room before the body furs and leg furs were taken from me. I was then released by the males, to stand barefoot as I rubbed life back into my cheeks and hands, while they took my furs to the dwelling’s door. They shed their own fur coverings when they had taken up positions to either side of the door, and stood with arms folded to gaze about themselves with some small interest. Had I wished to face the darkness as I was, I might have sought a window, yet even that was denied me. Lialt, his fur upon his arm, had gone to speak with others in the room, yet his words had been brief and he quickly returned to my side.
“It is soon to begin,” said he, gazing about the room. “The wenches are here, and nearly all of the riders. Ceralt and one or two others shall presently make their appearance.”
I made no response to him, instead looking about at those who occupied the dwelling. Many lenga pelts covered the floor near where the greater number of males stood, yet none sat or lay upon them. The males themselves seemed pleased and unhurried, speaking and laughing in low tones as they gazed upon the females who stood by the wall, not far from a fire.
The village females stood about together, perhaps four hands in number, huddled among themselves like herd beasts. Some seemed unconcerned over the coming ceremony, yet most appeared both anxious and frightened. They glanced covertly at the young males who studied them, and their rapid breathing bespoke their agitation. One female stood somewhat apart from the others, her hands upon her hips, her head insolently high, anger clear upon her features. It took no more than a moment to know her as Famira, the female who had set herself against me when I was yet unable to stand unaided, and my own head rose high, in pleasure at this second meeting. Perhaps the sight of Jalav would cause her to give challenge once again, and I would then be granted the gift of spilling her blood. I stepped away from Lialt then stopped where I might be seen and folded my arms beneath my life sign. To answer a challenge in this place of males would be pleasure indeed.
To my great disappointment, there was no opportunity to give or answer a challenge. Before the female Famira grew aware of my presence, a male approached the females with what appeared to be a water skin. Gently, he urged a swallow upon most of the females, then went to offer the same to Famira. My enemy tossed her head in disdain and refused the skin, whereupon the male shrugged and took himself off toward me. As he neared, Lialt stepped out before him with a hand raised and slowly shook his head. The male halted with raised brows, glanced curiously toward me, then shrugged once more and returned to the other males, from whence he had come. An elder male stepped forward, arms raised high. At sight of this male all speaking ceased, and the male looked slowly about himself.