by TJ Muir
Ollen nodded. “Yes. Beddo use river for trade.”
When they mounted back up, Ollen turned the group along a sort of road running beside the river. It was nice to ride along smooth, level ground for a change. After a while Jedda spotted a bridge arching up over the water, just tall enough for a barge to pass underneath comfortably. From the bridge, they could spot a little barge caravan traveling downriver.
“Are we going to meet them?” Cham asked.
“No, they are leaving area,” Ollen said. “And this road is leading to the city. But we can make a short cut, across the fields. Give horses a last run,” he grinned as he said that and the other Faenyr looked equally excited.
“Oh, great,” Jedda said, cringing.
They galloped across open fields. Jedda could feel Jespen working to keep up with the rest of the horses. He reached out to sense the horse underneath him, feeling Jespen’s joy at this chance to stretch his legs and run at full speed.
Before long the field sloped upward, and they eased the horses to a brisk walk as they crested the low rise. Below them lay a low valley where two small rivers flowed. On the farther side were a handful of low rolling hills. Nested throughout were roads and buildings mixed with cultivated lots and small pastures. The buildings all seemed to blend into the background-- trees and greenery and hills. Nothing stood out. There were no monuments or statues, no gigantic buildings that Jedda could see. He looked over at the others. Kirrin and Tattia seemed intrigued and Cham was unreadable.
“It’s really amazing,” Tattia said. “Just look at how perfectly everything is laid out. Like it all fits, right where it should be.”
Jedda looked again and tried to see it through her eyes. He only had Tatak Rhe as a model of what a city should be. He tried to see this city without expectations.
“Come,” Ollen said. “We will find one of the elders at the B’ashan.”
“What’s a B’ashan?” Jedda asked Cham.
“A sort of communal gathering place. A meeting place, but also where feasts can take place indoors. It serves many functions.”
“Oh, like a temple?”
“No. More like a town hall, maybe.”
“Oh.” Jedda had never been to a town hall but nodded anyway.
“Do we need to go meet the elders? Can’t we just find an inn to rent rooms?”
Ollen laughed.
“Why is that funny?” Jedda asked, turning to look back at Cham.
“There aren’t inns here. It isn’t like Tatak Rhe or other Chanmyr places. Think of it more like a very large Beddo camp if that might help. Also, it is proper with visitors to bring them and introduce them to the elders.”
Jedda chewed on his lip, thinking. When they had stayed in the Beddo camp it was because Tashan had offered his hospitality. “So even though this is a city, it’s like we are guests?”
Cham paused, considering. “Yes, a bit like that.”
Jedda looked up at the building sprawled out in front of him. He didn’t think it was as big as most buildings in Tatak Rhe, but it was hard to be sure because it was just so different. They dismounted outside. Trellyn and Kai offered to take the horses.
The entry stared back at him, inviting. Dark green wood panels framed the entry, carved with patterns of leaves and knotwork. The detail and intricacy of the carvings caught his attention. The images were all in relief, while the symbols were carved in slightly deeper, as though they were behind everything.
Jedda realized the others were standing there, waiting for him. “Sorry,” he said and followed them inside.
Ollen led them into the main room. It was larger than Jedda had expected. Bundles of bamboo formed pillars that shot up towards the ceiling, many of them at slight angles. Children climbed up them, playing above his head.
Looking up made him feel dizzy. When lowered his head, he noticed the others were also looking up and around. At least he hadn’t gotten left behind. Ollen walked ahead, exchanged a few words with another Faenyr, then led them through the main chamber. Jedda noticed the same carvings and design patterns in the floor as they crossed the room. They were made with different types of wood, similar to how different types of stone were used in Tatak Rhe. He was fascinated by the interweaving symbols and knotwork, curious as to what it would look like from up above.
The room had a warm feeling about it, yet it was a little intimidating. Jedda didn’t have time to think about why as the others turned into an alcove that opened into a hallway.
Ollen led them down one of the smaller alcoves, towards the sound of voices. They came into a cozy room where four adult Faenyr sat around a low wooden table, drinking tea and talking among themselves. On the table was a pot and cups as well as a plate of fruit and cheeses. They fell silent, looking up at the unexpected visitors.
Jedda looked around Ollen’s shoulder to get a better view. It was all very ordinary. Two younger Faenyr were sitting next to the table, playing a game on the floor. But the game had lost its interest with the appearance of four outsiders.
Jedda was more interested in the adults. At first glance, they all appeared to be about the same age. He quickly corrected that opinion. He couldn’t actually tell the ages of any of them, but two of them seemed more ageless than the others. They all looked alike, sharing a coppery tint to their silver hair. A family, perhaps?
He only realized he was staring when one of the adults turned slightly and looked directly at him. His eyes were a piercing shade of violet. Jedda looked away, discomfited by the man's gaze. He had never seen something so familiar, and yet so completely alien at the same time.
He realized Ollen had been speaking in the Faenyr tongue. Ollen moved further into the room, inviting the others to step forward.
“Zria, Hroa, more cups for our guests,” one of the Faenyr spoke, and the two on the floor hopped up and disappeared out a side hallway.
“These are Ynith, Hrulla, Azal, and Nispin.” Each head inclined as the name was spoken. Nispin was the one who had looked at Jedda.
“This is Kirrin and Tattia of Tatak Rhe, and Cham of Tikka, and Jedda, of Tatak Rhe,” Ollen said, indicating each of them as he spoke. A quick exchange of words in Faenyr.
Jedda glanced at Cham, trying to get an idea of what was being said. Cham shook his head, the tiniest motion, but he didn’t seem concerned.
“Chan-mroa,” Hrulla said in Chanmyr, but with lilting tones of the Faenyr accent.
“Yes.”
“What is the purpose for being here?” Azal asked, setting his teacup down.
Cham stepped forward, nodding politely. “Traveling,” he said. “Towards Tikka eventually, but without immediacy. Our journey-path crossed with Ollen’s, which brought us here.” Heads nodded acknowledgment, and more words were exchanged in Faenyr.
Nispin looked again at Jedda. “This one is also chan-mroa?”
Cham nodded.
“It is never a good thing for a child of magic raised away from it.”
Jedda blinked. He realized Nispin was talking about him.
Cham nodded. “Agreement. Circumstances are unknown.”
“Raised outside of the Giffryn, no connection to the chenwa,” Nispin said, shaking his head.
Cham nodded again. “Agreement. Unfortunate.”
Jedda couldn’t tell anything from the looks of the Faenyr, but he was pretty sure they did not approve of him. He was a halfbreed again.
Zria and Hroa returned with more cups. Ynith gestured towards the table, and the two boys created spaces for the new guests. Jedda sat next to Cham. He heard his name several times and wondered what they were saying about him. For some reason it sounded like he was their biggest concern. That surprised him. Maybe they could sense his uncontrolled magic?
Tea was poured and the plate of fruit and cheese was passed around. Jedda watched as Kirrin and Tattia each took a cup and plate, nodding politely at Zria. Both of them watched and listened but said nothing.
Jedda leaned closer to Cham. “What was all tha
t about, before. I couldn’t understand any of it.”
Cham whispered back. “Giffryn and chenwa?”
Jedda nodded. “Yea, that. What does it mean? Are they angry at me for something?” He didn’t want to ask if being a halfbreed was a problem.
Cham sipped his tea, considering. “Giffryn and chenwa are different, but go together. Chenwa is a kind of life-force that sustains everything. The giffryn is living within harmony so the chenwa is not disturbed, or disrupted. Giffryn also refers to a family lineage, but easier not to confuse things right now. It’s a bit lIke learning how to swim with a current, or a better way to understand, how to navigate through a crowd that seems disorganized and chaotic. Does that help?”
Jedda wasn’t sure it did. He understood navigating crowds and how they often had a kind of movement pattern to them. But he had no idea what that meant in relation to everything around him. A movement caught his attention, he turned his head slightly. Zria was watching him, curious.
“He has youngness,” Azal noted. And then, to Jedda. “Your mother?”
Jedda shrugged, feeling guilty. These people traced relationships and family through mothers. “I don’t know.”
A round of odd looks, and a quick exchange among the Faenyr.
Jedda leaned over to Cham. “Why did Ollen bring us here?”
Cham whispered back. “These are Ollen’s elders, it seems. He brought us to his lineage- his giffryn.”
There was another exchange among the Faenyr that he couldn’t follow. A few times he caught chan-mroa, outside, and chenwa. And there was another word he heard several times --Tarish.
“What is that word? Tarish?”
“The Tarish are our gods. But not quite like Chanmyr gods.”
Jedda didn’t know very much about the Chanmyr gods, except that he prayed to them often when he was in need. He knew they could get angry, and that they needed appeasing. He guessed all the gods were like that.
Ollen smiled at them. “Ynith and Hrulla offer hosting,” he said, looking toward Cham. ”There is welcome to stay in a guest cabin near here.”
Cham nodded his head respectfully toward Ynitth and Hrulla. “Our thanks and gratitude for this most generous offer.”
Jedda brightened up, hearing the offer. He hadn’t realized how worried he had been until now. In some ways, these Faenyr elders were like the Soh’ar and Da’har of Chanmyr. Decisions needed their approval. Jedda was glad they had it.
They sat as a group and finished their tea and fruit. Ollen spoke of the herds and playing qwatcha. Jedda heard his name mentioned, followed by a round of laughter from the Faenyr, even the two young boys.
“What? What did I miss?” he asked.
Cham turned his head toward Jedda. “They were speaking of your learning how to play. He said you fell well.”
Jedda flushed, but on the faces around him he saw only amusement rather than ridicule.
Tea finished, Zria and Hroa collected cups and plates, disappearing down the side hallway again. Ollen stood, followed by Cham and the others. They thanked their hosts, and then followed Ollen back through the B’ashan, down a different hall and outside. Zria came running up from around the building, hovering nearby, curious.
Ollen spoke quickly in Faenyr, and Zria dashed off again around the side of the building.
“He will have the horses tended to and your gear brought.”
It was a short walk up a lane that wandered along the side of a low hill, peppered with trees and flowers. The road was red clay, packed firm. They passed a few curious glances and a handful of riders that called out to Ollen.
“The main roads have different colors. Red, gray, white, dark green, amber, black. Each road leads to a different area of the city. Most begin near the center. And most lead to the outside of the city,” he said. “The cabin is near the top of the red road, should there be need to find one’s way.”
Jedda nodded. He liked the practicality. Once he figured out the different roads, he would have an easier time finding his way around.
He turned and looked out over the city. It was small, nested between the hills on two sides, the river on the third, and open plains to the north and west. Ollen turned off onto a narrow path and led them up to their cabin, similar in style to the camp they had used. A simple A-frame with a deck on the front that looked out over the city. It was bamboo and reeds and dark red wood that shone with a luster speaking of great care or great years. The front area was a common space leading to two sleeping lofts. Behind the common space was another small room, a kitchen, and a door leading outside to bathing and cleaning space.
Hearing the sound of horses, Jedda moved back outside to see Zria and Trellyn had come up the hill.
Trellyn smiled at him and spoke in broken Chanmyr, or Faenyr. Jedda just looked at her and shrugged.
Zria smiled and translated. “Space is there, for the horses. But happier for horses to staying with Kai and Ollen’s herds- with tribe herds. Is correct?” Zria asked, head tilted.
Jedda smiled. “Yes, I agree.”
Zria gave him a strange look but nodded.
“I will see what the others think.”
Ollen came back outside, followed by the others.
“Yes, horses are welcome among the rest of the herds. But first, the elders would like to watch qwatcha.”
“What?” Jedda gulped.
Ollen laughed. “They want to see how well you fall,” he said, clapping Jedda on the back.
Chapter Ten
The next several days went by with qwatcha, followed by more qwatcha. Jedda learned his way around the city-- at least how to get to the pastures, the B’ashan, their cabin, and where a few of the parks were. It was strange. There weren’t shops and pubs the way there were in Tatak Rhe. Everything was within a lineage. Since they had been granted the hospitality of Ynith’s family, they were welcome to use the family lodge. It was part meeting house, part bar, and part dining hall, where he quickly learned not to underestimate the ale. Zria often accompanied him, curious about the outsiders and eager to practice speaking Chanem.
Kai also attached himself to Jedda, thrilled to show Jedda round Jynwyn. Most nights he ate dinner with Kai’s family, where there was a lot of clumsy language and a lot of laughing. One night, an older man came in as they finished dinner, looking sideways at Jedda. Jedda looked back and forth several times as words were exchanged. The man picked up a mug of ale and stomped out. Everyone seemed a little embarrassed, and the conversation felt forced afterward.
Later, outside, Jedda asked Kai. “What happened at dinner? Who was that man?”
“Oh, that? He is our Ada’t. Uncle to my great mother,” Kai said, hesitant.
“What made him upset?”
Kai shrugged. “It isn’t that important.”
“But I thought I heard my name,” Jedda said.
“He does not think the gods approve of the Chanem. He says we are inviting disharmony into the house.”
Jedda felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. “What?”
Kai smiled, waving his hand dismissively towards his house. “Do not let it worry you. He likes to get angry about things. Very few Faenyr share that belief. How could the gods not preserve our harmony?” He waved to a Faenyr girl tending a garden in the evening light, who smiled and waved back.
Jedda felt sick. How many Faenyr felt that way? Kai changed the subject and chatted brightly, trying to fill the silence and cheer Jedda up. It was impossible to stay upset listening to Kai talking about qwatcha- his enthusiasm and happiness soon bolstered Jedda’s mood.
Jedda began to yawn, tried to stifle it, shoving his fist against his mouth. Kai noticed, and stopped talking. “You are tired. You must go and sleep,” Kai said. “We can go visit the horses tomorrow.”
Jedda nodded, yawning again. “I would like to do that.”
Back at the cabin, Tattia and Cham were sitting out on the deck. Tattia was playing the lap harp, with Cham offering instruction as she played. They lo
oked up and smiled at Jedda as he came up the steps.
“You look like you’re having a good evening,” Jedda said.
Tattia nodded. “Yes. I am finally figuring out how to play this thing. And it is quite lovely here. I didn’t think I would like it, but it’s very peaceful. It’s the first time, in a long time, that I haven’t been worried about Hak’kar.”
Jedda paused, looking up at the colors flowing across the sky. Watery blues and reds splashed across the twin moons, bathing them in eerie hues. He nodded toward Tattia. “I’m glad for you.” He wished he felt as safe and protected, but he was feeling less than welcomed among the Faenyr right now. He faked a yawn which became a real yawn. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll just head to bed.”
“Good night,” Tattia and Cham said.
On the way in the door, he passed Kirrin going outside. The two each stepped back and went wide around the other.
Their cabin was larger than the one at the camp and even though the sleeping spaces were smaller, they each had separate rooms. Despite feeling tired, Jedda couldn’t sleep, so he took out his knife and sat on the edge of his bed to carve for awhile.
Eventually, the music from outside began lulling Jedda toward sleep. His head nodded, jerked back upright. Time for bed, he decided before he fell asleep where he was sitting. He rubbed his face, yawning, and fell into bed, pulling the blanket half over himself. He heard the others moving around, and then the cabin was quiet.
He was falling, further and further down into impenetrable darkness. A world so black he could not see his hand before his eyes. He landed with a silent thud, feet touching what seemed to be an endless void He stretched forward, taking small steps, until his questing fingers struck stone. The grooves in the wall felt familiar to him somehow.
Violet light spread from his fingertips into the grooves. The light wasn’t as strong as he remembered, but he knew he was back in the buried passages beneath Tatak Rhe. Only the passages were different, the symbols and patterns changed. He stared at the walls, knowing some important message waited for him there but he couldn’t make sense of it. The shapes kept melting and changing. He followed them blindly, running down a hall lit in turquoise.