Session 11: Commander of the River Forts

After their narrow escape from the Serth Hatama, the party stopped for the night at Galal-i-Yalir, the headquarters of Sir Ralus, commander of the River Forts. Reiana had a specific errand with Sir Ralus (part of her reason for coming North), and the party needed a safe place to rest after the harrowing events at the ruined fortress in the woods.

Galal-i-Yalir is the chief of the river-forts. Built along a similar pattern to Hural Yalir, which most have you had visited in the spring, it is somewhat larger, though still characterized by the high crenelated walls -- built high enough to withstand siege by the Kodihan, the ancient foes of the Ambori, even though there are none in this part of the world, so far as you know -- surrounded by a deep trench filled with sharpened stakes. This trench, traditionally traversed by a causeway of earth and stone, is here navigated by means of an actual drawbridge which can be raised or lowered from a large gatehouse on the other side of the trench. Two banners fly here, the winged leopard of Sir Ralus, and the Sword, Bow, and Gem of the House of Sencan. Perhaps in token of defiance of the current regime, or in mourning for the namesake of the fort, the banner of the House of Sencan flies lowered at half-mast. This is Prince Galal's own fort where Ralus, after his dismissal from Ralakarr, has made his headquarters in command of the Legions of the Cheyth.

Thanks to their prior association with Lieutenant Samlon, who had hired them back in the Spring, the party had no difficulty gaining entrance to the Fort, and gaining an audience with Sir Ralus.

Sir Ralus is a short man according to the standards of the Ambori, standing just under six feet, with very fine and delicate features, but keen grey eyes that seem to glimmer from under his heavy brows and ample head of dark hair like quicksilver. Quicksilver, indeed, is a good analogy, for he seems prone to changes of mood. Now he is sarcastic and ironic, now quiet and reserved, now serious and studious, now inquisitive and capricious. It is only in an emergency, on the field of battle, that the deep roots beneath the ever-brimming surface can be seen. Then he is controlled and orderly as he always really is within, a man who knows the place and worth of every other man, and who can best see where they each ought to be placed. 

Sir Ralus listened to the Company's story, and after the dinner and entertainments were over, he spoke confidentially to Reiana and Vanera--the two members of the party he had decided he could trust. He laid out for them the situation, militarily and politically, as it stood on the Marches of the Cheyth: Sencankarr had all but abandoned them, and Ralus' position on the Marches was tenuous, since he was maintaining his legions at his own cost and by his own force of will, the position having been conceded to him as a sort of exile after he had been removed as governor of the North. But he had another reason for his residence there than just the security of the realm: the Loyalists (those of the Ambori who have remained loyal to Galal) have long believed that Galal is still living, and Ralus hopes to find some clue to his whereabouts there in the North. The letter which Reiana had brought from Loyalists in the Weixranbo indicated that there was reason to suspect that Onwae himself had orchestrated his brother's capture, and that a witness to this fact--one of Onwae's former agents--was living in exile somewhere in the North. Sir Ralus resolved to find this agent, if possible, and Reiana promised her aid. In token of his trust in the Company, Ralus gave Reiana and Vanera tokens which would identify them as in his service and under his protection.

Reiana and Anaris slept in Arkjamu's quarters that night--Arkjamu being Sir Ralus' quiet, sickly daughter, whose health seems to have suffered as a result of her proximity to the Serth Hatama. The male members of the Company bunked with the cavalry officers that night, and Tengelbur managed to gamble away his cloak, as well as two weeks time spent mucking the fort stables. The next day, the part all headed back to Cheykor, where we paused for the Season's Fellowship Phase.

• Anaris spent time composing a new Company Song.
• Reiana spent some time crafting, attempting to clear some of the Shadow she had picked up as a result of their activities in the Serth Hatama.
• Tengelbur spent some time mucking the stables at Galal-i-Yalir, as per the terms of his bet.
• Vanera spent some time at the Norinlakor researching the lore of the Stone Kings (and received a letter from home).
• Tanurendal forged himself a new hauberk of mail. 

Letter Home: Vanera, Fall 451

My darling Mother,

I can not tell you how much your letter has grieved me. It has almost convinced me to return home. It pains me to think what you and others must suffer in my absence. But Mother, think of what it would mean if I were to discover a Tomb of the Stone-kings. The fame alone would secure me any position I wanted. Not to mention what it would do for the family name. What I do, I do for you and father as well as my sisters.

I will speak to Anaris about giving up her frivolous pursuits and coming home. I think having introductions made to this Neras Garini is an excellent idea. In fact, you should do everything in your power to make the match come about. You are so cunning that it will not prove difficult for you. I shall do everything in my power to persuade Anaris that a marriage with Neras Garini is most desirable. One would think she will have no objections when she hears that he is the heir to two large fortunes.

I pray you would hold off on making any arrangements as to my getting married. I believe it would only prove to be a distraction for me to be engaged. To know that there was some young woman hanging all her hopes on my returning would pain me. In fact, the thought sends a pang through my heart at this very moment. It is best I remain as I am. I am still young, and there is still plenty of time to marry and give you grandchildren.

As to what you have to say about Vitherai, I am glad to hear she will do her part to raise our house and carry on some young man’s line and help him spend his large fortune. She is a sweet girl and deserves all the best in life.

Anaris is doing well and seems to have improved in temperament for the moment. I on the other hand have not been well. I had a run in with a Nashbori arrow. I hesitate to tell you about it for fear it will only deepen your disapproval of my journey out North. I was shot in my back between my shoulder blades while fighting off a horde of Nashbori. My fellow adventurer, Tanurendal, stood there by my side fighting with all the courage of a lion. It is him who you have to thank for the life of your son, for there were at least four times I would have been cut down had it not been for his throwing himself in the way to stop the blow. I was able to return the favor though when he was hit by a poisonous arrow. I was able to, with my profound knowledge, make a spicy broth that brought him back from the brink of death.

It happened in this manner. In my last letter I told you of the adventure we had been sent on by a man who had lost four of his amber miners. Well, we set off to find them, and our first stop was in a village called Kor-Ikush. We had been told that some of the family of the lost miners lived there. Though we did not meet any we did meet some interesting people. One of which was a wash-woman whose eyes were set far apart, almost in the sides of her head. Her hands were altered as well, for they were webbed like frog feet. This woman seemed to know everything about all of us, which I found unnerving. She knew all about what we were doing there and where to find who we were looking for.

After long bargaining at the end of which Anaris made a deal with her that I had misgivings about, she told us where to find the lost miners. We set off at once and found everything just as the woman said. We arrived at a fort where we found all the belongings of the four miners, clothes and all, as well as signs of recent Nalshbori activity. But no miners. Oddly enough, there were four stone trees in the ruins of the fortress, and it’s been whispered among the group that those were the four miners turned to trees by some foul play. As we were searching the fort, I came across a bronze tablet that reads as follows:.

Ika-karhala Orrula, Weiksura anyalir ijilan kjanlases ika-amnoxam abla-serthatama abiyauv-inla.

Three of our group decided to go below the fortress and found a Nashbori alter. Anaris also found a silver bowl. Perhaps it will encourage her to set up house now that she has such a nice piece to be displayed.

Tanurendal and I stayed above to keep watch, and we employed our time in setting up a clever trap to alert us of any surprise attacks. Unfortunately, it did not work, for the Nalshbori attack came from the other side of the fortress. We both hid, but Tanurendal was spotted and instantly the object of their attacks. I tried to sneak off to alert the other that there was an attack up above but did not make it very far before I was spotted and shot in the back. I am afraid from that point on I was not much help in the fight. It is very painful to try and raise one’s sword when you have an arrow digging itself further in your back with every movement.

I will spare you the rest of the details of the affair. After the fight, Reiana - a Weixranbori leader, pulled the arrow from my back and did her best to tend to my wound. It was after that that I saved Tanurendal’s life by making the broth. After this, it was decided that the alter below the fortress needed to be destroyed and cleansed. Reiana and Tengelbur Sathneinor went below and disassembled the alter. Then they brought up all the burnable parts and set them ablaze while Tengelbur sang The Last of the Stone-kings. Once this had all been completed, we took the stones and ashes and set off with them to deposit them in a body of water. This was no easy task for me with my back wounded, especially once a Nalsbori warband started chasing us.

Through all that, we all managed to arrive safely at Galal-i-Yalir. There is not much to tell after this. Sir Ralus showed us great hospitality, and I had my wound tended to. The next day we returned to Karet Cheykor.

That is all I have to write for now. I do love you dearly, Mother. Know that I am trying very hard to keep safe and that the cloak you made me has kept me very warm. Do give my love to my three sisters and Father. Tell them I would welcome letters from them, as I am sure Anaris would as well.

Your ever-loving son,

Vanera

P.S. Do continue to send the latest gossip, for I am asked at least three times a day about what news I have from Sencankarr. But everyone here seems to be interested in particular about Neras Garini, so do send along a little more information on him.

[By Hope R.]

To Vanera, from his mother - Summer/Fall 451 TE

My Darling Vanera,

I do hope you are well and that you are not catching cold. They say it gets dreadful on the moors, even in the summer time. I must admit I still do not understand why you insisted on going off wandering through barbaric lands when there is a good position as a court scribe--and even an advantageous marriage, if I can arrange it--waiting for you back at home. But, if your sister is any indication, it's the purpose of one's children to disappoint one so, for they will go off and have their mad flings without any consideration to a mother's feelings. If you find Anaris a trial to bear, my darling son, you may know that it is but one tenth of the misery your absence has caused me. Won't you come home and marry?

There is certainly plenty to talk about. We went to stay at our house in Sencankarr this spring. Vitherai was danced with by many handsome young men at the king's fete, and I have every hope that when her time comes, she will be able to do our part to raise the fortunes of our house. Of course all of the great gossip was really around young Neras Garini, of whom you must assuredly have heard. He's the heir, mind you, not just of the Garini house, but also of the fabulous fortunes of the Amosbo family. I can still remember when the Amosbo line failed. I was still a young girl then, and it was only a few years after the War. Ralus Amosobo died young and without male heirs, and the fortune defaulted to the Garinis by right of two intermarriages with the Garini line which produced Tengelyan Garini, Ralus Amosbo's wife. There were rumors in those days that Tengelyan Garini denied her husband children so that the fortunes of their household would pass over to her father's estate. The Garinis were and are mad, it's said, though very beautiful, and there is a cunning streak that comes in from those perennial schemers the Eirukos. 

But all of this is, as we say in the Capitol, ancient history. Of great interest right now is the fate of Neras Garini. He is, as I have said, the heir to two fabulous fortunes, and is a great favorite of Onwae. I suspect that he will in time become one of the greatest men in the land. They say he has his eye on Talarja Sathneinor, though after her rogue of a brother killed her last suitor in a duel, I'm not sure how anyone can be expected to give that girl a second glance.

It would be greatly to your sister's advantage were she to set aside her frivolous pursuits and come to Sencankarr at once so that a proper introduction might be made. If not, Neras has three sisters who are all quite young and beautiful. I will speak to Engelyan Thianra, Neras' mother and the matriarch of the Garini clan, on your behalf should the opportunity arise. 

With love and many tears,

Your mother Ridenyan Kjavabo.

Session 10: The Battle in the Ruins

As the six Nalshbori scouts streamed into the ruins, Tanurendal rushed to meet them while Vanera attempted to quietly alert their comrades. In this he was not as stealthy as he would have liked to be, and one of the Nalshbori sharpshooters put an arrow between his shoulder-blades that hampered him throughout the rest of the fight, though the scholar managed to keep on his feet. Surrounded, the two companions fought off all six of the Nalshbori, Tanurendal standing in front of the wounded scholar and taking several heavy blows that would have surely killed anyone wearing less armor than himself. At last, Tanurendal fell unconscious, grazed by a poison arrow, though Vanera managed to cut one of the attackers down.

Such was the scene when Anaris, Tengelbur, and Reiana returned, hastening back from their exploration of the crypt: Vanera the scholar, with an arrow in his back, standing over the body of the fallen Tanurendal as three Nalshbori spearmen closed in around him and two Nalshbori archers kept up a steady rain of arrows on the companions. Between them, Anaris and Reiana cut down one of the spearmen -- the former hamstringing him with her spear, the latter severing his head from his shoulders -- as Tengelbur rushed the archers and cut them down. Reiana finished off another one of the spearmen as Tengelbur and Anaris rushed the last Nalshbo, Tengelbur slaying him with a heavy two-handed strike to the back as the Nalshbo was busily occupied trying to ward off Anaris' spear. 

In the aftermath of the battle, the party looked to their wounds:

• Reiana rather clumsily removed the arrow from Vanera's back, and though she did her best to dress the wound, it will need serious attention soon before it can begin to heal.
• Vanera had better luck awakening Tanurendal from his stupor by means of a hot, spicy broth. Either the poison on the arrow was not particularly virulent, or the beefy Cheibori's strong constitution was enough to shrug it off.

During the battle, Reiana had noticed (being well-versed in the lore of her ancestral enemies the Nalshbori) that the scouts they had fought came from two different tribes: The Blood-Hand and the Grayfox. 

Wound seen to, the Company purposed not to leave the place until the unholy altar had been broken down. This was no easy matter: to do so in such a way that would render it unfit for future sacrifice, the altar would have to be disassembled, all combustible parts burned in a bonfire, and then the ashes and the stones of the altar scattered in running water. Reiana and Tengelbur undertook to do this (the others were too daunted by the evil and corruption of the altar), and over the course of two hours they managed to disassemble the altar, haul its pieces up to the surface, build a bonfire, and collect the ashes and stones, which were divided among the company. As they did this, Tengelbur sang the lay which is known as The Last of the Stone-kings, which in the liturgy of the Sacred Well is often sung to accompany ceremonies of cleansing. 

As they finished this work, Reiana heard the sound of movement in the woods to the Southeast, and the Company guessed that the fire must have been seen, and that the Nalshbori warbands (whose scouts they had killed) were now upon them. Moving at a run through the withered wood, the party narrowly managed to escape the clutches of their enemies without losing their way in the maze of trees. 

With half the Company wounded or weary, they have arrived at last at Galal-i-Yalir, where Reiana has business with Sir Ralus himself...

Session 9: The Ruin in the Wood

After resting for the night in Karet Cheykor, the party made their way across the Cheyth--an easier crossing in the Summer--and followed the old King's road, here little more than a dusty track, to the mining settlement of Kor-Ikush.

Lying within sight of the battlements of Galal-i-Yalir, Kor-Ikush was built within an ancient cleft of the hills, with tall craggy spires of rock reaching skyward on either side like the two hands of some forgotten giant. Kor-Ikush is a small frontier settlement, its main street scarce more than a longish strip of packed earth meandering snake-like amid the rocks. The folk of Kor-Ikush are hardy folk, risking the clear danger of frequent Nalshbori raiding parties in order to be closer to the Amber Mines of the Serth Hatama.

Sparsely populated, Kor-Ikush was more of a shanty town than it was a proper settlement, with most of its denizens currently off working their claims or hauling their finds back to Karet Cheykor. In that sense, Kor-Ikush is more of a waypoint for the miners, having few permanent residents. The party managed, however to talk to at least two of them:

• Paraman One-Hand, the village headman. A sleazy, avaricious man, Paraman's left hand has been petrified due to long proximity to the Serth Hatama.
• Amartja the Washer-Woman. With large eyes set too far apart on her head and webbed hands, Amartja has clearly suffered corruptions of her own due to a lifetime on the edge of the withered wood.

Going to speak with Paraman, Tengelbur and Reiana managed (after a small outlay of coin) to glean information as to the direction that Onerama's amber-miners set out in. Paraman hinted that they had headed in the direction of one of the tombs of the Stone-Kings, indicating they may not have been looking for amber at all.

In the meantime, the twins (Vanera and Anaris) along with Tanurendal spoke with the deformed washer-woman. After trying to sell each other off to the washer-woman, she offered to tell them where were the men they sought--so long as they would agree to do a favor for her. At last and after much agonizing, Anaris agreed to the favor without knowing what it was, and she was given a small cloth bundle to bury beneath a certain tree she would find in the woods. The party was then instructed to travel straight Southeast, and that after they had gone as far as a swallow flies in an hour, they would find the men they sought. But the men would not be returning from the Serth Hatama, for they had apparently "read a book" which was forbidden them.

Following Amartja's instructions, the party stopped along the way to bury a package -- which Anaris opened against Amartja's command -- and revealed a small human toe. Without any knowledge of who the toe belonged to or why they were burying it, Anaris did the deed and the party continued on their way. They came at last to the ruins of an ancient fortress in the woods, build in the short and squat style common in the Second Eon. Searching the ruins, they found:

• A bronze tablet buried to commemorate the construction of the fortress, reading:
• Ika-karhala Orrula, Weiksura anyalir ijilan kjanlases ika-amnoxam abla-serthatama abiyauv-inla.
• Adverbial phrase: (In the fourth [year] of Orril [‘s kingship]) Main sentence: (Weiksura this fortress built) (For the Purpose of) To upon the plain before the Serth Hatama stand.
• Traces indicating that the ruined fortress has been habitually used by camps of Nalshbori, probably by multiple tribes.
• The personal effects of the miners they were seeking, though the miners themselves are gone (although there are a suspicious number of stone trees standing within the ring of the fortress...)
• An ancient staircase, rebuilt fairly recently with stone from the outside of the fortress, leading down into a chamber beneath the old tower. There they found a bloody altar, obviously consecrated (or rather desecrated) to the worship of the Bloody Vulture. Beneath the altar, after cringing beneath its dark shadow, the party found a chamber which appeared to be used for stores and loot by the Nalshbori who often camped here.

Up above, Tanurendal and Vanera (who had remained as lookouts) spend some time setting up traps to prevent surprise. These are apparently ineffectual, and Tanurendal is spotted by a half-dozen Nalshbori warriors who appear suddenly upon the scene...

A Letter Home: Vanera

Dearest Mother,

After wintering in Hural Yalir, I have finally traveled back to Karet Cheykor with a group of adventurers that brought supplies to the fort. The winter was long and supplies had been running short due to ambushies on the supplies wagons. I must say the men at the fort had been growing tired of me for some time, but especially after a Nalshbori attack in which they did not appreciate my help in combat.

I have spent the spring working with Palfeinan the scholar in the Norinlakor. You will remember my writing about him in a past letter. Rest assured dear mother that I am doing well and am very happy. I have experienced and learned things that I am most excited for you to read about in my book.

I must say I was quite surprised to find that Anaris has joined me. Did you know about her coming? I must say it's a great burden to me. I feel the responsibility of taking care of her greatly. Should she not be at home working on needlework with my other sisters? It is most inconvenient to have her here. She lacks the social graces that a woman of her age and upbringing ought to possess. I find myself having to apologize for her rude conduct constantly.

A woman ought to possess a certain gentle quietness, a gracefulness of manner, a confidence in her baring, yet a cunning wit about her. I think a woman of Vitherai’s temperament would suit me well, though Feala possess that wit about her I find so charming in a woman. I am afraid there is not a trait which my sister Anaris possess that I find worthy of admiration. Though I do confess she handles a sword better than I can, but only because she did not apply herself to the arts as I have done.

Please send along any news you have of the social life in Sencankarr, any bits of gossip you have heard (who all was at the festivals and who was not, little things like that), and all about the latest fashions. I ask not for myself, for I could care less about the social scene, but all the women in Karet Cheykor seem to think I know all about it, and I find myself having to make up what broche the Baroness wears, and how she is now wearing her hair, and what colors in dress are the most popular at the moment.

I do not know when I will be able to write again, for I have taken a job with this group of adventurers to find four lost amber miners. Hopefully it will help me in gathering more information for my book.

Give my love to Vitherai, Feala, Talivara, and to Father as well. 

Your devoted son,

Venera

Session 8: Onerama the Bald

Having spent their Spring Fellowship Phase in Cheykor, the party observed the Feast of Eibram, which marked the beginning of summer, in the traditional Amborian fashion. This included a solemn parade through the village culminating in an assembly of the whole village before the Sacred Well at the summit of the hilltop, followed by three days of dancing and feasting on wild game and fresh-caught fish, seasoned with the fermented remains of last summer's catch.

On the 4th day of Wanorsuna the Calf, the party was relaxing at leisure in the common room of the Cracked Beaker, getting to know Vanera's younger sister Anaris, a heavily-armed young woman who had apparently "seen some action" in the service of one of the March-Lords on the western edge of the kingdom. She had subsequently followed her older brother out to the Marches of the Cheyth, where she hopes to make a name for herself [Anaris is Arthur's new character, replacing Orusen].

Tengelbur showed a manuscript to Vanera, a copy he had made of a document he had found in the Norinlakor during the previous weeks [as part of his Fellowship Phase undertaking]. There had been several parts of the original manuscript either too damaged or too obscure for Tengelbur's little training, and he hoped Vanera would be able to help him decipher them. But Vanera was able to make out nothing of Tengelbur's copy, and decided they would need to see a copy of the original manuscript.

As they sat and discussed all of this, the Company was approached by Telini--the beautiful, red-headed fletcher whom Teithbor (again absent tonight) had met upon first arriving in Cheykor. By now all of the Company knew her at least by sight, and greeted her gladly as she joined them at their table. Telini bore greetings from Onerama the Bald, a local farmer and landowner, believed by some (most of whom work for him) to be the real power in Cheykor. Onerama had, Telini said, a job he would like the Company to undertake based upon their valorous deeds the previous Spring, and promised that they would all be rewarded handsomely. Agreeing dine at Onerama's house that night and at least hear his proposal, the Company made preparations to leave.

Vanera and Tanurendal went to the Norinlakor to see if they could get the original of the manuscript which Tengelbur had copied. Palfeinan the scholar was there, moving things about in his usual obscure way. When Vanera tried to get him to turn over the manuscript (which he insisted was in the month of Setelnor, while in the library it was still only Palkaro) Palfeinan nearly had a nervous breakdown, followed by his pushing everyone out and locking the door of the building due to a "total eclipse of the sun." Ten minutes later, when the library re-opened, Palfeinan promised (at great personal distress) to set the manuscript aside when it came up in a couple of days. Vanera repaid him by spending two hours painstakingly helping him move manuscripts from one shelf to another in the strange, arc-like movements Vanera had become accustomed to after helping him the previous spring [as part of his Spring fellowship undertaking].

Having had no luck getting the manuscript out of Palfeinan (or finding it themselves) the party traveled the six miles north of Cheykor to Onerama's farm, arriving a little before sundown.

Onerama's farm is located about six miles north of town, nestled in cleft in the hills on the western side of the river valley. Here the land is fertile, but somewhat elevated for drainage, and as you approach you can see the rows of barley and grain still green and stiff in the bright afternoon light of early summer. Onerama himself sees you coming, for there is only one pathway in and out of the valley where his farm stands, and he is apparently already out working in the fields when you approach. You see him hot from work, a big man, with muscles like knotted cord beneath a layer of comfortable insulation. He is bald, as you have heard, and his head is covered in pockmarked in what appear to be small burn scars. He is naked to the waist, apparently not content to merely supervise his workers. All told there are about thirty men working out in the fields here, and you would guess that when it comes time for the harvest, that number is doubled. The thick , heady smell of fermenting barley wine and the slight sulphur of distillation hangs over the valley, drowning out the smells of moor and river you have grown accustomed to during your time in the North.

"Welcome, my friends, to Karet Onerama. Or so I hope to call it someday, if fate is kind. Pardon me if I have not met you with, shall we say, royal ceremony, but I think you will not find my board ungenerous. Come, now. We will not talk business until you have feasted on the best we poor Cheibori have to offer."

As it turns out, the best Onerama has to offer is quite rich indeed. The meal begins with a sweet, rich rice wine mixed with honey and sage, followed by eggplants and caviar cooked in garlic and fat, seasoned with cumin, and served on crisp rice cakes. The main meal is of sweet-and-sour lamb flavoured with cinnamon and ginger, garnished with sugared almonds and the roast legs of rabbits. The meal finishes with stewed pears in rice wine, spiced with cinnamon and ginger. The whole meal is rich, and by the time it is over you have eaten and drunk your fill--and possibly a bit more. Several of the younger members of the household stand. A harp and some drums are started up, and they begin to dance. Onerama leans in now for more serious conversation, and as he raises a hand and the music lowers, he begins to speak...

Although Onerama has made his fortune primarily on the export of grain (and things, like barely wine and spirits, which can be made from various cold-weather grains; grain does not grow in the Royal Wood, where rice is the main staple), he has recently attempted to dip his toe in the amber trade. Yesterday, he received word that a group of amber miners whom he had hired, based out of Kor-Ikush, had not returned when expected. Fearing the worst and knowing the Company's reputation, he seeks to hire them to go in after his miners and bring them out again, or, if that is not possible, to bring word to him of their fate so that we can avenged. Onerama put great weight on this last point: it seems he attaches great importance to loyalty. The miners were named Tsuperal, Feiyaleth, Amsotha, and Keila (the only woman of the bunch).

As the party discussed terms with Onerama, Telini rose and invited Tanurendal to dance with her. As they danced, she spoke to him softly of how Onerama had looked after her, of her own tragic past (she lost her family in the same raid that claimed the lives of Tanurendal's village), and of her general suspicions of his Sothbori comrades. Tanurendal assured her they were trustworthy.

After spending the night at Onerama's house, the Company returned briefly to Cheykor, where they did a bit of asking around about the miners--and about Onerama--before crossing the river. Anaris spoke with Fjalakar, the town's aging midwife, who tried to warn her off from working for Onerama, but the conversation soured when Fjalakar became increasingly shocked by Anaris' total flouting of social norms. Vanera interviewed Vitherai the Amber Cutter, who was apparently more interested in the latest gossip from Sencankarr than answering the young scholar's questions, although she had no reason to think Onerama was not at least "on the level" with his offer of employment.

With plans laid and the road before them, the Company at last prepared to cross the river and head for the mining settlement of Kor-Ikush.