"He speaks Common, you know," Tanaros said.
The Lady of the Ellylon had the grace to blush. "You know what I mean!"
"Aye." Tanaros touched the rhios in its pouch. "Neheris-of-the-Leaping-Waters Shaped the Fjel, Lady. Fourth-Born among Shapers, she Shaped them to match the place of her birth; with talons to scale mountains, strong enough…" he smiled wryly, "… to carry sheep across their shoulders, enough to lay up meat to stock a larder against a long winter."
"Strong enough," she retorted, "to tear down walls, General. You saw Cuilos Tuillenrad! Do you deny the dead their due?"
"No." He shook his head. "Only their version of truth, Lady." He nodded at the axe that jounced against Thorun's pack. "You see that weapon? Until the Battle of Neherinach, it was unknown among the Fjel. We taught them that, Cerelinde. Your people, and mine."
Her face was pale. "Satoris Banewreaker armed the Fjel."
"It is what your people claim," Tanaros said. "Mine too, come to it. But I have learned better in a thousand years, Lady. My Lord armed them, yes; after the Battle of Neherinach, after hundreds of their number fell defending him with tusk and talon. Yes, he taught them to smelt ore, and gave them weapons of steel. And I, I have done my part, Cerelinde. I taught them to use those weapons and such gifts as Neheris gave them in the service of war. Why?" He touched one forefinger to his temple. "Because I have the gift of intellect. Haomane's Gift, that he gave only to his children, and Arahila's. And that, Lady, is the Gift the Fjel were denied."
Cerelinde raised her chin. "Was their lot so terrible? You said it yourself, General. The Fjel were content, in their mountains, until Satoris Banewreaker convinced them otherwise."
"So they should have remained content with their lot?"
"They were content." Her gaze was unwavering. "Haomane First-Born is Chief among Shapers, Lord of the Souma. Satoris defied him, and Sundered the world with his betrayal. He fled to Neherinach in fear of Haomane's wrath, and there he enlisted the Fjel, swaying them to his cause, that he might avoid the cost of his betrayal. Did he reckon the cost to them?"
Beneath her horse's hooves, the edge of the path crumbled, sending stones tumbling into the Defile. Tanaros checked his black violently, and it shied against the cliff wall. Ahead of them, Thorun whirled into action, spinning to grab at Cerelinde's bridle, wedging his bulk between her and the sheer drop. Pebbles gave way as his taloned toes gripped the verge of the path and his eyetusks showed in a grimace as he urged her mount to solid ground by main force, shoving his shoulder against its flank, hauling himself after it.
"My thanks," Cerelinde gasped.
Thorun grunted, nodding, and resumed his plodding pace.
For a time, then, Tanaros rode behind her, watching the shine of her hair, that hung like an Ellyl banner down her spine. Downward wound the path, then upward, winding around another peak. And down again, where the river-basin broadened. Soon they would enter the Weavers' Gulch. He dug his heels into the black's sides, jogged his mount alongside hers.
"How does it feel, then, to owe your life to a Fjeltroll?" he asked her.
Cerelinde did not spare him a glance. "You brought me here, Tanaros."
"Of course." He bowed from the saddle, mocking. "Proud Haomane will suffer no rivals. Like the Fjel, my Lord Satoris should have remained content with his lot."
Ahead, the low river-bottom opened onto a narrow gorge. It was flat, as flat as anything might be in the Defile. The dank trickle of water intensified. This was water tainted by the ichor of Satoris the Shaper, seeping slow and dark. It reeked of blood, only sweeter. The walls of the gorge loomed high on either side, strung across with webs like sticky veils.
One by one, the Kaldjager Fjel parted the veils and entered. Ushahin Dreamspinner passed into the gorge, seemingly unperturbed. At the rear of the company, the Staccians mingled with Hyrgolf's Tungskulder Fjel and made uneasy jests in their own tongue, awaiting their turn.
"What is this place?" Cerelinde asked, her voice low.
"It is the Weavers' Gulch." Tanaros shrugged. "There are creatures in Urulat upon whom the Shapers have not laid hands, Lady. In these, my Lord is interested. Do you fear them? They will do us no harm if we leave them undisturbed."
At the entrance, Thorun waited for them, holding back the skeins of sticky filament so they might pass untouched. A small grey spider scuttled over the gnarled knuckles of his hand. Another descended on a single thread, hovering inches above his head, minute legs wriggling.
Cerelinde looked at what lay beyond and closed her eyes. "I cannot do this."