A Princess of the Chameln by Cherry Wilder Page B

would not step aside for them; he was determined to lead Aidris into the Balg’s presence himself. They came into a corridor lined with painted bark where it was impossible for Aidris to stand upright. Ahead there was a greenish light; they came out into wide airy spaces. The roof overhead had panels of the thatch lifted off or rolled back so that sunlight came in through the leaves.
    The hall had been made beautiful for spring. It was like a glade, with the tree-trunk pillars painted white, fur rugs upon the earthen floor of a surprising yellow-green, and a fountain playing in the center, from a gilded tree stump. Behind this fountain rose a wooden screen carved with slender young trees, their branches interlaced.
    Akaranok was received at the screen by an old man in a green robe. His beard was snow white and carefully divided into two long forks that fell past his knees. He bowed to Aidris, then took her hands tenderly and stared up into her face.
    â€œDear child . . .” he said in a deep cracked voice. “I have seen none of your house since I brought tribute once to Charis, your father’s mother. I am called Rognor; I am the Balg’s Runemaster. I cast the runesticks yesterday for the Balg’s lake journey, and there it seemed to say: Death brings an honored guest . . .”
    â€œIt is very plain, good Runemaster,” said Aidris. “My forest guide is dead, by accident, and I have come to you for help.”
    Akaranok was impatient. He whispered to Rognor, peered round the screen.
    Is this a feast day for the Balg?” asked Aidris. “Have I intruded upon some festival?”
    â€œYou were awaited,” said the Rune-master. “The royal household hoped for a sign. Now they can embark. It is that day of the year when the Balg sails across the Tulna water.”
    He took up his painted staff and struck a long wooden drum that lay by the screen; it gave off a sweet, hollow note. He led the way into the presence of his master, Tagnaran, the Balg of the Tulgai.
    The ruler sat upon a carved wooden throne, set not on a platform but on a small hill, roughly stepped in places and covered with pelts. Clusters of servants waited around the base of the hillock, and Aidris saw that they were prepared for the Balg’s feast. They carried baskets of food, garlands of leaves, even long netted fish-poles and hanks of rope.
    Aidris had it fixed in her mind that the Balg was old and fat. A description of some earlier Balg glimpsed by a chronicler had given her the image of a spreading white-bearded King Toad, somewhat taller than his subjects. It had never occurred to her that the Balg might be a young man.
    Tagnaran had short up-curling hair of coppery red, a royal color not found among his subjects; even his skin was red-brown. His smooth face, with wide-set yellow-brown eyes, had the startled beauty of a forest creature. He wore a short tunic of creamy linen and laced high sandals; on his head was a circlet of bronze set with jade and pearls. He was at least four feet in height, much taller than Akaranok or Rognor, but of a height with those who shared his hillock, an older man and two women.
    At his side, wearing a pearl crown and a short dress of iridescent feathers, was an exquisite young girl, springtime itself. Her hair, feathery and short, was red-gold, Sabeth’s color. When Aidris entered, she hid her face behind a feather fan and gave her hand to the second woman, dressed in a tunic of spotted fur, who sprawled below the throne. The second man stood behind the throne and sipped from a drinking horn, his auburn mane falling into his eyes, his gaze hard and penetrating.
    Akaranok ran forward at once and prostrated himself at the base of the hillock. Tagnaran came slowly from his throne, raised up his officer and spoke urgently with him. They looked several times at Aidris, where she stood or towered, and Rognor at last touched her arm. She went forward and knelt before the