Part 11 (1/2)

CHAPTER 12.

When she woke the next morning she couldn't imagine where she was. She was lying on a mattress on the ground, which should have been cold and uncomfortable, but was not. It was a feather mattress, and as she slept, it had shaped itself under and curled itself around her like a friendly animal, or animals; she thought of the way her father's dogs lay together in sinuous heaps. There was another, lighter feather mattress or feather-stuffed quilt over her, and pillows beneath her head, and sunlight dappling her face through leaves. She didn't want this mysterious idyll to end, but as she turned her head she saw a bright rufous pegasus walk past, in the clear daylight beyond the tree shadows, and it all came back to her in a rush.

She sat up with a sigh, and thrust her feet out from under the coverlet. She'd somehow managed to get herself into her nightgown-she didn't remember this at all-but she knew she needed a bath. She stood up, waveringly.

A pegasus she didn't remember meeting before appeared almost as if by magic, briefly touched her cheek with a feather-hand, nodded and turned away from her, looking back over her shoulder to see if she would follow. She did, bemusedly stroking her cheek where the pegasus had touched her. The pegasus led her toward a sound of running water and then Ebon emerged from the darker tree-shadows.

Clear morning and clear sky to you all day, he said. he said. And it looks like we might get them. You humans like privacy for bathing, don't you? Straight through there, then, there's a pool, and it's yours while you're here. Someone even thought of, uh, towels. When you're done rattle the bushes and I'll come for you. And it looks like we might get them. You humans like privacy for bathing, don't you? Straight through there, then, there's a pool, and it's yours while you're here. Someone even thought of, uh, towels. When you're done rattle the bushes and I'll come for you.

I'll need some clothes, she said. she said.

Right away? Surely it's warm enough in this sun even without any hair? Never mind. I'll get your dad to show me what to bring, and I'll leave it here.

She had a glorious bath, made only slightly less glorious by an ign.o.ble fear that some pegasus or other would forget that humans like privacy while they bathe and interrupt her; there was nothing (she decided) like being entirely surrounded by pegasi to make a human feel stringy and pathetic, naked as a rat's tail. She wondered what the towels were for when there weren't any humans to use them as towels-since there never were any humans to use them as towels, and they felt soft with some kind of use. Perhaps the pegasi had other things that needed drying. Maybe baby pegasi had baths; perhaps they dried the dishes after a banquet. She looked at the towel she wrapped herself up in: it had the same kind of soft, close, near-invisible weaving that all the pegasus fabric she'd ever seen did, but it was thick and heavy, like fine wool, but smoother than any wool she knew.

Her bag of clothes was hanging on a branch as promised and, a.s.suming she'd be warned in advance of any formal occasions, she dressed in tunic and trousers, and then took hold of the bush and rattled. She could smell food, and she was hungry again.

That first day was all about her father, which suited Sylvi very well. Her father did all those royal and gracious and diplomatic things better than she did, the catching on to unknown customs and unusual situations-he, like Danacor was doing now, had travelled a great deal when he was the sovereign's heir, both round his own country and outside it. Sylvi was more than happy to stay in his shadow and let him take the brunt of the attention-and perhaps pick up what she could. He was leaving her here.... He was leaving her here....

They went for a long walk for most of that day, the two humans, Lrrianay and Ebon and a dozen more pegasi of those the visitors had met the evening before; they stopped often, and there were cus.h.i.+ons for the humans, and food and drink were offered. Sylvi found the strangeness much more tiring than the walking. But she was glad to see that they walked on well-worn paths. I told you, I told you, said Ebon. said Ebon. We walk a lot. We walk a lot.

Everywhere they went there were more groups of pegasi, who came as if from nowhere to see them-but they always appeared from round corners of rock, or up steep paths or through trees, never flying overhead. The pegasi would walk up to them, slowly, heads and tails raised and wings a little arched in what Sylvi thought of as their best-foot-forward pose; often they had ribbons or flowers in their manes, and intricately embroidered siragaa siragaa and and nralaa nralaa around their necks. They would bow their heads and lift one curled foreleg and then the other, setting each down very precisely; a few had ribbons around their ankles. Most of them said ”welcome”; a few said a sentence or two. Sylvi noticed that they hummed through the breaks between words: around their necks. They would bow their heads and lift one curled foreleg and then the other, setting each down very precisely; a few had ribbons around their ankles. Most of them said ”welcome”; a few said a sentence or two. Sylvi noticed that they hummed through the breaks between words: welhummmmfrennnnhuuumaannnnnnn. welhummmmfrennnnhuuumaannnnnnn.

Very occasionally Lrrianay would make a quick open-and-shut gesture with a feather-hand, and a few murmured words, and a pegasus might then touch the face of one or both the humans as he or she also said a few words. There was for Sylvi a funny hazy quality to the entire experience of meeting so many new pegasi, and it grew hazier yet when a pegasus touched her, as if the attempt at communication was turning into a cloud, like water turns into steam when heated.

The visitors' party paused the longest in a shfeeah shfeeah at the edge of a wood; Sylvi had no warning that this glint of sunlight through the trees was going to be anything other than another meadow. But instead there was a series of small fields, tucked together as cleverly as the pieces of a sky hold to take advantage of the land's contours, with the early spring crops showing in neat rows of green, and a few small low buildings together in a cl.u.s.ter which had, Sylvi saw at once, not nearly enough walls. at the edge of a wood; Sylvi had no warning that this glint of sunlight through the trees was going to be anything other than another meadow. But instead there was a series of small fields, tucked together as cleverly as the pieces of a sky hold to take advantage of the land's contours, with the early spring crops showing in neat rows of green, and a few small low buildings together in a cl.u.s.ter which had, Sylvi saw at once, not nearly enough walls.

That evening's banquet was very grand indeed. There were long tables with what looked like banners laid over them-longer, wider and more elaborate versions of the siragaa. siragaa. Each was a different colour, or more than one colour swirled together, and many had cut or scalloped edges, and most were embroidered, with birds and leaves and flowers, as well as many other symbols Sylvi did not recognise. There were candlesticks of wood and stone, and a scattering of small sculpted shapes, mostly of creatures-deer, foxes, bears, badgers, hedgehogs, squirrels, erenooms, fornols, pegasi-curled up sleeping. The tables looked magnificent even before the bowls of food-mostly wooden and beautifully carved, and some copper or copper-bound, and a few silver platters she recognised as human gifts-were put on them. There were more banners threaded through the branches of the trees at the edge of the meadow where the tables were set. The spiral of torches had been taken away, although there were poles with fresh torches set round the edges of the meadow. She noticed this evening, as she had not the evening before, that the torch-poles were also sculpted, with long curling lines not unlike the flow of a pegasus tail. Each was a different colour, or more than one colour swirled together, and many had cut or scalloped edges, and most were embroidered, with birds and leaves and flowers, as well as many other symbols Sylvi did not recognise. There were candlesticks of wood and stone, and a scattering of small sculpted shapes, mostly of creatures-deer, foxes, bears, badgers, hedgehogs, squirrels, erenooms, fornols, pegasi-curled up sleeping. The tables looked magnificent even before the bowls of food-mostly wooden and beautifully carved, and some copper or copper-bound, and a few silver platters she recognised as human gifts-were put on them. There were more banners threaded through the branches of the trees at the edge of the meadow where the tables were set. The spiral of torches had been taken away, although there were poles with fresh torches set round the edges of the meadow. She noticed this evening, as she had not the evening before, that the torch-poles were also sculpted, with long curling lines not unlike the flow of a pegasus tail.

Sylvi had watched a little of the setting-up process-it was already well begun when they came back from their day's walk. The tables were stored in a kind of pavilion similar to the shfeeah shfeeah buildings and near the stream, but they were brought out to stand in the meadow the human king's party had flown into the evening before. The tables were moved by pairs of pegasi again wearing harness. Poles were laid on the floor of the pavilion and run between the legs of the tables. The harnessed pegasi again knelt, so that the little hands of other pegasi had only to lift the poles high enough to thread them through the harness, sometimes a.s.sisted by a boost from a strong pegasus foreleg. Then the kneeling pegasi stood up, and the poles took the weight of the table. Even the bowls of food had to be filled gradually, in deference to the weakness of pegasi hands, or moved by a carrying frame. There was a flagstone path to the edge of the stream and low knapped-stone platforms there for food preparation, but the exquisite little flint knives, wooden chopping boards and other tools (including baskets to carry the rubbish to the mulch-and-compost area) were kept in the pavilion. But everything the pegasi did they did as if they were dancing, as if they would do it this way even if their hands were as strong as humans'. buildings and near the stream, but they were brought out to stand in the meadow the human king's party had flown into the evening before. The tables were moved by pairs of pegasi again wearing harness. Poles were laid on the floor of the pavilion and run between the legs of the tables. The harnessed pegasi again knelt, so that the little hands of other pegasi had only to lift the poles high enough to thread them through the harness, sometimes a.s.sisted by a boost from a strong pegasus foreleg. Then the kneeling pegasi stood up, and the poles took the weight of the table. Even the bowls of food had to be filled gradually, in deference to the weakness of pegasi hands, or moved by a carrying frame. There was a flagstone path to the edge of the stream and low knapped-stone platforms there for food preparation, but the exquisite little flint knives, wooden chopping boards and other tools (including baskets to carry the rubbish to the mulch-and-compost area) were kept in the pavilion. But everything the pegasi did they did as if they were dancing, as if they would do it this way even if their hands were as strong as humans'.

There were even two chairs, one very tall one at the narrow head of one of the tables, and a not very much shorter one at the head of the table next to it, and you climbed up two steps to sit in them, so you were no shorter than the standing pegasi.

For the banquet the pegasi all wore ribbons or flowers plaited into their manes and tails, or feathers some other colour than their own wings tucked into the plaits, and a few had ribbons around their ears and ankles as well. The royal pegasi wore flowers but also wide silky siragaa siragaa spangled with tiny s.h.i.+ning gems; Hibeehea was wearing two spangled with tiny s.h.i.+ning gems; Hibeehea was wearing two nralaa nralaa on two damask ribbons. on two damask ribbons.

Sylvi wore the one formal dress she had brought with her, an almost-pegasus russet, long and very full and flowing, with a pegasus-chestnut red-brown garnet on a pegasus-gold chain around her neck. She twisted her hair onto the top of her head and held it there by a pin whose head, no bigger than her littlest fingernail, was pegasus-made, glinting with silver netting and splinters of gems so small you only knew they were there by their sparkle: Ebon had given it to her on her fifteenth birthday.

Can't I give you anything? s anything? she'd said, as she said to him every year on her birthday.

Just make sure there are always grapes when I come visiting, he'd replied. he'd replied.

You couldn't look regal when you were this short, Sylvi thought, but she felt she looked as nice as possible, in spite of having only two legs and no wings. The swing of her skirt was almost a dance-and yesterday she had managed her bow to Hibeehea. She was embarra.s.sed by her relief that he had not come on the walk with them today; she had known it was too much to hope for that she would not see him tonight either, but her heart still sank when she caught sight of him.

The pegasi wandered around, plucking up a bit of this or that from any bowl they chose as they moved, sometimes using their feather-hands, sometimes delicately using their lips. Sylvi noticed that if it was a long reach they used their necks; there was far too much wing to fold out of the way if they had to reach with their hands. They talked among themselves in gesture and aloud, and as they moved, they were careful also to pa.s.s the two chairs and greet the human king and his daughter, and to exchange some communication too, if they could. The human king and his daughter had bowls in their laps, which pairs of pegasi had brought them initially; these were full of delicacies, but many of the pegasi who paused to speak to them dropped further morsels into them. Everything Sylvi sampled tasted superb-including the fwhfwhfwha, fwhfwhfwha, which was indeed infinitely nicer than watered wine- but she began to feel trapped, sitting in her chair, weighed down by her bowl. Even Ebon went wandering, although he always came back. which was indeed infinitely nicer than watered wine- but she began to feel trapped, sitting in her chair, weighed down by her bowl. Even Ebon went wandering, although he always came back.

Sylvi had met several more of the pegasus shamans by now, and was careful to let any one of them translate for her, if one were near her-and one usually was, like sentries on duty, Sylvi thought. Ebon, when he was beside her, remained silent, and let the shamans speak. But this evening, with the clear daylight gone, and the stippling, unreliable torchlight again seeming to manifest the essential, the absolute mystery of this place she found herself in, the haziness apparently caused by having her face touched by the pegasi's feather-hands earlier that day seemed strangely now to focus any attempt at communication . . . perhaps it was only she felt that she was understanding more, since most of what was said to her was something about welcome: welcome, welcome human, welcome human child, welcome princess, welcome to our country, welcome, welcome; but she seemed to hear What a pretty dress! What a pretty dress! when the shaman said to her gravely, ”She wishes to praise your garment”-although this shaman did not have Hibeehea's clear diction, and it sounded more like, when the shaman said to her gravely, ”She wishes to praise your garment”-although this shaman did not have Hibeehea's clear diction, and it sounded more like, Sheewhishesstoopwwaisssyooahgahhmen Sheewhishesstoopwwaisssyooahgahhmen . But Sylvi was preoccupied with having understood ”dress,” which was more nearly ”long encircling human . But Sylvi was preoccupied with having understood ”dress,” which was more nearly ”long encircling human siraga siraga.” It is not really so surprising, she thought; it's always been the little dumb superficial stuff that us humans can understand.

After a while Sylvi picked up her bowl in her two strong human hands, and set it down on the nearest edge of the nearest table, and went wandering too-letting the swish of her long encircling human siraga siraga and the marvelousness of the pegasi teach her how to walk lightly. It was too peculiarly formal to sit still when everyone else was moving, like endlessly sitting out at a ball. She couldn't stop thinking of the pegasi as dancing, and while her own real dancing was middling at best-at those formal occasions at home when a dancing princess was required-she felt, here, that her best, lightest, swingiest walk was more accepting-of-the-welcome-offered than sitting still. Although she kept a wary eye out for Hibeehea or any other sign that she was getting it wrong again. and the marvelousness of the pegasi teach her how to walk lightly. It was too peculiarly formal to sit still when everyone else was moving, like endlessly sitting out at a ball. She couldn't stop thinking of the pegasi as dancing, and while her own real dancing was middling at best-at those formal occasions at home when a dancing princess was required-she felt, here, that her best, lightest, swingiest walk was more accepting-of-the-welcome-offered than sitting still. Although she kept a wary eye out for Hibeehea or any other sign that she was getting it wrong again.

You would tell me if I were totally messing up again, wouldn't you? she said to Ebon. she said to Ebon. Like yesterday, with Hibeehea. Like yesterday, with Hibeehea.

Ebon made a small noise she recognised as ironic. I would tell you if I knew soon enough. You went over the edge really fast yesterday. I would tell you if I knew soon enough. You went over the edge really fast yesterday.

Has anyone-said anything about it?

Said anything? Why would they? You apologised and Hibeehea accepted your apology. Hey, that was a formal thing. When you leave the formal thing, you leave it.

Well, this is another formal thing, isn't it?

It's a different formal thing. If you mess up here it'll be a new mess.

Oh, thanks. Thanks a lot.

Her father only smiled at her-and stayed sitting down. He didn't stand up till it was time to give his speech-which he did beautifully, and she knew he did it beautifully, and she knew that the pegasi accepted it as having been done beautifully. But it was all wrong, she thought in distress. It wasn't a dance.

The pegasi had stopped wandering while her father spoke, so it was easy for her to stop too. She stood with her arm along Ebon's neck, her hand holding on to a plait; he arched the wing behind her just enough to give her something to lean against. There were pegasi all around her, standing quietly but for the occasional flick of an ear, swish of a tail, rustle of a wing. And yet the torchlight was still dancing, and as it danced across pegasus backs, the pegasi danced too, as did the trees and the long gra.s.s at the edge of the meadow: all these danced with the torchlight and with the shadows the torchlight cast. All but her father, who remained a standing human with light and shadow dancing over him. Sylvi held out her free hand and looked down at it: I suppose I'm just a standing human in dancing shadows too, she thought.

There was her cue: ”And I am glad to introduce my daughter to you. . . . ” Her father's speeches were never long-”no one listens to a long speech” was one of his precepts-but he had teased her that the real reason he wanted her to give a speech on this occasion was so that his could be shorter yet. ”I can't get my mouth around all those pegasi vowels, ” he said.

” The ffff ffff's are even worse, ” Sylvi had replied: but her father was saying aooarhwaia mwaarai aooarhwaia mwaarai-beloved daughter-as if he'd never had any problem. She sighed, and Ebon said, Three wings, Three wings, which was pegasi for ”good luck.” The pegasi parted before her-there was no looking around; they seemed to know where she was-and she walked, trying to feel that she was dancing, along what was now a path among them. They moved, gently, gracefully, so that their heads were toward her as she pa.s.sed them: cream and gold, brown and copper. A few of them pulled out flowers or decorative feathers from their wings and manes and tossed them down before her. She went slowly, skirt swinging, and stood beside her father, who bowed to her and then moved away, to sit down again in his chair. which was pegasi for ”good luck.” The pegasi parted before her-there was no looking around; they seemed to know where she was-and she walked, trying to feel that she was dancing, along what was now a path among them. They moved, gently, gracefully, so that their heads were toward her as she pa.s.sed them: cream and gold, brown and copper. A few of them pulled out flowers or decorative feathers from their wings and manes and tossed them down before her. She went slowly, skirt swinging, and stood beside her father, who bowed to her and then moved away, to sit down again in his chair.

She folded her hands in front of her as if she were reciting a lesson for Ahathin, but also to keep her hands from trembling-her arms from trembling, her whole body from trembling. The long skirt hid her trembling knees. ”I am beyond honoured to be here, ” she began: ”Waarooawhha niira hee.”And then she couldn't go on.

It wasn't that she had forgotten the words. She knew what came next: It has been my great wish since I have known Ebon that I should see his home. I knew I would not, because humans do not come here. That I am here is a gift beyond my imagining. I bow my best bow to you, to each of you I bow once, twice, three times. Respected friends, my thanks and grat.i.tude. Thank you. It has been my great wish since I have known Ebon that I should see his home. I knew I would not, because humans do not come here. That I am here is a gift beyond my imagining. I bow my best bow to you, to each of you I bow once, twice, three times. Respected friends, my thanks and grat.i.tude. Thank you. But the words would not come out. They were trapped, trapped between her folded hands, between her arms and her body, between her pressed-together knees. But the words would not come out. They were trapped, trapped between her folded hands, between her arms and her body, between her pressed-together knees.

She took a deep breath and dropped her hands. She took a step forward. She bent down and picked up one of the flowers the pegasi had thrown in her path. She looked at it for a moment and then tucked it into the collar of her dress. She opened her mouth.

”Genfwa,” she said, thank you. That wasn't what came next; that was supposed to come at the end. ”I knew Ebon's country would be very beautiful”-she stumbled over ”very beautiful, ” she said, thank you. That wasn't what came next; that was supposed to come at the end. ”I knew Ebon's country would be very beautiful”-she stumbled over ”very beautiful, ” fffooonangirii fffooonangirii-”but it is beautiful in a way that speaks to my . . . ”

Spirit, she wanted to say. She could feel her mind slipping away, her memory disintegrating; spirit spirit was the sort of word a human could not say in pegasi, nor a pegasus in human: you could say was the sort of word a human could not say in pegasi, nor a pegasus in human: you could say beautiful, beautiful, you could even say you could even say friend; friend; but you could not say but you could not say heart heart or or spirit, spirit, and you could not say and you could not say anger anger or or love. love. Spirit, she thought. She looked out into her audience; she was speaking slowly, so no one knew yet that she could not say her next word. Spirit, she thought. She looked out into her audience; she was speaking slowly, so no one knew yet that she could not say her next word.

Pegasus eyes are mostly dark; some are copper; a few are pale honey. Ebon's were as black as his hair. Sylvi looked at the pegasi looking at her, and her eyes met the queen's eyes, which were a gold a few shades darker than her coat. The queen smiled at her, holding her gaze. Spirit, thought Sylvi.

”. . . Swaasooria.” Swaasooria.”

She thought she heard a few pegasi sigh; it was the first sound any of them had made since they parted to let her through. She held up her hands, palms together, and then spread them out, embracing her audience.

”I am not only honoured to be here, ” she went on, ”I am glad and grateful.”Waaee shaar daeal. ” Thank you, thank you.” ” Thank you, thank you.”

She remembered something Ebon had told her: It's not just It's not just ffff ffff for emphasis, although that's the usual. You ever really want to knock someone out, say ”vraai.” You can stick it in pretty much anywhere, but you have to mean it. You don't use ”vraai” for . . . for emphasis, although that's the usual. You ever really want to knock someone out, say ”vraai.” You can stick it in pretty much anywhere, but you have to mean it. You don't use ”vraai” for . . . Ebon had paused and looked suddenly uncertain, and then distressed. Ebon had paused and looked suddenly uncertain, and then distressed. Maybe you can't use it. You wouldn't use it for any of the stuff humans can talk to us about. Maybe you can't use it. You wouldn't use it for any of the stuff humans can talk to us about.

”Vraai,” she said. she said. ”Genfwa, esshfwa, vraai. ” ”Genfwa, esshfwa, vraai. ” Heart, she thought, Heart, she thought, gafweehaa. gafweehaa. Love, Love, oranooiaka. oranooiaka. Thank you from the love in my heart. Thank you from the love in my heart. ”Esshfffwa gafweehaa oranooiaka gloh.” ”Esshfffwa gafweehaa oranooiaka gloh.” And she walked up to the queen, and unfastened the garnet from around her own neck, and lifted it up to tuck it round a lock of the queen's mane. And she walked up to the queen, and unfastened the garnet from around her own neck, and lifted it up to tuck it round a lock of the queen's mane.

Again she woke the next morning not able to remember how the night before had ended. There had been dancing, she remembered-human dancing too. She had danced with her father, who had asked her when she had rewritten her speech. ”I didn't, ” she said. ”Those were the words that wanted to come out.”