Chapter 9 first quarter

Tenar did not go to the dock with Tehanu, but watched from the window of the room as the ship set off, carrying Lebannen and his daughter into the night.Refusing to go was very difficult for Tenar, extremely difficult, and Tehanu, who never asked for anything, begged Tenar to go with her, and she never cried, could not cry, but her breath was choked with sobs: "I can't go, I can't Go alone! Mom, come with me!" "Baby, sweetheart, I would like to relieve your fear, but can't you see that I can't do it? That's all I can do for you. My flame, my star, the king is right... only You, only you can do it."

"But if you're there, let me know you're there..." "I am here, always by your side. If I follow, what is the use except to increase the burden? You must move forward quickly, the journey will be very hard, I will only drag you down, and you will worry about me. You don't need me, I am of no use to you, you must learn this. Tehanu, you must go." Tenar turned her back on Tehanu, and began packing her daughter's things, which were ordinary clothes, a pair of stout shoes, and a heavy cloak, instead of the finery of court.Even though we were tidying up and crying, my daughter didn't see it.

Tehanu seemed utterly bewildered, standing stiffly in fear.When Tenar asked her to change, she obediently did so; when Lieutenant Yenai knocked on the door and asked if she could lead Lady Tehanu to the docks, she stared like a mute animal. "Go," Tenar hugged her daughter, touching the huge scar that covered half her face, "you are Kerasim's daughter, and mine." The girl held Tenar tightly for a long time, then let go, and without a word turned, and followed Ye Nai out. Tenar alone felt the residual warmth of Tehanu's body and arms, gradually turning into the coldness of the night air.

She walked to the window and saw the light on the pier, the men coming and going, the horses walking on the steep path leading to the water, their hooves rattling, and a towering ship leaning against the pier, she knew " dolphin".Looking out of the window, she saw Tehanu standing on the pier, finally boarding the boat, leading a horse that had resisted so stubbornly, with Lebannen at his heels.She saw the ropes thrown up, the ship meekly allowed to be dragged away from the dock by the oars, the white sails suddenly scattered and bloomed in the darkness, the light of the bow light trembled on the dark sea, slowly shrinking into a drop of light and disappearing.

Tenar walked around the room, folding up the clothes Tehanu had worn, the silk blouse and smock, picking up the sandals, holding them to their cheeks for a moment, and putting them away. She lay on the big empty bed with her eyes open, repeating the same scene in her mind over and over again: a road, Tehanu walked alone; Tehanu licked and ran, hair on fire, clothes burning... No, Tenar cried, no!will not happen!She pulled her thoughts away abruptly until she saw the road again, Tehanu walking alone, the dark, burning tangle in the sky gradually approaching. The first light of day turned the room gray, and Tenar fell asleep at last, exhausted, dreaming that she was in the old mage's house in Gaoling, her own home, and the joy of coming home was indescribable.Ged let the floor be covered with dust, and from behind the door she took a broom and swept the shiny oak floor, but a door at the back of the house which had not existed before opened to a small, low room filled with paint. into a white stone wall.Ged squatted in the room, with his arms on his knees, his hands drooping weakly, his head not like a man's, small and black, with a sharp beak like a vulture's, and he said in a low, hoarse voice, "Tenar, I have not Wings." At the words, anger and fear surged through Tenar, and she woke up, panting, to see the sun shining on the high walls of the room, and to hear the sweet, clear sound of a trumpet announcing that it was the fourth hour of the morning. .

Berry brought breakfast, and Tenar ate and chatted with Aberry.Tenar chose the old servant from among the hordes of maids and handmaidens that Lebannin had sent.Aberry is smart and capable, born in the inland village of Havnor Island, getting along with her is far more pleasant than most court ladies.The ladies were kind and courteous to Tenar, but they didn't know how to respond, how to talk to someone who was half priestess of Karg and half village woman of Gont.Tenar knew that a lady could easily show kindness and pity to Tehanu who was too shy, but she could not pity Tenar. And Aberry took pity on Tenar and gave her great comfort this morning: "The king will bring back Tehanu safe and sound. Do you think the king will put the girl in danger from which he cannot save? Absolutely not! The king will never." Yes!" Although it wasn't necessarily true, Berry believed so strongly that Tenar felt a little comforted in agreeing.

Tenar had to do something, and Tehanu's absence left a void everywhere.She resolved to speak to Princess Karg to see if she would learn the Hittite language, or at least speak her name. The people of the Karg continent are different from the Hittites in that they have no real names, but the Karg names are the same as the common names of the Hittites, and usually have certain meanings, such as "rose", "alder", "honor", "hope" , or traditional names, inherited from ancestors, are names that people use openly and take pride in the ancient names that have been passed down from generation to generation.Tenar had been too young when she left her parents' side to know why she had been named Tenar, but she thought it might be some grandmother or great-grandmother.When she was identified as Arha, the reincarnation of the Nameless, her name was taken away, and Ged gave it back.She shared Ged's feeling that it was her real name, but since it was not an ancient word, nor would it give anyone power over her, she never concealed it.

Tenar wondered why the princess withheld her name.The Maids only called her Princess, Lady, or Master, while the Ambassadors spoke of her as First Princess, Daughter of Saul, Lady Hurhu, and so on.If the poor girl has only titles, it's time for a name. Tenar knew it was not for the king's guests to walk alone in the streets of Havnor, but Aberry had duties at court, and she asked for a servant to accompany her.A charming manservant followed her, actually a servant boy, only fifteen years old, but every time she reached the intersection, the manservant looked after her like a shambling old woman.Tenar liked to walk in the city, and she had found, and confessed, that it was easier to go to the River Palace without Tehanu by her side.People would stare at Tehanu and look away, and Tehanu would go forward with a stiff, tormented self-esteem, hating the stares and averted heads of passers-by, and Tenar suffered with it, and even more.

Now she can linger in the streets, watching street performers, market vendors, faces and clothes from all over the archipelago, deviate from the direct path, and let the footman lead her to a street where painted arch bridges connect the roofs, forming a bridge on the top. The airy arched roof is hung with heavy red flowers and climbing vines. People will extend painted bamboo poles from the windows and hang birdcages among the flowers, which looks like a hanging garden. "I wish Tehanu could see it too," Tenar thought, but she couldn't think of Tehanu, or where she might be. The River Palace, like the New Palace, has existed since the time of Queen Helu, and it has gone through five hundred years.When Lebanon ascended the throne, the building was completely in disrepair, but he carefully rebuilt it into a beautiful and peaceful place with few furniture, dark floors and no carpet.The entire wall in the room is composed of French windows, which can open to the willow trees and the river, and also allow people to walk to the wide wooden balcony across the water.The palace man told Tenar that the king liked to spend a night alone here, or with his lover, implying that the king let the princess live here, but there was actually something wrong with it.Tenar thought the king didn't want to live with the princess, so she chose the only possible place.But maybe what the palace man said was not unreasonable.

The well-armored guard recognized Tenar, let her in, the manservant announced her visit, took the little manman to crack nuts and gossip—this seemed to be the manman's main job, the lady came to greet her, grateful for the visitor, Can't wait to hear the latest updates on King Hunt, Fending the Dragons.After telling the whole story, he was finally able to enter the princess' suite. During the first two visits, Tenar waited for a while in the nearby side hall, and then was led into the inner room by the masked maidservant. It was the only dark room in the whole bright house. The princess was standing, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and the red gauze was hanging straight down. Arriving at the ground, it seems that it has stood here since ancient times, and it is integrated with the building.As Mrs. Yiyesha said, it is really like a brick chimney.

This time is completely different.As soon as they entered the side hall, there were screams and the sound of people running.The princess rushed in, screaming wildly, and embraced Tenar.Tenar was small, but the tall, energetic young princess, full of emotions and unable to express herself, knocked Tenar off her feet, and the princess's strong arms supported her. "Mrs. Arha! Mrs. Arha! Help me, save me!" the princess was crying. "Princess, what's the matter?" The princess burst into tears, in fear, or relaxation, or both, and among the lamentations and entreaties Tenar could make out only a few words and phrases that had to do with dragons and sacrifices. "There are no dragons near Havnor," said Tenar sternly, slipping out of the princess's arms. "And there are no sacrifices. What is it? What do you hear?" "The maid said that the dragon was coming, and what they offered was not a goat, but the king's daughter. They were warlocks, and I was very scared." The princess wiped her face and clasped her hands, trying to restrain her panic.It was real, uncontrollable fear. Tenar pitied the princess, but didn't show it. The girl must learn to behave with dignity. "Those maids are very ignorant, and they don't understand the He language very well, so they can't understand what other people say. You don't understand the He language at all. If you understand, you know that there is nothing to be afraid of. Look, there are people in this house who are crying and crying. Call, rampage?" The princess stared blankly at Tenar.She didn't wear a hat or veil, and the weather was hot, so she wore only a light shirt and dress.It was the first time Tenar saw the princess in person, not as a shadow behind the red veil, and though her eyelids were swollen with tears and her face flushed with tears, she was resplendent and noble: golden hair, golden eyes, round arms, full breasts , with a slender waist, is a woman at the peak of her beauty and energy. "But those people will not be used as sacrifices." The princess finally replied. "No one will be sacrificed." "Why did the dragon come?" Tenar took a deep breath. "Princess, we have many things to discuss. If you will consider me a friend..." "I will." The Princess stepped forward and took Tenar's right arm firmly. "You are my friend. I have no other friends. For you I would die." It sounded absurd, but Tenar knew it was true. Trying to respond to the girl's grip, she said, "You are my friend. Tell me your name." The princess's eyes were wide open, her upper lip still had some snot and swelling, her lower lip was trembling, she took a deep breath, and said, "Sytheraki." "Ceserage, my name is not Arha, but Tenar." "Tenar," the girl repeated, squeezing Tenar's arm harder. "Then," said Tenar, trying to get the situation under control, "I've walked a long way and my mouth is dry. Let's sit down and let me drink and talk." "Okay." The princess jumped out of the room like a hunting lioness.There are shouts, chanting, and more running from the inner chamber.A slave girl appeared, adjusting her veil tremblingly, and spoke incoherently in some dialect, in a thick accent that Tenar could not understand at all.The princess yelled from the inner room: "Speak in that damned language!" The woman pitifully squeezed out a Hebrew: "Sit? Drink? Ma'am?" In the dark and stuffy room, two chairs were placed facing each other, and Sesalaki stood on one side. "If the princess will," said Tenar, "I should like to sit out in the shade, on the water." The princess yelled, the maid ran, and the chairs were placed on the wide balcony, and the two sat down side by side. "It's much better this way." Tenar was still not very used to speaking Karg, and although she had no difficulty in using it, she felt as if someone else was speaking instead of herself, an actor who was happy to play the part. "Do you like water?" asked the princess, her face returning to its old rich cream color, and her puffy eyes blue-gold, or blue with gold dots. "Like it. Don't you like it?" "I hate water. There was no water where I used to live." "Desert? I used to live in the desert until I was sixteen. Then I crossed the ocean and came to the West. I love water, and I love oceans and rivers." "Oh, the ocean." Cesaraki curled up and buried her head in her palms, "Oh, I hate the ocean to death, I hate it to death. I vomited out my soul, again and again, day after day. I also don’t want to see the sea.” Her eyes quickly passed through the willow branches, and shot to the quiet shallow stream under the two of them. "This river is fine." She said hesitantly. The maids brought jugs and cups, and Tenar took a long gulp of the cool water. "Princess," said Tenar, "we have many things to talk about. First: the dragon is still far away, in the west. The king and my daughter have gone to talk to the dragon." "To talk to the dragon?" "Yes," said Tenar, who was about to say more, "tell me, please, what the dragon of Hurhu looked like?" Someone had told Tenar when she was a child that there were dragons in Huerhu.There are dragons in the mountains, bandits in the desert, Huerhu is poor and remote, and nothing good is produced except opal, sapphire and cypress wood. Sesselaki sighed deeply, tears welled up in her eyes. "It makes me cry to think of home." Such pure, direct emotion brought tears to Tenar's eyes too. "Dragon lives on the mountain, about two or three days away from Mesreis, and there are rocks on it. Dragons and people do not interfere with each other, but they will go down the mountain once a year, and climb down along a road. It is a path, smooth paved. It is dusty, and every year since the beginning of time dragons have dragged their bellies down the mountain, grinding out paths. That path is called the "Dragon's Way." The princess saw that Tenar was listening intently, and continued, "Crossing the Dragon's Way is taboo. Can't step on it, have to detour south of the consecration house. The dragon started to climb down the mountain in late spring, and arrived at the consecration house on the fourth day of the fifth month. Wait. When the dragon comes down from the dragon path, the priest will start the consecration ceremony, that is... isn't there a spring consecration in Etuan?" Tenar shook her head. "I'm just afraid of it. The sacrifice may be a human sacrifice. If the time is not right, it will be a princess as a sacrifice, otherwise just an ordinary girl. But it has not been done for many years. I am still a child. This kind of sacrifice Just stop--since Father crushed the other kings. From then on, we would just sacrifice a she-goat and a sheep, let the blood drip into the bowl, throw the fat into the sacrificial fire, and call the dragons. And the dragons would Climb up and drink blood and eat fire." The princess closed her eyes for a moment, and so did Tenar. "Then they go back to the mountains and we go back to Mesres." "How big is Long Yue?" Sesalaki's hands were about a foot away: "Some are bigger." "Can't fly? Can't talk?" "No, their wings are just little warts. They make some sort of neigh. Animals can't talk. But dragons are sacred animals, and symbols of life, because fire is life, and dragons eat fire and breathe fire. Also because they come to the spring offering. Even if no one goes, the dragons gather there. We go there because the dragons go there. The priests tell us that every time the offering begins." It took Tenar a while to absorb. "The dragons here are big. Huge," she said. "And they fly. They're animals, but they talk; they're sacred, and they're dangerous." "Well," continued the princess, "dragons may be only animals, but they're more like us than those damned warlocks." The princess spit out the word "damn warlock" without emphasizing it.Tenar remembered hearing the word as a child. It meant "Dark," the Hittites of the Kingdom of the Archipelago. "why?" "Because dragons are born again! Like all animals, like us." Cysalaki looked at Tenar with frank curiosity. "I thought you would know better than I, since you were the most holy priestess of the Necropolis." "But there are no dragons in Etuan," said Tenar. "I have never learned anything about dragons. Tell me, my friend." "I'll try. This is a winter's story. Although it's summer, it shouldn't hurt to say it. Anyway, everything is wrong here." The princess sighed, "Well, at the beginning of everything, at the beginning, all peoples and animals are the same , we all do the same thing. We learn how to die, we learn how to be reborn, maybe reincarnated as the same race, or as another race, it doesn’t matter because people die and reborn, and sooner or later all kinds will go through it again.” Tenar nodded.So far, the story sounds familiar. "But the best thing to do when reborn is to be a man or a dragon, because both are sacred. Try to keep the rules and not break the taboos, and you're more likely to be a man again, or at least a dragon, if the dragons here will Talking, and being big, then I can see why that's a reward. Being a dragon like my hometown has always felt like nothing to look forward to. "But the story is about a damned sorcerer discovering 'Vudunan.' Choose this way, choose Fudunan, and take Fudunan to the west, so they become black and live here. The people here... are the people who chose Fudunan, alive, and perform damning spells, but They can't die, only the body dies, and the rest stays in a dark place, never to be reborn. And they look like birds, but they can't fly." "Indeed," Tenar whispered. "Didn't you learn this in Etuan?" "No," said Tenar. Tenar was remembering the story the woman of Kayme had told Ogion: In the beginning of time, men and dragons were of one kind, but dragons chose wildness and freedom, and men chose wealth and power.Choice, separation, is this the same story? But what Tenar could picture was Ged squatting in the stone house, with a small, black, beaked head... "Is that the ring in Fudunan? They've been talking about it, the ring I'm going to wear?" Tenar tried to turn her thoughts away from the painting room and last night's dream, and return to Setheraki's question. "ring?" "The Ring of Erzaby." "It is Eriabah. No, it is the Ring of Peace, which you may wear if you become King Lebanon's queen. If so, you are a lucky woman." Sesselach's expression was very strange, not dark anger or sarcasm, but despair, half-humorous and patient, belonging to a woman who was several decades older than her. "It's no luck at all, my dear friend Tenar. I must marry him, so I shall disappear." "Why did you disappear when you married Lebannin?" "If I marry him, I have to give him my name. If he says my name, he can steal my soul. That's what all the damned magicians do, so they hide their names. If he steals my Soul, I cannot die, must live forever without a body, like a flightless bird, never reborn." "So you're hiding your name?" "I give you my name, friend." "I am honored to receive this gift, my friend," said Tenar passionately, "but here, you can say your name to anyone, and no one can steal your soul. Believe me, Cytheraki .You can trust Lebannin too, he doesn't... he won't hurt you." The girl caught Tenar's hesitation: "But he wishes he could. My friend Tenar, I know what I am here. In Ahwabas, the big city where my father lives, I am a stupid and ignorant desert woman, a non-jaga The city women, the whores who show their heads, whisper and point at me when they see me. It's worse here, I can't understand anyone, they can't understand me, and everything, everything is different! I don't even know What is the food, those warlock food makes me dizzy; I don't know what the taboo is, there are no priests here to ask, only warlock women, dark skinned, and showing their heads. I see the way he looks at me, still looking at me through Feiya Get outside! I saw his face, very handsome, looks like a warrior, but a black magician, and he hates me. Don't say he can't, I know he hates me. I think, as soon as he knows my name , will send my soul there forever.” Tenar looked at the willow branches swaying on the sluggish water, sad and tired, and said after a long time, "Princess, you must learn how to make Lebannin like you, otherwise what else can you do?" Cytheraki shrugged mournfully. "It would help if you could understand what he was saying." "Bagaba, Bagaba, what they say sounds like this." "That's how they listen to us. Now, princess, how can he like you if all you can say to him is bagaba, bagaba? Look." Tenar raised one hand and pointed with the other, first Say a word in Kargic and say it in Hittite again. Saiseraqi repeated obediently. After learning a few body parts, she suddenly realized the potential of translation. She sat up straight and asked, "How do warlocks say 'King'?" "Agni, it's a word in the ancient language, my husband said so." When Tenar had finished speaking, she found it foolish to bring up a third kind of testimony, but that was not what caught the Princess' attention. "You have a husband?" Setheraki stared at Tenar with bright, lion-like eyes, and laughed. "Oh, how wonderful! I thought you were a priestess! Please, friend, tell me about him! Is he a warrior? Is he handsome? Do you love him?"