Chapter 14 third quarter

On the eve of the southern flight, Tenar strolled through the palace garden, feeling heavy and anxious.She didn't want to go to Roke, the Isle of the Wise, the Isle of Wizards (Damn Warlocks, said a voice in Karg in her head).What can you do in Roke?What can it do?She wanted to go home, to Gont, to Ged, to her own house, to her job, to the man she loved. She alienates Lebanin and loses him.He is polite and kind, yet refuses to soften. Walking among the roses of the last season, Tenar thought: Men are so afraid of women!Not to be afraid of a woman alone, but to be afraid of women who talk, work together, and stand in solidarity with each other.Men only see tricks, plots, shackles, and the laying of traps.

Of course the man is right.As a woman, a woman is more likely to support the next generation than this one; she weaves the links that men see as chains, the ties that bind them.If Lebannin insisted that he must be wholly independent and free from restraint to be considered insignificant, then Tenar and Sessalage were indeed on the same side, ready to betray him; if he thought himself nothing but air and fire, without the weight of earth, patience…… But this was not Lebanon, but Tehanu.What did not belong to the land was her Therru, the winged soul who had come to be with her for a while, and soon, she knew, Tehanu would be gone.Come in the fire, go out in the fire.

And Irian.Tehanu will leave with her. What is the relationship between that splendid and violent creature and the old house that should be swept away and the old man that should be taken care of?How could Irian understand such a thing?To her as a dragon, what is it that people choose to shoulder responsibility, marry, have children, or bear the burden of the earth? Tenar succumbed to homesickness entirely, seeing herself alone and useless among men whose destinies were high and extraordinary.Not only do I miss Gongtu.Why shouldn't I support Sesalaki?She is a princess, just like she is a priestess, she is completely a woman of the earth from head to toe, she can't fly away with hot wings, and she can speak her own mother tongue!I dutifully taught the princess He language and was delighted with her learning progress, but until now I discovered that the real joy lies in being able to speak Karg with her, and the words I heard and spoken filled my lost childhood.

When Tenar came to the path that led to the fishpond under the willows, she saw Alder, and beside him was a little boy, talking quietly and earnestly.She was always happy to see Alder, sympathized with the pain and fear he was in, and respected his patience when he endured, liked his honesty, handsome face, and dexterous speech.What's more, a little more elegant decoration in ordinary words?Besides, Ged trusted him. Tenar stopped some distance away, so as not to disturb their conversation, to watch Alder and the child kneeling on the path and peering into the bushes.After a while, his little gray cat appeared from under the bushes, paid no attention to the two of them, and walked across the grass, tiptoeing, lowering its belly, hunting moths with shining eyes.

"You can let it stay out all night," Alder said to the boy. "He won't get lost or get hurt here. Kittens love the outdoors, and you should know that this big garden is like a whole black garden." Forno City. You can also let it move freely in the morning, and let it sleep with you if you like." "I like it." The boy said shyly. "Put a box of cat litter in the room, and have a bowl of water at all times, which cannot be drained." "And food." "That's right, once a day, don't put too much, it's a bit greedy, and always feels that Xi Guoyi created the islands to fill his stomach."

"Will it catch fish in the pond?" The kitten is now sitting on the grass by the carp pond and looking around.The moth flew away. "It likes to watch fish." "Me too," said the boy.The two stood up and walked to the pool. Tenar felt a tender touch that there was a certain innocence in the alder, manly innocence, not childish.He should have children of his own and would be a good father. Tenar thought of her own children, and grandchildren, granddaughters... but Aapping's eldest daughter, Pippin...could it be?Piping is going to be twelve years old?Get your real name this year or next!Oh, it's time to go home.It's time to visit Zhonggu, bring a naming gift to the granddaughter, toys to the doll, make sure that the restless son Xinghuo hasn't cut the pear tree too much, and talk to the kind daughter Ai Ping for a while... Ai Ping's real name is Ha You The sea, given by Ogion... the thought of Ogion brings a pang of love and longing.Tenar saw the fire in Rhea's white room, saw Ged sitting by it, and saw him turn his dark face and ask a question.In the gardens of Havnor New Palace, hundreds of miles from the hearth, Tenar answered loudly, "I'll be back soon!"

Early in the morning, on a bright summer morning, a group of people set off from the palace and boarded the "Dolphin".The people of Havnor filled the streets and docks as if they were participating in a celebration, and punt boats called boats blocked the river, sailing boats and boats dotted the sea, and raised bright flags; tall towers on magnificent houses, different lengths The flagpoles of the bridges are flying flags and pennants.Tenar passed through the cheering crowd, thinking of sailing into Havnor with Ged long ago, and bringing back the Ring of Ephraen, the symbol of peace.The ring was on her arm, and she raised her hand so that the silver ring shone in the sun, so that the people could see it, and they immediately cheered loudly, and stretched out their hands to her, as if they wanted to hug her.Thinking about it made her smile.She stepped onto the deck and bowed to Lebannin with a smile on her face.

Lebannen greeted with the traditional words of the captain: "Lady Tenar, welcome aboard." Some inexplicable impulse made her reply: "Thank you, son of Ephraine." He looked at Tenar for a moment, slightly surprised at the address, but Tehanu followed.He repeated the formal welcome: "Mrs. Tehanu, welcome aboard." Tenar walked toward the bow, remembering that there was a nook near the capstan where it would not disturb the hard-working sailors and yet be able to see everything on the crowded deck and overboard. There was a commotion in the street leading to the quay as the First Princess arrived.Tenar was pleased to see Lebannen (or the steward) arrange the splendid ceremonies befitting a princess.The horse-riding entourage cleared the way among the crowd, and the horses were heroic, spouting and stepping, carrying the princess across the city. The gold-leaf carriage and the four gray horses of the trailer were topped with long red feathers similar to those on the helmets of Karg warriors.The musicians waiting by the pier played trumpets, bass drums, and tambourines. As soon as the crowd found a princess who could cheer and spy, they immediately cheered loudly, approaching almost to the cavalry and infantry. "Long live Queen Karg!" some shouted.Others said: "She is not." Others said: "Look, they are all dressed in red, as beautiful as rubies. Which one is the princess?" Some people shouted: "Long live the princess!"

When Tenar saw Sesalaki, she was naturally covered with tulle from head to toe, but her height and demeanor clearly revealed her identity.She got out of the carriage and sailed solemnly to the deck like a ship, followed by two veiled maids at a gallop, followed by Lady Opper of Irion.Tenar's heart sank suddenly. Lebannen had declared that he would not take any servants or entourage on this voyage. He said sternly that this was not a trip to the mountains, and everyone on board must have a good reason.Doesn't Sesselaki understand?Or is she so dependent on those stupid people that she would rather defy the king?This would be the most unfortunate beginning of the journey.

But as soon as it reached the board, the red column with golden light fluctuations stopped and turned around, stretching out its hands, and the golden ring shone on the golden skin of the hands.The princess hugged the maid, in an apparent farewell, and embraced Lady Opal with all the solemnity expected of a royal family in public.Mrs. Opper drove the maid back to the carriage, and the princess turned to the planks again. After a moment's pause, Tenar could see the featureless red-and-gold column take a deep breath and straighten its back. The princess stepped onto the board slowly.The tide has already started to rise, and the board of the boat is steep, but the calm and dignified demeanor makes the audience on the shore watch quietly and fascinated.

She reached the deck, stopped, and faced the king. "The First Princess of the Continent of Karga, welcome aboard." Lebannin said in a loud voice.Upon hearing this, the crowd burst into congratulations: "Long live the princess! Long live the queen! Ah Hong, well gone!" What Lebannen said to the princess was unintelligible amidst the cheers of the crowd.Hongzhu turned to face the crowd on the shore, bowed gracefully with her back straight. Tehanu was waiting for the princess not far from where the king was standing, stepped forward to speak, and led her to the back cabin of the ship, where the thick, soft and flowing red-gold veil disappeared.The crowd cheered and shouted even more frantically: "Princess, come back! Where is Ah Hong? Where is the madam? Where is the queen?" Tenar looked over the hull at the King, and a wild, wild whisper rose from a doubting, heavy heart, thinking: Poor child, what are you going to do now?Even if the princess could not be seen, everyone fell in love with her at a glance... Oh, Lebannin, we are all against you! The "Dolphin" is not small in size and provides the king with a certain degree of luxury and comfort, but the most important performance is sailing, flying with the wind, and taking the king to where he wants to go at the fastest speed.Even with only sailors, officers, king, and a few companions on board, the cabins were cramped, and on this journey to Roke they were even more crowded.The sailors slept in three-foot-high cabins in the forecastle, and experienced not far from the usual discomfort, but all the officers had to share a small, dark, shabby cabin below the forecastle.As for the passengers, the four women crammed into the king's original cabin, a long narrow room running along the stern; A Warlock and Tosla.The chances for misery and ill-temper were endless, Tenar thought, but the most important and urgent possibility was that the First Princess would get seasick. The ship was sailing on the big bay, the softest wind was blowing, the sea was calm, the ship was gliding like a swan in a pond, but Sesalaki was curled up on the bed, every time she saw the waves through the wide stern porthole through the veil. The bright sea, the gentle white waves behind the ship, cried out in despair, wailing in the Kargic language: "The ship will go up and down." "Won't move up and down at all," said Tenar. "Princess, use your head!" "It's my stomach, not my head." Sesselaki sobbed. "It's impossible for someone to get seasick in this weather, you're just scared." "Mom!" Tehanu protested, although he didn't understand but could hear the tone, "Don't scold her, seasickness is very painful." "She's not seasick!" said Tenar, fully convinced that she was telling the truth. "You're not seasick, Cersaraki, you're afraid of it. Grab yourself, go up on deck, fresh air will make all the difference. Fresh air and courage !" "Oh, my friend," Cysalaki murmured in Hieratic, "give me courage!" Tenar was a little taken aback: "Princess, you have to be brave for yourself." Then finally relented, "Come on, sit on the deck for a while and try. Tehanu, you persuade her, you think if we run into something bad Weather, how pitiful she would be!" With the hard work of the two of them, Cersaraki finally stood up and stepped into the red tulle column—of course she couldn't appear in front of the man without wearing a veil.The two half-coaxed and half-persuaded the princess to stagger out of the cabin and walked to the shaded place on the deck not far away. The three of them could sit side by side on the bone-white and clean deck, looking at the sparkling blue sea. Setheraki lifted the veil slightly to see straight ahead, but looked more often at the legs, occasionally glancing briefly, fearfully at the water, before closing her eyes and staring at the legs again. Tenar talked to Tehanu, pointing out passing ships, birds, and islands. "It's beautiful. I forgot how much I love sailing!" said Tenar. "If I can forget that it's all water, I like it," Tehanu said. "It's like flying." "Ah, you dragon," said Tenar. The tone is light, but not easy.It was the first time Tenar had said those words to her adopted daughter, until Tehanu turned her head and looked at her with her sighted eyes.Tenar's heart beat heavily. "Air and fire." Tehanu said nothing, but stretched out his hand, a brown, slender hand, not a dry claw.She took Tenar's hand, and held it tight. "Mom, I don't know what I am," she whispered in a voice that was rarely larger than a whisper. "I know," said Tenar, her heart beating harder and harder. "I'm different from Irian." Tehanu tried to comfort his mother, to reassure her, but there was hope in his voice, jealous hope, deep longing. "Wait. Wait and you will understand," Tenar answered, feeling awkward. "When the time comes...you will know what to do...know what you are." The two talked softly, even if the princess could understand it, she couldn't hear it.The two of them forgot about the existence of the princess, but as soon as she heard the name of Yi Rui'an, she lifted the veil with her slender hands, turned to the two of them, her eyes sparkled in the warm red shadow, and asked, "I Rui'an, is she there?" "In front... over there..." Tenar waved away. "She makes courage for herself, huh?" After a while, Tenar said, "She needn't do it, I think. She's not afraid of anything." "Ah." The princess sighed. Her bright eyes looked across the ship from the shadows, looking toward the bow.Yi Ruien was standing beside Lebannin, Wang was pointing forward, making gestures, and talking excitedly; Wang laughed, and Yi Ruien was standing beside him, equal in height, laughing too. "Bareface," Cysalaki murmured in Karg, and mused, almost indiscernibly, in Hittite, "no fear." She closed her veil and sat upright, motionless.