accept.”
“You came on foot, I believe. Lord Felisan's stables can lend you a mount.”
From what he had seen of Alpinon's horses, the mount would be humbler than what he was used to, but he smiled his thanks nonetheless. To show disappointment in Felisan's hospitality was unthinkable, not to mention that his father would consider it unforgivable.
He liked these folk. Their realm might have little grandeur that was not made by nature, but the people of Alpinon had few pretensions, and he valued their open friendliness more than any elaborate arts.
Gharinan stayed for as long as it took to drink two cups of tea, then took his leave, bidding Turisan to meet them in the public circle. Turisan wasted no time getting into his leathers. As he walked out to the circle, he was gratified to see that the party would include Eliani.
The half-wild forest girl he had met two days previouslywas back, looking far more at ease in her worn leathers than she had in her silks. Turisan could not help smiling at the difference.
The mount he was given was small but sturdily built. He had brought his hunting bow and saw that the others carried bows as well. In Southfæld, all guardians went armed whenever they rode. Apparently it was so in Alpinon as well.
Eliani led them northwest on a steep road out of Highstone. The morning was brisk, a sharp breeze rising from the chasm to the east and north of the city, the whisper of the river far below.
The party rounded a ridge that revealed a prospect of the long, deep chasm stretching before them into the mountains. On the opposite cliff a high waterfall cascaded around two rock outcrops, forming a treble veil of white against dark rock. Turisan halted, compelled to admire it.
Drifts of pale mist moved across the plummeting water and billowed in clouds where the three streams struck the rocks far below and became one again in a wide pool. From this the water emerged into the Asurindel, the river that flowed eastward past High-stone.
Eliani reined in her mount beside Turisan's. “The Three Shades. This is the fairest prospect of them. There are other views, but only this takes in the whole.”
“Beautiful. Are they the highest falls in your mountains?”
“There are higher but lesser falls. These are the largest and best known.”
Beyond her, Gharinan leaned forward to look at Turisan. “Have you heard the legend?”
“No. Will you tell it?”
“It is said that three sisters were handfasted to threebrothers of Stonereach, who then went off to the Bitter Wars and never returned. The sisters climbed the cliff beside the falls—you can see the path there—and kept watch for a year and a day. When their lords still came not, they leapt over the falls and perished on the rocks below.”
Luruthin nodded. “Another version says they remained by the falls until they faded into the mists. One is supposed to be able to hear their voices in the rush of water, lamenting their lost loves.”
“A sad tale. Has it any basis in truth?”
“That is doubtful”—Eliani's voice was dry—“considering that few couples are blessed with one offspring, let alone three.”
“Davharin and Heléri had three.” Luruthin looked at Turisan. “Our elders. My mother told me of the shades. When I was younger, I spent many nights seeking them by the falls, and though I never heard their voices, I once saw pale figures flickering in the water.”
Turisan gazed across at the falls again. “That path is still in use?”
Eliani made a sound of derision. “Mostly by very young lovers in search of a trysting place who do not care how wet they become.”
She turned her mount away and started up the trail. The two Stonereach males exchanged a glance, and Gharinan favored Turisan with a smiling shrug.
They fell into line again, following Eliani westward along the canyon's rim. Numerous small streams crossed the path, seeking their way down to join the river. Some steamed and left sulfurous deposits in
“You came on foot, I believe. Lord Felisan's stables can lend you a mount.”
From what he had seen of Alpinon's horses, the mount would be humbler than what he was used to, but he smiled his thanks nonetheless. To show disappointment in Felisan's hospitality was unthinkable, not to mention that his father would consider it unforgivable.
He liked these folk. Their realm might have little grandeur that was not made by nature, but the people of Alpinon had few pretensions, and he valued their open friendliness more than any elaborate arts.
Gharinan stayed for as long as it took to drink two cups of tea, then took his leave, bidding Turisan to meet them in the public circle. Turisan wasted no time getting into his leathers. As he walked out to the circle, he was gratified to see that the party would include Eliani.
The half-wild forest girl he had met two days previouslywas back, looking far more at ease in her worn leathers than she had in her silks. Turisan could not help smiling at the difference.
The mount he was given was small but sturdily built. He had brought his hunting bow and saw that the others carried bows as well. In Southfæld, all guardians went armed whenever they rode. Apparently it was so in Alpinon as well.
Eliani led them northwest on a steep road out of Highstone. The morning was brisk, a sharp breeze rising from the chasm to the east and north of the city, the whisper of the river far below.
The party rounded a ridge that revealed a prospect of the long, deep chasm stretching before them into the mountains. On the opposite cliff a high waterfall cascaded around two rock outcrops, forming a treble veil of white against dark rock. Turisan halted, compelled to admire it.
Drifts of pale mist moved across the plummeting water and billowed in clouds where the three streams struck the rocks far below and became one again in a wide pool. From this the water emerged into the Asurindel, the river that flowed eastward past High-stone.
Eliani reined in her mount beside Turisan's. “The Three Shades. This is the fairest prospect of them. There are other views, but only this takes in the whole.”
“Beautiful. Are they the highest falls in your mountains?”
“There are higher but lesser falls. These are the largest and best known.”
Beyond her, Gharinan leaned forward to look at Turisan. “Have you heard the legend?”
“No. Will you tell it?”
“It is said that three sisters were handfasted to threebrothers of Stonereach, who then went off to the Bitter Wars and never returned. The sisters climbed the cliff beside the falls—you can see the path there—and kept watch for a year and a day. When their lords still came not, they leapt over the falls and perished on the rocks below.”
Luruthin nodded. “Another version says they remained by the falls until they faded into the mists. One is supposed to be able to hear their voices in the rush of water, lamenting their lost loves.”
“A sad tale. Has it any basis in truth?”
“That is doubtful”—Eliani's voice was dry—“considering that few couples are blessed with one offspring, let alone three.”
“Davharin and Heléri had three.” Luruthin looked at Turisan. “Our elders. My mother told me of the shades. When I was younger, I spent many nights seeking them by the falls, and though I never heard their voices, I once saw pale figures flickering in the water.”
Turisan gazed across at the falls again. “That path is still in use?”
Eliani made a sound of derision. “Mostly by very young lovers in search of a trysting place who do not care how wet they become.”
She turned her mount away and started up the trail. The two Stonereach males exchanged a glance, and Gharinan favored Turisan with a smiling shrug.
They fell into line again, following Eliani westward along the canyon's rim. Numerous small streams crossed the path, seeking their way down to join the river. Some steamed and left sulfurous deposits in
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