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<HTML> <HEAD><TITLE>The Count of Years : 6</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY BODY BGCOLOR="#F0F0B8" TEXT="#002200"><IMG Align=Top SRC="ciheader.gif"> <font face="Times CE"> <h2><a name="Count"><font color="#803800">The Count of Years : 6 </font></a> <font size=-1> <a href="comment6.htm">[ <i>Commentary</i> ] <a href="ciroma.htm">[1]</a> <a href="ciroma2.htm">[2]</a> <a href="ciroma3.htm">[3]</a> <a href="ciroma4.htm">[4]</a> <a href="ciroma5.htm">[5]</a> <a href="ciroma7.htm">[7]</a> <a href="ciroma8.htm">[8]</a> <a href="ciroma9.htm">[9]</a> <a href="ciroma10.htm">[10]</a></font> </h2> <hr> <h3><a name="Creation"><font color="#803800">Men / Eîsē </font></a></h3> <h4><a name="creation"><font color="#000060">The creation of men </font></a></h4> Iáinos was pleased with the elcari, and resolved to create a Thinking Kind that would live on the plains, and fill the earth. With king Anāos and the other iliū, following the dream of Iáinos, Eīledan created the first eîsē. It was now fifteen hundred years after the end of the fourth war with the ktuvoks. <p>They were created in Āeressār, which was then green and fertile, the most beautiful of the plains of Almea. It was well protected, since the elcari dwelled in the mountains to the north, and the iliū still lived in the Lake of Mists to the south. The first man was named Árrasos because he was born in Āeressār, and the first woman was named Denūra. <p>Denūra was raised among the iliū of the Lake of Mists. Her guardians were Soromo the son of Anāos and his wife Atāunē. Soromo taught her how to till the earth, how to bake bread, and how to shoot with the bow. Atāunē taught her how to spin cloth, how to weave, and how to raise animals. Both of them taught her to know Iáinos, and taught her storytelling, dance, and music. <p>Árrasos was raised among the elcari of the Elkarin Mountains. His guardians were Belgēse the granddaughter of Ganmes, and her husband Nesnōum the grandson of Meircrenas. Nesnōum taught him to herd sheep and goats, to carve stone, and to fight with axe and sword. Belgēse taught him to make bricks from clay, to fish, and to tan leather and make shoes. Together they taught him to know Iáinos, and taught him astronomy, game-playing, and riddles. <p>Though Árrasos learned the language of the elcari, and Denūra (alone of all humans) learned to understand the language of the iliū, they were both taught a new language, devised for the humans by the iliū. <p>Árrasos and Denūra grew to adulthood: <p>Look at Árrasos, first of men! <br>Strong muscles, a pleasing frame, <br>a handsome face with square nose, <br>and bright eyes full of thought. <br>His beard is short; all his aspect <br>belongs to a warrior. But not a barbarian: <br>he knows Iáinos, he is gentle to children, <br>loyal to friends, and merry at night <br>when ease beckons. <p>Consider Denūra, the first woman! <br>Lovely in appearance, who can look at her <br>without loving her? Her face is calm, <br>but quick to laughter; her lips are like wine, <br>her eyes large; her brown hair <br>a sparkling waterfall. Her breasts are soft, <br>and her hips wide; her voice is musical. <br>Proud as a princess, wise in words, <br>Ulōne moves in her. <p>They had been raised apart, with few meetings; but now their guardians brought them together in the place of their birth, the green land of Āeressār. <p>They met, and looked long at each other, and talked, hesitantly. They talked about their knowledge; and Denūra sang songs to Árrasos, and Árrasos told her the names of the stars. <p>--Now, children, you may come together and become the ancestors of a great people, said Soromo. <p>--You have our love, said Nesnōum, but now you belong to each other. <p>But Árrasos took Nesnōum aside, and said, --Please, lord, take me back home; she doesn't please me. <p>--Why not? asked Nesnōum, astonished. <p>--She is grotesquely tall, said Árrasos. She is stretched out as if someone pulled on her head-- unlike the beautiful forms of lady Belgēse and my sisters among the elcari. At the same time she is fat, especially in the breasts; her face is pale and ugly, and her hair is too long and soft, like a mouse's. As for her personality, she is not strong and straightforward like an elcar, but full of words, and silly with poetry. Please do not command me to marry her! <p>At the same time Denūra spoke to Atāunē in secret, saying, --As you love me, mother, take me away from this man! I don't like him at all. <p>Atāunē was amazed, and asked, --Why is that? <p>--To begin with, he is so small and weak! said Denūra. I don't expect everyone to be as mighty as my father Soromo or my brothers, but he is smaller than the tiniest iliu female. How could he protect me-- a ktuvok could break him in two! Besides that, he has a sickly tan color, his nose projects like a tower, and his face is covered with hair! <p>--These are things of the skin, said Atāunē. <p>--I know it; but his spirit is no better! said Denūra. He is as dull and serious as a cow; his thoughts are all of physical things-- stones and houses-- and he doesn't know how the first thing about telling a story, to say nothing of the forty-nine poetic forms, the seventy registers, and the hundred and four structural rhythms! You know that I will do anything for you, but no one who loves me could condemn me to marriage with such a creature! <p>The guardians of Árrasos and Denūra conferred together, but could find no solution. All they could do was to bring the matter to Iáinos. <p>--We have raised the eîsē with all love, treating them as our own children, said the guardians. Yet neither of them cares for each other! We can't force them, can we? <p>--Can you? asked Iáinos. Would they obey you? <p>--Denūra is never rebellious, said Soromo. <p>--Árrasos is as loyal as any elcar, said Belgēse. <p>--The problem is that you have raised them as your own children, and not as men, said Iáinos. I don't blame you, but the result is that Árrasos has the eyes of an elcar, and Denūra has the eyes of an iliu. They were made for each other, but we cannot ask them to come together when they loathe each other! <p>--What will we do, then? asked Soromo. Will you make more eîsē? <p>--No, I see another way, said Iáinos. <h4><a name="Iáinos's"><font color="#000060">Iáinos's commision</font></a></h4> Iáinos called Árrasos and Denūra to himself, and said, --Children, I want to you go to Asicondār, the city of the Nîmedi, which is far to the south. You will go together, and you will take the cup of anointing, which the iliū will give you. <p>--Will my brothers the elcari come with us? asked Árrasos. <p>--And my companions the iliū? asked Denūra. <p>--No. Though we are at peace, war will come again, and all the elcari and iliū are needed to prepare for it. However, neither of you yet have duties. <p>--Then we will go, said Árrasos and Denūra. <p><img src="cipeople.gif"> <p>They left their guardians with great sorrow, took food, cloaks, and weapons, and set out for the south. Árrasos was given a stone which shone blue when they should go farther south, and Denūra was given one which shone red when they should go farther east. <p>Árrasos ate the food which his guardians had given him, and Denūra did likewise, They slept apart and did not talk much, since they found no pleasure in each other's company. <p>At first both stones glowed, and they travelled southeast. After some days they came to the Eresso mountains, the boundary of Āeressār. <p>--If we follow both stones, we must cross the mountains, said Árrasos. <p>--So then, let's cross the mountains, said Denūra. They shouldn't scare you; you're virtually an elcar. <p>--I'm not afraid; but it's slow work climbing. If we go south, perhaps we'll come to the end of the mountains. <p>--You want to go south because your stone is blue. But mine is glowing as well; we'll go out of our way, or become lost entirely, if we only travel south. <p>They argued for some time, and in the end decided to go south for some distance, to see if the mountains ended. They walked for some days to the south. <p>--I know this country! said Denūra. We are very near to the Lake of Mists, where I grew up. Don't you want to see it, and meet my brothers and sisters and all my people, the iliū? <p>--No, I don't! said Árrasos. We're not travelling for pleasure, but to find the cup of anointing for Iáinos! The sooner we get to Asicondār, the better. <p>--At least we should stop and get more food, said Denūra. <p>--Seaweed and fish, said Árrasos. Iliu food! You're welcome to it! <p>--Are you going to find goats for us in the unknown lands? I will stop there, at least! If you're foolish enough, go on by yourself. <p>--All right, let's stop there, but only for a night. <p>They came to the Lake of Mists, and the iliū received them gladly. Soromo and Atāunē embraced them, and gave them a great feast. Denūra spoke happily with her friends, and sang and laughed with them; they were polite to Árrasos, but he didn't understand their words or their music, and didn't like their food. In the morning he insisted on leaving immediately. <h4><a name="Glade"><font color="#000060">The Glade of the House of Árrasos</font></a></h4> The iliū gave them food for the journey, and advised them to travel east till they reached the Gaumê mountains. <p>Árrasos, however, insisted on proceeding southeast. He said, --Our stones are both glowing; as you said yourself, the fastest way is when we follow both stones. Why should we follow the word of the iliū? They advise you to go east because of your stone. <p>--That's foolish, said Denūra. They know the way to Asicondār, even without stones! We should listen to them. <p>But Árrasos would not be convinced, and they travelled southeast. <p>In a few days they came to a great river, the Isrēica. The land was rich and green, the waters strong and glad. <p>Árrasos said, --My heart is in the mountains, but this place gives me a great peace. Ulōne must be speaking here; let's build a Glade here to worship her. <p>Denūra agreed, and they made a Glade near the river, in honor of Ulōne. This place is still close to the heart of Árrasos, and is called the House of Árrasos. <h4><a name="bear"><font color="#000060">The bear</font></a></h4> They crossed the river and continued to the southeast for many days. They came to a forest, so full of trees that inside it was eternal twilight. There they rested; and in the morning they woke up to find that their their packs were disturbed, and their resting place was trampled by the feet of bears. The bears had roughly opened their packs and eaten their food; all that remained was a small packet of fish and dried seaweed Denūra kept in her clothes. <p>--Now what are we going to do? said Árrasos. How foolish it was to come into this woods! <p>--We wouldn't have, if you didn't insist on travelling southeast, said Denūra. <p>--I didn't know that there would be bears here! <p>--You were at the house of those who know this region, and you disdained their advice. <p>Árrasos had no answer to this, and he was abashed, and agreed that they should walk eastward. <p>They walked for several days, first eating the food that Denūra had saved, and then nothing at all. Finally they came to the Camminas, and in its waters they found fish, and they felt glad again. <p>On the next day, on waking, the wind was blowing from the west. Árrasos said, --I smell an odd smell. <p>--Yes, so do I, said Denūra. <p>But neither of them knew what it was, so they walked on. After they had walked for awhile, the wind shifted, and they thought no more of it. <p>Then in the afternoon the wind blew from the west again, and Denūra said, --There's that smell again, only stronger. <p>--I know it now, said Árrasos; it's bear. <p>Now they knew that the bear who had eaten their food was following them. They watched carefully as they walked, but they saw nothing for the rest of the day. <p>While the bear was following, they could not both sleep at once. They took turns watching at night; in the morning they both felt tired. But they decided to move on, in hopes of losing the bear. <p>Before noon, they climbed a hill, and from its top looked back and saw the bear, swiftly running to overtake them. He was running too fast for them to get away from it; they decided therefore to wait for him, and fight him, asking Ulōne for the grace to kill him. <p>In an hour the bear, tireless in his pursuit, enormous in his strength, came upon them, and rushed at them to attack. Denūra shot arrows at him, one after another; each one lodged in his body, but he continued his advance. Árrasos took his sword and fought, swinging at the bear while he tried to bite and claw him. <p>They fought furiously, men and beast, for an hour, Árrasos with sword and axe, Denūra with bow and arrow and dagger. The bear charged first at one and then at another; they fought or ran from him as they could, and received many wounds from his sharp claws and teeth. Each of them came close to death that day, but finally Árrasos plunged his sword into his heart, while Denūra, from behind, stuck her dagger into his brain, and he fell to the ground dead. <p>Árrasos and Denūra fell into each other's arms and held each other without speaking, glad to be alive. Then they cared for each other's wounds, and slept. In the morning they cut up the bear's body and took as much of his meat as they could. From that day they were kinder to each other, because they had saved each other's lives; but they still did not think of coming together. <h4><a name="city"><font color="#000060">The city of the elcari</font></a></h4> For many days they walked east, eating bear meat as well as fruits and berries. The land became hilly, and then mountainous; they had reached the Gaumê Mountains. It became cold and windy, and though it was summer, snow swirled about them as they climbed. <p>--This land is like my home, said Árrasos. Perhaps we will meet elcari here. <p>Indeed, on the next day, Árrasos recognized signs pointing to a great city of the elcari, and he wished to follow them and meet the elcari. Denūra was unwilling; she wanted to press on toward Asicondār. But because they had stopped at the Lake of Mists, Árrasos convinced her that they should also stop here, though only for one night. <p>The elcari came to meet them at the gates. They were wary, because they had never seen a human before; but Árrasos spoke to them in their language, and they welcomed them in. <p>This city of the elcari was called Xacromixrid, which means the city of the gray walls, and its king was Nelcinonas. The two humans gave Nelcinonas their remaining bear meat, and in return he gave them a feast, of goat and pheasant and wild rice and apples, pears, berries, and wine. He asked them about their journey, and they told him everything that had happened to them, and asked if he knew how to find the iliu city, or what the cup of anointing was. <p>He didn't know, but he told them to be careful as they went east, because to the east there were ktuvoks, and to the south lions and wolves, as well as a mighty running beast whose name was not known. <p>There were games and drinking contests, which Árrasos gladly joined in, laughing and drinking much wine. Denūra did not know the elcarin language and didn't like their music; she grew bored, and fell asleep. <p>In the morning Árrasos woke with a headache, and asked to stay longer. But Denūra said that they had stayed only one night at the Lake of Mists, which was her own home, and that she would not spend a longer time with strangers. <p>Nelcinonas was sorry to see them go, and gave them a gift of fur jackets, because it would become very cold in the southern lands. He also gave them plenty of food and water for the journey, and told them something of the nearby lands. <h4><a name="Tīblixūnas"><font color="#000060">Tīblixūnas</font></a></h4> Árrasos and Denūra argued over what direction to go. Árrasos wanted to keep going east, because the mountains made him feel at home and because the elcari had given him directions; but Denūra said that they would proceed too slowly, and might meet ktuvoks. She wanted to go south, despite the danger of wild animals. <p>They ended up going south, passing into a broad flat grassland, with few trees, and few sources of water. Soon they were tired and thirsty; and though they were hot from walking, there was no shade to hide from the sun. <p>From a distance, they saw animals. Hoping for game, they crept closer, and found great beasts that were unknown to them: <p>How strong and how fast! <br>Great creatures large as bears <br>But swift as eagles! <br>Their hooves are like thunder, <br>their manes fly proudly <br>as they run simply for sport. <br>Who could face them in battle, <br>trampling everything before them, <br>rearing and biting? <p>In this way men first met horses; and from that day this land was called Tīblixūnas. <p>--If we could mount these animals, said Árrasos, imagine how fast we could travel. <p>--Why not ask as well to be carried by ravens? <p>--Nevertheless, I'm going to try it. <p>He approached the horses, but they ran away from him. He chased them, but they were faster than he was. <p>He tried stealth, approaching them slowly, or hiding behind a tree till they approached; but they were nervous and cunning, and he could not surprise them. <p>He climbed on a tree near one of the favorite stopping places of the horses, climbed out on a branch, and waited; when one of the horses passed underneath, he jumped on top of it. <p>The horse was furious, and bounded about trying to rid himself of his rider. Árrasos held on as tight as he could, both arms holding the horses neck, as it buckled and shook itself. Finally he couldn't hold on any more, and fell to the ground. There was no time to check for wounds: he had to pick himself up and run away, before the creature trampled him. <p>He came, stumbling, to Denūra, who examined him. --You haven't broken any bones, I think, she said, but you are bruised and winded, and you must rest. In the meantime, I will try to tame the horses. <p>--Don't be foolish; you see how far I got, and I'm bigger and stronger than you, said Árrasos. <p>--I've learned from your mistakes. <p>Denūra watched the horses, and learned that they ate grasses. She cut some grasses from a hill and came to where the horses were. She left the grasses on the ground, and walked a short distance away. <p>Eventually one of the horses came nearer, and ate the grasses. She repeated this several times, until the horse came near whenever she appeared, to eat the grasses she brought. <p>She had an apple from the elcarin city, and she advanced toward the horse, holding it in her hand. He came closer, smelling the fruit, and she gave it to him. As he ate the apple, she stroked his side and spoke to him. He did not understand her words, but first they calmed him, and then accustomed him to her, and then gave his heart to her. <p>Soon he let her ride him. By this time Árrasos was recovered, and he praised Denūra for taming the wild horse. With Denūra's help he tamed another of the horses. <p>Now they could travel quickly! They rode quickly across the plains, heading southeast. Lions or wolves could not threaten them. Even at night, the horses would wake at any noise, so that they could sleep safely. <p>Still, it was a long journey; day after day they rode over the plains, which were greener as they moved south, to a land of great rivers and cold nights. There were forests now, which they avoided as much as they could, as the horses did not like them. <p>Finally they came to a great mountain range, running north and south as far as they could see. Denūra's stone still glowed strongly red, but Árrasos's stone was dull. Because of this they knew that they should go no further south. The mountains were difficult for the horses, so they let them free, to go back to the plains. <h4><a name="inland"><font color="#000060">The inland sea</font></a></h4> They were now far south, and the nights were exceedingly cold, even when they were wearing the fur jackets given to them by Nelcinonas. Árrasos suggested that for warmth, they should sleep front to back, strengthening each other with their bodies' warmth. They did so, Denūra in back of Árrasos, with the furs wrapped around them both. For the first time they were each glad of the other's size, and they were comforted to have a companion on these lonely plains, where they had seen no Thinking Kind for weeks on end. However, they still did not think of coming together. <p>They crossed the peaks of the mountains, and hurried on into a great plateau, a high and cold table at the top of the world. Ahead they saw a sea, and they were glad, believing that it was the sea of Asicondār, and the end of their journey. <p>The land descended as they came to the sea, and it was warmer. At the edge of the sea, they were puzzled, because Denūra's stone still glowed; they must continue to the east. <p>It seemed best to them to build a boat with sails, so that the wind could help them. Denūra had the idea of the boat, because she had seen the iliū making boats on the Lake of Mists, for pleasure; and Árrasos made it, because the elcari had taught him to work wood. There was hemp growing near the sea, which Denūra made into a small sail. <p>They put their boat into the sea, and the wind caught the sail and propelled them eastward, following Denūra's stone. They sailed for more than six days. Seeing mountains to their right, they realized that they had not reached the open sea of Asicondār; they were on a great inland sea. <p>On the third day, there came a storm, which tossed the boat around like a cat playing with a mouse. They were sick and cold and entirely wet, and lost their sense of direction as the raging waters took them one way and then another. Many times the boat seemed about to dive under the waves, and they called out to Eīledan to save them. After a day and a night of storm, the boat was dashed against a rocky shore and broken into timber. They pulled themselves onto the beach and slept. <h4><a name="ktuvok"><font color="#000060">The ktuvok</font></a></h4> In the morning they found that they were prisoners. They were tied up, and were being carried on the back of an enormous creature. From its size Denūra hoped at first that it was an iliu; but then she saw a glimpse of green scales, and knew that it was a ktuvok. <p>The ktuvok walked for two days without stopping, and finally came to a cave, wet and moldy, with an underground river flowing through it. It took them off its back and stared at them. They looked back at it: a huge green monster with long sharp teeth and fiery yellow eyes, and a crown of tentacles on its head. <p>--Well, what have we here? it asked. What sort of creatures are you? <p>--We are eîsi, said Árrasos. <p>--Maybe you shouldn't have told it that, whispered Denūra. <p>--Eîsi, eh? That's a new one on me. Do you belong to Amnās, or to the other side? <p>--We belong to Iáinos, said Denūra, proudly. <p>--Maybe you shouldn't have told it that, whispered Árrasos. <p>--That means you belong to the iliū, said the ktuvok. Well, what are you exactly? Some sort of small bear? <p>It said this because they were wearing fur coats; and since it had never seen a human before, it didn't know that the fur was not their own. <p>--We're very fierce animals, said Árrasos. <p>--Animals are to be eaten, said the ktuvok. <p>--I was raised by the iliū of the Lake of Mists, said Denūra. If you eat us, the iliū will be angry, and you will cause war. Don't you remember the war of Nexi? <p>--How will they know it was us? asked the ktuvok. <p>--You can hide something from the iliū, but not from Iáinos; he will see it and tell them. <p>The ktuvok thought for a moment. Then it said, -- I think you small bears are simply pets of the iliū, and won't be missed. However, I'm not very hungry. If you can guess four riddles, I'll let you go. <p>They had no choice but to agree. The ktuvok therefore asked them the first riddle. <p>If you visit my home, <br>you won't tread on earth: <br>I've made you a carpet. <br>But think before entering <br>because you won't leave. <p>--<i>Urāci</i>, said Árrasos. <i>(<a href="comment6.htm#answers">Answers in commentary section</a>.) </i> <p>The ktuvok asked them the second riddle. <p>In a boat, I'm a danger; <br>in a pocket, I'm a thief. <br>In a barrel, I'm your friend. <p>--<i>Xudas</i>, said Árrasos. <p>The ktuvok shook its head angrily, and asked the third riddle. <p>It looks like you, <br>but has no eyes. <br>It's not attached to you <br>but a strong man can't pull it away. <p>Árrasos thought for a moment, and then said, --<i>Xuōma.</i> <p>The ktuvok growled, and asked the fourth riddle. <p>I take warriors, but not with sword or axe. <br>I conquer beauty, but not with fine words and gifts. <br>I go to kings in their houses; also to peasants in their huts. <br>Some invite me in; but some send me to meet their family. <p>--<i>Aviēyas</i>, said Árrasos. <p>--That's four riddles correctly guessed, said Denūra. You have to set us free now. <p> --As a matter of fact, riddles make me hungry, said the ktuvok. I believe I'll eat you now. <p>--You cheated, said Árrasos, angrily. <p>--Yes, true enough. But you're tied up, and I'm hungry. <p>--What if I tell you a story first? asked Denūra. <p>Árrasos looked at her angrily to tell her to be quiet; but he saw that the ktuvok was looking at her, deciding. <p>--Go ahead, it said. <p>Denūra began her story then. She grew up with the iliū, and learned their stories, which are not only words, but reach all the senses. She spoke and sang, and the ktuvok watched her, first hearing the words, then seeing the story in its mind, forgetting the cave in which it sat. That is how an iliu story is; the hearer cannot tell if he's heard a story, or experienced the thing itself. <p>She sang for a long time, and the ktuvok absorbed the story, without moving, hardly even breathing. When it was over, it still sat, paying no attention to them. <p>Denūra rolled and squirmed like a worm to reach Árrasos. She had to bump into him roughly and bite him, because he was absorbed in the story too. <p>--You'll wake it up! he said. <p>--We have half an hour or so, she said. <p>Árrasos untied the knots binding Denūra, and she struggled free of the ropes. Then she untied Árrasos. <p>They looked around, but there was no sign of their packs or weapons. Árrasos found a dagger, however, and with it he killed the ktuvok. They prayed to Eīledan that this would not cause war; but it had tried to kill them, and if they left it alive, it would come after them. <p>They found some of its food, but it was disgusting to them, and they left it where it was. Denūra took its tinderbox and a knife, and Árrasos found some string and metal hooks, which he could use to trap animals. <p>--I'm in your debt because of your story, said Árrasos. <p>--And I'm in yours, because you answered the riddles, said Denūra. They gave me time to think of the story. <p>--It's not just that you saved my life. It was a beautiful thing... sometime, please tell it to me again. <p>--With pleasure. <h4><a name="city"><font color="#000060">The city of the iliū</font></a></h4> Coming out the the cave, they found themselves in a hilly country, with a long line of mountains to their back. The inland sea was nowhere to be seen. A river came from a cleft in the rock to fall into a valley below. Both Árrasos's stone and Denūra's glowed, which meant that the ktuvok had taken them to the north. They set out southeast, following the line of the mountains. <p>There were no horses here, and few trees; and without bow and arrow they had to hunt animals using traps, or fish in the few rivers. It was a long and difficult journey, and became even harder as the land rose into another range of mountains, crossing their path. These mountains were colder than any they had climbed before; they made themselves fur blankets, and held each other tightly at night, but still felt each night that they would freeze. <p>Finally the highest peaks were crossed, and the mountains became hills, the cold ended, and a soft green plain stretched before them. Only Árrasos's stone glowed, so they were due north of their destination. <p>They came to a wide swift river. Because of their gladness, they called it the Meīro. With relief, they removed their furs and cloaks and jumped into the water. Now, imagine: <p>Denūra, first of women, is naked in the water. <br>Who could resist this lovely sight? <br>Sun-browned skin, long brown hair, <br>laughing eyes, a maiden's breasts <br>tipped with rose. Her lovely form <br>dances in the water like a fish. <p>Just as pleasing is Árrasos, our father, <br>strong of arm, jovial in spirit. <br>His beard is long, like a soldier's; <br>he is no longer a youth but a man. <br>But in this moment care is far away; <br>He laughs, a deep sound like thunder. <p>Seeing each other in the river, Árrasos and Denūra found each other beautiful for the first time, and were glad in each other's company. <p>They walked to the south for three more days, and on the morning of the fourth day they saw the great sea, blue and wild, and on its shore, glorious with flags and towers, the iliu city of Asicondār. <p>The iliū came out to meet them. Their king, the king of the lineage of the Nîimedi, was named Sīcondas, and his queen was Teratāi. <p>--Iáinos has told us that you would come, said Sīcondas. You're welcome to our city; come rest and refresh yourselves from your long journey, and then we will eat and talk. <p>They were led to rooms in the king's palace, and they found it strange to once again sleep in soft beds. They slept for the rest of that day and night, and in the morning they were awakened and brought to the king and queen. They were given a feast of fish and shrimp and fruit and honey, thick dark bread and sweet flower wine and many things they had never tasted before, and they were asked to tell their whole story. <p>Finally Sīcondas asked, --And what is the purpose of your journey? What did Iáinos ask you to do? <p>--He told us to ask for the cup of anointing, said Árrasos. <p>The iliū laughed. --And you shall have it, they said. <p>--But what is it? asked Denūra. <p>--The cup of anointing is used in our celebrations of marriage, said Teratāi. <p>Árrasos and Denūra looked at each other, and then they smiled. In this way they learned the wisdom of Iáinos, who did not force them to marry, but gave them a path to learn to love each other. <h4><a name="lineages"><font color="#000060">The lineages of men</font></a></h4> Árrasos and Denūra took the cup of anointing, and came together; they were now at one spiritually and physically. They made their home in Meīruas, the land of the Meīro river, a green land between the mountains and the sea, close to the land of the Nîimedi. There they had many children. <p>The first son was Rāuto, followed by their first daughter Ciotīro. These two married; they are the parents of the Rāutigō, the royal family of men. For generations the great kings of men came from this lineage. <p>Their second son was Zîtecipato, and their second daughter Teratali. These two married, and they are the parents of the Meīrigō, also called the Unfallen, a strong and noble people. Their land is Meīruas, the first homeland of men. <p>After this Denūra was not expecting more children, but she became pregnant again. Therefore her third son was called Masāntio. He married the third daughter, Têllênōue, and they became the parents of the Masāntigō, who are powerful men and beautiful women, lovers of Iáinos, but heated and quick in spirit. <p>When they became a great people, they moved to Tīblixūnas, where they mastered the horses; they are therefore called the Great Riders. Loving the swiftness of the horse, they preferred to follow the horses over the grasslands rather than build houses. <p>The sons of Masāntio were Norunayas, Nimo, and Loviteras. Norunayas was the oldest and their king, a handsome, pious, and lordly man; his wife was the wise and beautiful Luōre. They are the ancestors of all Cuzei. The Nimoicū and Lovitrui, are the sons of Norunayas's brothers, which is why we call them our Little Brothers. <p>Their fourth son was Āectonas, who married the fourth daughter, Elīlea. They were the parents of the Cazinorō, who also lived in Tīblixūnas, because of the great friendship of the brothers, Masāntio and Āectonas. <p>Their fifth son was Sācetrâcas. He is the ancestor of the Crummâlligō, who live far to the south; they are called that because their hair is the color of straw. <p>Árrasos and Denūra lived for a hundred years in Meīruas, raising their children, and coming to know their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were friends of the iliū, and often visited Sīcondas and Teratāi; there was no distance then between men and iliū. <p>However, they missed the land of their birth, and wished to see their Guardians again. Therefore they travelled back along the route of their journey. Their children stayed in the lands they had chosen for themselves, except for Rāuto and his family, who didn't want to be separated from their parents. <p>They came to the Lake of Mists, and spent a year with the Soromo and Atāunē and the iliū there, and then to the Elkarin Mountains, and spent a year with Belgēse and Nesnōum and the elcari. Then they returned to the green and fertile plains of Āeressār, where they had been created, and built a house there. The sons of Rāutō inherited this land and became a mighty people there, the Rāutigō, the royal people. <p>Árrasos and Denūra now had more sons and daughters. <p>Their sixth son was Arevimanio. Arevimanio had two sons and fathered two peoples. The first of these are the Mavoripomi, the black men, who live in the northern jungle; the second are the Apēripomi, the red men, who took the lands west of Āeressār as their home. These men also did not make houses, but tamed the cattle of the plains, and followed them across the plains as they grazed. <p>Their seventh son was Megmexos, and the seventh daughter Miniūne. They came together and became the parents of the Metailō, a numerous and hard-working but not brave people. They possessed Cēradānar, the great plain between the Eresso and Gaumê mountains. <p>Their eighth son was Xavieyayas, who was the ancestor of the Xavigō, hunters of the forest east of the Gaumê mountains. <p>Their ninth son was Ōinoyayas, who was the ancestor of the restless Ōibotōuyi, who first settled on the island of Dāurio, but then built ships and sailed far away, across the fire of Obondōsiu. Normally is it the will of Iáinos that men cannot cross this fire, but he permitted it in this case, so that there could be men in the north of Almea. <p>Denūra wanted one more son, and Eīledan granted her request; therefore she called him Nūmidelo. He became the ancestor of the Laleîsigō, who lived far to the east of the Gaumê mountains. <p>Árrasos and Denūra lived in Āeressār for a hundred years, raising their children, and coming to know their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In their great age they crossed the mountains to visit their son Megmexos, and returning, they came to the Glade they had built many years before on their journey to the south. <p>--I am tired, and cannot cross the mountains again, said Árrasos. This is a place of peace, a fertile country. Build me a house here, and I will die here. <p>His sons built him a house there, and he lived there till he died. He was 235 years old. He was buried there, at the House of Árrasos. But after he died Denūra went back to the Lake of Mists, and she died there the next year. All men mourned, hearing of their deaths, because they were the parents of them all; and the iliū and elcari who had known them grieved as well. <p>The lineages of men prospered and grew numerous in the remaining period of peace, more than a thousand years. At this time, all men knew Iáinos, and there was no rebellion or sin. <hr> </font> <i>© 2003 by Mark Rosenfelder</i> <center> <A HREF="ciroma5.htm"><img src="vback.gif" border=0 alt="Back!" title="Back!" width=85 height=66 align=absmiddle></a> <A HREF="virtuver.htm"><img src="homev.gif" border=0 alt="Back to Virtual Verduria" title="Back to Virtual Verduria" width=296 height=132 align=absmiddle></a> <A HREF="ciroma7.htm"><img src="onward.gif" border=0 alt="Onward!" title="Onward!" width=85 height=66 align=absmiddle></a> </center> </BODY></HTML>