But there color bloomed, the bright red Marhanen banner, and the Tower and Checker of the lady Regent, and so they came within sight one of the other.
Tristen set Dys to a faster pace, and rode ahead of his banners and those who chased after him; so did the king of Ylesuin, and they met under the afternoon shadow of the ridge, slid down from their horses and embraced as friends too long parted.
"High King, is it?" Cefwyn asked, setting Tristen at arm's length.
And it was a question Tristen had to answer, but not in few words.
Ninévrisë had come with Emuin: he knew that while he rode. It was brave of them, but arrive they had, by the old mews, and Tarien with them, for Ninévrisë would not leave Tarien or the baby behind in Henas'amef. There was one Aswydd who ruled there, and it was neither of them.
"Emuin's come," Tristen did say. "And Her Grace. Not by the road, by the old mews. And Crissand's the aetheling, which I don't want to be."
"What doyou wish?" Cefwyn asked him, and he knew the seriousness of that question, as he knew the significance of the banner he could not set aside.
"To ride with my friends and see the summer again," he said, which was indeed the best thing in the world to him. In the gray space Emuin might say the banner had to fly, and Owl was surly and insistent, winging constantly toward Ynefel, but he was determined not to stay there, nor at Althalen, where the frail wooden tower still stood.
"Come to Ilefínian," he asked Cefwyn. "Owl wants me to come with him, but I won't, yet. There are things I don't know yet. There are things I haven't seen." A crown and the duties of a king were not at all within his longing: rather escape from both was what he plotted, escape for him, and the freedom of the kingdoms and the kings and lords to live in peace. A king over all could be a king in name, but the rulers of the lands had to live there.
A bough had broken its buds, the least small hint of gold and green, recalling whole forests that sighed and moved with the breezes.
Spring and promises: everything was new and old at once. Tristen saw it with wonder and saw the pledge of the summer to come, green grass and gentle winds.
A child danced before them, as they rode back to Ilefínian. Cefwyn and Uwen neither one could see her, but Tristen and Crissand did.
LEXICON Concordance for the Fortress Books
YLESUIN
Amefel— southern province; banner: black Eagle on red field
Royalty / Lords
Aswydd Household
Heryn Aswydd—Duke of Amefel, the aetheling, His twin sisters:
Orien Aswydd—Duchess of Amefel; Tarien Aswydd—secondborn
Thewydd—Heryn Aswydd's man Tristen's Household
Tristen—Marshal of Althalen, Lord Warden of Ynefel
Uwen—Lewen's-son, Tristen's man, sergeant of Cefwyn's Dragon Guard, captain of Tristen's guard Tristen's Guard
Lusin—Captain of Tristen's bodyguard Syllan—one of Tristen's guards. Aran—one of Tristen's guards. Tawwys—one of Tristen's guards Aswys—groom
Cassam, Cass—Uwen's warhorse, bow-nosed, blue roan gelding Dys, Dysarys—Tristen's warhorse, black, full brother to Aryny and Kanwy
Gery—Tristen's light horse, red mare Gia—Uwen's light horse, bay mare Liss—Uwen's horse, chestnut mare Petelly—Tristen's cross-country horse, a bay of no breeding
Amefin Earls and Their Households
Edwyll Adiran—earl of Meiden, remotely related to Aswydds; banner: gold sun
Crissand Adiran—son of and successor to Edwyll Azant—lord of Dor Elen province, which borders the ver orchard district.
A daughter: widowed twice, once when married only seven days
Brestandin—Amefin earl Cedrig—elderly Amefin earl living in retirement, owner of room Tristen lodges in, then where Ninévrisë lodges in Henas'amef Civas—Amefin earl Cuthan—earl of Bryn, distant relative of Aswydds Drumman—lord of Barardden, youngest of earls except for Crissand; his elder sister is Edwyll's wife, Crissand's mother Drusallyn—elderly lord, married local gentry in Amefel Drusenan—earl of Bryn, successor to Cuthan. wife: Ynesyne, an Elwynim.
Durell—Amefin earl Edracht—Amefin earl Esrydd—Amefin earl Lund—Amefin earl Marmaschen—Amefin earl Moridedd—Amefin earl Murras—Amefin earl Prushan—Amefin earl Purell—Amefin earl Taras—earl of Bru Marden Zereshadd—Amefin earl
Other Persons
Clergy / Clerics
Cadell—Bryaltine abbot in Henas'amef
Faiseth—Bryaltine nun
Emuin Udaman—wizard/tutor/priest, Teranthine, tutored Cefwyn and Efanor
Del'rezan—Bryaltine nun
Pachyll—priest, Teranthine patriarch in Henas'amef
Military
Cossun—armorer
Ennyn—Guelen Guard second in command
Gedd—sergeant in Tristen's guard
Aman—gate-guard
Nedras—gate-guard
Ness—gate-guard
Selmwy—cousin of Ness at town gate Wynedd—Guelen Guard commander
Minor Officials
Tassand—started as Cefwyn's servant, now Tristen's chief of household
Haman—stablemaster at Henas'amef
Local Gentry
Ardwys—thane of Sagany, leader of the peasant contingent from
Sagany and Pacewys
Miscellaneous
Auld Syes—witch, in Emwy village, near Althalen Paisi—street urchin Seddiwy—Shadow, Auld Syes' child Wydnin—former junior archivist
Titles, Places, et cetera
Aetheling, atheling—title, used instead of king in Amefel; royal in their province Althalen—old Sihhë capital, where last of Sihhë died, now Tristen's, in ruins, banner is silver Star and Tower on black Amefin—of Amefel province Anas Mallorn—Amefin village, on riverside Ardenbrook—brook after Maudbrook on way to Henas'amef Arreyburn—camping spot of Emuin on the way back to Henas'amef from retreat Averyne crossing—crossing to Guelessar from Amefel on the way out of Henas'amef Arys—district/town, Arys Emwy, Emwy village: destroyed when Inareddrin was killed; district contains Althalen and Lewen field Arys bridge—bridge near Emwy to west, where Elwynor rebels could enter Amefel Arys district—near Henas'amef, contains villages of Emwy and Malitarin
Asfiad—old name for Aswyth Asmaddion—place in the province Assurn Ford—river border of the province Assurnbrook—river Aswydd, Aswydds—surname, Heryn's house, also Orien's, Tarien's; there is Sihhë blood in this line Aswyddim—of the Aswydds Aswyth—a village Athel—Amefin district bordering Meiden's land Baraddan—Drumman's district, contains orchards Bru Mardan—Taras district Bryn—Cuthan's estate
Ceyl, Trys—Trys Ceyl—Amefin village south of Henas'amef. Dor Elen—Anzant's district, orchard district Drun, Trys Drun—next to Trys Ceyl, village south of Henas'amef ealdorman, ealdormen—council of Henas'amef
Edlinnadd—old name for Ellinan
Ellinan—a village
Emwy—village/district, see: Arys, Arys Emwy, Emwy village
Emwysbrook—brook near Emwy
Forest of Amefel—near Althalen
Grayfrock, grayrobe—nickname for Emuin
Hawwyvale—village
Hen Amas—old name for Henas'amef
Henas'amef—capital of the province
Kathseide—old name of Zeide, fortress in Henas'amef
Levey—Amefin village, part orchard, part pasturage for flocks
Lewen—brook giving its name to area of battle
Lewen field, Lewen plain—near Althalen, battlefield where
Hasufin was destroyed Lewenbrook—brook
Lewenford—area of battle, see Lewen field Lewenside—area of battle, see Lewen field Lysalin—Amefin village
Maldy village—Amefin village with crossing to Elwynor Malitarin—Amefin village two hours from Henas'amef Mallorn, Anas, Anas Mallorn—Amefin village on riverside Margreis—ruined village, haunt of outlaws, near Emwy Marna, Marna Wood—haunted forest Marshal of Althalen—Tristen's title, bestowed by Cefwyn Massitbrook—camping spot on way to Lewen field for Cefwyn and troops Master grayrobe, grayfrock—nickname, refers to Emuin, wizard/tutor/priest,