XVI
From Alvennawl, Thalo followed the river to the coast, and then followed the coast southwards until he came to a large town perched atop a cliff around noon the next day. That was Pearmol, a house of fame. The Lord of Pearmol at that time was Karvalo, the lone survivor of Gonwela’s son, though he had only held the lordship for a short while.
Thalo walked Ondayo up to the gate, atop which stood an imposing woman, tall and well built. Amfredha was her name, one of Karvalo’s chiefest thanes. Her comrades called her Sunder-spear, so-named because, attempting to woo some pretty lass from the south, she once hurled a spear at a tree, and with such tremendous force that it shattered on impact.
‘See that, sweetie!’ she had shouted out, but the girl was looking the other way and wandered off with nary a glance for her burly suitor.
Clad in a gleaming coat of mail, her belt fitted with a sword, a knife, and an axe, and brandishing in one hand a spear, and in the other a shield, Amfredha cut a fearsome figure. But her true pride sat atop her head, her handsome helmet patterned all over and embellished on top with a clump of hair taken from the mane of one of those hoary stags that roamed the highlands. That was a helmet befitting only the most glamorous of retinues.
‘Let me in,’ said Thalo.
Amfredha said with a scowl, ‘Who are you?’
‘Thalo.’
‘And what is your business here, Thalo man?’
‘I want to meet your lord. I can make it worth his while.’ Thalo took from one of his bags the jewel of Lammam, old Sroaro’s cherished heirloom, and held it up. ‘See this? This is just the start.’
Amfredha leant over the parapet and said, ‘Toss it up.’
Thalo did as she requested, and she examined the jewel before passing it to her colleagues. Together they determined it to be a costly piece indeed.
‘You look sad and small and poor,’ said Amfredha, turning back to Thalo. ‘Are you a robber and a crook, come to shift ill-gotten goods?’
‘All my wealth was hard won.’
Amfredha turned back to confer with her fellows, all whispering between themselves, nodding and shaking their heads in turn, until she threw the jewel at Thalo’s feet. ‘Come in. But behave, scrag boy, or you will bend before me.’
She had the gate opened, and Thalo went in. He walked up the path to the yard, stabled Ondayo with a parting kiss, and then climbed the steps to the hall, laden with all his treasures. Two more guards stood by there, dressed much like those on the wall. One, a strapping chap, stepped forth, his hand outstretched. He was Solmodo, and he was called Solmodo the Champion because he was accomplished in every sport and game.
‘Hold it,’ said Solmodo. ‘Who are you?’
‘Thalo,’ said Thalo.
‘And what is your business here, Thalo man?’
‘I have already been through this.’
‘Perhaps I have gone dim, but I do not recall meeting you. Are you calling me dim?’
‘I have been through this at the gate. They let me in.’
‘But I am not at the gate, am I? I am at the door. And if you want to come through the door, you have to wait for me to let you through the door. So tell me, Thalo man: what is your business here?’
With a sigh, Thalo said, ‘I wish to speak with your lord.’
‘As do many. He is a busy man. Why should we grant his time to you, a stranger to all?’
Thalo bent down, placing some of his booty on the floor so he could get Yamveke off his back. As he held it up, he said, ‘He might like to meet me.’
When Solmodo saw Yamveke glittering in the winter sun, his eyes lit up, gazing adoringly at the shield. ‘I was little more than a little lad when last I saw this. Just how did it come to you, a road-weary tramp?’
‘I was given it.’
‘Quite the gift. Yes, I think my lord would like to meet you.’ Solmodo had his companion open the door. ‘Karvalo awaits you.’
Thalo went inside, where the hall stretched long before him. Everything within was marvellous to behold, the decorative embroideries lining the walls, the beams etched with manifold designs, the benches wrought from fine, dark oak. No expense at all had been spared in the adornment of that house.
And there at the end of the hall sat Karvalo upon his platform, a group of attendants flocked about him. His forebears had accrued such wealth and status through trade, politics, and artful war that his influence rivalled even that of the kingship. And he delighted in it, the might-minded man! Thalo knew what sort of chap he was the moment he saw him, posturing in his chair, for he had dealt with him before.
As Thalo came down the aisle, Karvalo rose from his seat, welcomed him, and said, ‘Who are you?’
‘Thalo,’ said Thalo.
‘And what is your provenance, Thalo man? Where can I place you among the ranks of the well bred? You are a stranger in my house. How will I know you to be worthy of my time?’
‘My mother was Asfoa.’
‘I know some. Which Asfoa?’
‘From Klagenn. In Eylavol.’
‘Eylavol? No, I am not familiar with her. How about your father?’
‘I have no father but the river, though he has forsaken me.’
‘Say more about that.’
‘No.’
As he spoke, Thalo remained ever conscious of Karvalo’s attendants, his eyes flitting between them, each face more sceptical than the last.
‘Tell me, then,’ said Karvalo. ‘Why are you here?’
‘I want to be your thane.’
‘Is that so? Why should I take you in? What good will you do me? And why have my trustiest friends thought fit to let this wind-worn waif prostrate himself before me?’
Thalo’s patience was already wearing thin. He placed his belongings at his feet, took Yamveke from his back, and dropped it before the firepit.
‘See this,’ he said, ‘and see that I am a friend of your kin. I do not mean to cause you any trouble. Whatever you ask of me, I will do it, and better than anyone else. That is my promise to you.’
Karvalo arose, stepped down from the platform, and strode over to Thalo, towering above him. He took up Yamveke and cast a grim eye upon it, his hand brushing over its face. ‘How did you come by this?’
‘I was given it.’
‘By whom?’
‘Yonnago of Alvennawl. I am told you knew his husband, Kyale. He said he was your cousin.’
‘That he was.’
Karvalo summoned to his side a woman named Thorreda, his second pair of hands and chiefest advisor. Together they whispered between themselves, each nodding along to the other, until Karvalo handed her the shield, and she whisked it away.
‘What once was lost is found,’ he said, returning to his chair. ‘I thank you for that, Thalo man. You may leave now.’
Thalo stepped forth. ‘I will not be leaving with neither my shield nor your favour. Give me one or the other, and maybe then I will leave.’
‘Your shield? You would claim Yamveke to be your shield?’
‘Yonnago gave it to me himself.’
‘But it was never his to give. The miserable thieving wretch yoinked it from my very own hands. I bid you leave while you yet have yours.’
‘Hold on.’ Thalo picked up the box of treasure from Moyr and emptied it onto the floor, dropping the jewel of Lammam atop the pile. ‘See this wealth! Take me into your retinue, and you will have it again and tenfold.’
Karvalo scoffed, saying, ‘And what am I to make of you casting your dreck upon the floor? Any sodding thief can amble along and clatter about. I will not entertain this.’
‘But I am no thief. I earnt this wealth, every piece of it. I am worthy of your house. I am Thalo Thennelo. I killed a troll.’
‘And I am my dog’s daughter. Get out of my house, landleaper. Do not to test my patience any further.’
Thalo held up the head-sack, but Karvalo spoke over him.
‘Oy! I suppose those are his bollocks, yes?’
‘No.’ Thalo held the bag open and let the trolls’ heads drop out, their tongues lolling from their mouths as they thumped to the ground. ‘See here two heads from two trolls, both slain by my hand. I killed a troll, and then another. See these heads and see my skill.’
Karvalo came back down from his chair to inspect the heads. He turned them each face up with his foot, stared into their eyes, open wide and empty, and was entranced. In those eyes he saw the trolls’ terrible power, a power that held him fast. He could not turn away until Thorreda returned to his side to gawk at them herself.
‘What grisly things,’ she said.
‘Grisly indeed,’ said Karvalo. ‘Why do you so sully my floor, Thalo man? Do you mean to insult me?’
Thalo said, ‘I mean for you to see things exactly as they are. I have returned your shield, promised you wealth, proven my worth. You need only point my sword, and I will swing it.’
Karvalo thought quietly to himself, and then he whispered once more with Thorreda. After a moment, she stepped away, and Karvalo stood tall, looking down at Thalo before him.
‘So be it,’ he said. ‘Have a seat in my hall, a place in my retinue. But know this, Thalo Thennelo: I will be expecting much of you. This opportunity has not been readily granted. Do not squander it.’
Then Karvalo left the room. Thalo tried to gather his things on the floor, but he was allowed to reclaim only the trolls’ heads. His wealth was now Karvalo’s, just as Karvalo’s house was now his. There he would be a vagrant no more, though his life remained a lonely one.