The Songs of Spears

Introduction

The Songs of Spears pick up the narrative of the Trayan people where the Nerias the Prince left off, with what appears to be the obvious design of serving as a sequel to the earlier epic. But the focus of The Songs is markedly different, its final resolution less tragic and more prophetic. Where Nerias is the fall and ruin of a mighty house and people, The Songs tell the story of the establishment of a new royal line and eventually a new nation, springing forth from the ashes of ruin like a pine forest after a fire.

As a founding myth both for the Amborian nation as well as the line of Sencan, The Songs of Spears is of course prophetic in nature—significantly more so than its predecessor. Significant prophetic themes include: the finding of a new Trayan homeland in the East (elaborating upon Raos’s brief prophecy in Nerias); explanations for the Ambori’s age-old enmities with Orkon and the Giants; explanations for some of the ethnic rifts within Amborian culture during the late First or early Second Eons; and the predicted rise and legitimacy of the Amborian royal line.

Two kings are specifically mentioned: Sencan I, who as the heir of both Sothbori and Trayan rulers will be the only one capable of uniting the Amborian people, and Fanhal the Great. The latter is not mentioned by name, but is spoken of in Noldu’s prophecy in Canto IV as the one who will “full repay” Orkon’s evil and whose people will name him “the Great.” This mention of Fanhal II provides a possible solution for the dating of The Songs of Spears, which has proven difficult. In order to help the reader understand the uncertainties in such an attempt, I will attempt to give a brief explanation of the composition and performance of the poem.

The Songs of Spears is, as its title would suggest, not a single song, but many. Composed of twenty-two Cantos of regular length (except for Book I, Canto XI), The Songs is only very rarely performed all at once. Rather, individual cantos or groups of cantos are performed along a particular theme depending on what the setting and audience require. According to Norkoor, writing in the late years of the Second Eon, the most popular divisions were:
• Book I—The March of the Trayans
o Cantos I-IV—The Enchanter’s Forest
o Cantos V-IX—Lanenomen’s Descent Into the Underworld
o Cantos X-XI—The Battle on the Plains of Alevelo
• Book II—The Wars of Lanenomen
o Cantos I-III—The Oath of Lanenomen
o Cantos IV-VI—The Wedding of Lanenomen
o Cantos VII-X—The War of Lanenomen With the Giants
o Canto XI—A summary of the rest of the Songs, prophesying once again the coming of Sencan and proclaiming the legitimacy of his rule.

There is both textual and metrical evidence to suggest that Book II is of later authorship than Book I. Certainly, in the oldest copy of the manuscript it appears to have been penned by a different hand. This of course may have simply been a change of copyists at a scribal college. But the final canto of Book I breaks from the regular 11-stanza structure of the other poems, and inverts the meter of the final lines,  a common enough practice for ending a poem even in the present day.

We may then infer at least two authors for The Songs of Spears, possibly more. The mention of Fanhal II in Canto IV suggests Book I was written during his reign in the late First Eon. Since his father, Fanhal I was not of the line of Sencan except by his marriage to Thoranrai the Fair, Cantos I-IV may have been commissioned by Fanhal II as a rebuttal against those who questioned the legitimacy of the joint rule of his parents, and by extension, his own rule as well.

All of this suggests a very old oral-textual tradition surrounding the character of Lanenomen of the progenitor of the Amborian royal line and first father of the Amborian nation. The earliest portions (both chronologically and narratively) were first canonized during the late years of the First Eon, with at least one other poet—and very probably more—making their own additions during the subsequent centuries until it was finally canonized in its current form during the mid or late Second Eon.

The Songs of Spears remains one of the most enduring pieces of the Amborian poetic tradition. Its form has inspired countless imitators, to varying levels of success, and to this day it continues to be performed not only at the royal court in Sencankarr, but in halls, theaters, and places of meeting all across the North.

The Songs of Spears

The last of the royal house of Feyhoth, Lanenomen led the remnant of the Trayans into exile. Banished from the Outer Ocean with their home now standing desolate amid the waves, the Trayan faithful were promised a new homeland by Raos, the Polestar: a great inland sea, and beside the sea seven rich hills upon which their new kingdom would be founded.

Book I

Canto I

The Trayan remnant lands at the Bay of Bitter Ice. Lanenomen’s vision described. The prophecy of Sencan.

Flying from the ruin of Feyhoth
Sped the prows of Lanenomen
Gilded, gleaming in the sunlight.
So they anchored in the shingle
Of the Bay of Bitter Ice Floes.

Boot and spear on shingle rested.
Wide-famed Lanenomen glanced round,
He the last of Trayan lordlings,
He the last of Hagnor's offspring.
Glaring spoke that lord of Trayans:

"Put we to the test our mettle,
Cross the wide and barren wastelands
Through Enchanter's wood forbidden,
Through the craggy home of Giants,
Seeking for a watery homeland.

"Long the road and hard the passage
Ere we reach the promised homeland.
Waiting there green hillsides seven;
I have seen them! Gleaming hillsides
In the vision Raos showed me.

"Seven hillsides gleam like emeralds,
Shine with many precious metals
Lying open under starlight
Where no hand of man has plucked them,
Where no foot of man has trodden.

"Where no foot of man has trodden
There we go to found New Feyhoth:
Seven towns on seven hillsides
On the Seventh, greatest city,
Sits the Seat of Lanenomen.

"Thus I saw it all when, dreaming,
Raos showed me promised lineage:
Mighty kings and empire regal
Ruling over Feyhoth’s remnant,
Waxing mighty as a people.

"Waxing mighty as a people
Till a darkness falls upon them.
Then, from darkness, hope unlooked-for
When the heir of Lanenomen
Rises up to free his people.

"Rises up to free his people
By the dint of sword and hammer,
Burning light like ice that glistens
Round us in this Bay of Icebergs,
In the day our people rise up."

So spoke Lanenomen hearty,
Lord of fighting men great-hearted,
And his folk rejoiced to hear it.
So they started on their journey -
Long that path, and paved with teardrops.

Canto II

The Trayan host attempt passage through the Enchanter’s Forest. Encounter with Orkon’s emissaries. Orkon summons his enchantments against the Trayans.

Then the host of Lanenomen
Sallied from the Western seashore,
Took the road that, eastward lying,
Led into Enchanter's Forest.
High their hearts and gay their banners.

High their hearts and gay their banners
As they marched through ancient wastelands.
Huge the road stretched, serpent-coiled,
Winding round still older hillsides
Looming since the world's upheaval.

Giants laid it, road tremendous,
When their empire grasping stretched far,
Ere the Trayan, Star-folk's children,
Wrested from them western coastlands.
Now their empire too had fallen.

Now their empire too had fallen.
So the remnant, marching eastward,
Came upon Enchanter's Forest.
Orkon there had long abiden
Since the rebel Star Lord's falling.

Since the rebel star lords, falling,
Came to dwell beneath their kinsmen
Many divers kingdoms founded
Swearing fealty, Vishnarr holding
Emperor o'er their petty kingdoms.

One such monarch was this Orkon,
Second only to Vishnarr mighty.
Over forest all-enchanted
Cunning Orkon held his kingship,
Cunning viewed the Trayan exiles.

Sent he envoys to the Trayans,
Offering peace and rule and homeland
To the folk of Lanenomen
If they would, the proud knee bending,
Call him lord and pay him homage:

"Call him lord and pay him homage,
Who like you is of the star-blood,
Long has dwelt within this Quadran
Since the Maker, Nangelena,
Exiled Feyhoth, and Vishnarr's heroes.

"Exiled Feyhoth, and Vishnarr's heroes,
Fearing what would be if, ruling,
They should see no need of Makers.
Orkon rules here, bids you welcome,
Dwell within his wide realm sylvan."

"Dwell within his wide realm sylvan?
Serve him as our lord and master?"
Lanenomen angry questioned.
"Vishnarr's thralls will not enthrall us!
Him I name the bane of Feyhoth."

Messengers returned in anger
To their master, Orkon cunning.
Orkon cunning frowned and thundered,
Summoned forth his dark enchantments,
Passage through his realm denying.

Canto III

The gloom and enchantment of the Forest. The Trayans are confused and scattered. The arrival of King Noldu.

Weird and strange Enchanter's Forest:
Hung about with dead men's corpses,
Foul mists moving, reeking vapors
Filled the air beneath the treetops,
Choking out the rays of sunlight.

Onward through the gloomy forest
Marched the folk of Lanenomen.
Fear beset them, eyes that, distant,
Glowered hard upon the Star-host,
Willing spite from under shadow.

Gloomy forest filled with hatred.
Thus the folk of Lanenomen
Marching under hateful shadows
Fear beset, but nothing daunted,
Passed on through Enchanter's Forest.

Some men followed wandering fires,
Lured away to hidden pitfalls,
Died as beasts on savage spear tip.
Others, sundered from their people
Wandered lost, and died from hunger.

Passed on through Enchanter's Forest
Then the mists arose against them
Rising into shapes of warriors
Weird and white against the shadows
Of the darkling forest gloomy.

Spears were shaken, lances readied,
Lanenomen led his heroes
Against the hosts of ghostly foemen.
Glad for once to test their mettle,
Fight a foe that they could see.

Ghostly foemen curled before them,
Light before the burnished spear-point.
Wounded not by Trayan lances,
Orkon's misty hosts confound them.
In the mist men struck at shadows.

In the mist men struck at shadows.
Some, confused by growing darkness
Struck companion, hewed at comrade
'Til beneath the spreading branches
All confusion, all despairing.

All confusion, all despairing,
Thus the hosts of Lanenomen
Scattered by the charms of Orkon
Fled, or fought, or slew their brothers
In the twilight of the forest.

Then the blast of silvery bugle
Ringing like a peal of thunder,
Piercing like a ray of sunlight
Pierces through a gloomy cloudbank,
So the blast rolled back the mist-shrouds.

Riding forth and winding bugle
Fairy King Noldu came riding
On a fiery, red-eyed charger,
Followed by his knights in armor
Couching them their bitter lances.

Canto IV

Noldu saves the Trayan host. The two leaders greet each other. The prophecy of Noldu. Lanenomen’s warning against hubris.

Silver trumpets winding eerie
Shattering Orkon's misty warriors
Lighten forest, gladden Trayans.
Riding tall in silver saddle
Noldu greeted Lanenomen.

Noldu greeted Lanenomen:
"People of the Stars descended,
Famous sons of ancient Feyhoth,
Glad the day, glad this meeting
'Twixt our proud and ancient peoples.

"Noldu am I, king and stranger,
Stranger king of walled Eaena,
Mystic city, final kindred,
Doomed to fade when monarch passing
Should the way of all men journey."

"Lanenomen, last of Trayans,
Youngest son of House of Hagnor.
March we on to find a country,
Homeland new that heaven promised,
Lost our way in this dark forest."

"Lost your way in this dark forest?
Few there are who once could find it,
Orkon turning malice on them.
War undying wage we on him,
War unending against his master.

"Speak you of a promised homeland?
Home awaits you at journey's ending.
Perils many rise to greet you,
Fraught with sorrow, through fear the road lies.
Found your city; birth your people.

"Found your city. Birth your people.
One arising from your lineage
Orkon's ills will full repay him.
'Great' they name him, promised offspring,
Great his name lasts till world's ending."

Lanenomen spoke, far-seeing:
"Rise my people, Raos promised,
If we reach the land foretold us.
This our journey like the darkness
Ere the sun of glory rises.

"Ere the sun of glory rises.
Your sun, so brief, now is falling,
Falling as our sun is rising.
If by doom or fault I know not -
Yet beware the pride of glory.

"Yet beware the pride of glory:
Live and bend your will to Maker's,
Do not shirk the fate decreed you,
By the kindly wisdom heavenly.
Trayans did, to their undoing."

So spoke Lanenomen hearty,
And great Noldu, Eaena's monarch,
One the lord of people rising,
Other king of people fading.
So the Trayans passed the Forest.

Canto V

The march continues. The ancient grudge of the Giants against the Trayans. Gasojean and the Giant host withstand the Trayans.

Giant kings had ruled the Westlands,
Stretched their scepter to the coast land,
To the Bay of Bitter Ice-floes
Long before the southern kingdoms
Under Vishnarr's sway had fallen.

To the Bay of Bitter Ice floes
Stretched the empire of the Giants
Ere the coming of the Trayans,
Beating back their savage armies,
Ruled the Western coast of Quadran.

Ruled the Western coast of Quadran,
And the Giants, beaten, drew back
To their borders long-appointed.
Trayans levied bitter tribute,
Giants payed it, dreading vengeance.

Giants payed it, dreading vengeance -
Vengeance now was ripe for taking
As the folks of Lanenomen
Passing through the Giant homeland
Roused that folk to ancient malice.

Gasojean ruled the Giants,
Monarch proud, of ancient lineage.
Bided he upon the evil
Which the Trayan lords had done them
Bided long, his vengeance plotting.

Bided long, his vengeance plotting,
Then the Trayan people marching
Came upon his marches ancient.
Gasojean smiled glibly,
Called to arms his Giant vassals.

Called to arms his Giant vassals,
Stood in force against the Trayans.
Sunlight gleamed from helm and hauberk,
Byrnies burnished shone like silver,
Glaring fiercely on the Trayans.

Lanenomen bowing, drew near,
Craved the grace of Gasojean:
"Seek we harbor, peaceful suppliants,
Barring harbor, peaceful passage,
On toward our homeland promised."

"On toward your homeland promised?
Tell me of this promised homeland,"
Questioned Gasojean mighty,
Grasping spear and grinning glibly,
He the king of ancient Giants.

"Raos promised, brilliant Polestar,
We a homeland would find waiting
At the end of bitter journey,
Seven hills and Seven cities,
Kingdom and a mighty lineage."

"Kingdom and a mighty lineage?
Never will the sons of Feyhoth
Rise again to rule oe'r Giants.
I will crush your fledgling nation,
Giant spears will end your promise."

Canto VI

Lanenomen sues for peace. Gasojean agrees on the condition that Lanenomen will go with him into the Great Chasm to retrieve the crown of Sarnbinala.

"Giant spears will end your promise,"
Promised ancient Gasojean.
Giants ranged themselves for battle,
Trayans weary shook their lances,
Readied for the bitter conflict.

Lanenomen, frowning darkly,
Raised his hand to stay his kinsmen.
"Thunder heavy, pealing angry,
Spends itself the most when clashing
With another thunder storming.

"Like two thunders angry storming
We should spend our mighty armies,
We the last of noble peoples:
Trayan Remnant, waning Giants."
So spoke Lanenomen mighty.

Gasojean, smiling darkly:
"Wise the words of Lanenomen,
Wise the king who knows his limits.
Say you would avoid this conflict?
Hearken unto Gasojean.

"Once the Giant people mighty
Ruled the lands from here to Ocean,
'Til the Trayan lordlings greedy
Stole from us our just dominion.
(Little though it them did profit).

"At the final bloody battle
When the Giant host was routed,
Giant monarch, Sarnbinala,
Fled into the yawning chasm
Which the war in Heaven shattered.

"Fled into the yawning chasm,
Followed by his foemen bitter,
To the earth's foundation fleeing,
Never saw again the sunlight -
Never saw again the starlight.

"Never saw again the starlight,
Nor the crown that he wore twinkling.
Down it fell to utter darkness,
Where no gleam of gold may glitter.
There it lies, bereft of wearer.

"Wear the crown of Sarnbinala,
Giants will account you Master.
Wear I the crown of Sarnbinala?
Sun of glory shines on Giants,
Hold we once again our Empire.

"Follow me, Great Gasojean,
Down into the deepest caverns
Where the heartbeat of this Quadran
Echoes loudly through the chambers,
And the loom of Fate runs ever.

"Lend me aid and give me succor
To retrieve the Giant circlet.
Set the crown on Gasojean.
So have peace between our peoples -
Else will war be long and bitter."

Canto VII

Lanenomen agrees. Descent into the Chasm. Twilight, filled with the souls of madmen. Darkness filled with monsters. The Feathered Warden of the Underworld.

"Follow me into the chasm
Which the Star-folk rent in falling,
Find the crown, bring it hither,
Have our people peace forever."
Gasojean mighty offered.

Lanenomen there assented -
Hoped to 'void the bitter conflict.
Down they passed in to the chasm,
Lanenomen, Gasojean,
Down they passed through utter darkness.

Visions many saw they - terrors!
Wheeling strangely through the blackness.
Souls of dead men thronged around them
(Men who in life had lost their reason
Floundered now amid the twilight).

Petty monarchs ruled the darkness,
Fled below from ancient battles
When the starry hosts of Heaven
Ranged in war across this Quadran,
Warred to rule the fates of mankind.

Many monsters bred for conflict
In the elder ages long-past
Refuge sought from sun and moonlight,
Lurked and crept around the heroes:
Lanenomen, Gasojean.

Lanenomen, Gasojean,
Nothing daunted, downward traversed
'Til the darkness round them faded,
Giving way to gloomy twilight
In that land that saw no starlight.

In that land that saw no starlight
Demon warden, long there dwelling,
Watched the coming of the heroes,
Watched with hungry eyes and greedy,
Clutching claws and throaty screeches.

Clutching claws and throaty screeching -
Mottled feathers and thin limbs flapping.
So the demon 'round the heroes,
Warden of that gloomy twilight,
Where no living man had ventured.

"Dare to tread the ancient pathways?
Long-forgotten, long-forsaken?
I the Warden, name forgotten,
I have waited long in twilight,
I all living feet devour."

Lanenomen shook his spear-shaft,
Raised the lance that Hagnor wielded ,
"Come we not for war or plunder,
Only seeking fallen monarch,
The Giant-king, Sarnbinala."

"Giant-king once trod this pathway,
Fleeing from his foes most bitter.
Fled he in to yonder twilight,
Whence no mortal, having fled there,
Ever comes again to sunlight."

Canto VIII

The Warden challenges Lanenomen and Gasojean to a riddle game. The first two riddles: With what gifts did Vishnarr corrupt the Salamanders? What is the cause of earthquakes?

Demon warden, grinning hugely,
Posed this riddle to the heroes:
"Salamanders, ancient creatures,
Sang the sun to rise at morning -
Sang for joy to see its glory,

"Danced in golden rays of sunshine,
Vishnarr then came swiftly searching,
Sought a stair or hidden pathway
Up into the Paths of Morning
Where the Ram of Dawn goes bounding.

"Mighty presents Vishnarr offered -
To the Salamanders dancing
'Mid the lake of holy fire
Which relights the sun at morning -
Mighty presents, gifts unnumbered.

"Tell the gifts that Vishnarr gave them;
Tell the wondrous gifts uncounted."
Lanenomen doughty spoke thus:
"Golden gifts dark Vishnarr gave them -
Rings of gold that gleamed like fire.

"Rings of gold that gleam like fire
Burning coldly under mountain
Give no heat or joy to mankind.
Kothor's kin he gave for servants -
Slaves to serpent malice cruel."

Grinned the demon, spiteful warden,
"Second riddle I will ask you:
Through the earth, its veins run, winding,
Down to where this warden watches.
What these veins, now say their purpose."

Gasojean, giant monarch:
"These the veins and this their purpose:
Heartsone of the world lies beating
Somewhere under yonder twilight,
Waiting for the end of ages.

"Of that heartstone, stirring, pulses,
Shakes the world through veins of metal,
Wakes the land which, under starlight,
Slumbers 'til the end of ages."
So the rede of Gasojean.

Lanenomen, lord of Trayans:
"Gasojean speaks not wisdom.
Wise men know the cause of earthquakes:
Serpents slumbering, long and hungry,
Dream of ruin and battle-glory.

"Dream of ruin and battle-glory,
Which will be the world's undoing.
In their dreaming stir as men stir,
When in sleeping dream of battle
Or the bristled boar a-hunting.

"In their dreaming stir as men stir,
Stirring shake the world around them,
Cast down mankind's tiny cities,
Which for all their stately marble,
Still are less than dreams of serpents."

Canto IX

Lanenomen’s answer to the earthquake riddle approved. The third riddle. The crown retrieved and given to Lanenomen, who answered best. Ascent from the abyss.

Demon warden silent listened
To the words of Lanenomen.
Then he spoke the Trayan's praises:
"Serpents dreaming - I have seen them,
Heard them stir as men when sleeping.

"Tell me now one final riddle,
This my last and hardest question:
When the life of man is severed
On the loom that Fate sits weaving
Does his thread lay lone and tattered?

Gasojean boldly answered:
"Men who pass the realm of mortals
To the twilight which you guard here
Do not come again to starlight.
But their thread has not been severed.

"For his thread has not been severed,
Him whose name still lives beyond him
In some song or carven stonework,
Or some heir to bear his memory,
'Til the gray world sits in silence."

Demon warden nodded sagely,
Gleaming white fangs grinning toothsome.
"You have answered cunning riddles.
I will now retrieve your treasure -
Bring the crown of Sarnbinala."

Like a bat that flitters, frightened
At the baleful rise of morning,
So the demon left the heroes,
Flew away into the twilight
Seeking out the crown of Giants.

Long they waited in the stillness
There beneath the world's green mantle;
Waited for the demon warden;
Waited while the creeping twilight
Licked its way toward them, hungry.

Back again the demon warden
Flying heavy through the grayness,
Flying heavy with his burden:
Crown of olden Sarnbinala,
Once the king of Giant empires.

"You have answered cunning riddles,"
Spoke the demon to the heroes.
"One of you has answered better.
Lanenomen, Lord of Trayans,
Take from me this crown of Giants.

"Take from me this crown of Giants.
Now our truce is at an ending -
Now return to lands of starlight."
Lanenomen grasped the circlet,
Slowly came again to starlight.

Up through stairs of winding darkness
Came the tread of Lanenomen.
Gasojean walked behind him,
Shook his lance against the darkness.
So they came again to starlight.

Canto X

Lanenomen delivers the crown to Gasojean. Gasojean reneges on their bargain and attacks the Trayan host. The battle begins. Combats described.

Lanenomen, Gasojean,
Looked again on lands of starlight
Out of lands of starless Twilight,
Demon-filled and death to mortals.
Stars the Maker gave for Mankind.

Far-famed Lanenomen standing,
Looked upon the Giant circlet
Well-beset with cunning jewels.
Gold there glinted, pleased the hero,
Thought to claim the crown so precious.

"Think to claim the crown so precious?
Buy it dear with Trayan life's-blood."
So thought Lanenomen wisely,
Gave the crown to Gasojean
Which his wisdom won from Demon.

"This your wisdom won from demon.
Take it I for long-due wergild.
Yet, it were the merest fraction.
For all the wrongs that Feyhoth did us
Bend the knee and do us homage."

"Never slaves, O Sons of Feyhoth!"
Lanenomen shook his spear-shaft.
"Ere we bow or ere we serve you,
Ere we take your yoke upon us,
Spears must fail and lances splinter."

"Spears shall fail and lances splinter.
Trayans will be ground to powder.
Giants old will have their vengeance!"
Gasojean shook his war-spear,
Giants thundered, wide earth quivered.

Dangon striding, mighty Giant,
Wielding club with iron fastened.
Bellowed mighty, laid low Trayans,
Crushing helm and hauberk doughty.
Neldor tall, he saw and answered.

Neldor tall, he saw and answered,
His burnished spear was shining palely.
He thrust into the Giant’s belly,
Thrust and would not let go the spear-shaft.
Black gore spewed, lifeblood leaving.

Wanleyalbo, fiercesome warrior,
Felled the Giant Jiman-Beyo,
Hurled his lance into the brain-pan,
Brains all gushing stained the long grass.
Wanleyalbo slew his foeman.

Jiman, son of Jiman-Beyo,
Rent the warrior's head from shoulders;
Broke the bone-house, strewed the liver,
Slew the slayer, bane of father.
Giants, Trayans, rallied round them.

Peistoramra gutted Beyo,
Slew the giant with a boar-spear,
Giant body crashing fell down,
Shook the earth like thunder ringing.
Earth's frame quaked to feel that falling.

Canto XI

The Battle of Alevelo. Combats described. The Giants continue to nurse their grudge after the Trayan victory. The march resumes. The Trayan remnant comes to look on the sea.

In the days of mighty heroes,
After fall of ancient Feyhoth,
Lanenomen, last of Trayans,
Battle did with Gasojean
On the plain of Alevelo.

Tall Isari, Trayan lordling,
Yuiyeyo battled mighty,
Long withstood the Giant's fury,
'Til at last his might had failed him,
Then the Giant splintered helmet.

Then the Giant splintered helmet,
Crushed the skull and smashed the brain-pan,
Then the hero closed his eyelids,
Down he went to utter darkness;
Then the light that waits for heroes.

Narlas then fought Yuiyeo,
Gripped his thighs with arms of iron,
Sent him hurtling onto greensward,
Hewed his head from off his shoulders
With an axe of bitter iron.

Hagnel battled Eosugo:
Heroes well-matched traded spear-shafts,
Sent them whistling over meadow,
First the Giant, then the Trayan -
Spear-shafts flew like bolts of thunder.

Spear-shafts flew like bolts of thunder.
Giant's spear-shaft wounded Hagnel,
Pierced the thigh unto the marrow.
Hagnel's spear-shaft, truer hurled,
Ran the giant through the collar.

Trayan heroes, giant champions,
All were gathered on Alevelo,
All did deeds of mighty prowess.
In the end the Trayans conquered,
By the might of Polestar's promise.

Lanenomen, mighty hero,
Slashed his spear with Gasojean,
Clashed and would have slain the Giant.
But the Giant Gasojean
Fled, withdrew himself from combat.

Long the blood of Gasojean
Brooded evil to the Trayans.
Long his seed has done us mischief,
We who are the last of Starfolk -
Still their lifeblood runs within us.

Still their lifeblood runs within us,
We the seed of ancient Feyhoth.
Gasojean's seed still plagues us.
Yet would Gasojean sooner
Vengeance have on Lanenomen.

Vengeance Lanenomen knew not,
Did not think of Gasojean,
Nor the harm his folk would suffer
Soon to come, and long to linger.
Trayans buried Trayan fallen.

Remnant passed on, weeping bitter,
Wept for Trayan heroes fallen.
'Til they came to wide green forest,
Flowing sea of budding treetops,
Full of eyes of Forest People.

Full of Eyes of Forest People,
And the tombs of ancient monarchs
Stood like islands in the forest,
In a sea of budding treetops -
Tombs of kings now long forgotten.

Lanenomen led his people
Past the tombs of ancient monarchs,
Past the eyes of Forest People,
Out to where through joyous teardrops
The Trayans gazed on the promised Sea.

Book II

Canto I

The Sothbori. The tombs and vigil of the Stone Kings. Lead by Orusena, the Sothbori bring gifts to the Trayans. The Oath of Lanenomen.

Sothbori had dwelt in forest,
Fast beside the shining water
There the kings of stony houses
Once had kept their silent vigils
On an ancient, sacred hilltop.

On an ancient sacred hilltop
Forest people kept the vigil
Which the last of Stone Kings taught them.
Long beside the shining water
Forest people dwelt and hunted.

Then the Trayans came a-marching,
Came in search of promised homeland
Fresh from battle with the giants,
Still they marched with spears and helmets,
Shining hauberks gleaming brightly.

Sothbor claimed a chieftain hearty:
Honored, ancient Orusena.
Orusena came to Trayans
Where they stood on white sand beaches,
Brought them gifts from out of forest.

Brought them gifts from out of forest:
Brought them furs of finest otters,
Brought them skins of bears for winter,
Brought them gems of glowing amber,
Brought them honeyed meads in plenty.

These he brought, and these he gave them,
Took the hand of Lanenomen,
Praised their high and starry countenance--
Praised their spears of shining iron--
Prayed the strangers peace and welcome.

"Pray you, strangers, peace and welcome,
Rustic folk of wood are humble,
Do not threaten western star-folk.
But I fear you lordly strangers
May overwhelm our humble dwellings."

"Sothbori's woodland dwellings rustic
Trayans would not take by violence,
Nor disturb the sacred hilltop
Ringed around by cypress ancient.
Raos promised other hilltops."

"Other hilltops Sothbor know of --
Hills bestrewn with jade and amber.
There the land is wide and verdant --
There you may find room for Starfolk.
I will lead you, Orusena.

"I will lead if oaths you'll swear me
There upon the nameless hilltop --
There where Stone-Kings dying taught us
Pool to tend, vigil keeping.
By that pool your oaths be taken.

"By that pool your oaths be taken:
Swear your kith and kin will never
Take the land of Forest People,
Ne'er transgress the sacred hilltop
Which the ancient Stone-Kings gave us."

Canto II

The Oath of Lanenomen sworn. The Seven Hills of Jade, unmarred by the primeval fall of Vishnarr. The Oath reinforced. 

Lanenomen, lord of Trayans
Took an oath on hilltop sacred
Took an oath that Trayan people
Never should oppress the forest,
Never should defile the hilltop.

Swore that oath, the Trayan princelings,
Swore that oath upon their sword-hilts,
Swore that oath upon the Polestar
Which in dream had promised homeland.
Trayans then prepared for marching.

Trayans all set out a-marching
Orusena led them over
Northern heath and vale and mountain,
Over Cheyth's angry waters
To the Seven Hills of Jade-stone.

Seven hills, unmatched in fairness,
Marred had not the ancient conflict
When the Stars rained down from heaven,
Shook the heart with sound of falling,
Southlands filled with smoke and reeking.

Southlands filled with smoke and reeking
From the heat of Vishnarr's burning.
Underneath a starless heaven
Vishnarr built his seat of empire:
Tall that tower, grasping upward.

Tall that tower, grasping skyward,
Grasping for the sky denied him,
Since he raged in fierce division,
Raged against the Maker Mighty.
Long in tower he brooded darkly.

Marred the world when wrathful falling,
Never marred the Jade-stone hilltops
Nor the green and pleasant valleys.
Orusena led the Trayans
To their long-awaited homeland.

Seven hills like emeralds gleaming,
Non had named or claimed or built them.
Long they stood and watched the heavens,
Long they listened to the waters --
Clear and unpolluted water.

Orusena, speaking wisdom:
"Now let Trayan princelings dwell here
In the pleasant glades and valleys,
Build their great and peopled cities
On the high and verdant hilltops.

"On the high and verdant hilltops
Build and rest from all your marches.
Do not trouble Forest People,
Let the simple Forest People
Simply keep their silent vigils."

Lanenomen, swearing friendship,
"Arms are yours if need require them.
Friendship ever keep the Trayans,
Oaths of friendship pledge forever."
So the pact those two lords promised.

Canto III

Lanenomen founds the Seven Cities. The Seven Cities described: Lanenkarr, Yalethkarr, Sothalkarr, Yithalbkarr, Palgeimor, Feyoreis, Kheithlahkarr.

Seven cities Lanenomen
Founded on the Jaden Hilltops.
Legends now recall those cities
Greedy time from Children sundered.
Sing their names, and praise their greatness:

Lanenomen's seat, first-founded,
Lanenkarr where throne of Trayans
Under sky begemmed with diamonds
Sat and justice dealt to Star-folk.
Bright that throne, and great its glory.

Yalethkarr its wide arms stretched round,
Guarding paths to cities seven.
Yaleth founded, warrior woman,
Kept the watch that Lanenomen
Made to guard the towns of Trayans.

Sothalkarr, the Place of Stone-Trees
Highest stood of seven cities.
High above where trees are growing,
Carved her trees of stony granite,
Carved by ancient Trayan craftsmen.

Yithalbkarr, a verdant city,
Trayans built with emerald towers --
Built its gates of carven jewels
Green as all those seven hilltops
Strewn with jade as green as sea foam.

Palgeimor did Lanenomen
Build to ward the Trayan harbor.
There the shore was strewn with amber
Gems which fell when woeful conflict
Shook the very dome of heaven.

Feyoreis the Trayans builded,
So recalled the ancient city
Where the first of Trayan monarchs
Sat and dealt out laws and justice
To the Star-born suns of Feyhoth.

Kheithlahkarr, the last of Seven,
Northernmost of Trayan cities,
Built of basalt black and onyx,
Glittered darkly at the moonrise
When the Hunter came a-wandering.

Cities seven Lanenomen
Built for Feyhoth’s exiled children.
Seven years they were in building,
Sat beside the flowing water
Which the Polestar Raos gave them.

Mighty cities, wide and shining --
Who has seen their like in waking?
Shining lamps of Trayan glory --
Promised homeland after exile.
Crowned was mighty Lanenomen.

Crowned was mighty Lanenomen
So at last the house of Hagnor
Bore again the crown of Feyhoth.
Trayans ruled an Empire mighty
There beside the shining waters.

Canto IV

Lanenomen’s love for Orusena’s daughter, Aleytalya. The council and debate with the Trayan lords.

Lanenomen loved a maiden,
Loved a fair and pleasant maiden,
Loved a dark-haired forest maiden,
Orusena's lovely daughter:
Aleytalya, swan-foot maiden.

Swift and nimble as the red deer,
Dark and graceful as the Forest,
Aleytalya danced with laughter,
Laughed like sylvan waters tripping,
Tripping down a stony brook-path.

Aleytalya danced with laughter,
Lanenomen, watching, loved her.
To the Trayan lordlings named her,
Named her as his wife intended.
Trayan lordlings frowned and murmured.

Trayan lordlings frowned and murmured,
Frowned and murmured at that pairing,
Frowned and made displeasure known thus:
"Lanenomen, Lord of Trayans,
Should not give his love to Sothbor.

"Should not give his love to Sothbor,
Not dilute the blood of Feyhoth,
Mankind’s children born are feeble,
Feeble as the dying embers
Quickly burning, fade to ashes."

"Red the ember glows, men warming,
Bellow-wind can stoke the fire.
Else the stones which stand forever
Stand alone, and cold they linger.
Stars were made to blaze forth brightly."

"Ill will come from mixing bloodlines,
Lesser grow our span of life-years.
Lesser grow our might and power
If the sons of Star-born Feyhoth
Take them wives of Forest People.

"Short their lives and soon their passing,
Bound by fates the Hunter rules.
Trayan people long life keeping,
Keep their fates apart from mankind.
Mankind short-lived, born to sorrow."

"Mankind short-lived, born to sorrow,
Yet has learned the way of wisdom,
Yet has learned to keep his vigils,
Does not anger happy heaven,
Does not seek to conquer others.

"What, has long life blessed the Trayans?
Have we all our fates to master?
Why then exile, why such sorrow?
Why our native Sea denied us?
We must bow, our fates surrender."

Ever thus the Trayans argued,
Strove with Lanenomen haughty.
Lanenomen was more eager
For the love of Aleytalya.
Lanenomen none could gainsay.

Canto V

Lanenomen proposes the match to Orusena. Orusena, despite his misgivings, relents. The wedding of Lanenomen. Nerlas trades insults with the Sothbori chieftains.

Lanenomen loved a maiden,
Loved the swanlike Aleytalya,
Pressed his suit and pledged her marriage.
Gifts he gave to Orusena,
Gifts for daughter far and dark-haired.

Gifts for daughter fair and dark-haired
Lanenomen gladly offered:
Gold of Trayans, gems of jade-stone,
Amber grown to crown her headdress,
Amber rings to grace her ankles.

Orusena frowned and pondered,
Thinking on the match he offered.
"Trayan lords are wise and noble,
Forest People well would mingle,
Well would seal the oath of friendship.

"Well would seal the oath of friendship --
Mingling would our people profit?
Would the tall and noble Trayans
Overwhelm the Sothbor rustic,
Mingling make us less a people?"

Sad misgivings Orusena
Bore within his breast and pondered,
Feared that evil would attend it,
Match proposed, and coming wedding.
Yet he would not stay the marriage.

Lanenomen wed a maiden:
Fair and swanlike Aleytalya,
Wed her on the eve of summer,
Wed her under shining starlight.
Fair the bride, the Children's Mother.

Trayan lordlings frowning darkly
Watched the giving of the maiden,
Watched the wedding, murmured darkly,
Watched the chiefs of Forest People.
Narlas, warrior, gripped his sword-hilt.

Narlas, warrior, gripped his sword-hilt,
Gripped and glared on Sothbor chieftains.
Narlas, warrior, warring spoke thus:
"Cheap we buy the Forest's friendship --
For one dirty, rustic maiden.

"For one dirty, rustic maiden,
Wedded to the Trayan monarch,
So your heirs  are ours forever,
So your Sacred Hill possessing
Trayans will be lords of Forest."

Dark the wrath of Sothbor chieftains.
Elders did not make an answer.
Younger chiefs threw back the insult:
"Trayans are not fit to rule.
Rumor tells of Trayan blood-guilt.

"Rumor tells of Trayan blood-guilt.
Heav'n has banished you from homeland,
Heav'n has punished gravest insults:
Vulture worshipped, offspring offered.
Worship learn from Forest People."

Canto VI

The wedding-slaughter. The Sothbori retaliate, and Gasojean takes the opportunity to get vengeance on the Trayans.

Lanenomen took a maiden,
Took her from her home and family,
Took her fleeing from her wedding,
Took her fleeing from the slaughter
Which the Trayan sword-blades made there.

Orusena fell before them,
Father of the dark-haired maiden:
Aleytalya, swanlike daughter.
Lanenomen's new-made kinsfolk
Fell and died to warrior Narlas.

Warrior Narlas hot had quarreled
With the chiefs of Forest People.
Hot his blood had raged within him,
Hot his hand had flown to sword-hilt.
Sothbor fell like reeds when windblown.

Then arose the Forest People,
Rose with vengeance for the slaughter.
Lanenomen, weeping bitter,
Took his new wife, fleeing Eastward.
Trayans followed, fearing justly.

Trayans followed, fearing justly.
Many fell to spears of fishbone,
Many fell to darts envenomed
Which the Forest People hunting
Shot from sylvan ambush hidden.

Slaughter-stained was glade and fountain,
Holy glade where death came greedy --
Hungry guest to maiden's wedding --
Brought his gifts of gore-stained sword-hilts,
Broken oaths and slaughtered kinsfolk.

Broken oaths and slaughtered kinsfolk,
Broken vows and red blood flowing,
Broken spear and spilling goblet;
These the eyes of Stone-Kings ancient
Saw, and cursed the kin of Feyhoth.

Stone-Kings saw and cursed the Trayans
For this evil they repaid them,
For this evil, evil followed:
Darkness covered Seven Cities,
Trayan voices passed to silence.

Ere the coming of the Darkness
Gasojean, lord of Giants,
Heard the might of Seven Cities,
Heard the deeds of Lanenomen,
Heard the woe of Forest People.

Heard the woe of Forest People,
Came with spear-shaft raised against them.
Sothbor scattered, lacking chieftain,
Giants pillaged holy forest,
Which the tombs of Stone-Kings hallowed.

Canto VII

Gasojean burns the forest. Lanenomen marches to meet him, and arrives to see the trees burning around the Sacred Hill.

Sing the wars of Lanenomen!
How the spears of Trayan people
Moving like a forest windblown
Went to war against the giants,
Battled for the holy forest.

Sing the war of Lanenomen
Which he waged for love of lady,
Aleytalya, Swanfoot Maiden:
Giants burned her native forest,
slew her kin and razed her homeland.

Sing the war of Lanenomen
Which the blood of slaughter brought him,
When the hand of promised friendship
Shed the blood of Orusena,
Spilled his blood in forest clearing.

Gasojean, giant monarch,
Long had pondered Lanenomen,
Long had brooded bloody vengeance
For the slight which Lanenomen
Gave him on the field of battle.

Gasojean, brooding vengeance,
Heard of Trayan's wedding-slaughter,
Knew the mourning forest people
Chieftain lacking, lacking spirit,
Would not give the Giants battle.

Would not give the Giants Battle,
Then would come, in wrath, the Trayans,
Come atone the blood of slaughter;
Come and rescue leaguered kinfolk:
New queen's kin, the Forest People.

Giants came and burned the Forest,
Great trees fell 'neath bit of axe-haft.
Forest People wept to see it.
Tombs of Stone-Kings stood unmoving,
Stood and watched the fires burning.

Lanenomen, mighty hero,
Heard the plight of Forest People,
Heard the plight of new-made kinfolk,
Grasped his massive spear in anger,
Wrathful marched to help of kinfolk.

"Trayan people, falsely dealing,
Did not keep their oaths of friendship;
Slew the Sothbor chieftains gentle,
Slew the kin of bride of monarch.
Oaths keep now, or fear my vengeance."

Trayan lordings, bending spear-shafts,
Like an ashen forest waving
When the wind has blown and stirred it,
Seen from heights above the forest,
Like one man the Trayans hearkened.

Like one man the Trayans marched forth.
So they came to eaves of Forest,
Saw the burning of the Giants,
Saw the Sacred Hill was ringed round
By the thanes of Gasojean.

Canto VIII

Lanenomen encourages his troops. The charge of the Trayans. Combats described.

When the Trayans came to Forest,
Saw the Hill of Orusena,
Saw it ringed about with foemen,
Lanenomen beat his shield-boss
With the ash of wieldy spear-shaft.

"Heroes of the Trayan people,
Once before in bloody battle
You have triumphed over giants --
That before you angered Heaven
With your slaying of your kin-folk.

"Now regain your squandered honor --
Now regain the smiles of Heaven.
There the Sacred Hill unsullied
Will be wet with blood of Sothbor
If we Trayans do not conquer.

"Now resolve your hearts to conflict,
Now assume a warlike aspect,
Now absolve your weighty blood-guilt.
Sing a song of spear-points piercing,
Sing a dirge for Gasojean!"

So the Trayan warriors sang out,
Sang a song of bitter spear-shafts,
Sang a dirge for Gasojean.
Giants, hearing, turned and answered;
Met them on the field of slaughter.

Running o'er the field of slaughter,
Narlas hot was hot to meet them;
Hot to pay for kinfolk slaughtered.
Forth he thrust his brazen spear-point,
Pierced a giant through the gut-sack.

Fierce he raged against the Giants,
Slew the sons of Gasojean,
Fiercely slew and hotly pressed them
'Til a giant, huge Yoshini,
Thought to end that warrior's rampage.

Huge Yoshini hurled a boulder,
Big as millstone used for grinding--
Such as giants, laughing drunkly,
Hurl for sport amid the mountains--
Hurled and crushed the warrior Narlas.

Yaleth mighty, warrior-woman,
Spun her ashen spear and sang thus:
"Always hot did Narlas, raging,
Ever forward range in battle.
Now his gore has stained the hillside.

"Now his blood has stained the forest,
Stained the sparkling sylvan river.
Yaleth mighty rages fiercely,
Now she takes his place in battle,
Now her wrath will be as thunder."

Yaleth fiercesome, warrior-woman,
Far outpaced her fellow warriors
In amongst the ancient giants.
There she plied her deadly spear-trade,
There she made the Giants fear her.

Canto IX

The battle continues. Combats described. Lanenomen and Gasojean meet again upon the field of battle.

Sing the wars of Lanenomen -
Sing the death of mighty giants
Felled amid the bitter conflict
When the wrath of Trayan lordlings
Raged against the Giant kindred.

Yaleth mighty, warrior woman,
Pierced the heart of tall Yoshini;
Pierced the hide with brazen spear-tip,
Pierced the heart and burst the bone-house.
Tall Yoshini fell and bled there.

Alakeon, Giant captain,
Sang a song of Giant-glory,
Song of ancient kingdom mighty,
"Strong the backs of Giants ploughing,
Spears will plough their bloody furrows!"

Seven sons of Feyhoth's children
Alakeon slew with spear-point,
Till the iron smoked like embers,
Till that reed of death had withered.
Then the Trayans closed around him.

Neldor mighty, tallest Trayan,
Threw a mighty spear of oak's bole.
Brazen point searched out the vitals,
Alekeon's life-blood drinking,
Sent that warrior down to darkness.

Hagnel fiercesome, raging madly,
Raised his spear against the Giants:
"Many bitter battles, Trayans,
We have won against the Giants.
Victory is ours for certain."

True spoke Hagnor, oft-proved warrior,
But blinded to the fate he'd suffer.
Great Wonsuli crushed his helmet
'Neath a club with iron banded.
Trayans mourned the loss of heroes.

Yaleth cut down Great Wonsuli,
Slashed his hamstrings, pierced his breastbone.
Hot gore filled the Forest hillside,
Blood of Giants, blood of Star-folk.
Great the slaughter of that battle.

Lanenomen, Gasojean,
Stood and faced each other, snarling,
Growled like wolves on field of battle
After victors strip the fallen
And the wolves dispute the corpses.

So they ranged for bloody conflict,
Hurled their spears and brandished war-shields.
Lanenomen, Prince of Trayans,
Gripped a gilded spear and spoke thus:
"Gasojean! Now we end hate!

"Now with point of spear we settle
All the wrongs which our two people
Long have held in grudging hatred.
Let the Maker judge between us -
Let him judge our bitter conflict."

Canto X

The fight of Lanenomen and Gasojean. Death of Gasojean. The Giants retreat. Lanenomen swears a new oath with the Sothbori.

Gasojean, Lanenomen,
Both were locked in mortal combat,
Ranged in combat like two harkel,
Ever lunged and slashed the other,
Dealing blows like eager woodsmen.

Dealing blows like eager woodsmen
Eager felling ancient forest
So the oak tree, long in growing,
Help and boon would be for mankind.
So those warriors raged most fiercely.

So those warriors raged most fiercely:
Lanenomen's armor shattered,
Gasojean's spear-shaft splintered.
Giant drew a deadly bodkin,
Grappled with the Lord of Trayans.

Lanenomen, like a lion,
Fierce returned that foeman's grapple,
Fiercely thrust the point of spear-shaft
(Which the press of battle splintered)
Through the bowels of Gasojean.

Gasojean loosed the Trayan,
Fell and clutched the purple life-gore.
"Foes forever shall our blood be!
Blood is on the hands of Trayans
For the kin they slew at wedding.

"For the kin they slew at wedding,
And the vows they broke asunder,
Doom will come on Lanenomen -
Doom of darkness fell o'er Forest,
Swallow city, break down towers.

"Swallow city, break down towers,
Chains shall bind the Trayan people,
Bind the sons of Lanenomen."
This the curse which Gasojean
Laid on them as he lay dying.

So he cursed as he lay dying,
Swift away that spell went winging.
Far away Dark Orkon plotted
How he might take bitter vengeance
On the kin of starry Feyhoth.

So the Giants fled in anguish,
Darkness fell on Gasojean,
Judgment found his ghost thereafter.
Trayans, Sothbor, all rejoicing,
Washed the blood from sacred hillside.

On the hill of Orusena,
Where the Sacred Pool is tended,
Lanenomen swore a new oath.
Sothbor, Trayans, now one people,
Now forgive the blood of slaughter.

These the wars of Lanenomen,
Mighty son of ancient Hagnor.
So the words of shining Raos
Bore at last the fruit long looked-for.
Trayans joyed in newfound homeland.

Canto XI

Epilogue. The fall of the Seven Cities and the rise of Sencan are prophesied.

This the song of Lanenomen.
We have heard the Children sing it
Since the day that Sencan mighty
Raised his hammer under mountain,
Raised his walls amid the Forest.

We have sun of ruined Feyhoth --
We have sung of Trayan remnant
Sailing past the deadly ice floes
To the land that, ‘neath the heavens,
Sits and glimmers under starlight.

We have sung of Orkon's forest
Where, ensnared, the Trayans wandered.
We have sung of Noldu's spear-host,
How the kings of old encountered,
What they said, their words of wisdom.

We have sung of Gasojean,
Of the crown of Sarnbinala.
We have sung the wars with Giants,
Ever hatred owing Children,
We have learned the source of conflict.

We have heard how Lanenomen
Swore an oath to Forest People.
We have sung the wedding-slaughter,
Evil slaying of new-made kinfolk,
Bringing ruin on Lanenomen.

Ruin fell on Lanenomen
For the slaughter of his kinfolk.
Orkon mighty came against them,
Wove a spell of utter blackness,
Traitors brought down Yaleth's city.

Seven Cities into darkness
Fell to never rise or conquer.
Empty and alone they stand now,
Nor is heard the ring of hammer,
Nor the cry of little children.

Now the towns which Lanenomen
Stablished on the Jaden Hillsides
Only shelter moss and ivy,
Only shelter hooting owls,
And the wind of winter howling.

Orusena's people ever
Waited out the coming darkness,
Till the heir of Lanenomen -
Of the blood of Aleytalya -
Sencan mighty came to rule them.

Let the songs of Lanenomen
Still be sung in Sencan's City.
Let the might of Trayan spear-shafts
Still be known by Sencan's kinfolk -
Let the Giants hear and tremble.

Let them hear our songs and tremble -
Feyhoth's glory, like an emerald
Hotly glows amid the ashes
Of the Sacred Hilltop whereon
Sencan sat his mighty throne.