Nanalon was the third king of the Ambori, and he was the son of Ranhor, the son of Sencan the Great, who forged the Hurorupeim and led the Ambori to freedom. Now Nanalon was mighty in the days of his youth, and wise, but he loved peace more than war, and this was well in the days of his youth, for in Sencan's day all evil had been put to flight, and had not yet returned again to trouble the land. And Nanalon wed Ranrai, who was of an ancient house of the Sothbori. She was the fairest of face and form to look upon until the bloom of Thoranrai's womanhood, but she was as a candle that burned too brightly in the light and majesty of Sencankarr, and ere Thoranrai was three-and-twenty years, Ranrai was taken ill and died. This was the first of Nanalon's woes, which afterwards were many, the greatest of all the sons of Sencan. Some have held that this sickness was no natural ailment, and that it was sent by the sorcery of Orkon, or by the witchcraft of one of the Kodihan, who have ever been the allies of Orkon in all his malice for the Ambori. But Thoranrai grew swiftly on to womanhood, and there was a great beauty revealed in her, the fairest of face and form who had been in the world, it is sung, since Alyeitalya danced before Lanenomen on the greensward of the Hill of Maidens in the spring of the world.
Thoranrai did not keep the custom of maidens as it then was, and is, to go clad in bright and many-colored raiment. She rather wore gray only, or else deep blue; but her eyes shone with their own light, most like to the silver sheen of the evening star at twilight of any since Kanle Star-eyes walked the earth in Feihoth that is lost. But Thoranrai never took the stewardship of the Queen's Pool, but left it to Artjalava, the sister of her mother, a wise woman and far-sighted. But in later days the keeping of the Pool fell to Reiran, the Queen of Fanhal the Younger, who was in later days called "the Great." So the ancient custom was renewed. For since the days of Orusen, the Sacred Pool was tended by the wives of the chieftains of the Sothbori, and this custom was kept by them through all the Dark Years until the time of Sencan. Then Hasanyah, wife of Sencan and daughter of the last chieftain of the Sothbori, took on herself that burden. So the first of all the Sacred Pools is called "The Queen's Pool" unto this day.
Now Nanalon loved Thoranrai best of all his children, for in her he saw the beauty of Ranrai come again into he earth. Thoranrai lvoed her brothers, of whom there were three, above all things else in this life. It is told elsewhere who Gorgara, lieutenant of Orkon, issued a challenge to the sons of Nanalon to lure them into his snare, and how they were imprisoned and tormented for thirty years ere they escaped. And in that escape the songs tell that Thoranrai had part, for she watched for them in the Queen's Pool, hoping that she might see them--for those in whom the blood of Starland runs undiminished, visions may at times be seen in those waters; for water hold the memory of starlight, and in the stars long ago were written all things that would be, before heaven and earth were marred. So it was that on an evening, as Artjalava sang beside the Sacred Pool, that Thoranrai saw her brothers there as they lay and languished in their bonds. Then she was overcome with sorrow for her brothers whom she loved, and a great tear fell from her face, shining like a diamond, and splashed upon the water. And in that very hour the brothers saw a single shaft of starlight pierce the veil of night deep under the earth, and following the light they came at last to Sencan's anvil, and so won their freedom.
But it is sung in many songs that of the three brothers, only Sanur returned again unto the house of his father, and he was wounded to the death with the venom of a great serpent. But there returned with him three companions, who had not forsaken the princes, and who had shared with them all the dangers and trials of their captivity and escape. Now these three servants were named Sathneinor, Raleinor, and Fanhal. This Fanhal was of near kin to the House of Sencan, for he claimed his lineage from Lanenomen. And he had often been in the palace in the years before the prices rode to war, and he had looked upon Thoranrai, and loved her.
In the days that followed Sanur's return, Nanalon lay himself down to die, for he was full of years, and his grief was complete. Then, in keeping with the long custom of the Sothbori, who would have a chieftainness over them so long as she were of the ruling house which Heaven had chosen to keep the ancient covenant, Thornarai was made Queen, and the Hurorupeim was given into her hand. She was called Queen Thoranrai the Fair, and she was the first Ruling Queen of the Ambori, and her name is great among the mighty kings of old. For love of her brothers, she bade those three servants who had tended them to eat at her table if they would, or else to name the land or treasure or maiden of their desire, and that this would be granted them, and that their names would be held great among the Ambori forever after. Sathneinor, who was previously a commoner of little account, was then raised to the nobility, and had to wife Ridenyan, the daughter of Karalin, the cousin of the queen. Raleinon too took a great house and land, and was afterwards a baron. But Fanhal kept his own counsel, and dwelt for many months in the Queen's house, and ate at her table.
After things went in this manner, when Thoranrai was established on her throne, she called Fanhal unto her and spoke in this wise:
"I marvel lord, that you have dwelt so long in my house, but have asked of me no boon, as your companions have."
"Some would say," said Fanhal, "that to live in the house of Thoranrai the Fair, and to sit with her at board, were boon enough. For what lord among the Ambori has had so great a house, or so fair a company at table?"
"Even so," said the Queen, "I would honor one who so loved those I loved most, and shared their toil and torment. And your face is ever cast down, which look does not become one of the Queen's company." But she was not displeased with his words.
Then Fanhal said, "Three things I desire, and until they are fulfilled, not all the riches of all the kings of the North will give me pleasure."
"Then ask what you will, and if it is in the Queen's power she will grant it."
"The first thing I desire, O Queen, is a sword of worth."
Then she called the keeper of her treasure, and had put into Fanhal's hands Veryalsuja, and that was the sword which Sanur bore from the Black Hills, with which he had slain many of the hunters of Orkon. And she said, "Receive now the blade Veryalsuja, the Weed of Battle, which Sencan forged of old, and which Setela my brother brought through great peril to lay at the feet of my father, as you well know."
Then Fanhal took that sword, and his heart was glad within him. But as yet he did not smile.
And the Queen said, "But you said there were three things you desired most of all. I have given you one, but I will not grudge the other two, even unto the greatest treasure in my keeping."
"Not the greatest I ask, but the second-greatest: for the Queen has no greater charge in her care, save one, than the blood of her people. I would ask of you an army, with all the legions that may be spared, and with it I would harrow the Black Hills, and avenge the years of my torment, and the sons of Nanalon whom I loved."
This request also the Queen granted, and she said, "Go, and take with you all the hope and wrath of our people. For Thoranrai is not the first to lose her brothers to the legions of the Black Hills -- but perhaps she may be the last." But at those words her heart misgave her, though she knew not the cause.
Then, when all was made ready, Fanhal prepared to march forth to war. And the Queen herself came to him upon the day of his setting forth, and sent away her maidens and Fanhal's squire. And she herself with her own hands did on his armor, and buckled the mighty sword Veryalsuja about his waist, and said:
"A third desire you asked of me, and yet you have not spoken of it these many days. What may Thoranrai do for one whom the Queen has so much cause to love and honor?"
"Do you say it is Thornarai who loves me, or only the Queen?" asked Fanhal.
Then she thought she understood his mind, though she knew not as yet her own heart. And she said, "Is Thoranrai not the Queen?"
"Yea, but the desires of Thoranrai must sometimes bend to the necessities of the Queen."
"So also," the Queen said, "with Fanhal the Captain."
Then he bowed gravely and went out. But from that hour she loved him, and feared, Queen though she was, that she might never see him again.
But Fanhal put aside his desire, which was yet unspoken, and set his mind to thoughts of war alone. Taking a great army, he marched East to the Marches of the Cheyth. Finding there a small guard and little watch, he seized the passage of the river. The Nalshbori fled before his coming, for the blade of Veryalsuja keened after their blood, and Fanhal bound a gem of amber upon his hand which blazed red and golden as the sun before a storm whenever his arm was lifted up in wrath. So he seized the crossing, and passed into the lands beyond the river, even to the banks of the Lesser Cheyth, and harried the enemy, and cast down their strongholds.
Now in those same lands is the forest which men call the Serth Hatama, the Withered Wood. And that wood, as some say, was withered by the malice of Orkon, or one of his chief servants; but some say rather that the great trees of stone grew up before that, when the land was blasted by the fall of Vishnarr's host from the Middle Heaven; and others say the trees did not grow after the manner of other trees, but were carved by the Stone Kings. However it may be, that Wood has been full, since Orkon's coming, of many strange mists and evil things, and many things still more which once walked the wide world in the Days before the Days, and are forgotten.
Gorgara, fearing Fanhal and the might of his host, did not dare oppose him openly, but with many secret wiles and veils of mist and sorcery he sought to ensnare and enslave his host in the Withered Wood. Many were lost by such snares, and buried living beneath the earth, or swallowed by the trees, or--some say--changed into beasts of terror. But wherever Fanhal went, the light of his eyes and the gem upon his hand gave hope to men, and no shade or mist could deceive him, for he had suffered long under the shadow of the Black Hills, and ever after there was no illusion which his eyes could not pierce.
Hearing of Fanhal's valor and of his plight, Orufal of the Weixranbo gathered his strength and sailed with a great host up to the landings of the Cheyth. And Gorgara, fearing lest the hosts of the two captains should be combined, risked open assault, and fell upon the van of Fanhal. Then there was battle in the Wood, and though Fanhal's legions fought with great courage, they were hemmed in, their numbers greatly dwindled by sorcery and by the plague which the foul air and waters of that land carried in those days. But against the sword of Fanhal no Nalshbori could stand, and whereso his gem flashed and burned, men had hope. But even as the battle turned in Gorgara's favor, a music was heard of many silver trumpets, and the banners of the Red Fang shone silver and scarlet upon Gorgara's flank. Then the Nalsbhori host were caught between the hammer and the anvil, and Gorgara fled the field. on that day Fanhal and Orufal met on the field of battle, and glad was their meeting, and there was ever afterwards great love of friendship between them.
Then the two captains drove the enemy over the Lesser Cheyth, and many Nalshbori perished in the icy waters, for winter was coming on, and though the Lesser Cheyth was tainted long ago by Orkon's malice yet it bears no love for his servants by reason of the bridge they cast across it. This Gorgara now threw down in his flight, and so won his way back to the Black Hills ere the host of the Ambori could pursue. But Fanhal caused many of the great trees of stone to be felled, and with much loss--for the Wanle Cheyth raged greatly against the will of his new master--a new bridge was built, and the Ambori passed across and so came at last through many perils to the Black Hills.
Then the Mines of Torment were emptied of their hosts, and great and terrible was the battle on the plain. On that day, Fanhal cut his way through the horned guard of Gorgara, and himself slew the lieutenant of the Black Hills. Then there was a general rout, and the Ambori pursued the enemy into the recesses of the Black Hills, and cast down the great gates of Black Iron, and cleansed that place. Howbeit, they reached not to th deepest of Orkon's mines, and Orkon himself they did not find, for the wise say he had not then come again into the North. By reason of the winter, and the weariness of battle and their long march, and the blight upon the lands, the Ambori could not long endure there. But all the chief strongholds of the Nalshbori were overthrown at that time, and the land had rest for many years after. So all the host of Fanhal returned again into the West.
Now when they came again to Sencankarr, a great feast was held in the Hall of Sencan, and all the great lords and ladies, and all the captains who had followed Fanhal, came to eat and drink at the Queen's table. Great was the splendor of that hall, ablaze with light and hung with gems and silks of many fair hues. Light of many colors glinted from rich jewels which sat on upon the breasts of fair ladies, or adorned the sword-hilt of some man of great renown. But fairest of all was Thoranrai, who wore no color by gray, and no gem save Fjalir-Seincan, the gem of Sencan, which she had bound with silver cord upon her brow. More fair was she, with that gem upon her brow illumined by the clear and soft radiance of her eyes, than any vision of woman which has afterwards been seen in the world. Her hair was dark as jet, and fell about her neck and shoulders like the fall of shimmering waters on a summer night, and her face was glad and grave. She spoke courteously to all, but ever her eyes scanned the hall, seeking one whom she missed.
In that hour, as the lamps were burning brightly, and a great fire burned in the brazer in the middle of the hall and filled all the room with a sweet fragrance, Fanhal came to the feast. He wore only the travel-stained rags he had worn when he returned with Sanur out of the East, but the Weed of Battle was at his side. Then the hall fell silent, but the Queen looked on him and was glad, and she said, "Now Fanhal, bravest of all the Queen's servants, what may Thoranrai give to one she loves above all others?"
And Fanhal smiled, as he had not smiled since the day that he had been taken in bonds to the Black Hills. Thirty and three times the almond blossoms of Thoranrai's garden had bloomed and faded since that day, but in this moment the burden of all his suffering was lifted from his heart. And he said, "A sword I have, and vengeance and honor have been satisfied. Only one desire yet remains." Then he took her unto his bosom, and kissed her in the sight of all the court, and from that hour they were wed.
In after days they had a son, and he was named Fanhal the Younger, who in after days was called Fanhal the Great. His form was most like to that of Sencan his forefather of all the kings who yet had been or followed after, though his eyes shone ever with his mother's light. And he was grave and glad, and went clad in a mantle of blue and gray which glittered with the dust of diamonds. Of his deed many other tales tell. His like has not been seen again in the world.
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