dream for any curious Vedich! And here – the Valley! Fao nearly lost control of herself and practically turned back into a human. How much she immediately imagined to herself, after all, there will be no other chance.
Docko, please! Persuade the elders!
“The Vedichs revere their traditions!” Liol-Nomo continued in a raspy voice. “We believe that sending someone from our people to the Valley is unacceptable. The Vedichs, who passed initiation, were created to live in the forest!”
“Then send those who haven’t yet been initiated!” Docko insisted.
After these words, Fao realized that she was completely losing her will. By means of her claws she slid down the trunk to find herself on the ground. Ina followed her. It seemed that her friend was experiencing similar feelings.
“You want to take our children away from us, Dockolmo-Leyam!” Anolim yelled angrily. “The children? Should I remind you of the six-fingered goddess of death?”
“You cannot say that!” Docko flared up. “You swore! And not ‘take away,’ but bring them to the Valley! After all, Elinor is our mutual home! The home of the Eight People!”
In the meantime, the charms of shape-shifting had finally lost their power, and Fao realized they had to run before they were found out.
“Who is there?” Swarod cried out, “Vedichs! We were overheard!”
But the squirrels were already running away, turning back into human girls only at Bear Creek.
4
After catching her breath and remembering the last words from the conversation, Fao realized what a terrible oath Elder Anolim had broken.
The Taurs and Vedichs shared a common history. The Taurs had come out of the Vedichs.
Where was legend and where reality – it was hard to tell, but the legends went like this:
Everyone got very frightened because everyone knows the six-fingered are the messengers of death. They usually come at night in a terrible disguise, but one afternoon an incredibly beautiful woman came. The Vedichs hid themselves on the tops of the trees because they could not defeat her with anything. The weapons burned in their hands, their limbs became numb, and her glare deprived their minds. Then the Vedichs realized that death herself had come to them! They prayed to Mother Nature for death to leave Dockol-Mo, and nature helped them. However, several families left after the horrible woman. They went to the forests of Nanol-Mo, places not as wild and hidden, where people from the Valley wandered sometimes. So, the people of the Taurs appeared.
In Dockol-Mo, these people were first called the Damned. However, it gradually became clear the Taurs did not turn into servants of death and remained human beings. The Vedichs began to communicate with distant fellows, having forgiven them their delusions. The Taurs also supported communication with the Vedichs. Although everyone knew perfectly well the Taurs continued to worship the very death that was named Ayduen!
At some point, again, as the legends say, the elders of the Vedichians decided it was time to save the kindred people from the dark witchcraft. Detachments of the strongest and most agile men went to Nanol-Mo to kill the six-fingered goddess of death. However, they did not yet know what power she had given to the Taurs!
During the time of the worship of Death, the Taurs began to lose touch with nature, so they could no longer turn into wild beasts. However, their physical strength multiplied tremendously. The Taurs killed all the fellow Vedichs who went to free them from oppression. And then they themselves invaded Dockol-Mo and besieged Swa-Ioledea. The city fell and the Taurs forced the elders of the Vedich to swear an Eternal Friendship Vow.
According to it no Taurus could kill or even hit the Vedich, and vice versa. But the Vedichs also swore they would no longer call Ayduen the goddess of death and would not dare harm her. The Taurs themselves also swore that Ayduen would never encroach on the Dockol-Mo forest.
Fao did not really believe in the stories about the six-fingered ones, or even in the existence of Ayduen. However, she knew one thing – wise Elder Anolim had just broken the oath. The sacred oath!
We call them sages, but they behave like madmen!
Indeed, after such words, which were apostasy of oath, a much larger conflict could have arisen!
That way it’s not too far from the war!
Fao hoped that Docko would not allow this and would behave wiser than the elders of her people, of whom she herself was ashamed.
5
Fao and Ina returned to the city armed with an excuse if asked where they’d been. They were playing in the Bear Woodlot with Nucko – which was true. No one needed to know that they turned into squirrels and listened to the conversations of the elders.
Two huge moose grazed on the guest glade and a black bear of quite gigantic size was dozing peacefully. Two Taurs, as young as Docko, stood motionless near the animals. One was incredibly mighty, with long curly hair and a large face. In huge arms, he clutched the hammer handle, dropping the weight itself on the ground. The second Taur wasn’t as wide, but was tall, wiry, and lean. From under his belt a long sword could be seen; on the other side was an axe. Throwing knives protruded from his boots.
His face was covered with a shadow of mild severity, but kindness was seen in his eyes. His hair was light and curly, slightly darker than Docko’s. As Fao held her gaze on him, the Taur noticed the attention and smiled slightly at her.
A Vedich boy by the name of Muolwool (from a neighborhood fir from Fao) ran around huge, more than six time bigger, strangers, and provoked them up with sarcastic screamers. The Taurs didn’t react to it, standing motionless without showing the slightest emotion on their faces. Such were the Vedichs who did not like strangers. There was a shout from the mother of Muolwool, who called her son home.
If someone else was interested in guests from the neighboring forest, he watched them with great care, from behind the bushes and trees.
Suddenly, the bear woke up and yawned loudly. Fao turned away from the young Taur and his younger brothers and looked at the big beast. It immediately dawned upon her. This was Kesho!
“Kesho! Kesho!” Fao screamed joyfully and ran towards the bear, with Ina right behind her.
“This is the bear of our commander Dockolmo-Leyam!” she said as a tall Taur, the one Fao liked, tried to stop her. The big man with the hammer did not even twitch.
But the bear had already recognized Fao, climbed to his four paws, rushed to her and began to lick her. His tongue alone was the size of the half the girl’s arm. She tried to stroke him on the nose. In response the bear sneezed, showering her with a not-so-pleasant mist.
Well, it’s my own fault!
“I recognized you!” There was a voice from behind her, Fao turned around and saw Docko. He was sad and gloomy. But, looking at her, tried to smile. “You were very upset and cried when the Vedichs gave it to me!”
Then Fao remembered the whole story of Kesho. The bear had been about two years old and had already grown to an incredible size. Docko, having then arrived in Swa-Ioledea with another embassy, was amazed at the power of the huge black bear. As it turned out he was also very fond of these animals; only he rode their backs.
When the elders asked Docko what gift he wanted to receive as a sign of friendship with the Vedichs, the Taur asked for this bear. The elders agreed under one condition: Docko should not break his will. When the Taur approached Kesho the bear licked his hand, and then he volunteered to be ridden. Docko rode Kesho without a saddle and a bridle.
And Fao, then very young, had cried. She was sad that Kesho had exchanged her and Dockol-Mo’s forest for a young Taur.
“Do you take good care of Kesho?” Fao tried to start the conversation seriously.
“He’s