The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Read Free Book Online Page A

water  which announced the arrival of the Kuyumai Aodil. “Womotomaj sailed throughout all the Drowned World, dealing his wares and hoping to find one who would advise him on how to win Svalen-Tu.” A figure that was a combination of human and otter rose in the ripples, his laughing face turned upward toward the boat. “In those times Kuyumai were more plentiful than they are now, and Aodil was the leader of more than a hundred of his kind. He asked Womotomaj what he could do to help the son of Hyneimoj, and Womotomaj said that he wanted only the love of Svalen-Tu, and he would be the most fortunate of mortals. The Kuyumai Aodil found this an amusing situation for the son of such a goddess as Hyneimoj, and said so, whereupon Womotomaj felt renewed purpose. He asked the way to Zegul-Gnax, the largest island in The Tail, to the home of Ihntof, the palace-master, who had built great castles and palaces throughout the Drowned World. Long ago, Ihntof had been Womotomaj’s finest pupil, and now Womotomaj needed his help.”
    The Kuyumai Shadow led the ship and Womotomaj a complicated voyage among the many islands that rose and vanished as the boat with its single occupant and the Kuyumai approached and passed them. The Shadow-ship sped along the spectral coasts Erianthee conjured up, the Kuyumai Shadow continuing to lead the vessel. Finally a long string of islands appeared, three of them showing great fortresses and castles on them, and one – the central one – topped by a grand palace with domes and cupolas and glistening turrets.
    “They had reached Zegul-Gnax, and the Kuyumai, in deference to Ondirpich, promised he would return again and guide Womotomaj back to his beloved.”
    Womotomaj stepped ashore, and summoned Inhtof to his side; a new figure appeared, as tall as Womotomaj, but much bulkier. This was Ihntof, the palace-master, a truly imposing figure. “Ihntof and Womotomaj consulted as they climbed to the splendid palace, where Ihntof agreed to create a new palace for Svalen-Tu on the near-by island of Tushan-Loz where Womotomaj could court Svalen-Tu unhampered by the world. They fixed their agreement, and Womotomaj summoned the Kuyumai Aodil to guide him back to Tirin-Dzur.”
    The Shadows continued their play, showing how Womotomaj disguised himself as he presented himself to Svalen-Tu as a petitioner from Ihntof, who was known throughout the Drowned World, and the Five Worlds as the greatest builder on the Great World. Womotomaj convinced Svalen-Tu to accompany him, which she did, in spite of the warning song of Kuyumai Aodil, who, with the aid of Ondirpich, guided their ship to The Tail and to Tushan-Loz, where Ihntof had built a palace made of Womotomaj’s magic, and capable of changing itself to accommodate her every whim. There were gardens that delighted all the senses in which marvelous creatures roamed, when birds sang and fountains perfumed the air, where rare fruits grew in plenty, and where even the insects were completely benign. There were grand halls and small rooms delicate as jewel-boxes, with all manner of things to delight her. There Womotomaj laid determined siege to Svalen-Tu, presenting himself to her in a number of forms” – a series of heroic figures rose and vanished on the surface of the table – “until he hit upon the one that Svalen-Tu could not resist, and then he made her his captive, his most dedicated love, for she believed he was not Womotomaj, but Rathmei-Ur, her first love, who was said to have drowned off Liriz-Zai.
    “And so on, and so on,” whispered Dinvee again. “Everyone knows the story. No need to drag it out.”
    Since Erianthee had been at Court before, loud comments no longer distracted her, and she continued with how Womotomaj, having won Svalen-Tu in his guise made the most of his conquest: he lay with her in every gorgeous room of the palace, dedicating one room to kissing, one to caresses, one to their nakedness, and one to their pleasures when their