“But they say that those who have already been initiated cannot live outside Dockol-Mo,” Ina began. “And anyway, it’s unlikely that any of the elders will agree to support us… and none of the young ones know the Common Language.”
“Wey-Leya!” remembered Fao. “Wey-Leya knows the Common Language!”
Wey-Leya was still young enough, only five years older than the girls. However, she had already managed to visit Taur, where she learned to speak the Common Language just a little bit in her own estimation. And very few knew about this because Wey-Leya hid her skills.
“Indeed, Wey-Leya will be able to help.” Swaol-Ney rejoiced. “So, we’ll do the following: let us each go to our acquaintances and suggest to those whom we consider appropriate to escape, to start the journey. And we must leave today! At night! You don’t believe in fairytales about the six-fingered, do you?”
“No!” Fao and Ina shook their heads. Although in fact, they couldn’t give a clear answer to this question even for themselves.
“But others believe! Those who aren’t afraid, they will come with us! The others will notice our absence at dawn, therefore there is a chance to run far,” concluded Swaol-Ney.
“It is decided then! We will meet up with Wey-Leya with the last sunset beam!” declared Fao.
8
First, Fao hurried to Nomesdesoldok (Nome), confident that he would join their conspirators’ society. In a year and a half, Nome was supposed to go to the third small circle, so, in respect to the girls, he was more mature. He had a piercing gaze and unusual greenish hair the shade of spruce needles. Nome was a favorite one among peers, and girls mostly admired him. Bright, enterprising, creative, with a special charm. He, out of all people, was the one who clearly was born in some other place. As expected, Nome immediately agreed to an adventure.
For his age, Nome was successful in the art of shape-shifting. He already knew how to turn into predatory animals. The bears and wolves, of course, were far away, but he could easily turn into a fox or a saber.
Fao was very close with Nome, he was one of her best friends. So close in nature, in spirit, in interest, that Ina was sometimes jealous.
Nome did not ask unnecessary questions and did not even hesitate before such a responsible step. He said, “Yes!” and specified the time when they should gather in the Forbidden Glade.
The time was decided – the highest point of the full moon rising.
After talking with Nome, Fao went to Komos. Komos was a hereditary sorceress. She had no equal in the knowledge of herbs and white magic among peers. It was written in her fate to become the best sorceress of Swa-Ioledea. Only the dreamy Komos wanted more from life, and Fao gave her this chance.
Komos, quiet and slightly timid, was not as straightforward as Nome. However, Fao immediately stated that she was not going to persuade her, and that the time for preparation was short. Although it was clear that parting with Swa-Ioledea would be hard for her, Komos sighed and agreed to join them.
Next was Dockomol-Ildas (Docko-Il), a favorite of the elders. He dreamed of becoming an artisan, and his golden hands mastered everything from spoons to the most beautiful amulets. Only Fao thought that with his activity, he was definitely not suited to the life of the Vedichs. At first, Dockomol-Ildas was frightened by the proposal of Fao. She prepared to leave, but the young artisan unexpectedly changed his decision and with certainty declared that he would come to the Forbidden Glade.
Fao was amazed at how easily her peers agreed to such a responsible and adventurous step.
How could they? To live for so many years without changing one’s way of life, to keep traditions, to invent laws and teachings… and then suddenly one event completely changes the habitual way. It turns out that all our peers, all young, even very young, wish to leave! Each of us honors our ancestors, loves our parents, loves our whole big family, and respects the elders. Perhaps, if it weren’t for these harsh and sometimes stupid laws and constant restrictions, we would not want to leave Swa-Ioledea so zealously.
Fao also spoke with Ainurmo. They had never been particularly good friends, but had one common interest – bears. After the initiation, Ainurmo wanted to become a bear, and altogether admired these animals for their strength and perfection. However, he could not turn into a bear yet. It must be noted that, in general, very few of the young could. To become a bear, a Vedich required character, patience, will, concentration, and experience. Ainurmo was also a year younger than Fao, and was distinguished by an unprecedented absent-mindedness.
Ainurmo immediately refused, and Fao did not insist.
The last on Fao’s list were inseparable friends Laol-Jamal and Molaynur. With them, the conversation turned out to be even shorter when they offered a sharp “No.”
Fao even wished she hadn’t entrusted her secret to so many people.
Oh, someone might tell the adults and cause trouble. Then the Valley will stay unseen forever.
Full of worrying forebodings, Fao hurried to Cane Backwater, to Wey-Leya’s house.
9
Born on the border with Nanol-Mo, Wey-Leya came from an ancient family of Reed Foxes and had communicated with the Taurs since childhood. Surprisingly, being a very small girl, Wey-Leya received parental permission to visit the forest of a neighboring people.
And how on Elinor did the elders of her village react to this?
Perhaps that is why Wey-Leya now moved to Swa-Ioledea. Who knows, maybe she did not want to be forcibly returned to her native village. A few years of life among the Taurs will seem to any Vedich a rather strange circumstance.
In town, it was persistently rumored that Wey-Leya knew the Common Language, was strong in the trade craft, and whilst living with the Taurs she communicated with strange people driving caravans from the deserts. What the was desert, Fao still could not understand. Judging by the descriptions, a huge meadow without trees and grass, where it was very, very hot.
And how to live on such glades then? They say that in the deserts, there are people with the skin color of old oak bark, and they ride on fatty elk with huge humpbacks but no horns. Oh, whatever! You never know what kind of fables one could virtualize. Better let Wey-Leya herself describe everything! On the way to the Valley!
As the sunset disappeared into the forest, Fao arrived at the house of Wey-Leya, where Ina and Swaol-Ney were already waiting. While greeting them cordially, Wey-Leya did not hide her surprise from the unexpected guests as the girls crawled into a cozy house made of reeds and clay.
“Do you understand yourselves, what you want to do?” Wey-Leya asked very seriously as the girls settled in. Although not much older than girls, life had already taught her many sad lessons.
“Apparently not!” continued the Cane Fox. “You want to violate the prohibitions that have been honored for centuries! You are going to renounce your families. There will be no way back!”
The girls were silent. “But there will be no life here, either,” Fao timidly said.
Wey-Leya smiled sadly.
“I’ll lead you!” she said. “The elders of my tribe have already cursed me, and nothing will change from the curse of the elders of Swa-Ioledea. But beware, it will be hard! Unimaginably hard! And the punishment to all of us will be terrible if we fail!”
10
Arriving at the Forbidden Glade, Fao was taken aback. There she discovered Laol-Jamal, Molaynur, and Ainurmo, who at first refused to leave Swa-Ioledea. They explained to her that they weighed all their options and decided to trade the Vedich forest for something more. Fao was pleasantly