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Meanwhile, the sheep began doing poorly, and blight hit
the crops. Elgane suggested waiting two weeks to see if
Kerenath returned. The community continued to put their
hopes in his quest.
Despite everyone's tears and sacrifices, Kerenath did not
return by the fourteenth day. Havarnstal declared that the
chief had not returned from the Other Side within the
traditional period of waiting, and declared Kerenath
dead.
Hindala proposed that the women dominate the new ring.
Kjarr opposed her. Ellena entered the argument, but Skolli
protested. Skolli convinced everyone that Hindala didn't
speak for any of the deities. "The new chief must
demonstrate their ability to appease the gods."
Havarnstal began the process of selecting a new chief.
Skolli and Vastyr put forth their qualifications. Vastyr
brought his magic plow and his mighty ox, One-Horn. Skolli
said his ally was Hantrafal. Markalor, a young warrior,
stepped forward, and said that he knew Orlanth's trick of
leaping over a wall and slicing a man before he knew it.
Skolli prevented Vastyr from invoking Barntar's magic,
and interrupted Markalor's feat.
The elders conferred, because although Skolli had won the
test, they lacked the regalia to properly convey
chieftainship on him.
Kerad and his company tried to enter Wind Temple, but
were stopped by the winds. Kerenath called out the Greeting.
He was challenged: "Only those with the right to may enter
our tula." Kerad demonstrated his mastery of the storm, and
the group were invited into the temple with full
hospitality. The halls were all impressive, and had roofs of
bronze. The high seat was made of bone. Kerenath asked the
Storm Walkers to help in exchange for sacrifice and worship.
They asked, "Do you know the secret of Orlanth's Ring?"
Kerad gave a good answer, but they said, "That is true, but
it is not the secret. It is not yet in the right position."
Kerenath asked if they would give some other assistance, and
they asked if he wished to stay. Aslandar simply gave his
fur cloak. In return, Vantaros gave him
a gold arm ring, and said he owed a favor. The hall had no
talk of the outside world, but Kerenath learned more of
Narsendor's deeds.
But after feasting, they decided to leave, and left into
bitter cold. Kerad flew everyone home.
Ellena tried to gain Hindala's membership in a new ring,
but she rebuffed her, still smarting from being publicly
humiliated by Skolli. Skolli, drawing on the magic of
Chalana Arroy the Conciliator, reconciled with Vastyr.
Skolli told Vastyr that he wished to form a ring balanced
between fertility and war, and asked Vastyr to represent
Barntar. Vastyr was very pleased. Vastyr tried to gain
Ellena's support, but she rejected his arguments. Skolli
asked Elgane Keeper-of-Secrets, but she declined, saying she
was too insignificant. Skolli asked Vastyr for a
recommendation. He suggested Randella, a widow who was
nearly an elder.
The harvest was poor. Ellena spent all her efforts on the
welfare of the children. But there was still no chief or
ring -- and no chiefly regalia.
The six who'd agreed to serve on the ring decided to
obtain the regalia the same way Varmand did, by defeating
the bear. They performed the ritual, and Kerenath, Kerad,
and Aslandar came flying in from Stormwalk. Since Kerenath
was wearing the bearskin, he appeared as the bear. Skolli
fought him with storm magic, and took the skin, thus
becoming chief of the Varmandi.
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Kerenath's Saga 
David Dunham Page