[Book 2] Chapter 7

  Departure Day on the Steppe

  《Baleon’s Log》

  Morning in the steppe marshes — Inner Steppe.

  Thin morning mist.

  [Fael] Having finished his preparations before dawn, he is holding the marsh’s black soil in his hands and examining it.

  → Amid the vast steppe, this singular black earth gives off a richly fragrant scent for reasons unknown, according to Fael.

  [Serio] (Separate) Staying with the Xaelo family.

  [Maya] (Separate) Staying with the Xaelo family.

  The chill felt deeper this morning.

  The morning mist will lift soon, so we can set out for Xaelo’s encampment.

  We should arrive this afternoon.

  Yesterday, Fael said he is to meet members of the Falconer Clan in a few days.

  Things are starting to feel a little rushed.

  I’ll do my best to lighten his load and improve the quality of my support.

  After finishing their morning tasks and a quick breakfast, Maya and the others followed Neyra to a tent of nomads who specialized in dairy processing.

  There, women were preparing fermented milk and crafting Elba cheese. The children watched closely as deft hands worked, and were allowed to try a few steps themselves.

  But the lesson was cut shorter than expected. By afternoon, they were to return to Xaelo’s tent.

  The evening before, a message from Fael had reached Xaelo, saying he would be back this afternoon.

  The note added, somewhat abruptly, that they must “hurry back to the border between the Steppe and the Plain.”

  So Maya and the others reluctantly ended their dairy lesson and made their way back.

  By early afternoon they returned to the tent. While waiting for Fael and Baleon, Maya joined in gathering herbs from the pasture, used to preserve Elba cheese.

  As Maya gathered herbs, Nivia spoke to him.

  “You’re leaving today, aren’t you?”

  Her voice held a trace of sadness. Maya answered gently.

  “Yes. It’s only been a few days, but it feels as though I’ve lived here much longer.”

  “…Thank you,”

  Maya murmured suddenly.

  “Eh? Why? I didn’t do anything. We only worked together.”

  Caught off guard by his gratitude, Nivia looked puzzled.

  Maya continued,

  “True, we only worked side by side. But still… I just felt like saying thank you.”

  For some reason, Nivia felt she understood.

  “I see… yes, I feel the same. Thank you, Maya.”

  She smiled warmly as she spoke, and Maya turned to her with a bright smile and a firm nod.

  After their words faded, the autumn wind slipped quietly past their backs.

  Though winter drew near on the steppe, their hearts were enveloped in a gentle warmth.

  When Maya and Nivia returned, Fael and Baleon were just back as well, unloading gear from their Swift Elbas.

  The moment Maya saw them, he ran over at a trot.

  “Welcome back!”

  Fael smiled in relief at his lively voice.

  “We’re home. From your face, Maya, I can see you’ve had many fine experiences.”

  “Yeah. I almost feel like I’ve become a nomad myself.”

  Maya grinned innocently.

  Nearby, Serio was eagerly recounting their steppe adventures to Baleon, speaking so quickly he hardly paused for breath.

  When he came to Neyra’s dramatic leap from her Swift Elba, he flung his arms wide and mimed the landing with exaggerated flair, peering up at Baleon’s face, then repeating it again with laughter.

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  Watching the two boys brimming with satisfaction, Fael spoke with a hint of regret.

  “Maya, forgive me for cutting short your fun. As I wrote ahead, we must hurry back to the Plain.”

  Maya nodded firmly, showing he understood.

  Xaelo appeared from behind the tent.

  “Fael. The matters you asked me to prepare before setting out for the Deep Steppe—I’ve made all the arrangements.”

  “Thank you. I’m always placing burdens on you.”

  Fael grasped Xaelo’s hand, and Xaelo laughed as he returned the grip.

  “Think nothing of it. I’ll always work for your sake.”

  The two men exchanged thanks and trust in a way that spoke of a bond outsiders could not enter.

  Xaelo began explaining the supplies he had readied, then led Fael behind the tent to show him.

  Watching their backs disappear, Serio turned to Maya.

  “Maya. Let’s get ready too. Baleon says he’ll explain what to do—once you hand the herbs to Nohra, we’ll go together.”

  Maya nodded, then went into the tent to pass the gathered herbs to Nohra, who was preparing to store Elba cheese.

  Together with Serio, Maya walked to where Baleon waited by the tent.

  In the corral stood Elbas of a color he did not recognize.

  Curious, Maya leaned closer. Serio explained,

  “These are called Dune Elbas. The ones we rode to this steppe are formally known as Alpine Elbas. They were raised by the veteran nomad, Santal—you remember his herd, right? That was one of the four breeds.”

  “Oh… right.”

  Maya recalled seeing this sandy coat at Santal’s ranch.

  Alpine Elbas bore coats of chestnut, thick and plush, warm enough to serve as natural winter garb.

  The Dune Elbas before him were pale beige. From afar their coats looked just as fluffy, but up close the hair was thinner, built for coolness.

  The bright, faintly glossy fur reflected sunlight, shielding them from the fierce heat of dry lands.

  As Maya studied them, Baleon entered the corral and beckoned.

  “You’ve come. From today, we shift our loads to these Dune Elbas and ride them toward the capital.”

  Baleon stepped into the Elba pen and beckoned Maya over.

  “The greatest reason we came to this steppe was to exchange Alpine Elbas for Dune Elbas. These are called the ‘ships of the desert.’ For travelers of the sands, they are indispensable. Just as ships cut through waves, so do they cross the dunes and traverse the parched land.”

  Serio and Baleon shared a glance, then tied reins to the seven Dune Elbas one by one.

  Baleon continued his explanation as he worked.

  ”Leaving the Steppe, we’ll first return to the Plain we passed through before. From there, after a short stretch across the Plain, we enter the Great Granary—the region that feeds the capital. Farther on runs a great river; there we’ll board a boat and cross to the opposite bank. Once we’re past the Plain, the arid lands finally begin. Are you with me so far, Maya?”

  Maya nodded earnestly.

  “You are a bright child,”

  Baleon said with a small smile, then his voice grew heavier.

  “The arid lands stretch on without end—and that is where these Dune Elbas truly come into their own. The first change of scenery after the Plain is the towering red cliffs of a place known as the Forsaken Sandstone Capital. Beyond it the view opens and we enter the Black Stone Wastes. Farther on lie the Yellow Sands, the most unforgiving ground of this journey. After many days across that desert, at its very heart lie the White Sands.

  That is our destination—White Capital, the royal capital.”

  Maya could see Baleon’s expression harden little by little as he described the road to the royal capital.

  When he spoke of the Steppe, the Plain, and crossing the great river, his tone was light; but as his account turned to the arid lands and the approach to the royal capital, it grew heavy, each word more deliberate.

  From that alone, Maya understood full well how arduous the road ahead would be.

  Looking at the new Elbas lined up before him, he recognized anew that they would guard them on the journey to come.

  When the last reins were tied, Baleon called Fael and Xaelo to begin loading the animals.

  Xaelo turned to Maya, pointing to the round tent.

  “Maya, Nohra has something for you. Go see her inside.”

  Maya entered, and Nohra handed him a heavy bundle, just wrapped.

  “I didn’t have much time, so it’s nothing fancy—just some provisions for the journey. I included the Elba herb cheese: the one you made this morning, with the herbs you gathered this afternoon sprinkled over it. Of course, it can’t be eaten the same day it’s made, so I packed some we prepared and aged last year, Nivia and I.”

  She smiled as she spoke.

  The weight of the bag itself spoke of her care.

  “Thank you, Nohra,”

  Maya said, his voice trembling with warmth and a little sorrow.

  “Maya, come here…”

  Nohra drew him into an embrace.

  “Maya, you’re already part of this family. So come back whenever you wish—we’ll always be somewhere on this steppe. And when you reach the capital and see Elba trade goods in the market, remember us. They’ll have been crafted by the hands of the nomads of this steppe, just as you’ve experienced here.”

  Maya hugged her tightly in return.

  Outside, the Elbas snorted, their breath heavy as most of the packs had already been strapped on.

  The way the loads are rigged differs between what the Alpine Elbas carried when they left the mountain village and what the Dune Elbas bear now.

  Compared with the gear back then—thick woolens for the cold and stores of preserved food—today the loads are marked by waterskins and sun-shading cloth for crossing the dry country.

  Moreover, to thread the narrow mountain paths the Alpine Elbas had been packed tight, whereas on the Dune Elbas the loads are divided more lightly, perhaps to keep the air flowing.

  In any case, the common note is the same restlessness in the Elbas and in all of us, telling them the journey was about to begin again.

  Serio tidied the guest tent where they had stayed, carried out their belongings, and bowed toward it in farewell.

  Roro scampered between the Elbas lined before the tent, playfully leaping onto Narva’s head as the boy laughed and chased after him.

  Fael called to Maya, who was gazing out across the steppe as if to etch the sight into his heart.

  “Come, Maya. It’s time.”

  He nodded back.

  Nearby, Baleon and Serio were exchanging farewells with Xaelo and Nohra.

  Beside them, Nivia and Neyra waited for Maya to return, his “farewell to the steppe” complete.

  “Thank you for everything, Nivia, Neyra.”

  Maya bowed deeply once more and offered his thanks.

  As he raised his head, Nivia spoke to him.

  “I really wanted to give you a new Elba-wool cloak, but there wasn’t time… so please take mine.”

  Nivia handed him the slightly oversized cloak she was carrying in her arms.

  “Really? Is that alright?” he asked. She smiled and nodded broadly.

  Between them flowed a warmth that was unmistakable, despite the short time they’d known each other.

  At the sight of the warmth surrounding the two, Neyra could no longer hold back, and she cried out as she wrapped them both tightly in her arms.

  “Waaaah! Mayaaa!

  Don’t forget usss! Promise you’ll come back to the steppe agaaain!”

  Everyone turned at her outburst, then burst out laughing together.

  Crying out like a young girl, Neyra clung to them, and though half-crushed in her arms, Maya and Nivia still managed to laugh at each other.

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