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CHAPTER TWO
The Fiodûn came climbing down their trees out of curiosity when they saw Féoree and Clarentin approaching in the company of two men. They seemed to forget that they hadnt seen Magpie Cattles daughter for six years those male hunters clad in white were far more interesting. Even thought they seemed to be dying to know who they were and where they came from, they didnt ask them anything. Féoree wondered why, for the Fiodûn were always extremely curious. Their eyes were open wide as the strangers passed, but they kept their mouths shut and their hearts quiet. All that could be heard were the leaves cracking under the feet of the four and the whistling wind in the trees.
Suddenly Féoree realized something. A grin appeared upon her face. She whispered to Clarentin: "The trees have been gossiping again. The Fiodûn knew we were coming."
Clarentin smiled. "Youre right. Theyre laughing."
"The trees? Yes", Féoree whispered, "I can hear them too." Inna and Cona were taking the lead now. Féoree wondered if they knew where they were going and decided shed ask them.
"Well",Cona hesitated.
"No", said Inna, but my proud brother will never admit that. Where should we go? We need to address everyone."
"Thats not going to be easy",Féoree said, "but most of them will probably follow us to see where were going and what we will do. Lets go to the forest headquarters"
"The forest headquarters?" Cona grinned sarcastically. "And what exactly will we find there?"
"Not much", Féoree said, "but theres less trees there than there are here. Itll be easier to address a lot of people at the same time. Its where merchants sell, friends meet and guests arrive. Follow me."
Soon they came to a hill, not a very big one, but definitely a hill. They climbed it and looked back. They saw many Fiodûn who stood and stared. High in the trees eyes could be seen among leaves and branches; no movement could be seen, no stir could be heard.
Clarentin couldnt help laughing. "Yl Fiodûn! Ne tûd marán a lien?"
Inna bent towards Féoree. "What did she just say?"
"She asked them why they're so afraid", Féoree answered.
A male Fiodûm stepped forward cautiously. "Tòn marén?", he asked Clarentin.
"What did he say?", Inna asked Féoree.
"Don't you know any Féosonaree?", Féoree asked. "You knew our translation for your word 'tree-people'."
"I only know some names in your tongue. Nothing more", Inna said. He didn't ask Féoree anything after that. He decided to just listen.
Féoree understood that Clarentin asked the male Fiodûm if he didn't know who Inna and Cona were.
"Da fio Dòne ná naranarijn?", Clarentin asked, "Ye alotodarij da fio al da axen sonarae." The male Fiodûm said no more. A female Fiodûm dropped from a branch and landed beside him. "Ya ûm da fio naranarijn", she said, "ol Yûn ná alotodarijn." Clarentin turned to Inna and Cona. "They say that the trees told them you would come indeed", she said, "but they did not understand. They don't know what you're coming for." Then she whispered to Féoree: "I think they're scared because they're ignorant. You know how the trees like to tell riddles sometimes."
"Sometimes?", Féoree said. "They do that all the time. They can be very, very naughty trees if they want to." She turned and glanced at one of the trees behind her with a stern face. "Ná norbár y, al féo basièn mis dò!"
Clarentin chuckled. Inna and Cona looked rather confused. "Why did she just yell at a tree?", Inna asked Clarentin.
"He was laughing at her", Clarentin smiled, "so she called him an old piece of wood."
"Right", Inna said. "I think we need to learn some Féosonaree if we want to keep up with the facts, Cona."
"Why?", Cona muttered. "It's not like we shall linger here for more than a few days. And I really do not wish to understand what those stupid trees are saying about me behind my back. Let them talk."
Féoree and Clarentin looked quite shocked. They wanted to warn Cona, but they were too late. A branch cracked and fell straight down on Cona's head. "Hey!", he exclaimed.
"They understand your language very well, Cona Mornez of Nore", Clarentin said. "They are not stupid. They are the wisest beings of Zeeks. They were here before men."
Féoree frowned. "That's odd", she said.
"What is?", Inna asked.
"Well", Féoree said, "usually trees get extremely angry when someone insults them. I've seen heavier branches fall on the heads of people who hadn't even insulted them this bad. Cona the branch that fell on your head probably did not even hurt you on little bit, or did it?"
"As a matter of fact it did not. I'm a lucky man, I reckon." Cona smiled triumphantly. "I was made for being lucky. I've always known it."
Féoree stiffened when she heard the trees tell her a little secret. Clarentin stepped towards her. "Your face is pale, Lockergartín I'm sorry Féoree. Is something the matter?", she asked in their tree-tongue.
"The trees They just told me something. But I cannot utter those words I cannot dare fate, so I shall keep this a secret." Féoree sighed. "I wish the trees had never told me this."
"It is bad, is it not?" Clarentin looked worried. "Is it something about your father? O, no wait. I respect you and I respect your secret. I shall not ask from you that you tell me this."
"It is not about my father, Clarentin", Féoree said. "That is all I dare say to you now. I reckon that some day the time will be right to tell you I can feel it."
"What do you girls have to say to each other that is too big a secret for us to hear?", Cona asked.
"I am sorry, Cona", Féoree answered in the hunters' tongue, "this is one thing I cannot share. Not even with Clarentin." She looked around at all the Fiodûn that had gathered around the hill. They didn't seem to be very afraid anymore.
"Men of Nore", Clarentin grinned, "this is the time to tell our dear people why you came. But they do not understand your tongue as well as Féoree and I do. We shall translate all you have to say to them."
Féoree nodded and adressed the Fiodûn. "Yl Fiodûn! Ná liér din da basen Norûn. Ûn ûm Dòne naranaraëlén. Ûd már era sala, a alatijd!" She turned to Inna and Cona and said: "You have their attention now. Address them."
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