As you say goodbye to Korol he gifts Vasana (as thane of Apple Lane, home to several Varmandi clan members) and Erina (as a thane of the Colymar tribe) with ceramic votive images of Vinga.
Heortarl takes you along herders’ trails through the rocky hills and mixed woods of pine, oak, and grassland. There is snow on the ground. Heortarl wears a winter cloak made of antelope hide. He continues to be helpful and likeable.
"Tannis, what adventures have you been on? Where did you get those scars?" he asks.
Old ruins are scattered about in the hills. You see sheep graze alongside the remnants of the stone foundations of a building, herders having made a campfire behind a broken wall. Now and then you pass a pile of ancient masonry, and so on.
After about six hours of travel, you can see a herd of about 100 black cattle being herded by five herders. They are rounding up the cattle for the evening. All carry slings and javelins; none wear armor beyond thick vests. The cattle are marked with the Black Spear of Colymar – this is the sacred herd of the Orlanth temple. A campfire provides welcome warmth.
The herders welcome you with some food (flat bread, cheese, and dried meat) and some wine that has been watered down.
(Vargast, Jareena, and Cara. The other two herders are called Varlanth and Hengall. Please note: these portraits were made last summer when it was warm ;))