In the time when humans first came to the region now known as the Silver Marches, this land was covered by a much larger forest that was inhabited by tribes of wild elves. The nearby moors were home to a clan of semi-nomadic, riders known as the Iorai. Even though the two peoples were not friends, the elves and the humans co-existed peacefully. The Leader of the Iorai, Turiew, was handsome and strong. The elves had no single ruler, but they revered the guardian of their forest - a unicorn named Iriandell, thought to be a servant of the Lurae herself.
One early summer day, Turiew was hunting in the woods. There he met Deleflin, a beautiful lady of the elven tribe. She was riding the noble Iriandell, which immediately bolted out of Turiew's sight. However, that brief encounter was enough for the human and the elf to fall in love.
For months, the two lovers saw each other only from afar, for their races were forbidden to mingle. The sylvan elves distrusted the Iorai, and Turiew's duty was to marry a woman of his people.
With autumn came a horde of barbarians, the Sya-Negan. They were cruel humans whose blood, it is said, was tainted with that of orcs and ogres. The Sya-Negan rode horses and giant wolves. Their leader, Tamarch, was said to be a powerful sorcerer and warrior. He wanted to drive out the Iorai, pillage their supplies, and spend the winter in their territory.
Even though they were outnumbered, Turiew and his people prepared for battle. Tamarch challenged Turiew to a chieftains' duel to decide which people should leave the land. Turiew accepted the challenge despite rumors that Tamarch was invulnerable to mundane weapons and that no horse could approach him without taking fright. In the meantime, the elves had decided not aid the Iorai, knowing that within their forest they would be safe from the Sya-Negan.
Deleflin and Iriandell decided that they should aid the Iorai. The elven lady, a priestess, begged her gods to give Turiew a suitable weapon and a fearless horse. Deleflin was granted the power to transform Iriandell; she took away the unicorn's horn and turned it into a magic, silver-tipped spear. In the same instant, the unicorn was transformed into a strong, gray-maned horse. The chaotic elven gods established one condition: if the spear and horse remained separated for more than five days, they would remain so for centuries to come.
Turiew was given his mount and weapon with a warning to return in five days. He said his goodbyes to Deleflin and went to confront Tamarch.
The duel occurred at dawn. Turiew's steady mount was not frightened by Tamarch's presence and charged the barbarian chief. After a brief fight on horseback, both riders fell to the ground. Combat continued until the exhausted Turiew pierced Tamarch's chest with a fatal thrust. Tamarch died, but not before striking a final blow with his poisoned knife. Thus, both chieftains lay on the ground, facing death.
The Sya-Negan immediately attacked the Iorai, and a great battle ensued. The outnumbered Iorai fought bravely, but were soon overcome and slaughtered by the barbarians. Turiew's spear remained on the battlefield and was captured by the victors. His horse fled toward the northern woods.
The Sya-Negan burned the corpses of their enemies and buried their own dead. Through the cold winter, they covered the core of their fortified camp with earth an stones, raising an enormous barrow over their chieftain's mortal remains and treasures. The lengthy work was finished by the following spring when the barbarians left the land.
Deleflin sunk into despair. Her beloved Turiew was dead, and Iriandell's spirit was torn from its body. The five-day limit to reunite spear and horse had elapsed. Some courageous elves who attempted to recover the spear from the watchful Sya-Negan were slain. Deleflin's prayers to the elven gods went unheard, and the divine gifts turned into a curse. Finally bent by guilt and sorrow, Deleflin left this world.
Little is known about the horse that was
Iriandell. Some say, it simply vanished that day only to reappear
when the time for its restoration had arrived. Others say that, now
and again, travelers along the Rauvin Vale have glimpsed a lone gray horse
wandering and waiting.
© Copyright Maryrita Steinhour, 2002, 2003.