Part 9: Of Contest and Wisdom
Now there was among the Relerili one skilled in writing and in arts and in all forms of weaving, and his name was Ifthril. His dwelling was across from the garden of Loros, and it was a great hall, filled in every wing with scrolls and books and tapestries, but these were essays in his skill, and were not yet brought to their full beauty, and of the books nigh all were empty, for he foresaw with wisdom the need to bind them ere he would need them.
He it was that wove the great and many robes of the relirili, and beautiful were their forms. For Ralein was the golden vestment, to match both his fire and the light of Erel. Relfen bore robes of silver, Vurel the silver star being his own, which he made last of all. Green robes were made for Loros, under the garden light of Lorel.
The star Xirel, being good to sing and speak under, belonged to Xivael, and he was good friends with Ifthril, and had his dwelling close to his. Therefore his robes were made pale, but something of each color was in them, chiefly of a hue similar to yet unlike both green and blue, and the mingling of them was as the mingling of musics.
Vadel desired a star of his own, and bore Derel upon a tower, its light a firm orange, and so were his robes, and they were embroidered with the blue paths of the rivers he traversed. Zhedren bore the black garment, to match the deep light of Zhedrel, the like of which was not like any other, and his robe was adorned with those beautiful stones he had taken out of the land, and in appearance he was like unto the black Lathani.
For Meros and Reva, of whom something will now be written, robes of red and violet were woven.
Now Meros was of all the relirili the most skilled in physical prowess, and none could best him in any contest except Zhedrel, who was strongest of their kin. His principle dwelling was upon the plains of Vithanth, and he won easily any race upon flat ground, for he was swift in his footing, and could throw great distances, and perform any feat with skill exceeding all others, once he had mastered it. His star was Merel, and shone red upon his stadiums.
Reva, not the least among his brethren, was last to take a name, and besides Relfen the last to bear a star. His talent was in hidden and secret things, and always his mind was towards what was yet to come. He spent much time in contest with Meros, and would at times find ways to defeat him in some new physical combat, but never more than once in whatever way was invented. As for himself, he took great delight in the making of plans, and scarce could he be outwitted, and in like manner to Meros he could not be laid low twice in the same style. His star, Relva, and robes were both a shimmering violet, and his dwelling was as a towering fortress upon a hilltop.
Ifthril himself bore new robes in every passing generation, but liked best those clothings of the sheer blue sky, and this also was the color of his star Ifthrel.
Now these are the dwellings of the relerili, and so ends this account.
