Wind In Ys II

Gallicenae, VIII, 4.

As Gratillonius sets off to face the challenger in the Wood:

"The wind shrilled, sent dead leaves scrittling along the street, roused little breakers on rain puddles." (p. 184)

Dead leaves lead the King to a death, either his or the challenger's. Or so we think.

"...a squad of marines formed a line to hold back the crowd.

"Through the wind, Gratillonius heard shouted wishes for his victory." (p. 185)

The wind symbolizes the forces ranged against him and, against that, is the support of his subjects.

In the Wood where the fight must take place:

"Wind eddied about, wailed and mumbled." (p. 186)

Incessant threat.

When, by the royal oak, the Speaker for Taranis signs the kneeling King and challenger with holy water and invokes the Father God:

"Wind boomed. A raven flew overhead." (p. 187)

When Gratillonius and the challenger, Rufinus, already known to each other, go off alone and converse before fighting:

"Wind brawled, swirled under armour, made the Wood groan." (p. 189)

They do not want to fight. Groaning is appropriate.

When Rufinus promises to be gentle with the Queens and their daughters if he wins, he:

"...traced a sign with his spear, in the wind." (p. 189)

When they prepare to fight:

"Wind keened; the raven, settled on an unrestful bough, croaked hoarsely; fallen leaves squelped." (p. 190)

The Greek chorus of the wind has been joined by the raven and the leaves.

And again:

"Wind blew." (ibid.)

It never lets up. While they fight:

"Through the wind, Gratillonius heard how Rufinus panted, while blood soaked his breeches and footsteps." (p. 191)

When Gratillonius should, by the law of Ys, kill the defeated Rufinus, he remembers that Mithras forbids human sacrifice and:

"It was as if Bodilis were suddenly there in the wind and the wet, Bodilis whom Gratillonius would seek back to as soon as he was able." (p. 192)

Gratillonius extracts Rufinus' surrender and spares his life. The wind brings death and life.