Wind At Kusulongo

"Territory."

When Nicholas van Rijn and Joyce Davisson ascend the "monstrous" Kusulongo the Mountain to confront the Ancients of t'Kela:

"The wind went shrieking through the empty dark sky, around the crags, to buffet [Joyce] like fists and snap the banner which Uulobu carried on a lance as he rode ahead." (p. 102)

The wind confirms that the situation is threatening. Joyce says something that she regards as "moronic" because she is:

"...driven to say anything that might drown out the wind." (ibid.)

After some conversation:

"They jogged on in silence, except for the wind." (p. 103)

Emphasizing the silence during a pause in the dialogue is one of the Andersonian roles of the wind.

On top of the mountain, streets in Kusulongo the City are:

"...full of wind and the noise of hammering from the metalsmiths' quarters." (p. 105)

Later, when:

"Silence stretched." (p. 111)

- during negotiations, there was also:

"...the boom of wind beyond the doorway." (ibid.)

Whatever else happens, that wind never lets up.

(And it is howling outside here right now.)