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Leading Ladies:
Chieftess Kahvi
The chieftess of the Go-Backs is both warrior and wanderer without peer on the World of Two Moons. Both as diplomatic as an avalanche and as subtle as a blizzard, she is a strong leader for a rough-and-tumble tribe and quick to take charge of those around her. Rarely subdued and always restless, Kahvi’s adventures on the World of Two Moons leave an impression the extent of which is still being uncovered.
Kahvi and her tribe make their first appearance out of a cloud of icy mist, to rescue the embattled Wolfriders. A bred-to-the-bone warrior and chieftess of her tribe, Kahvi wastes no time on their return to the Go-Back lodge, ordering her “scouts to their perches” to keep watch for their trollish foes. She turns and spies the mortally injured Cutter and casually opines, “Hmph, that one’s bled white! Better dump him!” This demonstration of callous disregard for the suffering of others leads the Wolfriders to believe she is as cold and unfeeling as the ice and snow around her. She is completely unimpressed with Leetah and her healing magic, but the snow chieftess relents to the forest tribe’s protests and casually offers her own sleep furs for the wolf chief to lie on, adding, “The great ice wall knows they’ve been stained before with warrior’s blood!”
Kahvi is obviously long familiar with the consequences of warfare, and is not particularly concerned about Cutter’s recovery or for the pain of his tribe’s losses. She also clearly sets a high value on anyone whom can fight well and is willing to do the necessary to survive. This is demonstrated when she points out to Cutter that he “came out of [his] troubles richer by a warrior who hungers for revenge … the best kind” indicating the vengeance-driven Clearbrook.
The unexpected addition of Cutter and his tribe comprised mostly of warriors inspires the abrasive chieftess to launch an all-out assault on the northern trolls who stand between the elves and the long lost Palace of the High Ones. Although the slain body of her own daughter, Vaya, is discovered inside Two-Edge’s vault during the war, she chides Clearbrook about losing her warrior’s edge as the Wolfrider sorrows for her mate. When Leetah berates Kahvi about her heartless nature, the chieftess ignores her with disdain. The gentle Sun Folk healer has nothing in common with the fierce Go-Back chieftess. The ruthless practicality is simple: trapped within the stronghold of their enemies, Kahvi knows she cannot afford weakness until the war is ended; she cannot fight if she is tear-blinded.
The treasure of the armor only serves to emphasize Kahvi’s sheer delight in combat. Now able to casually withstand blows that might have once crippled her, she assaults the trolls with gleeful abandon, no longer even concerned about the goal of obtaining the Palace of the High Ones. Confronting the troll king, Guttlekraw, in the end, she lops Guttlekraw’s head off “just for you, Wolf-Chief!” However, Cutter surprises her at the last. A vicious mailed backhand to his jaw fails to incite Cutter to continue to fight with the remaining trolls, defying her belief that he is similar to herself in an enjoyment of bloodshed.
For the next few years after the war for the palace is concluded, the skirmishes with the occasional troll forays serve to satisfy Kahvi’s lust for battle. Her aggressive attention is eventually focused on Rayek when he exiles the Go-Backs from their home and threatens the life of Kahvi’s latest child. Driven by her passion for vengeance on Rayek for his mistreatment of both tribe and child, the bold chieftess stubbornly trails Rayek across vast distances, including an ocean, only to be thwarted in the end by the gulfs of time. Kahvi seems to never quite recover from this disappointment. Although she arranges a brief raid on Sorrow’s End in a vain attempt to claim a trophy for her tribe, an opponent worthy of her skills and temper on whom she can focus her energies never truly manifests. Kahvi’s battle glee is only quelled after many years when she is forced to kill one of her own people during the Go-Back invasion of Sorrow’s End. While she is aware that it is the only way to save both tribes, she simultaneously realizes how far the Go-Backs have fallen from the righteous warriors who reclaimed the Palace of the High Ones.
Kahvi is a charismatic leader as well as a determined fighter. She has no trouble persuading others to follow her directions and is more likely to lead by example than to send others to do her bidding. Kahvi dismisses her leadership “because [she does] what they expect” but it is obvious that the Go-Backs obey her without question. There is never any doubt in anyone’s mind that when lacking any other direction, Kahvi is unafraid to take the initiative. Neither does she have qualms about taking charge when around other elves. Her initial encounters with Aroree and Tyldak demonstrate a dominance to which the regularly cowed Gliders respond immediately. In truth, her command is only ever questioned a handful of times in a life that spans countless seasons. The Wolfriders’ chieftain, though mourning for his missing mate and cubs, warns her “what you seek … don’t look for it in me.” This alleviation of any chiefly responsibility is no doubt the first since she initially took charge of the Go-Backs, and it leaves Kahvi at loose ends. At one point, a young Go-Back, Zey, attempts to claim the leadership of the snowbound tribe and, while cunning in his own way, he is no match for Kahvi either in combat or in force of personality. A few of the younger members grow bold to her on rare occasion, but eventually the Go-Backs acknowledge only Kahvi as their chieftess—even in absentia.
There have been a few calm moments in the riotous chieftess’ life, including time spent suspended both in a mysterious cave pool as well as in wrapstuff in Sorrow’s End. Her more tender moments include the aftermath of the troll war when she finally allows herself to grieve for her daughter, Vaya, “who, while she lived, never saw her chieftess mother weep.” And, once the palace is secured, it is Kahvi who gently convinces the bereaved Clearbrook to respect One-Eye’s choice. Having lost so many of her own people in the war and previous conflicts, she is uniquely qualified to give this council, even though she herself never took a permanent mate.
Kahvi is as ardent a lover as she is a warrior chieftess. Her fiery nature expresses itself by enjoying the company of many males to whom she takes a fancy. After the war with the trolls is concluded, she sets her sights both on Rayek’s brooding company as well as the necessity of renewing her tribe’s war-depleted numbers. This union eventually produces their daughter, Venka (whose name may reflect Kahvi’s determination at the time for revenge on Rayek as the VENgeance of KAhvi). She shares furs with Cutter the evening before the invasion of the troll tunnels and again as she raises Venka among the Wolfriders. Most recently, by the time the former chieftess leaves the Wolfriders to seek the Go-Backs, she and Tyldak have reached an understanding. Although Kahvi’s many mates may be explained by her flippant statement, “differences make good sparks,” these sparks never kindle into a lasting flame for anyone.
During her various quests, Kahvi covers untold distances and likely has many adventures both with and without Tyldak. Reunion with her tribe, however, does not resolve the restlessness in Kahvi’s blood, and having no enemy on which to concentrate stirs her to continue to seek something more for her tribe and herself. Aside from eventually driving Tyldak away, finding a survivor in the ruins of Blue Mountain (in yet another ineffectual effort to secure a new trophy for her tribe), and revisiting the Wolfriders (in a failed attempt to conceive Cutter’s child), Kahvi eventually joins her tribe once again. This time her return is not fruitless, as she brings with her the Go-Backs’ long-lost origins.
It is clear that Kahvi does not remain with her tribe, however. The Go-Backs, long attracted to the Palace of the High Ones and named for “going back” to it, are discovered by the rest of the palace-borne elves to be without their tempestuous leader. Clearly unable to settle in one place for very long, Kahvi is sought after by Venka who is accompanied by Aroree and Two-Edge. Kahvi’s adventures clearly have a more widespread effect than those recorded. Evidence of her activities continues to materialize periodically even now. Immortal in life, the snow chieftess’ legacy continues to live on even as her eventual fate remains shrouded in mystery.
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