A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 10

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil u’Zhasaele Zolaemaue be’Son

11. Shenealae, 24,541 - Son
We are home. No other word I can write to bespeak this feeling.
We had crossed the landhold’s edgemark yesternight. Thus we saw the Aelau’s tail within a belltide of morning, which drew me to the prow, along with most any else not at oar. As is wont for boatfare, we came along the island’s eastern side. I watched the landscape slide by and idly wondered whether the hometree of my father’s farmhold stands therein. From my sightstead, we beheld Tonyol’s towntrees and walls show over the fields on the righthand bank. As we followed the island’s bend, the first green sheen: the dome of Father-Hunter’s spire, then the Citadel’s wall-steeples. Then over all, the light-spire at the island’s head, everburning where it stands behind Burning-Mother’s temple.
I fought off tears, stayed quiet, and squeezed my eyes shut. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, and beheld Istae. Wordlessly we stood together, speaking nothing, but sharing thought.
We sidled up to Lowertown’s wharf while a bell tolled our arrival. We got all off the boats, and then tarried about the harboryard. All helms and harness were already shined, and the Shotalashu given fodder. We are a veteran host, unimpressed by the pomp and sharpness that folk hold dear, after our long warfare. I asked Lady Vosaeth what she would have as Son’s guest. She shrugged heedlessly. If she had something in mind (and later I learned she did), she worried not.
Bywardly, Captain Dosuaesh upshowed, alone and arailed almost as a mean warrior: but a weaponkilt and his rank’s neckband outnaming. Wordlessly he came among us, asking no hail, daring no outlay. Yet as one, all the warriors stood aring. Master-Captain went to one, reached forth his antennae, and kissed him. He went to each warrior in turn and did samely. Then he came and kissed my antennae. I befelt two things: ruth and understanding, and was reminded of his long fird-tide at the war. Even ere our warfare and from first I met Master-Captain, I had ever witted his sorrow. He had hinted at it in our talks about the Formian War, wherein he had forewarned to not forelook glory so often bespoken in legend. Now I understood, as he did my rue of the Formians’s slaughter, and also the truce I had made with the foe. He shared my thought: the utter waste of this war’s millennia.
Captain Dosuaesh greeted Voseath kindly and yielded her Son’s welcome, whereat she merrily rued he had not come with us to warfare, and even said Oshis might even had met his match for her goodwill. He forbearingly marched with the archers, and asked me and Vosaeth to lead the host. So we agreed, upsteeded, headed uptown.
At my behest, we had sent no runner ahead. Yet nevertheless, the burghfolk took wit, and soon a crowd shaped and followed our march to Dale Street, and upward through the trademasters’ farthing, and then ran ahead. By the time we reached the Ofu, they had gathered at the Heartyard, including many friends and lovemates of our warriors, who began falling out to greet long-lorn sweethearts. Against myself, I had no heart to chide the breach.
Then from the Matrons’ Hall hastened Lady-Mother, unhosted, and my sisters trippingly trying to upcatch. She waited not at the stairhead but ran down while we rode up. Ere we halted, she unheeded Ess (who had good thought to forgive her upstartness) and hugged my leg. Her antennae shuddered on my harness, and she would not let me go. Softly as I could, I unsteeded, took her in arm, and answered the kiss, letting her sorrowful mirth overwhelm me. I began to weep, too. So strong were our linked hearts that I think others nearby so befelt. The matrons gathering before the doors withheld and stayed unminded, nevermind the breach to couthness. Vosaeth laughed even while she wiped eyes.
At last, my mother grew too weary to hold me more. Sniffingly, she backed, begged forgiveness, and asked what we would. I showed forth Lady Istae and Lady Vosaeth, asked them to stay, and bade the warriors to the Citadel, where they should stall and unpack, and then have the city’s freedom. Cheeringly, Krastaes and the underreeves led them forth, under many merry shouts from the onlookers.
Lady-Mother led us three to her house, along with my sisters and the higher matrons. She welcomed Lady Vosaeth and gave the City’s guesthood, and then spoke she understood we stand in Vosaeth’s dearth, for her help and good rede she had given while in the South.
Vosaeth kissed my hand and answered the dearth was well paid, for Son had already given a gift beyond reckoning. When my mother asked, Vosaeth answered she is bechild from a Son warrior. I reckon I should not be forecaught, for all the lovesport she and Oshis had dallied since Qabarat like monkeys. Still, I flushed from shame, or so I thought, though even now I am unsure why. Now reckoning back while I write, it almost feels jealousy.
Wiselessly, Vosaeth’s news was taken with great cheer. Lady-Mother called for bubblemead, and we drank to her health. Lady Vosaeth shall stay some while as our guest, which doubtlessly shall help build the elder but worrisome ties that bind Son and the Retaea Clans.
Thereafter, Istae and I hosted Vosaeth to the Citadel (though with my mother’s strong word I should bring both her and me back sure and swiftly) where we afterlooked our warriors. We found almost had already fled, whether to kin’s and sweethearts dearness or the city’s idleness. We merely met our underreeves, who forbore watch in hope of their own soon freedom.
Vosaeth and I shared a thought while we clasped hands. At her nod, I told Oshis that, before he leave for our flaghold, he should wait on Vosaeth’s word. When his antennae twitched askingly, she giggled and told that all his hard work had gained well. Then she shrove her bechildness. Gleefully, I watched him stand speechless. Then he laughed. Oshis knelt and kissed her belly while the others cheered.
Her news sparked lively strife, for it rightfully offrailed my housemates’ plans to head to our flaghold (as we have come to name the treehold Erymi took at the time of Remaue’s wifehood). I could tell Oshis was wholly torn, between homefare to Erymi and their child, or waiting on Vosaeth. She chose for his sake and laughingly bade him to his wifemate, and that they should see each other again soon. Then my underreeves left with many kisses.
Ere I underwent the City’s lornness, I got more good news. While at the Citadel, a newling broke rank, ran, and hugged me: Raeonyl my half-sister, who has started her firdhood. She is grown almost tall as I and is filling into a lithe maiden. I asked how she is faring, which she answered right well, adding that she had come to newlinghood with a Shota already bound. She greeted Lady Vosaeth worshipfully and outspoke her earlier wish to join our outriderhood. We left with fine promise to tarry more.
Again at my mother’s house, Lady Vosaeth asked if we would share a room, to which I gladly agreed. We spent an idle noonslumber. I shrive it a heady tide, bethinking that I first took her in arms and laid hand on her womb, with full knowledge a babe is growing within. She gathered with me tenderly, proud but with a softness not meanly seen within herself. For a long while, we merely held each other while she shared her hopes, which tide let me learn somewhat more of the Retaea, whomof I had erstwhilely known but legend and some history. After bath, we found Lady-Mother had bidden a small feast for Voseath’s worship, including my sisters and the other matrons, Lady-Captain, Captain Dosuaesh, the elder reeves, and Lady Istae, whose homecome was cheered forth so much as mine, and along with her kin (her mother is thane in a tradehouse).
Also, Lady-Mother had asked my father in. He hugged me tightly and lifted me off feet, in merry miscouthness that none minded. I told I had seen Raeonyl, whereat he smiled and beshrove that he forelooks her greatness. I answered that so shall I pray, and shall afterlook her. In my father Lady Vosaeth also took interest, and asked his kiss, which he kindly did.
This evetide was merry, though I was thankful it ended early. Againstward, I now sit here writing, for I cannot sleep. I think on my housemates already at freedom, and on Remaue dolefully, who awaits me. I so wish her sight.