A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 13

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

18. Shenealae, 24,541 - Son
While I came through the Harbor-Farthing, I behappened through a lane, where I witted a Damaya sitting against a wall, a tawdry bag set aside and holding a child. Something utterly ruthful bestruck me of their steadship, and I wondered if they were homeless. I slowed stride, bethinking I might behold their plight and even foreyield help.
Right then the wife looked upward. I knew her face: Sievae, who had been bow-rider under my first sith. She had left after our homecome from El and Qabarat, foreguessably to her kindred, and also bechild, whom I guessed was playing beside her. Ere thought, I knelt and took her hand. She blinked shakenly, and then wept while she bowed over my hand.
Brokenly amid sobs, I got her tale. After her firdhood’s end, Sievae had gone to her kindred. Yet their ties had misdrawn, in no small share forwhy her mother had misliked Sievae bearing home a babe whose father she knew not. After a dreadful strife she had left. She had chosen not to seek a farmhold lot forwhy she fits unwell to the livelihood, and so had wandered to the freeholds north of the City, though there found only hardship. So she had come to the City, begging milk from farmholds they betrod along the way, in hope of finding groomhood.
I again beheld her as the bow-rider who had followed my first reeveship. Then I looked at the child, a small but spry boy with dun skin and bold eyes, and witted Oshis’s likeness.
I led her to the Citadel, though she quailed to come. Straightway, I found the hallreeve and outlaid the steadship: here stood a fird-veteran wantsomely befallen and a child hungering as well. She agreed to find a berth in the stockroom, though she warned that other beheedship must be made. I thanked her and got them stowed.
Then I sought Erymi. I shrive that, while I went to my wifelove and housemate, I began to else-guess myself. I reminded we had had some strife when Sievae’s bechildness was first heard, dolefully as to whether Oshis or someone else was the father. Reckoning by the child’s look, I deemed that question answered. What outstays, however, is whatever ill will may lie among Sievae, Oshis, and Erymi. I had a wit that Erymi had not mis-held her manmate for his dallyship with the other wife, but wondered instead that she had deemed Sievae reckless in bedding many men and not tracking her child’s father. Misluckily, she was still back at the Flag-hold. So I got leave to ride out and reached the hold-tree by fore-eve, when I rode Ess into the underyard, and hailed the tree.
Erymi shortly outcame onto the deck. Soon as she neared, she felt something was wrong.
I told her I had found Sievae and her child homeless on the street. To Erymi’s lief, her first word was whether they were well, which I yaysaid. I then asked what we should rightly do for them. Erymi weightily answered that she knew Sievae, had deemed her a good warrior, for she had ridden under Erymi, and held her no ill will. Erymi had known Oshis was sleeping with her, though also with other men. Yet Sievae had asked Oshis to stand as her babe’s father, against that truth. He had withheld, which had made hefty strife between.
I outspoke that Sievae’s boy looked cannily much like Oshis, and could readily believe him Oshis’s son. Erymi took this news evenly, and then said that, if the child is Oshis’s, then he has a shirkless dearth.
I read her while she reckoned his news, and then leaned forward and kissed her. Soon as our minds touched, I beheld her worry: not only Oshis’s likely behavior, but also the heedful happendom that two other wives now in the city both bear her manmate’s children. She was overwhelmed. I gave her some while, and then spoke that, whatever she choose, I will uphold. She shortly sobbed and hugged me near. Then she spoke she would come tomorrow to the city and meet Sievae herself.
Witholdingly I came home tonight, unleastly from the nighttide, but also worried to leave Erymi alone. She bade me reck not, however, and I came to my mother’s house almost at midnight. Remaue earnestly waited, and I told her all. She held me tightly and deemed I had rightly done. Then she led me to bed, beside Lanaryel’s cradle, and laid my head on her breast.