A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 19

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

10. Koelae, 24,542 - Son
Today I went to the Shota-barn, found Kaure, and asked her to come with me. After her overseer’s leave, I led her to our room, where waited Remaue with the babe. At once their moot quaked. Remaue stood from the bed while little Lanaryel suckled abreast. My wifemate grinned dumbstrickenly, and took her with her free hand. She named Kaure beautiful. Then warnlessly she kissed her.
Kaure, for her share, stuttered ditheringly. I am unsure, but maybe none had ever named her beautiful. She knew not behavior and could merely stand dumbly, eyes downcast, under Remaue’s praise. Yet wonder overtook when little Lanaryel forth reached a chubby hand and touched her cheek. Then Remaue led her to the bed, sat with her, and put the babe in Kaure’s arms, whereat she could only stare awesomely down at the cooing, smiling little one she held. I feared she might weep again. Lanaryel’s little antennae reached upward and twined with Kaure’s own, and I think she swooned.
Remaue, meanwhile, pestered her with questions that Kaure had no fit mind to answer, until I chided her still. At last and with great withholdingness, Kaure yielded the babe back to Remaue. Then she softly spoke that, if we willingly atake, she would gladly beseech to join our house. Remaue laughed merrily. I nodded and said that on market-day we must bring her to meet the rest of our house. Then I added that our flaghold stands amid the Citadel’s Shota-field, and therefore we should see to finding her a steed. This stilled her, though I read both hope and fear in her heart. I withheld word of my yesterday’s speech with Arae Elderspear.
Then Remaue boldly asked whether Kaure would come to our duskmeal tonight. I bewitted the thick Korashe quail, though she withheld not. Shyly she agreed to come after eve-chore’s end. Then right meekly she asked leave, kissed us each, and left with a bow.
Afterward Remaue could not hush her thrill. She outspoke she wanted her own true Korashe, and I must bring her into the house. Here I stayed her and sternly chided that Kaure is not a toy nor pet, and that she must not so mistreat her for mere idleness. I shrive something in Remaue’s mood bothered me, maybe that she took too much freedom from Kaure's oddness. I have seen what lies in Kaure’s mind, and fear the hurt such blithe haughtiness may work.
Also, we had a moot with the City Steward. I asked her to work with Remaue and find us a house fit for our household’s needs. She answered it is no hardship unless we become overly choosy, and forespoke to draw us a list of likely steads.

11. Koelae
I start here with yestereve. Remaue and I hosted Kaure to the small duskmeal within our room. The stocky Korashe upshowed freshly bathed, but wearing the same clothes she had ereward worn, hair again drawn back in a mere tailknot. Straightway Remaue came, handed her Lanaryel, and asked her leave. Then while I dished the meal (and Remaue quipped it is ever better when outriders serve shieldbearers), Remaue led Kaure to the seatpillows, loosened her hair, and combed it out while our guest played with the babe. Then Remaue braided it into a side-knot, while I overbrought a dish of diced eel, pepperworts, and riceberries. Kaure and I fell to eating while Remaue fed Lanaryel, though I sometimely floated morsels to my wifemate’s mouth.
I could not help witness, however, that fresh bruises marred Kaure’s knuckles, and another lightened her cheek.
While we ate, Remaue asked questions, though happily with more kindliness than she had earlier forethreatened. When she asked of Kaure’s kindred, I shot a warning glare. So instead, she begged Kaure to sing, who began a lullabye for Lanaryel. Remaue’s voice joined hers, and together they sang for the babe, who stood while hanging dancingly from her mother’s hands.
Then Remaue untied Kaure’s braid and let her hair loose. It fell in a silver-green ripple over her freckled shoulders, like Father-Yaro flowing by the bank. Remaue then held forth our hand-glass and bade Kaure looking upon herself. ~Dei yi lindam o se zhehue?~ “Did we not tell you are beautiful?” asked my wifemate.
I watched tears in Kaure’s eyes. Then a sob burst forth. Even with our short mindshare yesterday, I gathered none had ever so named her. She sagged against Remaue, who hugged tight and laid head upon her breast. I came around the mealboard, knelt, and put hand on Kaure’s shoulder. Then we merely held her.
Remaue would not let her leave. Instead, we kept her between us for the night. Sometide later, Remaue brought the babe among us.
Queer dreams I had, wrathful as anything I had undergone back while the Formian War, and sprung from Kaure’s mindshare. I understood them not, though they bothered me.
This morn, Remaue outwilled to bring all Kaure’s things to our room, for she would not let her stay alone any more. I got no forehap to ask what Remaue had seen among her dreams, though feared answer. I had swift word with the barn-reeve, whomfrom we got Kaure’s groomship for the daytide. She and Remaue left to see houses while I stood watch. Elsewise, I sent word to Krastaes to meet us on market day.