A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 20

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

12. Koelae, 24,542 - Son
Today after short morn-watch under Master-Captain, I found Remaue, who had already met Kaure, Draue, Nae, and Hanos. We who had Shota saddled them from the barn, and together we set forth to the flaghold. At first, I worried how the others would behave toward Kaure. Yet I should not. Hanos bluffly took her arm and started a march-song, wherein she, and also us riders, joined.
About halfway along the ridefare, I asked Kaure whether she tired of walk. She first naysaid. Yet I offered her Ess if she wished to ride. At once I could tell her interest. So I unsteeded and gave her my Shota’s saddle. Then Hanos crowed how he had ever wondered what belikens to ride Shota. So Nae offered her steed Baenu. Unhappily, for though Kaure rode well (and Ess forbore under my blessing), Hanos could not stop laughter ever after he got feet in stirrups and almost fell off. Baenu grew bothered, and at last Nae bade halt and helped him unsteed. I walked with him for the way’s rest, where he jokingly whined my long legs outstrode him.
We came to the flaghold, where we found a pit-roast already asmoke, and Erymi, Tae, Less, Oshis, and Sievae readying. To great gladness, also came Krastaes, his wifemate Theore, and their two youngest children who still dwell at home. To her I yielded high worship in thanks for letting Krastaes fight under our flag. I led her to a seat and gave mead. It outcomes she knows my father’s wifemate Liavil, for they had ridden in fird together.
Then Remaue boldly asked how Theore keeps a Korasha beholden only to her, which made all laugh. Theore shook her head and shrove she knows not, else than it feels right, and both she and Krastaes are happy therein. Wiselessly, we are thankful she lets so doughty and proud warrior follow us.
Bywardly, I took stock of how others were behaving toward Kaure, whose shyness was withholding. I witted Erymi speaking with her, and also Krastaes. This heartened me, for they stand as leaders among our house. While they spoke, Remaue upcame behind Kaure, wrapped arms about her breast, and rested chin on her head. Earnestly the short ~Korashe~ clutched her back.
Then Remaue called Oshis. She bade him come and meet her new maidenlove. In answer, Oshis unminded. Instead, he climbed down toward the Shota-field. I looked to Erymi and asked amind what bothered the burly Korasha. She went after him. I did best to forgo worry and see to our housemates.
A tide later, Erymi came back and kissed me. She mind-boded she had spoken with Oshis and had word, though she asked me to keep mind open and not grow wroth. Withholdingly we agreed and went groundward.
Erymi told that Oshis has held a grudge, oughtful to him being one of the few Korasha who ride. Eyesomely, he was often teased in youth. One of the insults often thrown was that he was misclaimingly ~Korashe~ and not a man, which had overfollowed many years. Kaure’s sight had updredged it. Erymi reckoned he feared that fellowship with Kaure might make him again so misnamed.
I shrive my thought of him was right wounded. I asked whether he would speak with me.
We found Oshis standing against the railfold, watching a pair of Shotalashu bulls dare each other. I upcame and kissed him, whereat he headed guiltily. I asked whether he had sake against Kaure or offthank. He answered grudgingly that ~Korashe~ like her give Korasha a bad name and hearten others to misbehave him.
My antennae reached out and sought mindshare. Straightway I felt his fear, just as Erymi had told, the boldest man I know. I asked if he knows Arae Elderspear. At once I felt him clench, and anger flash, and knew his answer. Doubtlessly he and the hateful Damaya had clashed over her belief that Korasha should not ride. I asked whether he had ever drilled under her, which he answered nay. Then I told of Kaure’s deedfulness, the bloody-hearted choice Arae had given, and that Kaure had forsaken her Shotalashu to save its life. Even with his mislike already of Arae, the misdeed shook him, for I knew how much he loves Tarami his steed.
So I bade him a deed: that tomorrow he take Kaure out among the meadow and help her bind a Shotalashu. If he do nothing else, even offstand and not atake her, he must do this. While he listened, I felt his grudge crumble.
Back at the mirthtide, we updug the roast grubworm stuffed with cheese, spiceworts, and brandy-soaked berries, which we carved and dished with a side of sourworts and grassberry-bread. We sat at board, gave thanks to Green-Mother underneath and about and to the trees overhead for this wealth, and ate heartily. Afterward, I welcomed Theore and her children as worthy guests. I gave her right to call on our help and uphold, as Krastaes’s wifemate to whom we owe dearth. She knelt and naysaid any dearth, but that Krastaes gives his service gladly and freely, and furthermore that our nameworth is all that Krastaes had foreclaimed. Yet she said she would gladly hold kinship with us. I knelt and kissed her.
Then I called forth Draue, Nae, and Hanos. I outlaid they have sworn troth and would join our house. I asked whether anyone would gainsay their fellowship. None spoke against. Krastaes spoke that he had found Draue a good and true shieldsister against the Formians. Erymi spoke for Nae, who had ridden under her, and Tae likewise for Hanos. Then I kissed each and welcomed them to our flag, to merry buzz.
Then I looked to Kaure, who sat with Remaue’s arms hugging while the sturdy ~Korashe~ held Lanaryel. I told I have another to join our household, who comes with Lady-Captain’s good word, and that furthermore both Remaue and I speak for her. Then I named Kaure and asked her to stand. She did so shyly fearfully, under so many gazes. Those gazes I read and beheld some qualm, though they withheld speech. Yet Erymi upspoke. She has known Kaure from the Shota-trade and held her a frank, right, and stalwart groom, and so would welcome her.
Then Less asked leave to speak. He asked how others would foresee our house if we take one whom many deem freaksome. Would their ill whispers hurt our household? I answered from my thought that, if others whisper against us for behaving fairly one whom they have misbehaved, then I should take our hurt as pride instead. I told that I had others whisper against me for my whole youthtide for no wrong I had done. Then I said I had spoken with Master-Captain Dosuaesh of his livelihood and the hardship he had overcome to rise to the next-highest rank in the Citadel, and that we all know the other reeves who forbear him openly, but whisperingly begrudge him as unworthy forwhy he is Korasha. I then named Krastaes and that he is ever worthy of his own reeveship, and though it is my honor to have made him First Axe, I have no power to raise him higher. Then I named Oshis, whom I called the mightiest spear-rider I know. Yet he will never ride in the Game-Trial. Here he answered he never should, forwhy he is not Outrider. I answered back that he is not Outrider forwhy he is not Damaya, whereat all laughed reckoningly.
I added that neither the world nor our lives are fair, though I shrove I had been born with every weal of birth, kindred, and school. I asked what they would have of me to righten their lot. A breathtide whiled as none spoke. Then I said that we have power to uphold someone who has been mistreated more unfairly than anyone else here, for no wrong else than how she was born. I asked them to yield my sake.
Oshis came forth. He knelt before me and said that earlier I had asked him a boon to help Kaure bind a Shota. He would do so and more. He called that we should do as Erymi had put forth, and give her hearth and bed, stand with her, and uphold her against all threat and foe, and that after a year, if our house should prove worthy, then Kaure may choose to stay. I asked all whether we yaysay this bid, whereat all buzzed yay.
I then went before Kaure and took her hand. I bade that she may have us if she wish, but only if she deem us worthy. The short Korashe looked up at me with tearful eyes. Then she hugged me tightly enough to strangle.
The mirthtide onwent with the earlier tightness eased. Both Remaue and I keenly stayed near Kaure, who happily carried the babe and basked in our mindfulness. Remaue drowned her with kisses, until she yelled that with us warriors at warfare, the while had been wholly too long since she had taken a man, whereat Less and Oshis nearly overfell to stand sharp before her.
I held Kaure’s hand and led her to the tree’s upper boughs, where we found some loneness. Half-fearfully Kaure asked whether I have been with a man as Remaue even then was doing. Laughingly I answered nay, though I shrove I have already chosen to leave maidenhood. I asked whether she wants children, which she answered not. Instead she hugged me near and laid head upon my bosom. I could not withstand the want to kiss her, twine my antennae within hers, and even crush our lips Aslanta-wise (as I name it).
Our tryst was broken when Istae wandered upward. She begged forgiveness, but had a question, for she thoughtfully reminded Kaure from childhood, for, quoth she, Kaure had sometimes come into the City with her kin on trade to Istae’s house, where they had played together. She asked leave to again welcome her childhood friend and kissed her. I think it did Kaure well that someone reminded her kindly.
Now I write this by witch-light, while Remaue and Kaure snuggle with Lanaryel between. They were still awake when I upcame, and fell asleep waiting for me.