A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 32

In which Vaeol meets Kazos, the Korasha Clanhead of the Sholasa

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

10. Vealae, 24,542 - 8th Day at Elfring Dale
I akeep yesterday’s log-writ, which I left unended, for much has happened since I last wrote. As forespoken, at slumbertide Tolamad and the Elves came back to our camp, where we waited with the Clanheads. Tolamad bowed at our wordless greeting. He said he had talked with his kin. He shrove his folk had not dwelled in this land since long ere the Reul came, for they have wealthier livelihood further westward. Rather, they most reck wardship of their holysteads. Therefore, he was beswayed to make the Reul a beseech: if they and the other clans can both meet a foreword he would give and also forgive the blood-dearth, the Elves will bequeathe the lands until the dale where the Reul’s main clanhold stands, and furthermore will yield all land between there and westward until this dale, as open hunt-land free to both Elves and Lashunta to use leavelessly. Yet this dale, where the stone ring holystead stands and all land westward shall stay Elven. Then he asked Lady Avaere if this beseech would afill her folk.
I watched Avaere think hard. Weightily she nodded.
Then Tolamad spoke his foreword. If truce be reached here, then all clans must swear to uphold peace against any who break it, and even against other Lashunta.
A chill overtook after Tolamad’s. I overlooked the Clanwives’ faces and witted them likewise unsettled. Lady Karami looked about, and then asked whether Tolamad was bidding us make war upon the Sholasa. He answered we need not make war, but must do utmost to ward peace, and if we can overwin the Sholasa to forsake warfare, then all the better. Then Lady Lavi asked what must happen if the Sholasa withheld to forsake warfare: was he asking clan to fight clan, and Lashunta to war against Lashunta? Tolamad asked back whether the clans here would take peace but leave the Elves to fight alone against the Sholasa. Then for the first time he spoke our tongue: ~O’nae loma thaef heienya, ozi stimi doma!~ - “We must all have peace or none at all!”
I watched the elders while they worried and bickered. I rued their plight. While true that Lashunta feud and even war with other Lashunta, we do so half-heartedly, and surely without the fierceness whereon we curse foes like the Formians, or even the elderyore Elf-Wars when the cities of the Lower Marshes tried to outcast the young Elven colony from Qabarat. I reckoned it a threatsome gambit for Tolamad’s sake. If the Clanwives yaysay, they may become merely wantsome allies against the Sholasa. If they withhold, the Elves may even still offstand better to take the truce here, for thereby they would forelook war with but a lone clan while these clans offstay. It made me wonder again what he is holding secret.
Lady Karami spoke that the Clanheads must withdraw and reckon, for what Tolamad asked is a hard thing. Tolamad agreed, but asked that he get answer by today, for he must know where the Lashunta stand ere the Sholasa take hap to strike.
Right then, a horn blew westward, maybe a league off. Against myself, I upstartled. While the Clanheads understood my interest, Tolamad asked what was upcoming. I told frankly that we had sent scouts to the upper thoroughfares, in sake of unforeseen guests. Tolamad chose to forgo his leave, and instead stayed.
I stood loose, though I sent Kaure to oversee my weapons. At my call, Ess pranced near, whom Remaue had saddled. He leaped and scrambled up the hometree’s beam and found perch among the lower boughs, overlooking our tents. Istae went ahead and donned harness, with her own steed near. All my other warriors were already armed.
Less than a half-belltide later, Draue and her Shota came aleaping, sweaty and panting. She unsteeded, knelt, and told she had beheld a well-sized war-troop coming through the dale’s northern neck, maybe a score, both Korasha afoot and Damaya asteed, and swiftly. Straightway I called all the warriors, bade Draue rest here until Nae and Tae come and together afterhunt us. Then I donned harness. Ess smoothly leaped down from his perch when I came from the tent. I upsteeded and witted that not only warriors, but also the clanheads were gathered, including the ladies’ Shotalashu and their host-wardens. I asked what they would do. Lady Karami answered that, since this enwed Lashunta, we should meet the Sholasa together. So I yielded, donned helm, and led the way updale.
After Draue’s rede, Oshis led the way, for he had scouted hereward. He told the thoroughfare led to a steep slope in the heights, but that warriors must work downward at angle, for loose scree threatened slide if they misstep. He read it would be the best stead to meet them, for if we could reach it first, we would have behoof while they came only and outstrung down the slope. I reminded our goal was not to slay but bring them to truce. Yet I agreed it forelooked the best stead. Bywardly first Nae, then Tae overthwarted our path, for they had heard Draue’s horn and had come from their watchsteads. We welcomed them and kept onward.
A rough half-belltide later, the trees broke, and Oshis waved at a bare slope rising, which he told leads to the next dale upward. Anon I liked the stead. Along with the slope’s scree to hinder their furtherness, a great stone stood at the foot, overlooming anyone who might reach bottom, and arear which we could hide warriors from sight. The rest, inmeaning most riders, could wait under the mushrooms and brush, and easily ride forth at call. I bade we should make here our stand and await the Sholasa while the rain fell softly.
Shortly afterward, Hanos, who hid awatch atop the stone, outthought warning: two bow-riders, he told, were coming downslope. We waited and let them come while the tidewhits crawled. At last we heard clawfalls on scree, and aring our stone came two Shotalashu. Their riders belooked maidens, though clothed moreso as hunters than warriors, for their wore but halters and loinclothes, but no armor. Had they not born small shields and riding-axes asaddle, I would bethink them out ahunt for fade-deer.
Soon as they came beyond the stone, they bewared. Mindsomely I hailed and bade them stand down. Yet one reached for her axe. Against my better wish, I mind-smote her. She wobbled witlessly, and her mate outreached and kept her falling from saddle. Fearfully she looked at us. I bade her ease, and that we should speak with her master.
After the first maiden rewhelmed, the other rode forth below the slope and waved her bow. I looked out and beheld a twelvesome warriors, both riders and footmen, already working way downslope.
Already halfway down came a stout Korasha bearing a greataxe and wearing a helm and shoulder-dishes, the only fellow in their troop with any harness. I dighted Ess out, rode into full sight, and let him see whom he met: bronze helm-fan and byrnie blue and silver gleaming in the rain, and swordbill with etched blade rising high from my stirrup.
To the slope’s foot came the Korasha, and afterward four Damaya asteed, though I was forecaught two were not weaponed. Of them two, one was bechild, and the other even bore a babe abreast. Lady Karami named him Kazos. She also outlaid the four Damaya are the Sholasa’s housewives, who underreeve Kazos and are also his wifemates. I shrive it was hard to unmind the mistwistness this foreshowed.
Kazos leaned upon his axe-haft, a great Korasha easily big as Krastaes, and within an elbow-span of my own height. His helm was crafted in an odd bowl-like shape with spokes arising to ward his antennae. His shoulder-dishes I deemed made of turtle-shell. Also he wore a heavy hide-kilt studded bronze and silver, and a golden buckle-crest. When I doffed my helm greetingly, he regave the beck, baring heaven-gold eyes and a face loftily green like fresh goldsap leaves in Heaventide, framed in hair and beard once blue, but fading. I also witted the scars thwarting his cheeks, arms, and breast, and a nose so often broken it looked smashed. A grin ever held his face, though I witted nothing friendly.
I gave Kazos my name, and bade I had come to welcome him to a truce-moot, but that he had brought too many warriors than right. He laughed, and then eyed me and Kaure, the clan-elders, and my archers arailed behind the stone (who had now climbed atop). He outspoke he had no interest in peace with Elves, and bewitted no reason that a slight outrider and her Cityborn pets should hinder.
In answer, I broadcast to Istae, who waited with the riders under the trees. Together they rode forth into sight, right on the Sholasa’s flank, and then halted with spears raised. I beheld shock overtake Kazos, his headwives, and their warriors.
I outspoke I stood here to safeward the truce between Elves and Lashunta, and would let none break it. I bade him stand down, for if he chose to fight, I swore he would never overcome the Elves. Even if he won here, I warned he would have so few warriors left that he could never war again. Furthermore, the Sholasa would become outcast and never again stand against the other clans. So I foretold their wreck and let that forethought sink in, and let his wrath grow at being outstriven, and then fade to helplessness.
At last he bade we should speak. I yaysaid and forespoke a glade under broad fronds nearby, where we would have room to gather and shelter from the rain. We led the way, where we came to the glade maybe ten spans wide, where we ringed under the glasscaps, our flag and the elders on one side, and the Sholasa on the other. Altogether they tallied about a score. Though they might have more, I deemed our harness and steadship better, and knew my warriors as veterans…
[This daylog entry to be continued in Chapter 33, next week...]