A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 41

In which Vaeol see Kazos returned to his clan.

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

3. Vinelae, 24,542 - 2nd Day Afare Eastward (34th day afetch)
Taiase yesternight again woke screaming, at which we did our best to soothe her. Her dreams of misshapen Korasha and wicked Damaya keep haunting our sleep, along with a sight of being carried through burroughs underground and brought to what looked like the Queen’s Room...
...In the queer weirdloom’s glow, my holders are not Lashunta. They have scales, slit eyes, and no open sex upon their hips: Moqeva. While I watch, one’s shape shifts: its skin sloughs, its flesh grows together, and legs become a thick, writhing tail. Then it slithers away. Within the dream I - or maybe Taiase - shrieks. Then clawed hands shoves me into a box while I kick back, and even my antennae lash at them, which they stuff hurtfully in, as something frightfully stings my arm...
I awoke shuddering with both Taiase and Semuane whimpering asleep. I rose and tried to offwalk the dread. Kaure stirred and followed. She witted my bother, took my hands, and held me near. I knelt, laid head on her bosom, and took relief in her warm heft while she tangled her antennae with mine. Slowly my breath quelled.
This morn, Taiase woke wan. I have almost feared her ill. All reckoned, she has said little relief since her freedom. Whether she fears the things that haunt her dreams or us I know not. If she is whom I bethink, then she may wisely withhold her tale.
She asked me where we go, to which I answered the Sholasa’s Clanhold, which answer she already knew. She asked further where we shall bring her afterward. So I told that therefrom we will go to Noruma, which stands three dayfares further southeastward, and thence, if I get my will, we shall go to Son.
At Son’s name, to my shock, she knelt and begged not to go. When I asked why, she said she is unworthy. ~A Taeile,~ I answered: ~O’illi deanalis.~ “Your Majesty, you must outlay.”
Taiase glared. ~Roaes yere o eame,~ “You know who I am,” she said, almost misthankfully. ~O’distimi shae-se romaye shaere hishere aeadenre.~ “Your queen will never allow another and former queen.”
Heedfully I thought answer. Then I told her that the queens’ time had erelong ended. No queen now rules Son, nor any Lashunta city within this swath of Asana. She stared unbelievingly, at which I outlaid a Hall of Matrons now sits in rulership. I then asked whether she wits what a wealth-find she is: live history from twelve thousand years ago forthcome. Even the Elves are hardly put to match such yestermind.
At my word she stared long. Then she repeated that she should not go back, and her unworthiness. Again I asked her to outlay. After a halt: ~Di shae olladayame,~ “I was not a good queen,” she said. ~Loyoni o veayelme doveasse.~ “It would be better if I stay forgotten.”
I answered that, after what she had undergone and twelve thousand years, any sin could be forgiven. At this word, her eyes bulged. For the first time since we brought her from the barrow, she laughed: a worried, shameful sound, yet nevertheless her first mirth. Swiftly, however, her laughter changed to a sob. She wilted while tears ran. I knew not what else to do and laid her head on my breast.
Today’s furtherness reached over the fell, and to the high ridge’s eastern side. For the first time all Floodtide, the rain has stopped, though I almost hear it still roaring in my ears. We have hung all clothes to dry and begladden in this drought, even if short. Kazos reads we will easily reach his clan tomorrow, where we shall welcome the break.

5. Vinelae - Sholasa Clanhold (36th day afetch)
Today marks the end of our second month afetch. While I have begladdened of this while with my flagmates and am glad to again see Semuane, I sorely miss those we left behind when we went into the Dale, and earnestly forelook when we reach Noruma. We reached the Sholasa Clanhold late yesterday, after a long dayfare.
The clanfolk greeted us withholdingly, and warily beheld Kazos their former clanhead incoming peacefully with Elves. Furthermore I reminded they have no strong wont for peace with even other Lashunta. Also, I reckoned Kazos might deem me a shame: the Damaya who had beaten him at lone fight-trial, Beside me now he must sit among his warriors who had witnessed his downfall. The plighty thought overtook me as we inrode among the Sholasa warriors and clanfolk. Even with our Shotalashu and weapons, I would bet us slight odds winning free of a fight. Kazos could offtake us: me, the Elves, Semuane, and our warriors in a fell stroke. With the other Lashunta clanheads gathered at Noruma, he might overtake them with another swift and sure raid, which would leave him lone master of the Highland Clans and free to make warfare on the Elves however he may wish.
With such thought chilling, I watched Kazos go to his three headwives here, where they bowed heads together, doubtlessly mind-sharing rede. I did likewise and forth called to Semuane, Krastaes, Oshis, and Kaure, to beware and ready. We riders stayed asteed. I sat Ess with hand on my swordbill, and prayed my inkling wrong.
Kazos and the headwives came near. He called all the clanfolk to gather. Then he outspoke that, as they already knew, I had fairly won his truce, and he would hold his sworn word. He said it forelooked they shall have peace with the Elves, and that in a few days we shall leave work Noruma to deal this bargain. He then told why he had changed mind and would seek peace.
Kazos waved westward. He deemed that henceforth the Sholasa shall never go beyond the fell, and also should forbid any other Lashunta, and furthermore shall never go underground again. He outlaid the barrow they had ere reft was the elder lair of the Moqeva, which led into the earth’s depth, and they should do nothing else to wake any evil lurking underneath. Now they knew the truth why the Elves had forbidden the Dale. ~Ti ollaeli Elaura thaya~ - “The Elves may welcomely keep it,” bade he.
Then Kazos called forth Damyane his eldest daughter, who had followed us to the Barrow and here. Her father said that she is a wife full grown, and that the time comes for her to become clanwife and lead the Sholasa, which shall so befall when she bears a child. By her upriseship, he outlaid he would have the other clans see the Sholasa as worthy, and not as wild heathens. Then, in a dear beck, though I think it cost his pride, he knelt before Damyane and kissed his daughter’s belly.
The clanfolk’s cheering buzz relieved me, for I had worried their faith to Kazos would stay onward, and whatever word he had forespoken would be a sham. Yet their heartiness told they love Damyane, and even if Kazos outholds some rank, she will have power with her housemothers’ uphold. I also thought on the foreword that she must have a child, and whether she has a manlove forechosen. Then I reminded her making frog-eyes at Oshis back when we came to the Barrow. That thought unsettled me.
Lastly, Kazos took forth a milk-bowl and yielded it to us in shift. I drank and praised him as a clanhead who had worthily led his folk. When he gave the bowl to Tolamad, the Elf took it. He shrove he had wrongly held ill thought of Lashunta, and named Kazos a fierce foe, but fair, and thereby the Sholasa may become the strongest ally. He drank deeply from the bowl, and then set hand on Kazos’s shoulder. A breathtide the Sholasa beheld this trucetide between their war-leader and an Elf. Then a new buzz started: their blessing of the deed.
Of Taiase, Kazos merely said she came with the Elves, which I deem wise, for among these rough folk it might be better that she have no link to the Moqeva Barrow. The clanfolk happily atook her as ~Qabarate~ along with Lady Semuane, with no other thought that she speaks only Elvish, though I heard the misname Qabarat Elf-lover whispered at least once).
We were brought to a treehouse, where we made early night. Today, after rede, we have chosen to leave tomorrow for Noruma, which gives us this day to rest.