A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 52

In which Vaeol witnesses Kaure getting her day in court.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

15. Soelae, 24,542 - Son
Today I got leave from Master-Captain to shirk watch, to stand with Kaure at her sake-trial. Remaue and I went with her to the Matrons’ Hall, where we wore our best bodyshrouds, and I my jewel-harness, for her worship. Oshis, Less, and Hanos all beseeched to come too, which we gladly let. Here I read some kithness-bond among them and Kaure, whom after our fetch to the Highlands they have wholly ataken. Also, though I reckon our house’s Korasha among the city’s best, even they bear witness to times when they have felt unfairly behaved, rightly as we believe our Kaure has undergone. The other wives, who held watch in our stead, offsaw us with their blessing.
At the stairs Lady Eanyl greeted and led us inside. While we waited for the law-deemers and clerks to gather, she stood us behind her stead before the doom-bench. To our glee, Lady Taiase and Istae, incame and clove us arear with kisses.
Then I felt Kaure tighten. We saw the three: Maeoras, Loeas, and Oshoraeas, who came with their law-speaker Lady Raume. The three stood arear her and and had the boldness to glower at Kaure. I put on my queenliest glare until they lowered. I also witted Mistress Devae standing at the hall’s rear, and also my sisters, though not together.
The law-deemers incame - Lady Aesil, Lady Solori, and Lady Nomi - elder matrons, who took the doom-bench. They called forth the law-speakers and asked the sake. Lady Eanyl read the sake is banhood against the three benamed, for guilt against Kaure-Loe uth’Isye Ravaeolmaue, which rightly should be outstretched over the City’s reaches.
Then Lady Raume quoth that Kaure as the outspeaker has no right to ban, forwhy Kaure is not Damaya. Here I reckoned would unfold their dreadest claim. Yet Lady Eanyl answered that Kaure is Wifelykind, and thus her right upholds, to which the other law-speaker said that the law names Damaya dolefully, and not Wifelykind, back to which Lady Eanyl quoth that Damaya in the law’s rede is understood to mean Wifelykind, and so back and forth their striffle went.
From the doom-bench, Lady Aesil asked where in the law is written that only Damaya, and not Wifelykind, hold ban-right. Lady Raume answered this is no whit of written law, but of tradition. The deemer then asked that, if the ban-speaker has a womb, why should she not have the right? Here Lady Raume answered that neither law nor tradition were meant for such unwholesome, misborn freaks as ~Korashe~ or ~Damayas~, who rightfully hold no stead within the cityfolk.
Kaure cringed. On both sides, Remaue and I squeezed her hands. I gathered us, inmeaning Oshis, Less, Hanos, and even Taiase and Istae arear, into war-mind. Together we gave Kaure our strength and will to uphold against such evil words.
Meanwhile, Lady Eanyl outquoth Kaure has served the City and done her firdhood, and thus has the right to stand within walls and wards. She asked the law-deemers whether, if Kaure bore a child, would her motherhood and babe bear any less weight than one born by a Damaya mother? Here the deemers grew uneasy. Though they gave no outward tell, I guessed they had gone into mind-share, where they read sunderly together.
Then from the doom-bench Lady Solori spoke that these words have more to do with philosophy than tradition, right, or law, and asked which philosophy inshapes this rede? Straightway Lady Raume leaped at the forehap and told that Master Aramuss had written in the Ninth Yearthousand that ~Korashe~ and ~Damayas~ should be offcut from the folk and, if needful, even slain.
At first, our law-speaker was taken aloss. Yet then Taiase outthought to me, at which I outreached Lady Eanyl and drew her into our war-mind. It was rather funny when the matron stood sharp, as if once again upon the drill-field as she had ridden in maidenhood. Yet then she spoke with the words Taiase gave: Master Aramuss was banned from our City, told she, himself for striking a Damaya, the same sin against which he had preached in the same work he had spoken against his so-benamed freaks. Furthermore, Master Theiss in the Tenth Yearthousand had outspoken for ~Damayas~ and ~Korashe~ freedom by kind. Green-Mother’s blessing lies not within the breast or limbs, she outlaid, but within the womb, which may bear right so cannily, and thus falls under the gods’ gift and the folk’s ward.
The three law-deemers looked to each other. Then Lady Nomi outquoth they deemed that Kaure has true standing as Wifelykind, and that therefore her ban-right and sake shall stand. Relief overwashed us, and I almost sang aloud to Burning-Mother in thanks.
They then asked what witness would be given for the sake. Lady Eanyl outspoke Kaure would witness herself in mindshare. Next, the deemers asked Lady Raume what witness the three outnamed men would offer.
A long breathtide the law-speaker halted. Then Lady Raume shrove they would give no witness. I watched the deemers frown, for such witness-lack misforbodes.
Then they asked Kaure to come to the doom-bench. Haltingly she rose, and only with goad unlinked herself from our hands and minds. Almost as if she faced her own doom, she went to the bench. The deemers stood, gathered with her, and laid their antennae with hers.
Then ashock their eyes snapped open. ~Kezhara o’illi hovearya,~ - “The curse shall stand,” they deemed, in one voice:” ~Oe Kolamara komara kaoavya,~ - “and shall overreach the whole City.” Then they outlaid the rest that the three shall have tonight and tomorrow’s daytide to settle business, and then must leave Son by tomorrow’s nightfall, and then leave its neighborlands, inmeaning all beholden towns and treeholds by aftermorrow. ~Oe sholyelas stumuea neadenya, o kola stama-mei, oyi ve o’kanodi vi halaeim!~ - “And if they are found anywhere within, and with any tcityfolk, we shall so likely slay them ourselves!”
At this doom-word, we thrilled, for it was all we had forehoped. I could hardly withhold Oshis, Less, and Hanos as a wicked glee overtook, and they almost brunted forth uncouthly to strike the guilty men. Then we rushed to Kaure, who stood sobbing sickly before the bench (whence the three elder matrons hastily left as if fleeing something filthy, and I think were even shaken at their own wrathfulness), while I half-witted my sisters outheading. An inkling I had that they might work something ill, but then shoved the thought aside for my maidenmate’s welfare.
We hosted Kaure to home, where we eased her sorrow (which even the three outlaw’s fordoomed guilt has not softened),and then kissed her to sleep. Remaue and I left her with Lanaryel snug within her thick breast and withdrew to the garth, where my wifemate held my hand to her bosom. We knelt and hugged together on the moss, head on head. Remaue spoke that she understood the law-deemers’ wrath and why they had threatened death to the three outlaws. She outspoke that they had done to Kaure cut at the Lashunta soul. Then she looked at me and asked whether I would bedeem ill if she slew one of those Korasha. Ruthfully I held her mind and said I hope they leave swiftly, so that we need never reckon that deed.