A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 53

In which preparations climax for Vaeol’s bridetide.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

18. Soelae, 24,542 - Flaghold

Last market-day ere bridetide, and more to do than I willingly wish. Lady-Mother and Remaue again dragged me through the market. Happily, we had Shill to fetch, though it was funny to watch him behave toward Remaue. Fairly he has frog-love, reckoning by the wise his eyes follow her walk and never meet her gaze, dolefully as she wore no halter, and her bosom is so full that even crones stare. Many times she gave him a swift kiss, which grew his already swollen shame.
Halfway through the ordeal, Lady-Mother and Remaue sent me off, for they had to buy secret things. With fuddled heart, I headed homeward, though wealfully the freedom has let me readiness to outhead to the Flaghold this eve. Also Kaure came along. Merrily we strolled hand in hand through the harbor-farthing, the stead of our first moot, and even came to the banyan-grove where we had first kissed. It merely fit that we should do so again.
While she leaned against a beam, I sat upon her lap, and held her head within my bosom. Though we held mindshare and did not need, I felt the want to speak: ~Dei roaes o ezimi-mi valam?~ “Do you know I love you so much?” I asked.
~Stimi eshoni Vatheia tifayela,~ “Ever until the World-Soul enfolds us,” she swore softly.
~O’si dei haerre thayif oyi shiafyelme, oe maeise?~ “And will you hold my hand when I bear my child, and will you be its mate-mother?” I asked further. Here her sob choked words, and tears filled her eyes.

1. Zielae, 24,542 - Son

Remaue, Kaure, and I early left the treehold, homecoming to Son, forwhy I wished to watch templetide. Also, Lady-Mother had ere told, with no unsureness, she forelooked us tonight for duskmeal, for we have more bridetide business. I begladdened of templetide, and the throng singing before Burning-Mother’s tall golden likeness. I was less glad of duskmeal with my kindred.
Away to my mother’s house, ere we reached the door, I halted and spoke to my loves: ~Dei aesehi ithaef mitaere ulinarassere o’li shae veiahe?~ - “Are we ready to behold my sisters behaving like utter queens?” Both Remaue and Kaure frowned and asked my meaning. I outlaid that my sisters had held a selfsome inthrift in Kaure’s sake-trial, and I would not doubt we would hear their outcome. Furthermore, they are plightiest when they show kindliest.
Both Risodess and Raiale awaited with their mates, lovers, and children in the yardroom off the main garth. My nieces’ and nephews first shielded us when they rushed, begging lifts and hugs, which we three too gladly yielded. Yet Risodess’s sharp word brought the throng to mindfulness, as she chided them for behaving like a mobat-pack, and to show me and their mate-aunts some worship, which kindliness forsoothly I had not forelooked for any of us.
Ere any word more, however, Lady-Mother swept in. Straightway she came to Kaure and kissed her. Then she cheered her outwon sake, and spoke she has done the City a boon, for few can tell they have forbanned three such evil men. Deeming by my mother’s loudness, I guessed her words forethought, as if she too uplooked my sisters’ underhandness. My mother’s hallcraft-skill in becoming High Matron showed proven, since my sisters henceforth must abide her blessing.
Duskmeal held forth trucefully, and we tarried over the childrens’ tales and games, since I have whenever canny striven to be their dearest aunt, and which wise Remaue and Kaure fitly followed. I almost bethought us soon to flee free when Raiale hove near and offshed me from the rest.
My elder sister yielded me cheer likewise, and said I must surely begladden of how things had outcome, at which I slowly nodded. Then she thanked my forewarning of Mistress Devae’s threat, whereby she and Risodess had offheaded evil. I almost bade her drop the couthness, though forbore and answered welcomely.
Then my Lady-Sister asked what I had gotten from the sake-trial. I answered she should already know: my maidenmate’s good mind, worship, and welfare. She smiled back and said that I, for someone who had forsworn hallcraft, have lately shown forth skillful. At the next tide I work such a gambit, she asked that she may be brought in.
I asked whether she truly thought our sake had inmeant hallcraft. She answered that somewise I have garnered an Elder Queen’s friendship, some marksome nameworth, and even my own flagname. How could it be else?
To my elder sister I asked why she sees nothing else than hallcraft. Then I headed from her. Soon as couthly, I gathered my mates and begged us homeward.

4. Zielae

At slumbertide, Master-Captain called me to his stallroom. While I asked his will, he told anon that I am relieved of watch. At his word’s shortness I startled, and then asked what had brought this doom. In answer, he read that thrice already today Lady-Mother had sent word asking when my watch will end, and twice Remaue had come by. ~O’dumi os ifaemona yi illathi thada.~ - “Eyesome that weightier business than duty holds you,” he spoke wryly, while shame burned my face.
Feeling stubborn, I went home, bathed, and changed clothes ere I took the long way, up Dale Street, to my mother’s house. There I got a thorough tongue-lash not only from her, but also from Remaue when she came, who had again gone to the Citadel seeking me. I asked whether it had been truly needful to seek thrice each, or easier to merely send word, at which Remaue smarted I would not have heeded against duty’s sake. Our moods got the better of our minds, and we had a sharp striffle and no few tears, ere we made truce.
I think I should have taken Oshis’s blessing back at the Flaghold. Lady-Mother would be wroth. Yet I might have forshunned this whole witlessness.

5. Zielae

I am writing forwhy I cannot sleep. Tomorrow is my bridetide, when all this madness comes together, and at last I may claim wifehood and Oshis’s blessing.
By afternoon, Lady-Mother gave leave from the dress, from the blossom-sets, the dish-shows, and from the latest mealboard seats that seemingly shift at every belltide, hinging on which matron is feuding with another, which underling is beholden to whom, and which trademistress seeks goodwill from which lady (and pays for the boon). Even Remaue acknowledged I had reached my wit’s loss over the hall-games for which we have no inthrift, and stepped between. At my mother’s word, Kaure and I fled back to the townhouse, where I cast myself abed, whelmed my face, and slept forgetfully.
I woke to wifely laughter and slight song, and to kisses on my brow. Over me leaned Remaue and Kaure, both freshly bathed, who teased my slumber. I reckoned the daytide shy of dusk, though the house sat still.
My mates led me to the bathroom, washed me, and clothed me in a skirt only, with laughing word that I should get used to baring my bosom. When afterward they led me to the midyard, I found a light meal outlaid upon the boards, but no men, and no children, whereof laterward I learned the wives had outsent them together, sunderly after Less overheardly bragged of getting Oshis so drunk-besotten that tomorrow he cannot stand (to say nothing of bed-sport), to which the children shall stand as offheadship to such wildness. The song I heard came from Nae’s throat, who intreadingly led the other wives. They cheered, raised me merrily aloft, and then set me on a seatpillow while they outlaid a small bridetide’s eve.
Erymi knelt forth and yielded me a glass of myrrh-blossom bubblemead, and jokingly spoke my welcome to join Oshis’s Wife-Harem, of which she is the head, and also Tae, Remaue, and Sievae are fellows. Here Draue loudly asked what beneeds to become this harem’s fellow, at which Erymi answered one must kinderly be Wifelykind and stand in Oshis’s sight to draw his mind, which takes little work. She repeated her word that her beloved manmate is manlier than wise, but to which Tae added his manliness can do deep and wonderful deeds, nevermind wisdom, which got much laughter.
I got Kaure to sit beside me while the rest yielded me kisses and worship, and also some gifts. From Lady-Mother (who had sent it in Remaue’s care) I got a threadwork pillow-sleeve set, made by her hand, and which keenly matches the bedshroud she had made for Remaue’s bridetide. From my father (which Kaure bore in) came two marmlestone busts: one of me kissing Remaue, and the other of me kissing Kaure, so lifelike and thrillsome (down to the scar on my nose) that my belly warmed. Yet then she bore in a third much greater, which she told is a gift for the whole household: a height-size stonelikeness of Green-Mother to set before our milk-tree sapling, and thereby make it a shrine. Together we set the stonelikeness before the tree until all liked the stead, and the busts on the mealboards so that all could see. Then I drew Kaure down and hugged her near while the other gifts came forth. From our gathered household came a full-height looking-glass set in a carven stand, the fee of which shamed me to think of how much they must have spent. My shock showed on my face, for Tae swiftly answered that her brother is the woodcarver who made the frame, and that they had striven to get a good deal on the silverglass.
Kaure and Remaue then gave me their gift: a myrrhblossom sapling, which they know is my dearest, which we will plant here in the midyard beside the milk-tree, which I like well, since it will weal the house overall, and all may begladden. Then Remaue brought a last gift: a wrapped box. When I untied the scarf, I found it a small bronze chest with lid cast as a sleeping Damaya. When I opened it, I thought it empty. Yet Remaue pointed to the bottom, which I found is false. There hidden I found an opal ring, and a note, which read:

~Di eistrye-sere esirye dozelis.~

[“Do not forget your far-off wifemate.”]

Though it was not benamed, I knew Semuane’s handwrit. I wept when I read it. Yet also I feared the shame if anyone else ever unwhelms it. Though the rest asked me what was written, I did not answer. Instead, I shoved the note back under the bottom, set the ring afinger, and shut it. I gave the chest back to Remaue and asked her to stow it somewhere fast.
I am blessed with our house, these friends, spear-sisters, shield-brothers, and lovers. I can wait no longer for tomorrow, for I have been waiting for this tide for too long. I want to cleave in body, blood, and soul with Oshis, the man I have loved and worshiped, and with Erymi and their daughter. My body has yearned for wifehood, for more than a maiden’s love. And yet a share within me fears something I know not, of what towardly comes.

[Note: fifteen days will pass before the next daylog entry]