A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 57

In which Vaeol goes after Oshis.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

16. Ashelae, 24,542 - Son

A quick march this morntide has brought us from the Dirol Wood back to the City, marred only by Ess’s unsaddled back grinding into my tailbone. We brought him to the stallbarn, where the grooms outreckoned him. We let them regain faith that his wildness will not repeat. In good news, they found him tame and let him eat too happily so much as he wished, which after his month awild he sorely needs. Afterward, we held a short housemoot and reckoned that our readiness forthcomes astride. Tae and Less are already here, and Erymi forelookfully comes tomorrow. Kaure will stay at the Flaghold, where she will take Erymi’s stead and oversee the Shota-field. This was her beseech, for she is still ashamed at her behavior toward Oshis at my bridetide.
After we got the Shotalashu and house-business settled, I went uptown to the Citadel. I found Master-Captain Dosuaesh in his stallroom, speaking with Lady Irye the Elder Wandbearer. At my sight, however, he dropped the writleaves he held, rushed, and uplifted me in an uncouth crush-hug, which I shrive left me laughing and blushing more than insulted. Selfsomely he asked of my health, which I answered is so well as forelookful, and I was right come from refinding my Shotalashu. Elsewise, the ~Komori~ had merely left me believing that my Firstspear, whom I already loved, was also my wifemate, and her daughter likewise mine. Master-Captain atook and wryly said that, all things reckoned, it could be worse.
I then beseeched his rede and asked whether he had heard of Oshis’s doom. At this word he grew grim. After a halt, I added that I deemed Lady-Mother’s deed against Oshis wholly unfair, and believed I must gainstand it. Then I asked his thought.
Master-Captain sighed and squeezed my hand. Then he spoke that, for his whole livelihood under the Citadel, he had held my mother’s highest worship, until her deed against Oshis. He he had selfly tried speech. Yet she had forbidden him. The thing still rankled, though he felt helpless to take any deed forthcoming against the High Matron's mightiness.
Right then Lady-Captain nighmost ran into the room and hugged me so fiercely as he had. I assured her my health, for which she prayed thanks to the Lisses. I then outlaid my reason hithercoming. I told I will seek Oshis, and asked their leave.
Lady-Captain asked whether I have spoken with my mother. I answered we had not spoken since my sicktide, wherein she had been wholly withstandful of her deed, and I had let my anger known. I asked whether her mind has changed. By their frowns I read she has not.
Master-Captain deemed that, so far as he recked, I am still healing after illness, and he surely does not forelook my watch-stand. It is wholly befitting that I spend time with my house, he reckoned, and any selfsome business I undertake in this while is mine alone. Lady-Captain yaysaid, though she hopes that Lady-Mother and I will talk soon. Then with their good leave I outheaded, though awalk through the Citadel I got many folk who halted and wished me well.

18. Ashelae - Northbound on Father-Yaro
We fare away from Son, and I am almost so relieved. While yesterday we awaited Erymi, my sister Raiale came to hearth. She asked after my welfare, at which I gave her frank answer. When she asked my plan now that I am healing, I told I shall get my manlove back. Then I bade her tell Lady-Mother that, when next she would speak, she should come herself. Raiale gainsaid that the High Matron does come beseechingly to a lesser household. I answered a sorry mother seeking forgiveness so would. My sister left in rather hurt and cowardly wise.
We seven have gathered for this wayfare: I, Remaue, Erymi, Tae, Less, and Hanos, along with the two children (and Tae thick with hers) , whomof only Tesine is weaning, and our four Shota. So far, it is an idle trip, watching the land float by and minding the two little ones aplay about the flatbark we have hired. We might easily be a house out for a huntfare or seeking trade, and we have outfitted to so beseem. I have forsaken my Outriders harness and heirloom weapons for a hunting-spear, a stout shortbill against plight, and bow and arrows, with the others samely armed. Our shields foreshow us all as Sonna, though also do our lilts. So no weal trying to hide our birthstead, though we have some forethought there.
Building on my win in reaching Ess by far-sight, today I bethought to try samely for Oshis and so let him know our coming. So well settled upon a bale and with Remaue nearby to watch (she still worries after the ~Komori~), I shut my eyes, heeded still, and sent mind northward, seeking Oshis’s kithness. After some long trial, whether by luck or awareness, I caught his glimmer. Eagerly I sent him word:

~Naeshame.Va si thanama omonya-zhaoe.~:

“I am well. We are coming for your sake.”

Thus shakenly I heard his answer: ~Vua mashanta. O’eriloshi dotemisa.~ - ‘This stead is plightsome. Beware, and offstay.” Then his mind faded from wit, which left me wondering whether he had broken the link or something grimmer had befallen. I told the others, though they had no answer but worry, and rede that we must reach Elahat so soon as canny. The others yaysaid there are endless kinds of thieves and outlaws who could work him harm.
In other word than Oshis's worry, while I reach this logwrit’s end, this boatfare has given me more time to think than I have had since my sicktide, which bodes little good. It has made me overthink the feud with my mother, and how we have reached this sorry stead, against our love. Even with the ~Komori’s sheer bad luck, I still cannot understand how she has born such a thoughtless grudge against Oshis. At this stead, I can hardly believe my mind grew from hers, dolefully since until late we were so near.
Then again, my sisters’ minds grew from hers as well, and we are almost nothing like. Risodess’s self, who loves might, goodwill, and overswayness, is most like our grandmother Efadi’s. From my shyness, I had ere thought myself more like Raiale. Yet she loves goodwill as well, and will do anything to win it. I reckon those behaviors make them good matrons, if not good ladies.
Then there is my brother Devaeas, who chose to go his own way. He forsook a wealthy livelihood as a trade-master, so high a stallworth as a man could hope, in which he could have curried goodwill among the matrons and ladyhood, right as his father had done, and likely could have bred a fair lot of children, as also his father had done ere he met our mother (which half-siblings my lady-sisters have behooved in their furtherness). Instead, Devaeas left Son and became a ~Qoelu-hunter on the Retaea Moors and along Lake Arasene. It had been a dreadful shametide while my childhood, and a blow to my mother’s pride. Yet the more I have learned, the more I worship his choice. Maybe we are more alike. I hope I may forehapfully learn more.
Maybe, though I dread to reckon so , if we cannot earn rightwiseness for Oshis, we would better behoove to follow my brother’s wise: a troop of fierce outlaws who may flee to the Retaea Moors, where not only Devaeas would await, but also my oath-sister Vosaeth and her clan. Yet I must offset such foolishness and forelook better outcomes, for our whole sake