A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 6

In which Lady Vaeol recounts the seafare back to Qabarat, including a stop at Wicked Nivaea.

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

8. Evelae, 24,541 - Arrival in Qabarat
We have again come to the Shining Gemstone of the Western Sea, after a slow but oddly mild seafare, so ending our warfare against the Formians. Against the whisper-strokes and feuds, and war’s mad mix of wrathfulness and boredom that had marked our trip southward, this northward homefare has seemed peaceful. None haved any more inthrift in strife. Semuane said it best: ~Mizhaoadeni, o’romi eshi kiaef lashuntara dodoshara:~ “Henceafter, let us deal but with unmad Lashunta.” No better deemship have I heard about the Valmaeans.
Our seafare’s highest thrill outcame when a herd of snail-gods swam to surface at nighttide, two days before Nivaea. They floated beside our ship, their shells glowing with coral-fey in dithering patterns while we watched. Our sailors gave wide berth, for though these huge water-Qoelu stir but slowly, a blow could wallow and swamp our ship, or even crush the hull. We stood at the stern while their winking lights faded in our wake.
Nivaea outstood by far the most enthriving city we visited. As the greatest and richest city in the South, and founded back while the Time of the Warrior-Queens, it has been rebuilt no less than five times over its history, as the bed of great Father-Hisyho has shifted where it meets the Shattersea. Our flag got a walk-show of one of these ghost-cities, where the neighborfolk had cleared a path through the rainwood. We stood in the main hall of a queen’s palace, whose throne’s marble dais still stood at the midst, and beheld mosaics of the gods wrought on the underdome, and from the walls, stonelikenesses of the elder queens themselves with their harem-mates. Within the great harbor, we saw folk and heard tongues from Then on Lake Arasene’s shore, and even Candares, who had brought freight over the Sea of Mist from further east.
I caught Oshis watching along the riverside, overlooking a fleet of odd, brightly hued houseboats tied to the bank. While I watched, he hailed another man who stepped off a boat. Shortly they spoke, and then left with friendly waves. Reckfully I turned to Less and asked what betided, and whose boats these were. He answered they belong to the Raumoava, the wandering riverfolk who make their livelihood by trade.
When Oshis rejoined, I asked him of the Raumoava. He answered that his father was Raumoava, whereat jeeringly Less answered he had been a great outlaw, which got a swift blow from Oshis ere I strode between and forbade any further wrathfulness. I offsent Less to tend Tae and keep him from working more mischief.
Then I headed back to Oshis, who had an odd look, and had turned away, looking again over the Raumoava houseboats. I asked how his mother had met a Raumoava. He told that some clans have wandered northward to Qabarat, and some have even come further along Father-Yaro, how thus his father had met his mother, ere he was banned as outlaw. Then he added that, though the Raumoava are often unfairly misnamed, they too came from Lost Valmaea and shared the Valmaeans’ kinship. I took a new look at my Korasha Firstspear, who wontfully does well for little more than warcraft and enthralling wives. Something deeper and more sorrowful stirred within him, stemming from his kin’s tale.
After Nivaea and the northward leg, we have come to Qabarat right at Stormtide’s start, such that we had feared the harbor's income unless the weather broke. Luckily, no storm hindered. Instead, we sailed in under mild, steady rain, unshipped swiftly, and hastened to the Embassy. Her Highness, Lady Nauve greeted us happily and got us to rooms, where we stripped out of soaked harness and clothes. Also, she bespoke Lady-Mother will gladly take news of my safe arrival, as well as others.
Ere we split ways at the harbor, Semuane asked me to come tomorrow to her kin’s household, wherefor I am thankful. We shall have some while here in Qabarat after the long seafare, and ere we head homeward to Son.