A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 66

In which Vaeol reckons her place within the city and takes full opportunity as her household continues departing northward.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

14. Evelae, 24,542 - Son
Early daytide. At foredawn Tae, Draue and her two sons, and Sievae with her son left northward, along with Krastaes. They will easily reach Hivaea in three days, where they will join Erymi, Remaue, and Less. This leaves me, Kaure, and Nae at the townhouse, and makes us feel small. Happily, Taiase, Istae, and Nelehi her shieldbearer have joined, which gives the false-sight that we seem more. We five ate a sorry breakfast while we overtalked today’s business. Istae will go to the harbor to seek the same flatbark-skipper who will bear Lady Erenyae’s freight to Elahat, whomto she will put forth that he shall also bear a Sage-Queen and her host, which will surely draw awareness. While Kaure, Nae, and the shieldbearer packed belongings, I steeled myself for the moot I had offput yesternight with my sister.
Clothed in a mere halter and skirt, and wearing no jewels but Semuane’s ear-darts, I climbed to Risodess’s house, where the house-reeve told she had early gone to hall. So they set me in an idleyard, where, with nothing else to do, I found mindfulness and worked the old drills I had learned at the Ihezoshu while the belltides rang. Then came my niece Zhaene, whomwith I merrily talked and heard all she was doing under school.
Zhaene shifted grim and asked me what is happening. I asked back what she has heard. She answered she had heard that grandmother and I are feuding, and even her mother and Aunt Raiale are wonderfully upset. Sadly I told I full wish it be elsewise, and then asked her forgiveness.
Then an unsettleness waved forth, and we both bewitted Risodess homecome, who must indeed be wroth to let her feelings broadcast so wildly. Zhaene hurried out, right ere her mother marched in, who found me waiting, and glared. ~Stara hadis?!~ - “What have you done?!” she bade.
Ere I answered, she told she was right come from the Matrons’ Hall, where Lady-Captain had called a moot-tide, who with Lady Iasaul then outquoth that the whole Outriderhood had called reproof against Lady-Mother from her behavior toward Oshis, and that no less than two Outriders, inmeaning me and Istae, had already forsaken their oaths, and moreover that Lady Taiase had outquoth her will to follow us into outlawhood. Then, as if these whits were not enough to whirl the matrons into awe, Lady-Captain had called for faith-lack against Lady-Mother, telling that Oshis’s banship had unlawfully gone forth without a sake-trial, and moreover his guilt was misproven from my spell under the ~Komori~. This had startled a fierce strife until the matrons deemed to stand down and reckon sunderly ere they meet again tomorrow.
I shrive this news gladdened me beyond all early outlook, for though I knew Lady Iasaul and Lady-Captain had undertaken something for our sake, I had had no good inkling. Indeed, this deed even outplayed better than I had hoped. Yet my trial now outstayed my wrathful sister, who was forelooking her plans crumbling and now outnamed me as having betrayed her. I answered that, if I had withdrawn my word, her forespeech had missed first. Yet I also wished to know which angered her more: that I was wriggling out from under her will, or that her carefully built fellowship among the matrons was falling down since she had falsely forespoken something she had known she could not give.
At that, with an unsooth scowl, Risodess’s mood broke. Her soulmight smote, foreguessably to knock me witless. Yet I let it offwash and merely stood stalwart. Maybe she had guessed me weak from the ~Komori~. Yet the look on her face when my mindshield withstood was dearthless. For her life’s first time, I think she beheld me as more than the wantsome little sister.
Then I drew her into mindshare against her will, let our thoughts mingle for the first time in year-tens, but held her helpless and let her wit only what I wished. Here I witnessed her full worry, and also hopelessness that she may not crawl from this snare, forwhy, as I had guessed, the bid to loose the freightbark could not be so easily withdrawn without messier outcomes. I chided that maybe if she held me under better worship, maybe she would not have this trial now.
My sister asked whether I knew what I have done to our kindred, the shame heaped on Lady-Mother, who may now forelook loss of the High Matronship, and that nothing in this deed would help get my manlove safe. I first answered our kindred must prove worthy of the high worthiness bestowed on us, but then halted, for I forsoothed that nothing in this tale recked to her but the Matron Hall’s mightiness, and that her hold, outreaching through our mother and Raiale, was weakened. Anon I beruthed her plight, though also I witted I could do nothing more for her help. So I freed her mind. ~A Mitae, o’romi shoalis heienya.~ - “Sister, may you find peace.” Then I left ere she found word.
If I trusted in my stead with Risodess, still I felt alone, wrestling with all the harrying worries I had yesterday unleashed: breach with my mother, loss of Outridership and my rank within the City, outlawhood beyond the City’s bounds and maybe riding out to the Retaea seeking Vosaeth’s welcome. Never had my life known such unsureness, even in childhood, for I had always known I would become a soul-seer, had dreamed of becoming an outrider, and had chosen to so seek. Therein had been foreset my whole livelihood. Now all is mistlike, fading under my fingers. My only steadfastness lies with Remaue, Kaure, and my housemates and loves.
Thus with some shock I found a writ awaiting when I came to the townhouse. I witted the far-seer’s mark, and Qabarat underwritten. Hastily I opened the leaf, which read:

~A Valante, o’vithani.~

“Beloved, come to me.”

How Semuane had already heard of my oath-breach I know not. Yet at her word my dam broke. I fell afloor and wept there until Kaure raised and bore me in her arms.

Afterword
My mind races too much. Things are unfolding and changing even while I watch.
We six had ended a dour duskmeal, and I was reckoning how best to lift Son’s silver sunburst badge from my breastplate (and foredreading Remaue’s scath at the sheen’s mar) when a caller came to the door. Nae went and brought in three guests: not only my sister Raiale, but also Lady Ihyl my mother’s steadholder and Lady Iasaul. While I had forelooked something like my sister’s call (and therefore Risodess’s hand), the steadholder and the Headmistress of Outriders forecaught our full awareness.
Istae and I hosted them to the midyard and served mead. Lady Ihyl first asked whether Lady Taiase was here, whereat we answered yes. At our call she came and traded greetings. Then we fell still. Lady Iasaul sat wordless, though I uplooked a slight smugness, while Raiale sat tightly, and Lady Ihyl seemingly gathered thought.
At last Lady Ihyl stirred and asked whether we are foreset to forsake Son. We answered yes. She then asked whether anything may shift our will. Here we tightened and asked what she foremeant.
In answer, Lady Ihyl yielded a writ set with the Matronhood’s mark: a deed of embassy, naming Lady Taiase as ambassador to bear Son’s goodwill to the cities and clans of the Retaea, and anywhere else she may fare, in worship of her dearthless historical worth; and Istae, me, and our household as her host, with our oaths and Outridership remended, thereby giving us Son’s full uphold. Lady Ihyl added we will also have an upkeep-dole, so that we may go among the Northern Folk in worthy wise. She outlaid that, if we yaysay, this would outwardly heal the breach between me and Lady-Mother (though she will not see me, and neither will I her) and between Lady-Captain and the Matrons’ Hall. The faith-lack would be dropped, my mother would keep the High Matronship, and the City should settle back to peace.
I asked what other foreword this bargain held, whereat she quoth merely so. I then told that I would add my foreword: unless Oshis’s ban is broken, this bargain should be naught. Here Raiale spoke: since the ban had never gone to the Matrons’ sake-trial, it stood but selfly to Lady-Mother. The lawspeakers have met and deemed it does not outreach to the whole City or its landhold. Therefore, read Raiale, upon our homecome at embassy’s end, Oshis may freely come with, as well.
We heard the words. Taiase beseeched we might shortly reckon sunderly, and we three joined mindshare. Yet I was already thrilled beyond belief, as was Istae. Taiase asked our rede while Istae squeezed her hand. Yet she already knew our answer. We took the Matrons’s deal, the embassy-deed, and all forewords, and so have peace with Lady-Mother.
At once our three guests loosened and stood. Raiale even reached forth and hugged me. I let the beck, though my hands almost shook so fiercely that I feared she would wit my true shock. She forespoke to bear word straight to Lady-Mother, while Lady Ihyl would do samely to the Matrons’ Hall.
Lady Iasaul smiled slightly, and then asked leave to speak with Istae and me alone. After the other ladies left, she headed to us, and lifted hands blessingly, whereat we both stood sharp and bowed heads. She told we owe Lady-Captain great thanks, who had gone before the Matrons for our sake and had not done so lightly. We yaysaid and forespoke to give her full worship.
Then Lady Iasaul halted. She shrove belief that we still have some craftiness in mind. We answered not, but kept stare at her feet, like two newlings freshly caught outside barracks after fire-whelve. After length, she lightly bade us keep our secret, and only that we should not make too much mess in Elahat. Then she marched out, with but the slightest merry broadcast.
Istae and I fell into each other’s arms and laughed until tears. Then we sought Taiase, who was already waiting with the others lurking. When they heard the news, we all gleed. Still I feel unsooth, for we had come so near homelessness, kinlessness, and outlawhood. I fear if I sleep, I may wake into dreadful truth.

15. Evelae
So much to do. If I could sleep, I would not be writing, for I am weary, even though my thoughts race. At First Bell, Istae and I headed to the Citadel, where we yielded worship to Lady-Captain, and begged her to take us back. She let us wait with backs straight and heads bowed while she showed stern, striding back and forth. At last she halted, sighed with a misgiving show, and spoke hope that we full-ware what we had done, and that it is no light thing to cross the High Matron, which we yaysaid meekly.
Then she lifted my chin, looked into my eyes, and told that, if ever I again try this stunt, she shall cast me from the Citadel. ~Si athallinara volyelis, o volise o Renmazhaea,~ - “If you would play these games, play in the Matrons’ Hall,” she bade, whither I could answer nothing. Then she deemed us reinstalled, with rede to serve well.
We left Lady-Captain’s stallroom to find almost the whole Outriderhood awaiting, who buzzed and cheered at our sight, with many hugs, and who jokingly chided that we could not think so easily to leave. With some tears we thanked their uphold and swore to stay faithful. Then I asked willinghood to make an honor-ward for Queen Taiase’s fare to Elahat while Istae went downtown to meet Taiase and make last dightship with the bark-skipper.
On my way downtownward, I took Dale Street and came to Mistress Ane’s shop. I introd and found her, who was much forecaught at my unforecalled show and chided me. I answered that since tomorrow I leave for Elahat it recks not. I then spoke that doubtlessly she had already heard this news and should look forward to me fulfilling her lady's business.
Mistress Ane blinked at my word. Somewhat worriedly she asked why I so believe, oughtful to my toward leavetide from Son, and the truth that I will unlikely take seat in the Matrons’ Hall anytime soon, that Lady Erenyae will happily overreckon my deeds. I answered she will get her freight, as I had forespoken, and which I will selfly bring, and furthermore gets forehap to host an elder Sage-Queen. ~Te o’diahi urollya sholyele o allatheri-mi, o tere diyahealzim.~ - “If she cannot find behoof in that forehap, then I have misreckoned her."
Then I added that I forelook Lady Erenyae to be wholly afilled by this outcome, and furthermore to ready my manlove’s freedom. Misgivingly, Mistress Ane took my word, and blessed my farewell. After I left, I misdoubt she sent far-seer word straight to her overlady, who I forelook will trustily spend the next three days thinking how to wring the most worth from this new steadship, even to my plight.
Laterward, I came home, where Kaure told Risodess was awaiting. Forbearingly I met her in the midyard and awaited her word. My older sister look somewhat wan after these two days’ ordeal. She began by saying that I must be right glad with how things have outcome, for I have won a good idlefare and will doubtlessly find forehap to gain allies and friends among outlanders, all under the City’s fee. She reminded, however, that the ill I had worked on our kindred has not wholly offgone, for Lady-Mother’s faith is weakened in the Matrons’Hall. She also spoke that, if I believe my bond with Lady Erenyae is bettered, and I hope for Oshis’s freedom, I should think again.
Her word on Lady Erenyae I unminded. Instead, I asked her worst blow gotten from this business. Risodess eyed me uplookfully. Her mind began to creep near my thoughts. Yet I shut her down blinklessly to prove my strength. At last she licked lips and shrove that the freight-bark’s freedom rues, for she had made forespeech believing goodwill between Son and Elahat, which now forelooks unlikely.
I asked what would behoove if Lady Erenyae gave back the freight. Risodess halted, and then asked back whether I forsoothly believe I can so beweigh her. I answered I will so, and also that, even if I miss, she would be no worse than so she is. She begrudged that the freight’s worth could offset, though she would wait and see. Then I bade she let me the thing, and bade her good leave. Withholdingly she left. Whether her ill will toward me softened anywhit I know not. Yet even with our mean mislike, I find I have no wish to keep feud with my sister.
So now all is ready, all packed, and all set. I know not when I will have hap to next log my deeds, but tomorrow will be long.