A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 12
In which Taiase undergoes an ordeal to appease the Retaea Clanfolk.
From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son
14. Zielae, 24,543 - 3rd Day at the Blighttide Clanmoot
I write this at dusk after a daytide too long spent. Taiase has started her cleanse-tide, over which we stand watch-shifts for her heed. My back is sore, which makes me wonder whether my baby-weight already hinders me.
We gathered a rough belltide after dawn, where the priests and the clanwives again met us at the shrine among the tree-roots. I was forecaught to see a big throng had gathered. Vosaeth outlaid this as good, forwhy the folk will witness the cleanse-tide and so betake Taiase’s sheerness. We each kissed Taiase in shift, with Istae last. My sister-outrider lingered long and grudgingly forsook her wifelove’s antennae. Then she forsook and strode back, where I put her in my arms, and we yielded Taiase to the priests. They led her again to the floorstone among the henge-shafts. There they doffed her clothes, poured water overhead, and bathed her. Then they had her kneel amidst their seated ring while they began a drone.
I soon witted it was a kind of mind-seech, although rougher than our soul-seers wield in Son. We can merely hope it may not be too rough and so hurt more than it heals.
The cleanse-tide akept all day and forelooks to last into the night. After the first while, the clanwives left. Vosaeth told they met to talk about other things, including the lookforth of a new clanwife for the Zhihuafa, which made me think of Vosaeth’s erstwhile foe Byreath. I have too easily forgotten that else things busy this Clanmoot, and which may even be weightier. Vosaeth bywardly followed, for she must heed to this business.Yet our flag stayed to watch Taiase, taking short shifts to meet our needs, though Istae would not leave. I stayed so long as I could until Remaue threatened to have the Korasha drag me back to the tent. Though I will not ashrive it, I reckon by my back’s ache she was right. So we wait. I have lit sweet-burn and have prayed for Taiase’s sake.
15. Zielae - 4th Day at the Blight-tide Clanmoot
Sometide ere dawn we woke when Istae stumbled into the tent. She had watched all day and the nighttide until then, and was rather sleeplessly rambling. The cleanse-tide had ended, though the priests had taken Taiase to another tent and would not let Istae see her. We outwon in soothing her down and getting her to sleep, which she sorely needed, with forespeech to learn what we could at morntide.
Right after dawnmeal, Vosaeth and I led our house and found a hallow-tent warded by the priests, and asked Taiase’s health. They outlaid the cleanse-tide was indeed ended, as Istae had told, but that now Taiase lay under lone-watch until she wakes and speaks with the priests. None may intread the tent but priests, they bade, lest smirch overlie her cleanse.
I beheld Istae’s worry, matching ours, and then spoke to the priests: ~Dei ve soe, yio Vosaeth mi Tae shiafaze eayele, o Kaure nethanaze Elindrae, o ve maerimane?~ - “Are we not priests, since Vosaeth and Tae are newborn mothers, Kaure is a newling to Elindrae, and I am a forelookful mother?”
The priests reckoned my word, withdrew, and read together. Then their head came, and gave leave that we four might intread, but that we must not touch, wake her, or try mind-share. So we yaysaid, knelt, and rinsed hands and mouths, at which they oversang prayers for our sheerness. They opened the flap, and we went inside.
We found Taiase lying on a cot, a shroud of golden silk whelming her body but her head. Straightway we knelt beside. Ruthfully I reminded Brand’s mind-seech under our soul-seers when we had brought the Aslanta to Son, and how the toll had weakened him. I reckoned Taiase now lay under a same weariness. Yet she seemingly slept with even breath, which relieved our worry.
The priests let us watch a farthingtide, and then bade us leave the tent. We outcame and told the others that Taiase is sleeping peacefully, and needs but time to wake. We asked how long she would sleep, at which they answered she would sleep until she wakes, and we should wait. We talked of how to get word when she wakes, at which Hanos foreyielded to stay and watch, and to bring word so soon as they priests tell she wakes. We yaysaid, kissed him blessingly, and headed back to our tents.
Istae was awake when we came back, and at once asked Taiase’s health. We assured she was sleeping peacefully, that we had been let to see her, and all she needs is time. Then we bade her forbear, and gave her to Nelehi her shieldbearer’s heed. Then we too busied to spend the day while praying for our friend’s health.
16. Zielae - 5th Day at the Blight-tide Clanmoot
Yesternight Hanos brought word that Taiase had wakened, but that the priests had bidden we should wait until today, forwhy they must watch to ensure her mind stayed well after the ordeal. So we made Istae wait until we packed dawnmeal, and then outset together toward the priests’ watch-tent.
We found Taiase sitting outside, where a priest was serving her tea. She looked up and smiled. Straightway Istae ran, knelt, and hugged her. The two lovers wept while we crowded aring.
The priests told that Taiase was outcome well from the cleanse-tide. They would speak well before the clanwives and bid her welcomely stay. They also let us lead her back to our tents, though since we had brought dawnmeal, we sat there and ate ere we made the walk back. Istae would not yield her wifelove’s hand, and I reckon still worried for her health.
Bywardly, Taiase bade Istae mind her Shotalashu. After my sister-outrider left, she asked to speak alone with me. Together we headed to Azaryau and walked under the elder soul-tree’s boughs.
Taiase shrove she would speak of the Secrets. She had heard I had met a Moqeva in Candares and asked of it, for she would understand more of these unkindly wights that had misbound her. I thought long ere answer. At last I said I know nothing that can rightly outlay her evil under the Moqeva’s hold. I had met the one in Candares for too short a while to reach sure deemship, else than it was unbelievably old and sick in body, though it had shown me something of its elder history. I had weighed whether its slaughter might be more ruthful than letting it live, and even now wonder whether I chose rightly.
Taiase grimly took my word. ~Deidi nyaes?~ - “You hate it not?” she asked.
My antennae shook. ~Sholam nyaea loeonya tarru o sere diyaeldalu.~ “I find worthier of hate those who misdid you,” I answered.
She bowed her head, and then sighed while her shoulders shuddered. She quoth I have wisdom in not overthinking my meeting with the Moqeva, and in withholding deemship. Yet if she met this wight, she shrove, her hatred would so overcome that she might slay it, reckless of guiltlessness. I felt her heart quail while she witted her own weakness in forsaking nobility for wrath. Then she leaned upon my breast and wept. I did my best to soothe her.
Lashunta Terms & Phrases:
- ~Dei ve soe, yio Vosaeth mi Tae shiafaze eayele, o Kaure nethanaze Elindrae, o ve maerimane?~ - “Are we not priests, since Vosaeth and Tae are newborn mothers, Kaure is a newling to Elindrae, and I am a forelookful mother?”
- ~Deidi nyaes?~ - “You hate it not?”
- ~Sholam nyaea loeonya tarru o sere diyaeldalu.~ - "I find worth of hate those who misdid you."
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments