A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 19

In which Lady Vaeol returns to public life, and Taiase achieves a long-awaited goal.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

17. Shenelae, 24,543 - Leiss-Farmhold, Lea
Today I went into the city for the first time in many days, to yield worship to the matrons and Lady Zhaene, and to help for the upcoming bridge opentide. All asked my welfare, forwhy Taiase, Vosaeth, and Istae had told I had been ill. I assured all who asked that I am well, and shrove I had been ill-readied to wield my baby-might, which had wrought some bother. This got much laughter and some ruth, along with jokes asking whether I had offbitten my fathermate’s head in the ashu-spider’s wise.
I got some reckful looks at the bronze band I have worn on my neck. When asked, I outlaid it was a gift from a Retaean priest, who had hallowed it as a charm for my babe’s health. This answer seemingly atook, and if anyone else thought further, none spoke. Yet the deed made me think on this lie. What would become of my nameworth if they knew I had been locked in a tree-bower for four nights?
Now I must end. Nae has brought word that she, Draue, and Sievae wish my fellowship after duskmeal, along with Hanos.

Asealae Treesong, 24,543 - Lea
Today beheld the opentide of Taiase’s bridge, though she outwills we should not name it so, forwhy it should be benamed to Lea and its folk. Yet even she cannot gainsay history. For the bridge’s opentide, the matrons bade two shafts set at the bridge’s ends, and upgraven the year in which the bridge was first built and this year, and between them is inlaid a ruby wide. After all, folk have called it ~Oezho-Taiaso~ - the Ruby Bridge - over yearthousands, and if Taiase’s name behaply means ruby, it is not their guilt.
Yesternight we had ferried out to the city and stayed at the embassy. After mornmeal, we clove the crowd gathering at the bridge’s end, lining the street leading from the Templefarthing. Happily, we got there early, for we found a spot unfar from the bridge. Nigh Third Bell, the full matronhood came down and stood but twelve spans from our flag. There, with almost the full cityfolk crowded beside or back along the sidestreets, we waited.
Then we all heard a drum and clapper ringing downward, and then a march-show: the city’s full priesthood donned in sheer goldcloth, bearing flags, fans, and garlands. With them walked Taiase, and bearing a golden fan, and beside Mistress Veiemi, who as buildwright had overseen the bridge’s mendcraft. Right at the bridge’s edge the march-show halted. Then the priests sang an elder prayer in words so old that Taiase likely understood them better than we else, but whose meaning understood as the song’s mindshare reached forth: a beseech to the gods for the city’s welfare. Then the high priestess took a knife and cut the garland drawn between the bridge’s end-shafts, thus opening the bridge.
Upkeeping their song, the priesthood danced staidly onto the bridge. We watched Taiase wield her fan by dipping it into a pail. When she drew it forth, myrrh-blossoms scattered aloft, floating downward and landing on the bridge’s treads, while others scattered tree-milk drops. Other priests laid new garlands on the bridge’s railshafts. After them went the matrons, who likewise sang. Then afterward folk followed onto the bridgespan, which we also clove. They led to the far end, where they cut the like garland staying intread, and then greeted and blessed the Landfarthing’s folk, who waited cheeringly.
Afterward, the whole folk welcomely trod the bridge, along with children running the whole length. Many brought forth grassberry and riceberry cakes and wine, which they shared with their neighbors. We meetly took a stead on the Landfarthing’s lakeshore at the bridge’s northern side. We spread shrouds and set an alecask we had bought for this purpose, opened it, and shared with the neighborfolk, who gave us right thankful worship, along with no few dumplings and honeycakes.
While we idled (and me propped between Kaure and Oshis to ease my sore back), we bewared a rider-troop coming through the Landfarthing, until the bridge. By their scarves and flags, we deemed them Retaea. Anon Vosaeth, who sat beside with little Sonnauf, tightened. I asked what befell, at which she waved to the flag borne over the riders’ heads. ~Zhihuafa,~ she outnamed.
I overlooked the clan whose bloody leadership we had witnessed at the Blighttide Clanmoot. At their fore I spotted Lady Byreath, who had slain her foe for the clanwifeship. She unsteeded and bade her Shota follow to the stallbarn. Then, with two each Damaya and Korasha ahost, she strode onto the bridge, where I misdoubted she would head to the city’s Highfarthing, as would befit a clanwife yielding worship to the matrons. Thoughtlessly, a chill took my heart.
Ere we could speak further, Taiase upcame with Mistress Veiemi, who were holding hands, and which I beheld a dear whit, and dolefully when Istae kissed them both. By our elder queen’s bright eyes and her skin's golden-rose blush, I could tell she was thrilled beyond words. A grin had overtaken her face, and which would not fade, all from witnessing and taking share of the bridge she had forebidden twelve thousand years ago. I may fairly bewrite Mistress Veiemi shared our queen’s giddiness, for she talked almost haltlessly of the bridge’s last work they had hastened to end right until yestereve, and also akept running thought of other last things still outstanding. They stayed merrily until an overseer brought word that the workers would share a worshipful drink with the bridgewright and the queen, at which they left, giggling like schoolmaidens along with Istae.
More grimly, I headed mind back to Vosaeth and asked her mood. My oath-sister gazed still, and then outlaid that the southward path the Zhihuafa had taken to their Heaventide campland should rightly have taken them westward, further than could easily reach Lea. Thus Lady Byreath being here made the oddest thought. She wondered what business could bestir a clanwife to forsake her clan’s wanderfare and come hither.
Whatever the truth, we may learn more of the Zhihuafa’s business tonight. We stay at the embassy, for the matrons will hold a mirthtide, and not merely for Treesong and the bridge’s opentide, for now the new clanwife’s welcome will be added. I shrive I should be slumbering instead of writing, and my lovely Remaue has already twice chided me that I will hardly forbear a late nighttide

2. Asealae, 24,543 - Leiss-Farmhold
True to outlook, Taiase and Veiemi wore the crown from yesternight’s mirthtide, toasted and worshiped by the whole ladyhood. Taiase made doleful beck to selfsomely thank Veiemi, for she said that the greater share, both in in years, knowledge, and work, lay with the buildwright, and all Taiase had done was, in her words: ~nezindaf fozoulora-qaoe~ - walked in on her skirt-tail, and gainsaid Veiemi when she tried to yield the foredream to our erstwhile queen. Wiselessly, I bless their renown.
Also true to foresight, I withdrew early, claiming my bechildness’s weariness, though forsoothly I had little forbearance for the gambits of couthness, kindliness, and hallcraft. Ere I left, I witted Lady Byreath beshrouded and bejeweled, floating among the ladyhood. In good news, both she and Vosaeth were behaving well, and did kindly on the few times their paths met. I gladdened that neither showed foreset on making feud, though my mistrust has not quelled.
Today I brought my worry to Her Highness Lady Zhaene, whomwith on Lady Byreath’s thought I have already spoken. She read that, as a clanwife, Lady Byreath would doubtlessly speak before the matronhood, and likely would have sundry speech with the High Matron. Yet until now no whisper has run forth of why the Zhihuafa left their wander-path to come here, or that Byreath came with a chosen group of warriors, and many younger, while foreguessably the clan’s greater half keeps southward.

6. Asealae, 24,543 - Lea
Word while today awaiting the matrons: we have some whisper of Lady Byreath’s deeds since she came. Quoth Lady Zhaene, Byreath has forespoken that Clan Zhihuafa will swear troth to Lea, which has gotten the whole matronhood talking, along with ourselves, as to what this may foremean, and why she would so do. 
Soon as I heard, I outsought Vosaeth and asked her rede. She looked bothersome and answered this deed makes no good thought. Historically, Lea has held a sundry stead among the Retaea Clans. After the last Thief-Queen fell, the city stood evenly open among all, on foreward that all keep truce and hinder not the trade Lea holds with other cities, inmeaning Son’s tradefares coming over the moors. Rooted in the city’s truce, under the handful of times over the last four thousand years a clan has raided Lea’s landhold or stricken a tradefare, it has found itself outcast, Lea’s gates shut against. At the city’s ill word, all other clans would stand against the misdeedful clan, until its loss and want. Furthermore, clans have seldomly yielded troth to the city under geld-boot for such a sin, or for some other great dearth. Why the Zhihuafa would so do now, when no such thing is owed, she has no inkling.
Vosaeth shrove further that her house-riders Honosil and Threarde have haply spoken with Zhihuafa warriors who rode hither with Lady Bereath, behooving of the city’s peace. My oath-sister told these Zhihuafa let slip that, along with Byreath’s forespeech, the clanwife has given dear gifts to the Matronhood, and not only to Her Highness Lady Nimizi, but also to Lady Vifaul, who leads the biggest fellowship offstanding to the High Matron. We reckoned Lady Byreath beseemingly would buy Lea’s goodwill, but why? Vosaeth answered I have spoken the riddle, for whose answer she would give much.
When I led my flag to the Retaea and Lea, I had forethought I was forsaking the matrons’ hallcraft that Lady Erenyae, my sisters, and even my mother had enwallowed me. Yet true to Lady Zhaene’s foretale, the hallcraft here stands everywhit as fierce. We get no lull here.

Lashunta Terms & Phrases:

• ~Oezho~ - bridge
• ~Taiasu~ - a ruby
• ~Nezimassi~ - to walk in; enter
• ~Fozoulu~ - tail or train of a skirt
• ~Nezindaf fozoulora-qaoe~ - "I/we walked in on/over the skirt-tail."