A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 23

In which the Motorae holiday begins while the city still reels from the raid's news, and Lady Vaeol meets unwanted attention.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

1. Motorae - Lea
Yesterday’s news has overthrown the holiday. We - inmeaning matrons, ladies, mistresses, and meanfolk - sit in the Gameyard’s stands and whisper the latest gossip instead of watching the trials. I fear we shame these champions who strive for the city’s honor. I am not guiltless, for I am forsoothly writing this log on the bench where we sit while my flagmates watch, and Remaue chides me. Yet my worry is too strong unless I quell it by so putting word to leaf.
A fright has overtaken the city’s traders. Not only do they fear raidstroke if they fare beyond the city, but this has made sales fall. Many forelook more than lost fee, but also the shame and further loss of outstanding dearths they cannot reyield. Sadly this has hurt Elarue’s and my brother Devaeas’s sale as well. To allay this fright, Her Highness the High Matron outquoth at the Games’ start that she has upcalled the city’s fird. Soon any tradefare leaving Lea will have a strong rider-troop ahost. This was a shrewd deed, for Her Highness’s share, though she has also met much call gainsaying her deed. Furthermore, Lady Byreath swiftly followed by yielding her clan’s warrior-sith that followed to the city, to strengthen the fird, and has also strengthened the folksome thought that she is Lea’s friend.
Againstwise, Vosaeth and I wit something a little too smart in the happiness that Lady Byreath brought a full warrior-sith at her beck, for seldom do clanwives bring much strength to the city.
To that end, Vosaeth foreread that I should take my flag and come into the city to join Taiase and Istae at the embassy. She warned raiders can too easily come through the shorewood to fall upon a lone farmhold, and we would be safer within. I warned back that, if our inkling is true, then her household should cleave within as well. Yet for my share, I cannot cravenly forsake my brother, Elarue and their child, and her kindred who have hosted us so worshipfully. We offstand better together. At Vosaeth’s beseech, however, we have yaysaid to leave soon, right after the New Year. She has already sent riderbode to find her clan, and earnestly would read with her mother about this fell news. With Clan Miniada’s late southward wanderfare, hopefully they are not far away.

2. Motorae
Yesternight Her Highness Lady Nimizi held a masktide. With me so thickly bechild and Kaure ~Korashe~, we had given little thought of whelves, for little behoof in masking ourselves. Yet Remaue outwillingly braided our antennae under our hair. Then she darkened her chin to look beardsome, and set a fade-deer hide upon her breast and shoulders to look manfully hairy (which missed laughingly). Then against our gainsaith, she set fetters on our necks, and outquoth: ~Mei! Eama Aslanta!~ - “Here! We are Aslanta!” and that she as the man should be our master while we should be the wife-thralls. To uphold some couthness, I bade her find some masks, to shirk in token the shame of an outrider eyesomely bound, and also bodyshrouds, for I reminded Brand and his men had misliked baring their bodies to an almost shameful outstretch.
Also, I could not withhold reminder that, as Brand had told, Aslanta men may swear troth to but one wifemate in their whole lifetime. Therefore, whom would she choose - me or Kaure? Remaue answered: ~Zhyei! Vas imalodafas!~ - “Nay! I am too greedy!” - which is her truest word ever spoken, though I chided her as a wicked Aslanta. She said back it recked not, for she has erever been a wicked Lashunta.
Needless to say, Remaue took idlesome pride in leading us by our fetters to the High Matron’s house, with Taiase (whelmed as an Elflady), Istae (as a sage-princess), and Vosaeth (as a mead-brewer, which handily let her carry a bottle) hiding their faces while they giggled. Within the idlehall, while all stared, Remaue shamelessly outyelled that she was an outlandish, heathen Aslanta man here with her wife-thralls, one already bechild from her mightiness, and the other soon aftercoming, and all the while talking manlywise. Luckily she made us kneel, for Kaure's shyness overwhelmed and I blushed and laughed until my belly hurt and my babe kicked me back. Claiming us her pampered pets, Remaue found us seat-pillows. Yet she bade us bring bubblemead and serve her on our knees, and gleefully yanked our fetters whenever anyone walked by while we barked at each other in the few Aslanta words, like ~yes~, ~no~, and ~kom-ir~, we had learned from Brand and his troop.
Our show brought a beseech from Her Highness Lady Nimizi (who whelmed as a Formian Warrior with a great crest-mask and a stinger-tail cunningly hung from her hips) to outlay our tale of the Aslanta. So we spent the next belltide telling how we had found a twelvesome of Aslanta men - or ~Hyumanza~ as they name themselves - from Kyonin, the same world where the Elves dwell and the same Blue-Queen who rules Nightheaven when Elindrae wanes, and among them no wives - who had no antennae. They had come through a worldgate in Lost Hoshiasa and were wandering lost on the rainwood’s darkfloor, and had not even known to climb up to the treepaths. They had been led by one named Brand-Likario from a city named Ab-Salom, which from Elf-lore we have heard is a mighty foe to the Elves there. Shared Brand, he belonged to a Pathfinder Fellowship, a guild who seek renown and wealth through outseech of new lands and worlds and their booty. Remaue could not withhold adding that Brand had gotten frog-eyes for me, though under maidenhood I had not answered his love, and which had nighmost driven him lust-mad. We ended the tale with our trick we had played on Lady Aleriel in El, to overwin the Elves to let the Aslanta through the Kyonin Worldgate, and thus had sent them home to their world.
The tale’s outlandishness stirred no small laughter, misbelief, and shameless questions ingathered. If they have no antennae, do they also have no eyes and ears? If they hold Man-Right over their wives, how do they truly know they are their children’s fathers? Most we could not answer, else than to say Aslanta men seemingly hold right over their wives but may not mate with more than one, that the men are betellingly taller and heavier than the wives, and that they have no soul-knack whatsoever. We got some laughing cheer and toasts to our health.
Following the Motorae’s wont, the Elf-Kiss began when a nailseed-wort was handed about. Istae, after she got it from Taiase, lovingly gave it to me, whereof my lips drew a nailseed and yielded it to hers (which is not so unlike an Aslanta kiss). Then I so traded onward with Kaure, and she with Remaue (and whomto she gave it know not). Under couthness I bethought no further.
Yet then I idly read a thought: ~Yuaf eiesya Damaeia yi dorasseia.~ - “I love the thought of a Damaya so beshackled.” To our shock, a hand yanked my fetter from Remaue. Lips bearing a nailseed set on mine, as antennae groped mine.
What next happened I rightly remind not. The room’s loft seemingly darkened (though laterward Remaue and Kaure told I had brightened fiercely). Yet anon all the bowls and glasses within fifteen cubits hovered aloft. With them also floated Lady Byreath, whelmed as Thriae blue and gold, but now heels over head, and her false stinger-tail flopping lewdly. The Zhiahuafa clanwife hung still by her grip on my fetter, sorely aware that all eyes stared.
All watched ashock, though none dared stir. Dizzily I witted she must have kissed me.
Remaue swiftly reckoned the misdeed, both my might and the bestemming sake, and spoke. ~A Byreath-Ile, eise ulamante, oeo’di orya nazhyaeldis!~ - “Lady Byreath, you are besotten and were not given leave!” she yelled loudly enough to the whole hall. If any eyes had not been already stuck to the Zhihuafa clanwife floating four cubits off the floor, they so became then. Yet my wifemate's word bemarked offthank in its own right, were I not already the eyesome root of Byreath’s awkwardness.
Her Highness Lady Zhaene (whelmed as an Alraune with a blossomruff, and even a wheelbarrow of leafworts) swiftly read both Remaue’s word and the stead. She trundled among and outquoth that better all yield worship to a mother ~rauzhiafante~ -full of birthmight. She moreover remarked that I, as a newcome mother, stand as a priestess among Lady Byreath’s own folk, and thus own a further yard of worship. Then she gripped the clanwife’s arm and bade her loosen my fetter.
Byreath’s eyes froze on mine. Moreso, our antennae yet stuck together. I witted fright, though shame underneath, and following a swy wrath growing toward hatred. I was sorely tried to dip further into her thoughts and learn what other evil lurked. Yet the uncouthness bade me no longer dawdle. I lowered her. Almost I laid her on face and belly - and she lowered enough that she witted my half-thought - ere I twisted her upright and set her feet afloor.
Amid the still hall, Her Highness Lady Nimizi bade we must forgive these small guilts under the Motorae’s silliness, under which tide couthness may be broken. She touched my hand, even while Lady Zhaene still held Byreath’s. With a little mindfulness, I slowly set each cup and bowl back upon board or bench, one at a time, under the throng’s full sight.
Then I headed to Lady Byreath, bowed, and outspoke that I had let shock and motherly mood overtake my better mind, and hoped she would forgive her body’s rough handleship.
Although, still bowed, I could not see, I felt the clanwife’s eyes stabbing into my nape. A breathtide later, Byreath loudly spoke hope that I, too, could forgive her unlissome deed. Yet her words burned like coldstone.
Looking about, I found Remaue and Kaure tight near my side, Vosaeth but a little further, seeming as if she had right met an arrowshot, and on the other side Taiase and Istae looking almost as grim. I headed to Her Highness Lady Nimizi, bowed, and said that even Motorae sport has bounds and that, along with my uncouth show, I had wearied myself. Therefore, I beseeched leave to let her worthy guests restart their mirth without my worry. Her Highess bade me go with her love and no further sorrow. She kissed my belly, and I withdrew.
Along with Remaue and Kaure, our friends joined us in the sidehall, and Her Highness Lady Zhaene also, where I repeated wish to go to the embassy. Her Highness, Taiase, and Istae forespoke to stay and watch the mirthtide’s mood. Vosaeth would stay, too, though I prayed her stay trucesome against the outright feud-sake Byreath had made. When Kaure, Remaue, and I came to the embassy, we sent Vosaeth’s haremmates to wait on her (and to ward if needful). I watched a restless nighttide, even when my lovemates bade me sleep, until Remaue threatened to shackle me to the floor.
This morntide, Her Highness Lady Zhaene asked us to a late mornmeal. She boded nothing else unhappy had befallen afterward. Though I took the good news, it did not besway my belief in Lady Byreath’s hatred. Rooted in earlier talk, Vosaeth and I again forespoke to leave in three days, the day after Newyear.
Her Highness shared another word. Since we had ere bemarked whisper of the many gifts Lady Byreath had made to the city’s matrons, ingathering the High Matron, too, Lady Zhaene had made soft inseech of these gifts’ kinds and selfness. Of what she had learned, they beheld Qoelu tusks, hides, and some silver, but nothing linking Lady Byreath or the Zhihuafa to the lost tradefare. We thanked Her Highness, for though this news beheld nothing, I found it whitworthy that Her Highness held the same inkling we had.
In last word, my yesternight might-show seemingly has not dulled my nameworth, but rather has brightened it. We have gotten welcome tonight to a mirthtide happening at Lady Veiamal’s house, an elder matron well befriended under both Her Highness Lady Nimizi's fellowship and Lady Vifaul's. We shall go for kindliness’s sake, but shall not stay long. I at least wish not repeat of yesternight’s misdeed.

3. Motorae, Newyear’s Eve - Leiss Farmhold
Yesternight’s masktide was blessedly deedless, though with Lady Veiamal’s good guesthood. We withdrew at a good nighttide and today watched the Games’ last trials with Her Highness. Then, taking our leave, we headed out from the city.
Tonight we have yaysaid no else thought than to share the evetide with our worthiest and outstanding hosts: Elarue’s kindred - Devaeas my brother, darling nephew Shaess, Mirazael her mother, and her fathers Nath and Rosh, who, even so gruff and bickersome as they are, are the steadfastest Korasha. Together we built a bonfire, opened a barrel of thick wine, and watched rose hints glow the western sky. Then, to our blessing, Heaven opened and bared Elindrae almost full, dimpled face silvery bright. Even though Vuael's Night came yestermonth, Vosaeth hearkened to Kaure’s upcoming priesthood and beseeched a hymn, at which my maidenmate’s ringing throat rose sheerly. Sievae and Hanos cunningly clove her song. Then we danced aring the fire, with Vosaeth, Tae, and Remaue holding their babes in arm, and Oshis bearing his older children aloft, one hanging on each elbow while they kicked and laughed.
Laterward, we witnessed a frightful row between Elarue’s fathers, who were already well wine-sotten, over who is forsoothly Elarue’s blood-father. They almost came to blows, but ended with them both aknelt and brows laid on Elarue’s thighs while they sobbed ruthfully, and she bade them forgive each other. Mirazael’s mood to their show was staider, as beheld when her eyes overwallowed. Over wine, she shrove that her manmates have behaved this misdeed every six years or so. In frankness, she knows not which is the blood-father and wishes they would no longer reck. Elarue yaysaid she would not bereave herself of either father, nor her son of any grandfather.
I had a good talk with my brother over happendoms, both with the city and the clans’ business, and also, though I shrove quailingly, our mother. He shared he had needed a long time to forgive their strife, but now gladly had found truce. I answered I may likely need long as well, which he atook lissomely. Then he asked what I foresee, and whether I would again come to Son.
I looked upward to Elindrae, and prayed the Shifter-God’s blessing and mightiness. I had never been prouder than as an Outrider of Son. Now that lack hurts more than anything else. Then I answered I would go home, but not yet. Foredoom has led us hither, with more to do ere we leave.
Laterward, while the others headed to bed, I found Vosaeth with her steed at the treeyard’s edge, with little Sonnauf on her bosom. I wared the Retaea wont to keep watch anight, and so wordlessly neared to not bother. She smiled, let me take her sleeping son in my arms, and then stood arear and laid her hands on my swollen belly. Then her lips touched my ear: ~Hizelm araeastra noyantastra,~ - “Let us remind this blessed night,” she whispered. ~O’zhaoadeni thinastra ithaem,~ - “We will have few more further on.”

Lashunta Words & Phrase:

• ~Korashe~ - a female Korasha
• ~Mei!~ - Here! Hey!
• ~Aslanta~ - a Human
• ~Zhyei~ - No; nay
• ~Hyumanza~ - Lashunta rendition of 'human'
• ~Rauzhiafante~ - full, empowered with psychic birthmight