A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 29

In which the Blighttide Clanmoot brings the war to a head.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

12. Soelae, 24,544 - 35th Day Northbound; the Blighttide Clanmoot
Today amid a windy break in the rain, great Azaryau’s leaftop hove into sight. Almost so soon, truce-wardens met us, already awatch for the Clanmoot. Cunning Lady Vei bade them send for more truce-wardens ere we came to the crag’s slopes. Thus we tarried a few belltides until the outrider came back with six more. In this deed, Lady Vei proved foresightful, for when the Zhihuafa, who had come four days earlier, learned our coming, they harried, riding along our flanks, shouting offthank, and daring fight. Yet Lady Vei had me, Vosaeth, Tae, and all mothers else of the Clan with strong birthmight at forward, with the truce-wardens ahost. Herein she rightly reckoned the Zhihuafa would not strike. Even so, I had Kaure and Oshis almost glued with their steeds to Ess’s stirrups, each with swordbill in hand, and Vosaeth’s haremmates samely for her. Less, not to be outdone, strode afoot before Tae’s steed with axe held at high march-show, as would have done Krastaes proud.
A group of clanwives met us at the crag’s foot, ingathering Lady Zhorofi of the Aloaha, Lady Kovael of the Shossa, and also Lady Byreath, who straightway, and against couthness, bade her warriors as our war-thralls overhanded. Yet Lady Vei answered we shall yield them only to the full-gathered clanwives when Clanmoot begins. Then Lady Zhorofi read that, since our clans are at war, we may not camp upon the crag, but must camp here at its foot, as the Zhihuafa also do on the crag’s far side. Furthermore, truce-wardens shall watch the moors and assure that none wander to the other foe’s side.
Lady Vei and her elder daughters have already gone up the crag to speak with the other Clanwives, for further truce-whits must be arailed, while we upset camp here below. The clans cannot be kept wholly shed while the Clanmoot’s tide, which will make threatful worry. Vosaeth has beread that at somewhile we will surely be called upward, for the Clanwives will wish our witness of the Zhihuafa raid, and furthermore as mothers we will take share in the priest-rites
Soon as all was fast and ready, Taiase and I yaysaid to send farseer-word to Her Highness Lady Zhaene in Lea. I chose the first tide, and so boded:

~Eafa Kieza. Saezae kefi, o’aeoshoni izaro unirado. O’Taiase-mei hivusi eilya-ruaelf. Malaf unirathara Kiezauara.~
“We are at the Clanmoot. Things are tight, and the gambits have already begun. Taiase and I will take shifts sending to you. We await the Clanmoot’s start.”

...to which we got soon answer:

~Lea ruthilda heienazere, o'illi haea-shaelye yi illaze-me. Kolama o’kefi mala ethonarrya. Eilya malya-shyaelf. O’zimei, Mae-se samaeante.~
“Lea has sent a trucebode, who will behave as our thane. The city tightly awaits outcome. I will await your word. Also, your mother is thankful.”

We shared this word with Vosaeth and Lady Vei, who spoke this becomes as forelooked. I also took small liss knowing my mother had gotten my farseer-word, and that we may have some slight forehap to mend our feud. Yet for now we have time to wander the many tents even set at the crag’s foot, which betake a great tradefair’s look, with traders from Lea and Than from the south, Ofu-Laubu from the north, and also the fierce Shemez Clans who dwell and wander the great northern wasteland, and whom even the Retaea name wild. Wiseless of all else, this Clanmoot forespeaks a wondershow.

12. Soelae, 24,544 - 2nd Day at the Blighttide Clanmoot
Today the Terana came, the last clan to cleave the Clanmoot. With them, it will begin tomorrow. Also came Lady Veiahal as Lea’s trucebode, who had fared by boat until Tihes, and then rode hither. With her again came Lady Iman, Lea’s mistress of Outriders, and a whole troop of outriders and Korasha footmen, and which doleful mightiness went unlost on the Clans. Lady Taiase, Istae, and I made sundry deed to meet Her Highness and Lady Iman, who at my babe’s sight greeted us right worshipfully. We spoke our understand from Lady Zhaene that Lea holds Son’s thanedom for this strife, ingathering yesteryear’s raid on the tradefare, and thus we shall follow their lead. Her Highness thanked us but warned that, even so foreready, the Clanwives would doubtlessly seek our rede as well. Therefore, we must make further sure to yaysay and uphold each other.
They also told that Lady Nimizi, under shame, has stood down from Lea’s High Matronship. Instead, the Matrons have chosen Lady Vifaul to lead. At this news we sorrowed, for Lady Nimizi had behaved us most kindly. We beseeched Her Highness to send our cheer to the new High Matron, but also to Lady Nimizi, with word that we should not forget her.
I also asked of Lady Thefel, the Lea outrider we had met yesteryear, and bechild like me. Ruefully Lady Iman told Lady Thefel had given birth to a healthy daughter, but had not outlived childbirth. This news struck sorrowfully, and we swore to sing her name to the World-Soul.
In else word, the Clanwives’ business has kept Lady Vei for the day’s most. Even ere the Clanmoot’s start, however, some things have begun. Dolefully, Vosaeth, Tae, and I took our babes up the crag, where we met Green-Mother’s priesthood under Azaryau’s boughs, and they beheld my son and sang the blessing-hymn upon his soul. I almost had to fight Oshis and Kaure to go, for they outwilled to ward me, though they were forbidden. In the end, they alet only when I forespoke to bring Ess, forwhy none unmad would dare an ownersome bull-shota (who ever behaves me as his harem-queen).
Enthrivingly, many priestesses had already heard the tale of me hovering the tent at my birthtide. They wonderingly talked whether it meant an omen, even after I outlaid my soul-seerhood yields a mightiness beyond mean birthmight. I asked myself whether they heard it from Ital the midwife-priest, or by Lady Vei’s underhand. I misdoubt she would use this tale if she foresaw behoof herein, and dolefully to tell the other clans (and foes) the strength her clan holds.
Also today, though I rue I could not be there (yet Remaue could), Kaure stood before Elindrae’s priesthood to beseech intread. Happily, they blessed her lore and deemed she is ready to take trial, which will outhappen aftomorrow.
More upcomes, for tonight the Miniada hold a mirthtide like yesteryear, and which will not be the end.

13. Soelae, 24,544 - 3rd Day at the Blighttide Clanmoot
Ere I tell of today, I will bewrite yesternight. Clan Miniada held their mirthtide. to which many folk came, and almost the Clanwives. Even Lady Byreath showed, dolefully welcomed by Lady Vei, though she did not near, and offered me no worship as she had done yesteryear. I reminded she still took slight from my soul-stroke back at Lady Nimizi’s masktide, although I bedeemed her the offthanking player.
I have wondered how much of the last half-year’s misdeeds have hinged on that lone breathtide. Would she have sent the raid against us if I had let her kiss me? A dole of me reckoned she would have done so anywise, since I deem Lady Byreath a long-tide planner, and I believe she loosened war long ere she misbelieved my slight to her honor. Yet I had enough deed acknowledging the near-gathered clanfolk, showing them Aeosel, and letting them kiss my belly. I let Lady Vei speak with the worthies, reckon weal and friendship, and tally allies for the oncoming strife.
Along with Her Highness Lady Veiahal from Lea came Her Highness Lady Kueth of Ofu-Laubu. She kindly showed me and Vosaeth worship, for we had yesteryear met on our first guest-tide in Lea. Although I had heard Ofu-Laubu had ere sent an ambassador to the Clanmoot, I heeded they had not done so yesteryear. Thus I guessed her now being here showed their inthrift in our ongoing war.
Today the Clanmoot rightfully began with a treemilk rite, in which the gathered Clanwives drank from the same bowl, a wont that has lasted since the Warrior-Queens’ foremothers overran the Yaro Strath. Whitsomely, Lady Vei and Lady Byreath drank last. I watched them lock eyes, as if they hoped the other would break. Yet the rite ended couthly, at which Azaryau’s priest outquoth the Clanmoot begun.
Reckfully, Lady Byreath did not repeat her bid that her thrall-bound clanfolk be freed. Neither did Lady Vei offer. Instead, it befell to Lady Zhorofi of the Aloaha, as Eldest Clanwife, to ask for our war-thralls. Yieldingly Lady Vei yaysaid, at which a warrior-troop upled the four thralls. I witted thrill overspread the Clanwives and other watchers as they forsoothed the war-thralls indeed were Zhihuafa they knew. Then Lady Zhorofi asked Byreath why Clan Zhihuafa had broken peace and raided. 
Without falter, Lady Byreath answered that she had blessed no raid on Clan Miniada. Neither, against all outspeech withstanding, had Clan Zhihuafa raided the Son tradefare heading to Lea. When asked how she outlaid these Zhihuafa raiders taken with bloody spears, Byreath answered that, if these thralls had raided us, they had done so without her bid, and maybe also likely had led the raid on the tradefare. Since they had made warfare alone, she beread, they should alone stand the doom.
I watched Zaeofoth and the thee war-thralls’ faces as Byreath spoke, how they looks shifted as her words lay heavy. For their whole bond-tide they had stayed wordless, faithfully unshriving their Clanwife’s underhand. Now shock glowed. I read they had not forethought Lady Byreath would forsake them.
Then the Clanwives angrily outspoke, hinging on whether they upheld the Zhihuafa or the Miniada. Some bade the war-thralls should speak their tale, while others outcalled falsehood against either the Zhihuafa or Lady Vei, owing to their faithfulness. Lady Vei and Lady Zhorofi tried to make themselves heard over the din, while Lady Byreath stood wordless, daringly.
Anon soul-might flashed and caught the throng's minds. It waved straight from Vosaeth beside me. Holding her son weaponlike, she strode amidst, where she looked straight at Byreath. My oath-sister outnamed the Zhihuafa Clanwife as false, a liar forsaking her own clanfolk, and who had stricken Vosaeth, her house, and baby son. Then she named Byreath ~nyaeante~ - hateful, which is a curse and fell offthank among the Retaea, though unlike the ~kezhi~ ban-curse wives wield in the cities. 
We witted Byreath’s wrath glow, though she withheld, since she witted Vosaeth was trying to bait her into striking a mother with babe. Yet with that loss, my oath-sister dared Lady Byreath to retake the trial they had started many years ago in Lea, ere the city’s wardens had forstayed them. ~O’illi resime!~ outquoth Vosaeth: “We shall fight!”
If I thought the ereward strife had been loud, it little matched what outbroke after Vosaeth’s dare, and for many reasons. Not only is it odd that a wife of another clan would dare a leading Clanwife, but a new mother still suckling a babe barely a year old, who still stands within the priesthood, should not so break hallowness. Neither could I tell whether Vosaeth’s deed had her mother’s uphold, or that she outspoke from sheer rashness.
In the end, the Clanwives’ moot upbroke with little done and much tangled. Lady Vei and her elder daughters stayed to seek sundry speech while Vosaeth and I took our sons back to camp. Afterward, we read with Taiase, who had watched the whole thing. Then we sent the following farseer-word to Her Highness Lady Zhaene in Lea:

~Kieza unirada kehaeunassa. O’iveari sae domi o’Lea-bei. Vosaeth-Ile ishte Byreath-Ilere.~
“Clanmoot has begun strifesomely. No word yet from Lea. Lady Vosaeth has dared Lady Byreath.”

...to which I got from Her Highness, who truly read the stead:

~Vehaea. O’ziari hazaola o’ahi uromyaea koma-mara. O’ithae similya-shyaeli.~
“Odd. Yet a weapon-trial could mend this whole thing. Keep me beread.”

Much as I athank the thought of this war coming to a bloodless and evenhearted end, Her Highness’s reckless mood of the threat to Vosaeth bothers me. I fear to gamble peace on my oath-sister’s life, though maybe a lorewhit lurks within, for have I not gambled life and welfare before my lovers’ eyes?

Lashunta Terms & Phrases:

• ~Kieza~ (common): clanmoot
• ~Saezae~ (spiritual): news; affairs; things
• ~Kolama~ (common): city; citizens
• ~Mae-se samaeante~: "Your mother is thankful."
• ~Nyaeante~ (feminine): hateful; accursed.
• ~Kezhi~ (spiritual): banished; cursed
• ~Illi~ (spiritual): will; intent
• ~O'illi resime~: "We shall/will fight."
• ~Sae~ (spiritual): word; report
• ~Ile~ (feminine): lady; honorific address
• ~Vehaea~ (common): odd; special