A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 30

In which Kaure takes her trials for Elindrae’s priesthood, while Vosaeth braces for her challenge with Lady Byreath.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

14. Soelae, 24,544 - 4th Day at Clanmoot
Of today’s deeds, mayhap the weightiest was the start of Kaure’s trial to join Elindrae’s priesthood. Though I watched, I will forlet it now and instead give it a full tale at the end, when I can bewrite it fairly. Also, while Lady Vei, Vosaeth, and Istae watched or shared the ongoing Clanwives’ strife, I forsook it to stay in camp.
Yet as my lone outlier to this stead, Remaue, Erymi, Tae, and, and Sievae took our children to Azaryau, where we bore them up into the lower boughs. Taiase and Kaure hosted us. From the limb-deck, ringed with garlands and worship-tokens, we yielded the children a stirring sight: the crag’s slopes falling away from the great soul-tree’s roots, the Clanfolk scurrying antlike underneath, and the moors reaching greater than ten ~sem~ on a clear day, with but Blighttide’s bright haze hindering further. Remaue and I sat on the edge, with little Aeosel on my bosom and Lanaryel on her thighs, leaned together, and showed them all this. Though my son’s eyes are not strong enough to see alone, he witted my thoughts, Remaue’s, and his big sister’s, and we shared awe.
I take a soothing liss that great Azaryau has stood here since even ere the Warrior-Queen’s foremothers gathered at Its foot. Yesteryear I had gotten treesight of the many, tallyless yesterminds It has soaked, and wonder at the tree-singers who get the frill to inseech and even speak over the yearthousands. This knowledge, and also that this mighty milk-tree will stand here long afterward, gives me deep faith. Although I know some Cityfolk who tease the Retaea’s belief that this soul-tree is a true god, I gainsay not and welcome Its blessing. I found myself singing a hymn I had learned from Vosaeth, which under our mindshare Remaue and Lanaryel uptook, and even my little babe began cooed in time. Then our gathership outstretched and linked the others, until we all sang and swayed as one. And if our sway matched the wind through Azaryau’s upper boughs, maybe It witted our prayer.
When we climbed down, we met Her Highness Lady Kueth of Ofu-Laubu. She kindly greeted us, yielded worship for my son’s birth, and then asked our thought on the Clanmoot’s business. I answered warily forwhy, though no grudge holds me against Ofu-Laubu, I was unsure how they stand toward the war and strife enwallowing Lea. I have heard that at sundry times Lea and Ofu-Laubu have used the clans as gambits between the cities. Thus I said that things show manifold, though I would misdoubt Her Highness knows not better than we. She took my wary answer evenly and bade I need not worry, for none behooves the Retaea’s strife. She then reminded the welcome she had offered yesteryear to come to Ofu-Laubu, and that a queen still sits there, who would love to meet Taiase. We answered we have not forgotten, though the nowward business takes want. With a bow she left, after which we climbed the slope down to camp.
I asked Lady Taiase her thought of Ofu-Laubu’s welcome, not only from Her Highness, but the hint it stemmed from their queen herself. Taiase answered we must reckon. She shrove wariness, for she full-wits the games and mightiness a queen can wield, yet was also reckful to see how one of the last queens in Asana rules. Of the city itself, she knew only tales, which had been whimsy even in her time.
Afterward, I sent this farseer-bode to Her Highness Lady Zhaene in Lea:

~Ethona doma yana. Ridizimae veare doromante. Ofu-Laubu vi misoaradu. Sti olae-li?~
“No new outcome. The Clanwives are still strife-bound. Ofu-Laubu has upcome to us. What is their steadship?”

...To which I got this answer:

~Ofu-Laubu lindassu benyara ovue. Doromi zimi veiri. Vehae mieaemni nezhisya. O’saeili saea lomya, o’emolassi Veiahal-Ilerru.~
“Ofu-Laubu has been speaking with some here. Strife also in the north. Likelihood to arail inthrifts. Bode all word, and share with Lady Veiahal.”

15. Soelae, 24,544 - 5th Day at the Blighttide Clanmoot
At slumbertide, Lady Taiase, Istae, and I went to the Ofu-Laubu camp and gave worship to her Highness Lady Kueth. Within her tent, the ambassador did something I had erenever seen: she laid hands over her bosom, knelt, and bowed. Here Taiase shamed pinkly and reminded Her Highness that not only did her queenship end long ago, but also that she has lawfully forsaken that nameright. Kindly Her Highness beseeched forgiveness, but added that Ofu-Laubu still minds the blood of Elder Queens, which lives still in Taiase, whether she is named queen or no, as it does in Her Highness’s city. Taiase took this kindness so lissomely as she could.
Her Highness yielded tea in the cities’ wise, nicely betasted with jasmine and rose-jam. She then asked how she might serve Son the Eldest. At Taiase’s and Istae’s nod, I spoke that we would worshipfully meet and let Her Highness know we are bidden to share all word with her. Lady Kueth nodded thankfully, as if she had so forelooked. She then asked our thought on this business. We answered that our inthrift is well known: yesteryear’s raid on Son’s tradefare and the stroke against us. Furthermore, we added that Her Highness is doubtlessly well beread of the strife upstirred in Lea, whose matrons have not yet taken a stand.
Her Highness took our word, and then asked what we bethought as the strife’s root. Here Taiase spoke that Her Highness may easily guess our thought, but asked word of what strife bothers the North, where the Shemez Clans dwell beyond Lea’s reach. Her Highness answered the northern clans have fallen to feud as well, some whomof are friendly with the Zhihuafa, and which has even stricken Ofu-Laubu’ landhold and warriors. She added, however, there is hope for truce. She then outlaid that Lady Byreath has brokered such an offer to safeward all land-trade between Ofu-Laubu, the Shemez Waste, and the Southern Moors, even as she had ere offered Lea.
At that word, bother stilled us. After a long breathtide, Istae deemed that, if Lady Byreath had gotten her will, the Zhihuafa and their allies would overhold all city-trade over both the waste and the moors. Lady Kueth yaysaid. I upspoke that a mistrustful self may bereckon this overhold, and matched with the strife almost forewillfully outbroken, as a policy of sunderhood. Her Highness answered some have even so forewarned. However, she added that Lady Byreath’s deal, along with unsmall gifts to Ofu-Laubu’s trademistresses and high reeves, had made it comely. Taiase ended with a thought that, if Ofu-Laubu and Lea stand together, little would lie beyond their reach. Lady Kueth nodded, saying we must see what outcomes. 
We left Her Highness with a newfound worship of her thoroughsight, though also with an unsettled worry of the breadth and depth of Lady Byreath’s underhandness, and also questions on what was befalling upon the northern waste and the legendary city upon its great crag. What had seemed a mere thing of hardening Lea’s will and outlaying the truth before the Clans now looks much more manifold.

16. Soelae, 24,544 - 6th Day at the Blighttide Clanmoot
Today I had nothing to far-bode to Lady Zheye, else than ~Doma yana~ - nothing new, which was the same word Taiase yesterday had sent. The Clanwives still whisper and striffle, though thankfully the warriors have stayed mild, and none have tried the tricks we have feared.
Thus I was forecaught when I got answer: ~O’Lea-bei zou sithanu. O’erimani mivaiara.~ - “A boat is coming from Lea. Forelook allies.” Yet no further whits on who these allies are, nor what they bring, which is unlike Her Highness’s wise to share knowledge. We have overtalked, ingathering me, Taiase, Istae, Lady Vei, Vosaeth, and her sisters, but to outcome else than to ask Her Highness Lady Veiahal as Lea’s trucebode. If Lady Zhaene cannot or will not tell, however, what will Lady Veiahal?
Yet to other things, I have ere written of Kaure’s trial to join the priesthood of Elindrae the Moon God, who the Retaea believe blessingly touches Thwartkind - both wifely ~Korashe~ and manly ~Damayas~ - with her gift, but have withheld word. With this log, I hope to give it a fair tale. Two days ago, we witnessed Kaure’s first trial-step for the priesthood. From dawn’s start until dusk, and wearing a blue phoenix-tailfeather headband to mark her trialhoood, Kaure could only walk backward, both within camp and outside going upon the crag. This beweighed more than ought, forwhy she must come to the priesthood’s stead at Azaryau’s roots and prove her trial. Remaue and I watched and cheered her forthness, dolefully as she steered up the crag’s path with but side-glances to foreread her strides. She reached it with but a few stumbles, and then also made her way back down. Once she fell, but gamely stood again and kept forth. When dusk set, we toasted her win, though soon she bedded, for though it seemed a small thing, after a whole day it had wearied her.
For her next trial-step yesterday, Kaure must speak all words backwards haltlessly, and speak I as You and You as I, and furthermore must speak of wives as manly and men as wifely. This wise she had grimly drilled while the last year, for it is a hard speech-wise. Yet she had gotten help from Draue’s boys Vesh and Donas and other older children, who had made it a cunning game where if someone missed, they must yield a toll. Shamefully, the children’s skill had grown even swifter than Kaure’s. They came with her before the trial’s priesthood, and after her speech even talked with her agame, at which all three got loud buzzing cheer and she gave them tight hugs.
For today and the third trial-step, Elindrae’s priests had given Kaure an unlike, more selfsome dare: she must find a wise to swive a man, as if the man was a wife, and Kaure the man. When we first learned this dare, she, Remaue, and I had long overtalked this riddle until Remaue outlaid an answer, which happily we already understood. For this trial she had found and bought a medaeo-root while in Lea, already shaven and shapen, for Kaure to use dolefully, which when soaked in water, swells handsomely.
However, to fulfill the trial, Kaure needed a man to hold the wifely stead. Here Kaure’s inborn shyness overcame, even though some of our housemates would yaysay, likely Less or Vosaeth’s harem-mates. So Remaue went for our maidenmate’s sake and asked among the men. Who she found to stand willing forecaught me, though I should not, from what I knew. Hanos came forth and forespoke to take the wifely stead for Kaure’s trial. I had known he loves her, though to my best knowledge, their nearness had never gone beyond idle kisses and pets, and sharing a wifelove between (first me, and then also Nae and Sievae). He had mildly wooed her, though after this while nothing further seemingly would forthcome. Thus I wondered how Kaure would behave to his offer, dolefully when, under Remaue’s lead, he knelt before our maidenmate and so forespoke. 
I neared and laid hand on her mighty shoulder, hoping to give some soothing strength. Softly Kaure bade Hanos stand. Though befuddled, he listened. Then to his shock, she knelt and kissed his belly. I sent Remaue a warning thought when she giggled, for I would not have her mar this dear tide. She wickedly thought back that, if Kaure heeded not, she would soon be kissing something else.
Our whole house and Vosaeth’s came today to the priesthood’s stead as witness. Kaure showed forth before their seats, where they sat in their shrouds and their odd peaked headdresses before which their antennae waved, and outspoke herself ready. At her beck, Hanos stepped forth, along with Nae and Sievae, who came for his uphold. Likewise, Remaue and I came with Kaure. We laid hands on our maidenmate's shoulder as she and Hanos hugged, and their antennae slowly twined in a heedful kiss.
Afterward, Kaure again stood before the priesthood, who cheered her deed. Then they set a moon-threadwork shroud upon her shoulders (though leaving her great bosom bare, in show of the Moon-God’s blessing), a twisted band on her neck, and tied a tall headdress on her head. Then Kaure led them in the moon-song while they danced and gazed overhead, where somewhere over Father-Sky Elindrae flew. A last thing: they gave her a silver necklace, which she gave to Hanos and named him moon-friend in nameworth of his help and love. They hugged again while we all cheered.
Afterward we drew them among us, where we asked Kaure’s blessing. Remaue and I led Kaure to bed, nestled her under a shroud, and laid Lanaryel in her arms. We left her with many kisses and our forespeech to soon cleave. I am enthriven of her feelings’ strength and her thoughts’ depth after her deed, and was foretried to stay instead of catching these words on leaf. Yet we have time to follow our speech, in which I may learn her wisdom.

18. Soelae, 24,544 - 8th Day at Clanmoot
Today, after many whispers and bargains, Vosaeth’s dare to Lady Byreath came high. The clanwives yaysaid to let the dare go forward, though under grim foreword. Byreath and Vosaeth themselves shall not fight. Instead, they shall bename champions, who must be Korasha, for under the Retaea’s harsh but businesslike thought, Korasha life is spendthriftier.
No sooner had word flown from the Clanwives’ moot when all four of Vosaeth’s haremmates - Leief, Vohyd, Onull, and Eneash - knelt before her. I shrive that, against my own recklessness in daring yesterly weapon-trials, a sickness overtook while I wondered whom Vosaeth would choose. Eyesomely I wished us to win. Yet I could not shun the fear that whom she chose would die, maybe even now strengthened since my babe, for these men have fought and warded me.
Thus guilt overtook when she chose Vohyd as her champion, forwhy Leief is my most beloved. Vohyd is acknowledged first among them, which makes the best thought, since he will more likely win. Yet I am recklessly relieved that Leief will not die. With tears flowing against my will, I hugged him in my bosom, at which he kissed my bosom, kissed my babe’s brow, and then knelt to kiss my belly, which left me feeling hopelessly unworthy. I witted Vosaeth watching us, knelt before her, and begged forgiveness. She set hand on my brow and bade: ~Zhaovelis inyaea samazastya.~ - “Pray for my haremmate’s win.”
So I strode upon the moor, knelt with my son before me, and looked to where Burning-Mother hid her bright face among the silvery Blighttide sky. Then I sang and yielded my bosom’s milk to the wind in offering.
One reckful riddle outstands in the weapon-trial’s day being foreset, which is two days hence. It falls not within Retaean selfsomeness to belag these things, but to boldly meet them. When I asked aloud, Taiase brought the answer from Her Highness Lady Veiahal of Lea. Her Highness had underworked to belag the weapon-trial, so that Lea’s new bodefare, already aboat upon Mother-Arasene’s waters and who must cross the moor after they reach Tihes, may come in time, which news also meant this new Lea trucebode had left long ere Lady Zheye told us. Else than this word, however, Lady Veiahal had yielded no whits else, which leaves us wondering what craftiness Lea has. Oughtfully Taiase far-boded our news back to Lady Zhaene, after which we have settled to wait the next upcome.

Lashunta Terms & Phrases

• ~Sem~ (common): a unit of measure equivalent to roughly four miles
• ~Ridizimae~ (feminine): clanwife; head of a clan.
• ~Korashe~ (fem): a female Korasha
• ~Damayas~ (masculine): a male Damaya
• ~Inyae~ (spiritual): victory
• ~Samazas~ (masc): haremmate