A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 37

In which Lady Vaeol witnesses how Lea stirs against Byreath, and her son gets his first riding lesson.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

Evelae Treesong, 24,544 - Lea
At today’s Treesong, with the whole matronhood waiting, we ended the wake for Lady Zhorofi’s death. Her Highness Lady Vifaul overstood, and gathered with Lady Nimizi, who, against her downfall as High Matron, stood at Her Highness’s doleful beseech. This open show marked a weighty outcome, as doubtlessly the two ladies forewilled.
After the last hymn bequeathed Lady Zhorofi’s life to the World-Soul, Her Highness and Lady Nimizi led the throng to the city’s heartyard, where Soavishu, Lea’s Soul-Tree, grows. They came to the tree-beam, bowed heads, and yielded worship. Then they headed to the onlookers, stood straight, and unshrouded their heads. After we all did samely, Her Highness outquoth a great wrong has been done to the city, and furthermore to the free folk of the Retaea, who even now upseethe in war, whose whole guilt may be set against one person.
Then Her Highness called forth Vosaeth, who, for once meekly, outstepped with her son in arm. Lady Vifaul acknowledged my oath-sister had forsworn her feud, shriven her sins, and set aside her feud for the city’s peace. Yet also she had tried to warn them of the plightsomeness grown within Lady Byreath’s mind. Her clan and our household had suffered under the Zhihuafa’s sins, and Lady Vosaeth had shown forbearance and wisdom in answer, a worth, added Her Highness, she had doubtlessly learned from her mother Lady Vei, who now led the Clans’ alliance. ~Si laea-shyaeldise homae Leae,~ - “You have proven a friend to Lea,” she blessed, and kissed my oath-sister.
Then Her Highness raised head to throng. ~O'ziari e name di homasse Leara,~ - “Yet there is one who is not Lea’s friend,” she added. She outlaid all the woes undergone by Lea, by her elder sister Son, and by other clans, ingathering the Aloaha, the Miniada, and also the Merukatha and Neuyila, could be set in one hand. ~Oe haele yi hodiyafoyele, o’nae beminye!~ - “And when a hand so evilly strikes, it must be offcut!” she deemed.
Then she spoke Lady Byreath’s name and laid a ban-curse. She beseeched the Matrons to uphold it, and furthermore to bless the Citadel and the fird to send boats along the lakeshore, to forbid the Zhihuafa and any else who follow Byreath from the lake and shorewoods. ~O’ti-romi shoalya homaeara domara Leara, oeo’Anmathi asura evolyela, o'illi senya o retaea.~ - “Let them find no friend in Lea, and if they seek water in Heaventide, let them thirst upon the moor.”
At her word, a great whisper rose among the throng, for this curse, not against a man, but against a wife, and even a leading clanwife, is unforeknown. It makes Byreath outlaw, though not that the Retaea, and dolefully Byreath, much reck the city’s law. Yet I could tell it bothered some, even as it thrilled others.
Then Lady Nimizi strode beside Her Highness and outspoke that, though she had ereshriven she owned a guilt in Lady Byreath’s rise and sin, she spoke now to uphold the ban-curse. ~Byreath doelde relesya kolamya,~ - “Byreath has wounded the city’s honor,” she outlaid. ~O’neamassi relesya, o’saiami hifoefa,~ - “To heal our honor, we must strike back as one.” Then she swore to hire a boat with crew and war-sith from her own wealth.
Therewith, under much talk, Her Highness and the Matronhood withdrew to the hall, which we with Her Highness Lady Zhaene followed. In hearing, I wish I could tell their deemship was so easily chosen as Lady Vifaul had outspoken. Indeed, it proved much harder, for not all the matrons were so overbewon. Many bemoaned the fee such a warfare would need, and no few still held thought that Lea should not enwallow in the Clans’ feuds (as they bespoke them). In the end, the Matronhood yaysaid to uphold the curse, making Byreath outlaw. Yet they did so with letting fewer boats and warriors than Her Highness had put forth.
After the speeches ended and the call was taken, we took leave of Lady Vifaul. Her Highness kept a couth look, though I guessed her unhappy with the whole outcome. She gave us fair farewell, forwhy, knowing our mind, she understood we had upheld her call, and forespoke we shall soon talk. We withdrew with Her Highness Lady Zhaene, where at the embassy we have taken duskmeal, suckled our babes, and overtalked where next this war will grow. Vosaeth hopelessly awaits news of her mother’s clan, as do we of Istae, all whomof we wish safe so that we may again come to them.

3. Evelae, 24,544 - Leiss Farmhold
After we yesterday came back, little else to bewrite. Our house talked of the war, whither fare the Miniada, Vosaeth’s kin, and Istae. Vosaeth foretold an unmerry and wantsome Heaventide. It is unwontsome to raid while Heaventide, and clans will even call a short truce. No hint, however, that any such goodwill may outreach now. Warcraft selfsomely led us to overtalk what we reckon Byreath and the Zhihuafa will do. Little we could foretell else than Byreath treads in a tightening snare, but that she will try a bold deed to break out. What that deed may be we know not, and we would not else-guess Istae and Lady Vei in their afterhunt. This surelessness bestemmed Vosaeth, Honosil, Leief, Oshis, and Less all striding like enfolded, hungry coeurl seeking some chink in their lockbooth.
Though I shared their bother, I needed something more forthcoming than angry strides. So I bore my son out among the fields where we could overwatch the land. My babe’s will led us to the Shota pack, who were scouting in a broad lazy ring over the farmhold, hunting toads, snakes, and whiskerlings. On our sight, Ess left the pack and pranced near. I find dearer than I can reckon that he behaves my son like an hatchling. I hugged his neck while he snuffingly kissed Aeosel, who squealed merrily  belying the great jaws and teeth.
Whimsily I stirred to Ess’s shoulder, lifted my son, and set him aback. To my glee, he sat well, head upright, small chubby legs tight to my steed’s hide, bent forward merely to set hands upon Ess’s mighty shoulder. Through our bond I felt my babe’s awe at this new deed, sitting tall alone. From my shared yestermind he witted the right stead while Ess preened.
While he sat, I witted Oshis nearing. I looked to my son’s father with pride overbubbling that our babe, hardly four months old, could sit asteed, and misdoubt a foolish grin slathered my face. I read a samely awe within his own thought, though also something more manifold and worried, and halted to reckon.
Then from Aeosel’s mind, anon I felt a bid, not so much a word as a wit: wind racing on our face, land leaping by, and speed like flight. Yet to a speechless Shotalashu the meaning rang clear. I felt Ess tighten and gather. Ere I could naysay, he started and dashed over the field with my son upon his back.
My yell overdrowned my son’s thrillsome squeal. I afterran, begging Ess to halt, as did Oshis.
Ess withholdingly slowed, against Aeosel’s goading laughter, and sidled back, clearly torn between his rider’s glee and my fright. I hurried near, bewon Ess’s halt, and offlifted my babe, even as his laughter shifted to gainsaying wails. I forebore his chubby, fitful limb-strokes and hugged him to cheek and breast even as a worried chuckle fled my throat. Oshis was less merry and updashed so fiercely that Ess answered with a threat-show, since he still behaves as if I were his haremmate. I stood between and outwilled peace, and then yielded Oshis his son to prove the little outlaw unharmed.
We walked back to the hometree with Aeosel safely tucked upon my bosom, Oshis stout arm on my waist, and Ess sauntering afterward as if seeking another forehap to take flight with this fellow outlaw. When the household asked our worry, the tale of Aeosel fleeing on my steed brought many chuckles, though Remaue cuffed my nape for witlessly setting him asteed. My soul-bond with Ess means that Aeosel is likewise bound. Erymi, however, was less stern. She kissed her mate-son lying on my breast and spoke: ~A shaeomas ihaeas o’diasa-yei~ - “Bold and naughty like his father.” Then not unproudly she hugged Oshis and kissed his brow. Vosaeth likewise kissed her son’s brother and laid her brow on mine. ~Zhoas utha-mas lashyas,~ she forespoke: “Both our sons will ride.”
Throughout, I bewared Oshis, whomof I have a stronger rede on his wits than most. I bewitted his manifold, worried heart at our son’s towardness. All his life he has been called the Korasha Who Rides, for while it is a mean wont among the Retaea, among the cities it is much more seldom, and he has long undergone unmanly scorn. I could tell his pride that his son may afterfollow, and furthermore that we misspeak not his skill but hold him worthy. Even so, a fear inslithers that our son will undergo the same ills as he.
I sidled near, gave our babe into his mighty arms, and hugged him behind. I upyielded wordless oath that they both will be upheld and unforsaken, and reminded I had raided and bound Lady Erenyae for his sake. What less would I not do for our son?
Now while I sit here writing alone, however, Oshis’s fear has become mine, even sixfold. Not only do I have a manlove who rides better than most outriders, against longtime scorn, but a son who may follow, and also a Korasha maidenmate who has undergone more harm than anyone should rightly bear. Furthermore, who can foretell whatever plights all our children may meet? Will the boys become ~Damayas~ or more girls ~Korashe~?
After thought, I wonder why it must even reck. Instead, should they not seek their lives as doom wills? Here as I helplessly try to foreward all threats, I wonder how may we make the world better.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• ~Homae~ feminine of ~homaea~: friend
• ~Name~ feminine of ~nama~: person; someone
• ~Haele~ feminine of ~hael~: hand
• ~Lea~ (common): city in north-central Asana, on the shore of Lake Arasene
• ~Anmathi~ (spiritual): Heaventide; the Castrovellian equivalent to Winter
• ~Relesi~ (spiritual): worship; honor
• ~Kolama~ (common): city; citiizenry; citizen
• ~Shaeomas~ masculine of ~shaeoma~: bold
• ~Ihaeas~ masculine of ~ihaea~: naughty; wicked
• ~Dias~ (masculine): father
• ~Zhoa~ two; both
• ~Uthas~ (masculine): son
• ~Damayas~ (masculine): a male Damaya
• ~Korashe~ (feminine): a female Korasha