A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 38

In which Vaeol and Vosaeth are called back to Lady Vei, who has a plan to end the war.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

6. Evelae, 24,544 - Lea
Today swift wordbode from the city bidding us come and hear: Vosaeth’s mother Lady Vei had sent a rider beseeching a speech-moot. Her Highness Lady Vifaul shall go, along with Lady Soath and Lady Lavial, along with their clans. Also, Vosaeth and I will go.
The news offsparked a wordstorm among our household over who shall host and who shall stay. Vosaeth shall bring all her housemates, forwhy they all yearn to regather with their clan. After rede, Remaue and Kaure yaysaid that Kaure shall go as my shieldbearer while Remaue stays to oversee those who stay at the farmhold. Oshis will not forsake me even at life’s threat, which means Erymi will likewise come, though she will leave Tesine with Remaue. Draue too shall leave her boys since they are old enough to help chores. Nae and Hanos shall also come. Yet Tae and Less thought wrackingly ere they chose to stay, since she still suckles Yaraess, and unlike Vosaeth and me, her self-show is not bidden, and Less will not forsake her. Sievae too will stay.
Taiase has also outwilled to go, forwhy she misses Istae hopelessly. Her Highness, we, and even Lady Zhaene foreread her to stay. Yet in answer I dare write a shred of the old Elder Queen showed forth when her eyes glared fiery and she outspoke that she shall cleave the host and her word shall stand last. Something haughty unhid within this meek and priestly wife, and I could bedream the princess who had outflanked her sister to reach Son’s throne so many yearthousands ago. Then her mood faded, and I almost think her will-strength had afrightened her, though not ere she afastened the High Matron’s oath to afollow the truce-sith. I shrive the deed has us chuckling hiddenly over her queenliness.
Though we will be well hosted and warded tomorrow, I misgive. While we ride into war, I will do so weaponless, and bearing my slight babe. Mayhap to offset my mind, I bethought to call one I had not spoken in a long while. So I sent far-seer word to Krastaes:

~A homaeas, eshoni tolli di linzyelma, o'mei ezimya ruaelf o’nazassi ava-sastra harastra soarassastra. O’allae nirdis lirae-vya.~:
“My friend, though we have long not spoken, I would give much to have your strong arm near. You may have heard of our sorrows.”

…To which I got his answer:

~Haelas siroaf noryura o’omoni-sya. Ziari vas fazantas. Ilaea eshi lamura ukyelf oe lanamyelvas eistryerru. Eiesi-sei mashi losya-shyaeli.~
“My hand craves an axe for your sake. Yet I am fat. Little but making wine and cooking for my wifemate. The thought of you aplight shames me.”

To which word I naughtily could not withhold:

~O’roae-sei, haes nilonarrya yi lanamarrya eistryerru. O’seili afe tavauelante.~
“Knowing you, you do more than cook for your wifemate. May she be blissful and full.”

To which:

~A Ile qeiaese. Va mei zhaeama. Zesha Raeasta saoraearru aveada tavauelya. Temmas o kiafol o eistrye uthara uzeshasse.~:
“My Lady, you are funny. We are now grandparents. Raeas’s fares to the highlands have grown to fullness. I stay at the farmhold while my wifemate visits the babe.”

This news I could not withhold from the household but raced to tell, and unmerely that Krastaes bears a grandfather’s blessing, but also is playing fat farmer, which brought no small laughter from my housemates. His grandfatherhood’s word also reminded the awkwardness his son Raeas had made among the Noruma when he had first loved Lady Karami but then switched to her daughter, which then made lively gossip to which wife he has given a child. In the end, it made for a lighter tide against the earlier daytide and tomorrow’s lookforth of a strong ridefare on the moors. Looking ereward, I bless the mirth.

10. Evelae, 24,544 - Last Queen’s Bluff
We rode from Lea on the Seventh with her Highness Lady Vifaul and Lady-Captain Oraeath, along with a strong host of riders and swift-running light footmen. Also came Lady Soath and Lady Lavial both leading their clans. We set a swift stride and long dayfares, which I first feared would go ill for me, Vosaeth, and our babes. Yet our boys atook like heroes. Reminding the earlier deed with Oshis and Ess, I set Aeosel on the foresaddle, propped against my belly and thighs. There he rode gleefully and even slept for a long tide ere I set him in a breast-swaddle. Vosaeth did samely with Sonnauf, which only strengthened our belief that they behave after their father, who stalwartly rode beside with Kaure and Erymi.
Today at forenoon we reached Last Queen’s Bluff, so named after Anihaueth the Last Queen, as the Retaea name her. Though I had erenever heard, we of the cities would rightly name her ~Shaveraze Ryre~ - the Last Thief-Queen. The cities hold that the Time of the Thief-Queens ended when the Thief-Queens were outshoved from the Yaro. Yet both Lea and the Retaea know the Thief-Queens still ruled long afterward over the moor and lakeshore, a worrisome empire that wrought much wrack until both city and clan uprose. Anihaueth was the last to gather the clans (though not all) under her crown, and for a bold goal: to strike northward over the Shemez at Ofu-Laubu. Quoth yore-tale, Queen Anihaueth had gathered her war-host under this bluff, whereafter they found doom on the northern waste, dashed against Ofu-Laubu’s unyielding crag while Thakasa-skyriders rained death from the sky, or dying thirstily upon the Shemez’s drought. From what I have heard, the clanfolk tell these deeds with a sorry forsoothness, a loretide in pride’s loss.
We found the Miniada camped under the bluff (though shrewdly with watchers at the peak). Lady Vei and her elder daughters Rashe and Ahun were waiting asteed when we uprode, along with Istae (whom we gladly waved). Vosaeth’s mother nodded to Her Highness as she halted her Shotalashu. I could tell it set the clanfolk to goodwill the High Matron rode Shotalashu with her warriors. Lady Vifaul gave back the nod smilingly and quoth that when the Miniada called, Lea had answered. Lady Vei acknowledgingly added that, for this deed, we are their guests. Then she welcomed us to camp and yielded us all meadmilk, while which she traded Vosaeth her daughter for her grandson and dearly held him abreast and tangled antennae, and next did samely with my babe and blessed that her grandson has a worthy brother.
Her Highness betold our news from Lea, of the skull found that we believed Lady Zhorofi’s, and the curse spoken against Byreath. Lady Vei betrusted the skull was indeed Zhorofi’s, whom the Zhihuafa had slain, and whose headless body had been found. She blessed the city’s curse on Byreath, after which the leaders spoke of the forbidship Lea has set upon the lakeshore, though Lady Vifaul shrove the city can unlikely forbid the whole shorewood. Lady Vei took this news weighingly, and then shared that two more clans, the Anasha and the Kefoha, who had taken woe at the Aloaha’s slaughter, have forsaken the Zhihuafa alliance. They had ruefully come to the Miniada, who had forgiven their guilt. She reckoned the Zhihuafa’s alliance was growing slight. At this word, Lady Soath of the Merukatha asked what Lady Vei held amind. Lady Vei asked if the Merukatha will ride with her, to which the other clanwife yaysaid, and Lady Lavial bade her tell.
Lady Vei looked about the gathered leaders as her guests. Then she outquoth a goal to snare Byreath and the Zhihuafa. She warned it shall need a Heaventide warfare. This will break the Clans’ wont, since kinderly Heaventide is truce. Yet she read that, knowing Byreath, she will hold no such truce, and if the clans stir not, more will be lost. She then asked both the Merukatha and the Neuyila if they would ride forth. Both clanwives yaysaid.
Her Highness Lady Vifaul rose and blessed this undertake. She then asked what the Miniada would beseech of Lea. Lady Vei answered Lea’s goodwill, and also, since clans warring while Heaventide may meet hunger, that Lea outyield stocks to back the alliance. Her Highness yaysaid. Then Lady Vei strode to the High Matron and kissed her. ~Eshoni karaea hishya evolyelm, o’romi yi haef o’reori-difi,~ she outspoke: “Though we seek another’s death, let us do so for the right reason.” Then she bade a song for Lea’s worship, and as the dance-drums began, a thurse-roast came forth, along with fresh cheesy grassberry cake.
Straightway we rushed to Istae, who had been standing aharness, Son’s silver sun gleaming on her breastdish, arear the clanheads. Taiase hung from her maidenlove’s dusky neck and would not loosen while we clustered near. We leaned our brows against hers while the Korasha kissed her hands. She met us with tearful eyes matching ours.
I reckoned my sister-outrider while we shared news. A hard leanness holds her face, behinting long days asaddle and sleepless nightwatches. She told they have scouted far seeking the Zhihuafa and their allies, marked by seldom skirmishes, swift raids, and stealthy arrowshots. She shrove she had seen Clan Aloaha’s wreck, the burnt wagons and bodies of Lashunta, Shota, and Shieldheads, after the Queenslayers and bonepickers had overeaten. It reminded war’s grimness that, even so much as we strive for honor, this craft springs from death.
Erenow, I have right come from speech with Vosaeth, who had a frightful strife with Lady Vei her mother. My oath-sister begged to come back to the clan and take share in the warfare. Her mother forbade, which has stoked Vosaeth’s wrath. Yet the old clanwife read with some wisdom that her daughter must keep the alliance between their clan and Lea. We are not unmindful that, though Lady Vifaul and the Matrons’ mood now blows against the Zhihuafa, Lady Byreath still has friends in the city who can outname a whole lot of reasons why they should not meddle in the clans. Though Vosaeth understands this thought, she cannot forget Vohyd her haremmate’s death, nor the raid-stroke against us that almost owned Less’s and Zhaunyth’s lives. My oath-sister has a deep need for blood-wrack, which, though I understand, unsettles and frightens me. At this tide, however, she has listened and forespoken to go back to Lea.

11. Evelae, 24,544 - 2nd Day at Last Queen’s Bluff
We camp another nighttide here with Her Highness, since the ridefare hither was harder than many high ladies wontfully undergo. Yet the Miniada, ingathering Vosaeth’s kin, our beloved Istae, Clan Merukatha, and Clan Neuyila, have already left. They fare southward, wherein I doubt not their hunt for the Zhihuafa already begins. We will fare back tomorrow to Lea.
At First Watch yesternight, Istae sought me while I suckled Aeosel. We talked a while, for which she seemed thankful. My sister-outrider has undergone much deedfulness under this war. She bears a new grimness. In fairness, her worship for Lady Vei has grown, whom she deems a shrewd and heedful leader for her clan’s sake. She also shared the clanwife believes they can foretell whither the Zhihuafa and their allies will go. From my sister-outrider’s mind I felt a sorrowful wisdom that under my thought greatens my love.
While we talked, I witted her eyes settle on Oshis and Hanos, who slumbered lazily bare, forspent amid our wifeloves they had ere mightily filled. Her inthrift, and dare I say thrill, forecaught me, for long have I wondered whether she may keep maidenhood and a sheerer oath. Then she caught my witness and shamed cutely, whereat I giggled and kissed her. Aeosel took behoof to grab her braidlock, which his chubby hand tugged until she playfully nibbled his fingers.
She told she and Taiase had much talked ere her warfare and our stay in Lea, and who had been heartening her to reckon wifehood. Our elder wifelove still finds our newer outriderhood outlandish, and dolefully the outlook that outriders stay maiden. Istae shared that Taiase rightfully blessed my choice for wifehood. I beread her not to let any else make her choice but she must choose rightly for her self’s sake. Whatever she may do, I forespoke, I will uphold, even as I have done Semuane.
Then Istae shrove something she had erenever told: ~O’niloni-tei, zi Zesharea Moera, evenaf hoeara-sara evolassara vaea o’karae-hieshi~ - “More and more, after the Formian Warfare, I understand your choice to seek life instead of death.” Her fingers tightened between mine, and her eyes glistened.
I asked what she will do, though smilingly she shook her head. ~O’miari-vei doma,~ - “Nothing yet,” she answered thoughtfully, and then slipped a wry grin: ~Ziari rei o'stimi-dei eryryae~ - “Yet this war will not last forever.”
In afterthought, I have erenever reckoned my choice to reach wifehood and bear a babe was anything more than selfish want, and rightly not that any wisdom lay within but that: ~vae evoali vaea nilonya,~ - life seeks more life, as philosophy teaches, and not that another would find it within my example. Yet more hope I behold in that my sister-outrider, friend, and maidenlove is already forereckoning peace. If we can foresee this war’s end, I will take it as a blessing.
As further omen, heavy rain beats the tent. Stormtide has ended Blighttide. We will meet a wet homefare, but thankful.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• ~Homaeas~: masculine of ~homaea~: friend
• ~Roae~ (spiritual): knowledge
• ~Ile~ (feminine): lady
• ~Kiafol~ (common): farm
• ~Shaveraze~ (feminine): Thief-Queen
• ~Ryre~: feminine of ~ryra~ - last
• ~Karae~ (spiritual): death
• ~o'Reori-Difi~ (adverbial phrase): for the right reason
• ~o'Niloni-Tei~ (adverbial phrase): more and more
• ~Moera~ (common): Formians
• ~Doma~ (common): nothing; nobody
• ~Rei~ (spiritual): war
• ~Vae~ (spiritual): life; soul