A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 42

In which Vaeol & Oshis try to reach an understanding, and Vosaeth contemplates fate.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

6. Asealae, 24,544 - Lea
Tonight we stay at Son’s embassy after a mirthtide at Her Highness Lady Vifaul’s hall. Some news forthcame, which shortly I will bewrite. Yet my thoughts have strayed far tonight, and only with hardship have I played ladylike couthness. I will first set them down here, and so hopefully cleanse their rankle.
Oshis yesternight did not come home, nor this morning. Erymi forbearingly alet the thing, as did I so cannily as best. Yet I shared her worry, and also more. I shrive the foresight she had yesterday given of Oshis besottenly swooned upon some farmwife’s broad bosom gladdens me not, as ere known by the last time he had loosened his bother, which had led to me catching him amid-swive with Damyane at the Noruma Trucemoot and almost offcalling my bridetide. I understand myself well enough to wit jealousy growing.
Yet that thought does not mainly bother me. What bothers more is that I wit Oshis’s fear, and know what he fears. I would bewrite it, but that I know not how to answer.
I had offered Erymi to come today to the city. Yet she naysaid and read she should better wait here in sake Oshis come home. In this deed, I take small sooth in that Oshis will not rightly forsake all his mothermates and children, whatever his mood toward me. Vosaeth lent me Leief to host for the nighttide, which thankfully I begrudge not. Yet it bemade an oddness, for I have grown used to having Oshis at my beck at these such tides, my fathermate, my First Man.
Of Lady Vifaul’s news, at the mirthtide we witted Her Highness Lady Kueth of Ofu-Laubu as her doleful guest, and also Her Highness Lady Glaethe of Than. Together the three high ladies brought forth a golden mead-vat, wrought with shapes of striving Damaya and Korasha. They outquoth there shall be a Hoverball game-trial at the Motorae among the three cities, of which the vat is the trophy. Even now boats from both other cities are coming hither within the week. The whole thing foresets to make this upcoming Motorae a holiday of sundry cheer and weightiness.
After we withdrew to the embassy, we talked with Lady Zhaene, who shared that the game-feud between the three cities is old, and that many times have they shared the trophy as it is won and rewon. She entrusted, however, that the time is odd, since wontfully the game is held every five years, though less years have gone since the last time. Though she has not spoken with Lady Vifaul, Her Highness believes the cities have hastened the time to cheer Lea’s meanfolk, under the war’s worry.

7. Asealae, 24,544 - Leiss Farmhold
We came home to Leiss at midmorn after taking good leave from Her Highness Lady Zhaene. Straightway we spotted Oshis’s Tarami hunting snakes with the other Shota. I looked into the treehome and beheld Oshis sitting with Erymi, Tesine on his thigh, and Lenis hanging from his father’s elbow. I settled Ess with the others, swiftly spoke with Vosaeth, Remaue, and Kaure, and then bore Aeosel to the main deck’s far edge, where we waited. Bywardly Erymi upstood with Tesine ahand and came near. She told Oshis had come home late yesternight, sulkily sorry and weary, and also that eyesomely he had shunned other farmholds and stayed to the shorewood, where he and Tarami had spent ereyesternight wandering the treepaths, slept rough on a boughthwart, and had yesterday hunted fruits and nuts. She had talked long with him and told he would speak. She kissed me blessing and climbed with her daughter to their bower.
Oshis, my bronze godling of manhood, was sitting on a railbough while I bore Aeosel, forwhy I would not forsake our son’s dearness as behoof, and slowly overstrode the deck. He did stood not when I neared, though I alet the slight, and merely watched me. I yielded his son, whom he took, raising him near to let their antennae tangle brow to brow, and Aoesel’s chubby hand touching his father’s cheek.
Then deftly he shifted our babe to his rocky shoulder. ~Saea ruaelm,~ he began: “We should have word,” to which I yaysaid.
He repeated his ereyesterday word that I had wronged him by hiding my deed. I naysaid not. After a long breathtide, I asked that, if I had spoken, would he have listened? He answered not, maybe shamefully, maybe forwhy he witted I already knew his answer.
~Mashya evolis,~ - “You seek plight,” my manlove bewrayed, and then added he could not stand the thought. He told my fight with Kazos ere my bridetide and motherhood had almost driven him mad. Now the worry with our son abreast was unbearable. He asked why I so hardly shun it.
~Stireori heshi-ya vi lathis?~ I asked back: “Why do you show such worry to me?” I tallied he eyesomely had not heeded Sievae until we came with proof that Lenis is his son. He showed no even worry toward Vosaeth and Sonnauf, who is a bare year older than Aeosel. I asked whether, in his youth, had he forsaken warriorhood in Son’s fird when Avahi was bechild with Zheye his eldest. Then I ended he had easily forsaken Erymi in Son when we left for the Formian Warfare, heedless that she was bechild with Tesine until after our homecome.
~Erymi neandale!~ - “Erymi was safe!” he shouted, as my last word hit a wrathful mark. Yet I asked back whether Erymi had been safe forwhy she and Remaue had dwelt in Son, and if so, what safeness had forelooked if Qoelu had broken the city’s wardwalls and trampled homes, or if a moldstorm had fallen (which may happen even within the Yaro Strath), or if a qualm had sickened the cityfolk. ~Dei o’shoali-yei neandale?~ - “Were they truly so safe?” ~Dei o’ahi vi aelis ho thalya theiaea?~ - “Can you ward us against the world’s doom?”
Oshis stubbornly answered not. I untied Semuane’s elfsword and foreyielded it. ~O’lomi leiraf haelora ivilassora utha-mastra o thali vi thanyeli.~ - “All I ask is the tool to ward our son if doom comes for us.” Then I asked if he would yield any less boon to Erymi, to Sievae or Vosaeth, or any other wives bechild or with babes abreast in our household, who, as I had erewardly said, were all warriors long ere they became mothers.
At my word, Oshis leapt forward, knelt, and laid head on my thighs. Such fear waved from him that my heart missed a beat and Aeosel whimpered. Here was the fear I had foreknown lay at his heart: the fear of a strong, proud man who bewits his mightiness is not enough to shield his love and kin. I could no longer withhold, leaned forward, and laid my brow on his nape. ~Dei zhianis doshoali-vya o thayelis zhianaro-vora heili-syara?~ - “Will you forgive my falseness if you take my forgiveness for your pride?” I thought-boded.
In answer, his head twisted upward. His antennae found mine, as his mouth found mine Aslanta-wise. I needed all my willmight to offhand Aeosel to Remaue (who wickedly had been hearing nearby). Then I led Oshis to my bower.

8. Asealae, 24,544 - Lea
Today started idly enough. For the first time since my son’s birthtide, I donned harness while Remaue saddled Ess. In the meadow we chose drill-spears. Then we upsteeded and rode tilt at half-speed. It felt good to again have spear fewtered in hand. Vosaeth and I rode against each other, though we listened to the others bewaring to shun war-wrath. Then I rode against Erymi and Honosil. The Shotalashu too thrilled to so meet and could not withhold idle swipes at each other's flanks.
After my first few matches, Oshis outcame, likewise aharness and leading Tarami. He chose a drill-spear, upsteeded, and waited. We halted athwart the drillyard’s far sides, whereat I raised spear to hail, and he answered. Then we rode against each other, and though half-speed, his spearhead smote hammerlike from his thewsome arm, jarred my shield and threw it wide, and almost twisted me from saddle. Even though I struck him, the shock from his stonelike manflesh knocked the spearhaft from my hand. We rode again four more times, in every which he struck right so hard as the first. In aftersight, I would forelook nothing less, even as my arm throbbed and my back wracked, from my proud doughty manlove.
Afterward, when we let the Shota gamble among themselves and while I eased my bruised shieldarm, Oshis came, knelt, and set his brow on my harness where it whelmed my belly, the fulsome deed of a man yielding worship to his flagwife and mothermate. I witted his fierce sorrow that he had broken his own honor to ride against me. Wordlessly I laid thanks upon his nape for his spear’s stern worship.
Next, I got to tilt against Kaure, who though she is already war-proven, we had erenever done. True to outlook, it was like striking a tree-stump. If anything, her Korasha weight sits even lower asaddle than Oshis, letting her wobble out of spearstrokes that might send any other foe toppling, and she smites almost as strongly as. After our third stride, I could withhold no longer but lifted spear to hailstead, rode forth to midyard, and bade her near. Then I doffed helm, overleaned the gap between our steed, and kissed her. ~O’loeodi qoandise lome aemilasse,~ I breakingly whispered: “You have most worthily become all foreseen.” Then I forsook the drillyard to wait on my maidenmate and soothe my twice-bruised shieldarm while her pride rightfully swelled. She next rode against Oshis in a clash that seemingly shook the ground.
Then we saw a Shotalashu lope into the farmhold, pathlimbs shaking from its hasty stride. At our hail, it bounded groundward, reaching the drillyard right as our Shota witted and growled daringly, though it unheeded under its rider’s will. We beheld Lady Soezh of Lea’s citadel, and no mere wordbode but an outrider. She swiftly hailed and naysaid our guesthood, for she must outhasten. ~Saezae rei,~ - “News of the war,” she outlaid. Lady Soezh told Lea had gotten word of a fight among the clans, and furthermore a win. She bade us, under Her Highness the high matron’s name, come to the Matrons’ Hall to hear. We forespoke to come laglessly, at which she touched helm, heartened her steed, and again climbed to the treepaths to bear word to the next farmhold.
Swiftly we cleansed, and then in a wild throng sought to clothe for the matronhood. I needed all my will not to redon harness, which would be unseemly for a new mother and guest, but settled for my silver breastdishes, armbands, and greaves. We must also deal with the thing of who should come along, forwhy all our flagmates were grabbing weapons and harness as if the Zhihuafa themselves were beating the wallgate. In the end, we chose Remaue, Kaure, Anmeth, Leief, and Onull to host, even though Oshis outwilled to come too. We bade him stay at the farmhold.
Yet with both me and Vosaeth going along with our babes, Oshis would not be overswayed. At last I had no choice but to shame him, hearkening our earlier speech. ~Stei Tesine mi Lenis, o’mei mae Erymi mi Sievae? Dei zimi eisamae? Sta ivilya?~ - “What of Tesine and Lenis, and their mothers Erymi and Sievae? Are they not your mothermates too? Who will defend them?” I reminded we would be safe upon Lea’s island stronghold, but no such fastness here. I heard his teeth grind ere he yielded, and Erymi bade him chop firewood until his sulk ended.
Also, I did not unheed that Vosaeth was bringing Anmeth and Leief together. After Vuaeul’s Holinight and Anmeth’s bridetide, I had forewared some wickedness under Vosaeth’s jealousy. I wondered whether she brought them as a token of giftfulness, or to more nearly oversee.
More hastily than ladylike, though not swiftly enough for our worry, we rode to the city and installed our steeds. Then we raised shroudhems and almost ran over the bridge, up to the highfarthing, where we found the cityfolk already enthronged. With Kaure, Leief, and Onull’s help, we shoved through and reached the forestairs, where we stood with Her Highness Lady Zhaene and her embassy staff among the waiting matrons and outriders not awatch.
Soon Her Highness Lady Vifaul came forth and outquoth the word that had come from the southern moors. Clans Miniada, Merukatha, Neuyila and their allies had found and fought the Zhihuafa. By this grim tale, hundreds were dead, but Lady Byreath and her allies had lost. We heard this tale:
Yestermonth, Byreath had led the Zhihuafa and their outstanding allies further southward into the canegrass meadows, whereby they tried to slip eastward, maybe thinking they could shun Lea’s watch of the lakeshore (which is beshrivedly weak) or maybe even to flee toward Than. Yet Vosaeth’s mother Lady Vei had foreseen their drift, and so on the 16th of Shenealae had lain a bushwhack upon their path. The Miniada allies had fallen upon their foes’ outstrung row with arrows and spears, to great slaughter. Then had followed a wild, befuddlesome fight whereunder no clan or sith could tell what was happening elsewhere on the warfield, forwhy the canegrass grew too thick, and the Retaea are unused to moorless, nearsighted warcraft. At sundry times either side might misbelieve themselves forlost. Siths fled when they should strike, and friends even came to blows within the muddle until wisdom overcame. In the end, two foe clans fell under the fight, four clans fled, of which two yielded truce afterward.
Yet when throats asked whether Byreath had fallen, we learned the Zhihuafa had forsaken all their allies, and even their Shieldheads and wagons, and had slipped into the brush. The spoor had led into the shorewood and back to the moors, where it faded amid the shortgrass. The clanfolk sought everywhere, but so far had not found the outlivers. They now besought Lea to heighten the watch, so that the Zhihuafa may not flee back to the Northern Shemez where they still have allies. Yet wiselessly the Zhihuafa now outstand as nothing mightier than a bothersome threat. Told Her Highness, the war is outcomefully ended.
At this news, a great cheer buzzed. Her Highness beseeched that tomorrow shall be a holiday, to which the matrons yaysaid. At this word, the cheer spread to the throng outside the hall. Lady Zhaene, in thankfulness as she reckoned a great wrong rightened, outspoke a mirthtide here at the embassy, which even now dances and laughs downstairs. After suffering so much, the city’s mood has uplifted.
Ere the mirthtide began, I witted Vosaeth stealing alone from the embassy, with her babe only. Heedfully, and worried at her loneness, Remaue, Kaure, and I followed. Her goal outcame as no hidden stealth, but rather the lakewall, atop which she stood and gazed over Mother-Arasene, who under Heaventide’s broken sky betook a weird golden glow at the edges, glancing the unseen sunset behind while Her waters darkened purple to match Heaven overhead. This seemed an odd thoughtsomeness for my oath-sister’s behavior. So I bade my wifemates hold back and neared alone.
Soon as I neared, she bewared my baby-might and smiled awkwardly. We traded babes, which brought us into an easy-mindshare. Yet I withheld ask and happily rocked my son’s big brother, whose stillness matched his mother’s, and let her choose the speech.
At last she spoke: ~Sae olloni yi aemandalafe,~ - “It was better news than I forelooked.” I wordlessly yaysaid and let her eyes resettle upon the lake’s wavy face.
Then came the word she had striven to find: ~O’ziari devealde,~ she whispered: “And yet she outfled,” meaning Byreath. Grudgingly she added we should not be forecaught, forwhy the Zhihuafa clanwife has a knack for outwriggling tightness, and dolefully if so can be outwon by friends’ betrayal. I answered this war has doubtlessly shown forth her true self.
Vosaeth’s brow frowned, antennae rising high and forward while she looked upward among the clouds seething over Heaven, the stars boldly shining through the gaps. I could read she was keenly wondering what will happen next. She hissed a fierce word: ~Rei o’diveari tiae,~ - “The war is not over yet.” Then she chuckled: ~Iqovi thali,~ - “It feels like doom.” She spoke no more and headed back to the embassy.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:
~Sae~ (spiritual): word; report; news
~Mashi~ (spiritual): plight; danger
~Stireori~: why
~Heshi~ (spiritual): worry
~Thali~ (spiritual): doom; fate
~Theia~ (common): world; planet
~Loeodi~: worthiest; superlative of ~loea~: worthy
~Saezae~: (spiritual): news; affairs
~Rei~: (spiritual): war
~Iqovassi~: to feel like