A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 48

In which Vaeol tries to foretell the future while Vosaeth makes a choice about her harem.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaravenae be’Son

6. Koelae, 24,545 - Leiss Farmhold
Yesterday we came into the city and, after thaneship for the matrons, sought hearth with Lady-Captain Oraeath of the Citadel and Lady Iman Mistress of Outriders. From them we beseeched leave to drill with the Citadel. As reason, we foreyielded the drill will not only behoove us, but also will aim Vosaeth’s mind on else than her clan and the war’s doom. When Lady-Captain asked the couthness of mothers drilling with babes still abreast, I answered: ~Rei di zimalli uthara,~ - “War waits not for children.” We also outlaid how we had been drilling among ourselves at the farmhold and that we have reached the tide where we need to outgrow our sparring-mates, to which the ladies gave lissome thought, and then yaysaid
Thus today we got to drill at the Citadel, and unmerely Vosaeth and I, for I dolefully brought Kaure and Oshis with (along with Remaue, who minded the children), and also Tae, who like us would eagerly shed her idle baby-weight. I shrive we got unfew queer looks from the warriorhood, for in many wises we were an unselfsome troop. Many withheld under blind honor from fighting mothers (though Tae recked not, since she spent most tide at the arrow butts). Yet the sight of two Korasha riding (and one a man) misruffled some blossoms, though once the warriors witnessed the strength and doughtiness wherewith my lovers struck spears, the wiser warriors sought them to spar. For my share, my nameworth as a games champion at the foot-trial who had furthermore beaten Korasha had spread, and thus got some earnest beseeches to try my skill, which got me a few happy fights crossing swordbills, though with some bruises.
A Korasha named Vaer beseeched me to spar, which earned him no few hisses from the watchers, though I proved my worth when I offdrew his brunt and struck him at length. Afterward he flirtingly sought my goodwill, which made me a chuckle from his mindfulness, and also wonder whether he seeks a household-stead. Oshis showed his jealousy when he took our son from Remaue and yielded him to me. Warily, Vaer asked whether Oshis is my fathermate. I yaysaid, though I answered within Oshis’s earshot that he is fathermate to many. That wicked word bequeathed my manlove a small shame and reminded him to beware ownersomeness.
Tomorrow we will tarry, though our housemates who got not today’s hap and who have no farm-chore will have time to drill. I wit a restlessness overholds, goading us to some deed I know not what.

7. Koelae, 24,545 - Lea
After today’s watch upon the matrons and Her Highness, we have withdrawn to the embassy, where we sat with Lady Zhaene for duskmeal. Afterward, and maybe in answer to the restlessness yesterday I bewrote, I did something I had not long done: I read the omens, which left me overreckoning meaningfulness.
I drew three glyphs: the adder, the sword, and the skull. In no wise can these three be read as lucky. The only question is what dolefully they foretell.
I have ere met the adder-glyph. It was one I drew right ere Kazos tried to break our truce-moot between the Highland Clans and the Elves. Yet now, and after Lady Vei’s far-seer word, I cannot help but think it may mean Byreath. Does it forelook Byreath as the adder, or that something unforeseen may strike?
The sword-glyph may mean war, but also worthiness, or maybe a choice. How shall this outfall, and outcomefully after this war has beheld so little worthiness and so much shame?
The skull-glyph I fear almost too much to mind, though too easily it bereads death. Ever the elder badge of the Thief-Queens, in Byreath’s sake, I cannot unmind that so many have belikened her to a Thief-Queen. More wontsomely it may mean doom or an end, though whether it may be good or bad wholly hinges on happendom.
Will we meet Byreath again? If so, what misdoom will befall?
I overtalked these riddles for some while with Taiase, who had no further wisdom to outread. When the others asked, I merely answered peace likely stays beyond strife. I have an inkling the war has not wholly forsaken us, and furthermore we may strive upon the drillyard more earnestly tomorrow.

11. Koelae, 24,545 - Leiss Farmhold
I have written little enough this last week, since forsoothly we have done little but drill, help the farmwork, and wait upon the Matrons’ and their Highness’s idleness. Also, I dread the forethought of becoming one of those mothers who tell endlessly of gazing into their newborns’ minds and the wonder of witting their inborn love shining back from their smaller selves. I do not say I share not this thrill (since I do), but merely that I can add nothing to what others have too often bespoken.
Tomorrow we will go into the city for market day. In speech with Vosaeth and Remaue, we will buy some things for our hosts Mirazael and her manmates. Even reckoning Devaeas is my kin, their giftfulness has been matchless, and we would yield them a small worship in dearth for this home they have bestowed amid our wanderfare. Growing this wish is the thought, though we have not spoken, that we may forelookfully soon leave. My yesterday spae-tell still weighs, and none of us believe we will find this war’s end scarless. I have watched my flagmates oil harness and hone blades, and wit this thought, even mindless, has overcrept us all.
I can, however, bewrite this morn, which beheld a wordworthy deedtide. I had ere witted Anmeth whispering with Remaue, and though I asked not, guessed they were forecrafting something for the young wife’s sake. Thus when Remaue yestereve told she would speak with Vosaeth and beseeched me to come, I yaysaid.
After duskmeal we had come to Vosaeth, who sat suckling Sonnauf. Remaue sat beside and told she came for another’s behalf. Vosaeth’s brow rose as she answered that, if someone so wished, they should better come themselves and beseech straightly. Remaue nodded as if she had foreseen my oath-sister’s answer and stood. At her beck, Anmeth came forth. She stood tall before Vosaeth, and then, against all wont, knelt upon the moss.
Vosaeth stirred not, though I felt her tighten, as if, at Anmeth’s sight and what had happened at the young wife’s bridetide when love had so heavily smitten her and Leief, she guessed what might outplay now. I knew her thoughts of this riddle had shifted manifoldly.
Anmeth then spoke she would seek her housewife’s boon, at which Vosaeth rather unforbearingly bade her speak. Anmeth faltered, a deed which in itself forecaught Vosaeth, even ere the young wife uttered these words:. ~Ve o’illi mileavya-ruaelf saemara,~ - “I would cleave your harem.”
From Vosaeth’s startle, this was the last boon she had forethought. Eyesomely neither was it the main wish (as we all well knew), but also broke all couthness among the Retaea, among whom a wife’s freedom to follow her will stands as the foremost worth. Within a harem, one so forsook freedom, under a will that wontsomely only men beswore. What Anmeth forespoke would shame her, not only in their clan’s eyes but before all the Retaea.
This whole thing Vosaeth anon understood, ingathering its weight. She asked Anmeth why she would so do. Anmeth answered frankly she would have Vosaeth’s love if the housewife would have her, ~O’losya-eshodi~ - even until shame, she outlaid. Yet she added she would have a fee as foreward to becoming Vosaeth’s plaything: that she bear Leief’s babe ere Vosaeth bestow her body to any man else.
I beread Vosaeth, even without witting her thoughts, by the tears beshining her eyes and a quiver in her breath. She outquoth this was a grim thing, and more than mere shame within their house’s sunderness, but before the whole clan. Anmeth answered she had well overthought and would underyield anywise. Vosaeth then overlooked her housemates and asked whether they would abide this deed. Among her haremmates none stirred. I witted Leief even hopeful. Among the wives, Honosil, Zhaunyth, Threarde, and Eimyl might have shifted uneasily. Yet none gainsaid.
Vosaeth offhanded Sonnauf her babe to me, whom I offbore to stand with Kaure bearing his brother my son. Slowly she rose and overstood Anmeth. Looking downward, she seemingly fully minded the fee the young wife yielded. Thus she bespoke this was no light deed, and if Anmeth so beswore, she would belong to Vosaeth in soul and body. Anmeth bent her nape and yaysaid. Yet then Vosaeth bent low and set hand upon Anmeth’s belly: ~Utha-sa o’zimi vi maeavya,~ - “Your child too will belong to me.”
Anmeth’s gasp sharpened. Yet she quailed not. Under Vosaeth’s heavy gaze she swore troth to the housewife’s will. In witness Vosaeth took the oath, and then bade her prove it. With Remaue’s help she stripped Anmeth’s halter and loincloth.
I shrive this morn I rued yesternight’s deed, what it foreboded for Anmeth’s doom, and furthermore Remaue’s share in so upholding her yieldship. Yet at this mornmeal, Vosaeth again gathered her whole household, with Threarde bechild sitting beside in witness. She then again called Anmeth before. Yet when the young wife stirred to kneel harem-wise, Vosaeth stayed her.
~O’aearae ruaeldis aealora ezimora,~ began the housewife: “Yesternight you gave us a great gift,” and also that Anmeth had sworn a doleful oath. Vosaeth then shrove: ~Thadaf losi-sya, eshi trei tolloni-dei losif yeio sere yi losya o'nili shoayelf,~ - “We took your shame, but no longer would shame you, forwhy we love you more than shame,” and outlaid that, when their household recleaves the Clan, she would have Anmeth stand with their household’s full love and honor, and not become a jeer-thing as a haremmate.
Anmeth looked rightly befuddled, doubtlessly wondering, at her oath’s loss, whether her bargain for Leief’s blessing was likewise naught. Yet ere she could gainsay, Vosaeth called forth Leief. When he knelt, Vosaeth took his hand, and then Anmeth’s, and clasped them together.
~Lastra shyaelaf,~ quoth Vosaeth to Anmeth: “I give him to you.”
Then she withdrew her hand, set them to her face, and wiped tears. Anmeth and Leief waited astun, as did the whole household. To yield a haremmate, and dolefully so soon after Vohyd’s death, was s grim thing. It would surely show as Vosaeth’s loss of nameworth among the clans. Though I had had no inkling that my oath-sister forethought to become clanwife over her elder sisters, this deed would not help. It forestood as giftfulness unforeseen, and, to Vosaeth’s lief, wholly selfless.
Vosaeth stirred as if she would leave. Yet Anmeth, even as she knelt beside Leief, took the housewife’s hand and laid her brow upon. Vosaeth knelt with her, kissed her hands, and laid her antennae with both her and Leief’s. ~Se miadeni lashtis yi rie seze,~ - “You have ridden with us as a free wife,” said the housewife. ~Di domonyae,~ - “Forsake me not.” Vosaeth again kissed her, laughing tearily, and Anmeth hugged her tight.
Thus before all our gathered households, and under the farmhold’s hometree, Anmeth was freed of yesternight’s oath to Vosaeth, and instead took another oath with Leief in matehood. We then left them seeking a tent alone, though not ere Vosaeth got forespeech to swiftly bring a babe. Then we drank to worship their new faith and dry Vosaeth’s tears. Thus it has been a blessed day, which I have spent in arms with my wifemate and maidenmate, and with our babes tight abreast, and wherein I love my oath-sister all the greater.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Rei (spiritual): war
• Uthara - accusative of ~Utha~ (common): child; infant
• Ve: feminine 1st-person exclusive pronoun. I; we females (but not you)
• Illi (spiritual): will; intent
• Mileavya-ruaelf: 1st-person honorific polite form of ~Mileassi~: to swear together; join in an oath
• Saemara - accusative of ~Saema~ (common): harem
• Maeavya - 3rd-person common conditional of ~Maeavassi~: to own; belong
• O'aearae - yesternight; last night. Adverbial phrase.
• Losi (spiritual): shame
• Lastra - accusative of ~Las~ (masculine): 3rd-person pronoun; him
• Shyaelaf - 1st-person of ~Shyaelassi~: to bestow; give (from a higher rank to lower)
• Miadeni (spiritual): presently; currently
• Seze (feminine): free
• Di (spiritual): not; negation
• Domonyae - direct imperative of ~Domonyassi~ to forsake; abandon