A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 49

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

13. Koelae, 24,545 - Leiss Farmhold
Yesterday we spent in Lea, first at templetide, and then at the embassy, and then today had drilltide at the citadel. Thus we are homecome well weary and glad for the farmhold’s stillness, though the time was worthwhile.
The sun-seers also yesterday read forth the new year’s forecast, as taken from Heaventide’s omens, both sun and shadow, as they say. For the most share, it foreread lucky: the war’s end and bountiful harvest, though heed should still ward trade. In this watchsome luck, I found little to help outlay or soften my ereward glyph-rede, though I cannot help wonder if the sun-seers shrewdly hedge their foresight.
Yet wiseless of the priests’ selfish craft, the matrons betook it as rede that the war’s wardsomeness shall end. They have together bidden that the warriors shall come home, the host stood down, and the boats watching the lakeshore bidden back. Lady Nimizi loudly gainsaid their choice. ~Sayaes elindora o’eraelassi aumura,~ she harshly warned: “You hoard silver by spending blood.” Many offleft her word as selfsome grudge against Lady Byreath from the shame under Nimizi High Matronship, and even whispering she holds not the city’s best thrift at heart. Lady Vifaul more mildly warned ere she yielded. I read a guess she misliked the matronhood’s choice but was unwilling to stand loss of their goodwill. Vosaeth's mood I understand. She forsook the talk, lest her wrath overtake
I cannot offshake the misforebode that Lea is making a mistake as my mind still spins on my earlier omens. While Vosaeth selfsomely shares my worry, Lady Zhaene has beread us keep this dread to ourselves. Without proof, which at this time would likely take Byreath striking the city walls, they will do nothing.
For lack of anything more outcomeful, we are helping Mirazael’s household at the grassberry harvest. I have even tried hand at reaping, though Remaue soon bade me halt. Instead, I have spent most time upon the threshing-floor.

16. Koelae, 24,545 - Leiss Farmhold
A mild day after yesterday’s much work. The harvest is almost fordone but for odd chores. Nath, Rosh, and Devaeas have ground the first flour and baked grassberry cake and, with our men’s eager help, have brewed new ale in cask. Under a late Heaventide sunday, today has become an idle tide to float the hoverball and play with the children.
In three days we will have a right harvest mirthtide at Treesong, and to foreready will go aftomorrow to market. Tomorrow also we will seek drill at the citadel, which will be a nice shift after all this rough work.
It would feel like peace, were it not for our hearts’ worry we strive to unmind.

17. Koelae, 24,545 - Lea
Against plans, we stay tonight at the embassy. Wordbode came while at the citadel after it dashed from the moors: Clan Zhihuafa has come nigh, and Byreath has beseeched a truce-moot. Straightway Vosaeth, without reclothing, headed to the Matrons’ Hall. We followed so swiftly as we could.
At the Hall, we found a throng still gathering, but which did not hinder talk. Lady Nimizi and Vosaeth argued that Lady Byreath’s nearness bemarked a war-deed, and the city’s warhost should hasten forthwith. Yet already the fellowship befriending Byreath made its throat heard: the war is deemed fordone, they repeated, and furthermore had never been the city’s war (though I deem this false). They called Lea should leave clan feuds to the clans. Her Highness Lady Zhaene coldly reminded whether raids on tradefares forsoothly became war-deeds, or whether Lea would forsake its elder faith, forwhy other cities dearly wished to know whether Lea would uphold their sakes.
The strife grew so loud that for a while Her Highness Lady Vifaul had to let it run wild. At last she yelled stillness and had the wardreeve start war-mind, which rather sharply brought the ladyhood to dight. Her Highness overlooked the matrons and high reeves, many whomof had right ere come and were still seeking word to understand the stead, and I read her reckoning their thought. If I had to guess, no strong mind chose either truce or war.
~Os eria~ - “One sureness,” began Her Highness: ~Byreath kezhe. O’nae di thanye kolamara, oe di temye,~ - “Byreath is ban-cursed. She shall not come into the city, and she cannot stay.” Yet she added that, if talk happened beyond the wardwalls, then it may not hurt to hear. Her rede softened the strife’s both sides. Then Her Highness bade wordbode to the Zhihuafa, telling to meet before the Highway Stronghold.
I shrive pride for Vosaeth my oath-sister when we left the Hall, since she yelled not, nor threatened, nor even frowned. She forsoothed she could win nothing here unless she bide and await the right forehap. Yet I needed not even read her mind to tell her wrath, the chill kind that bedreadens most.
Remaue hastened back to the farmhold and called all our flag and Vosaeth’s house, bringing our whole war-kit. She also read Mirazael and Elarue to bring their whole kindred into the city, lest plight befall upon the unwarded farmholds, though they withstood. So now we wait while shining byrnies and sharpening blades, wary of what tomorrow will happen.

18. Koelae, 24,545 - Lea
This morntide, we came to the Zhihuafa truce-moot. Our flag and Vosaeth’s house followed Her Highness Lady Vifaul, Her Highness Lady Zhaene, the elder matrons, and Lady-Captain Oraeath from the city, with a full host-sith of both outriders and Korasha bowmen, out to the stronghold athwart the crossroads, where Lea had first welcomed us more than two years ago. Another sith from the stronghold, already strengthened, met and hosted us in. There we waited in full war-kit, though Vosaeth, Tae, and I all had our babes as well, making need to doff our byrnies to feed them, while scout-troops rode out beyond the shorewood’s edge, seeking Clan Zhihuafa. Given that it was month’s end market-day, there were more than a few watchers on the road.
Ere noontide a troop hastened in and told Clan Zhihuafa was coming over the moor, and tallied maybe thirty grown riders with Shotalashu and burdenbeasts. This outbroke talk of whether this was likely the clan’s full strength, or if they had offshed other troops, mayhap for some stealthy stroke. Vosaeth stayed unsure, since no good word had come from Clan Miniada on how many Zhihuafa had outlived and fled the fight in the South. Yet Lady-Captain beread that, if other Zhihuafa troops tried to steal near, her scouts would catch them. So yaysaid, Her Highness bade us forth to the shorewood’s edge.
A rough ~sem~ beyond the shorewood, a foursome of heralds waited upon a short hill whereon a waymarker rose. We headed thither. A bowshot before, we halted, and Her Highness sent forward a wordbode to speak with the heralds, who brought back word the Zhihuafa had come into sight further away. We tightly settled to wait while one herald offrode to meet them. Bywardly, the heralds raised a flag, beckoning our comeforth. At Her Highness Lady Vifaul’s behest, we brought myself, Remaue, and Kaure as my shieldbearers, even against gainsaith from our flagmates. Vosaeth brought Honosil, and also Threarde in mindful heed she bears Vohyd’s babe, whom Byreath’s champion had slain. Also came Lady Zhaene our ambassador for Son’s sake, along with two of our outriders ahost, Lady-Captain Oraeath, her wandbearer (both weaponed), the elder matrons, and a troop of Lea outriders - twenty all tallied - while the sith’s else waited at at the hill’s foot.
When we reached the hillpeak, we watched Clan Zhihuafa samewise split. They left behind their burdenbeasts, unsteeded Korasha, and children. A troop of about fifteen uprode to meet. I wondered whether Lady Byreath thoughtfully brought fewer than we. If so, did she do so under wish to shirk threatsome show, or maybe under belief they were doughtier than we, and that if wrathfulness outbroke, they could withstand? We settled ourselves into a rough row right ere the Zhihuafa reached the peak. They matched our row afar, with the heralds amidst, who greeted both sides and bade us speak under truce.
Neither side spoke, nor even stirred. Though Vosaeth and I wore byrnies, we bore our babes and not weapons. Neither were Lady Vifaul, Lady Zhaene, nor any other matron weaponed, against forsoothness that the whole Zhihuafa troop bristled spears and axes. To sit so near our foe after yesteryear they had stricken us while I had been bechild, even among our Lea friends, grew a tightness in my breast and weight in my belly.
Then Byreath unsteeded. She strode forth to the gap’s midst, alone before her side of warriors. ~O’ussi vehaeya o Lea di rosayelis,~ she quoth: “It would be odd if Lea did not welcome us as guests.”
Her Highness Lady Vifaul, who would not be outdone, likewise unsteeded. She met the clanwife eye to eye and answered it would indeed be odd if Lea bestowed guesthood to one under ~kezhi~ - ban-curse. Thus the High Matron did not offer tree-milk. Yet she added: ~Se yanise, oe ve tollafe. Halaea-ruaelyelis, o’dozhili haese.~ - “You are young, and I am old. If you tried to slay me, you could doubtlessly do so.” Her dare hung mildly aloft, trying whether Byreath was offthanked enough to stir against.
Byreath seemingly reckoned. When she chose not to dare further, we got good proof of her hopelessness. Instead, she spoke that Lea had rightly suffered under the war, as had their allies, whereat she nodded to Her Highness Lady Zhaene (who prickled at such light word yielded to the sin against Son). The Zhihuafa clanwife acknowledged that Lea had behaved within their right, and she would not gainsay.
Then the clanwife asked in sake to make peace among Lea and the Zhihuafa, whether Lea and Son might reckon a guilt-geld. Her Highness asked back by what yard Byreath might bethink Lea so easily bought, as if they would forgive murder, theft, and warfare. Byreath answered she would not beseech forgiveness, but instead leave.
~Romya-shyae vara runezeshassara,~ - Byreath put forth: “Let us fare through.” Her Highness asked whither. The clanwife answered they would beseech to take boat to Than.
At that word, though I could not catch the thought, I witted the matrons’ antennae fluttering as they read within themselves, even as both Lady Zhaene and Vosaeth angrily shifted. Lady Vifaul’s antennae hummed as well, doubtlessly sharing the matrons’ rede. She waited, behinting some strife. For the first time, I wondered whether some of these matrons might belong to the fellowship who had ere backed Byreath. I also wondered on what bethought Byreath’s belief that her clan might find welcome in Than, whether they might have any hint such. I further reminded the elder Thief-Queens had for a short time held Than after their rump empire was driven from the Yaro Strath. Would Byreath follow their wise from Father-Hisyho’s headwaters to raid and reave? Would her wickedness then outreach to Elder Nivaea far southward at the great river’s mouth, or to the Sealnea northeast of Than, whomon, given they are not Lashunta, some rulers might misdeem more ruthlessly?
Lady Byreath then forespoke to show what fee the Zhihuafa should yield as guilt-geld. Lady Vifaul yaysaid, mayhap to win time to gather the matrons’ thoughts. At Byreath’s beck, a lone Shieldhead with full saddlebags and driver lumbered uphill. When they reached the top, the Korasha drove it between the two sides. Zhihuafa warriors unpacked the burstingly full saddlebags. Aground they set sacks and bins whose mouths glittered.
Byreath walked through and overkicked them. Out toppled gold and silver, dandy gemcraft and rich boardware, amber, ivory, blackwood, soapstone, myrrh, and even dried queenstongue. Byreath shrove that here lay the war’s full booty, all whereof she would bequeathe to Lea in trade for a flatbark big enough for her clan and safe leave to Than.
Against the greed almost crackling from the matrons’ antennae, and under which I guess even Lady Vifaul was sorely tried, Lady Zhaene hissed hatefully. Yet ere Son’s ambassador could do more, Vosaeth rode her Shotalashu forward and sidled arear the High Matron. When the Zhihuafa startled against her seeming threat, my oath-sister raised her babe trucesomely. Then she slid from saddle and stood beside Her Highness and Byreath. All waited for Vosaeth, a known reaver in her own right and Byreath’s old foe.
My oath-sister eyed both Her Highness and Byreath, and then looked to the sky. ~O’dumi-veari kaolya Leaea maeavis,~ - “Eyesome you still have Lea’s goodwill,” she said weightily (wherein again I witnessed her self-reeveship), ~Oe ahi-vei di tirife,~ - “And my might cannot offsway.” She then put forth that, from the Zhihuafa’s guilt-geld, it made no good thought they should go off to Than. Instead, she beseeched Her Highness to let the Zhihuafa stay, and even to offlift the ban-curse from Byreath. If the Zhihuafa thus stayed under Lea’s watch and heed, she akept, Vosaeth would even go to her mother Lady Vei and beseech Clan Miniada to bless the truce.
While she spoke so giftully, I watched Byreath’s face. Too eyesome she uplooked some threat or offthank. ~Koe ollodi-erei zhaoamiassi,~ - “A truth too good to believe,” I read from her eyes. Yet she betellingly struggled against overhopefulness, even as Lady Vifaul’s eyes widened, unknowing my oath-sister’s gamble.
~O’aesae-eshi,~ - “But on one foreword,” added Vosaeth keenly. My oath-sister then forespoke what else Byreath must do to swear this bargain: the Zhihuafa clanwife must first break mindbond and forsake her Shotalashu, and then must stay henceforth within the city’s wardwalls. This word she then added: ~O’distimi-illi hidumye theiazaorrya,~ - “You shall never see the world-edge again.”
We all beheld the curse Vosaeth had enwedded to her bargain. Among the clans, a Shotalashu’s loss would be shame enough. Yet as I watched shock widen over Byreath’s brow, I witted what the moorland’s freedom means to the Retaea Clanfolk, to wander hinderlessly and letlessly. If Byreath took Vosaeth’s bargain, Lea would become her stonefold, even her lockhouse.
This thought shaped the clanwife’s next speech. ~Dei ithae-sei qoanve nauzhe?~ - “Would you have me become a thrall?” Then she blazed: ~Karaefe aeo yi romyelve!~ - “I would die ere I so let!” which next hardened when she swore to slay Vosaeth first.
Against her hateful outburst, not even little Sonnauf on Vosaeth’s shoulder fussed. ~O’modomi-dei doloma o’stimi-aei nefoada rista-vara,~ my oath-sister mused: “Unluckily others have erever broken into our fight.” ~O’yealmi sta hisha allazya o’illi-viri mezhoe risazyelme o Lea.~ - “Dream what might have else happened if we had fought in Lea as we first willed.” The unspoken dare lay heavy.
Against her wrath, Byreath withheld from the bait. ~Eise mae,~ - “You are a mother,” she warned, eyeing the babe in her foe’s arms. Vosaeth answered she has housemates and haremmates enough to raise her son. Furthermore, she would not now let Byreath again hide behind a champion, as she had at the Blighttide Clanmoot.
Still, against the offthank, Byreath faltered, remarking that, even if they swore this bargain, if she slew Vosaeth, Lady Vei would surely not uphold the truce, but would afterhunt with whole fierceness. Vosaeth acknowledged the outcome’s likelihood, and then added: ~Eshi o’inazi vere halaes,~ - “But you would get to slay me.”
Byreath’s eyes did not leave Vosaeth. ~Dei mikovise?~ - “Will you witness?” she asked Lady Vifaul. The High Matron halted a mere breathtide, though doubtlessly dealing with the matrons’ thoughts shrieking into her head. ~Mikovya-shyaelf,~ she yaysaid grimly, and then asked the weapon-trial’s tide and forewards.
Byreath will have the fight take stead nowhere but before Lea’s walls, where the whole city may see. Neither would Vosaeth withhold elsewise, since their hatred is too renowned for anything else than all watchers. They yaysaid it will happen at Fourth Bell tomorrow. Vosaeth has asked me to stand as her othermate, though I rather doubt this weapon-trial will heed city couthness. Instead, I forelook a wild and lawless fight, not only with longspears and swords (or whatever other blade they like) but with Shotalashu leaping, snapping, and trying to reave the other rider from saddle. So again tonight we stay back at the embassy, where Vosaeth, instead of sleep, prays to her foremothers’ ghosts to hear from the World-Soul’s Bosom, and I write this log to offlay worry.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Sayaes - 2nd person of ~Sayassi~: to collect; hoard
• Elindora - accusative of ~Elindo~ (neuter): moonbit; a silver coin
• Eraelassi: to hand out; spend; give away
• Aumura: accusative of ~Aum~ (animal): blood
• Os (common): thing; affair; business; matter
• Eria (common): sure; certain
• Kezhe - feminine of ~kezhassi~: to curse; banish
• Nae (spiritual): need
• Sem (common): unit of distance; leaque; ~3.7 miles; ~6.2 kilometers
• Vehaea (common): odd; queer; unusual
• Rosassi: to provide hospitality
• Kezhi (spiritual): ban-curse; banishment
• Yanise - 2nd-person feminine of ~yanassi~: to be young
• Tollafe - 1st-person feminine of ~tollassi~: to be old
• Halaeassi: to slay; murder
• Romassi: to allow; let
• Kaolya - accusative of ~kaoli~ (spiritual): favor; goodwill
• Koe (spiritual): truth; reality
• Aesae (spiritual): foreword; condition
• Theiazaora (common): world-edge; horizon
• Modomi (spiritual): luck; fortune
• Yealmi (spiritual): dream; imagination
• Eise: you are - 2nd-person feminine of ~eassi~: to be
• Mae (feminine): mother
• Mikovassi: to witness; bear witness