A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 53

In which the war’s end leads Vaeol’s household back to Clan Miniada.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

8. Vealae, 24,545 - Red Mushroom Bluff; 17th Day from Leiss Farmhold
Our idle huntfare wends astride, with good catch of moorswifts and a young Duckbill, whose roast and brothbones will last us many days. Vosaeth, Zaeofoth, and Rethel have spent much time drilling their new steeds. Although it goes slowly, I have recked a shift in Vosaeth’s self. Her dark mood from the weapon-trial and her steed’s loss has dimmed. She is now more her elder self. I bless my oath-sister.

12. Vinelae, 24,545 - Red Mushroom Bluff; 21st Day from Leiss Farmhold
Today my son Aeosel is a full year old. So written, I know not what next to write. I have no words, only awe. How do a hundred and eighty-three days go so swiftly? How did he grow so big and chubby, until he sits upon the rug, laughs toothlessly, and calls for me? Thinking back on my fight with Byreath and how near I came to death, I feel right foolish.
After today’s fare, I beseeched our household to gather. Then I laid him first in Oshis his father’s arms, then in Kaure’s, then Remaue’s, than Erymi’s, and then in each of our housemate’s until all kissed his brow. Then we sang for Green-Mother’s blessing.
~A utha-mas, o’naeshi aveaes harassas. Sei lani tae mi eithi viyae.~ - My son, grow well and strong. I have such hope and fear for you.

15. Vinelae, 24,545 - East Seagrass Moor; 24th Day from Leiss Farmhold
Yesterday we met Miniada scouts, whom we greeted overgladly. Two ran their steeds back southeastward, boding word of our fare while Havath and Seth stayed, whomto we look to lead us to the Clan. We feasted them on duckbill and fresh canegrass shoots while they told news. With the war’s end, things forestand well. The dead are mourned and bequeathed to Father-Sky and the World-Soul, and the Clan forelooks a rich hunt.
Today Havath and Seth led us afterward. By slumbertide we met unsaddled Shotalashu prowling the camp’s edge, who hooted and dashed ahead, warning their riders. Then we overcame a ridge and beheld the Clan’s broad campstead, upset aring a fresh Yaruk kill: proof the yeartide has already trended lucky.
We found Lady Vei, Vosaeth’s mother, besmeared until her elbows with blood from the fleshy hillock whereon she was helping the butcherwork. At our sight, she stood, flailed her besmirched arms, and laughed. She handlessly kissed Vosaeth and her grandbabe and did samely to me and Tae. Then, at Threarde’s news that she is bechild, the Miniada Clanwife merrily knelt and kissed her belly. Then the old warrior stood back and overlooked us all. She witted the new scar on my face, her daughter with a new Shotalashu, and even our erstwhile Zhihuafa war-thralls, some whomof also rode new steeds, and mayhap even her daughter’s shift on her hurtsome leg. ~Shami-stei?~ she asked: “What tale?”
Even if Lady Vei had not already witted Vosaeth’s leg, her daughter’s flash of shame, shakenly fresh after this while, she could not unmind. The clanwife read Vosaeth, glanced to me, and then bade us set tents where we would tarry. ~O’soati-sei usi neamassi,~ - “Tomorrow will be enough for you to help,” she deemed. Then while she wiped her hands, she beseeched to talk sunderly with her daughter.
We had business enough along with setting tents, forwhy soon we ran into Istae and Nelehi. Taiase sobbed at sight and dashed to her maidenlove. She laid head on Istae’s breast and would not loosen. We else hastily gathered with our sister-outrider and her shieldbearer, hugged them hard, and twined antennae. We also witted they were not alone, for a troop of Miniada warriors followed, who beheld such a wild mood that I almost feared wrathfulness. Yet Istae bade truce and begreeted us, naming them those warriors who had ridden under her, since my sister-outrider has earned stallworth among the clan. Also, I overheard Remaue talking with Nelehi, in shieldbearer’s wise, and who bore Istae’s breastplate. The byrnie’s damask bore new grooves, whereover Nelehi griped she has not the tools or wise upon the moor to mend, though she gladdened at word we will head to Ofu-Laubu where such things may be easily found. Yet by those scratches I beheld proof of the right dreadful plight they had met under warfare against the Zhihuafa.
After we upset, at dusktide, I heard Vosaeth come to our tents, less loudly than meanly. Shortly laterward, Leief came to ours and told that Lady Vei bade me come to hearth. So listened, I bore my son and went to the campstead’s midst.
Lady Vei, lately bathed, met me within her tent. She took my son and danced about while she kissed his writhing antennae, to much giggles. She yielded him back, and while doing outreached and stroked my scar. ~A mie olle,~ she outnamed. “You are a good sister.”
She already had tea brewing and bade me sit. She thewed me the cup, watched me sip, took it back, and likewise drank. Then she set it aside, and for a while we stayed wordless while I suckled my son. At last she shrove that, at a younger lifetide, she had much more likened to Vosaeth’s self. I nodded, reminding Vosaeth’s tale that her eldest sister’s father had been caught in a raid, and answered Vosaeth had once acknowledged the Thief-Queens’ blood still runs strong. Wryly Lady Vei smiled, as if reminding an elder rue.
~O’roae-yei, uthere shoaf,~ - “As you know, I love my daughter,” the clanwife said. ~O’zimi aeithaf zheqaea,~ - “Also I fear for her mood-throes.” Then she asked whether I understood Vosaeth’s jealousy toward Byreath, if not for her misdeeds, but for her nameworth. Byreath’s slaughter and skull would have bestowed that nameworth on Vosaeth. Thus it was not jealousy toward me that angered her, but Byreath, which now was forlost. She then outlaid Vosaeth knows this wisdom but must still take it within her heart. I answered I understood and have already forgiven her.
Lady Vei then asked our toward plan, to which I answered we shall follow the Clan to this year’s Clanmoot, since we would see this war’s right end. Afterward, Taiase and I had already overtalked heading further northward, over the Shemez Waste to Ofu-Laubu and take their queen’s guest-bid. Lady Vei nodded and asked what I know of that far city, to which I could merely say we had met their ambassador and sundry ladies who had come with the hoverball team to Lea, and also that they had a seeming legendary hatred for the Sealnea. At this last word, Lady Vei laughed until tears. ~Tolla heila,~ - “They are old and proud,” she bespoke, and that their wise is unkith, and we may likely find them uneasy to deal with. Then she warned: ~Iloshi. Di eriminanyelis shimya, eshi diyaloe homaea.~ - “Be wary. You may not forelook feud, but do not trust friendship.” She foreread we may not become the first outlanders the Lauba have misbrooked for their own ends.
I asked her own toward plan, whereat she got the oddest smile. ~Rei vi ryoadi,~ she quoth: “This was my last war.” Then she shared that at the upcoming Clanmoot she will stand down. In her stead, Lady Rashe her eldest daughter will become the next clanwife. She remarked now is the fulsome tide for such a shift, since the Miniada stand at their highest nameworth, giving Rashe best behoof. ~Zhae mi matae qoanve,~ - “I will become a crone and grandmother,” she said, and would watch the night and teach the children yoretales. Then she halted, and added: ~O’debili aesehaf yealmya Vatheiaea,~ - “I weary and ready for the World-Soul’s dream.”
Her word called my tears. Chidingly she offwiped them, and read we cannot stay the sky from spinning. Lastly, she forespoke she would have my nameworth sung before the Clanmoot, for my deed slaying Byreath, and furthermore would have Vosaeth do so, though under love I would not ask her. I would rather forgo glory than deepen another’s shame. Then Lady Vei named me daughter and bade me and my son blessed dreams.

17. Vinelae, 24,545 - East Seagrass Moor; 26th day from Leiss Farmhold
Yesterday I beseeched Kaure to come with me. Then we sought Vosaeth. I traded babes with her, took her hand, and then told I would seek Elindrae’s blessing for us both. When she asked why, I answered: ~Me miqye. Losi-sei vei. O’zimi, arei-stimya thaf o’si ruaelf. O’romi adeni-eshi emoalm,~ - “We are oath-sisters. Your shame is mine. Also, any glory I have I would yield to you. Let us share them evenly.”
Vosaeth’s eyes glistened. ~Se miqye loeone ve-yei,~ - “You are a worthier oath-sister than I,” she whispered. ~O’losi taeodi di loeave serru.~ - “My greatest shame is that I am unworthy of you.”
~O’leiri zhyeise,~ - “I beseech you be not so,” I answered. Then I foreyielded we should seek the Moon-God’s boon to offtake our shared shame, and unmerely for what Vosaeth bore, but also forwhy I still felt blood-smirch from Byreath’s death.
Thus yesternight we left our babes with Oshis (~Di udiazis ilinara nila-yara o’diahi milayelis~ - Do not father so many babes if you cannot watch them, as I beread when he whined!), met Kaure beyond the camp’s edge. Though Floodtide’s sky hid the moon’s shifty light, Vosaeth and I knelt under my maidenmate’s outstretched hands. Then she sang a hymn and as the Moon-God’s priest beseeched the rain to wash our hurt and shame as it trickled down our skin. Then she clasped our hands and bade us kiss. As our antennae twined, we found mindshare and, unlike our tide yestermonth, I felt us truly forgive shame and wrath. I fell into her arms and could not tell the tears from the rain.
~Relesya-ruaelf,~ - “I would worship you,” upyielded Vosaeth huskily, and I could not helping grinning while my brow lay upon hers, and furthermore brushed her cheek. We offered Kaure to come with us. Yet she withheld, bade us go together, and forespoke to find us laterward. Thus hand in hand, Vosaeth and I ran to her tent, where giggling like sneaky loremaids, we crept inside and fell into each other’s arms.
Today erenow, scouts brought word of a Queenslayer toward the camp’s downwind. Lady Vei gathered a swift war-rede and made the hard choice to forsake the Yaruk’s butcherstead. The headwives yaysaid we have taken enough meat to last the yeartide, along with good stock of hide and teeth. They also read that, with the blood-smell aloft, we cannot offsway the Queenslayer, even against the winfulness we have ere had so doing. ~Modomi olladi. O’illi di veialm,~ Lady Vei deemed: “Our luck has been good. We will not stretch it.” Already the camp is packing down. We shall ride ere dusk.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• ~A utha-mas,~ - my/our son. Vocative address.
• ~Sae-stei?~ - what word/news?
• ~Soati~ (spiritual): tomorrow
• ~A mie olle,~ - good sister. Vocative address.
• ~O'roae-yei,~ - as known; such knowlege. Adverbial phrase.
• ~Uthere shoaf,~ I love [my] daughther.
• ~Zheqaea~ - accusative of ~zheqae~ (spiritual): mood-throe; passion; fit of passion
• ~Iloshi~ - Be wary; beware. Imperative of ~iloshassi~.
• ~Rei~ (spiritual): war
• ~Ryoadi~ - past superlative 3rd-person spiritual of ~ryra~: last
• ~Zhae~ (feminine): crone; elder
• ~Matae~ (feminine): grandmother
• ~Vatheia~ (common): the World-Soul; Afterlife
• ~Me~ (feminine): we; both you & I
• ~Miqye~ (feminine): oath-sister
• ~Losi~ (spiritual): shame
• ~Modomi~ (spiritual): luck; fortune