A Castrovel Adventure: Part 4, Chapter 54

In which Vaeol and her flag return to the Blighttide Clanmoot, and Istae shares a secret.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

4. Soelae: Blighttide Eve, 24,545 - Clanmoot (5 days since last entry)
This year, we have the behoof of reaching Azaryau’s boughs early. This is our third clanmoot since coming to the Retaea, and I shrive I behold it with a muddled heart. Our first two years ago I met with such thrill at becoming guest to these wild folk. Our next fell under the wrath and sorrow from Byreath’s plight and war’s worry oversweeping the moors. Of nowward, I try to find thought.
I still beware as if Byreath’s shadow follows my tread, the clanwife I slew, whose scar my brow and cheek bear. Is it canny for a mind to withstand the World-Soul and haunt the living? Some soul-seers are renowned to call these dead souls, share speech, and even deal. That thought misgives, for I would not have Byreath wafting so bereft through the world. Even as my foe, in death I wish her peace as a balm against all her wickedness.
Happily, Vosaeth and I have willingly spoken while these latter days, which bestows hope that she has forgiven me. Also, we have gotten boon to upcatch with Istae and Nelehi, whomfrom we got word of the great fight against the Zhihuafa. Istae yielded much worth to Lady Vei and Lady Rashe, who had outthought the plan to snare the Zhihuafa in the canegrass, since they had witted Byreath’s wont to slip threat so hidden from the moors. Within the canegrass’s tightness, however, the Miniada’s reevelessness had worked against them. Where a city war-host would have a team of far-seers sharing word among offshed captains, the Clan and allies had fallen to befuddleness even while they won. Thus more friends had died than needful, and more foes outfled.
For Istae’s share, she had led her troop and offcut Clan Behesha's flight. Then they had undergone hard spearplay until the whole clan had yielded under their mightiness. Istae had gotten the honor of hosting the bound clanwife to Lady Vei, which I gathered earned my sister-outrider high nameworth before the allied clans.
~Honyaea ivilaf,~ - "I have a secret," shared Istae, grinning. When I asked what, she glanced as if ashamed. ~O’illi thaef soreathara,~ - "I will have my bridetide,"
Her shrift had me looking ashamed, too, since to my best knowledge, she still stood under maiden-oath. I asked why she would do this deed, and dolefully forwhy she has not the Citadel’s leave back home. She answered that we stand too far to beseech the Citadel, that she has already begun taking womb-bane, and that, if it ever outcomes to truth, she will answer she did so to uphold our peacebode. When I warned that is forsoothly not her reason, she answered the reason is eyesome, since, as she outlaid, she is following my example. ~Karaea ezimya kovadaf,~ she quoth: “I have witnessed much death. ~Vaearu feiaeve,~ - “I would worship life.”
Against my worry for her honor, I could not help wondering whom she has chosen as her First Man. Yet I was wholly, shakenly forecaught when she beckoned to the hairiest, most apelike Korasha I have ever seen, named Neish. Not only are his mane and beard long, but his shoulders are unmerely hairy and instead have pelts! Since I have haply met Neish, and by all tales, he is a nameworthy warrior who fought cunningly at Istae’s side and even saved her life (which maybe outlays her love as thankful). Yet when I asked whether she would have him trim and bathe ere she take him to the bridebed, she laughed and bewrayed I deem him too manly. I shrive I have nothing against hair nor manliness, though I like my men shorn to a neat and scratchy stubble. This Neish bethinks me of the ~Sealnea~ whom we had met in Lea, or the ~Monual~ ape-clans who make their treeholds in the deep rainwoods. I wit it a mean offthank to bematch a Korasha to an ape. Yet in this sake, it is too hard to unmind.
In renown of the war’s end, we are again let to camp upon the crag instead of the moor. It gives relief to look upward and see Azaryau’s boughs and leaves overhead. Erenow, a child yielded us a teatwort plucked straight from the great soul-tree’s bough. I gladly let Aeosel try taste. He is yet young to try milk else than mine, but liked it.

5. Soelae: Blighttide - 2nd Day at Clanmoot
Today the clans held hymntide to beseech the Mold-Sower’s goodwill. Though I had ere heard of this god who reeves the moldstorms, I had never witnessed. As share, the priests held a forecast, which they did by seeking meanhood with Azaryau, listening to the wind stir the elder soultree’s boughs, and even casting Its milk to the wind. Thus they foretold the moldstorms will strike the moors south of Lea. Doubtlessly this will shift the clans’ wanderfare to stay longer in the north. It is wordworthy that any moldstorm striking Azaryau lies ere yestermind. The Retaea believe this stead lies north beyond the moldstorms’ threatfall, and thus becomes the root forwhy they hold Clanmoot here.
Afterward, Lady Ahun, Vosaeth’s elder sister, sought me, Taiase, and Vosaeth and bade us come to the clanwives’ moottide, where Lady Vei and Lady Rashe already waited. She led us to stand before the gathered clanwives, who asked us of Lady Byreath’s death.
Where we stood beside bearing our babes, I reached forth, squeezed Vosaeth’s hand, and yielded her the speech. A breathtide she halted and lotted her thoughts. Then she outspoke, telling how Byreath and the last Zhihuafa had come to Lea, had sought truce and foreyielded bribe for safe thoroughfare. Yet Vosaeth had cursed and shamed Byreath until, for the third time in their lives, they had dared weapon-trial.
Vosaeth hung her head, antennae shivering, and swallowed. ~O’ziari ve Byreathre di halaeadaf,~ - “Yet I did not slay Byreath.” She shrove the unlucky curse she had undergone when the hood-adder smote her Shotalashu, who had thrown her, broken her leg, and died. Then she squeezed back my hand. ~Arei-mei maeavi miqyerru,~ - “This glory belongs to my oath-sister.”
Against forsoothness, I had forelooked Vosaeth to take Byreath’s glory and had so belet. Thus I had not forereadied any words. ~Ihadave o’ola miqyea, oeo’omoni-lyaru,~ I hastily answered softly: “I behaved in my oath-sister’s stead, and for her sake.” At their bid, I told how I had dared Byreath, shamed her to fight when she withheld, and had so met her, swordbill to axebill, in the trialyard. Then I touched my cheek, showing my scar, and told this was how near Byreath had come to slaying me.
The clanwives sat still until one asked whether I am a witch. I answered I am a learned soul-seer from the Ihezoshu, the oldest soul-lore hall on Asana. After a breathtide, another clanwife asked whether I had brooked witchcraft to beat Lady Byreath. I beread they worried of a breach under the weapontrial’s law and whether I had wielded an unfair behoof. So I answered: ~O’tei inyassi-dei. O’losassi-imi,~ - “Not to beat her. Only to shame her.”
To my shock, the clanwives laughed, though a few, whom I guess the Zhihuafa’s erstwhile allies, looked ashamed. Eyesomely, witchcraft, as they name it, may rightly be used for shame or chide under the Clanfolk’s honor, but not for wound or slaughter. Happily, they deemed to forspeak me no guilt and blessed my weapon-trial as rightful, since not only am I Vosaeth’s oath-sister and athofted with Clan Miniada, but also Clan Zhihuafa had stricken my household yesteryear along with Vosaeth’s, and thus I had selfsomely held sake.
When the clanwives’ moottide shifted to the doom for the Zhihuafa outlivers, Vosaeth and I softly withdrew beside Taiase, though not ere I spotted Her Highness Lady Veiahal the peacebode from Lea again come to watch the Clanmoot and oversee the war’s end, who waved and headed toward us. Under an inkling, I tugged Vosaeth’s elbow, who bewittingly nodded toward Her Highness Lady Kueth of Ofu-Laubu, likewise come for the same reason, and headed toward her.
We barely greeted Lady Kueth right ere Lady Veiehal hailed. The Lea peacebode outspoke we had led her and her ilk a merry hunt from her city, though she had rightly guessed to find us here. Then she quoth she bore earnest wordbode from Son’s ambassador (which word from Lady-Mother we foreknew). Then on Her Highness Lady Zhaene’s behalf, she bade us go back to Lea, and thence ready to come home to Son. Taiase lissomely thanked Her Highness and beseeched her go back to Lea and tell Lady Zhaene of her fetch faithfully fulfilled. Yet Taiase also bade her to tell that, since we have already forespoken to take Ofu-Laubu’s guesthood, we may not listen, since it would be a sorry sin to break our word, and likewise Son would surely not wish a feud with so elder and queenly a city as Ofu-Laubu.
Her Highness of Lea cocked an eye, almost as if she had foreseen our answer. She then asked Her Highness Lady Kueth whether our word was true, to which the Lauba ambassador yaysaid. If Lady Veiehal was unsettled, she couthly showed it not (and whyever should she take offthank, since this enwallowed Son’s business and not her city?). At length, she answered she would take back our wordbode. Then with a wry bow to Lady Kueth she withdrew.
Her Highness of Ofu-Laubu watched the Lea peacebode leave. Then she said our wicked gambit was well played, and furthermore she begladdened at our timely take of her city’s guesthood. She asked our will of when we will fare to Ofu-Laubu, whereat we answered after Clanmoot’s end, and hopefully in Her Highness’s fellowship. Here she smiled and deemed it a good thought. She has bidden us to tonight’s duskmeal, which we have meekly ataken.
Tomorrow will be busy. Vosaeth, Tae, and I will bring our babes and cleave the priesthood among Azaryau’s roots for a hymntide, whereafter we will cleave the Clan for doleful mirth, which I doubt not will become a cheer for the war’s end.

7. Soelae, 24,545 - 4th Day at Clanmoot
Yesternight Clan Miniada held mirthtide, which lasted so late that erenow I had no hap to bewrite. Though again Lady Vei bestowed gifts to the incoming clanwives and elders, even until today the Miniada must beseech back their tents and saddles, there was little doubt this deed outcheered our win as head of the clans who had beaten the Zhihuafa. More selfsomely, however, it became the forehap to tell the other clans that Lady Vei is withdrawing as clanwife, whereby Lady Rashe her eldest daughter upsteads her. From what I could tell, this shift also opened sundry bargain-haps with other clans, mayhap from things Lady Vei had withheld as clanwife but could now selfsomely bestow, or deals Lady Rashe would make on her own deemship. Wiselessly, it bemade a busy nighttide.
The mirthtide’s high mark came, however, when Lady Rashe and Lady Vei called forth Istae to stand before the elders. Then they asked any warriors who would bespeak her deeds. An elder Damaya stepped forth and told how yesteryear Istae had led the brunt to save Miniada warriors caught in the Zhihuafa bushwhack, and how she had slain a Zhihuafa Korasha, against her broken arm, which we had witnessed. Another Damaya, with a maimed arm, likewise stepped forth and told Istae had saved her life by offdriving a twosome of Zhihuafa warriors when she had fallen wounded under their spears. Then a Korasha strode forth and bespoke the Canegrass Fight against the Zhihuafa and her allies. Rather poetically, he bespoke the tight, offcut warfare among the tall stalks, the arrows' flight from unseen foes, the brunt of a clan’s greater strength, and Istae’s shrewd leadership keeping her troop together and withstanding the onslaught, peaking when Clan Behesha yelled truce and yielded.
When the Korasha warrior stepped back, a low buzz rose from the Miniada. Lady Vei nodded. She cheered Istae as a bold leader and shrewd warrior. Then the old clanwife asked what fee Son’s daughter and lover of elder queens would take in war-token.
Istae stepped forward. She gave Taiase a swift smile ere she looked upward. ~Miniada vishyaeldis aearrya taeodora: o shoea,~ - “The Miniada have given me the greatest gift: love and faith,” she began, but then added: ~O’ziari ost-imara thaelf, o leirif sevaea Mahaereia,~ - “Yet if I would have one thing, I would beseech Green-Mother’s blessing.”
Lady Vei grinned. The clanwife came forward, hugged Istae, and answered the outrider’s wifehood would yield great worship to the Clan. The whole clan buzzed cheeringly, whereat Lady Vei asked whom as First Man Istae had in mind.
At Istae’s word, Neish stepped forth among the Korasha. I gladly saw he had bathed, and though his bodyhair yet hung long, at least it seemed combed, along with a new golden loincloth. Istae took his hand. Then she told his deeds she had witnessed in warfare, how he had saved her life while the fight in the Canegrass Meadows when he had broken a ring of warriors bestriking her and hauled her out of plight. All buzzed thankfully.
Lady Vei added her praise and asked if Neish would yield to Istae. In answer, Neish knelt and looked upward. ~O’illi heshif,~ he answered: “I will thew.” Then he kissed my sister-outrider’s belly.
A lusty cheer grew from buzz to roar among the Clanfolk’s throats. We hastened forth, grabbed Istae, and withdrew to ready her. Taiase giddily took the deed’s lead, though she was already weeping. With shivering fingers she doffed Istae’s clothes and, instead of a wontsome skirt, tied a scarf beltwise on her hips, with a brideknot hanging teasingly afore. If I had felt self-wary at my bridetide with merely my bosom bare, it little bematched my sister-outrider’s hips and rear naked. Yet quoth Taiase, this had been the bridal wise in her time, when the First Man needed not even untie the brideknot but merely fling it aside! In behoof, Istae’s skin is dark enough that she need not worry about blushing. Though we had no dreyweeps to set in her hair, we found hoodblossoms, and Lady Rashe brought golddust for her bosom and belly.
Thus we led Istae forth - Vosaeth and I leading with our babes; Taiase and Nelehi on her arms; our other housewives following - with her full maidenly glory - skin the hue of Mahyat’s earth, nipples like coalstone set upon her fulsome breast, waist wasplike over her hips’ swell, thewsome from a lifetime asaddle - beheld to all eyes. The cheer of the throng’s wives and men nighmost outdrowned our hymn, even until the priest outbade swyness. Pride for my sister-outrider overcame as I forsoothed how much the Miniada had come to love her while this last year.
After the womb-blessing, Neish came forward. To my shock, he had already doffed his loincloth. Yet more couthly than his look foreboded, he knelt and again kissed Istae’s belly while she blessingly stroked his brow. Then to our shock, he untied her brideknot right there, under all eyes, and cast it off under the throng’s lewdest cheer. So we learned that the Retaea do not meekly withdraw to a sunderroom (or tent) to fulfill the bridetide’s bed-rite, but undertake ~horumilassi noeafere~ - waking the womb-goddess, as they name it - under all eyes, as outproved when the priestess outspread a shroud upon the ground and sprinkled myrrhblossoms. Taiase and Nelehi led Istae and set her thereon while she giggled warily and Neish neared and knelt before, which brought to mind the old byword: ~Kalariaru thu vellura ushoura koelassura,~ - The harpy-jasmine has big prey to swallow.
Afterward, we let her time to strengthen, though when bywardly she rose on shuddering legs, the clanfolk’s roar split the night. We went to the bride, knelt and kissed her belly in trend. Remaue’s cheer after she yielded worship, in keeping with herself came forth more wickedly mean: ~O’dasti mianise,~ - “You smell like man,” she whispered, whereat Istae giggled shamelessly and slapped my wifemate’s breast. When I did so after Kaure, Istae took my hand, squeezed, and raised me with a knowing grin. I laid my brow upon sister-outrider’s. ~O’vae,~ I blessed: “To life.”

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• ~Honyaea~ - accusative of ~honyae~ (spiritual): secret
• ~Soreathara~ - accusative of ~soreatha~ (common): bridetide
• ~Karaea~ - accusative of ~karae~ (spiritual): death
• ~Vaearu~ - dative/allative of ~vae~ (spiritual): life; soul
• ~Feiaeve~ - 1st-person passive conditional of ~feiassi~: to worship; sacrifice
• ~Arei-mei~ - inclusive demonstrative of ~arei~ (spiritual): glory; honor; championship
• ~Maeavi~ - 3rd-person spiritual of ~maeavassi~: to own; belong
• ~Miqye (feminine): oath-sister (dative: ~miqyerru~; common possessive: ~miqyea~
• ~Ihadave~ - 1st-person perfect passive of ~ihassi~: to behave; react
• ~Omoni-lyaru~ - distal dative/allative of ~omoni~ (spiritual): behalf; sake; cause - to/for her/that behalf
• ~Sevaea Mahaereia~ - Green-Mother's blessing (accasative)
• ~Noaefere~ - accusative of ~noaefe~ (feminine): womb-goddess. Reference to Mahaere - Green-Mother
• ~Kalariaru~ (animal): harpy-jasmine. Castrovellian carnivorous plant with psychic sympathy powers.