A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 15
~O'mei yaoma Vaeol-Ilea zaeisya hae delanassya Ofu-Laubura Qabaratru.~ (In which Lady Vaeol and her flag makes plans to leave Ofu-Laubu for Qabarat)
From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son
8. Koelae, 24,546 - 4th Month in Ofu-Laubu
Today boded more good news: Anmeth is bechild! I wept gladness beholding her bright smile while she hugged Leief to her bosom, to say nothing of the pride and thankfulness quivering from his antennae while he clutched her waist. They came shyly before Vosaeth, who with Threarde cheeringly hugged her between and kissed her. Then they called the other men, who knelt and kissed her belly, and followed by us.
After my own kneeltide where I laid brow and and antennae on her belly (which shall not stay slim much longer!) and playfully tickled, I markedly went to Leief, hugged him to breast, and kissed his brow. ~Loes dias qoanassas,~ - “You are worthy to become a father,” I blessed. When he spoke he owed us a great dearth for our help bringing him and Anmeth together, I bade his fee set and thewing well his mothermate and child, since I could ask for nothing better from whom I love.
It is a wryness that the gods’ blessing should befall our housemates after foreknowing the world soon sunders us, that we will not be here to help Anmeth in her greatness, and that we will not behold her child born or dance the birth-hymns in her worship. And yet I know that we rightly go to Qabarat. So why does guilt own me?
12. Koelae, 24,546 - 4th Month in Ofu-Laubu
After loretide at the Esotericum, today Taiase and I saw the market, which steadily fills with more traders in readiness for the Floodtide Fair. When we came home to the guesthouse, we forecaughtly beheld Lady Marauqereth, who sat holding hands with Erymi, and who both beheld a glowsome mood. On an inkling, my eye sought Oshis, who snored on a pillow, and bare but for a bodyshroud lazily overthrown against the weather’s chill. On our income, the two wives rose, and Her Ladyship kissed me. ~O’ori linme,~ - “Let us speak.”
Together, and taking shifts bearing Aeosel, we left the guesthouse and walked back to the Lowburgh Market, where wineyards and dancers soon set witchlights in readiness for the eventide shows. We bought a cup of warm spicewine and brought it to the city’s wardwall, where, at Her Ladyship’s bid, the watchwardens let us climb to the walkway, against the chilly wind, letting us look both upon the land outside and inside upon the starting glee's glow and din.
We shared the warm cup, whereover Marauqereth stooped thoughtfully. Her Ladyship told she knew our beseech to leave Ofu-Laubu, and also she was foregiven to let us, though the thought sorrowed her. Yet she would ask whether I might reckon her boon. I answered Her Ladyship needed but speak. Yet Lady Marauqereth raised a hand. ~Heali lomya aeo milimyelise,~ - “Reckon all ere you yaysay,” she warned, forwhy she beseeched no light thing, and I should do nothing unless it stood well in my mind’s wisdom.
She then beseeched that, if I behold forehap to outspeak against the Formian War, then she would deem it a great selfsome boon.
Grimly I asked whether Her Ladyship understood this boon’s plightiness, since Qabarat’s ladyhood believe in the war, and I could think no swifter wise to make foes than to dare its rightness. She yaysaid and answered thus her foreword’s looseness under which she beseeched. Then she added she would bid one more thing: ~Limi ollaea, oeo’avyri,~ - “Speak goodness, and wisely.” Then she kissed and named me friend.
Even against Marauqereth’s soothingness, something in her beseech bothers me. I have witted the hatred under which so many behold the Formians - the Valmaea dolefully, and also many Qabarata and other cities. I do not foresee how my lone throat may shift any minds. Yet I remind Her Ladyship’s last word: ~Limi ollaea, oeo’avyri.~ I have ever tried to do right so. How can I withhold now?
14. Koelae, 24,546 - 4th Month in Ofu-Laubu
Yestereve, since Threarde deemed herself and little Vohydrif strengthened enough after birthtide, Vosaeth deemed our house should hold a mirthtide, and unmerely for worship of Threarde’s new motherhood, but also for Anmeth at motherhood’s door. So we beseeched the housereeve’s good thewship and helped his grooms ready many tasty mealdishes. Then Sievae and Hanos loosened song and led us in the birthdance. We shared the babe and shamelessly overfussed him, and also kissed both Threarde’s belly and Anmeth’s, and prayed so many blessings as the gods could not withhold.
We could not shun, however, a shadow overlying our glee. This might be the last mirthtide we gathered, since in five days we shall go through the elfgate to Qabarat, and Vosaeth’s house will ready for the long landfare back to the Retaea.
Bywardly Istae came before me and Vosaeth. ~Relesya-shyaelf hishasru,~ - “I would bestow worship to another,” she beseeched. My sister-ourrider called forth Neish, her First Man. When he started to kneel, however, she forestalled and took his hands. Then she outspoke he had given her a great gift beyond worth: faith and love since he had followed her through Byreath’s War and until here, and furthermore had raised her to wifehood and shown her the idleness of manly love. Yet she knew his mind and understood he belongs the moors. Thus the tide came to choose whether he should follow her to Qabarat or shed paths and stay in the north.
Neish’s hairy shoulders sagged, and his antennae likewise. He answered that he had found faith and honor under her flag and love within her womb, and would not willingly shed. ~Ziari diahi delanif retaeara,~ - “Yet I cannot leave the moors.” he whispered sorrowfully.
Istae’s eyes wept. ~Yei temi, oeo’roae vae-sya o’stimi neshoraf,~ - “Then stay,” she husked: “and know I ever bear your soul in me.” Then she kissed his brow, and he knelt against her belly while they sobbed.
Then Vosaeth came forward. ~Yuadis mie-vere, oe lorreal roae Dizamarru,~ - “You have loved my sister, and your nameworth is known to the Clan,” she spoke. Then she foreyielded he might cleave her household, and also her harem if he wished. Neish looked from her to Istae, who nodded blessingly. Then he came to Vosaeth, again knelt, and laid brow on her belly until she yielded her son, whom he raised and kissed.
While we danced a cheer for their matehood, I witted a new strength in Vosaeth. After Vohyd’s death and against her yielding Leief to Anmeth, her pride had hurt under her harem’s slightness, and now grew again. Also, knowing my oathsister’s lust, she would doubtlessly forelook a soon idletide with her new plaything.
Afaelae Treesong, 24,546 - 4th Month in Ofu-Laubu (5 days since last log)
We are right come back from Treesong, where almost the whole city gathered for the monthly templetide, whomwith we sang and danced among those who have so lissomely guested us. We afterward made worshipful mark to come to the tree, bow, and thank it as steadholder to all its cityfolk who have bestowed kindliness.
It is our last day ere tomorrow’s gatefare to Qabarat, when also Vosaeth’s household will head back southward to the Retaea Moors and Lea. Now will be our last night together, until when unknown we may meet again. When I played with Sonnauf, who with Tae’s Yaraess is walking more cannily every day, I could not help weeping. I will lose my son’s brother, along with Vosaeth my oathsister, whom I have held and suckled so much as my own.
Oshis reckons, too, though maybe not until today. I have caught him much in Vosaeth’s fellowship, and much playing with his toddling, falling, but ever-laughing son, and else broodily watching. Erymi has tried to soothe him, though I full-ware the trial helps not. I have also watched him lift high Lenis and Tesine and tickle them with his beard, and therein have beread a wistfulness that he loves his children who will asith us moreso from loss of the one he leaves arear. My firstspear, my champion, my fathermate, has become a good man, even against his many sins. I will worry less for him when we reach the many trials with which Qabarat besways.
This last word I write late, after Midwatch, since I cannot sleep. This eventide, Her Highness Lady Kueth bade us to a mirthtide at her hall, a farewell cheer for Taiase, and us by outstretch, and not only our ladies but our whole household. It was a last hap to mingle among the city’s ladyhood, whose dress, although it still strikes me odd with their heavy clothes and bosoms peaking through, makes better thought now under this chilly Heaventide. At the herald’s yellforth, Her Highness greeted and kissed us. Then she bade me, Taiase, Vosaeth, Istae, and Semuane withdraw and speak sundrily.
Within her sunderroom and after she played with our babes, Her Highness told she wished to selfsomely thank us, and also dolefully on behalf of one who could not speak. She wared our friendship with Lady-Captain Marauqereth, whomof she could not fully behold the dearth we had given that worthy lady, which Her Highness hoped may have lasting outcome. She outlaid that sometimes it does mightiness good to having a withstanding yard, whereby one may math one’s strengths and weaknesses. We answered we had done little more than behave true and yield faithful friendship. Her Highness answered back that sometimes that is enough, and dolefully within an alderhall rife with showoffs and whisper-twisters all too willing to goad pride and miswisdom. In a breathtide of self-soothness, she said, our worthiness had not gone unwitted.
Then Her Highness drew forth a set of leafwrits with goldleaf and the city's waxbond, which she doled to us each. She told that herein we ladies and our household are so benamed worshipful haremmates to Her Hallowness the Heavenly Daughter, Queen Seri-Ilaueth. A seldom honor she shrove, and moreso to outlanders. Furthermore, copies should be boded to Ofu-Labu’s embassy in Qabarat and to Son. We stood in shaken wordlessness at such unforelooked worship.
As last word, Her Highness bowed to me, Semuane, Istae, and Vosaeth. She spoke she knows we outriders are sworn to our cities, and Vosaeth right so strongly to her clan. Yet she beseeched us to reckon ourselves beholden to more than one mere city, and that if we could do so, may we find wise to thew for not only our homelands but for all Lashunta. Then she kissed us each and gave us blessed leave.
Laterward, we witted Lady Marauqereth had cloven the mirthtide. I saw the young captain sharing a kiss with Erymi, who hugged her tightly. Her Ladyship then outsought Oshis, took his hands, and spoke. I watched him shudder, felt him start to kneel. Yet she stayed him. She then overleaned, kissed his brow, and left. She sought Sievae, kissed her, and then came to me and Vosaeth, where she repeated the deed. ~A mie,~ - “Sisters,” she greeted us. Then she blessed our farewell.
We soon gathered with Oshis, who laid his head on Erymi’s bosom. We felt his meekness, an unmean mood. I beheld little worth in outlaying that so high and hallowed a wife as Her Ladyship may not outname any man her fathermate, but rather any child is held meanly by the harem.
Our minds have shifted maudlin as we forereckon tomorrow’s shedness. Erenow, Vosaeth and I sat together. We had no words. Then she laid head on my shoulder, and we wept.
Lashunta Words & Phrases:
- Loes (masc): you are worthy
- Dias (masc): father
- Qoanassas (masc participle): to become; becoming
- Ori (spir): permission; leave
- Linme (inclus cond fem): we may/would talk
- Heali (dir. imperative): reckon; consider
- Lomya (spir. accus): all; everything
- Aeo milimyelise (2nd-pers. depend. fem): befoe you agree
- Limi ollaea, oeo’avyri: Speak goodness, and wisely
- Relesya-shyaelf (1st-pers cond, humble-polite): I would worship
- Hishasru (mac alla/dative): to another.
- Ziari (spir): yet; however
- Diahi delanif (1st-pers cond): I cannot leave
- Retaeara (com accus): moors ~Retaea~
- Yei (spir): So; then; thus
- Temi (dir. imperative): stay
- Oeo'roae (dir. imperative): and know
- Vae-sya (spir accus): your life; your soul
- O'stimi: always; ever
- Neshoraf (1st-pers): I/we bear within
- Yuadis: you have loved/infatuated
- Mie-vere (fem accus): my sister
- Lorreal (spir): fame; nameworth
- Roae (spir): it knows; ~Roassi~
- Dizamarru (com alla/dative): to the Clan
- A mie - Vocative of ~Mie~ (fem): sister
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