A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 42
~O'mei Vaeol-Ile mi Remaue mi yaoma koma sianathya rieia Kaureia iqova o soreatha, o'nezaruassi haiafara.~ (In which Lady Vaeol, Remaue, and all their flag witness Kaure’s rise to wifehood at her bridetide, including guests.)
2. Zielae, 24,547 - 14th Month in Qabarat
I have wished to write of Kaure’s bridetide. Yet afterward I needed until today to strengthen, as did all our house. There is no mirthtide like one held by Korasha, and nothing merrier than a bridetide. Thus of a Korasha bridetide, I will merely bewrite this neighborhood will not long forget.
Zielae Treesong yesterday began early at foredawn. As first thing, and beyond Kaure’s antennae and ears, Remaue and I told the riddlesome wordbode from Her Highness Lady Nisaueth to Mistresses Nimaue and Shotheiae. We yaysaid it as unforbearable against bridetide’s weightiness. Therefore, we sent Semuane, soon as she clothed, to Ofu-Laubu’s embassy to beseech further rede. A belltide later, Semuane came back boding thus: ~Sheazya-shyaldaf komyao’ahi sheazif,~ - “We have told all we can tell.” Unhelpful, but rife with the rearhall secretsomeness the Lauba love. So we beread that, in a worst but nameworthiest outcome, Lady Marauqereth might have flown back to Ofu-Laubu on Thakasa-back from her peacebode among the Sealnea. Therefore, we should forelook her and a host, maybe her whole harem. Lady Nimaue fretted we could but unworthily welcome such a haughty name, although if nothing else, we could forehold them a sundry stead at the midyard’s fore. Thus with the threat warcraftily foremet so best as canny, we began the day.
With the worshiprite set to begin until foredusk, we had a whole loose daytide. After a hearty mornmeal, and while Remaue shuttled between Mistress Nimaue and Mistress Indith to assure readiness, I again stood as Kaure’s roomsteward and got almost the whole children’s help, since we merrily minded their play while mothers and fathers busied. After a light early noonmeal we even took a swift slumbertide, and then about Seventh Bell we bestowed the children to Oshis’s heed (~Las nilodara maeavyelas o illathyara nazyas!~ - He who has the most gets the duty!). Then we undertook bath, wherein I thoroughly cleansed, washed, and oiled Kaure’s hair, and furthermore outworked some tightness from her mighty shoulders.
Remaue clove for the clothing, forwhy we had a stark plan. For Kaure’s skirt, Indith had bestowed a bolt of green Elven gossamer, which we wrapped long almost until her ankles, so that it hid but hinted our bridemate’s awesome hips. Overward we tied a brideknot in woven golden glowsilk, a gift from Semuane’s mothers. Then under stern warning against ticklishness, our wifemate drew luckrunes under Kaure’s bellyknot as the smudgerow, and likewise on her feet. Then in an Elven wont she drew a doleful elfrune meaning Alsetae, the elfgoddess of thresholds, on our beloved’s brow. Although I yielded all my gems, Kaure merely took her Green-Mother beadnecklace Remaue and I had yielded when we first loved her, and also two silver armbands set with mosstones. Along with Haenulaeminu - dreyweeps - flowing from her left ear, Indith and Leiendil had given Sinmar - seldom brambleblossoms green and white that we wove through her hair, and which smelled dizzying.
Then we stood back and beheld our dazzling bridemate. I shrive that, if I had felt self-shameful at my bridetide baring breast, my shyness matched nothing like Kaure’s, who blushed even to show herself. Not only is she short and broad, but her bosom is the greatest I have ever seen, so that they even slope down her ribs. Yet Remaue and I have never bethought her unfair. Remaue deems Kaure’s teats her best share, although I more love her vatlike hips and ticklish belly, whose pout her skirt dearly framed and made me yearn misrightly.
From our bower on the upper floor, we had shut the windowshrowds to keep sunderness while we guests gathered in the neighboryard. Roughly a half-belltide ere start, a wild cheer rose from the neighboryard, whereat we rushed to the window, although we then must fight Kaure against looking, lest she break bridal hallowness. From the stairfoot we called Less and Hanos and beseeched news. ~O’nae thanze o’si-dumassi~ - “You must come and see yourselves!” they answered. So Remaue and I bade them upcome and ward sulky Kaure while we went down, and where we found our whole flag had seemingly fled the household.
The neighboryard, freshly decked with wreaths, young teatwort clusters, and every kind of elfblossom Indith and Leindil could bestow, seemed a fey dream, and where the guests already waited well. I spotted Lady Riahi, who stood on the Embassy’s behalf in Her Highness Lady Sheneal’s stead. Given that my Lady-Mother had sent Kaure a bridetide gift (a bowershrowd whose stitchwork matched the gifts she had made me and Remaue), the Embassy could not easily forswear the bridetide and had boded right blessing. Thus Her Highness’s withholdness likely meant an evenhanded trial to keep behoof with the city’s Rightkind. (Under such behappendom, I could almost forgive Her Highness, but not quite.) I also beheld Master Mearthil and a few other Elves as friends of Indith and Leiendil, and then Riardon and a strong tally of Damaya-Elves showing faith with Hauronil, along with many tradefellows afriended to Mistress Nimaue and Shotheiae. Master Evauess and the Lemussa yardfellows stood in awkward Korasha stoutness aside, as if, with so many high ladies, Damaya, and Elves, they feared to mistakenly break someone. Also, Minal’s kindred mingled with some elfsingers, where laterward they would play. Yet oddly, of our own flag we saw no swift hint.
Then our eyes drew to an almost tacklesome throng on a sidelane, so bestriven that we almost feared a fight. Yet the arms raised only in hail, the only blows heartily patted backs, and the only grapples were hugs. Amid Semuane and Istae I glimpsed a tall dark beauty with jade beads flashing among purple locks. Then she swerved, and I caught Vosaeth’s matching green eyes, who found me and grinned with antennae dancing.I ran, hugged my oathsister, and fell weeping to my knees, dragging her with me, where Oshis already knelt before his mothermate and was fiercely kissing Sonnauf their child.
Not only Vosaeth had come, but her whole house: Honosil laughing, whomwith we had ridden in the Formian warfare, Threarde bearing Vohydrif almost a year and half old, Onull and Eneash who knelt and clasped my arms. Also had came Lady Tiril, Lady Marauqereth’s haremmate. At first I saw not Anmeth, who had been newly bechild when we left, but then spotted her with a tiny newborn abreast, and grinning while Leief hosted wardsomely even while trading back-breaking hugs. I stumbled toward and kissed the young wife’s still-thick belly. ~Rae noei vahuia-shyalze!~ I worshiped: “The goddess’s light shines from you!”
Amid our mirth, Her Highness Lady Nisaueth and Mistress Nimaue neared, who named our gatherhood wonderful, but warned a bridetide waited. Happily, she read, we had kept an open stead at the fore, ~O’usi-ushoassa saemarru,~ - “big enough for a harem,” which made us laugh reminding we had misdreaded Lady Marauqereth’s income. Her Highness shrove she had behaved under stern bid not to tell us this guesthood, which we swiftly forgave. Then our housemates hosted our Retaea kin to their stead while Remaue and I dried tears and hastened back upstairs.
At our bower, we first thought to thank Hanos and Less for taking our ward while we greeted Vosaeth. Instead, we found them kneeling before Kaure, whom somehow they had overbewon to stand their misdeed: they were lapping the golddust and myrrh-gum off her teats while our bridemate grinned foolishly. At the wicked sight I halted dumbstricken. Yet not so Remaue. She screeched, teeth bare, and grabbed her thurse-whip from the wall. ~O’illi isyolasra thaea-shyalf o’lizoro-yei!~ - “I shall take your gembags as my girdle-pouches!” she yelled. They fled ere she could strike, and laughed like Shotaviras thieving a hometree’s teatwort (which I reckon a fitting likeness).
Remaue afterhunted them until the stairhead and halted. Then she headed back, wrath crackling her antennae. ~A se!~ her glare aimed at Kaure: “And you!” She looked ready to bewray our bridemate, whomin shyness already wilted her mighty shoulders.
Ere Remaue’s curseful chide, I instrode and set hand on her breast. ~Usi~ - “Enough,” I shortly bade, which sputtered her. Although I wontfully withstand not my wifemate (even though I am the outrider and she the shieldbearer), I warned that this is Kaure’s day, and we should speak nothing nor hint curse to bring misluck. Ere her wrath could answer, I swerved, knelt before Kaure, and began redrawing the myrrh-gum from the vial I already held. ~Ino lino o’erosi-ahi hilehyo,~ - “A little whit that may easily be remended,” I mildly beread. Then I kissed our bridesmaid’s belly and glanced upward: ~O’hei-dumi, o’nae ziaeme soreatharru,~ - “Eyesome at your lust, we must hasten to the bridetide,” which made her giggle shamefully.
Arear, a sob broke from Remaue’s throat. Her wrath shifted to a worrisome giggle like Kaure’s. I took behoof and bade our wifemate bring the golddust, which she again sifted on Kaure’s bosom. Then she wept and laid brow on our bridemate’s hip. ~Zhienya-shyae,~ - “Forgive me,” she bade. ~Di zhili valya,~ - “Do not doubt our love.” Kaure laid a blessing hand.
Then elfsong started below, and Semuane came to ask readiness. I yielded Kaure a milkblossom bundle mingled with more Sinmar and answered. Semuane hastened out, whereat we three gathered at the doorshroud and took a deep breath. Then we began the long-seeming walk down the stairway until the foregate, while the elfsong swelled awesomely.
For our walkshow through the neighboryard, Remaue and I made sure to tread a half-stride behind Kaure while we laid hands on her shoulders, so that our height misdrew not from our short bridemate. Yet from the guest’s smiles at both sides, we might not worry, and furthermore none doubted her as a nonesuch Korasha beauty, from her shoulders’ and thighs’ strength to her overflowing buxomness, wherefor against shyness she fought to not hunch and held forth to all sight, as the vessel in whom the goddess would soon be enfleshed. Yet dearthlessly we watched when we neared the neighbortree, and her eyes lit on Vosaeth and her house (whomwith our flagmates had couthlessly mingled). Kaure stumbled so that we feared to catch her, and almost ran into the crowd. Yet Remaue and I kindly withheld, goading to her foremarked stead, while Vosaeth bowed and quivered blessing, wordlessly forethinking to wait laterward.
So we came to the neighbortree's beamshrine, where Kaure, moodsomely overwhelmed, tearful, and antennae humming so hard they must ache, climbed the stand, where waited the treesinger and two priests: one a Lashunta priestess benamed to Mahaere - Green-Mother - and the other an elfpriest (and a man, befitting for our sake) of Shelyn, the elven god of love and fairness. With Hauronil, Indith, and Leiendil we had forespoken a twofold rite with both Elven and Lashunta gods. Thus, after the elfsong ended, Mahaere’s priestess sang the elder first hymn, listing the goddess’s many names and downcalling Her witness. Then the elfpriest sang his hymn and spoke of the goddess’s blessing: that any deed done under love, and for all’s worship, so uplifts all more greatly than alone. Under another elfsong, Mahaere’s priestess wiped glowrose and myrrh oilbalm on Kare’s brow and bosom, and then her belly while the elfpriest beckoned another blessing overhead. Then we all danced and sang the last elder hymn to cheer Kaure’s income to wifehood.
Indith and Leiendil led forth Hauronil, clothed in gossamer green and gold and bearing a Sinmar fanwreath matching the blossoms in Kaure’s bundle and hair. His eartips gleamed golden. Yet they had unbound his antennae, which rose starkly Lashunta-like. His elfmates sang a love song bespeaking not only their heart for him, but also his love for Kaure (whose meaning a Damaya-Elf broadcast for all to understand). Hauronil grinned while he neared, and Kaure’s glee wafted so strong we could feel it. With a dandy bow he knelt and upyielded the fanwreath, which she took while offhanding her bundle to Remaue, and happily brooked the fan to hide her huge bosom.
The priests asked whether she would take him as her First Man. Breaching wont, Kaure hauled Hauronil afoot. She heaved against his breast, stood tiptoe, and kissed him while the most lissome mood overtook. Then she whispered hardly loud enough to hear, with smile and eyes bright: ~Aesehave,~ - “I am ready.”
Although wontfully the priest then would ask the First Man his willingness to serve, there now seemed little marksomeness. Instead, Kaure gave Hauronil back the Sinmar fanwreath, clasped his waist, and lifted him to sit upon her shoulder, in repeat of Oshis’s yesteryear stunt at Ofu-Laubu’s Games. Then while our bridemate bore him up the stairway and we foursome followed worrying to offstay their fall, the high ladyhood, mistresses, and neighborfolk giggled shamefully, the Damaya-Elves laughed and buzzed, and Vosaeth’s and our household, along with Minal’s shipfolk and the Lemussa yardfellows, roared a naughty cheer overdrowning the hymn.
Thus we came to the bower foreset for the bridetide tryst: witchlights glowing among sweetburn, bed and floor strewn with glowrose petals, and more blossomsets that Indith and Leiendil had lovingly bestowed. I shrive we all six giggled sillily while Kaure strove best to daintily set Hauronil afloor. Then they clasped hands and for the longest while gazed, as if they knew not what next, even when Remaue goaded our bridemate, and the two Elves laid heartening hands on Hauronil’s shoulders.
At last he knelt and begged leave, at which she smiled. When he reached for her brideknot, however, fright almost overcame. Kaure shuddered and leaned against me and Remaue while we overbent, whispered dearness, and brought her into mindshare.
Hauronil beseeched to cleave as well. When we let him in, Indith and Leiendil also clove, all sixsome together. At his heart’s touch, at his love and kindliness, Kaure witfully loosened. He set hands on her belly’s slope, whereat her only shudder stemmed from ticklishness. He nuzzled her bosom. Kaure’s mood softened with her knees.
I know not how to bewrite Kaure’s mind. Our mighty Korashe bridemate is ever manifold, both in idleness and many old wounds. I had seen the hardship she had undergone in even letting a man yield love, even letting him touch her. It made whole starkness that she had started this deed, that it had begun with her seeking Hauronil and her choice to become a wife since she was ready. Yet her whole yestermind rose, both hurt, sorrow, lust, and love. Under our shared heart, I could not withhold tears, and looking about our witness’s ring, neither could the others.
Hauronil’s hands again reached for her brideknot, and this time Kaure’s thrill shivered through us all, like a windgust drawing harpstrings. A breathtide again he halted, rightly beseeching this deepest and loveliest leave. Kaure’s yaysaith was unspoken. Yet in a thought her manifoldness flattened. Her mind drove though her old hurt into sheer, bold love and want, bidding him to fill her.
At that breathtide, a wildness overtook me. I remind not my thought, and but dimly my next deed. While Kaure lay fulfilled under Hauronil, I did something wicked and leaveless. ~Seafi-Afei~ - Womb-Hunger - is the only name bespeaking what drove me as I settled on Leiendil’s waist and tore loincloth aside. I had not taken a man in more than a year, although whether from that lack or the overall lust I cannot tell. Yet slowly afterward thoughtfulness came back while Indith lay weeping at my knee, which first worried that I had leavelessly offthanked. Yet for whatever worth, she seemed right so overwhelmed as I and in no good mind to gainsay. Furthermore, Remaue even now overtook her, and without gainsaith. None but Leiendil seemingly witted my uncouthness, and his mood would bewray nothing.
I left the bridal bower while Kaure giggled and wallowed atop Hauronil. She crouched ownersomely and looked foreset to try another bout. Yet my shame overgrew and would not let me stay. I craved my son to soothe my wild heart, and so headed to the upperfloor room where the children waited. Too late I reminded I had left him with Oshis, and nowise could stand thought of meeting my fathermate, or the threat he might outread my deed. Happily, he was not there. Instead, Erymi watched the children, who told her manmate had gone to serve Vosaeth. When I took my son, however, she asked, and doubtlessly witting my clothelessness: ~Sta diya?~ - “What is wrong?" I answered not and tried to reckon my plight. I had right ere taken a man, even if an Elf, and gotten filled. Deemingly, after weaning Aeosel, I was well beyond milksome motherhood and between bloodtides. I might well be ripe. Againstward, however, the lorekeepers teach it uncanny that Lashunta and Elves may bear children - although some yoretales belie!
Then came Remaue, glowingly gleeful. At my sight her wickedness gloated. Yet as my shame and fright fought to outgrow each other, she bewared. ~Myani~ - “Come along,” she bade, and nodded to Erymi.
They led me (bearing Aeosel) to Erymi and Tae’s bower. From a chest Erymi took a vial and gave me: ~Kezhafeu,~ - “Womb-bane." At the name and the vial’s weight, I faltered. I knew the drug but had never taken. I had heard witchtales that it can sicken or even shrivel the womb so that one may never bear a child. Whether I wish more children stays unanswered, although I would like to have the choice. Remaue reminded that she and all the housewives but Nae took it, and guessed that, if Istae had not taken, at Neish coming with Vosaeth, she might again take it soon. Withholdingly I drank, trying not to gag on the taste. ~Sohi yani-mei ho sohya tollonya zhaoya,~ - “A short sickness now against a longer sickness later.” Then my wifemate hugged and kindly let my mood settle.
We borrowed bodyshrouds (we would not be the first falling to wantonness at their maidenmate’s bridetide) and came downstairs to the guests. Vosaeth swooped in, and we traded sons under our old wont, and which soothed me right as I needed. Unhappily Sonnauf deemed himself too old to carry babelike. At last I bewon him to swing in my arms ere he fled back to his funnier father. Then I yielded worship to both Threarde’s and Anmeth’s babes, who proudly let me take them. In the crowd, however, we got bare hap to talk.
No shock I saw Istae sitting on Neish’s lap (whom Vosaeth had doubtlessly alet to seek his former secret not-so-maidenlove) and wondered how long ere they stole upstairs, since she would need some believable seemliness to upkeep her false maidenhood. I greeted Lady Riahi, whom, when she bestowed Her Highness’s goodwill, I markedly thanked for selfly coming. Master Mearthil gave a kindly word, wherein he blessed our house’s growth, and I beseeched him to keep our kindly thought. Lady Eneae likewise bestowed blessing. I made hap to undermeet her with Riardon, whomof they each seemed warily reckful. The other Damaya-Elves had enwed a dance-match against Minal’s Raumoeva kindred, which overtook almost half the yard and an earnestly fierce mood while the two troops offset with leaps, twirls, and throws almost threatening feudsome wrath. Then I spotted Sievae, and beheld more than merely Meiss yielding worship. She dallied amid a whole troop of the Lemussa yardmates and seemed fully glad of their lusty heed. She maybe forelooked a busy night. I bethought to warn her but could not believe she foresaw not her flirt’s outcome, and so blessed her idleness.
Instead, I sought Master Evauess to tell his reckonship of the yardmates’ wantonness. I brought bubblemead and shared the cup, whereafter he played with Aeosel. Under gruff fun he said: ~Aeo thanzyelvas, o zhaovyaztalaf eaefathara ileantara shaevodara,~ - “Ere I came, I had had forelooked a most haughty and ladylike mirthtide.” Misfeudsomely I asked whether he deemed us unladylike. He laughed answer. Then, still bearing Aeosel, he offstrode and flirted with Semuane’s mother, making me afterhunt to win back my son.
Anon I wearied and withdrew to a sideroom, where I shifted Aeosel’s mossnapkin and coaxed him to slumber. I had right laid him on a pillowbench when I wared we were not alone. Shapes stole among the wallshafts, whomfrom I heard throats both songlike and rough, as well as bodies rubbing and earnest idle moans. Eyesome our gatherhood had become more than a mere bridetide.
I shrive reckfulness overcame my better wisdom, and I neared to see. Yet of all folk I might forelook, by the witchlight’s fair glow I shakenly beheld Indith and Leiendil, who eyesomely had left the bridal bower. They leaned against the same wallshaft so that they even held hands, and whereagainst they were uprisen and held. Neither did I forelook that the two so ownersomely meddling with the Elven wifemate and manmate might be Korasha, whose shortness and strong breadth I witted. Although the two Elves had taken Hauronil as othermate, and Indith had ere shown flirtsome with me (and Leiendil had doubtlessly yielded to lust), I had aguessed them drawn to slighter fare, so to speak, and not squat, hairy warriors half their height and thrice their weight who would be so unlike Elves unless one meddled with apes!
Then I knew both Korasha’s idlesome groans and their shoulders’ slopes! Oshis upheld Indith, wrapped between her thighs, while Less did samely to Leiendil. The shamelessness almost made me outstride and chide them. Yet I withheld, as I reckoned both Elves clove willingly, nevermind the awful uncouthness, and not the first tide I had outfound Oshis behaving so wickedly under darkness! My greatest worry forelooked what Erymi and Tae their wifemates might deem, although too late to seek their rede.
Instead, I could merely bite lip and squeeze my thighs.
At last all four sank to the wallshaft’s foot, where, to my relief, I heard chuckles and dear words. Then Less gallantly offered Leiendil help to rise and cleanse, and so led him to a sidenook. Oshis lingered, sharing whispers with Indith, and whereof I gleaned he asked her welfare and need. Whatever she answered I guessed as mellow, since soon they together rose aknee and kissed Elvenwise. When Oshis stood, however, he wared me. For the first tide I read shame, as if until then he had not reckoned how others - his flagwife too - might deem. Swiftly he retucked his loincloth, yielded a tight bow, and then left to seek Erymi, to my guess, and his sin’s shrift. Indith crouched befuddled by his hasty leave but startledly understood when I neared, crouched and laid hand.
I helped her rise and led her to a showernook. Then, instead of having her stand under the spout, I helped her sit, took a cloth, and wiped her clean, after which I found a twill and rubbed her dry. Then with arms over the elfwife’s shivering shoulders, I led her back to the pillowbench where Aeosel slept. By her lean against my shoulder, she craved softness. So thus we sat, our backs on the bench and hearing my son’s mild snore, and her brow on mine. If some awful mood held her, whether shame, hurt, or something wholly else, I could not tell. Yet my touch soothed until her head rose and her eyes settled on me.
I stroked Indith’s brow, and even boldly her eartips. Then I spoke that, if she would outname sake against my house, I would yield all geld. She looked oddly and asked why. Falteringly I answered that, by my witness, my house had yielded grim offthank (ingathering myself), whereafter I stood ready to answer full dearth. She asked whether I meant her and Leiendil’s deed with the two Korasha. Dreadfully I yaysaid.
The elfwife giggled, which startled me. Slowly she told that, Oshis and Less had cloven her and her manmate after the Elves’ beseech, and, although true that erenow she had never taken a Korasha, if she had born Lashunta any ill will, she and Leiendil would have never brought Hauronil into their house. When I asked of his stand as Damaelauras, she answered he behaved so for his own behalf, but that she and Leiendil would love him anywise.
Then she headed to Aeosel asleep and marksomely asked whether Oshis is my son’s father. I yaysaid, at which she said Oshis doubtlessly seems ripe. I reminded our talk when first we met, and how she and Leiendil had brought Hauronil into their house to help bear a child. So I told that Oshis is father not only to my son, but also Erymi’s, Sievae’s, and Vosaeth’s, until six at least. At this word, her wonder smiled. She looked thoughtfully again at Aeosel, and then bade we should speak no more of offthank or dearth, forwhy she deemed this bridetide had brought us all near in kinship. We rose: she to seek Leiendil and I to bear my son back to the children’s bower. Then she kissed me.
Back in the midyard, I hastened and found Kaure and Hauronil had also risen from the bridal bower, with the crowd singing them blessings. I clove right when Vosaeth grappled Kaure in a laughably clumsy Shota-hug, since she outcomefully toppled herself and our stout bridemate must uphold her. Then my oathsister more lissomely knelt and kissed the bride’s belly, beseeching her blessing in the Retaea wise. Then she swerved to Hauronil and, to the cityfolk's shock, likewise kissed his belly. ~Sa-zimas o’nae sevaea-shyaldis,~ - “You must bless me, too,” she boldly beseeched, and then offered to kiss any other share of his body he wished, to his weary shame and much laughter.
Riardon came forth and asked this wont of Thwartkind’s blessing. Vosaeth merrily greeted Qabarat's Motorae Elfqueen, and eyesomely thrilled to meet another Lashunta seeming an Elf. She outlaid her folk deem Rahyathalma tokens of the Moon-God’s blessing, and so own high worship among the Retaea and serve as priests. This stuck the Riardon’s heed, who asked more of Elindrae’s priesthood, whereat we told Kaure is even so a benamed priest. Vosaeth then welcomely bade Riardon seek the Retaea under worshipful guesthood, wherein: ~O’nae-dei honyaes Elaurasa-yei,~ - “You need not hide as an Elf”.
Then I wared Master Mearthil speaking earnestly with Lady Eneae, who sought Mistresses Shotheiae and Nimaue, and then me. She told the elf-seer had gotten word that qualm was found in the city: Dehitari - the Burning Pox - which is almost so plighty as yesteryear’s Breath-Thief. Quoth bylaw, word should bode straightway to Her Highness the High Matron, nowise the nighttide, who would then outcall Qualmlock. She beread there would wait maybe two belltides ere the call, and we should send home our guests now, unless this would become a right crowded household for the next toward weeks.
Mistress Shotheiae went to the bridal stand and outspoke the warning, whereat the whole mood shifted from mirth to dread. The Damaya-Elves and Lemussa yardfellows swiftly left, and Lady Eneae and Lady Riahi offered safefare to anyone going their ways. Lady Tiril (whomwith sorrily I had not gotten hap to speak) would withdraw to Ofu-Laubu’s embassy with Her Highness Lady Nisaueth. Yet Vosaeth would not shed from us under any threat or dearth and begged Mistress Shotheiae to stay, who yielded. ~O’modomi tham thosora soreathaora ezimora,~ - “Luckily we have much food from the bridetide.” Hauronil shortly found Indith and Leiendil and shared a tearful farewell ere they left for the Elf-Farthing, since their othermate would stay with Kaure.
I found Vosaeth with Minal, who had only right met. The shipwife hugged little Sonnauf and named him nephew, while Vosaeth held Minal’s shoulder and mourned that the Raumoeva hastened to the Marshfarthing to slip moor and flee the harbor. My oathsister asked more questions than Minal could answer, of her kinship with Oshis and herself. I could tell these two swiftly afriended and shared a mean mood (dare I name it lawlessness?). Then with a last dear word, the Raumoeva left.
We gathered under the inner windroom while Mistresses Shotheiae and Nimaue hastily oversaw what readiness could be done to fasten the household ere the qualmlock bells. The midyard seemed more forlorn. Even with Vosaeth’s house gathered with ours, still we looked much smaller than the merry crowd. Kaure stood hugging Hauronil, looking aloss at her bridetide’s swift end.
Then Vosaeth again came, knelt, and kissed her belly. With an upward grin, my oathsister outquoth that, ere this bridetide ended, there was one priest who had not yet bestowed blessing. At her bid, Kaure began song, not in Sonni, Qabarati, or Elvish, but the elder Retaea Moondance. Vosaeth’s house eagerly gathered, and we with them, in the dance. We beseeched Elindrae’s blessing to shift and make us sheer. So we leapt and whirled over the next belltide and older, bringing Semuane’s mothers and the housegrooms into the ring, until at last the bells rang qualmlock, and whereafter we slept dreamless
- Sheazya-shyaldaf (1st-trans perf honor): I/we told
- Komyao’ahi (spir acc): all/whole that can
- Sheazif (1st-trans perf cond): I would/might tell
- Las (3rd masc): he; they
- Nilodara (comm acc): most; the most
- Maeavyelas (3rd-masc depend): he would own
- O: if; when
- Illathyara (comm acc): duty
- Nazyas (3rd-masc cond): he will/may get
- Haenulaeminu (anim): dreyweep; weeping-maiden blossom
- Sinmar: elven green & white flower in Blighttide
- O’nae (adv): need; must
- Thanze (2nd-fem intrans): you may/will come
- O’si-dumassi (adv): to see for yourself
- Rae noei (spir): goddess's light/brightness
- Vahuia-shyalze (2nd-fem intrans honor): you shine
- O’usi-ushoassa (comm particip): big enough
- Saemarru (comm alla/dat): to/for a harem
- O’illi (adv): will; shall
- Isyolasra (masc acc): gembag; scrotum
- Thaea-shyalf (1st-trans cond honor): will/may have/take
- O’lizoro-yei (adv): as/like a pouch
- A se (voc): you; and you; oh you
- Usi (imp): enough
- Ino lino (neut): little whit; small detail
- O’erosi-ahi (adv): can easily
- Hilehyo (3rd-neut cond): it will/may mend
- O’hei-dumi (adv): eyesome/obvious lust
- Ziaeme (incl-fem intrans cond): we may/will hasten
- Soreatharru (comm alla-dat): to the bridetide
- Zhienya-shyae (honor imp): Forgive me/us
- Di Zhili (imp): do not doubt
- Valya (spir acc): love; elven love; romance
- Mahaere (fem): Green-Mother; earthgoddess; mother-goddess
- Aesehave (1st-fem intrans): I/we am/are ready
- Korashe (fem): female Korasha
- Seafi-Afei (spir): womb-hunger; lust
- Sta (comm): what; who
- Diya (3rd-comm): wrongs; is wrong
- Myani (imp): come along/with; accompany
- Kezhafeu (anim): womb-bane; botanical contraceptive
- Sohi (spir): sickness; illness
- Yani-mei (spir): short/young now
- Ho: against
- Sohya (spir acc): sickness
- Tollonya (spir acc): older; longer
- Zhaoya (spir acc): toward; future
- Aeo: before; ere
- Thanzyelvas (1st-masc intrans depend): I would have come
- Zhaovyaztalaf (1st-trans pluperf): I had foretold
- Eaefathara (comm acc): mirthtide; party
- Ileantara (comm acc): ladylike; cultured
- Shaevodara (comm acc): haughtiest; most queenlike; most snobbish
- Sa-zimas (2nd masc): you too/also
- Sevaea-shyaldis (2nd-trans honor): you bless
- Rahyathalma (comm): Thwartking; crss-clade
- O’nae-dei (adv): need/must not
- Honyaes (2nd masc): you hide / keep secret
- Elaurasa-yei (adv): as/like an Elf
- Dehitari (spir): the Burning Pox
- O’modomi (adv): luckily
- Tham (incl-trans): we hold/take
- Thosora (neut acc): food
- Ezimora (neut acc): much
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