A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 43

~O'mei Vaeol-Ile miave o erithirrya Vosaetheara.~ (In which Lady Vaeol catches up with Vosaeth’s adventures.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

2. Zielae, 24,547 Afterword - 1st Day of Qualmlock

My last log I wrote this morn when I woke early and the house slept. Now at dusktide I have more to tell. Today beheld the bridetide’s aftermath, with much cleaning and reckoning stocks against qualmlock’s length. With luck, it will last shorter than yesteryear. Mistress Nimaue beread the Burning Pox runs swifter than the Breath-Thief, although its wounds are grim. So we pray for the first whit while forsaking the other. She foretold the matronhood will likely lift qualmlock by next Treesong.

Aeosel and I owned gladness watching the others stagger out to an idly late mornmeal, and many with mead-heavy heads. Kaure came earlier, and soon after Remaue, which bestowed us a short togetherness to yield love to our blessed bridemate…or as we eagerly named her, ~eisrye-me yane~ - our new wifemate. Then we hugged her between, clasped her bosom, and kissed her belly. Happily, she was not sore. When we asked of Hauronil, she told he still slept, whereat Remaue gloated: ~O’karaea-eshodi lashtis!~ - “You rode him to death!” Remaue then dared her to clothe halterless in her new wifehood’s show, but which Kaure under merry shyness withheld.

Unlike Kaure, Sievae was so sore that she beseeched Meiss and Hanos to carry her down and set her on a pillowbench, where she ate and bemoaned doom while lying down. She got little ruth but much fun, wherein we named her ~Ridoale Yane Lemusse~ - the New Lemussa Yardwife - and asked whether Master Evauess knew she was overtaking his stead. I also reckfully watched Meiss and Hanos while they worked together and reckoned whether they had overcome their feud for Sievae’s goodwill. Whatever truth, they seemed trucesome enough while Hanos stirred to Nae his wifemate and Meiss crouched at Sievae’s feet and played with Lenis. I also reckoned Mistresses Shotheiae and Nimaue couthly unheeded Istae entangled with Neish Vosaeth’s haremmate, against maidenly shame.

Vosaeth came last, and with Hauronil, whose hand she held. My oathsister loudly outquoth she had found this forsaken man wandering lost among the upstairs bowers, and since none else wanted him, she would reckon adding him to her harem. Anon Kaure leapt upright. She strode between with wontless boldness and shoved Vosaeth so strongly I feared feud-sake. Vosaeth gaped, but then grinned. ~A me moare!~ - “Here is our warrior!” she outspoke. Then she knelt and kissed Kaure’s belly while we laughed and buzzed.

My oathsister then yielded a broad silver bowl wrought like a seashell, etched with shapes of trees and phoenix-fowls. Lady Tiril had brought but left it with Vosaeth, bidding her bestow it on Lady Marauqereth’s behalf, to which Vosaeth added the only rue lay in Lady Tiril now stuck at the embassy and Lady Marauqereth staying in Ofu-Laubu where, quoth Vosaeth, ~Lemyele osra shimara~ - she dealt with kindred business (which swiftly got awareness, since an inkling had grown that Her Ladyship had been bechild when we left Ofu-Laubu). Kaure meekly atook the gift, answering she would selfsomely thank Lady Tiril at qualmlock’s end and would beseech her to also bode back to Her Ladyship. Then she spoke the gift would make a right navaso - treerain dish - as we should fittingly brook.

Afterward, Vosaeth and I got hap to talk alone, the first whereof was a long kiss, and then play with our much grown brother-sons. Idly she grabbed my shoulder and squeezed: ~Si yane,~ - “This is new,” she gloated of my thick thews grown from the Lemussa’s weight-drill. Oddly, I had not witted my flesh’s hard growth, more aware of my milkweight’s loss. Yet her word gave proof that I have restrengthened after yesteryear’s qualm.

At last, I could dyingly ask the question I had yearned: how had outcome the peacebode my oathsister and Lady Marauqereth had undertaken among the Sealnea? Vosaeth grinned and swore to tell, on foreword that I write it down, since she cannot. Even though Ofu-Laubu’s lorewardens have surely caught the tale, she would have me set her true word. So I have sworn and will set it here underneath:

* * *

~Sheazi Heianazae Ofu-Laubue Sealnearru Shi Marauqereth-Evimeil mi Vosaeth-ile u'Veie Miniade~

(The Tale of the Ofu-Laubu Peacebode to the Sealnea under Lady-Captain Marauqereth and Lady Vosaeth Vei's Daughter of the Miniada)

Yesteryear, after Vosaeth and her house left Ofu-Laubu on the same day we took the elfgate hither to Qabarat, they rode southward, following the same way we had together come northward skirting the Shemez on the Voliahu Rainwood’s edge. They first came early to Azaryau, ere the Blighttide Clanmoot, although they stayed to worship the great Soul-Tree the Retaea deem a god. Then they went onward to Tihes on Mother-Arasene’s northern shore, where they met Clan Miniada and had good gatherhood with Vosaeth’s kin (and whence Lady Vei her mother boded blessing). Yet even though a lakeboat would be faster, they instead took the shorewood path, since, though the Retaea Clanfolk fear not water, they do not love it, and early enough for little threat of moldstorm.

With idle speed they came to Lea on yesteryear’s 2. Ashelae, where the city’s matronhood and my brother Devaeas’s kindred welcomed them with right worship. As forsespoken, they boded farseer-word back to Ofu-Laubu to tell their coming. Thus but six days later, Lady-Captain Marauqereth came on Thakasa-back with a skyrider troop, and furthermore a boat bearing a small host of thanes, which had already fetched forth from Tihes. For the next ten days Lea beguested them with much mirth and idleness ere they left on the 18th, taking an oarship to Than while Her Ladyship’s skyriders flew host, which they reached on 3. Evelae.

Of Than I have merely heard tale and have never gone, and although I have seen Father-Hisyho’s mouth at Wicked Nivaea, I have never seen His headwaters where Than stands. Yet Vosaeth bespeaks it as a great city, fivefold Lea’s size at 80,000 souls, but of shed culture wherein the city's matronhood is straightly owned by the wealthiest trademistresses. Like Qabarat’s Marshfarthing, it upbuilds on stilts and Dariqu - marshtar trees - to stay overwater, and where trade rules all, linking all the shores of Mother-Arasene, Father Hisyho, and the Sea of Mist. After the Thana’s right couth welcome and seven days of trucebode rites, the Lauba host and Vosaeth’s house readied for the fare’s next leg, leaving by flatbark along Mother-Arasene’s southern shore until Father-Ganaha’s mouth, and hosted by a Thana trucebode.

They then crossed to the river’s northern side, where on 4. Shenelae they came to Akadru, the first city of the Sealnea, and whose Hoverball team we had watched in Lea’s Games. At Akadru’s name, I unforbearingly goaded Vosaeth for whits. Yet she halted, as if seeking the right word. At last she said: ~Kolama koma ealua,~ - “It is a city all of trees,” she said, and that these wise monkeyfolk could dwell almost their whole lifetimes and never walk aground, but for smithies, potter-kilns, and some mushroom yards. The Sealnea farm orchards, keep livestock aloft of birds, snails, and bugs, but grow not riceberry, grassberry, or catcorn. They build no stonework, but their woodwork, both deadcarven and livewood is skillfuly fair. Even so, she bespoke Akadru almost so great as Than, ~O’shili hauona,~ - “Merely taller.”

There they again met Lord Ekishi with Akadru’s other elders, forwhy the Sealnea alet rulership to their oldest fellows both wives and men, since they unwrongly believe wisdom grows with years. Before them Lady Marauqereth spoke a moodsome beseech to bless peace between their elderly feudsome folks. She even knelt shriving her bechildness, and begged them to atake her unborn babe’s trust as good faith’s token. Her word stirred the Sealnea’s hearts, who swore goodwill. Then Lord Ekishi yielded back her crown he had won at Lea’s Games, saying: ~A ile, o’doloma-qaoe, di vearya-shyalze uvaeu-tei,~ - “Your Ladyship, over all others, should not go crownless,” (by which word our subtle friend guessed Lady Marauqereth’s secret). Yet Her Ladyship bade Akadru keep the crown, ~eshodi zishirama olathya-rualyelva loeassa,~ - “until my afterbears prove worthy.” Then Her Ladyship walked pilgrimage to Shazhaeas-Sealnearas’s temple, where she openly prayed forgiveness on Ofu-Laubu’s behalf for the great and awful war many yearthousands ago.

Vosaeth told they stayed in Akadru until 13. Shenelae and got right worshipful guesthood, and left under many tearful blessings. Lord Ekishi hosted them northward along Father-Ganaha, where they came to Ushalashru on 4. Shenelae, another city almost so great as Akadru, and got good welcome. After seven days, Lady Marauqereth and her skyriders left on Thakasa-back, since the upcoming Newyear rites in Ofu-Labu owned her sharehood. Yet Vosaeth’s house, along with Lord Ekishi and the Lauba and Thana trucebodes, stayed another three days ere they left northward to cross the great and unknown Daeol Rainwood east of the Golden Monkey Mountains.

They came to Srida overstanding Father-Zhaum’s mouth upon Mother-Arasene’s northeastern shore, right after Newyear. Although it was the smallest Sealnea city so far, its warlike mood beweighed. Furthermore and grimly, Srida owns the most ill will against Lashunta, since it stands at the Voliahu’s southern edge, and the rainwood clans have elderly feuded there with the Sealnea. Thus Vosaeth and the peacebode behaved utmost to earn Srida’s goodwill while they sent farseer-word to Ofu-Laubu and told their coming.

Then on this year’s 16. Koelae, Srida’s cityfolk got a wondershow: Lady Marauqereth’s skyriders wheeled overhead (which, quoth my oathsister, made some fright) and landed in the city to recleave the trucebode. Her Ladyship swore peace before the elders, telling that, although her city’s duty had bidden her away from Ushalashru, she had come back forwhy she would have none believe Srida less worthy. The elders forgave the fright, although they beseeched, in token that their city is indeed no less than Akadru, that she likewise bestow a crown, and also that Ofu-Laubu wield insway to make the Voliahu Clans trucesome. Her Ladyship listened and giftfully bestowed a crown. She swore her utmost to lead the Rainwood Clans to peace, and also to build a shrine to Shazhaeas-Sealnearas in Ofu-Laubu after homecome. This deed outbrought some goodwill fun, wherein the Srida Sealnea asked whether Ofu-Laubu would forgive Sealnearas’s great sin (which had outcome in the yoretale of the queen’s child born with a tail) that had begun the elder war, to which Her Ladyship answered: ~Misi sholyeli, o ve eaeve zishirame Sealnearaste, oe sa loea meavya-rualis,~ - “If the legend is true, then I am Sealnearas’s afterbear, and you owe me faith.” Quoth Vosaeth, the Sealnea laughed so hard they fell off their treeboughs and must catch themselves by their tails.

On 3. Afaelae, the peacebode readied to leave Srida. Lady Marauqereth made an earnest speech to Srida’s elders and those who had come from the South with Lord Ekishi. She acknowledged they had together spoken many fair words, but that the true, hard work of growing peace still outloomed. ~Ziari haeu Eazutheiu aveau be hofu ilinodu,~ - “Yet the Worldtree’s shoot grows from the smallest seed,” she spoke, behinting the Sealnea’s selfsome belief in the World-Soul. And then: ~O’romi heshya-rualm,~ - “Let us tend it.” Thus Her Ladyship off-flew while Vosaeth’s house and the landbound trucebode left, but with far better goodwill than erever the Sealnea had bestowed.

For the homeward path, Vosaeth and the peacebode chose to head westward along Mother-Arasene’s northern shore and the Voliahu’s southern edge, the swiftest way. Yet this path brought them against the Lashunta Rainwood Clans, who shakenly bewared outlanders coming from the East. After some tight speech (made worse on learning our friends had boded peace to the Sealnea their elder foes), the Clanfolk let them cross. Thence they again reached Tihes on 18. Afaelae. There they tarried almost a month as the city’s guests after so long a fetch and having fared to three of the Sealnea’s six great cities.

On 13. Vealae they left Tihes, while the Thana trucebode took lakeboat homeward. Thus on Vinelae Treesong, Vosaeth and the Lauba trucebode again reached Azaryau, where they stayed for the month’s greater share, thinking to tarry Floodtide and await the Blighttide Clanmoot and Anmeth’s birthtide (who had quite thickened while this whole fetch). Yet then a skyrider boded word that, not only would Lady-Captain Marauqereth soon give birth, but also of Kaure’s upcoming bridetide here in Qabarat. Then Vosaeth, under a wild mood, chose to leave on 16. Vinelae and ride hastily to Ofu-Laubu. Happily, they reached the city on 13. Soelae ere Anmeth’s birthtide but three days ago, and also in time to witness the Lady-Captain bearing her daughter. Then her whole household yaysaid to take the elfgate yesterday to watch our bridetide.

* * *

I lightly chided Vosaeth making Anmeth ride so hard to reach Ofu-Laubu. Then I naughtily asked whether Lady Marauqereth’s babe might bear any sameliness to any other children. My childsister grinned. ~Toe amahi mihalyae,~ - “A nice bronze hue,” she muttered. Her eye flickered to Oshis. Giggling we went to Erymi, hugged her between, and secretly told she had gotten her wish. We threesome then found Oshis and wracked him, naming him wicked and wanton.

On oversight, this household has become rather crowded with a twelvesome more Retaea moor-wanderers. Although they have ere stayed in cities, they mislike tight room. We thus marksomely led them to the neighbortree yard and yielded time to stretch their limbs, and then to the Shota barn, where they merrily played with Ess, Vali, Tarami, and our other steeds. Happily, the neighborhood has had no Burning-Pox outbreaks. So we will take behoof of this health for so long as canny and thereby ease the crowd.

Afterward, we overtalked what we may do over the next week or more to busy hands and minds. I told of our drilltide at the Lemussa Weaponyard, even though we are now offcut. Vosaeth put forth no good reason why we cannot drill here until qualmlock’s end. So we spoke with the neighborhood’s treesinger and beseeched leave to fight in the neighboryard, which she alet on foreword to help upkeep. Then I boded treeword to Master Evauess, asking what drills he would bid for this while.

This eventide, I took time to meet Threarde and worship Vohydrif her babe, who is already crawling. I blessed his strength, wherein he grows more like Vohyd his father every day. ~Qoanyas moaras ollaeas,~ - he will become a right warrior, to uphold their clan, and furthermore I see the loving eye wherewith Vosaeth looks on him and reminds her dead haremmate. She will wholly uphold him. Then I went to my beloved Anmeth and her newborn but four days old, whom she has named Sevael - Moonblessing - harkening the oath she swore to Kaure. Already she is suckling strong and growing chubby. When I held her, my bosom ached emptily.

Erenow I got Master Evauess’s answering treeword. He listed some warcraft, mainly barehand drills to further safety. Yet he ended with an outstanding word: ~O’shahoni-zayae Sievae ulinarye,~ - “Bid Sievae behave more meekly,” which outburst my shameful laughter. Eyesome the yardmaster’s steadship feels threatened.

Recap: Vaeol's flag celebrated Kaure's bridetide, right before qualmlock was again declared.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• eisrye-me (incl fem): our (all) wifemate
• Yane (fem): new; young
• O’karaea-eshodi (adv): until death
• Lashtis (2nd-trans perf): you rode
• Ridoale (fem): yardwife; mistress of the yard
• A me (fem voc): this one/female
• Moare (fem): warrior
• Lemyele (3rd depend): she would busy/deal with
• Osra (comm acc): thing; affair; business
• Shimara (comm acc): kin; family
• Si (adv): of/about you
• Sheazi (spir): account; treatise
• Heianazae (comm spir-possess): peacebode
• Sealnearru (comm alla/dat): (to/for) monkeyfolk
• Shi (prep): under; down
• Evimeil (fem): lady-captain
• Mi (prep): with; and
• Ile (fem): lady
• Dariqu (anim): marshtar tree; cypress megadendron
• Kolama (comm): city; citizen
• Koma (comm full
• Ealua (anim comm-possess): of trees
• O’shili (adv): merely; only
• Hauona (comm compar): taller; higher
• A ile (fem voc): my lady
• O’doloma-qaoe (adv): over the rest/all others
• Di (adv): not
• Vearya-shyalze (2nd-fem intrans honor): you will//may stand
• Uvaeu-tei (adv): without a crown
• Eshodi: until
• Zishirama (comm): afterbear; descendents
• Olathya-rualyelva (1st-comm depend honor): will/may be good/right
• Loeassa (comm particip): worth; worthy
• Misi (spir): legend
• Sholyeli (3rd-spir depend): would be true
• O: clause-marker
• Ve (fem): I/we
• Eaeve (1st-fem intrans cond): I will/may be
• Zishirame Sealnearaste (fem): descendent of Sealnearas
• Oe: and
• Sa (comm): you
• Loea (comm):worth; worthy
• Maeavya-ruaelis (2nd-trans humbl): you own
• Ziari: yet; however
• Haeu (anim): shoot; sprout
• Eazutheiu (anim): world-tree
• Aveau (3rd-anim): it grows
• Be: from
• Hofu (anim): seed
• ilinodu (anim superl): smallest
• O’romi (adv): let
• Heshya-rualm (incl-trans cond humbl): we will/may serve
• Toe (spir): hue; color
• Amahi (spir): nice; pleaant
• Mihalyae (spir): bronze; bronzy
• Qoanyas (3rd-masc cond): we will/may becom
• Moaras (masc): warrior
• Ollaeas (masc): good; right
• O’shahoni-zayae (adv): bid meekly
• Ulinarye (3rd-fem cond): she will/may behave