A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 52

~O'mei yaoma Vaeol-Ilea kaolima zhefya o'remna riea dasta, oe shime tolle hithane.~ (In which Lady Vaeol’s flagmates discuss relationships between wives and men, and an old foe returns.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be'Son

15. Evelae, 24,547 - 16th Month in Qabarat
Today after the Lemussa drilltide, while Remaue, I, Sievae (and Meiss), Oshis, and Less headed home, Kaure met Hauronil and went back to Yaraesa’s Bookminster for further talk. Her deed got me thinking of our ereyesterday speech. So after we drilled the Shotalashu and came back to the household, I outsought Mistress Shotheiae our host, who lissomely played with Aeosel. I asked what she knew of the city’s Korasha wives, and whether they have truly undergone doom even so sorrowful as Kaure’s. Shotheiae halted a breathtide, and then spoke: ~Ilaea roaf. Ezimya niradaf,~ - “I know little. I have heard much.” She beread that under wisdom one should rightly misbelieve a handful of every six tales. Then she yielded: ~Sheazya-rualf yao niradaf,~ - “I will tell what I have heard.”
Our host shared that some Korashe like Kaure belong to worthy houses (though ever under a Damaya housewife). Yet others fall to outcastness. Often the best deed they can to better stallworth is to bear a child and thereby own mother-right, although, as we had witnessed from Kaure’s bother, often the Matronhood unfairly withholds them. Since as wifelykind these Korashe cannot be rightly banned (though some matrons would so outwill), many gather in the Marshfarthing’s more wantsome neighborhoods. There they cleave the ~Searazema~ - Hood-wearers. Shotheiae told they got that name from their wont of wearing hoods to hide their beardless chins and heavy bosoms, so to seem as manly Korasha.
Then she warned I may hear the wildest witchtales (and again repeated the rede I have bewritten above) that ~Searaze~ are bold thieves overdrighting plighty neighborhoods, and that their feudsome thiefclans make fierce streetwars. Yet if some are thieves, reckoned Shotheiae, they have become moreso under hopelessness than wickedness. She knew of many who work as dockloaders or freightbearers. Yet even they own a grudgesome, wrathful nameworth unforgiving any slight or wound (which she shrove are many).
After her tale, Mistress Shotheiae stilled. When I asked what worried, she told she knew a trademate with a daughter, who selfsomely was most beloved, and whomfor the mother had beheld every outlook for a winsome livelihood. Yet when the daughter reached maidenhood, she had grown Korashe, to their kindred’s great shock. The mother had beshrivedly not well handled the shift, and after a wrathful strife, the daughter had fled to the Hood-wearers. Yet after some years outcast, mother and daughter had made truce, and the daughter had even served firdhood (although she met many same evils as Kaure had). Afterward, she had come home, but at times had again fled to the Searazema, and also likely kept friendship. In that deedfulness, Mistress Shotheiae reckoned it not unlike many Korashe else.

Asealae Treesong Eve (two days from last log), 24,547 - 16th Month in Qabarat
Today at the Embassy, a thane boded word a guest had come. I followed to a midyard, where waited Master Milos from the Inquisition. Rather aloss why this riddlesome Korasha kept popping into my life, I greeted, whereat the master-inquisitor bowed. He begged sorrow for this unforetold moot and told he came on the Citadel’s behalf, and that he had first sought hearth with Her Highness Lady Sheneal. Yet Her Highness, after hearing his business, had bidden him seek me sundrily. Unheeding Her Highness’s offstandishness and that she had outcomefully hung me for the wind, I asked his thing.
In answer, Master Milos yielded a long scrollbox and bespoke the Citadel’s goodwill. I took it, found a bench, and unwallowed it. I beheld the map of Lost Hoshiasa I had beseeched ere Semuane’s fetch-leave, even until the wreckstead’s edges and the many underground floors as had so far been undersought, and also a kindly leafwrit from the mapwright and Lady Eiarimi the wandbearer who had forebidden the work.
I upwallowed and shut the map, and then thanked Master Milos. The master-inquisitor nodded and asked whether I would be forecaught if he beseeched the map’s purpose. I answered that, since he had already outlearned me, he doubtlessly should know: I had met the Aslanta who had come through Hoshiasa’s worldgate but had never gone there. After homecome to Son, I should lead an outseech and see what new secrets we may unwhelm. He atook my answer and asked what secrets I hope. I answered again I should surely befit with Son’s lorewardens, whereat he chuckled.
I then outspoke it an oddness that Master Milos had brought the map, since the Citadel has reeves and grooms enough. He acknowledged he had so beseeched. I then asked that he tell frankly his heed of me as shown over this last year. ~Shila~ - “It is mere,” he answered: ~Kiazama nezhisya-shyaldaf,~ - “My leadership heeds you,~ He then shrove they had first set Lady Thauless to meet and watch me, although after the Embassy boded sake of her uncouthness, Master Milos had undertaken her stead.
When bluntly I asked why their heedfulness, Master Milos smiled. Then he answered the Inquisition holds many well-learned and well-dighted minds. Also, the greater city holds many open minds. Yet there are much fewer minds both well-dighted and open. To these few the greatest lore awaits, both to find and forsteer the plights such lore may hide. I outspoke I could not surely take the Inquisition’s heed as boon or curse, and dolefully since any weirdness I had ever met I had faithfully boded to the lorewardens. The Master-Inquisitor bowed and answered that, on learning my livelihood and deeds: ~O’hieshi homaea-ruaelf sere yi mivaiare,~ - “I would rather befriend you as an ally.”
In his word I beheld a dearness. Yet still I could not shake an inkling the master-inquisitor hid something. I warned that my friends are Korasha wives and Damaya-Elves, Raumoeva, Retaea, and Lauba, Elves and Monkeyfolk, and evermaidens, among whom he would find wantsome fellowship. He answered he is a Korasha outringed by Damaya ladies, all whomof believe themselves worthier. So lastly I asked what purpose foreheld. ~Tema ti zhaovyazi,~ he answered: “That stays beyond foresight.” Then he bowed, blessed my house, and took leave.
While the old Korasha outstrode through the foregate, I wondered what I should tell Her Highness of this talk. Then I reckoned she had known and had forewillfully let me alone to the Inquisition’s awareness. So I boded word that I should leave for the day and came home. If she wishes the whits, she may welcomely ask.

Shenelae Treesong Eve, 24,547 - 16th Month in Qabarat
Today we kept Kaure’s oath to Yaraesa’s priesthood. At slumbertide, our house (along with Hauronil, Indith, and Leiendil) watched loreworship at the bookminster. As godrites befall, it was starkly unlike. After a welcomesong, the priests spoke a reading, which befell from the Sage-Princess Kialare of Mahyat, who is misnameworthiest as having forsaken her birthright and instead clove her haremmate’s household to dwell as a farmwife. I had not ere known she had written a book, and long ere Holy Yaraesa had begun Their minsterhood. Yet by this writwork she had right seemingly earned sagehood’s title and had not merely been born in the Time of the Sage-Queens. Princess Kialare's thought the priesthood outread was the right steadship among wives and men, and thereby dared many (but not all) root guesses of Wiferight. Afterward, the head priest gave a lorespell on its meaning and heartened us listeners to mindfully ask the truth. Then after a mindshare-dance and ere endsong, they stallsomely welcomed Kaure and benamed her Elindrae’s priest under the Retaea faith, which got our wifemate’s bright blush.
For the most share, we followed Kaure’s lead while the worshiptide and afterward, although she kept stealing Lanaryel and Aeosel to hide behind the children. Unlike our last fare, I clothed down to not show my stallworth: a mere bodyshroud and girdle as any townwife might wear. Remaue had outwilled, however, to draw goldgum on my scar (as the others had also done on theirs), although happily I saw other worshipers with scars so gleaming. Thus I merely outstood as a veteran among many. Samely, we found most of the bookminster’s worshipers rather unqueer. Although some follow kindstarklessness in their daily livelihood, many believe it a hallowness held for priests and dwell rather wontsomely. Instead, they strive for a fairer evenness among wife and man, Damaya and Korasha. We also saw Riardon and some Damaya-Elves else had come, even in their full elven dandiness, and happily greeted them.
While we talked, Kaure spoke with the priests, who nodded at a nook. My eyes followed to a lone Korasha waiting, whomof I first bethought little. Then I watched Kaure and the priest go and meet the Korasha, whereat I witted they wore a hood merely with the head drawn bare. Although I could not tell at this length, I almost wondered their chin whiskerless. ~Searaze!~ - Hood-wearer - flashed aword, and I reminded the doubtful tales Mistress Shotheiae had yielded.
Afterward, Indith welcomed us all to the blossomyard, where she, Leiendil, and Hauronil shared lipenaea-nut snacks and blossomwine. We played until the children wearied and laid them abower, whereat Hauronil brought forth meadbrandy under naughty laughter. Though the others drank, I forwent, whereat Indith beseeched to show me an elven lipenaia treesong. So she led me to the great tree, whomto she begreeted me and together worshipfully sang (and with a few kisses).
When we came back, we heard the Korasha loudly overtalking Princess Kialare’s tale, along with Taiase’s word that she had known few enough princesses in her time willing to forsake high stallworth (even back then Kialare had rather been a shametale). Their talk queerly hushed when I neared, which made me chide that I had already heard. Then I asked why they feared my offthank.
Less stood forth and spoke we had all heard the high priest’s lorespell, which had beseemed Princess Kialare had come to serve her haremmate. He named it a pretty tale, and as a Korasha harkening the priest’s rede that wives and men should stand more even among each other, it listened well. Yet he reckoned one thing not understood., which he outlaid thus. Towardly, our elderbow forelooked one of us wives will again get bechild. Then our birthmight will grow, the men will underyield, and all will deem them right to do so. Then he asked: ~Stiadeni di hivoema o’yi-miari ulinarassi?~ - “How do we not fall back into behaving so right now?”
I nodded a breathtide, and then answered I could not foretell what our lives might be like if wives ruled not, and surely could not shift birthmight (and Less bemarked mine is mightier than most). Indeed, the gods have so shaped us to safeward mothers and children at our neediest. Yet maybe we yield too much worship to wiferight when motherhood need not besway. So I asked: ~Stireori rie kaolye o rauzhiafya di meavyele?~ - “Why do wives rule when we have not birthmight?” At my ask, some faltered while others chuckled. Remaue asked my sureness. She bespoke that as children we selfly first serve our mothers, from whose minds we grow, and which sway stays old, even our whole lifetimes. She reminded my hardship breaking free from my mother, which still hurts. I answered that merely forwhy something is easy makes it not right.
Less strode forth and rather merrily asked whether I would alet if he wished to lead our flag. I answered: ~Ahya. Dei-ziari ollonis yi Kazos?~ - “Maybe. Yet would you be better than Kazos?” My word reminding that Korasha’s evil mightiness over his clan stilled my flagmate. I then beread that, if Less went back to Yaraesa’s priests, they would also tell the elder sages had also taught that rulership’s evil springs not from the ruler - wife or man - but from rulership’s own selfness. It befalls to goodness’s strength to withstand. Yet I then told we have met a man who has led well and rightly, and has so done thanklessly even while others had misspoken him: Master-Captain Dosuaesh. Against his high stalldom, I warned few would name him happy or blessed.
While Less dithered, I looked to Oshis sitting with Erymi. Against his nameworthy wickedness, I recked he thought more deeply and often. His wifemate likewise witted his antennae’s high quiver and squeezed his arm. ~Zhienya-rualve,~ - “I would follow you,” she forespoke. Our shared fathermate ever swainlike knelt and kissed her belly while we shared a blessing eye overhead. Then Draue and Tae both leaned on Hanos’s shoulders and benamed him worthy to lead, though he gainsaid and would happily serve. I blessed their goodwill and answered Hanos that, quoth the sages, the best leadership loves not mightiness but serves under duty. Sievae also added throat to his sake, and then raised Meiss, who had come with our flag, would doubtlessly grow great, but first needed some years.
Tae came arear Less her manmate, hugged his nape to her bosom, and tangled antennae. She outspoke she would have him serve now and thereby show service’s behoof, and that if he beswooned her witless, he might own leadership until she woke. We laughingly whined manly work never ends.

Shenelae Treesong, 24,547 - 17th Month in Qabarat
I write this log late after a long day and both good and bad news. After neighborhood treesong, we found Semuane had come home, to everyone’s cheer. We could not withhold crushing our maidenlove between Kaure, Remaue, and me, even while we beheld her cheeks’ hardness, bespeaking a rough fetch from Hoshiasa.
Since this was her third seekfare to that lost city, I begged all word of what she had seen. Over a noonmeal of fresh eelspawn and riceberries, she told their outseech had aimed on the undercroft and lower floors, which are still broadly unknown, to which they have added somewhat to their maps (and I swiftly wrote whits on my copy), although many burrows are waterlogged or stuffed. Less asked any new spoor of the Aslanta, at which we laughed and Semuane naysaid. I reminded Brand had named their worldgate broken. Yet Semuane warned that gatewardens had deemed it sound on our end - although the stonework outringing is weak - and had even read they could likely waken it. Yet where it may lead they know not and thus have halted loretrial until wiser rede.
Then Semuane grew grim. She reminded my tale from our homefare to Son after leading the Aslanta to El, when we had followed the Darkfloor and the eldritch banethings had stricken. She told their sith had fought those same fiends. I outspoke dread, since we had met them on Father-Yaro’s western bank, whereas Lost Hoshiasa lay beyond the eastern. ~O’dumi Yaroasra kaorahyadu,~ - “Eyesome they have crossed the Yaro,” she answered. She then outlaid they had found the fiends haunting the wreckstead, where they had stricken the fetch-host and had slain two warriors. I would not even bedream their awful deaths, whether they had merely died, or that those filthy tongue-eels had grown within their skulls and requickened bodies. Yet thanks to my tale, Semuane had bidden her troop make saltwater, which they had cast at the banethings, to their great hurt, and had followed arrows and swordbills. How many dwelled about Hoshiasa’s wreckstead they knew not, but had found paw swathes and other spoor, which reckoned they often lurked. With their word boded back, any toward fetches will likely go bigger and better weaponed, and have also overtalked slaughtering all these fiendish beasts.
Afterward, we haltingly readied to the Embassy (though Semuane gladly came with), where Her Highness Lady Sheneal had bidden a short treesongtide to gather all Son’s thanes and ladies. Her end outcame to lead us all to the Threefold House, where the Matronhood was holding a mirthtide, since Her Highness wished a strong show. We thus found ourselves thrown within the ladyhood’s shimmering glowsilk sea. 
If many at the mirthtide shunned me, at least some trucesomely talked, and Taiase enwed me in speech. When none else would, I happily tarried with Kaure, Remaue, and Semuane. Yet anon strayed a whisperthought: ~Uthe Mazhae-Vireve~ - the High Matron’s Daughter. The oddness forecaught, since, of all the evil names I have earned, that one I had not heard in an old while.
My lovers witted my shock and outlooked the near throng. Then Remaue stiffened, which rightly worried, since little bothers my bold wifemate. ~E Maiali-Ile~ she outthought to our little knot: “There is Lady Maiali.”
Although more than ten years had gone, I had not forgotten the elder Qabarat matron who had once come as trucebode to Son, nor her awesome sight. She had a heft in shoulder and breast seldom in Damaya, and which hinted she once might have been a doughty warrior, and taller even than I, strong antennae, and a lined, unkindly face. Semuane shared our dread and ruefully withdrew, since she too reminded how Maiali had wracked us. 
I stood with my wifemates as if ready to meet a foe. As if at beck, the crowd split, which, since the the whispertale had forerun, should not forecatch. Lady Maiali met our gaze. I held a breathtide, almost to awkwardness, ere I worshipfully bowed nape, and Remaue and Kaure likewise.
The elder matron aleavingly nodded. ~Reashe mizhifya-shyalise,~ - “Your scar becomes you,” she praised. Her eye flicked to Remaue, whom doubtlessly she reminded, and then shortly dropped to Kaure. She spoke my tale had wafted much in the Matronhood’s talk, which shrouded hint I could inread, and awaited her speech’s slight. I wondered if she would speak against Kaure being here, my matehood with a Korashe. If she so did, I asked myself whether under boldness or wisdom I would outspeak weapondare.
Ashock, a hand touched my shoulder, and I heard Her Highness Lady Ivassil. Qabarat’s High Matron lightly beseeched Maiali to bestow kindness and not overwrack ~zheievere zhire-vere Sonre~ - my pet Son outrider - as she named me. The two ladies laughed haughtily. Yet although some might beread me the High Matron’s goodwill, shame inwardly burned, which I strove utmost to not show in my antennae. Her Highness, along with reminder of the dearth-oath I had sworn twelve years ago, had thus openly set her ownership, and me as beholden. 
Though my anger would gainsay, I bowed, withdrew a stride, and when Her Highness saw fit to unheed me right as she had done for most of these two years, couthly fled with Kaure and Remaue warding anyone who might thwart my mood. Her Highness Lady Sheneal swiftly waved my eye. Yet if she would inread the little whits and clues shown from this wordtrade with Lady Maiali, she could do so alone. Instead we found Semuane, who shared news she had right heard: at Newyear, Lady Maiali shall become Qabarat’s new Outland Alderwife, with doomreach over all ambassadors and trucebodes. This city becomes even more unbearable.

3. Shenelae, 24,547 - 17th Month in Qabarat
A short yesterday whit: true to outlook, Lady Sheneal wondered what Her Highness Lady Ivassil and Lady Maiali had meant by stretching me between, as it were, and whether they have made me a doleful gambit. I answered it had been nothing more than ~enyoassi mehura~ - playing with the worm - as children’s blithe bloody-mindedness. I forelooked little outcome else than Lady Maiali’s idle shadow haunting our feet.
Today at the Lemussa Weaponyard, I earnestly wished to fight. Yet Master Evauess bade me withhold. Then he called me, Meiss, Soaras, and all who will fight in the Motorae Games. He bade that henceforth we shall merely spar lightly and drill weaponframes, so that we shall not overweary and fully strengthen for the weapontrial. So we donned harness merely to work the weight. Semuane laughed she had come back from farfetch at the right tide, even though, unlike me, she, Istae, Kaure, and Sievae upkept wontsomely. Master Evauess also beread I still seek lone spars with other Damaya in the broader Battle Yard.
At the end, Master Evauess sought me and said he had erenever coached a Damaya for the Motorae Games. With a grin he asked: ~Dei aesehama yanarru?~ - “Are you ready for something new?” I asked what newness. He answered the Qabarat Gameyard is like nothing else. ~Analaeama zelya milya-shyaela saolura,~ - “Fifty thousand minds will watch your blade.” And then: ~Ei tavaul taeodi li eimi hoerizahodi,~ - “It is the greatest bliss or the awfullest fright.”

Recap: Lady Vaeol issued a dare to a tattletale, and Kaure came to an agreement with Yaraesa's priesthood.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Ilaea (spir acc): little
• Roaf (1st-trans): I/we know
• Ezimya (spir acc): much; a lot
• Niradaf (1st-trans perf): I/we (have) heard
• Sheazya-rualf (1st-trans cond humbl): I/we may/will tell
• Yao: spiritual accusative relative pronoun
• Searazema (comm): hood-wearers; female Korasha subculture
• Shila (comm): simple; mere
• Kiazama (comm): leadership; superior hiearchy
• Nezhisya-shyaldaf (1st-trans perf honor): I/we took interest
• O’hieshi (adv): rather
• Homaea-ruaelf (1st-trans cond humbl): I/we will/may befriend
• Sere (fem acc): you
• Yi: relative adverb; as
• Mivaiare (fem acc): ally
• Tema (3rd-comm): it/that stays
• Ti (adv): beyond; 4th-person adverb
• Zhaovyazi (spir): foresight; prescience
• Searaze (fem): hood-wearer
• Stiadeni (adv): how
• Di hivoema (3rd-incl comm cond): we will/may not fall back
• O’yi-miari (adv): as/so right now
• Ulinarassi (spir particip): behaving
• Stireori (adv): why
• Rie (fem): wife; wives
• Kaolye (3rd-fem cond): she/they will/may rule
• O: clause-marker
• Rauzhiafya (spir acc): birthmight; pregnancy-enhanced psychic power
• Di meavyele (3rd-fem depend): if/when they don't own
• Ahya (3rd-comm cond): maybe; could be
• Dei-ziari (adv): yet does/will
• Ollonis (2nd-masc): you are/would be better/righter
• Zhienya-rualve (1st-fem cond humbl): I would/may follow
• O’dumi (adv): eyesomely; apparently; obviously
• Yaroasra (masc acc): the Yaro (river)
• Kaorahyadu (3rd-anim perf): it/they (have) overcrossed
• Uthe (fem): daughter
• Mazhae-Vireve (fem possess): of the High/First Matron
• E (3rd-fem): she is; there she is
• Reashe (fem): (your) scar
• Mizhifya-shyalise (2nd-fem honor): you fit/complement
• Zheievere (fem acc): outrider; knight
• Zhire-vere (fem acc): my/our pet
• Sonre (fem acc): of/belongong to Son