A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 57

~O'mei Vaeol-Ile dine doalamasra Lemussasra o'unirassi ruzhya.~ (In which Lady Vaeol cheers her Lemussa Yarbrothers and starts some trouble.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’ Son

1. Motorae - Qabarat
I write this log early, since I woke ere foredawn and could sleep no more. At least it gives a while to bewrite yesternight’s deed and also to pray, wherefor I went out to the neighbortree and sang a hymn under its boughs. I found soothing and lately have not done so enough.
This year we forwent the Motorae He-Queen’s crownship, which yesteryear we deemed unidle. Yet that did not mean we owed nothing. True to forespeech, yestereve we watched the Damaya-Elves crown a new Elfqueen as Riardon stood down. Unlike yesteryear when we had merely worn our wontsome clothes, now Remaue, Sievae, Draue, and I wore eartips we had wrought and gossamer. Thus for the nighttide we also became Damaya-Elves. Though Taiase, Istae, Semuane, and our other housewives did not so clothe, still they marched in togetherness.
Kaure nameworthily got to march next to the new Elfqueen (who also walked instead of riding a shieldhead), although now she did so in her moonpriest garb and kit. Outcomeflly, she led the whole showmarch, which I tallied at more than two thousand folk, right bigger than yesteryear, and more earnest, forwhy the Damaya-Elves marched not alone. Along with friends, housemates, and allies such as we, Indith, Leiendil and other true Elves, came a stouter, grimmer fellowship that stayed at the showmarch’s sides. They did as a shielding row against any evildoers, whether Rightkind or else, who might try to break the cheertide: ~Searazema~ - Hood-wearers - Kaure’s ilk, who bestowed wardship. Our flag’s men blended with them, and even likewise wore hoods as trust. If anyone tried wickedness this year, they would meet a fierce answer.
Afterward while the new Elfqueen led a mirthdance at Deznae's Shrine, Eneae welcomed us and others to her hall’s mirthtide. There, although I beheld no matrons else, I saw many who had watched the maidentide she had yesteryear hosted. Also came Lady-Mistress Veiemi of the Issendil Outriderhood and her wifemate Mistress Treshoess, and Yaraesa’s priests, the headmistresses of both the Diremoshu and the Masau, and the headmaster of the Veialyshu. Also there I beheld a few Elves, who, though I knew them not, by their gembands and wands I guessed as the Elf-Farthing’s house elders, and rightly of even stallworth as the city’s matrons. Thus it became an unlikely minglesome mirthtide, from meanfolk to highfolk and almost every stallworth between.
Adding to the minglesomeness, I saw Riardon, whom I would instead forelook at the Damaya-Elves’ dancetide. Yet he showed here in full Elven updoneness, almost as if he had never stood down as Elfqueen. He boldly kissed me and strode onward ere I took hap to ask his business. Laterward, I witnessed him talking nearly with Lady Eneae. Behooving of a break in the mirthtide’s crowd I worshipfully came and asked what befell. Lady Eneae and Riardon grinned at each other. She reckoned the time nigh and asked whether he was ready. He nodded. Then the lady-matron told that Riardon would make outspeech.
With that word, Lady Eneae yelled the crowd to hear and yielded Riardon a footstone, whereup he climbed. Then Riardon outquoth wish to become a matron, and would run on this goal: all Damaya - even men - should get chooseright, and all Korasha also. Furthermore, since many Raumoeva and hinterlanders dwell in the city but are not bedeemed cityfolk, he would make them cityfolk, thus bestowing all even tongue in the city’s alderhood.
Amid the gasps, some laughter, and much cheer buzzed following his news, I stood awonder and tried to knit thoughts. When Lady Eneae witted my bother, I beseeched talk. We withdrew to the elfyard’s edge, which proved less dinful. There she asked whether I misliked Riardon’s run. I outquoth that, knowing Riardon as I do, I would happily choose him, only that I am not cityfolk. Also, I must guiltily ask whether they even thought he had any likelihood of winning the matronhood, and dolefully since his goal would weaken wives’ mightiness. Eneae grimly smiled and yaysaid. When she and Riardon first made this plan, they fully bewared.
She then outlaid what they forethought will happen: at Riardon’s open outquest, the matrons will forbid him running. Yet she and Riardon bet the folksome outyell will be so great that Eneae then could stand forth and uptake their sake. By this deed, she will run to be rechosen to the Matronhood, and with another whit more: she will not bear another child but instead will run as evermaiden. ~O’kami-viri yovearif osra zhaomiasssara,~ - “For the first time I will run on something I believe in.”
I reckon I can forgive Lady Eneae this play-show and making Riardon her bait, and since he does knowingly and willingly, and more dolefully if it outcomes a true shift in the city's alderhood. Whether it will or no, however, still outstands foresight, and even whether she will be rechosen for the Matronhood. Anywise, this thing will settle long after we leave Qabarat and go back home to little old Son. Now I must foreready, since we behold another long daytide.

Afterword
Today proved easier than yesterday, since I fought not. Under duty, I clove Her Highness Lady Sheneal in the Son Peacebode’s box, under much cheer from the other watchers, to watch the Korasha foot-trial. I outwilled Istae and Semuane to cleave, along with Remaue and Kaure (with Oshis, Less, and Hanos sitting right behind). We also witted the whispertale of me drilling with Korasha had quite overspread the Gameyard and beyond, and growing into the shametide we had foredreamed.
Nevertheless, Master Evauess readily took the shame, since no fewer than six Lemussa yardfellows fought in the gametrial, and whom we sorely cheered. Meiss for his first time introd the Motorae gameyard. By misluck, the third match-set forestood him against Soaras his yardbrother. Sievae’s manlove fought worthily, since they had sparred many times in the weaponyard, and even scored a hit. Yet the elder Korasha proved too doughty and won in swift-death. Although we cheered Soaras as the best odds-bearer to win the gametrial, shortly laterward, Sievae, who had thewed as Meiss’s helpmate, came up to the box. I hugged and beseeched my childsister to bode our worship for her manlove. Sadly she nodded, answering he had at least fought better than half the city.
Soaras and another yardbrother Hakos reached the last eightsome, whence after Hakos’s loss, Soaras alone rose to the last foursome. With held breath we watched him fiercely beat Liaress of the Shahuaka Weaponyard, and so reached the last match. Then he met Noess of the Zomoa Yard, whom he had yesteryear fought and lost. He had readied the whole year for this tide.
When the fan waved and the fight began, a heedful dread beset my heart. My body reminded yesterday’s soreness from my last game match, only now I stayed less soothed. While Soaras and Noess hunted and sparred, my hands shook until Kaure and Remaue bewared. They held me between and soothed my neck and breast while the two warriors scurried with an earnestness that misboded deadliness to their strokes.
After a run of double-hits, Noess won the first hit with a subtle shortbill misdrawal. Yet Soaras came right back and scored by forestalling his foe’s stroke that had the whole Gameyard buzzing afoot. Then at swift-death, they spared for what almost felt a tidefarthing, neither outcomefully striking the other, neither yielding. As both wearied, we witted it upcame to whoever most wished the win. Then Soaras, who eyesomely must have bewared his foe’s weakness, anon leapt. Although Noess stirred to ward, he did too slow. Our yardfellow’s shortbill smote rightly on his shoulderdish. The crowd’s roar grew even so thundersome as what they had yesterday bestowed me.
After Master Evauess, the other fighting yardfellows, and their trialmates outran to the yard, and while Her Highness Lady Ivassil hovered down to the ground, I beseeched Kaure to lower me over the yardwall. When Soaras knelt to get his crownweath and the crowd’s cheer, I stayed aside, and then afterward clove Master Evauess. While the yardfellows lifted Soaras ashoulder, I steered our yardmaster to Her Highness and yielded worship. She greeted wryly and asked my business. I answered I came to cheer my yardbrother, and also our yardmaster who had won not one but two gametrials under this Motorae. Lady Ivassil yaysaid, and then yelled to the rollicking yardfellows and bade them set Soaras down to greet his fellow champion.
Soaras almost knelt ere I forbade. Instead, I hugged him abosom and gave full blessing, under the crowd’s goodwill. Then I strode back but held him at arm’s length, before Her Highness, Master Evausess, and the others.
~Sheilaf…~ - “I wonder…” I started: ~o sta-mazhoa ollodima,~ - “which of us is the best.”
Beside, Master Evauess laughed. Lady Ivassil looked bothersomely from him to us. Then she asked my deed. I answered I would dare weapontrial with Soaras, who stood grinning, to tell the city’s best footwarrior, and that I would bet my crownwreath against his. At my word, she scoffed we had already worked a great enough shametide. ~Mei stei seanma?~ I asked back: “Why halt now?” Then I headed to Master Evauess and asked whether he would keep two crownwreathes from this Motorae instead of one. With another laugh, he answered: ~Sti-stimi di illaevas?~ - “Whyever would we not?”
Her Highness haughtily bade me withdraw the dare. I withstood. So she forespoke to take the thing to Her Highness Lady Sheneal. I welcomely yaysaid, adding I would bode it right now. Then we withdrew while the watchstands’ crowd blithely cheered, unheeding how we were building the tale’s next share right under their gazes.
Lady Sheneal was already waiting when I walked back to the yardwall, leapt with unladylike liss to grab the rail, and had Kaure and Oshis haul me back up to the box. She asked my business, whereat I told she should swiftly forelook a wordbode from the High Matron, and that I had dared Soaras to a match between champions. Her antennae waved wildly while she already recked the shametide, even greater than what I had wrought training in a Korasha weaponyard. Though her wish to win the gametrial had made her heave it aside, now I witted her greed warring with hallcraft: would she and Son behoove from this deed, or blow back? I bade her choose soon, but this deed foreboded to greaten our city’s nameworth. Then I gathered our flag and left.
Today, after an easy workout with Ess, we have held a light Motorae mirthtide but will sleep early, forwhy tomorrow I fight again in the Games, along with Semuane and Istae, in the speartrial.

2. Motorae - Newyear’s Eve
I write this almost at Midwatch while we watch the fireworks blazing over the harbor. My thrill outbeats weariness, and I would get thoughts written aleaf ere they lose freshness. This morn, we again went to the Gameyard, but unlike ereyesterday with Ess saddled for the speartrial.
I shrive that, after my win of the earlier swordbill foot-trial, this deed foreseemed underwhelming. I had little doubt of my likelihood in this gametrial, even though it beheld a share in my plan. While we rode aring the yard for the opening showmarch, I bestrove a few hisses and shouts of ~O’loshi!~ - “Shame!~ - from some watchers overhead: proof that my weapondare’s news against Soaras had spread and so grown my shametide, that an outrider would lower herself to fight a Korasha (even though other cities so fight). Honor’s thought seemingly wafted high, forwhy today’s speartrial withheld for outriders only under Qabarat’s bylaws, and worth and couthness shown before the crowd meant almost so much as winfulness.
Against my low odds, in the first match I beat Lady Noemi u’Kieve in the first stride when I knocked her off steed, which got the crowd shifting their hisses to ~A Shaverazere-Halaeaze!~ - Thiefqueen-Slayer - and ~Au Are!~ - Champion! Then in the next match, I shared broken spears with Lady Raeodi Veanmave, ere I unsteeded her in the next stride. By then they named my arm matchless and my aim ruthless, even ere I rode against Lady Zharaeul in the third match-set. We shared two broken spears ere we traded hits. Then in swift-death I knocked her so mightily that she lost stirrups and so yielded the match. I reckoned the listbeam (the same trialwise my housemates had fought two years ago in Ofu-Laubu) easily steady after years of drilling tree-warfare, and left the watchers ranting that I might so topple the whole gametrial.
Then in the fourth set I matched with Semuane, and cannot rid an inkling that someone spiteful among the list reeves had set us against each other. I overlooked the long treebeam, the listrail between, and the next beam aside on which her Shotalashu stood. I could not help reminding that doomful day in that riverfield almost thirteen ago when first we met, when I had dared her to weapontrial and toppled her bleeding aground. Now harm’s forethought to my heavenly maidenlove made me almost ill. Then when the fan waved, I trotted Ess forth but kept my spear smartly upright.
Semuane witted my deed, broke her spear’s aim, and slowed until we met almost at mid-beam. The marshals neared and asked my bother while the crowd yelled wonder. My free hand raised helm so they could see my face. Then I looked at Semuane and outthought all my love until she wept. I outquoth I had once ere ridden against Lady Semuane, and the thought too wounded me to do so again. Semuane rang back the same word, saying she would fight me no further.
Yet the marshals dithered the match must bename a winner. ~Risara shirualaf,~ - “I yield the match,” I answered. Semuane and I sat wordlessly holding hands, enwrapt in love. When the herald yelled the outcome, we kissed. The crowd buzzed at this elf-lovely deed. If they have forgiven some of my shame and maybe even bequeathed small goodwill, I yield thanks.
While Semuane readied for the next match, I helped Remaue rub Ess down. After a swift bath, I climbed to the watchstand in a mere bodyshroud and came to Son’s box. There I took hugs from Mistress Shotheiae and Noemi Semuane’s mothers, and then Aeosel my son from Oshis. Her Highness Lady Sheneal wryly asked whether I undertook any more tricks, to which I stayed shrewdly wordless. Then I asked both Oshis and Kaure whether they nearly watched all the fights and best riders. Knowing my plan, they wordlessly yaysaid.
Happily, both Semuane and Istae rose to the last eightsome, where Semuane lost to Lady Kyriniss - whom we knew from the Ofu-Laubu speartrial two years ago - and Istae lost a fierce match to Lady Ireshe. For the last match, we watched Kyrinnis and Ireshe break almost twenty spears against each other. Both grudgingly withstood yield until Ireshe’s aim slipped off the other outrider’s shield, and the crowd roared Kyriniss the winner.
Afterward, we withdrew to the household and an early duskmeal. Yet this became a mere break ere nighttide, and also yielded time for Demante to come, since I had welcomed her to cleave the night’s fellowship, and who brought her children to wait and play with ours. She wore an emerald-golden glowsilk bodyshroud borrowed from her captain. Yet we bewared her scars held no goldgum. So Remaue and I spent a half-belltide drawing them to rightly show her warriorly worth, and on her skin’s greenness made a nice match with her bodyshroud. I also loaned her a nipplecap, since I was wearing my halterdishes. Then with Remaue and Kaure, Taiase, Istae and Nelehi, Semuane and Rivale, Mistress Shotheiae and Noemi, and lastly Hanos, Less and Oshis ahost (whomfor I owned doleful purpose), we fetched forth.
Even so jaded as I often feel of Qabarat, the Threefold House’s sight still bewonders, and dolefully anight when its three domes glow moonlike under an open Heaventide sky full of fireworks and dithersights. While we climbed the Ofu, all the streets from the Marshfarthing’s edges to the highest temple spire glittered with lanterns and manihued witchlights, and samely lit ships down in the harbor lake. Although some Korasha ran afterhunting wives in Motorae wickedness and dared our haughty show, they left us trucesome (I withheld thought of whatever misdeeds our other housemates back at the household might be seeking). Thus we clove an upflowing stream of ladies and wealthy mistresses, the peak of Qabarat’s ladyhood come to share Newyear mirth with the city’s matrons.
Within the mirth-hall, the gathered ladyhood rather seemed a blossom-sea than a crowd. Our Korasha shrewdly shaped a wedge with Taiase atip, which let us couthly plow a path. So we found Her Highness Lady Sheneal and the peacebode. She bade us bide for the champions’ show. We also spotted Master Evauess and Soaras, whose eyes I drew and undergreeted them to Demante and seemingly met well. We tarried sipping bubblemead and idly dancing while we kept watch on the shifting knots of ladies and whispering matrons. Bywardly, Her Highness Lady Ivassil took a stand before the Matronhood and called the Games Herald, who in trend benamed all the champions: Romas of the Marshfarthing who won the Nimbletree, Shell Vanmas winning the bowshoot, Ovauel Kiahave winning the steed shoot. Then the High Matron showed forth the Flying Coeurl, the team winning the Hoverball gametrial, under the crowd’s great cheer.
When the Game Herald benamed me as winner of the Damaya foot-trial and I bowed worship before the matrons, the crowd bestowed some hisses with the buzzes, beshaming my undainty, Korasha-like fighting-wise and my dare to Soaras already known. Her Highness bade me stay while he was called, and then halted to settle the weapondare’s wits. Against the crowd’s yells, Her Highness openly asked Soaras whether he would take my dare. Soaras grinned, looked at me, and said: ~A ile, irealya-ruaelaf midoalere, oeo’nilathi ristama. O’vosi iheshya-shinazif.~ - “My lady, I name you yardsister, and we have fought many times. I will gladly take your dare.” Then he knelt and kissed my belly ere I stood him back up and hugged him, under which I boldly think, and dolefully after his couthness, the buzzes outgrew the hisses.
I stayed nigh the stand when Her Highness gave leave, and awaited the herald’s call for Lady Kyriniss, whom Her Highness cheered, reminding she had taken yesteryear’s other stead and now stood as the city’s matchless spear-rider. Lady Kyriniss lissomely bowed. Then she answered she was not the best spear-rider. Her Highness befuddledly grinned, bemarking an odd answer from the speartrials’s champion. Lady Kyriniss nevertheless repeated. Then she nodded to me, saying the best spear-rider in the city belonged to my flag. All looked ashock to me while I grinned. Against myself, I withheld a worried giggle.
Aloud I answered my flag indeed owned such a spear-rider, whose doughtiness I would bet against any outrider in the city. Rather shakenly, Her Highness Lady Ivassil asked whether I outspoke yet another dare. ~O’sholi~ - “Indeed,” I said: ~Las teavira-vas,~ - “He is my firstspear:” ~Oshis,~ and champion of Ofu-Laubu’s spreartrial.
The stillness following my word deafened the whole hall. Then ladies yelled ~O'reasi!~ - “Sin!” Maybe a score of outriders outspoke sake, and a twelvesome captains. All gainsaid that I should rightlessly dare a Korasha against outriders. I gathered soultmight and shouted loud enough to still all, and then bet a golden fan each that my Korasha firstspear should beat any outrider who would ride against him, and furthermore, since my flag owned not one but two Korasha spear-riders, I would add Kaure my wifemate.
I watched their minds swallow my dare, shaken under shamelessness, and yet also heedful of the forethought. Aloss, Her Highness Lady Ivassil asked whether such a deed was even canny. As she did, Lady-Mistress Kael of the Spearcradle stood forth and gainsaid. So too did Lady-Mistress Shaeami of the Roseclaw and more.
Then one headmistress asked Lady-Captain Veiemi of the Issendil Outriderhood whether she would add her throat to the sake. Yet the Issendil headmistress, who stood beside Lady Eneae and Semuane, looked from the others to me. Then she grinned and outquoth love to witness such a weapondare in which two Korasha would hold the yard against all oncomers. Beside, Lady Eneae yaysaid, upholding as well. Those two ladies shocked the gathered hall almost so much as I.
Lady Ivassil overlooked the shamestorm I had wrought and bade swyness. She then spoke that we had given the city a matchless outlook, not one dare but two, and asked Her Highness Lady Sheneal whether Son would uphold the dare. Her Highness stood forth, faltered a breathtide, and then yaysaid. The High Matron then deemed that whits shall be settled tomorrow, and the weapondares’ days and steads outnamed. On the Matronhood’s behalf, she then bade the dance begin.
While I walked back to my flagmates, from the other guests’ eyes, I almost befelt an outcast when they shed path before me, all but Her Highness Lady Sheneal, who met and took my arm. ~O’nae limya-shyalme,~ - “We must speak,” she haughtily whispered, and led me to the midyard’s wallbough and straight into the benighted lanes. Angrily she asked what I was doing. I asked back whether she wished Son’s glory or not, since she had greedily enough foreset me on this way when she had bidden me fight in the Motorae Games. She answered I more likely forethreatened Son’s shame, and merely for selfish glory.
I stared miswonderingly. ~Dei-sholi eiesis o have omoni-vyaru?~ - “Do you truly think I do this for my behalf?” I waved out to the hall’s foregate, behinting the city below. Then I asked whether she understood the unfairness and unhappiness that many undergo so that others may dwell easily. I glared so hard my antennae shivered enough to frighten her, and asked whether she was so unheedful. Then I outquoth I would fight for the right to prove oneself better by doughtiness, and not by birth, kind, or shape ~Oeo’illi yazive o’tovorassi!~ - “And I am willing to lose to prove it!”
Her Highness whispered me mad, and that, although I might have lit a firecracker on a Shota’s tail, this business would end soon enough. Then she would cleanse my mess and send me back to Lady-Mother as her worry. ~O’alyae Mae di eithaze,~ - “At least my mother is no craven,” I hissed. Then I leavelessly walked off. Thus while we came home, I have wondered whether, even though Lady Sheneal’s friendship had stretched thin, I have made her a new foe.

Recap: Lady Vaeol won Qabarat's Motorae Damaya swordbill gametrial.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Searazema (com): Hood-wearers; female Korasha gangs
• O’kami-viri (adv): For the first time
• Yovearif (1st-trans cond): I/we will/may run/stand up
• Osra (com acc): something; thing; matter
• Zhaomiasssara (com acc partic): believing; having faith
• Sheilaf (1st-trans): I/we wonder
• O: secondary clause-marker
• Sta-mazhoa (com which of us [two]
• Ollodima (incl-com cond): we will/may be the best
• Sti-stimi (adv): whyever
• Di illaevas (1st-masc cond): I/we will/would not
• O'loshi (adv/imp): shame; shamefully
• Shaverazere (fem acc): thiefqueen
• Halaeaze (fem): slayer; murderer
• Are (fem): hero; champion
• Risara (com acc): fight; match; combat
• Shirualaf (1st-trans): I/we yield/surrender
• A ile (voc fem): my lady
• Irealya-ruaelaf (1st-trans humbl): I/we name/dedicate
• Midoalere (fem acc): yardsister
• Oeo’nilathi (adv): and many times
• Ristama (incl-com perf): we (have) fought
• O’vosi (adv): gladly
• Iheshya-shinazif (1st-trans): I/we take [the] dare
• O’sholi (adv): indeed; truly
• Las (masc): he; they
• Teavira-vas (1st-dem masc): my/our firstpear
• O'reasi (adv/imp): sin; sinfully
• O’nae (adv): must; need
• Limya-shyalme (incl-fem cond honor): we will/may speak
• Dei-sholi (adv): do truly
• Eiesis (2nd-trans): you think
• O: 2ndary clause-marker
• Have (1st-fem): I/we do
• Omoni-vyaru (spir alla/dat): for my/our sake/behalf
• Oeo’illi (adv): and will
• Yazive (1st-fem cond): I/we may/will lose
• O’tovorassi (infin): to prove
• O’alyae (adv): at least; leastly
• Mae (fem): mother
• Di eithaze (fem): [is] not a crave/coward

This Chapter's Cast of Character's

• Lady Vaeol Yaranevae: our narrator; outrider flagwife & psychic from Son
• Riardon: male Damaya & Damaya-Elf; former elfqueen of Qabarat
• Remaue: Vaeol's wifemate & shieldbearer
• Sievae: Vaeol's flagmate & childsister
• Draue: Vaeol's flagmate
• Lady Taiase: former sage-queen of Son awakened after 12,000 years
• Lady Istae: outrider of Son, Vaeol's schoolmate
• Lady Semuane: outrider of Qabarat, Vaeol's maidenlove
• Kaure: Vaeol's wifemate, priest of Elindrae the Moongod
• Hauronil: male Damaya & Damaya-Elf; Kaure's First Man
• Indith: female Elf & blossomyard mistress; Hauronil's wifemate
• Leiendil: male elf & blossomyard master; Hauronil's manmate
• Lady Enyae: matron of Qabarat; leader of an evermaiden sect
• Deznae: Lashunta version name for Desna
• Lady-Mistress Veiemi: Issendil Outriderhood headmistress
• Mistress Treshoess: Qabarat trademistress; Veiemi's wifemate
• Lady Sheneal: Son's ambassador to Qabarat
• Oshis: male Korasha Shotalashu-rider; Vaol's firstspear & fathermate
• Less: male Korasha bowman & Vaeol's flagmate
• Hanos: male Korasha bowman & Vaeol's flagmate
• Master Evauess: yardmaster of the Lemussa Weaponyard
• Meiss: Lemussa yardfellow; Sievae's manlove
• Soaras: Lemussa yardfellow & gametrial champion
• Hakos: Lemussa yardfellow & gametrial contender
• Liaress: gametrial contender from the Shahuaka Yard
• Noess: gametrial convtender from the Zomoa Yard
• Lady Ivassil: high matron of Qabarat
• Lady Noemi u’Kieve: outrider of Qabarat
• Lady Raeodi Veanmave: outrider of Qabarat
• Lady Zharaeul: outrider of Qabarat
• Ess: Lady Vaeol's Shotalashu steed
• Lady Kyrinniss: outrider of Qabarat & gametrial champion
• Lady Ireshe: outrider of Qabarat & gametrial contender
• Demante: Damaya firstspear of Qabarat & Vaeol's rival/friend
• Nelehi: Istae's shieldbearer
• Rivale: Semuane's shieldbearer
• Shotheiae: Qabarat trademistress & Semuane's mother
• Noemi: Qabarat trademistress & Semuane's matemother
• Romas: Qabarat nimbletree champion
• Shell Vanmas: Qabarat bowshoot champion
• Ovauel Kiahave: Qabarat steedshoot champion
• Lady-Mistress Kael: Spearcradle Outriderhood headmistress
• Lady-Mistress Shaeami: Roseclaw Outriderhood headmistress