A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 58

~O'mei Vaeol-Ile o'iqoe hoeade kamathara diyaeara - o'lei ollaeara - o'hassi losathya.~ (In which Lady Vaeol realizes she has chosen the wrong time - or the right - to make a scandal.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

Newyear (1. Koelae), 24,548 - 20th Month in Qabarat
My list of sake-curses grows long. Yet ere I tell so, let me start with the readied whits. The foot-trial with the Korasha champions foresets for the Sixth, next market day. Not only Demante and I stand to meet Soaras, but also the Korasha gametrial’s last foursome at my wish, forwhy I would prove any win more than a fluke. Her Highness Lady Sheneal and the game marshals grudgingly yaysaid, though they warned some men may have qualms fighting Damaya.
Oshis’s and Kaure’s speartrial is foreset for Treesong Eve. Thus they at least have much time to drill. Although Oshis readies, Kaure misgives. No lot of enheartenship wholly bans her shyness. I can merely hug her head to my bosom and repeat: ~O’ahi-sei,~ - “You can do it.”
Today we watched Newyear at Burning-Mother’s temple with Son’s peacebode, although I think Her Highness Lady Sheneal would have forbidden me if she could. I did best to behave, though I could not unheed some evil glances among the nigh ladyhood. I forbore. Then at worshiptide’s end, a wordbode came. At Her Highness’s leave, he headed to me, bestowed greetings from the High Matron, and bade me wait on her at the Threefold House. Yet when Lady Sheneal forespoke to come, the wordbode naysaid, outlaying the welcome-bid meant only me. Her Highness startled almost to naysay but withheld. When she walked by me to leave, she whispered: ~Mei komadise,~ - “You have done it now.” With Kaure and Remaue I readied to go.
When we left the temple, however, shouts rang outside. Watchers ran in and wildly told a Damaya-Elf outspoke will to run for the Matronhood. True enough, we outcame and beheld Riardon speaking, and furthermore Lady Eneae bystanding, before a loud and thrillsomely worried crowd. We left wishing goodwill.
At the Threefold House, we went to the High Matron’s stallroom. Yet there we witnessed an endless stream of matrons and thanes coming, all whomof eyesomely owned greater foremostness, since they were inlet while we waited, and from what whisper we overheard, in answer to Riardon’s show. Bywardly Remaue took our children back to the household and left me and Kaure. I shrive it was not the first time I found myself dancing heels in Her Highness’s foreroom. At last, almost at foreve, a thane bade me intread, but Kaure to stay.
Although Lady Ivassil and I had met a few times since coming to Qabarat, I had never truly taken stock of her. In thirteen years since our first meeting, not only did Her Highness look weary but had witsomely grown older. Against her nameworth as the mightiest lady in Asana (the Formians may have mightier hivequeens, but not many), she seemed worn and slight. That thought made me wonder her fearfulness, and therefore plight. Nevertheless, Her Highness greeted me so lissomely as I might forelook, and hugged me. We overlooked the great hall’s midyard from the windowdeck.
~A Ruzhyahaze,~ Her Highness brooked my old nickname: “Worry-maker”. She then bemarked she would almost deem my dares gleeful, were it not for Riardon’s stunt today. I answered nothing, for though maybe I should couthly beg sorrow, it would be a lie.
Lady Ivassil spoke I had done a seldom deed as an outlander winning the city’s gametrial, which in itself owned cheer. Yet she then asked why I needed to do more. ~O’zhiathassi stara ollodara~ - “To learn who is the best,” I answered. Yet she offcut my word. Her Highness already knew it was more than my mere answer, elsewise I would not have outspoken my other dare to have Oshis and Kaure hold the yard.
Slowly I answered that I beheld Qabarat no worse than Son, forwhy my home city is surely not guiltless. Yet ever since I had come to this city, its ladyhood had tried to set me in a box. They had bidden I should not fight Korasha, even though I had already so done so well. They had deemed me helping my father's stonecraft as too mean. ~Ebilave shi hazo-so, oe nilona yi ve shile,~ - “I weary under your boxes, and more than merely I,” since I had witnessed Kaure my wifemate offthanked by no less than a matron for being Korasha and another naming her sick.I had witnessed a crowdstrife strike her and others merely for outshowing themselves, and then had watched the matronhood underwhelm the sin. I had met folk so mishandled they owned no trust but would rather hide as outlaws. And now, by the earlier crowd’s roar in the temple’s foreyard, a Damaya-Elf had dared to break his box, whereafter at least some upheld the deed. ~Zhaovyazaf hazora nilora foassora,~ - “I foresee more boxes breaking.”
Her Highness scowled and answered these same boxes (to use my word) upheld the city’s order, and furthermore its whole welfare, ingathering the wardsomeness Son and the other upper-strath cities behoove, stands upon those boxes. ~Hazo foao iqeamyo hoshiarrya kolamara,~ - “Broken boxes would mean the cities’ downfall.” I asked back whether it meant the cities’ downfall or merely the matrons, ladies, and wealthy mistresses who reaped the most weal, and under whose goodwill Her Highness behanged.
Lady Ivassil’s frown lessened not while her antennae dropped back. She warned she would behold us stay friends, and reminded I owed her the boon I had sworn for forgiving my weapondare with Semuane thirteen years ago. ~Stei?~ - “Why?” I asked: ~Dei leirya ruzaea-shyalis?~ - “Are you calling in the boon?” ~Zhyea,~ - “No,” she halted. She answered she would instead have me freely yield, and as friends. As answer, I reminded Her Highness had strongarmed the boon from me under threat of lawbond and feud between our cities. I acknowledged her fully mightier than I, and surely within her strength to outcast from the city. Yet she had never behaved me as a friend, to which I added: ~Stya vi realdis? O zhire-se zheieve?~ - “What did you name me? Your pet outrider?”
~Hadaf naearrya ivilassora kolamara,~ - “I have done what was needful to ward the city,” answered the High Matron. Then she bade me leave with warning that our next meeting would go more ruefully.
When Kaure and I reached the household, I found almost my whole flag waiting, along with a wordbode from Her Highness Lady Sheneal, asking the outcome. To Her Highness I answered the weapondares would happen as planned. After the wordbode left, I swerved to the others: ~Distimi namathya zhaolindaf,~ - “I never forespoke folksomeness,” I joked.

2. Koelae, 24,548 - 20th Month in Qabarat
Today we went to the Lemussa Weaponyard, where we met Master Evauess, Soaras, and the other yardfellows, who cheered not only our championship but also our upcoming weapondare. Demante also clove, whom the yardmaster welcomed kindly. Ere he set us to a light drill, some asked how overwrought the matrons had become. ~O’ezimi-shili,~ - “I answered: “Right much.” Yet then I benamed Lady Eneae as one who looks kindly on other folk’s plight and that, if they need a heedful matron, they should seek her. Master Evauess reminded her from Kaure’s bridetide.
Afterward, we overtalked the weapontrial in four days, with the yardmaster’s warning to stay easy to strengthen from the hard-fought gametrial a mere three days ago. Then he cocked eyes at me and Demante and asked whether we knew what we forestand. ~Ollaelave,~ - “I welcome it,” I answered, to which Demante nodded antennae, adding that she, like me, had also fought Korasha. She quipped this high shametide of Damaya fighting Korasha little recks among meanfolk, where among sellswords and the citadel’s drillmistresses, such often fights. Master Evauess chuckled, saying mayhap we will give the ladyhood a sip of true life. Then we withdrew to the bath, where we laughed at Sievae and Meiss frog-snuggling, ere I sorrowfully went to the Embassy, where more of Lady Sheneal’s ill will waited, if she even bothered to call.

3. Koelae, 24,548 - 20th Month in Qabarat
A whisper has swept the city, which today grew to a bulb, that, if any Korasha fight a Damaya at our weapondare in three days, they shall be cursed. Although too late I heard, the Matronhood already had answer when Her Highness Lady Ivassil outquoth behest that the foot-trial’s last foursome, the same we will fight, shall be henceforth forgiven from ban-right, and that any lady or wife so cursing shall be lawbound. Forsoothly this is a seldom deed almost unheard, bequeathing the men freedom from wifely doomright that few ever behold, and wontfully withheld for men who have earned captainhood or other high reeveship.
Also more reckfully, Lady Sheneal our ambassador outspokenly upheld the behest. Thus, against all their words and ill will, both Son and Qabarat’s Matronhood outcomefully back our weapontrial. I beshrive myself aloss at how their minds have shifted. Her Highness Lady Sheneal I understand better: my win will earn Son’s glory, even with the shametide, the same reason she first had me fight in the Games. Yet I reckon Lady Ivassil’s reason murkier. At likeliest, I guess she wishes my loss, and so would behold Qabarat uplifted over Son. Thus for unlike ends my two mightiest foes underspeak together. So they have chosen to bemake the best from shametide, although not for my welfare.

5. Koelae, 24,548 - 20th Month in Qabarat
It is late dusktide, and I should sleep early. Yet I dread its lack, and also that Remaue and Kaure will soon strongarm me to bed. I have thought much about tomorrow’s weapontrial and why I sought it. At shrift’s end, I cannot shed my pride from nobler wishes. Yes, I want to meet the city’s best warriors. Yet though I willingly yield hap to let them try to beat me, I want to beat them. I want to be the best. Even though I am ~Damae~, in setting Damaya over Korasha, the Matronhood, deeming that Korasha strength and roughness would unsettle our foremostness, has withheld me that right.
On an else thought: under tomorrow’s weapontrial with Demante, Soaras and the other Korasha foot-trial last foursome, we all win.

Recap: Lady Vaeol used her loss in the speartrial and the Matronhood's Newyear's Eve mirthtide to issue not one but two challenges.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• O’ahi-sei (adv): in your power; you can do it
• Mei (adv): now; here; inclusive adverb
• Komadise (2nd-fem perf): you have done it/fulfilled
• A Ruzhyahaze (voc fem): worry-maker
• O’zhiathassi (inf): to learn
• Stara (com acc): who; interrogative pronoun
• Ollodara (com acc): best; rightest
• Ebilave (1st-fem): I/we weary
• Shi (prep): under; down
• Hazo-so (neut 2nd-demonst): your box(es)
• Oe: and; verbal conjunction
• Nilona yi (com): more than
• Ve (fem): I; we; first-person pronoun
• Shile (fem): merely; only
• Damae (fem): female Damaya

This Chapter's Cast of Characters:

• Lady Vaeol Yaranevae: our narrator; outrider flagwife & psychic from Son
• Demante: Damaya firstspear of Qabarat; Vaeol's former rival
• Lady Sheneal: Son's ambassador to Qabarat
• Oshis: Vaeol's fathermate & firstspear champion
• Kaure: Vaeol's Korasha wifemate & priest of Elindrae
• Riardon: male Damaya & Damaya-Elf; former elfqueen of Qabarat
• Lady Eneae: matron of Qabarat & leader of an evermaiden sect
• Lady Ivassil: high matron of Qabarat
• Master Evauess: weaponmaster of of the Lemsussa Yard
• Soaras: Lemussa yardfellow; foot-trial champion of Qabarat
• Remaue: Vaeol's Damaya wifemate & shieldbearer