A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 60

~O'mei Vaeol-Ile mi Demante hiorashya-hae Soarasru. Lei naze aerualora zhilantora~ (In which Lady Vaeol and Demante get their payback on Soaras. Then she gets a doubtful offer.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

7. Koelae, 24,548 - 20th Month in Qabarat
After yesterday’s weapontrial, I tarried today and boded word to the Embassy that I shall not await. Her Highness Lady Sheneal owes little sake to chide me. Even if she did, it would merely rue my loss and the honor lost for Son. I sorrow she cannot tell the honor bequeathed to more than us only.
I have heard some news within the city about yesterday’s weapondare. They mostly speak dearly of Soaras, and dolefully of his becks, both in kneeling to me after winning and yielding the crownwreath to Master Evauess. His nameworth has grown swainlike, whereof I foresee great towardness. He may become the next Lemussa yardmaster after Master Evauess. Of my own nameworth, however, the whispers wag muddlesome. Some mistell I got the loss and shame I forecraved wishing Korasha and Damaya to fight, while others say I made sake to honor the city’s greatest champion. Others else deem I have threatened the couth bounds between Damaya and Korasha, and that more strife will follow. In my own deemship, they are not wrong, though I do not foresee that strife as evil.
Frankly, we have already started the next step toward more strife. With the foot-trial ended, we now aim on Oshis’s and Kaure’s weapondare foreset eleven days hence when they and their Shotalashu will hold the yard against any outrider willing to match spears. Until now that news had stayed forgotten. The shametide will reawaken, although it will shame only those who believe in shallow, wisdomless honor.

Afterword
I had thought to yield something doleful for the Lemussa Weaponyard, and so earlier boded welcome to Demante. After talk, we gathered Remaue, Sievae, Draue, Nae, and Hanos. Meanwhile, Kaure was readying for idletide at the Blossomyard with Hauronil and his elfmates, and to go with with Erymi, Tae, Oshis, and Less, and have forespoken good word.
We else reached the Lemussa after duskmeal and so had to knock on the foregate. A newling daringly answered, but at our sight halted short and inlet us. We crossed the drillyard to the rear rooms, and so met the yardfellows wondering at our intread, and Master Evauess among. In answer, I held forth a mead jug. I told soon we will go home to Son. ~Thandava o samaea keamya-rualassi,~ - “We have come meaning thanks,” I outlaid. Then I popped the cork, bowed, and yielded it to him.
Master Evauess took the jug, answered my bow, and swigged. He lowered it in thoughtful taste. ~Ruzhya shoradis, a Ile, hei thalmara qeiara. Kolama o’ilaeoni nezhisya si-ti!~ - “You have brought worry, my lady, but the fun kind. The city will be less inthrifty without you!” Then he gave back the mead, and I drank with him, which deed my flagmates repeated with their jugs.
Sievae and Hanos began a dance that we all clove: the hard-stomping, tumblesome Korasha wise that soon became laughsome when we long-legged Damaya tried. I bewitted fit to doff my bodyshroud and more easily dance in a mere waistcloth. Sievae and Nae did as well, and also Remaue, although she bemoaned her heavy bosom bouncing, but which made the yardfellows laugh more. I sought to gather us wives to an else ring where we could dance more lissomely. Yet the men boldly deemed to twirl and toss us from one to another.
One such toss landed me upon Soaras’s arms, who dumbly grinned. I took behoof to let my antennae lightly brush his lobes. ~O’virathi-deio afema shatahadama,~ - “Not the first time we have smashed shoulders,” I outthought. When he twirled, I slipped from grasp and withdrew from the dance ring. Then I went to find a mead jug. I came back in time to witness him samely twirling Demante. She spoke something I could not hear but misdoubted flirtsome. I followed when she offtossed to the next fellow.
When the dance ended, I beckoned and yielded the mead. We shared a sip. Then I outthought: ~Dei vosse thanasse?~ - “Are you glad you came?” She answered with a hug.
So atrusted, I outreached mindshare, which she thrillsomely clove. ~Dei ihya seilis?~ I next asked: “Do you wish wickedness?” Shock straightened her antennae: ~Stya?~ - “What?” Without word or look, I bethought Soaras. She gaped, and then grinned.
Nodding, I wrapped my hand on her breast while she bore the jug, and led whither Soaras joked with Sievae, Meiss, and others. We stole behind and shed to each take a shoulder, wheareat Soaras stilled between. ~Au aras,~ - “Our champion,” I hailed on the right while Demante aleft held forth the mead. Then we asked whether he would share drink. Soaras glanced between us, bewaring a queerness, and yaysaid. We offled him from the mirthtide while Sievae’s laughter mischided.
Befittingly, the bath doorway waited in the bight. There Demante raised the jug before his face. I kept hand on his stout shoulder, feeling his hair curl in my fingers while he drank. Then he yielded her back the mead, which she drank, and then my shift ere I gave him back to drink again. Soaras witted our antennae humming in matched saiahi. ~Stya seilya-shyalze?~ - “What do you wish?” he asked.
~Hari-sya mi vaea, yeio-zhaoe risyelma, o ve inyaeve!~ I boldly answered: “Your strength and life, so that when next we fight, I will win!”
Soaras’s antennae flattened as if he misbelieved threat. Yet instead, I outreached mindshare and bade him cleave. Withholdingly he alet, and then quivered when he witted our mood. Demante and I caught his head between our bosoms. Our antennae dangled to reach his. Three minds bewondered at what each felt. ~Hiorashi vehae,~ - “This is odd wrackgeld,” he bethought while his antennae slithered with both ours and minded the twofoldness of our soft teats blending until hard breasts and shoulders.
~O’hiorashi li shyal, dei-stimi loshya?~ I asked back: “Wrackgeld or boon, does it even reck?” Then I set his mouth upon me while his mind enthralled with drawing Demante’s many scars, one whereof grew sorrowfully through her left bosom, down the upper slope ere halting at the side. Ruefully he lapped it while his fingers followed others on her shoulders and arms.
Over his head, I met eyes with Demante, who bit lip dizzily under his worship. ~O’mie-yei irealya-rualme,~ - “I would name us sisters,” I outspoke. Her grin broadened. ~O’illi mie eime,~ - “Sisters shall we be,” she answered. She yielded me first bout and afterward took hers. Then we three stilled together, merely antennae snarling and giggling,
Laterward, I took witness of the broader idletide. No shock that Sievae ruled queenlike, having in the last yeartide made the Lemussa Yard her own harem. I sought water and found Master Evauess sitting shed from the merry gatherhood. I yielded him mead and asked his thought. He naysaid, merely saying this was younger sport. I outspoke we had not come to lay a dearth upon the weaponyard, and dolefully since we will soon go home to Son, and that we would becrave only thankfulness. Then I kissed him. Yet he withheld with a chuckle. ~Ti osa-ya qoandavas,~ - “I have grown beyond such things.”
We awoke early at foredawn and readied to leave, though not ere the yardmates. Gladly I watched Demante and Soaras dearly talking while they hugged each other’s napes. Together they came, whereat he knelt and kissed my belly, and I merrily stroked his locks and shoulders. I asked whether they will meet again. The two shyly smiled. Demante answered she has a fathermate, but she would forelove him and Soaras becoming friends. ~Relesivalya rualf,~ answered Soaras: “I would woo you,” whereat Demante kissed him and bade him seek her. Meiss kissed my belly as well, and then shared kisses with both Sievae and Hanos. Then the whole yard arowed and knelt in trend in thankful worship, whereafter we took lissome leave and have tarried a lazy daytide after womb-bane's drink.

9. Koelae, 24,548 - 20th Month in Qabarat
I hate to shrive, but the time nears to reckon homecome to Son. Her Highness Lady Sheneal boded word to forelook leave northward on Father-Yaro after Treesong. That will give us maybe a couple days after Kaure’s and Oshis’s weapondare to fordo all and ready. Needless to say, forereadiness begins now.
We have dwelled here in Qabarat, with our beloved Semuane and her kindred’s house, for two years. Furthermore, we have outcomefully become knew kin - Hauronil and his elfmates Indith and Leiendil, Minal Oshis’s half-sister and her shipclan - in that while. I cannot even fathom how Sievae will bid farewell to Meiss her manlove. My son knows them better than my right kindred back home.
Along that thought lies the nagging worry of my mother waiting in Son. Has she truly forgiven me? Have I forgiven her? Then forelooms the whole snarl with my sisters and Elahat, whose ill will I fear has not weakened. Although I may leave Qabarat as a hero, at home they may behold me as a foe.
Taiase and Istae, however, will not cleave our homecome. Instead, they will shortly stay here ere an else fare beckons: they will become the guests of the Queen of Wicked Nivaea and will soon leave southward, maybe after Floodtide. They have even talked with Minal to beseech berth on her clan’s ships, which is a nice thought to have a few friends in a new outlandish city, whereof the most shameless tales dare truth.
Our days here have grown bittersweet. Right as when we left Vosaeth in Ofu-Laubu, we again mind the end.

11. Koelae, 24,548 - 20th month in Qabarat
Today at foreve, the housegroom boded word of guests. I came down to the foregate and met no less worthies than Lady-Mistress Kael of the Spearcradle Outriderhood, Lady-Mistress Shaeami of the Roseclaw (Semuane’s headmistress), and Lady-Mistress Rimoare of the Brightsword, whom I had erenever met. We were forecaught when they bade sundry word alone, and without Semuane or Istae. In doleful beck that my sister-outriders acknowledged this queerness, Semuane brought the tea to the midyard’s nook where we sat. I also kept Aeosel, since I reckoned my son might soften ill will.
After Semuane withdrew, I yielded the cup for each lady in trend, drank, and then awaited their word. Lady Kael began by thanking me. She acknowledged our yesterly business had not gone easily. Yet she had taken rede with her fellow headmistresses and deemed this new thing too weighty not to bode before my mind. I asked whether she meant Oshis’s and Kaure’s upcoming weapondare on Treesong Eve. All three headmistresses nodded. I bade them speak straightly, and that I would answer so best as canny.
Lady Shaeami trucesomely said they athanked the deeds I had already done, both in my Motorae championship and the weapondare Demante and I had fought with Soaras. She bespoke it a show of matchless warriorhood and understood my drive to meet the city’s best. Yet reckful of two Korasha holding the speartrial’s yard, they sorrily reckoned the strife the deedshow may wreak.
I asked what they beseeched: they would have me afterreckon the weapondare and withdraw it. I stared unbelievingly at all three headmistresses. Then I answered here was a twisty riddle, since I had outspoken my dare at the Threefold House before the whole Matronhood and nighmost Qabarat’s whole ladyhood. Furthermore, it had already been blessed by Their Highnesses Lady Ivassil and Lady Sheneal, and the daretide foreset. If I should now forsake my own weapondare, I would draw the city’s whole shame, and moreso my own city’s and my flag’s. My nameworth (at least whatever little I owned) would never outlive. Lady Rimoare then upspoke that I should reckon our sister-outrider’s welfare: the shame from letting Korasha ride against outriders would besmirch our whole livelihood. I asked what truly they feared as the weapontrial’s outcome. They answered not.
Instead, Lady Rimoare foreyielded that, understanding the slight to my nameworth and mishonor’s threat, they would make deed weighty enough to uphold my honor: on foreword of me forsaking the weapondare, they would readily bestow me ~Mauzane~ - Five Feathers - an almost legendary nameworth, after my (as they bespoke) matchless geld and benamehood to warriordom and my win over Byreath fastening peace in the North. 
I warily looked at all three. As I understood, in almost any other sake to earn Five Feathers one must upyield life, and furthermore need the word of all twelve outriderhoods. I asked whether they truly owned all twelve headmistresses’ wills. Lady Kael answered they so believed. 
~Dei eshi Veiemi-Evemeil?~ - “Even Lady-Captain Veiemi?” I asked, meaning the Issendil headmistress, the city’s oldest and foremost outriderhood. Here their antennae wavered. Then Lady Rimoare shrove Lady Veiemi may soon forestand a faith-lack call before her fellows, against those who bethought her mind too free and unforestanding of their ladyhood’s elder worship. ~Yei sizhoe kome diveari maeave,~ - “So all twelve do not yet belong,” I goaded, and got still answer. 
~Tei ahao milimi-vya naea-shyalis saiamassya.~ - “Or maybe you need my yaysaith to gather them.” Lady Shaeami blessed my thoroughsight, and that I have rightly learned hallcraft’s flow here in Qabarat. 
Yet forsoothly, I learned too much hallcraft, both here and harkening back from Son. So I asked their outlay of honor’s worth if honor can be so traded. ~Relesi vi shyalassi,~ - “Honor is ours to bestow,” answered Lady Shaeami.
~Diya,~ - “Wrong,” I spat. ~Lovearya shyalis, o’vei relesya yorualyelf,~ - “You bestow a title, whereas I would upyield honor.”
We halted a breathtide while awkwardness stretched old. Aeosel fussed under the ill mood. While I soothed his hair, I outquoth I would bestow them a boon: I should forget this talk, but if ever I hear them again speak of Five Feathers to anyone, me or else, I will dare all three to weapontrial and will not halt until they lay bloody in the mud. I deemed they had betrayed outriderhood more than I could ever dream. 
~Aeiestaf sere avyronere,~ hissed Lady Rimoare: “We had ere thought you wiser.” I answered I had ere thought them worthier, though anywise I gladly forelooked the soon day I shall leave their wicked city. Then I stood without further couthness and bade them leave. I watched them walk haughtily, shamefully, from the household until they faded through the foregate.
Semuane already waited at the midyard’s rear, along with Istae, Taiase, and my wifemates. They beheld Aeosel wailing on my hip, my antennae low, and asked what happened. Yet those misnamed outriders’ betrayal choked my throat. I helplessly wept with my son withheld the shame I could not forbear. 
Yet when my loves heaved mindshare, I could not withstand and shrove all. Then Semuane toppled to her knees. ~Domonyave,~ - “I am forsaken,” she rued her headmistress’s sin. Istae angered that honor had forsaken Qabarat, and she would see the city burning or awar ere she stayed another belltide. Oddly, it became my ought to soothe them, with Taiase’s wise help. She bade Semuane hasten to Lady Eneae and tell this woe, which she beread may already steal against Lady-Captain Veiemi, since the other headmistresses shared the whisper, and the matron and Semuane’s maidenlove forestood as Veiemi’s best ally. Steeling her heart, Semaune left, maybe even to take her Shotalashu and ride through the benighted streets.
Remaue shared Istae’s thought and bade we should forsake the city at morntide. ~Ruassima. Meavama kolama-marru o’tollodi-tiassarru,~ - “Let us go home,” she bade: “We belong to our own city too long away.” Yet my head shook. ~O’diveari~ - “Not yet.” 
Still aknee, I headed to Kaure, who stood shakenly. ~Relesi di liyae zheievemara,~ - “There is no honor left in outriderhood,” I outspoke. Then I took my stalwart, beautiful Korasha wifemate’s hand. ~Siyae Oshisa-mei,~ - “It is in you and Oshis.” Then I bade we should keep the weapondare in seven days, whereat they shall show our flag’s worth and doughtiness against any outrider bold enough to ride, and added we should bode word.
The belltide is late while I write this, almost Midwatch. Together we went to the blossomyard and spoke with Hauronil, Indith, and Leiendil, whereafter Remaue and I found Riardon, and Kaure went to the Marshfarthing where the Hoodwearers dwell. For our share, Riardon beheld it an inthrifty outlook and forespoke to gather all friends he can. Tomorrow we shall next reach the bookminster and see what uphold Yaraesa’s ilk may bestow.

Recap: Lady Vaeol and Demante met the four Korasha champions was part of the weapondare, only to both lose to Soaras in the final matches.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Thandava (1st-com perf): I/we have come
• O samaea keamya-rualassi (honor part): to give/convey thanks
• Ruzhya (spir acc): worry; bother
• Shoradis (2nd-trans perf): you bore/carried
• A ile (voc fem): my lady
• Hei: but
• Thalmara (com acc): kind; sort
• Qeiara (com acc): fun; amusing
• Kolama (com): city; city-state
• O’ilaeoni (adv): less
• Nezhisya (spir acc): is inthrifty/interesting
• Si-ti: without you
• O’virathi-deio (adv): not the first time that
• Afema (com): shoulder(s)
• Shatahadama (incl-com perf): we (have) smashed
• Dei (adv): interrogative particle
• Vosse (2nd-fem): you are glad
• Thanasse (fem partic): coming
• Ihya (spr acc): wickedness; naughtiness
• Seilis (2nd-trans): you wish
• Stya (spir acc): what
• Au aras (voc masc): (our) champion
• Seilya-shyalze (2nd-fem honor): you wish
• Saiahi (spir): mindshare; psychic communion 
• Hari-sya (spir acc): your strength
• Mi vaea (spir acc): and/with life
• Yeio-zhaoe: since when next/futurely
• Risyelma (incl-com depend): if/when we fight
• Ve (fem): I/we
• Inyaeve (1st-fem cond): I/we will/may win
• Hiorashi (spir): wrackgel; revenge
• Vehae (spir): odd; special
• O’hiorashi li shyal (adv): revenge or boon
• Dei-stimi (adv): does (it) ever
• Loshya (3rd-com cond): will/may reck; be aware
• O’mie-yei (adv): as/like sister(s)
• Irealya-rualme (incl-fem cond humb): we will/may name
• O’illi (adv): will; intending
• Eime (incl-fem cond): we will/may be
• Ti (prep): beyond
• Osa-ya (com, relat): such/which thing
• Qoandavas (1st-masc perf): I/we have grown/become
• Relesivalya-rualf (1st-trans cond humb): I/we will/may woo
• Mauzane (fem): five feathers; heroic civic award
• Eshi (adv): even
• Evemeil (fem): lady-captain; honorific of ~Evime~
• Yei (adv): so
• Sizhoe (fem): twelve
• Kome (fem): full; all
• Diveari (adv): not yet
• Maeave (3rd-fem): she/they own/owe
• Tei: or
• Ahao: maybe
• Milimi-vya (spir acc): my yaysaith/agreement
• Naea-shyalis (2nd-trans honor): you need
• Saiamassya (spir acc partic): gathering
• Relesi (spir): worship; honor
• Vi (spir): mine; ours
• Shyalassi (spir partic): bestowing; bequeathing
• Diya (com): wrong
• Lovearya (spir acc): title; rank
• Shyalis (2nd-trans): you bestow/bequeathe
• O’vei (adv): and I
• Relesya (spir acc): worship; honor
• Yorualyelf (1st-trans depend): I upyield/surrender
• Aeiestaf (1st-trans perf): I/we ere-thought
• Sere (fem acc): you
• Avyronere (fem acc): wiser
• Domonyave (1st-fem): I/we am forsaken
• Ruassima (1ncl-com cond): we will/may go home
• Meavima (incl-com cond): we will/may owe/belong
• Kolama-marru (com alla/dat): to our (own) city
• O’tollodi-tiassarru (comm alla/dat): too long absent
• O’diveari (adv): not yet
• Relesi (spir): worship; honor
• Di: not
• Liyae (3rd-spir): possesses (it)
• Zheievemara (com acc): outriderhood
• Siyae (3rd-spir): possesses (you)
• Oshisa-mei (adv): with Oshis

| This Chapter's Cast of Characters:

• Lady Vaeol Yaranevae of Son: our narrator; Damaya outrider & psychic
• Lady Sheneal: Son's amabassador to Qabarat
• Soaras: Qabarat's Motorae foot-trial champion
• Master Evauess: weaponmaster of the Lemsussa Weaponyard
• Oshis: Lady Vaeol's firstspear, champion, & fathermate
• Kaure: Lady Vaeol's Korasha wifemate & priest of Elindrae
• Demante: Lady Vaeol's former rival
• Remaue: Lady Vaeol's Damaya wifemate & shieldbearer
• Sievae: Lady Vaeol's childsister & flagmate
• Draue: Vaeol's flagmate
• Nae: Vaeol's flagmate
• Hanos: Vaeol's flagmate
• Hauronil: Kaure's manlove; a Damaya-Elf
• Erymi: Vaeol's childsister & flagamte; Oshis's wifemate
• Tae: Vaeol's flagmate; Remaue's childsister
• Less: Vaeol's flagmate; Remaue's fathermate; Tae's manmate
• Indith: Hauronil's wifemate; an elf of Qabarat
• Leiendil: hauronil's manmate; an elf of Qabarat
• Minal: Oshis's half-sister; a Raumoeva shipwife
• Taiase: former ancient sage-queen of Son
• Lady Istae: outrider of Son; Vaeol's schoolmate