Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 22

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil u’Zhasaele Zolaemaue be’Son

2. Zielae, 24,535 - 6th day in Qabarat
Yesterday was busy, and no time to write. At midday, Lady Nauve brought me to the Threefold House, where in the High Matron’s Hall I showed myself before Her Highness Lady Ivassill. There I knelt before the gathered matrons and begged forgiveness for my breach of Qabarat’s peace. 
Some matrons outspoke and chided me widely, and also for Son’s pride, so that I worried I still might be ill-deemed. Yet then Her Highness rose from her bench and raised her rod. All the matrons stilled. Then she spoke that Qabarat knows forgiveness and moreover afterlooks their elder sister Son, who lies under their wardship. She benamed me forgiven, but that I should not forget what I owe. Then she bade me rise and kissed me. At her words, I reminded what she had said when we first met, that she would hold me to my dearth. I misdoubted she had forgotten. 
I was also somewhat shocked that Her Highness, even as High Matron, had overspoken the matrons. Laterward, Lady Nauve outlaid that Qabarat’s High Matron holds much greater authority than has Lady-Mother back home. Also, she read the matrons’ reproofs might have been foreplayed.
Her Highness bade us come yesternight to a ball to worship Blighttide’s first night, wherein we should bring the Aslanta. We thankfully yaysaid, after which we withdrew to the Embassy and readied. I was glad I had packed good clothes, though I besought Lady Nauve to have things for Tae and Erymi, who would come with me. I bade them choose a warrior from each troop who had outstood on the quest so far as reward, to stand as grooms. They named Nae from Erymi’s troop and Nellos, a Korasha from Tae’s troop. Then I deemed we must have a third groom to overwatch the Aslanta, whereat we three yaysaid on Hanos, another of Tae’s Korasha.
For the ball, I wore a new gownshrowd that Lady-Mother had given. Remaue combed out my hair after she shaved my sidelocks, and laid it to my left side, whereby she told my skin-whorls on my right side outshowed most comefully. Remaue wore her skirt and scarf with the torque I had given her (I must buy her something new while here). Erymi and Tae were likewise dressed with the gownshrouds they had gotten from Lady Nauve. Then we all (six Lashunta and twelve Aslanta) joined Lady Nauve and her grooms. Brand and his men were well clothed in silken kilts with wrought belts. 
Together we walked to the Threefold House and, along the way, made quite a stir with the Aslanta’s otherworldliness, whom bystanders foretook as manly Elves. At the Threefold House we were led to the feasthall, which looked so wide even as the whole Ofu back in Son. There the heralds outnamed us before the whole throng, and we brought the Aslanta before the High Matron. Then Her Highness welcomed them and bade that, as they were already Son’s guests, they must also be Qabarat’s.
The mirth-meal proved good, though too many dishes than I could tally. I rather remind a blackcake brought with rose-milk brandy at the end, which yielded a wonderful manifold nutty bittersweetness. Remaue liked it so much as I, and asked after it. She learned it comes from Reshat in the Shattersea, and is made from a tree-bean that grows there. We must seek it in the market. 
After meal, we clove the dance on the midfloor (which the Aslanta greatly enjoyed watching). There I saw Lady Semuane. She stood before me, took my hand, and led me from the dance. There on the sidefloor (though before all who could see) she knelt and kissed my hand. Then she outspoke that she rued her trial to take the Aslanta and asked forgiveness. I knelt with her and took her hands. Then I said that she had met me worthily, had kept her sworn word, and had yielded all that honor bade. I named her true to her outriderhood and my own friend and sister. Then before the feast-throng I kissed her, at which the whole throng cheered.
Afterward, I spoke with Remaue that I must make deed and show Lady Semuane goodwill. She yaysaid, and I asked what she beread. Yet anon she halted. I asked what misgave her.  At last, she said that she would give me rede, but that also she must shrive something. So I sat her aside, held her hands, and waited. 
Remaue told the most mindful thing would be that I woo Lady Semuane. Yet then she shrove that, such is Remaue’s love for me, that at every thought that Semuane had taken spear and ridden against me, wrath overcomes my maidenlove. She cannot bear thought of Semuane near me, and even earlier that night when we knelt together and kissed, she could not help her anger. Then I laughed, drew Remaue near, and laid my antennae upon hers in mindshare. I swore I should not seek Lady Semuane until Remaue gives me leave, and only if Remaue is wholly open and beleaving. 
Then I told her that the only answer may be that Lady Semuane must overwin her. 
Remaue stared haltingly. At length she said that she may not be so easily overwon. I answered that Semuane then must strive all the harder. I asked if she would let me bring Semuane and let her try. Slowly she yielded.
Today we had little time to talk anything further, for within the next belltide Master Desh came and asked us to come to the Diremoshu. I yaysaid eagerly, for this stead has stayed much amind. We found Brand and let him know, and then forespoke to come to the lorehall after noonslumber.
Laterward, on the way, we ate tasty spiced wormworsts, then kept onward to the Lorehall-Farthing. We overtrod the foreyard and came to the Diremoshu stairs. I had the mirth of hearing the Aslanta gasp, even while I gladly withheld my own. The stairway roof rises over twenty strides until the roofbow. Within stand twin carven lisses who uphold it and ward the bronze doors. We waited until they all recovered breath. Then we went inside.
Within, the Diremoshu dome rises to a skylight over forty strides high from the floor. Underneath stand two matched stonelikenesses: Mahaere in green-veined marble with a silver tree-staff, a bird perched thereon, and a fade-deer at her side; and across, Matarasse in red marble with golden spear & blazing crown, blessing a wheel of stars gilded upon the underdome. The two goddesses oversee hundreds of lorelings walking between lectures over a stone compass-floor inlaid with all known beasts and worts, while from wall-nooks Sage-Queens and loremasters (including Son’s own Thesuss who founded the Hall of Stars) stand in witness to yore’s knowledge.
I found a hall-reeve awaiting and asked after Master Desh, who had left word to forelook us. He led us through a wing to the Master’s lorehall, where he was even beginning a rede-tide with twentysome lorelings. I was most beweighed by the great clockwork orrery set upon a shaft in the hall’s midst, with the Sun as a great golden globe, then on outstretched bronze arms with Galloping-Brother, our own Green-Mother, Blue-Queen, Red-Queen, mighty Dreaming-Sister, and even Wanderer and weird Outlander outfollowing as spinning armheads. I have heard it is the biggest and truest ever made, While we watched, its arms trended to show steads between the worlds, upon whose clocks were reckoned their lengths between, rooted on their orbits. Master Desh halted his lecture, greeted us, and named us to his students. He then asked Brand and the Aslanta to bespeak life on Blue-Sister. He brought out heaven maps and asked whether the Aslanta knew them, whereby we learned the Aslanta widely know the same constellations, though by unlike names. Reckfully, they name an else north-star, which we reckon means their world’s axis tilts elsely than ours.
After rede-tide, we stayed and talked with Master Desh. Then he led us on a show-walk of the Diremoshu, including its Bookhall and Beastlore Hall, which holds a stuff-likeness of each beast known, and the Loreyard that holds likewise for wortkind. We also met sundry other loremasters. We ended our show-walk in the loremaster’s idleyard and drank tea. 
Master Desh said he believes we tomorrow shall have a meeting with Her Highness’s stewards, and that we shall speak of the Aslanta’s fetch. I yaysaid to await word from the High Matron’s Hall. Then we thankfully took leave.

From the Journal of Brand Likario

24. Neth, 4718 - 6th Day in Khabarat, 65th Day on Castrovel
Much to write of both yesterday and now. Just earlier, Lady Vaeol told us we are no longer strictly bound to the embassy, though we shall have escort whenever we go out. The legal matter she stood for is now resolved, apparently to both cities’ satisfaction, and with no ill outcome that I have witnessed.
Last night, we all attended a ball at the palace of Khabarat’s Matron-Princess, though Queen may be a better word. At evening, we bathed and dressed in our new finery. When dusk cooled (so much as it ever cools here), we gathered in the embassy’s courtyard - all us Humans, Lady Nauve, Lady Vaeol, the two sergeants Erymi and Tae, Remaue, Nae one of Erymi’s lancers, and also two Korasha to stand as guards. Also, this was the first time I got to see the warriors dress up. Lady Nauve our host and her attendants held no surprise: tiaras and the saree-like gowns sporting a breast free, which in Nauve’s case was most impressive, and capped in gold. Remaue, Tae, and Erymi were dressed similarly with each other, in embroidered halters and ankle-length, elaborately painted silken skirts, and golden neckrings. The Korasha guards were clothed much like us.
I was most curious about Lady Vaeol, owing to her rank, and also her kinship with Son’s High Matron, Lady Zhasael her mother, and what her dress would tell. I was both disappointed and intrigued, for she wore an off-shoulder saree like the matrons, but underneath wore her silver breastplates. Markedly, however, she had added a golden bead upon her forehead, such as the mind-seers back in Son had worn.
Together our whole party, Lady Nauve and Vaeol alead, then we Humans and the warriors escorting, made our way uptown until the Acropolis. There I heard the sea’s dull roar from the other side and in the gloomlight oversaw a dim stretch I doubted not was the waters below. No less than two towers blazed with burning lights, which I guessed lighthouses. Yet these whits but briefly held my mind against the sight crowning this peak. Here rose a palace consisting of three great domes glowing with inner light through their elaborate glasswork, and whose approach was set with the glowing tree-blossoms. Even more eye-catchingly, the dresses of the Lashunta walking with us glowed in elaborate patterns.
We reached the palace, where we entered a hall that not even the Empress of Kelesh would scorn, full of thousands of Lashunta, and hundreds of matrons with their gowns and crown. More, the place glowed almost brightly as day from a mix of witchlights and oil lamps, so that scarcely a shadow touched the floor, which itself was a great mosaic of twisting wreaths and red, gold, and silver stars, repeating in the columns and stonework, all set in a rich marble of swirled creamy-brown.
Not for the first time, I wondered if this was how the cities of Azlant had looked before Earthfall.
Then I saw my first Elf, a slim, point-eared soul in knotted scarves, who oddly stood out among the Lashunta with whom he was talking. He met my gaze but otherwise did not stir while I kept walking. While I was unsurprised at an Elf’s sight, especially when everyone here speaks Elvish, I could not outreckon his presence and what it might mean. Neither was I the only fellow who witted him, for suddenly Draxy was whispering in my ear. He repeated the warning from Archmaster Virian, that we should under no chance deal with Elves. When I asked why, however, he merely bleated the same words. I accused him of not knowing, which shut him up. I then said that, if the Elves’ worldgate is our only way home, and unless I get good argument to avoid them, we may have no choice but to seek their goodwill. I gave Draxy a moment to consider that likelihood before I went back to my trials to put a well-mannered face on our party.
Both we and the Son delegation were presented to Khabarat’s High Matron-Princess, whose name so near as I discern is Lady Ivasill. Through a tongue-spell she formally welcomed us to Khabarat. Other than the short exchange, however, most Lashunta happily held back and watched us as they might a troop of trained bears.
Amid the palace’s opulence, the banquet gave good chance to watch people, especially after the meal was done, and true to any upper-class gathering, the hobnob began. Included herein was a dance, which the men drifted to watch, and I followed to keep an eye. Soon we had a floorside sight of more than a hundred whirling, writhing Damaya, each dressed in silks of flowerlike hues when they weren’t glowing, and anyone a worthy candidate back home for a city fair's queen of love and beauty. It was hard not to get misdrawn and stare, unleastly when Lady Vaeol joined the floor.
In a moment when I tore my eyes away, I spotted another Damaya of singular note. She wore a saree of seafoam green embroidered in gold, with the ornamental breastplates, bracelets, and anklets of an outrider-knight. Noteworthier, however, was her hue: skin like the summer sea and hair like mixed gold and sapphires. I found myself remarking she was the second Lashunta I had seen of this uncommon hue, after Lady Semuane, the knight whom Vaeol had fought.
Then I watched this blue Damaya go straight to Lady Vaeol. She led our guardian from the dance-floor, knelt, and laid her brow-feelers upon Vaeol’s hands, right before the whole throng. I had mistakenly not recognized her as the same Lady Semuane. While I watched, Vaeol knelt with her, and then gave a brow-feeler kiss upon the Blue Knight. This gesture pleased the onlookers, who buzzed, which is the gesture Lashunta make instead of clapping. 
Yet it left me dumbfounded. Whatever is happening within Lashunta society I do not understand. I know Vaeol is Remaue’s lover and is supposed to stay maiden for her service’s length, nevermind that didn’t stop her from frolicking with Less and Oshis back in Son. Now she seems set to become involved with Semuane, the knight she fought against. Is there anyone she is not lovers with?
I know the answer: me.
I need to not let jealousy consume me. Putting all last night aside, today we got a small tour of the city, including the university, whose doctors had visited. It is as impressive a building as I’ve ever seen, moreso a temple, for I’ve seen fanes of Abadar more poorly decorated. Yet after walking for hours and seeing all the collections, including a giant gear-model of the Sun and planets, I became numb to the marvels shown and was only too glad to sit with our host Master Desh and talk on astrology. 
More and more, I’ve come to believe in these people’s sophistication as possibly more advanced than ours. I asked Master Desh again about the worldgate I have heard stands here in Khabarat. He repeated his yesterday’s answer, rather sorrowfully, that their gate goes only to Akiton. Despite myself, I had gotten hopeful we would find a way home. While I feel the Lashunta are trying to help, I honestly don’t know what we are doing here. There is the option I mentioned in half-jest to Draxy last night, though whether the Lashunta are considering it or not I have no clue: Sovyrian. The Elves have controlled a worldgate between Castrovel and Golarion since before Azlant fell. Given our hopelessness, I wonder if it may be warranted.
After we left the university, we passed through some of the city’s boroughs, including a great covered bazaar with the huge milke-bearing trees growing up through skylights, and a formal tour of the Acropolis, which showed many temples and not only the government palace, particularly two more colossi overlooking the sea outward. I could only guess them gods, for they wear crowns and have fish-tails instead of legs. Beside them and supporting their great height stand the two lighthouses, one on each bayside cliff; doubtlessly aids for navigation but also proclaiming to all incoming the pre-eminence Khabarat holds among the cities of Castrovel.
A last thing I saw on our way back to the embassy. Down from the Acropolis we passed a complex of buildings, wherethrough I saw warriors. Among these buildings lay a series of yards, all full of warriors practicing, and not just singly or small groups, but whole companies and formations. Some practiced weapon-styles: spear and greataxe. Korasha marched, whirled, and changed rank and file on silent command. Damaya rode Shotalashu in swerving, shifting lines. Arrows filled the air over target-butts. Here were not merely hundreds of Lashunta warriors but thousands, and not raw recruits but veterans who had long honed their fighting-craft, among a people who esteem warcraft and martial virtue. I find myself glad they are not our enemy.