Chapter 11

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

4. Asealae, 24535 - Son
Ill news: I got word my father is hurt. With Master-Captain’s leave, I left watch and went to his house, where I beheld him with a healer and leg splinted. Told he, a quarry sledge had come with stones for the Temple porch, and a stone had fallen and broken his leg. The healer has mended him, but he will be some days abed while he strengthens.
I chided him tearfully while I hugged him, and asked whether he needed anything done. Here he yaysaid, but then grew queer. He shrove he has a dearth that must be paid tomorrow and showed me a coinpouch upon a shelf. He asked that I send it with someone trusty to a farmhold standing on the island’s southern end. I swore it would be done, and then left for drilltide.
Remaue and I have come home after bringing my father stew. Ere we left, we took the pouch and forespoke to bring it. In answer, he bade it is too mean, and that I should send Remaue in my stead. We looked him oddly, for his wise was again queer as if he was hiding something. Remaue forespoke it shall be aseen, whereat we all let the thing still. Yet we are both reckful. Hanging on tomorrow’s duty, we will both go, for that alone could keep me from this secret’s outshow.

5. Asealae
Remaue and I have learned a secret after today’s fare. My father has led a more interesting livelihood than I had forethought.
At dawntide I stood to watch, where I traded with Eiahyll my staffmate for a half-watch’s freedom while Remaue boded to our friends that we would have no weapons-drill. So by noontide we steeded Shota and rode downflood on the island’s shorepath, to Al-Farmhold as my father had bidden.
We reached the farmhold by early afternoon, which we found a wantsome but well tended lot with a sturdily gnarled hometree. We rode up, where a farm-man hailed us and brought water, at which we asked for the housewife. Shortly a stout wife, who gave name as Liavil, outcame and greeted us worshipfully. We gave our names and told we were there on Aeosiss’s behalf, whereat she first looked surprised. I then outlaid he could not himself come to pay his dearth and gave her the coinpouch.
Liavil the Housewife thanked us for the fee. She said she had forelooked Aeosiss should come himself, for though the fee was welcome, he owed more than money, and asked why he had begged us this boon. I answered he had yesterday been hurt in a stonefall. At this news she paled and frightened, at which we assured he is well and healing swiftly. Yet we thought odd that a dearth-holder should show such worry for a bondsman.
Then a girl came outrunning from a treehouse. She was tall, maybe a maiden already, maybe twenty-five years, and asked Liavil her mother who we are. Remaue eyed the girl, and her jaw gaped, and then looked back at me. For a breathtide I was bewildered. I saw a skinny girl with rosy hair and golden skin, and wearing a plain loincloth. Idly I mused she looked like a younger glass-sight of myself. Then I bestartled, looked again at Remaue, and read she was thinking samely.
Right then a younger boy outran, and at once I wondered whether my father had so looked in childhood, and also like me the same hue of skin and hair. I looked again at Liavil the Housewife, who held the same queer eye as Aeosiss had yesterday.
She asked whether I am an outrider and what kindred I hold. I answered I am indeed a Citadel Outrider, and am Vaeol u’Zhasaele Zolaemaue.
Suddenly Liavil knelt aground and woefully begged peace. Once again bewildered, I knew not why. I unsteeded from Ess, went to the wife, and took her hand. I swore I should never break her household’s peace and raised her up.
Rather shakily I asked leave to come into her house and speak. We went to the hometree and climbed up to the house, along with the children. Liavil earnestly brewed milk-tea, which we kindly sipped, though I was fighting my hands shaking. Mildly as I could, I asked her to tell her bond to Aeosiss my father.
Liavil answered that for many years Aeosiss had come to the stonequarry nearby. They had first met almost thirty years ago (after my birth). She had known he had a child with Lady-Mother, though he claimed their bond had ended (to my best knowledge, this is true, though he still came to our household to see me), and he had become Liavil’s manmate. She had asked that their matehood and children stay hidden, for she feared enwallowship in my mother’s hallcraft.
She then bade her children stand before me, though Liavil and I were already weeping. She named them Raeonyl the elder girl and Shill the younger boy, and bade them bow. Sobbingly I rose, knelt before them, and told I am Vaeol, and that I am their sister. Then I spread arms and hugged them both.
The whole tide’s rest, I never truly halted sobs. I think they were shaken and understood unfully, though Raeonyl beheld how much we look alike. Lawfully we are half-siblings, but I reck not. I am overblown to learn I have two more kin, and whom I loathe not. It feels unreal, and I wonder I weep rather from fear it will fade dreamlike.
While truth sunk in, Liavil bethought what must be done for Aeosiss. She packed a bag, gave it to Raeonyl, and bade she must go to the City and tend our father. She begged that we bring and oversee her there until Aeosiss strengthens, to which we readily agreed. We rode away with my sister sat before me asaddle, and my hand wardingly on her waist. Halfway through the ride, she upcame enough mind to ask whether I truly an outrider, which I mildly yaysaid. She asked whether I have fought in war against the Formians, to which I answered that though I have seen battle, none against the Formians far southward of Qabarat, though I have gone to Sovyrian among the Elves. This impressed her, and she became full of questions.
I learned she is twenty-four years old, not yet a maiden, though reckoning her height and years, soon will so be. Also likely within a year or so she will start her first firdhood as a newling. It had me remind my own time when I first joined the fird.
We reached the City and brought Raeonyl to our father’s house. I let her enter first and stood back while she hastened and hugged him. Then softly I came in and let a breathtide go until he witted me. I stood in the threshold with arms crossed and tried to make my voice angry while I bade he owed me a great outlay. I think I had befuddled him when he asked warily what outlay he owed. I answered he owed for forkeeping me such a fair and dear sister. Then his voice broke, and his look grew ashamed.
I went to his bed and hugged them both, while Remaue gazed on and wept.
We left Raeonyl with him (with warning I have not forgiven his guilt and will find a wise to wrack him). She will tend him, though Remaue and I will look in and ensure they both are well. Then we withdrew to the Citadel, where I could not help but tell Tae and Erymi the news.
I write this abed with Remaue wrapped in her arms. In this life I feel less alone.