Chapter 12

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

9. Asealae, 24,535 - Son
Remaue is homecome late from hosting my father and sister back to their farmhold. She told it was slow wayfare, even with so many days for his leg to strengthen. She had coaxed her Shota to let him ride a while. When they arrived, Liavil fed her to yieldship (this made me laugh). Thus it was already dusktide when Remaue came home. Told she, Raeonyl was a naked chatterbox while telling her mother deeds in the City. She loves her new braid-clasps (which Remaue had lovingly tied) and told that I will be fighting in the Newyear Games, and that they must go to watch. Her mother haltingly agreed and put forth Aeosiss must bring her, for the farmhold cannot be left. Shill also loves his new knife.
Then, spoke Remaue, Raeonyl dropped a question like glass shattering: how can she become an outrider? My father seemingly tried to misdraw it with good mood, though Liavil was sightfully shaken. Nevertheless, my little sister has seemingly taken a qualm of hero-worship. She also has already called wish to go among the Shota-fields to bind a steed. We will see how that may go, though I can see her trying.

13. Asealae
Today the Qabarat Embassy came, and Lady Semuane along. We outriders waited sharply in the Ofu’s Heartyard, in full harness and weapons shiny while the outlanders entered. Lady-Mother greeted them warmly from the Matron Hall’s stairs. Her Highness, Lady Maiali the ambassador I know not, though Lady Nauve came with her as host.
Soon as the welcome-show ended, I outsought Semuane. The Qabarat Embassy is guest-held in a house beside Lady-Mother’s and links there by a breezeway. I came through the stallbarn and found her in a sidehall; herself agleam and helm in arm. We kissed and ground byrnies together. I could merely stare wonderingly at her heavenly blue face, trying to remind every whit after these long months. We sat aside and spoke, holding hands, until her captain strode by and bade her back to watch. We swore to speak more, for a mirthtide happens tonight, and hopefully we may have time afterward.
I have erenow come from bath and Remaue braiding my hair. She is outlaying a dress that is Semuane’s gift, which is a wonder to see and I hope will be wisefully stunning.

14. Asealae
I start with Lady-Mother’s mirthtide yesternight, which overspread both her house, the Qabarat Embassy’s guesthouse, and the Matrons’ Hall to have room. It was so wonderful a thing as the City has had in many years. Lady-Mother spared no thrift to show our allies welcome. Even so, their wealth and courtliness outshone us, with glowsilk shroudwraps blazing. Their hair and antennae sparkled, and even their grooms wore gold and silver. I misdoubt their hairdresses and cuts will set our dresswise for long years toward. I shrive some jealousy, for I would not see Son beheld tawdry.
Semuane’s gift was so stunning as I could forelook: a blue-gold glowsilk shroudwrap that made folk believe me Qabarate. Remaue hung it to fall under my breastdishes and tie both before and behind when they overfell my hips to floor. It also matched Semuane’s hair. True to wish, I made a quite stir when my name was called and incame, with Remaue in her own blues ahost.
Semuane met us at the stairfoot, took my hand, and gave a slow, lovely kiss. She was wearing rose-gold glowsilk that likewise matched my hair. If any doubted we are maidenloves and stand in each’s goodwill, this must forswear it. She greeted Remaue with another kiss. Then together we strode the hall to pay my mother worship.
Lady-Mother was speaking with Her Highness, Lady Maiali. They eyed and greeted us. I outnamed Lady Semuane and asked she be trusted with utmost worship in dearth for the hurt I had done. My mother kissed her and bade welcome.
Her Highness Maiali eyed me and spoke I must be the outrider who overcame Qabarat and had even won the booty, whereat all laughed, though meekly I bowed. Lady-Mother lightly said that, when she had bidden I should hold the Aslanta against all who would take them, she had no thought I would follow her word so boldly. Semuane held me tight and said we had no more sake for wrathfulness, and that I had yielded more than enough geld. Then playfully she reached up, stroked my ear, and flicked the golden dart still there embedded, whereat I blushed.
I felt Her Highness Maiali’s eyes resting on me, and moreover my Lady-Sisters hovering near, for once eager to praise my deeds. This stead misforeboded, and so I asked Semuane to dance. We begged leave of Her Highness and Lady-Mother, and then swirled about the floor. Then we went among the other outriders, both Son and Qabarat. They also wished to hear our weapons-trial, but only for thrill, and also would hear our maidenlove.
Much later, Semuane and I at last found some lone-time. We had taken a rose-myrrh meadbrandy and thieved the bottle, which we then stole to a breezeway in the guesthouse, overlooking the Heartyard and the Sun-Temple. Then we sat and held hands and antennae. We had too much to speak. I told all I had undergone since Qabarat - the unclean Swart-things on the Darkfloor, the Games upcoming, Remaue’s planned bridetide, talk with Erymi and Tae about becoming a household, and meeting my brother and sister. Neither had she been idle, but was held in planning this embassy and her dole of scoutfare, for they had gotten the Swart-things’ word in the jungle south of Hanazhyana, and so had greatened their scoutfares. At end, it was easier to share mind and let our thoughts mingle free.
Thus Remaue found us sitting on a ledge, antennae entwined, and also half-besotten (which makes uneasy but interesting mindshare). She asked what wickedness we were doing without her leave, whereat we yielded the meadbrandy bottle. Semuane rose and spoke her fairly, asking hope that Remaue would not begrudge our maidenlove’s renewal. Here Remaue smiled and kissed her.
We deemed we must steal from the revel, though frankly this was the drink’s thought. Wearing glowsilk yields no stealth. At last gigglingly and overhushingly, we reached our room, where under a witch-lamp we laughed, shared the meadbrandy, and nuzzled. Soon we three held a manifold, slurry mindshare with queer blackouts. Late amorn, we woke and nursed our heads. Semuane left with lovely words and kisses, and with Remaue’s leave to seek me.
I was late to loretide at the Esotericum, for I forethought with the revel I would be forgiven. The seermaster took one read of my mind, however, and bade me forgo. I was still overdrunken, he outspoke, and he had no time for such a sick and unclean mind. He bade me come back only when I am sober and ready.