Chapter 15

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

1. Koelae - Newyear, 24,536 - Son
It is Newyear, Lower Sunstill in starlore, and Heaventide’s height. At the Sun-Temple I watched a new sith of outriders swear oaths, as yesteryear I had done, on this my knighthood’s nameday. It seems so long ago, and too so short. Yet here are a few things.
Remaue and I have forespoken to plan her bridetide. We have set the first Vealeae, two months toward, which yields us good while. I almost weep at thought to stand beside her when she goes from maidenhood.
Somewhat unforelookedly, I was called to Lady-Captain’s stallroom. There I found not only her but also Master-Captain Dosuesh, and with them Krastaes, whom I had overcome in the foot-trial’s prize. When I asked what became, Krastaes knelt and laid axe at my foot. Then he spoke he found me a fine and cunning warrior, and that he forelooks to see my worth in battle. Then he offered to follow me and join my flag.
His word fortook me aback, and I stammered I have no flag. He answered he would nevertheless follow me, as my sworn axe. While Master-Captain grinned, Lady-Captain marked this an odd happendom, for she told I am no wife but maiden. Krastaes answered that is a riddle with easy answer, which got laughter from the Captains, against themselves, and made me blush hotly.
Captain Dosuaesh eyed shrewdly and spoke he had heard that others had besought my ladyship, which to his mind raises intereting lookforth. He then asked whether I wish to stay maiden. I answered yes for now. Then he wondered what may mean if a maiden would lead her own flag. Lady-Captain cast him a queer look, though he yielded not. At last, they deemed they should talk later and with others, and gave me leave. Krastaes followed me outside. I started to chide him. Yet he said he would be honored to fight under me. In shyness I knew not what to say. He bowed and left.
Lastly, tonight I went with Semuane to a duskmeal given of Her Highness, Lady Maiali at the Qabarat Embassy guesthouse. We waited on Her Highness’s idleness and talked with her. Toward the sweetdish, Her Highness asked how we two are getting along, to which we answered right well.
Lady Maiali halted speech and eyed us. Then she outspoke something of us two misgives her, though what she knows not. She asked whether we have hidden anything that might be the root. Though I quailed, we answered nay.
Her Highness asked again whether we were sure. She spoke I had once seemed eager to overcome Qabarat when I dared Lady Semuane to weapon-trial and broke their city’s peace, and that it was well I had wooed her afterward to maidenlove, though something under Her Highness’s inkling had seemed off.
I reckoned Lady Maiali must have some soulcraft whereby she ha outspied us, though whether she had any whits I could not read. I could but answer so merely and nearly the truth as I could. So I told I had never wished to shame Lady Semuane nor Qabarat.
Her Highness’s eye lay keenly. She said she believed I was speaking true. She then marked she had often heard of me and Lady Semuane in my shieldbearer’s fellowship, and therefore wondered whether Remaue might have anything enlightening. She asked whether my shieldbearer had tonight followed me, which I yaysaid. So she asked to speak with her.
From table I rose and smoothly as I could, outsought Remaue in the hall. I dared not outlay the deal, nor outmostly give mindspeech for fear of what Lady Maiali might overread. I said merely that Her Highness wished to speak about Semuane. Yet so grim an eye I gave her that she bewared.
Together we came into the mealroom, where Remaue yielded Her Highness worship. Lady Maiali then fortakingly inseeched her. She asked whether Remaue bore Lady Semuane any ill will, to which she answered nay. When Her Highness asked whether she had ever born the Lady any ill will, Remaue answered nothing that was not already forgiven. When Her Highness asked what sake Remaue had ever had for such ill will, my lovemate answered the business was well known when we Sonna had brought the Aslanta to Qabarat, but was all settled. Therefore, she had forgiven.
Lady Maiali seemingly was gladdening of this inseech. She next asked what Semuane had to do to earn Remaue’s forgiveness. I saw my beloved shieldbearer’s fear and felt mine. She could not answer, even when Maiali goaded. I upstood and bade it enough, for my shieldbearer had done nothing wrong, and I should answer for her. When Her Highness asked whether I would answer her question, I outspoke I had no need. ~Honyae-stya voayazis be nevoli-mei, omei reasi-stya:~ “What secret did you uplook from this inseech, and what sin?
Her Highness named me cheeky, which she deemed fit well for a knight who dared weapon-trial and had lately won the Game-Prize, to which I answered: ~Hoeshiadeni:~ “Nevertheless.” She then spoke that she would reckon whether a sin was done, and we should answer well so that she could. Here I naysaid and bade she should either name now the sin or have done.
Then Semuane upspoke. The only sin done was that she had, leavelessly and against the High Matron’s bidden drightship, tried to take the Aslanta from Son. Lady Maili headed to her and said that was a grim shrift. She read Semuane has a foretelling livelihood among Qabarat’s outriders, and such a mark would doubtlessly hinder her furtherness. Semuane spoke she had already answered to the High Matron for her guilt, though if Her Highness saw fit to reopen the sake, she may welcomely beseech Lady Ivassil on their homecome.
Lady Maiali gave her such a fell eye that my heart quailed. Her Highness then outspoke that these Son dishes did not meet her tender belly. She rose, whereat we bowed worship. She then bade Semuane not to stray far, for they should talk further. Then she left the room.
Hurriedly we left the Embassy’s guesthouse. I bade Semuane and Remaue no word until I led us to Green-Mother’s Temple and brought us through the doorway, where I believed the soul-wards might shield our thoughts. Then I asked Semuane what Lady Maiali knows, and how. Tearfully she answered she knew not, though she ahardened my inkling that Her Highness is a cunning mind-reader. Thus our best guess is that she thence uplooked something.
Semuane swore she would never shrive nor yield anything that might forethreaten. I read back that, if Lady Maiali has some craftiness in mind, then I must tell my Lady-Mother. Sorrowfully Semuane eyed me, and then bowed. We left with many kisses; Semuane back to her overlady, and Remaue and I to the Citadel, where until now I have watched sleeplessly.