Chapter 21

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

2. Vealae, 24,536 - Son
I know not which is worse: the wait or meeting this steadship. Whichever way I head forebodes ill. This must be what madness feels like.
This morn, I was called to Lady-Mother’s house, along with Lady-Captain. There they had me repeat yesterday’s tale. Afterward, my mother sat back and thought. Then she deemed that she leaves this sake in Lady-Captain’s deemship, who agreed. She gave us leave, whereat we bowed and againcame to the Citadel.
At afternoon, Lady-Captain called all warriors, outriders, and reeves. She outlaid the sake against Oshis - that he had akept fight after being lawfully bidden to stand down, and that he had stricken a lawful marshal who was also his bounden reeve. Lady-Captain asked how he would answer this claim.
Oshis strode forth and knelt. He begged guilt for the sin benamed. Lady-Captain acknowledged his answer. Then she bade he should deem himself bound within the Citadel until he gets doom-word. She gave him leave, whereat he stood, bowed, and went out.
Then Lady-Captain called me. I came forth and stood sharp. She asked whether I had been lead-marshal at the sin Oshis answered for. I answered yes. Lady-Captain then deemed I am relieved of my reeveship until she can afterlook my behavior. Then she bade me leave.
I came to our room and found Remaue sitting abed. Numbly she eyed me. She asked how all things have happened. I could not answer. I sat before and kissed her hands. I cannot easily believe the awfulness feels, having her bridetide wrecked, her manlove bound, and her maidenmate openly shamed. I can only hug her.
Erymi came to us; hands clutching her belly as has become her wont. She asked what will likely happen. I answered unsurely, for much hangs on Lady-Captain’s mood. In worst sake, she could banish Oshis, though my heart foretells unlikely. Still the thought haunts her. She asked whether he may be sent to Valamaeyana and the Formian War (where he has ere fought), which I could not answer.

3. Vealae
Today I ran into my sister Risodess and foreknew something wrong. She assured my command-relief is a mere sham meant as a show before the Citadel. I would be forlet if I offlet the guilt wholly to Oshis. Lady-Captain would not beguilt me and so offthank Lady-Mother, she outlaid, without good sake.
Soon as she left, I found Lady-Captain. I asked whether my sisters had come. She answered they had, and asked back what their deed recked. So I asked what would beneed to find Oshis harmless in this sake. She answered she is unsure anything can, but that whatever doom befalls may hang on my witness.
I stared at her a breathtide, then bowed and left. I have much to think. I cannot say that my sister’s offer foretries me not. Yet I could not live, nor surely with Erymi, if I let Oshis take the guilt. I fully ware my toward livelihood may hang on this weigh-bough.

4. Vealae
Today Lady-Captain sat doom-bench. Before the gathered Citadel host, she asked that, if anyone has word that may sway her doom, they should speak ere she gave it.
Less stood forth. He shrove he was Oshis’s trialmate while the fight. He shrove his feud with Oshis had driven them beyond good thought, and that he forgave Oshis and would have no harm or shame come to his friend. Then Erymi stood forth. She begged ruth for Oshis, forwhy she is bechild and has sore need of her manmate’s uphold. She told he is a good man, and Korasha fighting is no great thing. Lady-Captain thanked her speech but answered that, even when Korasha fight, they must still heed law and furthermore must not wreak harm to others. Thus her word holds no sake for ruth.
Then I stood forth and asked speech. When Lady-Captain gave leave, I asked her the first thing she had taught us of reeveship. She answered that I should better tell her, which got small laughter from the hall. So I told the first thing of reeveship she had taught is that reeves are answerable for their underlings and all their deeds. Therefore, I quoth, I was answerable for all that had happened three days earlier. I was Oshis’s reeve. I was the trial’s marshal, and I had missed right drightship. Therefore, I asked Lady-Captain to forgive Oshis the sin and make guilt wholly mine. Lady-Captain eyed me reckoningly. She thanked my witness and said she would reckon it as share of her doom-word. Then for my share she deemed me right, and for guilt I shall be shorn of my reeveship for a half-year and should serve as a mere spear-rider. I shall at tomorrow’s dawn stand for new bid, and then was left free.
Then she bade Oshis, who stood half-dreadfully, half-hopefully. She deemed he should undergo a half-year’s thrall-bond, for even my guilt forgives not his sin; then his doom afterward should be reckoned at the yeartide. I watched his shoulders sag, both from relief and shame, while Erymi wept.
Stunnedly I stood at the hall’s side while trying to understand my own thought. I felt grief like a botttomless hole. I had not realized my reeveship’s pride, and of all I had outdone while yesteryear. That rank is no longer mine.
Then came Erymi. She knelt and kissed my hand. When she looked up, I cannot bewrite her thankfulness. She prayed me worship and quoth I had saved Oshis, and henceforth I hold her boundless dearth. Then I raised my eyes and beheld the hall. Warriors came by. They bowed and beckoned me worship. Had my deed found some goodwill that I had yielded myself for my underling’s sake?
Remaue led to our room, where I lay head on her lap for a long while.