Chapter 3

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

14. Ashelae 24,535 - 3rd day Upflood on the Yaro; Eiha
For the last two days, the Stormitide rain has fallen unendingly, which has turned Father-Yaro from sleepy riversnake to wrathful. The river’s wontfully peaceful breadth now runs whitely rushlike. We have put in at Eiha, one of Qabarat’s under-towns. The boatmaster has read that, until the flood lessens, we forelook no headway, which leaves us stuck here for days if not weeks.
So I did something odd. I gathered the sith, all the warriors, grooms, and underreeves. I gave them the choice: we may stay here at Eiha until the flatbark can head onward, or we can go landward through the rainwood. I was rather glad when the choice answered almost wholly for the landward path. I reckon it will be our last forthness together.
Next, I did two things. A letter I wrote to Lady Nauve in Qabarat, and gave it to the next boat downflood, for I reckon it will reach there long ere we reach Son. Her Highness can then send seer-word to Son and let them know our fare-shift. I also found and hired a lead, a huntswife from Hanazhyana who knows this rainwood. She can lead us overland and shun plight. So it is chosen. Tomorrow we go.

15. Ashelae - 4th day afare, the Yaro’s Eastern Bank
Rough dayfare wherein we made less furtherness than we forewished. Aiane our lead, though she knows this rainwood, has not found a good path. With Father-Yaro overflooding, we cannot follow the river-road. Instead, we have taken the treepaths inland. Though the Shotalashu can climb, we are so heavily laden that it has become uneasy. Also, though Shota-claws hold boughs well, they are not so broad that Tae’s archers can so easily stride them. I shaped a float-disk to help over the thinner stretches. Where we must, we doubled riders, though which bore its own plight, and even bridged ropes over limb-gaps.
I am thankful we overcame what we did, but on rede with my underreeves, agree we cannot so keep onward. After heedful talk, tomorrow we shall climb down to the Darkfloor, which threat we have earlier met.
I dread the lag, but must beware, for I would not lose any when, after all we have undergone, we are so near to home.