A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 17

~O'mei Vaeol mi Taiase shole thalmara nezhisyara o di homae.~ (In which Vaeol and Taiase find the kind the of interest they do not care for)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

5. Vealae, 24,546 - 2nd Month in Qabarat
I write this log late, almost Midwatch, since we have right come home, wherein Mistress Shotheiae stayed awatch for us, from a doleful mirthtide, and which became more. Taiase, Istae, Semuane, and I got a welcome-bode from the Veialyshu - Qabarat’s great Hall of Soul-Seers. We understood the loremistresses whomwith we would meet were more than mere soul-seers, but also mistresses of the Secrets. Taiase had been inread long ago while queen. Yet Istae, Semuane, and I were still but new, after our fare to the Moqeva Barrow. For the most share, we had owed to not speak of things forbidden, although tonight we learned this was one of the few steads where the gag loosened.
The gatherhood showed no few loremistresses, soul-seers, a few matrons, and also the ~Nevolaza~ - inquistors, those reeves installed by their city to find anyone who wrongfully works Secret Lore. Their tally forecaught that they should be so many, which made me ask whether there are so many sins beneeding their heed. Nevertheless, there was no end of inthrifty folk to meet, first whomof was Master Aeos, a young soul-seer, but who bespoke himself as an elder loreling of Master Desh. When I asked his reckfulness in starlore, he answered he is a fellow of the Gatekeepers’ Guild, those installed to heed and mend Qabarat’s elfgates. Furthermore, he knew Semuane, since together they had fared to Lost Hoshiasa to learn the worldgate.
Our speech with Master Aeos led to broader talk with the lorewardens, wherein behappened news of a lost elfburgh newly found, named Loskialua, of all steads, on Forbidden Ukulam. Seemingly, it has had link with Sovyrian ever since its settleship, and who lately had outcome to broader knowledge, since - and this utterly forestalled me - they had lately gotten a worldfare from Qolaryon.
At once I thought of Brand. Had he found another way here? If so, had he tried to bode word?
This tale’s all other whits are mere whisper-tale and wonder. Yet the lorewardens are trustful a troop of fetch-seekers had within the last year taken a worldgate from somewhere on Blue-Queen and had outcome at a like gate near Loskialua. The unhappy outcome of this news is that more questions have grown than answers. While Sovyrian still holds meanhood with Kyonin, none had seemingly ever bethought such worldfare might be canny without the great Kyonin Gate standing in El and could be done with any lesser gate elsewhere, which raised questions of the four elfgates built here in Qabarat (and the fifth, which leads to Red-Queen), foreguessably straightly linked to their ereknown goalsteads - El, Candares, Far Jabask, and Ofu-Laubu. To hear Master Aeos tell - ~Elaura vishyaelda ti sae lomi,~ - “The Elves bequeathed us without all words,” meaning that, although they had taught our gatekeepers the root lore to heed and uphold the gates, some secrets they might have kept, which next brought: ~Stya hishya vi tiyada?~ - “What else have they kept from us?”
The lorewardens' talk shocked me, since the Qabarata so often seem beloved of all things Elven, and I had never dreamed them doubting their eldest alliance with Sovyrian. I shortly thought then seemed forehapful to ask whether anyone had heard of the Elves meeting Formians. Yet an inkling warned me to withhold, which was maybe lucky, dolefully forwhy I dreaded such a question would emblaze their outshamed reckfulness even more, and also since I next beheld Master Mearthil gathered with the throng. Forsoothly, he was not the only elf-seer here, which swiftly stilled further talk of elfgates’ secrets. Yet I bethought the timeliness to speak with this worthy but riddlesome elf-seer, who under some reason had shown me goodwill after my ban from El.
Away to greet Master Mearthil, I met another inthrifty fellow Master Eiasohas, who is not only a soul-seer but also a historian. He eagerly told of his forespoken fare: he has beseeched to go southward to Cursed Ylisaeua, forwhy he has a new thought to outseek that elder wreckstead and unwhelm the truth of what happened to that lost elder folk. He merely awaited, told he, leave from the High Staff of Valmaeana, whereafter he will gather his sith. Although I had heard of Ylisaeua and its riddle, I wondered wordlessly why he thought he should get leave, since even ere the Sage-Queens it has been deemed ~tiqezha~ - forcursed.
Master Mearthil was talking with two lorewardens when I reached him: a Damaya and a Korasha. He begreeted me to Lady Thauless and Master Milos, whom he named inquisitors. Since I had erenever met anyone from that lorehood, I yielded watchful worship. They greeted me back, and straightway asked whether I am Queen Taiase’s friend. On my answer, they beseeched to meet her with a startleness the elf-seer doubtlessly found uncouth.
I found not the hap to speak with Master Mearthil as I had hoped while I led them to Taiase. At greeting, Lady Thauless beseeched to talk sunderly and put forth we withdraw to the elfyard. We followed from the hall, until so nice an eaveroof overlooking a milk-tree and lilly pool as I could dream.
There Lady Thauless straightened before us. She then outquoth this was the most wonderful happendom. When we asked why, she answered that, to her best knowledge, we were the only two Lashunta alive who had met Moqeva.
At once Taiase stiffened, as did I (and maybe Master Mearthil). My elder friend answered this is a most sorrowful yestermind, and which she harkens neither happily nor willingly. When the Lady Thauless said she had questions, Taiase read the Lady-Inquisitor should get wordwrit of the witness Taiase had given to Son’s lorewardens. Lady Thauless answered she had already done so, but that the written witness left things unanswered.
Fighting bother, Taiase said she stood by her given witness and had nothing more to say. Yet Lady Thauless hinted they might bring Taiase under inquiry to have answer enough. Then Taiase snapped: ~Ve nevoldave o’imathi-Sonni, o’hiathi-Retae. O’illi-dei nevolya-nazive o’zaeathi!~ - “I was examined once by Son, and again by the Retaea. I will not be examined a third time!”
Lady Thauless halted, seemingly reckoning how further she could heave Taiase. Then she shifted to me. ~Rondis Moqevara vaeassara,~ - “You let a Moqeva live,” she said, reminding my fetch-trial in Candares, the Qu-snake I had slain in the hollow, and the elder, crippled wight. ~Stireori?~ - “Why?”
I answered I had not gone into the hollow to slay a Moqeva, but to save the folk under my watch. ~Aslanta,~ she swiftly understood, but then switched back and asked how under good mind I could not reckon the Moqeva’s death. Ere I could answer, she asked how I could keep such fellowship with Taiase while knowing the evil she had undergone under their scaly hands.I waited to assure her question-stream ended. Then I told that I nowise belessened Taiase’s ills, nor do I ward the sins done to her. However, her deedfulness had nothing to do with my deed in Candares. As to that lone Moqeva’s doom, I outlaid I alone had not known of its life nor alone had chosen to let it live, and added: ~O’hieshi ruqeami muzya mazhaerru Kandareserru,~ - “Bode your question instead to the matrons of Candares.”
The Lady-Inquisitor said that Candares would not hear her ask. I answered I wondered not. She then sighed that this talk was downheartening, as if goodwill’s loss threatened. I dimly begged sorrow we had no better answer.
Then Lady Thauless left, hinting hope (mayhap dreadful) that we may talk again under better happendom. Master Milos her fellow stayed. My first thought of him had been a graspy Korasha upholding his lady’s uncouth asks, the kind who brook whatever little doomreach bestowed to puff up so great as they can. Yet now, looking again, I deemed him older, and maybe owning a deeper mood. He bowed and begged sorrow for his fellow’s offthank and added that, although he fully understood the outstanding hap we offered, he had not forethought she would speak so feudsomely. He should talk with his betters and warn of this awkwardness. We thanked his sorrow and forespoke that, if he or the Lady-Inquisitor would ask anything else, they might kindly beseech Her Highness Lady Nauve at the Embassy. Rather shamefully he chuckled and understood, and then withdrew.
I got no further hap to speak with Master Mearthil, since he had already left, which had me wondering manifoldly, and unmerely of our earlier business. He had bidden me wait, though I am unsure I can. Meanwhile, Taiase, I, and Istae have afterward talked wiseful to what game the inquisitors may be playing. Are they so understriven as Master Milos hinted? Wiselessly, we are better off letting Lady Nauve handle the thing.

8. Vealae, 24,5436 - 2nd Month in Qabarat
Today I went to see Master Mearthil at the little shop in the Elf-Farthing, as he had bespoken at our first meeting, eleven years ago. I came into a foreroom whose walls seemed more tree than building, bare but for cupboards aside and a board amidst, but no wares seen, which would make one wonder what truly sells here. Its rear opened to a hueful idleyard. Thence soon came Master Mearthil, who greeted me in Lashunta as I greeted him in Elvish.
The dimmest smirk lit the elf-seer's cheeks. ~O’stimi-yi di horusolise,~ - “Unforbearing as ever,” he said wryly. I bowed wordlessly, since I could not gainsay.
Master Mearthil welcomingly led me arear, where we stood and beheld the rain falling upon the idleyard, and in what soon became a trial of my knowledge of Elven couthness. Bywardly he left me to keep watch on the rain and suckle my son, wherein I took freedom to sit. When he came back, he yielded a subtle blossomtea, which I heedfully smelled, more thrilled by the nose than the tongue. For his share, the elf-seer seemed happy to watch me play with my babe while he likewise sniffed his teacup.
At last he opened: ~O’ezimi ivustise,~ - “You have much shifted,” which is likely the meanest thing an Elf may say to a Lashunta. Yet I nodded, reckoning it could not be truer, and little to do with my face’s scar or my babe. I was not now the same maiden he had met astreet unfar from here, stumbling oversottenly back to the Embassy after a wild mirthtide. I even hardly believed myself the same outrider who had beseeched him to come into the Stormshields to forstall the feud between Elves and the Stormshield Clans. An inkling came he had followed my livelihood and deeds. Yet I withheld these thoughts.
Instead, I asked how had outcome his other seechfare to the Dale of Amaea, to the Moqeva Barrow we had together found on the shoulder of Ta-Anassu, and whose fullest depth we could not reach. Master Mearthil tightened and told he had indeed gone back to the dale with a small fellowship and had again met Tolamad and his elfclan dwelling there. Yet things had not gone well, he shrove, and dolefully once they set foot on the mountain. A set of bothers, unhappy misdeeds, and misluck had followed their strides, from a faremate falling on a toppled ledge and breaking a leg, to moonflowers straying through campstead, and even their foodstocks rotting. At last, after the grim shoreward Floodtide trended, they had forsaken the stead. ~Nelonda yio thali hoillazyeli,~ - “It was almost as if doom willed against us,” he bespoke. Then, of all misluck, one fellow had given offthank and started a feud with Tolamad’s folk. Ere strife grew, they had come back to Qabarat.
I asked if he would retake the fetch. So was his plan, answered Master Mearthil, and thus his fellowship with the inquisitors, to gain their backing. ~Heri-ti o’hishiri-ziari zivellaya dokolamere lorealantere,~ he acknowledged, hinting yesternight: “The balk there, however, is that they would rather afterhunt nameworthy outlanders.”
I chuckled against myself. I asked how he would rede about the two inquisitors we had yesternight met. He answered he knew Master Milos and beheld no strong thought against, since he seemed openminded. Yet he knew little of Lady Thauless, else than she as the younger had newly cloven the Inquisition. Yet as a Damaya, she had already risen over Master Milos, who stood benamed as her underling, foremostly to rede and teach. How willingly she heard his wisdom, however, Master Mearthil hinted with a most Elflike shrug.
I asked whether the Inquisition might forelook bothersome. The elf-seer looked back, by which beck I read that he could not answer…or would not. Ashamed at my forwardness, I bowed.
Ere I blundered more, I beseeched him to bode my goodwill to High Lord Amendaris in El, that I ever strive to be worthy of his High Lordship’s good thought and ruth, and that I wish health to all his noble house. At my word, Master Mearthil shared news of Lady Aleriel, His High Lordship’s granddaughter, and who had gotten me banned from El. He told Aleriel has taken a stalldom in the Sova. As such, and maybe beheaving our earlier deed mishandling her to help the Aslanta, she had taken a peacebodeship to Kyonin. From all word so far, she has rather become a champion of goodwill between those shed-world Elvendoms.
I shrive myself forecaught, although not unglad, at Lady Aleriel’s doom. Ere then, I had deemed her slight worth, a winsome noblemaiden who had misplayed other hearts (which had given us the wise to misplay her). If her wisdom had grown, should I begrudge it? So I told Master Mearthil that, although Lady Aleriel doubtlessly beheld me as a foe, if she had found a worthy calling, then I would gladly strive to follow her example. If she would not forgive me, at least I might become a worthier foe.
From Master Mearthil’s slim smile, I witted a deeper mirth. He beread I have surely gotten warning of elf-feuds and how far they may run. I acknowledged that, if feud indeed stands between me and the elflady, then the guilt is wholly mine.
He stood, by which hint I hoisted Aeosel ashoulder and readied. The elf-seer came near, bowed neck lissomely, and laid hand on my son’s brow. He quoth that eyesomely I have weightier things to mind than a feud with a haughty elflady (his word, not mine!), but that, if I had a yearhundred or two to spare, he would love to witness the subtle wises we might wrack each other. I laughed, answered his bow, and said he is as wise as thoroughseeing. Then he led me to the doorway and watched while I followed the Elf-Farthing’s streets back toward home.

Recap: Lady Vaeol's flag have been adjusting to the big-city lifestyle of Qabarat.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Nevolaza (comm): inquisitor; examiner; detective
• Elaura (comm): Elf; Elves
• Vishyaelda (comm): bestows to me/us.
• Ti sae lomi: without all/every word.
• Stya hishya (spir acc): what else
• Vi (spir): 1st person adverb
• Tiyada (comm): keep off/away
• Tiqezha (comm): cursed; anathema
• Ve (fem): I/we. 1st-person feminine pronoun
• Nevoldave (1st perf fem intrans): I was inseeched/examined
• O’imathi-Sonni (adv): once/one-time by Son
• O’hiathi-Retae (adv): two times/second time by the Retaea
• O’illi-dei (aux adv): will not
• Nevolvya-nazive (1st cond femin intrans): may/would get examined
• O’zaeathi (adv): three times/third time
• Rondis (2nd perf trans): you let
• Moqevara (comm acc): Moqeva; snakefolk; fiend
• Vaeassara (comm acc particip): living; that lives
• Stireori (spir): why; what reason
• Aslanta (comm): Human; Azlanti
• O’hieshi (adverb): instead
• Ruqeami (imper): bode; take word
• Muzya (spir acc): question; ask
• Mazhaerru Kandareserru (fem alla/dative): matron(s) of Candares
• O’stimi-yi (adv): as ever/always
• Di horusolise (2nd fem intrans): you do not forbear
• O’ezimi (adv): much
• Ivustise (2nd perf fem intrans): you have shifted/changed
• Nelonda (3rd comm perf): it was almost
• Yio thali hoillazyeli (3rd spir pef depend): as/since doom/fate willed against
• Heri-ti (spir 4th-ultra-distal): that balk/bother
• O’hishiri-ziari (adv): yet rather
• Zivellaya (3rd comm cond): afterhunt; pursue
• Dokolamere lorealantere (fem acc): nameworthy outlander(s)