A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 22
~O'mei Vaeol-Ile mile Qabaratra kehaeunassara shi henmaduratha Verazi-Seia.~ (In which Lady Vaeol watches Qabarat struggle under the Breath-Thief’s qualmlock.)
From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son
14. Soelae, 24,546 - Qabarat; 15th Day of Qualmlock
At last today Mistress Zuaeul the midwife-priest came and overlooked me and Aeosel. She let him stay in my arms and found mindshare with us both while she asked whits, ingathering my ~komori~ three years ago, my soulseerhood, the Breath-Thief’s deed, and how long I had lain mindless. At the end, while still in mindshare, she took him and strolled about the room, and for the first time without him wailing. I was gladly forecaught, though feared to break the stillness. Then she bore him back and foretold he will grow well. Although seldom, she has met other babes who reach ~Evanzeli~ - mind-shedness - so young, and kinderly under samely happendom when the mother sickens or dies. Since he starts his toddling-year, she beread his fear will dim as he becomes bolder. Although his worry has not yet weakened, mine has somewhat. Hopefully I can forbear us both.
In else word, with Kaure’s help I limped the fifty strides to the neighborhood stallbarn and found Ess, whom I had forgone too long. He shivered thrill at my mind’s touch, although then felt such wrath that I could merely bethink him chiding my forsakenness. Yet soon as he witted my weakness, he stilled and meekly let me lean on his mighty scaly flank. To get me home, Kaure lifted me upon him bareback, whereat he listfully bore me to the foregate. Then I offtoppled into Kaure’s stalwart arms. What we would do without her and the other Korasha - grooming the steeds, watching our health - I know not.
15. Soelae, 24,546 - Qabarat; 16th Day of Qualmlock
New treeword has boded from beyond the farthing: Her Highness Lady Nauve has died. She had been Son’s ambassador since my newlinghood and first peacebode to Sovyrian. We went to the the midyard’s hometree shrine (Taiase had Hanos bear her), knelt, and sang a hymn to the World-Soul. Son our small, old city is one life less, and who served worthily and bestowed wisdom even when she chided some of my bolder deeds.
More grimly, a whisper swept the neighborhood that the Streetwatch will now bear bows, and have gotten bid to shoot asight anyone breaking qualmlock. Quoth the whisper, thieves are stealing beyond the farthings as food and other stocks dwindle and fees grow dear. Yet this comes after folk already rankle under the qualmlock’s bond. Already they grow hopeless, since no food comes into the city.
A crowd gathered under the neighbortree (which we did not cleave), whence we overheard many yells and feared strife until the Streetwatch came. Although some folk dared them, the watchwardens kept an even mood and latterly bewon all to go home. Also, we saw no bows.
17. Soelae, 24,546 - Qabarat; 18th Day of Qualmlock
True to forebode, today the cook outspoke the household has nothing but riceberries left to eat, in which stead we behold ourselves luckier than others. Word has reached that snakes are selling for a whole moonbit (they are free in Floodtide), and other are even catching and selling rats. Mistress Shotheiae has forbidden ratmeat, although I shrive a bit of snakeflesh now foretastes not so bad.
Yet the word has sparked further talk about hunger growing. Until now, the city has not opened the cornstocks, which deed has started fierce strife about when they may open. Mistress Nimaue warned neighborfolk are already starving and has bidden a tithe brought to the neighbortree. She also reminded that all their children but Noael are stuck elsewhere - Nivae aship and ought to come home (quoth treeword, she is stuck aharbor), Semuane afetch to Hoshiasa, Theleas at his wifemate’s in Ship’s End, and Rell at the barracks - and no word of their welfare nor when they may come home. All we can do is pray.
Zielae Treesong Eve, 24,546 - Qabarat; 19th Day of Qualmlock
A crowd under ugly mood again gathered under the neighbortree, forcalling the qualmlock. Since today is kinderly a market day, but no sale, it left many shiftless cityfolk wantsome, hungry, hopeless, and little deed else than to make wickedness. After less than a belltide, the Streetwatch came. This time blows flew, wounds traded, and no few bound to the lockhouse. The neighborfolk at last fled to their houses while weaponed watchwardens (withtheld to wands and staves until fights started, whereafter axes came forth) scouted. We have barred the housegates and set watch at the windows.
Zielae Treesong, 24,546, - Qabarat; 20th Day of Qualmlock
Good news: this morntide, word-yellers told the Matronhood has deemed to half-lift the qualmlock. The cornstocks have opened, which the fird shall dole through the city under stern dight to share through the farthing-gates, so to shun threat of the qualm’s spread. When the Streetwatch inbore the corn, the erstwhile feud with the neighborfolk had faded like yesternight’s mist. Under the cheers one might bethink them the mightiest heroes come from the wardgates. Thus we have riceberries, catcorn, a little oil, the first shares whereof set to simmer under the neighbortree for an open songmeal.
Also, ships outstanding in the harbor may now dock: a boon to crews likewise hungry, waterless, or knotted too long asea. Furthermore, starting tomorrow, matrons will hear among all the city’s farthings, and whomto cityfolk may show themselves, swear they have gone a month’s days feverless, and for good sake may beseech a thoroughfare-writ starting on the Sixth, whereby traders and hawkers may also get leave to stand market.
I outwilled to clothe in breastdish and my best bodyshroud and leaned on Kaure to follow Mistress Shotheiae and Nimaue (likewise upheld), and with Aeosel bothersome in my arms, to watch an earnest Treesong. I could not dance (and Kaure would not let me). Yet I deemed right to show our flag’s thanks for the city’s giftfulness. I sang the hymns and clove the neighborhood’s mindshare. When the treesinger brought the cup, I meekly drank the treemilk, unfastened my breastdish, and squeezed my drops. She blessed my tithe, and then shared with Kaure and the next.
Afterward, Kaure fetched riceberry bowls while I sat on a stone and wordlessly rued my stead. I have never deemed myself haughty. Yet this deedtide has left me meeker than ever I remind. Yet the seawind blew fresh, maybe scattering the qualm’s outstanding rot. It lets me hope things may better, even if I do not. After meal, Kaure helped me back home, where I had a right deep slumber ere I wrote this log.
2. Zielae, 24,546 - Qabarat; 21st Day of Qualmlock
Today Rell Semuane’s youngest brother came home, by worthiness as a fird-warrior bidden to the Streetwatch, and to much love from his mothers and kindred. He brought more good news: Nivae their eldest, whose ship had lain stuck, was yesterday let to dock, although all newcomers aharbor must wait eighteen days ere they beseech thoroughfare. Yet Rell had also found hap to see their brother Theleas in Ship’s End. Their household has likewise outlived the qualm, though his wifemate has lost kindred. His news leaves only Semuane untold. Yet we do not forelook her homecome from Hoshiasa until next month. So we have prayed to the World-Soul for those fallen, and then sang thanks that our beloved oustand safe.
Last word from Rell: the matrons at their hearth-benches were almost trampled by overearnest beseechers until the Streetwatch came to their help. There will be a fird-call to strengthen the Streetwatch and keep order. This city so thirsts for trade that almost hints madness.
Lashunta Words & Phrases:
- O'mei: in which; here
- Ile (fem): lady
- Mile (3rd-fem): she watches / they watch
- Kehaeunassara (3rd-comm particple): struggling
- Shi: under
- Henmaduratha (comm): qualmlock; quarantine
- Verazi-Seia (comm possessive): ~Verazi-Sei~ - Breath-Thief
- Komori (spir): mental affliction caused by psychic mindshare
- Evanzeli (spir): mind-shedness; childhood development of personality as separate from the mother's
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