A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 4

In which Lady Vaeol contemplates Ofu-Laubu’s military superiority.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

2. Evelae, 24,545 - 8th Day in Ofu-Laubu
I reckon no shock that today Her Highness Lady Sel, High Mistress of Wont and Couthness (which steadship we have gleaned holds much beswayness in the Palace), came down to the Lowburgh, to our house, and bequeathed us a moottide. Lady Nauve our ambassador called our whole household to the midyard, where we witted all other rooms empty, and all the grooms out. Rather warily we forsoothed ourselves alone with the mighty reeve of Ofu-Laubu’s queen. Furthermore, by the tightness of Lady Nauve’s antennae, although she might not yet know of our stealthfare yesterday, nor whom we had met, she already guessed something.
True to her stallname, Her Highness Lady Sel greeted us right couthly. She told she came to overtalk sundry dapper things whereon we must deal in unstraight wise. Then she looked meaningfully to me, Semuane, Remaue, and Kaure, and said that, samely as Taiase was already secret-sworn, so too we must, and by outreach our whole household, since little likelihood our housemates would not learn it.
Vosaeth, ever bothered, outbade what secret. Lady Sel lissomely alet the slight and answered: ~O’romi realm honyaea diya-ivodya Ofu-Laubuia,~ - “Let us name it the worst warded secret in Ofu-Laubu.” She then outlaid that, under Lauba law and wont, sundry noble folk, under their inborn hallowness, may not rightly mingle with mean folk. Thus they foster a false-self, which lets them seek business among the city, and free of the bonds their hallowness sets. Some may even follow sport, craft, or even livelihood they elsewise could not, ~o’eassi ralysa li tholeaemnaza, olieshi lashaula,~ - “be it a soul-seer, faircrafter, or even a skyrider.”
While Her Highness spoke, I overlooked our housemates following the High Mistress’s forewillfully unstraight outlay without naming. Many squinted shrewdly as if an inkling overtook, but they dared not inlet. Misluckily, Vosaeth’s bother only strengthened, as I could read her shoulders’ set. Ere she outspoke rashness, I inbroke: ~Tha realya saqeia!~ - “They take a joke name!”
My wantsome oathsister, bless her soul, halted, a word stuck on her tongue. Instead, her lips shut, her head hunched, and she glanced shamefully. Istae and Semuane squeezed her hands. Then Less laughed. He began to speak, asking what would doubtlessly become an awkward misword, until Tae slapped his nape. Yet this outcome loosened us all.
Lady Sel nodded forgivingly and warned that she will not tell whether our guess is right. However, she would forename someone to us, whom we already know. Since we had done a kindliness to Lady Marauqereth when we let her sit with us in Lea’s Gameyard, she has reminded us dearly. Her Highness outshrove the lady-captain is young, and mayhap rash thence stemming, though that is a knack all too mean in skyriders, and that she has begun to learn wisdom from her misdeeds. Her Highness outquoth the lady-captain would yield us fair friendship if we but stay worshipful of the bonds she must undergo.
At Her Highness’s halt, I, like her, again read the manifold shifts in my housemate's moods. Remaue hid a grin while Kaure stayed shy. Vosaeth’s scowl twisted to a grin while Less’s chuckle whispered, and Semuane and Istae, like Taiase’s wise, stayed hallcraftily still, a behavior kept by most else. Oshis, ever stubborn, scowled as if witting something mislikeful, though Erymi wound her arm with his and bade their daughter climb onto his broad shoulder. I looked back to Lady Sel. ~Homaea yoruaeldaf Evimeirru. Mei di hishya hoeaea-ruaelf,~ I answered: “We have yielded the lady-captain friendship. We will not choose elsewise now.”
Lady Sel atook my answer with a lissome nod. She added she boded word from Lady-Captain Marauqereth, repeating her welcome-bid to Semuane, Remaue, Kaure, and me, and outreaching to Vosaeth too, to come tomorrow afternoon to the aerie-barn, this time with the city’s good leave, where she will fulfill her word. We answered we will listen and thankfully meet the lady-captain at the forespoken belltide. Then Her Highness the High Mistress withdrew under our worshipful bows, wishing us a blessed day.
Meanwhile, Her Highness Lady Nauve had swyly witnessed the whole speech-trade. After the High Mistress’s leave, she neared and laid hand on my breast. ~O’zhaomani di hiteoes osra Qabaratra omue,~ she warned: “Do not forelook to repeat your deeds from Qabarat here.” Then she added the nickname I had earned from Lady Ivassil Qabarat’s High Matron: ~a Ruzhyahaze,~ - Worry-Maker. With a nod she left.

3. Evelae, 24,545 - 9th Day in Ofu-Laubu
True to our forespeech, today after noonmeal a groom led us five - Vosaeth (bearing Sonnauf), Semuane, Remaue (again leading Lanaryel), Kaure, and me (with Aeosel) to the winchlift and the Highburgh. Then we repeated ereyesterday’s path and came to the aerie-barn. There we found Lady-Captain Marauqereth waiting, already wrestling a saddle onto her Thakasa-steed’s shoulders with two barn grooms (a strap-rig more manifold than a Shotalashu’s saddle, owing to the wings). She greeted us fairly, whomto we answered bows, mayhap slightly lower than last time.
~Ste vire hozse?~ - “Who will fly first?” asked the lady-captain. We none answered swiftly. At length, our eyes gathered on Semuane, who shruggingly yaysaid. After the grooms had fastened the saddlestraps, Lady Marauqereth upsteeded and bade Semuane climb behind. So our heavenly maidenlove sat arear the young captain, where the grooms strapped a belt to her waist, and, for lack of any saddle-handle within easy reach, clasped the captain’s breast. So ready, we cleared a path toward the barn’s open side.
At a wordless beck from our host, the Thakasa sprinted forth, flapped wings, and leapt into the gap. Against better thought, my heart shuddered when they dropped out of sight, afollowing Semuane’s frightened yell, which we four repeated while we shielded our mouths and will-lessly rushed to the ledge.
The Thakasa, wings beating strongly, lifted back into sight with Semuane clutching tightly to the lady-captain. They swiftly furthered, and with the wings’ tilt swerved away. Almost sobbingly we watchers laughed.
A groom led us to a steeple by the aerie-barn, whence we watched them ring high the whole Ofu with easy speed, the riders mere specks upon the Thakasa’s wings. They came back and swooped low within a half-bowshot of the steeple, whereat Semuane found boldness to loosen a hand from the captain, wave, and yell us wordless thrill. Then again they offsped, leaving us awfully wondering on flight’s mightiness.
After another flight-loop we met them when they landed in the aerie-barn. The grooms helped Semuane unsaddle, forwhy her legs had fitted from holding too tightly. Tears had dried on her blue cheeks, and still she shuddered while she babbled and fell into our arms. At her antennae’s nearness her thrill, fright, and mingled awe dazed us like a twofold swallow of meadbrandy. Kaure and Vosaeth upheld her between and set her on a step, where our heavenly maidenlove stared within open mouth. She shivered while we let her settle. Then she laughed and wept. ~Diahi belinve,~ she whispered: “I cannot bespeak it.”
Lady Marauqereth gave us a longer breathtide. ~Ste soare vusse?~ - “Who will go next?” she asked. Boldly Remaue stepped forth with Lanaryel in hand, until the lady-captain warned the Thakasa could not bear them both. Thus Remaue made a hard choice whether to send her daughter or go herself. At last, under safety’s sureness foremost, she deemed to go first. Thus she upsteeded arear the captain and leapt aloft atop the skysteed’s saddle, worried laughter squealing. With Lanaryel riding on Kaure’s stout shoulder, we hurried back to the watchsteeple, where our daughter beheld her mother as a mote against the sky. When they swooped near, Remaue waved; silver grin splitting her face, while Lanaryel screamed glee and I feared would fall from the topdeck if Kaure had not held her. The girl raced us back to the aerie-barn, where she leapt giddily while the Thakasa landed.
Once aground, Remaue almost toppled from the saddle, though the grooms caught and brought her to us. She could not halt chuckling while Lady Marauqereth next put forth she would uptake our daughter. When I leaned near my wifemate, her antennae wrapped mine strongly: a whit unlost on our lovers.
For Lanaryel’s skyride, Lady Marauqereth set the child before her to grip the saddle handle, and safe within the captain’s arms. So unburdened under a child’s weight, the Thakasa sprang aloft and swiftly climbed while we hastened back to our watchstead. When they swooped near after ringing the city, Remaue waved tearfully while her daughter’s laughter floated on the wind. Then while we watched, the Thakasa began ringing over the watchsteeple, and by our reckonship, lifted high. At a height almost misty against the sky, its wing tucked, and seemingly overwallowed. Anon it dove, and we could not even reckon its swiftness. It neared uncannily while Remaue quailed. Then its dive shoaled about a bowshot from the steeple, and it sped almost without hap to behave or yell, else than Lanaryel’s face in an awesome grin. By my side, Remaue shudderingly afteryelled, her wontsome naughtiness overwhelmed by dread for our daughter’s welfare, which lessened not when the lady-skyrider’s Thakasa climbed again and repeated the unbelievably swift dive, though the girl’s only behavior was blithe laughter. 
When the Thakasa swooped to land, we hastened to the aerie-barn, where Lanaryel, against her mother’s heed, could not withhold dancing over the barn floor. The girl’s giddiness throbbing from her antennae proved besmittening until we all, ingathering Remaue and Kaure, who forgot fear, giggled with her. I almost thought we might bewin Kaure to fly, though shyly her head shook, and she hugged our daughter to her mighty bosom. 
Then Lady Marauqereth beseeched Vosaeth. Haltingly my oathsister neared the steed. She set hand on the saddle, but stilled. She laid brow on the leather while the Thakasa twisted neck backward heedfully. Even against the captain’s kindly goad and our cheer, she stirred not. Then a great breath wracked her shoulders. ~Diahi,~ she shrove: “I cannot.” She withdrew, took her son from Remaue, and wept. She and Kaure hugged, sharing shame while I witted wrath growing at her own fear. My heart reached for hers, forwhy I understand Vosaeth, ingathering her mighty moods, is often her harshest deemer.
Lady Marauqereth’s head swerved to me. ~Dei hozse?~ she asked: “Will you fly?”
I shared enough of Remaue’s dread that I could not take Aeosel, even if Her Ladyship alet us both, and handed him to Kaure. Yet then I upsteeded with sure swiftness arear, let the grooms latch the belt to my waist, and wrapped my arms over the young captain’s shoulders. The Thakasa’s stride bounced oddly while its wings flapped. Then we hurtled toward the gap beyond the floor’s step, and I frightfully held breath. 
Wonderfully we floated, still but for the wind rushing our faces and the wings’ thrusts slow and mighty. I dared breathe, though could not loosen hands on the lady-captain’s breast. We lifted on the Thakasa’s leaping wings and slowly ringed back toward the city. 
Underneath lay the Highburgh, and even the whole Ofu’s topland, streets fulsomely rowlike, folk stirring like antlings. I tried speech but had the wind tear my words arear and so had to yell, and bemarked how maplike the city looked from this height. Her Ladyship’s head swerved and yaysaid: ~Thaf saoafura ollodura,~ - “We have the best maps,” which crazily bethought a team of mapmakers flying overland, though how they could draw true while stuck on a saddle I know not.
Lady Marauqereth drove the Thakasa higher while we ringed the city, until even the outlying hills and peaks looked toylike, and the landedge stretched mistily. The sight dazed my mind, lost dreamily somewhile until I asked the lady-captain whether she had ever flown over the skymist to behold sheer heaven. She yaysaid but warned we should clothe more warmly ere we reckon such a deed, since the upper loft blows chillier. I answered I had learned at the Hall of Stars and understood well.
Unanswered in our talk, however, was the wordless offer that we may repeat this flight.
Of her own will, Lady Marauqereth said: ~O’thini alatherya sholaf qoanassya homaeara,~ - “Seldom do I find hap to make friends.” I heeded ere answer, which I spoke as doubtlessly Her Ladyship lacks not love and faith. She yaysaid, but beread it is not the same. She shared that, against the woes she and her warriors had undergone while under warfare in Valamaeana, the dearest thing she had taken from that time was even behavior, as no more than a warrior’s and reeve’s worth. ~Kae-ti yazodi~ - “That feeling I miss most.”
Reckfully I answered that, if truth she wished, our house would so yield. I let that word alone, though I knew not whether it would gladden her. I caught no strifesome hint, and we settled back to easy swyness.
Throughout this flight-tide we had upkept speech without mindshare, which I guess forewillful, and right so well, since we both had sworn secrets. Yet while we tilted to swerve back toward the city and my arm tightened over her, I bedreamed the thought of touching a queen’s bosom. Whether she witted my heart I know not, though right soon she dizzily overwinged our steed into a dive, and as my heart thundered and my belly dropped, I must clutch her breast with all my strength.
We sped by the watchsteeple, where the others cheered our dive and Kaure raised high our son to behold his mother laughing witlessly. Then we swooped to the aerie-barn, where I shrive the hard ground rushing forth between the barn’s walls (the room anon looking right small!) frightened me more than the flight! Yet the Thakasa hovered on its mighty wings, wind wafting oddly as if a storm ended, hinting a weird liss right as its claws softly landed. I stilled a breathtide, too shaken to stir, ere Lady Marauqereth asked my wellness and while my loves ran into the fold. I first too proudly gainsaid a groom’s offer to unsteed, and then elsethought when my knees buckled. Remaue caught me while I staggered, whomwith I twined a kiss so fierce as hers after her flight. 
I took Aeosel, who squealed under my mind’s thrill, and swerved back to Lady Marauqereth. The young captain had already unsteeded and stepped in, where under my son’s nearness, we could not help falling into mindshare. For the first time her whole secret lay dizzily bare. Ere I could behave, she kissed me, right like Remaue. I had no will to withhold.
~A Ile leirya ezimya shyaeldis,~ - “Your Ladyship has given us a great boon,” I whispered. ~Teamya-ruaelve,~ - “We owe you a dearth.”
~O’homae-shei teami komi eshassi,~ she answered: “Under friendship, all dearths are even.”
So with, we took thankful leave from the lady-captain, though Vosaeth’s self-harshness had grown sulky. When we came back to the houaw, our housemates unforbearingly showered questions. We shrove we had flown with the young captain and had even seen the whole city aloft, which raised further asks, incleaving whether Thakasa smell so foul as our Shotalashu believe. Laughingly we naysaid, though with wisdom that our noses are nowise so nearly keen.
In mark, however, when I went to see Ess in the stallbarn, his nose flared once. Then he glared. My erenow faithful steed swerved head from me and would not look, even when I offered him sweetmeats. I stink of Thakasa, which he will not forgive.

Lady Vaeol had an audience with the Queen of Ofu-Labu, and reconnected with Lady-Captain Marauqereth under suggestive circumstances.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Honyaea - accusative of ~honyae~ (spir): secret
• Diya-ivodya - worst-guarded. Superlative of ~diya-~: wrong + ~iva~: warded; guarded
• Ralysa (com): soul-seer; psychic
• Tholeaemnaza (com): faircrafter; artist
• Lashaula (com): skyrider
• Realya - accusative of ~real~ (spir): name
• Saqeia - accusative of ~saqei~ (spir): joke
• Evimeirru - allative/dative of ~Evimeil~: honorific of ~Evime~ (fem): captain
• Hishya - accusative of ~hishi~ (spir): other; else
• Hoeaea-ruaelf - 1st-person conditional humble aspect of ~hoeassi~: to choose
• O’zhaomani - adverbial phrase of ~zhaomanassi~: to forelook; expect
• Hiteoes - 2nd-person of ~hitoeassi~: to repeat
• Osra - accusative of ~os~; thing; deed; business
• Omue: here. inclusive locative adverb
• Ste (fem): Who; interrogative adjective
• Vire (fem): first
• Hozse - 2nd-person passive feminine of ~hozassi~: to fly
• Diahi (spir): negative potential adverb; cannot
• Belinve - 1st-person conditional of ~belimassi~: to bespeak; describe
• Soare (fem): near; next
• Vusse - 2nd person pasive feminine of ~vusassi~: to go; stir; shift
• Saoafura - accusative of ~saoafu~ (animal): map
• O'thini - adverbial phrase of ~thini~ (spir): few; seldom
• Kae-tei - 4th-person ultra-distal demonstrative of ~kae~ (spir): mood; spirit; feeling
• Yazodi - superlative of ~yazi~ (spir): lost; missed
• Teamya-ruaelf - 1st-person conditional humble-polite of ~teamassi~ to owe a debt
• O'homae-shei - under friendship. ~homae~ (spir): friendship + ~shei~: under; down