A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 5

~O'mei Vaeol-Ile o'ivoae nezhisya Marauqerethya zhaovyaze, oeo'zhiathi kefona tolassa kaushunilya yeio homaeaye.~ (In which Lady Vaeol begins to divine Marauqereth’s interest and learns it is harder to avoid complications than she would like.

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

4. Evelae, 24,545 - 10th Day in Ofu-Laubu
Today Her Highness Lady Nauve went back to Qabarat. We hosted her to the elfgate, which stands reachfully enough within a shrinegrove at the Highburgh’s midst: stray proof of the Elves’ hand here long ago. I wonder why the Elves chose Ofu-Laubu, and other steads like, to build their world-spanning weirdgates. What drew them to this stead, half a mainland beyond Qabarat (and even further to Far Jabask), and how did they find it? From what I have read, history tells them already dwelling in friendship with the Lauba’s foremothers, whitsome forwhy those elder Lashunta had already tamed Thakasa. Quoth the Lauba’s yoretale, Ammutheth the First Queen and Burning-Mother’s daughter dropped from heaven and welcomed the Elves to build her city.
Then the Elves left, as they left so many steads throughout Asana but Qabarat, the Stormshield Shore, and few other odd lands, in the Withdrawal four thousand years ago. Why has ever befuddled our sages. Some believe it was grudgesome sorrow after the Colonies’ loss to the Formians. Yet the only answer the Elves have given was the Income to Kyonin, retaking their elder homeworld.
Kyonin, which the Aslanta name Qolaryon. ~Eies-sei viyae,~ - Your thought haunts me. Is it not enough that Brand and his troop came ten years ago, and then left? Why must you send your forebode to Kaure’s tongue back at the Clanmoot’s moonsight? Why must Brand again look lovingly in my dreams? This wish wearies me. Since I am banned from ever setting foot in El again, what hope to ever stride through the Sovyrian Worldgate? Yet come Heaventide when Father-Night spreads His begemmed cloak, will I not seek your blue star?
Anywise, Her Highness Lady Nauve took our leave, along with lissome word from their Highnesses Lady Kueth and Lady Ziaral, on behalf of Her Hallowness Queen Seri-Ilaueth, back to Qabarat, and to bode her true witness to Son. There may still outcome kickback after my withstand to go home, and it may even make some hardship for Her Highness. Yet I reck not now. As a last word, she again bade us not to make too much worry. Given our odd fellowship with Lady Marauqereth, I wonder she meant not too much worry more?
However, Her Highness bestowed Taiase and me a boon ere she left. She beseeched Ofu-Laubu’s Soulseer Hall to let us betread their door, where Taiase may likely teach, and I learn. We shall go tomorrow, though we must also seek some livelihood for our housemates, which, if nothing better foreshows, must become drill. Too much warriors’ freedom mishappily outcomes in idle drunkenness and strife.

6. Evelae, 24,545 - 12th Day in Ofu-Laubu
A quick log ere marketfare, for here are many outlandish goods for cheap fee, as we have seen walking by the shops since our stay. Yesterday as forespoken, Taiase and I went to the Soulseer Hall, with Remaue ahost, while Istae, Semuane, and Vosaeth oversaw the warriors’ naughtiness (whence yesternight and today have beheld no few stiff groans and cursed bruises). We had good speech with the seermasters. Taiase has yaysaid to teach, and I have found a teacher, Master Kaff
I must tell that, even though Master Kaff deemed me praiseworthy, he warned that I will likely be unhappy after my birthmight fades, whence I must afterward uphold under mere selfsome mightiness. His word gave me halt. Whimsily I asked how many soulseer wives seek motherhood to keep their mightiness. He answered many do so. Then he asked whether I have witted that so many elder seermasters are men, and so few wives. I yaysaid, whereat he outlaid that many wives, as the years overtake and they no longer can reach birthmight, grow bothered and forsake seerhood. This so leaves the men who have grown and drilled their mightiness more slowly, but more surely, to lead seerhood.
I shrive much to think. After Aeosel, I have little reckoned more children. Yet if I wish to greaten my seercraft, am I willing to bear more and forsake outriderhood for easy mightiness, in which I may meet cronehood’s same doom as those wives Master Kaff bespeaks? Taiase has also read that this riddle as ever outstood from her time: whether one strives for true seerhood or idles as a mere taste-player. I understand the betrayal.

Afterward
I have right come back to the house late and after duskmeal, erewhy today has not gone as forelooked. I have had a kind of small farfetch, rife with secrets, hallcraft I understand not, and dare I write untold canniness. Whither it may lead I know not.
As forespoken, we all had gone to the Lowburgh Market, which outstands as the greatest tradestead in Northern Asana. Drawn by the tin delved from the neighboring hills since the Warrior-Queens’ Time, hither come traders from the Shemez, the Retaea, all the cities on Mother-Arasene’s shore, and also the rough Coldwaste to the Far North where roam nameless hairbeasts whomof elder sages have bewritten the most unbelievable tales. Since now (our Stormtide) ingathers this land’s Droughttide, few traders show, though they will soon start coming with Heaventide and ready for the year’s great Floodtide Fair when, to hear the Lauba speak, the world’s whole wealth flows through their city. Even without this trade-readiness, we beheld no few Qabarat traders who have behooved the elfgate and brought all kinds of goods from the Western Sea’s Shining Jewel, even Valamaeana byrnies, Shattersea spices, and Jabask glowsilk.
We got a taste of the market’s wonders when we found a hide-trader’s stall, who showed a hairy hide, but striped like my skin and so great that it could be a bedspread or rug. She told it had been taken from a ~Tearu~, which she outlaid as kin to Coeurl, but larger and even fiercer. Though the silky hair drew all our hands, Remaue was dolefully besmitten and would not forsake, which meant we missed the trader’s tale of the queer beasts the Tearu hunts. She begged me to buy it. Yet when I heard the fee, I almost swallowed my tongue, whence no dickercraft could make it fit into our silverbin. Withholdingly we left with our wifemate unwontsomely whining, even when the trader offered a loan.
I led our household to an aleyard, since I would raise everyone’s mood, and dolefully Remaue’s, and tarry to feed the babes. While we sat, anon a wordbode hailed us. I asked his word, whereat he answered Lady-Captain Marauqereth sent blessed health. Then he said she would speak with me alone.Somewhat forecaught, I looked at the others. Vosaeth scowled. Taiase seemed letsome. I asked whether my wifemate and maidenmate might ahost, whereat the wordbode naysaid, adding that Her Ladyship, forespeaking on the Throne’s behalf (a meaningful word!) swore my welfare’s sureness. To this oath I had little gainsaith and so followed with my babe ashoulder.
The wordbode led me to a hall overlooking the Lowerburgh’s southern wardwall, a right fair sight and doubtlessly wanted among the ladyhood. I followed into an elfyard hiding under a seldom dwarf-milktree among boulders, carefully shaped and grown over yearhundreds, with stepstones laid within mossblossom, glowroses hanging brightly, a spring running under a bridgebough, and a row of glasscap mushrooms lurking under the boughs. Even a feyshrine lurked among the roots, which had me half-waiting for something otherworldly to stir.
Upon the bridgebough strode Lady Marauqereth. While I bowed, she neared, and then to my shock knelt and kissed my belly in meek wise acknowledging my motherhood. She then beseeched to hold my son. She kissed him tight, smelled deep, and let his antennae blithely tangle hers. Though she warded her thoughts, under my son’s babymight I got her heart’s stray wit: reckfulness, even loneliness, and also a queer idle playfulness I could not easily reckon.
Her Ladyship led me up the milktree’s short beamstair to a teahouse sitting among the boughs and glowroses, where a kettle was already simmering. After we sat, she brewed tea, and then outstrode from the house to pluck a teatwort and squeezed milk into the tea. We shared the cup, not speaking until couthness was fulfilled. Then in thanks, I named this stead holy and wonderful. Her Ladyship nodded, telling her kindred have owned it for an old time, and it is her most beloved. Then I waited, letting the young captain outlay the reason bidding me hither.
Her Ladyship told that all Asana had heard news that an elder sage-queen of Son had been found in the Stormshields, meaning Taiase. ~Shae ulinare veiane o’soe-yei,~ - “The queen who behaves and dresses like a priest,” as she bespoke, which whit merrily aplayed her. Yet also she told she had heard whisper of a rebel outrider afeud with her mother, and who hosted this queen. Thus the lady-captain’s reckfulness had stirred. As I already knew from our moot in Lea, she had sought my knowledge, and from what she had learned of my livelihood, dolefully of the Formian War and the Aslanta, her inthrift had grown.
~Ivassil-Mazhaeil realya-shyaelde Ruzhyahazere,~ - “Lady-Matron Ivassil named you Worry-maker,” Lady Marauqereth bewrayed (half-idly, half-earnestly?), meaning Qabarat’s High Matron. ~Dei omonya maeavif ruzhassya?~ - “Do we own sake to worry?” I answered that, as I reminded my speech with Her Highness Lady Ivassil more than nine years ago, she had meant the title not as offthank but as worship. The lady-captain laughed and spoke that eyesomely I had done something worthy to win the High Matron’s awareness. I merely yielded I had fulfilled my fetch, in which way I had also gotten banned from El, if not all Sovyrian.
I tried to offshift the speech, since these yesterminds made me uneasy, even shameful (and had even in youth been named elf-lover). I reminded the young captain had spoken of her own sorrow in the Formian War when we had first spoken in Lea, and had swayed her mind against the war. Her Ladyship frowned and shared her warfare had gone less luckily. Though we had lost a few lives, she had lost many. Then she shrove she had openly dared, even before the High Staff, the Valmaeana belief that the war must end with the Formians’ utter slaughter, whereby she had lost any friends and allies in Valmaeana, and even many in Qabarat. ~Ussadaf moarrya karaeara shi rei hishamaue.~ - “I have had enough warriors dead under another folk’s war.”
Her word stilled me deep, making Aeosel fuss in my arms. Happily, Her Ladyship took the hint and let me a breathtide to shape answer. I outspoke I hate the war, forwhy after four thousand years it has shown winless, and also for its endless wreck and loss. Yet I understood no way to peace, since from what I had heard of the Formians, not only did they sakelessly overrun the Colonies, but have twice tried to overrun Asana. ~Shima heienya di seilyela, o’stiadeni sholif?~ - “If the foe wishes not peace, how can we find it?”
Mildly the young captain nodded. She asked back whether I had found the Myrmarch reasonable, whomwith I had bargained, in shunning death and saving life. Since her question was forecrafted, she needed no answer. Then she asked what I would think if she told trusty word that the Elves have had truce-speech with the Formians, even many times? ~Elaura alatherya sholyela, o’stireori va-dei?~ - “If the Elves can find forehap, why not us?”
At her word, shock overtook. I could not mind the thought of Elves meeting Formians. From the histories, the Elves had lost so many colonies as we, had sent whole warhosts to ward Asana’s shores, and had lost untold warriors and dampened the land with their dark blood. How could they meet our elder foe, wherein, if I took Her Ladyship’s hint, they had so done behind our backs?
And yet it raised a lone canniness. Unless the Valmaeana bloody mind and our own mistake, might peace be reachable? It also forewared an adder’s nest of riddles I dared not reckon.
Lady Marauqereth witted my strife. Instead, she asked of Vosaeth, bemarking it an oddness that a Retaean would swear sisterhood with an outlander. I told she had come to Son for the Formian Warfare and had cloven us as guest. Thus we had ridden together along with Semuane and Istae. When the lady-captain asked my thought on fellowship with so wild and renowned a reaverwife, something in her wit and lilt struck me queer. I asked what she meant.
Her Ladyship shared she had gotten further word of some of our more shameful whits, bespeaking a wont wherein Vosaeth would start a fight, and I, as she lightly spoke, would end it, maybe with Semuane’s and Istae’s help if needful. Then she outreached and touched my eyescar: Byreath’s bequest from our weapontrial. ~Dei-sei alada?~ she asked: “Is that what happened here?”
My stomach sank as I besoothed Her Ladyship might have begun our talk with further goal in mind, namely to gather knowledge. Rather starkly, I answered I have fought all dares willingly and for good reason. In answer, she deemed: ~Eayelise Ruzhyahaze, o le Kehaeunaze~ - “If you are the Worry-maker, she is the Strife-maker.” ~Stei-sya healf?~ - “What am I to reckon of that?”
More growlingly than I wished, I answered Her Ladyship had little need of my witness if she so surely took her Valmaeana and Qabarata words, in which sake we had little else to speak. I furthermore added her city might behoove offsending us back into the Waste. Anon the lady-captain feared I would rise and leave, for she reached my arm and bade me stay. Then she beseeched forgiveness.
Instead, she asked another wise: what would I wish her to know of Vosaeth my oathsister. I thought reckfully ere answer that Vosaeth had once been so as Her Ladyship had bespoken. Yet I told her almost death and her son’s while birthtide had shifted her moos. She had bound her wildness among Lea’s Matronhood, and furthermore had set her will under Her Highness Lady Vifaul, wiseful to the war, right until the Matronhood wavered under Byreath’s bold bargain. Then Vosaeth had instrode to stay the outlaw clanwife from slipping free, and had so done with no wish for me to uptake her fight unless somehow she had foreseen a hood-adder striking her Shotalashu. To my thought, Vosaeth had willingly set her life at stake, in both Lea’s and the Clans’ best inthrift. I had merely fulfilled her goal instead, and so beread that, if Vosaeth would ever name Her Ladyship friend, she would do samely.
Lady Marauqereth halted thought, wherein I dared hope I had made some weight. I asked leave to swap my son’s mossnapkin. She nodded, and at a beck, a groom strode forth to lead me to a sideroom. When I came back, I found the lady-captian risen and standing down in the elfyard. She bade swift farewell, and I could tell her mind already aimed at other things. Yet I witted a deep gleefulness after our talk, as if she had found worth in our speech. I bowed while she left, whereafter a groom led me back to the aleyard.
Kaure and Remaue were still waiting with Lanaryel and pestered a hundred questions, which I bade hold until we reclove the household. Back at the house, the others added their own, until I yelled for swyness and had no choice but to tell the whole moottide. Vosaeth dolefully heeded to understand Her Ladyship’s inthrift, forwhy after our trip to the aerie-barn, my oathsister had deemed herself shamed. Straightway she wondered if the skyrider-captain sought to wrack her cravenness. I assured she did not, although I believed Her Ladyship has grown an inthrift I know not where it might head.
While we spoke, Master Vosh the housereeve outnamed another wordbode who had come. At our leave, he introd with another groom following, who bore a broad bundle. He told this was a gift from Lady-Captain Marauqereth and beseeched us to take it along with Her Ladyship’s goodwill.
The groom unwallowed the bundle, beshowing the same Tearu hide we had ere seen in the market. Remaue squealed, doffed her bodyshroud, and threw her bare self upon the hide. Her lolling look from that stead was unbespeakable. ~O’illi zure-sere iyaef omue,~ - “I would behold your stripes on these,” she outthought to me, which had my face shaming orangely. Even Vosaeth, after her earlier inkling, beswaysomely reckoned this gift’s wealth.
Yet Taiase, against her earlier kindliness toward Ofu-Laubu’s queen, squeezed my hand. I looked to our elder Sage-Queen become priest, who though she has forsworn, still beholds a finely honed dread from when hallcraft wielded a deadlier bill, as I witted now. ~Aealo teamya shoro,~ - “This gift bears a dearth,” she warned. I asked whether we could withstand the gift. She naysaid, unless we would earn a queen’s wrath.
So now seemingly we are already beseethed in Ofu-Laubu’s game of might, beswayness, and rearhall whispers. Wiselessly, Remaue recks not. She has spread the hide on our bed, and herself upon it, and even now calls me.

Recap: Lady Vaeol, Vosaeth, Semuane, Remaue, and Kaure were Lady Marauqereth's guests for a Thakasa ride.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Eies-sei - 2ne-person possessive of ~Eiesi~ ( spir): thought
• Zelya - accusative of ~Zeli~ (spir): mind; consciousness
• Viyae - 3rd-person spiritual of ~Viyassi~; to haunt/possess me (the 1st person)
• Tearu (anim): Northern Castrovellian felide predator
• Mazhaeil - Lady-Matron; honorific of ~Mazhae~ (fem): matron
• Shae (fem): queen
• O’soe-yei - like a priest; simile construction: ~O'~: adverbial phrase-marker + ~Soe~ (fem): priestess + ~-yei~ (spir): comparative adverb
• Omonya - accusative of ~Omoni~ (spir): sake; case
• Ussadaf - 1st-person active past of ~Ussassi~: to have enough; be enough
• Moarrya karaeara - accusative of ~Moara~ (com): warrior(s) + Karaea (com): dead
• Shi rei hishamaue: ~Shi~: under; down + ~Rei~ (spir): war + ~Hishamaue~ (spir): possessive adjective of ~Hishama~ (com): group of others
• Shima (com): foe(s)
• Heienya - accusative of ~Heieni~ (spir): peace; truce
• Seilyela - 3rd-person dependent of ~Seilassi~: to wish
• Stiadeni (spir): how; in what wise
• Sholif - 1st-person conditional of ~Sholassi~: to find
• Elaura (com): Elf; Elves
• Alatherya - accusative of ~Alatheri~ (spir): forehap; opportunity
• Stireori (spir): why; what purpose
• Va-dei: not us. ~Va~ (com): I/We; 1st-person pronoun + ~Dei~ (spir): sufficial form of ~Di~: not
• Kehaeunahaze (fem): Strife-maker. Active-agent nominal of ~kehaeunassi~: to strive; make strife
• Stei-sya - 2nd-person accusative of ~Stei~ (spir): interrogative pronoun; how; why
• Healf - 1st-person active conditional of ~healassi~: to reckon; assess; calculate
• O’illi - auxilliary adverbia phrase of ~Illi~ (spir): will; intent
• Zure-sere - 2nd-person accusative of ~Zure~ (fem): stripe; stripes on female skin
• Iyaef - 1st-person conditional of ~Iyassi~: to behold
• Omue (spir): here; inclusive locative pronoun