A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 7

~O'mei Vaeol zhiathe evolarrya Vosaethara ne saema Marauqereth-Ilea.~ (In which Vaeol learns of Vosaeth’s exploration of Lady Marauqereth’s harem.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

Heavenwatch (14. Evelae), 24,545 - 20th Day in Ofu-Laubu
This dawntide, we learned this city watches an else omen for Heaventide’s start, which has befallen more than a month early, bematched to home. I came out into the house’s midyard and found coldstone’s glassy sheen upon the moss and stones. Such I have not seen since my loretide at the Hall of Stars. I went back inside, found another swaddle for Aeosel and a bodyshroud for me. I then knelt before the hometree and sang the Heaven Hymn, though my feet and knees soon ached from the chill, and my arms shivered. I again came inside, lay back abed, and burrowed between Remaue and Kaure.
Wiselessly, our yesterday riddle answered itself when after templetide Vosaeth came home, and looking oddly ashamed, which in her mood is unwontsome. Although Remaue wished, we forbore asking what happened, and instead let her choose what to tell.
A while later, my oathsister sidled near and laid her chin on my shoulder. ~Ayadaf emaneara saemauara,~ she shrove: “I have seen a harem’s inside.”
Happily, I asked not the first naughty thought springing to mind: whether her deed had made her a haremmate, which would doubtlessly at least get me punched if not set us at feud. Instead, I let our antennae twine, wherein her shame spoke for her, all too aware how weak this may make her look before the Retaea Clans. Yet I could also tell she was begladdened, and furthermore enthriven by this queer new lover.
Also, I will tell what I have learned from some subtle asks to Master Vosh our Housereeve of Ofu-Laubu’s latter history, namely of the warfare to Valmaeana. In 24,540 of Son’s year-tally, right five years ago, the first year of Queen Seri-Ilaueth’s thronedom, Her Hallowness the Heavenly Daughter bequeathed a warfare in alliance with Qabarat and Valmaeana, at which time she benamed Lady Marauqereth as a new captain of skyriders. Bemeetly, a full host of warriors fetched through the elfgate to Qabarat, and thence took ship southward to Qoaronaea (wherein maybe we sailed by each other while we headed homeward). Samely, Lady-Captain Marauqereth led a wingtroop of twenty Thakasa and skyriders southward, following the cities’ path, first to Lea, and then to the Yaro Strath, where they got good guesthood along the way, staying shortly at Son, Mahyat, Hanazhyana, and then Qabarat. There they got merry glee ere they kept southward flying the Shattersea Shore until they caught their footwarriors’ ships in Qoaronaea. I fuzzily remind hearing this deedtide from these skyriders’ seldom wonder, but never had sight.
Among the war’s allies, Lady Marauqereth and her skyriders first won swift princess-hood, under the eyesome behoof their Thakasa’s flight bestowed. Soon the Valmaeana High Staff planned a bold stroke westward into the Bulwarks, where first the skyriders made a broad scoutfare over the Straits of Glory, even until the Colonies where they overflew the shoreward hives (much to the Formians’ fright and scurry I misdoubt) and also Lost Valmaea’s wreckstead. Then the High Staff pitched the overrun of Keiavehu, one of the Bulwark Islands, whereof the Lauba took share in the warhost.
Then quoth my teller Master Vosh, the skyriders’ warning of a Formian relief fleet went unheeded. When the Formian backstroke fell, Lady Marauqereth and her fellows witnessed their footwarriors torn within the scrum while they tried to uphold so well as they could with stooping strokes and arrowshots aloft. Then, when the allied warfare bogged amid the sea-fight and the high captain chose to withdraw from Keiavehu and while the footwarriors were onloading, however, a Formian shellhulk struck the ship bearing the Lauba foothost. They were ripped asunder  and sank. Hopelessly the skyriders tried to ward their fellows, but were offdriven by darts and arrows while the buglike foe slaughtered the helpless drowning. In all, the Lauba host lost more than half its footwarriors and four skyriders’ Thakasa. Shortly afterward, the outliving Lauba host forsook the war and came home.
A qualmlike mood overtook while I heard this tale. I relived our own warfare’s misdeed in our lost raid in the Bulwarks, unfar from where this plight had befallen. Matched against the Lauba’s sorrow, we had been lucky, since we had lost a slim handful of warriors. Now I understand Lady Marauqereth’s goodwill toward my truce-bargain with the Myrmarch: I had saved lives whereas the lady-captain had lost. Rooted in my ken of Lady Marauqereth, I can bedream her guilt at the idleness she had erstwhile undergone as the Alliance’s princess,. Also, I can easily reckon how her talk with the Valmaeana High Staff must have gone at the warfare’s end. When she had told me back in Lea that she would assure that no more Lauba shall fight in the war, I doubt not she told the High Staff the same frank thing, but less couthly.

15. Evelae, 24,545 - 21st Day in Ofu-Laubu
Today after drilltide, Semuane got a call from the queen’s palace. Fittingly, she clothed in breastdish, greaves, the armbands Remaue and I had given, and her best Jabask glowsilk. Then she and Rivale her shieldbearer went up to the Highburgh. Until now, well after Firstwatch, she has not come home. We have wondered on the couthness of boding word to the palace and asking her welfare. We may best guess that she stays as a nightguest.

16. Evelae, 24,545 - 22nd Day in Ofu-Laubu
Happily as forelooked, Semuane came home this morn, gleesome and easy. She traded knowing looks with me and Vosaeth, and then outquoth she would today tarry, since she had found wantsome sleep yesternight.
Then laterward Istae got a samely call, and with Nelehi went up to the Highburgh. I asked a question to Remaue: ~Dei keie meqomere o’elefo’yei?~ - “Is she tasting us all like sweets?” My wifemate laughed and tickled me.

Shenelae Treesong, 24,545 - 25th Day in Ofu-Laubu
Yestermorn a happendom unsettled us: the sight of the hometree’s leaves, whose greenness had ere shifted to golden-orange, shed in great loss upon the ground. When Sievae and Nae first warned and we came, we could not help kneeling and whispering a swift ward-hymn against plight. I forthwith boded Master Vosh and spoke dread that the tree was ill. He came, witted the leaf-fall, and evenly beseeched we should unheed. He then outlaid that this land’s milktrees do so every Heaventide, and outcomefully after the first coldglaze, as we had lately witnessed. He beread the tree’s milksap had dried. Yet with Floodtide it will flow again, and buds will grow to new leaves. Then with no further behest from us, he withdrew.
I shrive it outstandingly hard not to atake the leaf-fall, even with Master Vosh’s soothingness, as an omen. Our flagmates, against the housereeve’s word, gathered all the leaves aground and set them in a bin, which the housereeve lissomely took, though what he will do, understanding his mellowness, I know not.
That omen still weighed our mind when again Lady-Captain Marauqereth’s wordbode came from the Highburgh. This time, it bade me come to the palace. Thoughtlessly my mind sought the others. This play had started with me, I bethought. Whither would it lead?
Both Remaue and Kaure outwilled to host me and would heed no gainsaith, since they wished to witness the outcome almost so much as I dreaded. Together they helped me bathe, clothe, comb, and redraw the gold on my eyescar (while Remaue naughtily wipe myrrh sap between my thighs). Then, leaving Lanaryel behind with Tae and Less, we followed the wordbode to the Highburgh.
The palace stood unshifted since last we came. Within the forehall we met Lady Thari the First Hallreeve, who led us to another hall rearward. There at a gate she bregreeted us to (rather forecatchingly) Master Kaul the First Haremreeve, who led us within.
We came into a broad elfyard so fair as any, with lissome stoneboughs marking the room, and Damaya and Korasha stonelikeness arailed. At its midst a grove of dwarf-milktrees stood in a fey-ring, and within them another ring of stonelikenesses. Hither the First Haremreeve led us, under whose boughs we found a bath pool laid and carven in many-hued marmlestone, much in the wise I have seen in Qabarat’s wealthiest houses, and at its midst a tall spring wrought from silver, belikening a dancing elfwife with water flowing from her breast.
On the pool’s edge sat Lady-Captain Marauqereth, who at our intread uplooked and smiled. ~Dei misaiamya-shyaelme?~ - “Will you cleave me?” she welcomed. We bowed and yaysayingly unclothed, whereafter we intread the pool, which we found warm (by an hearth underground I guess). I could not withhold dunking my darling boy (after Kaure doffed his mossnapkin and gave a swift cleanse), who at the water’s touch squealed mirth and kicked. At Her Ladyship’s behest, I let him swim to her, which ever bewonders that babes so inbornly understand water, as if they have not forgotten the womb.
It also made me wonder whether Her Ladyship already had children. Given her young years, her lack would not forecatch, and we had not heard tale of any little princesses.
While we played my son among us, a kiltless groom brought tea. Although Damaya, I witted he was a man, (and if his shoulders’ slimness might seem unmanly, not so his waist!) as did Remaue and Kaure. Our maidenmate’s inthrift idly brought to mind her fellowship with Elindrae’s priesthood among the Retaea Clans. I wondered on friendship and love between wifely ~Korashe~ and manly ~Damayas~. Do they believe themselves belonging to the same ilk, gathered in shared misdeemship, or rather shed? Eyesomely she had won friendship with at least a few Damaya priests, but what did that more broadly mean? 
More dolefully, what did this groom’s showforth mean of Her Ladyship’s lust-taste? Was she an oddness-gatherer in her harem, as also hinted by her deed tasting through our household’s ladyhood, or did a deeper mood underplay? Furthermore, although the Retaea bestow a higher stallworth than the Cities on Thwartkind, I had yet gotten no good rede on this thing from either the Lauba or the neighboring Shemez Clans wandering the Waste.
If Her Ladyship is an oddness-gatherer, how does that bename me? Rebel? Champion? A hallcraft gambit to outbehoove my mother?
Lady Marauqereth, although I did not think she read my mind, maybe answered my question: ~A ile sinyeia-shyaelise,~ - “My lady is a riddle,” she spoke. Then she fell swy again, leaving us to wonder her meaningfulness. At last, without further hint, I asked: ~Emole-ste sholya-ruaelve sinyeiasse?~ - “Which share of me do you find so riddlesome?” Her Ladyship learningly leaned back against the pool’s edge. She outlaid that I lead, and that my housemates love me. Yet I behave not as a leader. She outlaid that this was the riddle wanting answer. I asked back what answer she thought it beheld, to which she said she knew not.
Rather more daringly than I should, I asked into what I had led my housemates, and whether we were now idlethralls within Her Ladyship’s harem. The young captain laughed. She answered this is no wanton lust-tale of wicked sage-princesses, enthralled lovers, and shameful fettersome idles. Then she clapped hands. Anon, into the ring came not only Master Kaul and the Damayas tea-groom, but also another Damayas, three Damaya wives, and three Korasha men, who all arowed by the pool. But for Master Kaul’s kilt they were naked but jewels, and also unlike the Haremreeve looked younger than fifty years, and so fair a troop as one would wish. Yet somewhit in this show struck overwhelming, even threatsome, not only to me but Kaure, willful or no. I beseeched Her Ladyship to have them withdraw. She looked at me queerly, and then yaysaid, whereat the whole harem - all nine - headed back. 
The lady-captain held my eye while I nestled my son amid the pool. She neared warily, though with a nod to Kaure, and outquoth she had bestowed offthank. She begged to take Aeosel, whom I yielded to her breast. She then asked what fee we would have in geld. I answered we needed no geld, merely Her Ladyship’s goodwill and freedom. The young captain listfully bowed.
Then Her Ladyship beseeched we withdraw to a shelter, to which she led bearing my son. Our path yielded overlook of her backside, which brought to mind Vosaeth’s elder tale of Sealnearas, the Monkeyfolk's war with Ofu-Laubu, and the elder queen’s babe born with a tail. Lady Marauqereth witted my wryness while we dried, and asked what befell. I beheld forehap to try her ruth, and so answered that, from my rear sight, she forsoothly looked not to have a tail. Her Ladyship’s eyes bulged. A breathtide she halted, and then laughed. She outquoth we have eyesomely been hearing Retaea witchtales, though not even Vosaeth ereyesternight had so boldly dared speak. I begged forgiveness, though she, hugging my babe, gigglingly offwaved guilt.
Remaue stood beside and laid hand on my shoulder. ~Me naea kovya-shyaele huauassya shaeomya o shiruaelante qoanzyele,~ she outlaid: “This one feels the need to prove her boldness when she becomes yieldsome.” Her word burned shame in my heart and cheeks, almost as if my wifemate had betrayed me. She squeezed my flesh, half-beseech, half-reproof. Lady Marauqereth’s grin widened her lips. Then her hand clutched my hair.
Much laterward, I rose to change Aeosel’s mossnapkin. Master Kaul met and led me to a sideroom, where a groom swiftly helped to get my boy dry and merry. The First Haremreeve then stalwartly led me back among the strewn sleeping bodies and pillows, where I settled between Kaure and Remaue. This morn we woke still tangled under Aeosel’s wail, whom I swiftly bore away. After changing him again, I came back to find Remaue and Kaure lazily slumbering. Yet Lady Marauqereth stirred and stretched. She smiled shyly, and then rose and led me to a bench within the misty elfyard. There we wrapped ourselves in bedshrouds and sat. The same Damaya groom (now kilted) thewed us tea, which cup we shared while I fed Aeosel (Her Ladyship yielding me sips) and played his glee.
I witted the groom’s leave and our aloneness. Then I beseeched a question: ~Stei yi alathada o’aearae?~ - “What behappened yesternight?” The lady-captain grew newly ashamed. She asked whether I deemed her lust wrongminded or misthwartsome. I answered I had no right to deem, since she had rightly witnessed my own deedfulness. And yet I still missed soething of the lady-captain's true self. I had beheld a share, but not the whole. This lovetide also still felt as a game at which she played. Something lay hidden more deeply.
By then Remaue and Kaure rose, whereat we gathered for a short mornmeal of grassberry cakes, cheese, and strong smoketea. Her Ladyship made deed to again take Aeosel and nibble his fingers ere she yielded him back. We meekly thanked her guesthood, and she took leave while Master Kaul hosted us from the harem hall.
After we left the palace and headed back to the winchlift, Remaue spoke: ~Healya roaf,~ - “I know the answer,” meaning Lady Marauqereth’s yesternight riddle. Our wifemate’s word gave me halt, whereat I asked her to share. She leaned her heaven-blue locks over our son to lay her brow on mine. ~Kisise o’heili-dei, hei o’loae,~ - “You lead not from pride, but from your fellows’ love.” Of all my wifemate’s words, none else have filled me with such dearness.

Recap: Lady Vaeol and her housemates try to assess the implications of having begun a more intimate relationship with Lady Marauqereth.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Ayadaf - 1st-person active perfect of ~ayassi~: to see
• Emaneara saemauara: inside of a harem - accusative of ~Emanea~ (common): inside; interior + ~Saema~ (common): harem
• Dei (spir): interrogative particle
• Keie - 3rd-person feminine of ~Keiassi~: to taste
• meqomere - accusative of ~Meqome~ (fem): us all; inclusive pronoun
• o’elefo’yei?~ - comparative phrase: ~O'~: adverbial marker + ~Elefo~ (neut): sweet; candy + ~Yei~ (spir): comparative adverb
• misaiamya-shyaelme - inclusive conditional honorific of ~Misaiamassi~: to join; gather together; associate
• Korashe (fem): a female Korasha
• Damayas (masc): a male Damaya
• A ile - vocative of ~Ile~ (fem): lady; honored female
• sinyeia-shyaelise - 2nd-person passive honorific of ~sinyeiassi~: to riddle; be a riddle
• Emole-ste (fem): which part
• sholya-ruaelve - 1st-person feminine passive humble of ~Sholassi~: to find
• sinyeiasse (fem): participle of ~Sinyeiassi~: to be a riddle
• Stei (spir): what. Northern Yaro Variant of ~Sti~
• o’aearae - adverbial of ~Aearae~ (spir): last night; yesternight
• Healya - accusative of ~Heali~ (spir): answer
• Roaf - 1st-person active of ~roassi~: to know
• Kisise - 2nd person feminine passive of ~Kisassi~: to lead
• O’heili-dei - adverbia of ~Heili~ (spir): pride + ~Dei~ (spir): not; negative suffix
• Hei: but
• O’loae - adverbial of ~Loae~ (spir):selfless love; agape