A Castrovel Adventure: Parth 5, Chapter 18

~O'mei Vaeol-Ile aezhile Oshisra maeavassasra honyaea, oe shole nolya yi imya o Haeramahiqa.~ (In which Lady Vaeol suspects Oshis of keeping a secret, and finds more than one down in the Marshfarthing.)

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil Yaranevae be’Son

4. Vinelae, 24,546 - 3rd Month in Qabarat
Semuane today gladly came home from scoutfare, although with word that she must soon ready for a longer fetch. She will take share in a sith hosting Master Aeos, whom I remind from the Veialysu’s gatherhood, to Lost Hoshiasa. I shrive the thought of seeing Hoshiasa yearns to me, the Moqeva’s great city wrecked by the Warrior-Queens our foremothers, Furthermore it is the gatestead linking to ~Qolaryon~, where Brand and his lost troop of Aslanta had set foot on our world eleven years ago. Yet even if I could get leave (not only from Qabarat’s captainhood but also our Embassy), none would so let me bearing a babe abreast. I may strive that such a hostfare could be no worse than crossing the Retaea Moors with our household and children (and me erstwhilely swollen bechild). Yet I wit such word would go unheard, and our own flagmen would even fetter me.
Remaue dared me, forsoothly, to try going, as if she needs foreweft to fetter me. I will make her strive a little harder for glee.
Yet today, along with Semuane’s heavenly fairness, her antennae’s kisses, and soft lips, I have sought answer to a riddle. I have wared Oshis offstealing every few days, neither to drill nor business, and no word of goal or deed. I could hardly believe he would even try to hide such a thing, since outcomefully half my mind is still his and bestows my spooky knack of knowing his thought (sometimes ere he). Knowing his deedfulness, one might uplook him seeking a new lover. Yet I read his mood more earnest than guilty, wherein rightful purpose outweighs. I merely lack the whits.
So I came to Erymi and asked her manmate’s business. She smiled grimly and answered she should unsurely answer, but beread I need not worry. When I asked why she would not tell, she said it is not her right. Her answer bothered, since neither would Oshis tell unless I harried him more than I would like. At last she forespoke to show me, and thus on the next day Oshis leaves, we shall foreready to follow him.
I had wondered what Oshis’s hidden thing may truly be and why he would be so stealthy, that this is almost the only share of his self I cannot understand. If Erymi were not so staid, I would wholly worry.

6. Vinelae, 24,546 - 3rd Month in Qabarat
Luck befell when yesterday at Fore-eve, right after Ninth Bell, we spotted Oshis leaving. Straightway I sent word to Mistress Shotheiae that we would miss duskmeal. Then Erymi, Sievae, Kaure, and I gathered, and shifted to mean clothes: Erymi, Sievae, and I in mere skirts wifelywise, while Kaure added a maiden-halter. Erymi furthermore bade me bring Aeosel, and Sievae Lenis, while she likewise led Tesine her daughter. She said the children would forehold good faith’s token, though she yielded no more outlay.
My wifelove then led us at swift stride from the Richfarthing, through Ship’s End to the Harbor. Then we swerved southward and took ferry over the harbor-lake to the Marshfarthing, wontsomely where traders hold their warebarks (under stout ward, since thieves are mean). Here we found the ~Elluashu~ - the Floating Streets - as I have heard named the docks built through the many canals thwarting this stead. Although some houses are built on feet of stone and dredged earth (under the lucky few giant marshtar trees), the water wavers so much (now high at floodtide) that most neighborfolk forsake any dream to dwell on dry land and instead take houseboats, which easily rise and lower with the yeartide, and also which they may stir whenever they wish.
Anon Sievae stuck as if bestricken. When we asked, she warned here is a thieves’ neighborhood, as she had gotten word when in childhood her kindred had fared hither. Erymi soothed our childsister, bereading that, with the children and my babe abreast, we should be safe unless we gave offthank or ill word, and heartened us to keep forth.
Awatch, I saw a row of boats further ahead, and with tents set adeck. Yet on another glance I should more rightly name them small ships, since they held masts. I bethought it an odd stead that ships should dock here and not in the right harbor. Yet toward these same houseships Erymi now led us. On a neighboring marshberg a broader tent stood, brightly hued, and a kitchenhearth smoking. I saw many folk in kilts and loinclothes, with braided hair looped high arear their antennae, and with bright scarves twisted within. Then I knew them: seafaring Raumoeva. I reminded we had first seen these wandering folk on our stay in Wicked Nivaea amid our seafare back to Qabarat from the Formian War, whom Oshis had then outsought and told of his father’s kindred. Straightway I wondered these newfound Raumoeva’s selfness, and what kinship my manlove might own. Although I had heard these folk’s wickedest tales, I withheld deemship.
I got answer when from the ship’s rear came Oshis walking with a Raumoeve Damaya, older than Erymi and taller even than I, hair and braids wound into an almost crownlike bunch on her head’s rear, and wielding a whisk-fan almost seeming a matron’s wand. Against Erymi’s earlier assureness, jealousy smote: too often have I heard tales of Oshis’s wicked bedsport, and once too often had I caught him in mid-sin, which had almost wrecked my bridetide. So too easily I bethought this wife another lover.
Yet Erymi bade Tesine run forth to her father, who so came to him. The wife knelt, dearly greeted the girl, and hugged her. Under Erymi’s lead we neared whither the Raumoeve wife waited with Tesine, and under the other folk’s watchful eyes from the boats and tents. Oshis waited still, whomin I read shame, which little behooved his stand. Yet wisely Erymi stood before the wife and bowed. She then bade Oshis begreet us.
A breathtide our manlove faltered, and then: ~Me Minal,~ - “This is Minal,” he named softly, ~ o mivishe,~ - “my half-sister.”
At once the steadship lightened, so that I even felt ashamed at my earlier inkling. I strode to Minal, witting she shared Oshis’s dun skin but bronze stripes, and heedfully inkstains winding among, and yielded my name, and Aeosel: ~Mas utha-vas, oe Oshistas,~ - “This is my son, and Oshis’s.”
Full worshipfully Minal took him, gazed a breathtide at his dear chubby face, bright eyes, and seeking antennae, and said: ~Utha-sas shirya-shyaelas,~ - “Your son is my kin.” Then she hugged him to bosom and bowed.
At Erymi’s behest, Sievae swiftly begreeted Lenis as Oshis’s elder son. Minal knelt and hugged him samely as she had done to Tesine. She welcomed us to share drink with her household. Then she gave Aeosel back to me, took Tesine and Lenis in each hand, and led us to the tent, where she loudly spoke in the Raumoeva tongue, but wherein I gathered she bestowed us guesthood.
These folk yielded a strong brandymilk, wherein I tasted myrrhbrandy, rose, and nutmeg, and took heed to sip slightly. They couthly withheld speech until we all had drunken, even the children. Then Minal begreeted us to her household, which got some laughter, doubtlessly from all our children being Oshis’s, but which whit earned their goodwill. I have learned enough High Valmaean, and also had kithness with Low Valmaean in the Formian War, that I could understand at least their speech’s small share. When they spoke Yaro, they so did with a sharp Shattersea lilt, which made good thought, since they belong to the Northern Shattersea Clan whose ships wander. Minal’s kinswives all took my babe in trend, held him abreast, and blessed him, giving word how like Oshis he looks.
They also spoke another name - Laun - Minal’s and Oshis’s father.
At the right tide, I yielded our purpose coming, by joking we had sought our wayward fathermate who had too often offstolen to beget more children. Oshis’s small shame bought laughter from his kindred. Yet Minal answered he had been helping them find trade in the city, adding many traders would not deal with them. I then came behind Oshis, hugged his nape to my bosom, and chidingly knuckled his brow, saying he should have told his secret. He answered Less already laughs at him for being an outlaw’s son, and he should not give his shieldbrother more arrows to shoot. Although I answered not, I foremarked to speak with Tae to have her jokester manmate still his tongue.
Instead, I spoke aloud we had heard too few tales of Oshis’s father and would learn to teach my son. Minal grinned and answered we should need a longer nighttide and more drink. Our hosts bewon us to sit duskmeal, a snake and shellfish stew thickened with wine and headnut milk and mightily spiced, with catcorn, canegrass shoots, riceberries, and frog eggs, and which I guessed gleaned from the neighboring marsh. While we ate, Tesine and Lenis too merrily played with the other children as their newfound kin. I traded babes with the other mothers, kissed their chubby bellies, and nibbled toes. Bywardly Minal rose and began tale of Laun her father.
Laun had been a bold and winsome thief, as also Oloe Oshis's mother had told - maybe too winsome until falseness, shrove Minal. His guilt had grown nameworth over the whole Shattersea. He had stayed as her mother Vishte's fathermate until she was twenty years old. His livelihood, however, had strengthened the mean misdeemship that Raumoeva are thieves, and which their household's wardship had witlessly shared. Although he had worked their boats, both fishing and freight, he ever had open an eager eye at forehap to swindle fools or steal an easy mark, and which misdeeds stay unforgotten, even here in Qabarat where folk still remind after many years.
Minal akept that Laun’s flight northward to Son had outcome from his greatest theft, wherein he had bestrayed a matron, stolen her gems, and also her crown. Yet the wrathful matron had roused the city’s whole streetwatch, who had offcut the Marshfarthing and thoroughfare to the boats. So with no way else, he had fled upriver on Father-Yaro. Afterward, Minal added the bewronged matron had seen all Raumoeva households fordriven from the city. Not until many years later had their shipclan found leave to come back. Minal ended at word that she had afternever again seen her father. ~Hithandava haerru yio thandalava be hae,~ - “We came back to the sea as we had come from the sea.”
She then asked whether we knew her folk’s tale. I answered we knew a little, and that they are the afterbears of Lost Valmaea, like Valmaeana to the South. She nodded, but then read that no Raumoeva clan nor boat sails to Valmaeana. She told that when their foremothers had first fled to Asana from the Formians, ere the rise of Qoaronaea, the Elder Queens of the South had enthralled them. Yet their forebears had won free and fled to the islands and swamps, outlaw and unwelcome. Laterward when the Formians came to Asana, Qoaronaea had freed all of Valmaea’s afterbears and gathered all the cities in alliance. They had then called the Raumoeva, had bidden them swear to the Qoaronae, and cleave the alliance. Yet a great and wise housewife had upstood and deemed the threefold-goddess evil, and spoke: ~Va vaea hoeaf ti rei,~ - “We choose life instead of war.” Then the Valmaeana had cursed them, forbidding evermore they should come to the South among their kin, instead to wander the Shattersea, its shores and islands, and great Father-Hisyho. Qabarat, she outlaid, was wontsomely so far northward as they ever came (but for Laun their father).
After her tale, I stayed, mindful of her kindred’s sorrow, and bowed. Then I asked whether Oshis had told he had won the Ofu-Laubu spear-trial at the last Motorae Games, to which Minal answered he had not. So I told of his championship, ending that he is the doughtiest spear-rider I know. I shared furthermore he is a benamed haremmate of Ofu-Laubu’s queen, to which they chucklingly asked: ~Dei olathi-ziniloni misae teiue?~ - “Is that further proof of his spearwork?”
I begladdened of these folk’s couth but wary friendship. Yet I also eyed their skirts and kilts, bright, though often dyed and threadbare, and their ships dearly kept and mended, but whose rails lacked gloss. I deemed them wantsome, and maybe hopeless. They are not cityfolk, and so with no right to welfare but what Qabarat may outreach, and as witnessed from Minal’s tale of how they were driven from the city. Yet a quick sift of Oshis’s thoughts warned that a silver-gift would be reckoned a haughty offthank. Thus his work to find them behoofsome trade: worshipful help.
Erymi talked kindly with the older wives while Sievae flirted with the Korasha, and Kaure and Oshis played with the children. one began to play a songwood, gathered them all into a dance. Minal brought another cup of that everstrong brandymilk, which I warily sipped and yielded back, fearing it might besotten my milk, saying nothing of how it could dull my soulmight. At the hint and a thought shared, we withdrew to sit by the boats.
Minal began by asking how many more children Oshis has. I answered two sure whom I straightly know, and told of Zheye his eldest and Vosaeth’s Sonnauf, and whisper and guess of more, thinking of Damyane among the Stormshields and Marauqereth on her high crag. Minal nodded and wryly said he bespoke much like their father, which ever thought odd that, since our selves grow from our mothers’, still some whit of our fathers may grow true. She added she has other kin scattered over the Shattersea, owing to their father’s lust, which she has behooved to friendship in many steads.
She then asked how Laun her father had died. I begged sorrow, since I knew not, but that he had fled further after Hivaea had cloven Son’s landhold and his banhood had outstretched. She nodded, saying it is a sorry thing to die alone and far from kin and house. I yaysaid, saying that his father’s loss had marked Oshis, too.
~O’leiri heilya-shyaelis teasra,~ I spoke: “I beseech you be proud of your brother.” ~O’reasya-hoe, das loeas o'diasa-mei,~ - “Against his sins, he is a faithful man and father.” Then I shrove that the Komori had smitten me while my bridetide, and his mind’s shard melded with mine. Minal made a warding beck against evil, as wonstomely meanfolk do, fearing the Komori’s stroke. Yet then she clasped my hand and blessed me for forbearing much, after which I added: ~Evanaf ezimoni yi nila,~ - “I know him better than most.”
Oshis strolled near and daringly chided what wickedness we might be crafting. We misblithely answered nothing to make him worry. Then I bestowed Aeosel, who nestled into his father’s mighty arm. He bore our son away to cleave the dance while we dearly watched. I knowingly told that Oshis had forespoken to their help, and that I would uphold, to which Minal nodded.
~Ollonas yi dias,~ spoke Minal softly: "He is a better than our father," which I took wordlessly, wondering at her hurt to so beshrive, and the furthermore had hinted in her tale from her father's flight.
Then beyond the marshberg, something splashed, and splashed again ringing toward the floating street, nearer. I bewared and asked whether they behold many qutau-snakes or marsh-eels so near the broad marshwoods. Minal answered seldomly, though she warned other things haunt. When I asked what, she faltered.
~Dahazu~ - “Whiskerlings,” she slowly shrove, although she outlaid not the wontsome four-legged kind. When I asked how unlike, she asked back whether I might believe them bigger, and more queerly walking folklike on rear legs. I loudly wondered forsoothness, which she aswore. ~Kolama vi reala verazara,~ - “The cityfolk name us thieves,” she said. ~Ziari tu verazu be va,~ - “Yet those things thieve from us.” She told others have met them and shared wild tales that even she could not believe. I spoke wish to learn more of these unsooth beasts.
Erymi next came near bearing Tesine, no longer a small load, who after the dusk’s mirthtide grudgingly slumbered. She kissed and warned we must put the children to bed. Minal rose and hugged them both, whereat my childsister outquoth she should trust her among few wives else, to Minal’s laughter.
I likewise stood and hugged Minal. ~Rosaea-shyaeldis,~ - “You have guested us,” I whispered. ~Di tiveia-ruaelva,~ - “We will not forget.” I fully wared my word hinted a dearth, which I hope she may own. Then we strolled to the dance, where Eyrmi traded Tesine to Oshis, and who yielded me Aeosel. He also soon had Lenis slung on his other shoulder, and we took friendly leave.
The Raumoeva gave us blazewands, whereon I dwimmered witchlights, which Kaure and Sievae bore and stood well, since no streetlanterns light this farthing and the thief-tales are not false. ~Shoaf shirama-sara,~ - “I like your kin,” I said to Oshis. ~O’ahi naeshyelma, o limis,~ - “If we can help them, speak.” Erymi yaysaid. He nodded thankfully, still ashamed, but rather that we had withheld against our dear behavior. He spoke that they will likely stay until Blighttide, but then with milder weather may go.
Remaue bestowed a shrill ear when we came home almost at Midwatch, and chided the whole household had worried, and Semuane had even gone to beware the streetwatch. When we told our fetch, however, her anger grew, since she rued the hap lost to meet these outlandish folk and forespoke we must go again. I beread us to follow Oshis’s lead and let him reckon when bemeets.

Recap: Lady Vaeol encountered some inquisitors and reconnected with Master Mearthil, her informal contact with the powers in El.

Lashunta Words & Phrases:

• Qolaryon (comm): Lashunta pronunciation of Golarion
• Elluashu (anim): Floating Streets; floating footpath docks set on canals
• Me (fem): inclusive feminine demonstrative pronoun
• Mivishe (fem): half-sister; sister by a common father.
• Mas (masc): inclusive masculine demonstrative pronoun
• Utha-vas - 1st-person demonstrative/possessive of ~Uthas~ (masc): son
• Oshistas (masc): possessive adjective of Oshis
• Utha-sas (2nd-pers demonstrative): your son
• Shirya-shyaelas (3rd comm honor): is kin; holds kinship
• Hithandava (1st perf comm intrans): I/we came back
• Haerru (fem alla/dative): to the sea
• Yio: since; as
• Thandalava (1st plup comm intrans): I/we had come
• Be: from
• Hae (fem): sea; ocean
• Va (comm): we
• Vaea (spir acc): life; soul
• Hoeaf (1st trans): I/we choose
• Ti (spir): without; instad
• Rei (spir): war
• Dei: interrogative particle
• Olathi-ziniloni (spir): further proof
• Misae (spir): experience; doughtiness
• Teiua (spir): possessive adjective of ~Teiu~ (anim): spear
• O’leiri (adv): beseechingly; as a petition
• Heilya-shyaelis (2nd-pers cond honor trans): you would/may be proud
• Teasra (masc acc): brother
• O’reasya-hoe (adv): against/despite sin/crime
• Das (masc): man; male
• Loeas (masc): loyal; faithful
• o'diasa-mei (adv): and/with father
• Evanaf (1st trans): I/we understand
• Ezimoni (adv): more; more greatly
• Yi nila: than most/many
• Ollonas (masc): better; righter
• Yi (spir): comparative adverb
• Dias (masc): father
• Dahazu (anim): whiskerling; rat
• Ziari (adv): yet; however
• Tu (anim): that/yonder creature; ultra-distal pronoun
• Verazu (3rd anim): thieves; steals
• Be: from
• Va (comm): we/us
• Rosaea-shyaeldis (2nd perf honor): you bestowed guesthood
• Di: not; negative adverb
• Tiveia-ruaelva (1st cond comm intrans humble): I/we may/would forget
• Shoaf (1st trans): I/we like; love familially
• Shirama-sara (2nd-pers comm acc): your kin
• O’ahi (adv): can; able to
• Naeshyelma (inclus depend comm intrans): if we help
• O limis (2nd cond): then speak