A Castrovel Adventure: Part 3, Chapter 36

11. Vealae - Northwest of Elfring Dale (25th day afetch)   We left at morn’s first light: Tolamad alead with Ningaril another Elf, Master Mearthil, Semuane, Rivale her shieldbearer, Kazos with Damyane his eldest daughter, me, Krastaes, Oshis, and also Kaure, whom I bade at last come with us. In all, eleven folk and six Shota, so big a team as should not needfully fear anything in these highlands where no Qoelu tread, at least nothing wholesome.   Ere we rode forth, I brought Kaure to Krastaes and Oshis. To them I bade that weapon-drill needs to wait until our homecome to Son, but until then they should begin teaching all warriorhood they can. Krastaes answered they would surely do so. He also read that, along with weapons, warriorhood holds much that is less wonderful and more boresome and duller, which is why Kaure is now standing watch.   Also came hap to greet Kaure with Semuane, whomof my maidenmate had already heard. Here I thought Semuane did something keen. She knelt, took Kaure’s hand, and kissed it. Then she quoth that, since Kaure is my sworn lovemate, she must give Semuane forehap to earn her goodwill. Already Kaure had been staring at this heavenly, goddesslike shape that strides among earthbound folk like Burning-Mother’s handmaiden. At this wordquest, Kaure chirped and quailed dizzily. Then she hid behind me and spoke not to Semuane for the whole latter daytide.   Along today’s wayfare, we halted at the Stone Ring, for Master Mearthil wished to see. With Tolamad’s leave we went inside. At once I asked whether these stones beseemed like the great worldgate in Qabarat. He answered there is indeed a likeness, though happily no such gate. His word relieved me, though also made me wonder what work this stead had served while we went along the way, and bywardly headed up a neck that took us into the next dale.   Now I sit under tent, out of the rain, with Semuane beside me. Though we behave, we cannot keep hands from each other. I can hardly believe but a few months have gone since we last saw each other in Qabarat. I have so much to tell, and also await Kaure’s watch-end, for I would not forsake her nor lose time when they may know each other better.     12. Vealae - Minrannon Hold (26th day afetch)   Yesternight I lay between Kaure and Semuane, meekly, for we would not bother the others sleeping while afare. Kaure too shyly would still not speak with Semuane. Yet slyly the both took mindshare with me, and with me as shield from any straight meanhood, heedfully felt each other out. Kaure was overwhelmed by my erstwhile foe’s heavenly beauty, and also the Qabarat outrider’s reckless grace. Semuane, for her share, was enthralled by my new maidenmate as Korashe. I reminded her mislike of men and wondered whether in Kaure’s body she harkened something. Queerly I hung between them, still, and almost helpless. I would lie that I did not begladden of it. No answer I had but to snuggle near and have them hold me between. This morn, however, they understood more easily, and even talked.   Today we reached Minrannon, which Tolamad gave to understand as one of their main clanholds in this land. It is made of three hometrees grown near together with main limbs undertwined as a great deck among, whereon stand a good lot of building. The Elves stared queerly, for I gathered few if any had ever met a Lashunta, much less spoken, which forecaught them when Semuane and I opened mouths and greeted them in fair Elvish. They seemed both frightened and enthralled of our Shotalashu, who haughtily forebore their reckfulness. To many youths here, Qabarat is but a name, almost yore-talesome as El.   Tolamad made us welcome enough for our wayfare, setting houses for us tonight, and also dightening stocks for our fetch to the Moqeva Barrow. He has gathered us two more leads, doughty hunters who know these heights well. We then sat among their elders to outlay the ongoing truce and speak of things. Then Master Mearthil saw fit to tell all of Semuane’s and my banishment from El, inmeaning all whits of our feud with Lady Aleriel and our playcraft to get Brand and the Aslanta home. Against my fear, the shameless tale did little to offput the Elves. They have only heard of Sovyrian’s high lords, whom their foremothers fled for freedom’s sake here into the wilderness. Thus they betake no evil that we crossed wits with an Elflord’s spoiled granddaughter, as Mearthil rather bluntly (and shockingly) bespoke her. He almost outmade us as outlaw heroes.   The tale also made Kazos wit us in new light. Erenow, I almost thought he bethought us Elf-lovers, as many Clan-Lashunta believe Cityborn. I believe our tale showed we are willing to upstand to Elves, as need betakes.   Also laterward, Tolamad asked what we could tell of the Aslanta, since he had heard they had been his folk’s elder foes ere they left Blue-Queen and hithercame. At once I thought of Brand, of our last kiss, and the burning want he had awoken in me. I babbled some unrightwise answer.     13. Vealae - Dale of Amaea (27th day afetch)   Today we introd a stead whereof I have heard my whole life, but only in yore-tale: the Dale of Amaea, Father-Yaro’s birthstead. From the South we came through the fell’s neck and beheld a winding axeblade-furrow dale, steep on both sides whelmed in green, blue, and rose, and hooded in rainclouds. Below I sought the river’s sight. Yet mist filled the bottom, hiding the young waters.   I told Krastaes, Oshis, Kazos, Kaure, and the others what I know. Father-Yaro is born from Green-Mother upon the slope of Ta-Anossu, where she blessed and laid a kiss upon the bergside. From a cleft burst a spring, whose waters flow into a dale and gather all other streams with until they grow to a great flood. Thence Father-Yaro winds and roars through the crags and heights until at last He settles among the lowlands right north of Son.   Tolamad hearkened my tale. He believes he knows the stead I bespoke. He told there is a grove upon a height at the dale’s northern end, which hides a wreckstead. From a spring therein flows a stream. He read our path will take us therealong, and that we may behold it.   Tonight we camp atop a crag overlooking a spiderweb of gulches. Mist overflows these cracks, making our stead an island amid wafting cloud-wisps, shed from other such landmarks like our own.