A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 46

Today the Threefold House boded that qualmlock shall end aftomorrow on Treesong Eve, thus aletting a full market day. The cheer quelled, however, under warning that the Marshfarthing’s qualmlock shall stay whole, since the Burning Pox still most bestrickenly grows there. At once whispers swirled that crowdstrife has stirred in that biggest and wantsome farthing, and which is also the most upriseful, since it lies on the harbor’s other side and without wardwalls. Smugglers may row over the harbor under night’s whelve, and also the farthing-dwellers may steal into the outlying marshes. Nevertheless the Harborwatch has set longships in the harbor. Also, Semuane is called to duty to begin a scoutfare of the marshwoods, to forestall the same stealth.

Even as we cheer qualmlock’s end, and even though we understand the need to shelter the qualm against further spread, something seems coldhearted in the Matronhood’s lone doom upon the Marshfarthing. Foregiven it is the city’s most folksome share and therefore the most likely to hold the qualm, since it is also the most wantsome, its folk suffer the most. We talked whether the Matronhood will open the cornstocks and bequeathe a dole, but no sure word. I hope the ruth finds them to do so.

17. Zielae, 24,547 - Qabarat; Qualmlock’s Last Day

Mild business today, and some rue, in readiness of Hauronil and Meiss leaving tomorrow. Among the household they have proven helpful and earned much goodwill. Hauronil has left bids with the housegrooms to further work for the midyard’s shrubs and blossomworts, with hope that his work will bear growth.

Ashelae Treesong Eve, 24,547 - Qualmlock’s End; 13th Month in Qabarat

This morn, we sang farewell to Hauronil and Meiss, who both go back to their households after spending qualmlock with us: Hauronil to Indith, Leiendil, and their Elven blossomyard, and Meiss to the Lemussa Weaponyard, where his yardmates will doubtlessly tease him for staying stuck with Sievae this last month. Although we gave leave under great sorrow, we all swore to see each other soon. With Meiss I sent word to Master Evauess that we will come again to the weaponyard so soon as we can (after right duty at the Embassy).

Meiss knelt before Sievae, set hand worshipfully on her waist, and laid a long kiss on her belly. Her hand soothed his nape and ran through his hair. She blessed him and swore love, forespeaking she would soon bid him come again. Then in trend he went to Draue and repeated worship, and then also to Nae. Then he strode to Hanos, took him in arm, and kissed stalwartly. Yet, although none here all forecaught anyone, all shook when next he strode to Mistress Shotheiae knelt, and kissed her belly while thanking her guesthood. She blessed him as ~a qofas zhehuas~ - a fair boy - while her children shamefully gaped. Yet then he shocked all when he also kissed my belly, but for Sievae who chuckled knowingly. Then I bade him go with goodwill.

Likewise, Hauronil knelt and kissed Kaure’s belly, who wept, hauled the Damayas upright, and caught him in a stout Korasha hug. She laid brow against his breast while he bowed nape and nuzzled her locks and antennae. No doubt they will meet again soon. Yet next he kissed Remaue’s belly, and then mine while our housemates grinned and wondered when things had happened. Then he and Meiss walked out through the foregate with arms clasped.

So now, of all the new guests caught here under qualmlock, only Vosaeth and her house stay. While today we went to Son’s Embassy, she likewise went to Ofu-Laubu’s to see Lady Tiril and ask when the elfgate may open, forwhy they owe to go back. She came back with no word yet, since although Qabarat under the elfgate’s bylaws has sent wordbode through telling that qualmlock has ended, Ofu-Laubu must still acknowledge and lift the ban. Thus some days may outstay ere they are let through, although already the gate-traders will be harrying. So we have some time more with our oathsister and kin.

To that end, Vosaeth also brought a welcome-bid for the embassy’s mirthtide tonight, where we may at least see Lady Tiril and rightly thank Lady Marauqereth’s bridetide gift to Kaure. So the whole house readies for our first right tide away from the household in more than a month. It forespeaks merry.

Ashelae Treesong, 24,547 - 15th Month in Qabarat

I am ill today and even had to come home early from the embassy’s mirthtide yesternight. Against my early leavetide, I gladly spoke with Lady Tiril and witnessed Kaure’s thankful beseech to bode worship to Lady-Captain Marauqereth. Lady Tiril told that motherhood thrills Her Ladyship beyond forsoothness, and at my mild ask, that all their harem watches reckfully. Yet both she and Vosaeth have told that the last yeartide, ingathering the peacebode to the Sealnea, have seemingly helped aim Her Ladyship’s thought and will, and thereby strengthened her mind. They hope the babe will behave samely. For my share, I beseeched Lady Tiril to bode my faith and love, in sisterhood’s name.

Today I rue not watching Treesong, where my housemates now gather while I stay alone. I hear the dance from the street and reckon the neighborhood cheerfully coming through qualmtide rather unstricken. We have been lucky, and I would thank the gods.

2. Ashelae, 24,547 - 15th Month in Qabarat

Today I felt well enough to watch a doleful deed long overwaited: Remaue and I, along with Semuane, Vosaeth, and Mistress Shotheiae, hosted Kaure to the Threefold House. There we met Hauronil, Indith, and Leiendil in the hall’s foreyard, to swear witness and behold Kaure uprisen to wifehood. When we showed before the watch-matron, however, we met a mishap. The lady looked to me, Semuane, Shotheiae, Indith, and even Remaue - all but Kaure and Hauronil - even when our new wifemate straightly outspoke again. At last I bade that this worthy wife would outspeak her bridetide.

The matron, standing behind her bench, warily with flat antennae looked on Kaure. Then she said: ~Di iryaea,~ - “This is unwontsome.” When we asked how so, she haughtily answered she had erenever heard of a Korashe becoming a wife.

To say that the matron’s word hit Kaure’s soreness would be understatement, forwhy too often her erstwhile teachers and reeves had so bullyingly misberead her. Though I feared our beloved new wifemate would withdraw under shyness, instead she almost leapt the bench until Remaue and I hastily withheld. Semuane brought the others under warmind.

Eyesome to the matron, I think she wholly reckoned the threat she met under our troop so fiercely arailed. Yet all halted, awaiting Kaure to lead her sake, which she did with a mere, strong word: ~Ve rie,~ - “I am a wife.” When the matron answered not, Hauronil (whom she also strongly unheeded) came beside and swore witness as First Man. Then Mistress Shotheiae likewise told the rite had happened under her household. Meanwhile, Istae and I drifted to the bench’s ends. I warned that withholding wifely benamehood foreloomed a couthless sake that we should surely bring to Son’s ambassador. The matron at last found her tongue and answered: ~Yei hivusi Sonru o’adeni mauhaue-doqoali!~ - “Then go back to Son and your heathen upper-strath wise!”

Along with Kaure’s wrath (cloven by Remaue’s) and our fellow’s outshamelessness, both Istae and I minded the same thought: to dare the matron to weapontrial, which I misdoubt would have made a shametide to shake the whole city and get us in more bother than we had ever beheld. Yet ere we mispoke (or Kaure leapt the bench, which was still a threat), an else throat spoke from the hallway: ~O’zhienya-shyae!~ - “Forgive me!” rightly couth but loud and strong enough to catch all minds. We beheld Lady Eneae.

The matron, Semuane’s maidenlove and who had befriended us, strode to the bench between Istae and Hauronil. The watch-matron, our wrath’s butt, looked beseechingly. Yet instead, Lady Eneae outspoke to Kaure that she greatly rued leave from the bridetide right at qualmlock’s start, and had so forgone without hap to rightly bless her wifehood. Then Eneae knelt, crouched (since she is tall), and kissed Kaure’s belly. Then the elder matron stood and spoke to the younger watch-matron: that this awkwardness must surely mistake, since Lady Eneae herself had witnessed the bridetide.

The watch-matron stared as if she hardly knew Eneae. At last she whispered that, if Lady Eneae wished to log Kaure’s wifehood, she would gladly yield the bench. Ywr Eneae’s antennae shook. She answered she would sorrowfully let the matron forsake her sworn duty. When the watch-matron answered not, Eneae warned she would be oathbound to tell this misbehavior to the elder alderwives.

The two ladies’ eyes locked unbearably. Then the watch-matron shied and dipped pen. She wrote Kaure’s deed in the log while I overread her shoulder and bade her spell Kaure’s name right. Then we haughtily bowed worship and, still under warmind and with wardsome hands on Kaure’s shoulders, withdrew from the hall. Yet Remaue stayed behind and shared a whisper with the watch-matron, which made me fear whether we might hear sin-sake afterward.

Outside, we thanked Lady Eneae’s inbreach, whereof we swiftly atrusted Semuane had yielded word of our planned show. The matron nodded mildly, and then went again to Kaure, took her hand, and said: ~Ebilave loshasse. O’siadeni shaeonve,~ - “I weary of being wary. I would be bold like you.” With a last worship she left.

Kaure’s wrath dimmed not, although we dearly tried to soothe her. At last she chose to go with Hauronil. They told not where, though I guessed, under this happendom, they would seek his friends and fellows among the Damaya-Elves who likewise understood this misforedeemship. I forgave her small forsakenhood, forwhy I knew she begrudged not our uphold, but rather its need at all... Even so, against the matron’s ill will, how could we not behave for her sake?

After Mistress Shotheiae kissed Semuane her daughter and left to oversee the tradehouse, we found ourselves alone - me, Remaue, Indith, and Leiendil - for the first time since the bridetide. While Remaue and I stood holding arms and the two Elves did samely, we looked shyly until the swyness stretched old. At last, forwhy it deemed less awkward, I said: ~O’zhyoli-dumi relesivalya-rualdama~ - “Eyesome we have not rightly wooed each other.” Indith’s hand hid a giggle, while Remaue chuckled, and Leiendil and I matched rueful smiles. Then the Elves yielded us their hands. Semuane outspoke this a happy tide and offered to stand as middlebode to our wooship. Then Leiendil neared, bowed, and lissomely kissed me Elvenwise while Remaue did samely to Indith.

I put forth that, as a meet-outing, we should head down to the Marshfarthing and seek what word we could of Minal and her Raumoeva kindred. Foreguessably they had tried to flee the city ere qualmlock, though we had heard nothing. So we went arm in arm, and Semuane flirting back and forth with me and Remaue. We came to the marshberg wharf where the Raumoeva ships had docked, and found the wharfmistress, whose sourness we reminded. She told Minal’s kindred had indeed left while the qualmlock rang, even after the Seagate shut. Her word struck me odd. So I asked how one could flee seaward without the Seagate. Withholdingly she answered that, if one knows the right streams running through the saltmarshes on the farthing’s far side and if the seatide is high enough (as it often is at Floodtide’s end and early Blighttide), one can thereby reach the sea if one drags ships over a few berthsteads, which although worksome, can be done in a daytide, and which way smugglers often use. Thus we left with whatever goodwill the wharfmistress would take, and with forethought to tell Mistress Shotheiae and Noemi their freight well foreseen to reach its goal.

When we headed back up-city, we switched mates: I with Indith and Remaue with Leiendil. While my wifemate joked and giggled, Indith and I stayed swy. Wonder struck at how mildly she nestled under my arm, as if yielding to my might, until we came to the streetyard where our ways must shed: they to the Elf-Farthing and we to the Richfarthing. Semuane blessed our moottide. We all yaysaid, whereat she asked if we should all meet again. Remaue and I yaysaid, with one foreword: that Indith and Leiendil woo Kaure, too. With smiles, they answered they wholly forewill. So we traded last kisses and took leave.

Tonight Remaue and I watched late, awaiting Kaure, which gave me time to write most of this log. Our new wifemate came home after Firstwatch, smelling of meadbrandy and too besotten for mindshare. At our sight she halted, and then staggered near, hugged, and kissed our bosoms. ~Stireori-nae eise komante-ye?~ she slurrily asked: “Why must you be so fulsome?” Then we dragged her to bed and laid her to sleep. I shrive we would dearly love to hear what tale brought her back in such maudlinness