A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 62

Afaelae Treesong Eve, 24,548 - 20th month in Qabarat   Today after mornmeal, and fully, couthly arailed in golden dish-halter, greaves, and armbands, Taiase and I went to the Embassy, along with Draue, Sievae, Nae, Hanos, and all our children. Remaue and Erymi went with Kaure and Oshis to the Gameyard, since they would stand as shieldbearers. Tae and Less also hosted in fellowship, along with a sixsome of warriors from the Embassy, whom Her Highness sent as safeward of any strife as undergone two days ago. We took kissful leave of our champions and swore to see them soon.   At the Embassy, we found almost the whole peacebode readying, since all should asith Her Highness Lady Sheneal to the Gameyard. We beheld Her Highness in rather more feudsome mood than ereyesterday when she had giftfully let us stay, as if she again rued this weapondare and my share starting it. ~Dei-samae hazya-shyalm keiahilathara tiassara?~ she haughtily asked: “Shall we get this dance-show ended?” Then she climbed upon her litter (letting us walk), and we headed out.   We reached the peacebode’s seatbox while the Gameyard’s watchstands were swiftly filling, even more so than at Demante’s and my weapondare twelve days ago. Reckfully, I witted the Gameyard’s far side filling with folk clothed Elvenwise. At this length, whether true Elves or Damaya-Elves I could not tell (though did it reck?). Also among them I beheld many Korasha and wearing hoods, and furthermore others both Damaya and Korasha. Gainwise, the Matronhood’s side of the Gameyard (where we watched) was filling with Rightkind, proudly and loudly so, and who soon yelled scorn against the Thwartkind afar. I bewared some shoves along the edges, as if already mood blazed. Eyesomely the city also bedreaded when wardens rowed at both ends, thus keeping both sides shed with staff and byrnie.   Bywardly, Mistress Shotheiae and Nimaue clove the box as Her Highness’s guests, and also Hauronil, Indith, and Leiendil, whom we dolefully welcomed as Kaure’s lovers. Then came Tae and Less, who told that, with Oshis and Kaure safely come, the marshals had bidden leave.   Then Less, Hanos, and Meiss all three drew forth hoods and, under the neighbors’ shock, donned them upon their necks. Even under Her Highness’s mind and nearness to the Matronhood’s deck, this deed goaded some jeers and even a thrown goldwort.   Lady Sheneal shamelessly watched my flagmates’ deed and offlooked. ~A Vaeol-Ile,~ she sharply bade: ~Yaomasra ihaelya-ruae,~ - “Lady Vaeol, handle your flagmates.”   I looked at the threesome and matched their grins while their wifeloves giggled, even though I bewared threat that Lady Sheneal might ban them. So I headed to Hauronil and beseeched to borrow his eartips. My schoolmate and Damaya-Elf chuckled, doffed, and settled them on my ears. ~Yaomas ollaea-rualas,~ - “My flagmates are alright,” I answered Her Highness with daresome couthness. Her Highness glared, but now could not ban them without bestowing me feud-worthy offthank. Indith also came to help Hauronil. She stood and reckoned the eartips’ outcome. Then she kissed me and outspoke I would become a pretty Elf if we could merely hide my skinstripes.   The horns and bells next samg the matrons, though they tallied less than half and made us wonder how many would undergo the crowd’s ill mood. Her Highness Lady Ivassil looked rather lonesome in the High Matron’s seat. Last came Lady Eneae, who took seat near us. She stood at the rail and hailed the far side, who greeted with great buzz and roar. We beheld she wore a breasthalter maidenwise under her bodyshroud: token that she had outspoken as evermaiden. After the cheer dimmed, she nobly greeted us, which Lady Sheneal awkwardly answered.   Nothing, however, readied us for the strifesome din when Kaure and Oshis rode their Shotalashu into the yard, neither the cheer from the far side nor the hatesome hiss from near over and aring us. Rotten worts flew showerlike into the yard, some even landing by us, until drums banged and wardens clambered through the watchstands after the sinners. We stood and sang Son’s anthem, which the peacebode clove (whether willingly or not) while our two flagmates ran their steeds along the list logs and tried the footing. Meanwhile, the far side gathered into a crowd-dance, first Elven and then Korasha, smartly daring the Rightkind’s answer.   The game herald stood forth under more jeers and raining worts, whereafter Her Highness the High Matron beckoned lackluster leave. The herald then outspoke the weapondare: Oshis Firstspear and Kaure Shieldbearer of Son should hold the yard against all darers, at the best of three broken spears or swift-death, though jeers outdrowned the bylaws. Yet then the bells and horns goaded the crowd still, until at their end all could hear the herald’s next word: ~Ste iheshye doalarahazara?!~ - “Who will dare the yard-holders?!”   All eyes headed to the gate at the yard’s left end. Then rode forth a rider and Shotalashu who lifted a spear whereon flew the flag of the Issendil Outriderhood. The outrider lifted her helm, and a gasp took the crowd while all kenned Lady-Captain Veiemi, no less worthy than the Issendil headmistress, who had already outspoken as Lady Eneae’s fellow, and whose leadership of her outriderhood, as betold, was already threatened. Heedlessly her steed leapt upon the list log and dashed to midyard, where it halted and reared claws waving. The lady-captain stalwartly hailed the Matronhood (such as it showed), and then swerved to hail the far side. Although the hisses and rotten worts still flew, the cheers were louder. The lady-captain’s steed then leapt down to cleave Kaure and Oshis, whom both she marksomely hugged. Under the crowd’s din they traded words, doubtlessly talking whom she dared. Anon she lowered spear and touched tip to Oshis’s shield, whereat the cheers grew even against the Rightkind’s ill will.   Lady Veiemi and Oshis rode three spears and broke the first two together. Whether he struck easily against the lady-captain or not I could not tell, though it felt a most couth match. Yet on the third spear, while his broke, hers did not, and she also wobbled warningly asaddle. Among mingled buzzes and hisses, they rode back to midyard, where Lady Veiemi clapped her shoulder, acknowledging the hit’s shock. Then they clasped hands, and she yielded the match.   As next match, Lady Kyriniss rode forth: the Motorae spear-trial’s champion. Here the Rightkind side heartened, misbelieving she came to save their honor. Yet she hugged both Oshis and Kaure even more dearly than Lady Veiemi, since they had ere ridden together at Ofu-Laubu’s speartrial two years ago when she had lost to Oshis in the last match. On that reason, she touched Kaure’s shield as her chosen foe. Then they rode forth and broke three spears together in such a shower that splinters outtallied the thrown worts. Then they broke a fourth spear, but Lady Kyriniss lost stirrups and fell, under the Rightkind’s mighty groan. Kaure hastened back, unsteeded and knelt before the outrider, but who waved her health. Then they hugged and stood under the far side’s cheer, whereat Lady Kyriniss lifted Kaure’s arm in win.   Next came Semuane, and no forecaughtness, who wished to ride against them both, and lost to both. Less snarked she was growing a wont of losing against Sonna riders, harkening to our first weapondare thirteen years ago. I sternly bade him hush. At the end, she knelt to Kaure, kissed her breastdish, and yielded a glowrose in lover’s token. Then came Istae, to our great cheer, who beat Kaure but not Oshis. Then came at least a score more, until they each fought more than a twelvesome. Although Kaure lost twice, she never fell, and Oshis never lost. Bywardly, whenever Oshis rode, the crowd yelled: ~A Thonryas!~ - “The ironsmith!” harkening his hammerlike blows, and when Kaure rode forth: ~A Hoshe!~ - “The anvil!”   As the weapontrial furthered, and our riders weakened not, watchers on the Rightkind side glumly left. At last, no more riders came forth into the yard. Then I came to the Matrons’ Deck and beseeched hearth with Her Highness Lady Ivassil. The High Matron gave leave, whereat I clove her at the rail. Then I outspoke to the crowd: ~Dei dome hishe?!~ - “Is there none else?!” I asked, and then beckoned downward: ~E eisrye-ve!~ - “There is my wifemate!” and then: ~Eas eistia-vas!~ - “there is my fathermate!” Then again I asked the crowd: ~Dei steme loaye mi-lashasse?!~ - “Is there anyone worthy to ride with them?” Most jeers hushed.   Her Highness Lady Ivassil then spoke my champions had well fought, and that I had given the city a wondershow erenever seen. Yet she owned not the right to deem their fights’ worth, but rather would yield to the city’s outriderhoods. She then called forth all twelve outrider headmistresses to stand on the Matrons’ Deck, among whom came Lady-Mistress Kael of the Spearcradle, Lady-Mistress Shaeami of the Roseclaw, and Lady-Mistress Rimoare of the Brightsword. Along also came Lady-Captain Veiemi still in harness, who winked at me while she stood with the other headmistresses. After they gathered, Her Highness asked the headmistresses’ deemship on this weapondare, and wiseful to Korasha doughtiness as Shotalashu-riders.   A breathtide the headmistresses faltered as if they feared speech. Then Lady Rimoare outspoke that, so far as she recked, this thing was a sheer freakshow and should be so behaved. Lady Shaeami yaysaid, and that no deemship could be reached after two warriors’ mere sight, and furthermore, although weapontrial might be one thing, warfare was another: a too-heavy Korasha downweighing their Shotalashu would make plighty bough leaps (at which I outspoke both Kaure and Oshis are veterans who had undergone tree-warfare). Another, Lady-Mistress Eari of the Red Saddles Outriderhood, answered that they surely could not begin drilling all Korasha as riders, and if they made them outriders, the city’s host would surely fall to strife and feud.   Then Lady-Captain Veiemi strode forth. ~A ile, os-imara tiveaea-shyalam,~ - “My ladies, we forget one thing,” she said: ~Lasha-la inyaeda,~ - “Her riders won,” and only that deed recked. She bade that when the lady-headmistresses end lying to themselves, they might worthily speak again. Lady-Mistress Rimoare answered they had heard Veiemi stood under her outriderhood’s faith-lack and therefore asked whether Veiemi should rightly withhold until that thing settle. Yet the Lady-Captain unheeded. ~Samaea o ris loea,~ - “Thank you for a worthy weapondare,” she spoke to me. Then she left.   After her, the outstaying headmistresses said little else. Lady Eneae came forth, bowed, and bade she would behold my champions worshiped, and so welcomed us (and Lady Sheneal, though doubtful she will come) to a mirthtide tonight at her hall. I gladly yaysaid, whereat Lady Ivassil trucesomely deemed the thing settled and bade the herald end the weapondare.   In the end, our champions got no crownwreathes nor prize for their matchless fights. Yet the Gameyard’s far side roared Kaure’s and Oshis’s worship and sang a last crowd-dance while the Matronhood, the other headmistresses, the outstaying near crowd, and even Son’s peacebode softly left. I led our flag down to the listrooms, where Remaue and Erymi met us with broad smiles. I waited not but hurried to where Kaure and Oshis were rubbing Vali and Tarami their steeds and sharing a dear breathtide. Ere they behaved, I knelt and reached beseeching hands.   ~A valanta-ma,~ - “Our beloved,” I began: ~Zheievema relesya di meava. Ziari relesi osa-mara liyae. Sa mi hishyaldis.~ - “Outriderhood owns no honor. Yet honor is in this deed. You have given it back to us.” I took them both in arm and kissed their antennae. Then we readied to go home.