A Castrovel Adventure: Part 6, Chapter 17

Today we took shed fetches aiming to bode Kaure’s kin welcome to Raeonyl’s uprisal cheertide. Kaure and Remaue chose to seek Seiss her brother where he has found work at a near farmhold, and furthermore Keiss another elder brother who had left home older years ago. Yet at forethought of going home and meeting her mother, Kaure naysaid. Instead, she beseeched me to go and bode Thiahe her sister. I yaysaid, full-waring I might meet Kaure’s mother who had so hatefully behaved our wifemate. Thus with the path outtold, I left Ashom at Afterdawn and without much hardship reached Ruyuma by Midmorn.

Against my wisdom, Aeal sent a farmhand as wardenhost after warning mobats sometimes raid, and dolefully since I bore Aeosel asaddle. Even so, I took my swordbill along with a dartquiver and shortbill slung on my saddlesheath, though instead of a byrnie, I wore hunting clothes. Over the treepaths we reached Ruyuma’s orchard, which looked a good farmhold as the highest and driest stead in the neighborland's swamp. There we spotted a Korasha trimming toplimbs. When he hailed, I becraved Thiahe. He beseeched us to stay toward the hometree while he sought her to meet us there. Then he nimbly clambered the boughs while we headed as bidden.

My worry grew when we neared Ruyuma’s hometree and who might meet us there. Yet we saw none but Hoashe playing on the main deck and who merrily waved. When I set Aeosel with her to loosen Ess’s saddle, Thiahe came inriding. At our hail, she welcomed and hugged me. She brewed tea while our children played.

Unhappily, I saw unfew bowers empty or even rooves rotten. Even out in the orchard, it had seemed unfull of the farmhands needful to run the farmhold, upkeep the trees, and hunt whatever toads and eels grew most wealthily. Thiahe witted my awareness, and shamefully shrove they had not had enough farmers since old years. Indeed, now that she headed the farmhold, she had lately hired two Korasha (with the one who had greeted us), which afforded more help than they had gotten even ere Seiss left, and she would not rue more. I read the unspoken hint that they had gathered so few farmhands under her mother's ill.

Even while I yielded the welcome-bid to my sister’s cheertide (ingathering Thiahe’s wish to meet Kaure’s manlove soon coming), another Shotalashu inrode. An elder Damaya, a woefully thin crone with fierce wrinkles: Isye, believingly the root of Kaure my wifemate's may ills.

Isye unsteeded and witted Ess on the stallbough. ~A ste?~ - “Who are you?” she dared.

Thiahe’s antennae quailed, but then dove into the strife. ~A mae, le Vaeol-Ile uthe mazhae-vireve,~ she undergreeted: “Mother, she is Lady Vaeol the high matron’s daughter.” Then with a halty breath she added: ~O eisrye Kaureve,~ - “And Kaure’s wifemate.”

The crone stalled while her face showed unspeakable, the only hint her antennae low and rearward, as if heading into a fight, as if I might share whatever unknown, uncanny sin she misbenamed Kaure that had made my wifemate grow Korasha. Yet I bowed and answered my son and I thankfully took their house’s guesthood, adding my sister's welcome-bid.

Isye’s eyes stirred not from me, such that I wondered she even heard my word. Anon she spoke: ~Di ollaelze,~ - “You are not welcome.”

Although I had forelooked ill will, her fierce uncouthness startled me, since among the hinterland this deed might cannily start feud-sake. I also watched shame droop Thiahe’s antennae at her mother offthanking the guest she had right welcomed, and foresaw deeds befalling woefully. Yet to keep truce, I shortly nodded and blessed Isye’s day. Then I lifted my son, strode to Thiahe, and together hugged. ~O’zhaoathara-eshodi, a mie,~ - “Until next time, sister,” I marksomely said, whereafter Thiahe swore to watch Raeonyl’s cheertide and furthermore bring her daughter and all the farmhands on the Sixth (thus leaving her mother alone).

I saddled Ess, upsteeded, and with my hostwarden following, left the farmhold. We rode beyond the orchard when anon Aeosel broke my broody thought: ~A maeme, stei qaeize?~ - “Momma, why are you mad?”

Ashock, I stared at my son. Then I sobbed and hugged him abreast so woefully that Ess halted his next stride and craned neck backward.

I wept the whole way homeward until we leapt the last bough to this hometree and saw Kaure and Remaue waiting queerly. Then I fell into my wifemates’ arms, sobbed again, and only afterward grew truly angry at the hateful crone who had cursed her daughter and owed neither love nor kindliness, and whom I could break like a twig if my wisdom held a heartbeat less. Sinceward, the farmhold’s men have warily shunned me, lest under thoughtless ill I curse them. Now I have outwritten my wrath, though it stubbornly claws my heart.

In the end, I may deem Thiahe a strongly more forbearing daughter than I. Yet I also sorrow that after this ti,e, not only has Kaure not found truce with her mother, but I have not found it with mine.

14. Shenelae, 24,548 - Son

We dallied a late morntide, since we would not bewant Remaue of her mother, nor Lanaryel of her grandmother. Then we took good leave of Aeal and her house, and with Roess’s oath to watch my sister’s cheertide on the upcoming Sixth. Then we fared an easy two belltides to Tiamol, waited the ferry, and again reached Son.

Here we met a choice, the riddle whereof stemmed from Hauronil’s furtherness to reach Son and whether we should go back to Al Farmhold, or better stay here under likelihood he may sooner come. So bestriven, we asked the harbormistress any word. Then we deemed that, since tomorrow we should wontfully anywise come to the city for drilltide, we might rather stay. By good luck, we found my father in town, who welcomed us to his room. So now we merrily pack beds afloor while the Shotalashu stow at the Nes’s stallbarn and we grownups fan ourselves on the windowdeck. For the children, it is merely another farfetch.

After my awful moottide with Kaure’s mother, my mother has bethought much amind, and I would not let our feud grow so dreadful. Thus I have wondered how I may come to her while my sisters are away and so have frank speech. I have even reckoned brunting into her hall (not my first tide) and strongarming my way. Aside from the shame, the greatest forethreat would lie in how she behaves, since I understand my mother alets no dare to her doomright. Thus I have not found the boldness to try, though I wonder I may become so hopeless that I will.

Last whit: wordbode right came from the harbormistress that a flatbark matching Hauronil’s reached Mahyat today. Behanging on when they leave, they could come here in a few days. Not only does Kaure thrill, but we altogether!

16. Shenelae, 24,548 - Son

Drilltide yesterday, wherein our flagmates clove us in the city, though afterward Remaue, Kaure, and I chose to stay again. I shrive we are hopeful for Hauronil coming, though in likelihood it will not happen until after Treesong.

Today, since my father likewise stayed, we clove his work, which we learned is now Father-Hunter’s Temple. He has been hired to craft Father-Hunter’s new stonelikeness. Thus in the temple’s sidehall we beheld a great marmlestone chunk whereon he works. Bestowing Aeosel some scrap shards he banged together, we set to help. Among my father, Kaure, and me, we strove to shift it. Then we took hammer and chisel and helped him shape while Remaue (who outspoke shieldbearers are too haughty to till so meanly) brought water and watched the children. Laterward, Shill my brother also clove, and we four merrily made furtherness.

I shrive happiness so working with my father and our kindred, knowing we have done something hard-lasting for the city’s worship. There is a wonderful fairness in striking stone and beholding the likeness’s foresight taking shape. I understand my father’s love for his work and so love him more. I also remind our deedtide back in Qabarat when I had samely tried to help him and had gotten warning against, lest I mislower noble worth under the ladyhood’s mind. I rather forelove this deed today.

17. Shenelae, 24,548 - Al Farmhold

Today we followed my father home, though we will go back tomorrow to the city for market and drilltide, and our whole flag will follow. We all would witness Hauronil’s soon homecome.

Aftomorrow’s Treesong will also mark Heaventide’s start and, if lucky, maybe also Heavenwatch. I have yearned to witness this holiday when the wonderful weather cleanses the sky and opens heaven. Qabarat, against all its misswayal and idleness, could not match our bright northern skies.

Asealae Treesong, 24,548 - Son

Some quick whits. Yesterday’s market and drilltide happened rightly enough. Kaure and Krastaes bought stocks to make more brandymilk, and furthermore to try with kovau wine, since Korasha so love that plighty drink. Since our flagmates goad them onward, no purpose gainsaying.

After templetide, Remaue, Kaure, and I forbore my mother’s hall. It outfell as more sameness: my mother’s willful heedlessness while my sisters watched like lichbats fluttering over a kill, and most guests too fearful to speak. Happily, both Lady-Captain and Captain Dosuaesh owed no such qualm. They bemarked our many days in the city, whereat we told of Hauronil’s soon homecome and welcome for his elfmates. They cheered our toward gathership and Kaure’s blessing. 

At our one word my mother’s antennae swiveled, recking our mirth. I almost beread her mournful.

Today, although Heavenwatch has not yet happened, out of wont, I drew and read the omens. My first rune showed the Sun, Matarasse - Burning-Mother: a hopeful, lucky omen forelooking Heavenwatch (and we wish sooner than yesteryear). Yet for my next I drew Qutheiu - the World-Strangler: less lucky and more riddlesome. Then for my third rune I drew Shotaviras. Here I wondered on an altogether queer runeset. After a breathtide I sought answer beyond their eyesome worths. True that the Sun means ward and help. Yet may it also tell the omen’s tide, since surely Heaventide will begin any soon day? Shotaviras as the first Shotalashu and Queen Tess’s steed may mean faith or an oath, but also wayfare, or also stealth or theft, or even the Motorae Games upcoming. The World-Strangler is the most worrisome, since it may mean not only knowledge or secrets but also foresight, or, worst of all, wrongness.

Also, must I read them in draft-order? If so: the Sun (ward/help) will bring the World-Strangler (knowledge/secret/foresight or bewrongness), which will lead to Shotaviras (faith/oath, wayfare, or stealth/theft). My mind wrackingly tried happendom likely to fit.

Although nothing enlightened, the more I overthought, the more worrisome it grew. I shrive that, since Kaure’s moonbode two years ago, I have read omens more seldomly. Now when I thought to draw a fourth rune for more sheernes, I almost halted. Then I against my better wisdom, I drew it:

~Qu-Ilu~ - Nine Snakes. Aside from their eyesome link to the World-Strangler, it means the Herd, and also Wayfare or Wanderness. I dropped the rune as if a forsooth snake had bitten me. Then laterward at the citadel’s mirthtide I got more brandy-sotten than I forewilled.