A Castrovel Adventure: Part 6, Chapter 3

Vealae Treesong, 24,548 - 4th Day in Hanazhyana   To start, I will upcatch the last two days. Ereyesternight we watched the Matronhood’s mirthtide. They bade us stay until today’s Treesong, which fit well with our flatbark’s plan, since Father Yaro still floods high. Yet that nighttide, I withdrew so soon as I couthly could, since I needed sleep.   Yesterday I lightly rode Ess at the drillyard and with Kaure and Oshis tilted a few spears against the other riders. Meiss eagerly sparred afoot. Lady Leauri cheerfully rode with me. Afterward, Captain Ashi met and asked us to meet her flag, which we yaysaid. Then we bathed and watched Hanazhyana’s market, which beheld many gleefolk and also a ~keiahi~ dance that, same as with Son, told a share of their city’s history.   Yesternight our whole flag came to Captain Ashi’s household, where from the eaves we watched a drizzle upon the elfyard. Along with Kiss and Rinare the shieldbearers whom we already knew, we met a twelvesome warriors: five Damaya and seven Korasha, and so many children. While the men were old and young mingled, most wives were nigh Ashi’s years (we might even ken some from the scoutfare thirteen years ago). Those wives who were not the captain’s staff had withdrawn from the citadel to raise children, whereas some men were mean warriors while some were elderbows or drillteachers. Among them, I beheld a short foresight of ourselves in twenty years, after wrenched knees, torn shoulders, and mishealed wounds.   The gatherhood might have stayed friendly until Kiss, Rinare, and a few else of Ashi’s flagmates grew lust for our men. Although Hanos witheld, since all his mind aims to Nae still mending, Sievae, Meiss, and Draue flirted back, as did Oshis and Less. It made the other flag’s men jealous (at least one of which is Kiss's fathermate). Over the mealboard, Ashi and I traded shared thoughts to soften the feud. So ere things got wrathful, I beseeched leave, and then bade our flag back to the wayhall, where I outread the wisdom of seeking truceful fellowship with our hosts.   Today after Treesong, we readied a more earnest drilltide. After running the Shotalashu, I led Kaure, Sievae, Oshis, Less, Hanos, and Meiss back to the drillyard. There we held the yard with swordbills, shortbills, and axes and let known we would recklessly meet any Damaya or Korasha. Happily, more chose to cross kindstarkness than not. I proved nameworth fighting all the Korasha, and then taught foot-swordbill to an outrider troop. So far, Hanazhyana seems more open-minded than Qabarat, at least when it comes to warcraft.   Nigh forenoon, Ashi came to the drillyard, and wearing byrnie. She watched me and Meiss showing shortbill. Afterward, she took one, heedful of the long leaflike blade, its short haft, and subtle evenweight. I asked whether she wielded. ~O’hinili-dei,~ she answered: “Not often.” So I yielded trial. The lady-captain and I met before the midyard, which the other fighters betook hap to tarry and watch. She was rightly no gamefighter and unsubtle. Yet she feared not my strength and owned good wit for forehap. Though I won more hits than she, I understood her a doughty rainwood-warrior who has spent much time in both the treepaths and swamps, fitting for someone with a score of big game kills.   Afterward, she brought a water jug and held it for my drink. I did her back the boon. Then she bade us to the bath. There we undertook a looser tide than yesternight. I watched, Draue, Sievae, and Meiss outseek the warriors they had fought and ring dancingly. More forecaughtly, Kiss and Rinare strolled nigh Tae and Less. Whereas Rinare’s flirtsomeness before Less stayed maidenly shy, Kiss, deeming by her two children, proved bolder. From the bath, Ashi and I outthought: ~Mikisa ollona o’aehanya-hoe,~ - “They are getting along better than yesterday.”   We beheld Erymi and Remaue come by Oshis. Our fathermate was watching Less woo the two shieldbearers while his eyes furrowed nithsomely. Yet understanding him as I do, he moreso misweighed his and Less's ever-running feudsomeness than sheer lust, wherein he could not forbear thought of our jokester-elderbow scoring such a token. Erymi his wifemate laid hands on his stout shoulders and blew on his antennae. ~O’daezi,~ she bade: “Loosely,” and then smarted: ~Dei saema-riea ezimya ussa?~ - “Is your wife-harem not big enough?” Then Remaue instrode, kissed both, and overbent to rub her rear on Oshis's waist, making him withdraw bothersomely under our laughter.   Ashi and I left the bath, clothed, and walked while I bore Aeosel. We went among the city’s templefarthing. While I carried my son anape (joking there is no better weight-strength drill), she laid her hand on my waist. We saw the shrines, and then stood under Burning-Mother’s idol where we together sang the outriders’ oath-hymn. Then we found a wineyard and sat to play with my boy, who chased blossomflies among the glowroses. Ashi caught him when he fled too far, shifted him upside down, and blew elfkisses on his belly. She gave him back to me and kissed my shoulder.   ~O’eiesi honyaea leazya-rualdaf,~ - “I think I have guessed your secret,” she almost whispered. When I stilled, she softly outspoke what grew between wifemates should stay only their business and swore to tell nothing. She had witnessed Remaue and me ereyesternight, and furthermore Remaue with Leauri, and which had taken eyesome ownership. Then she shrove Leauri’s yieldsomeness had surely drawn my wifemate’s lust, and Ashi had gladly led the maiden through lovecraft. I sighed, striving for shrift’s boldness. Ruthfully she again kissed and let me stay wordless. Then a squox hopped from a shrubling, and Aeosel afterhunted. We laughingly watched his trial to catch it, and then to climb the eaveshaft up which it scurried.   I trustily clasped Ashi’s hand. Then she beseeched us again come tonight to their household, and: ~O’delani-siri uthara~ - “Leave the children behind.”   Tonight ere we again went to Lady Ashi’s household, we halted at the wayhall to set the children with their fathers. We found, however, a small lusttide already aswing while our flag glewed Lady Ashi’s flagmates. Sievae and Hanos led song while the others danced. More bothersomely, we found Less already busy with Kiss, who merrily rode his waist, while Tae fondled Rinare. In a shedroom, however, Erymi and Nae were watching Tae’s Yaraess and the other children, and so yaysaid to take our two more.   We also witnessed Oshis shockingly behaving himself. He helped his wifemate watch the children (three whomof are his) and played dartlings, though with a giftful jug of wine. I witted he had found truce with Less’s loveluck. I came arear, overleaned, and kissed my fathermate’s brow. ~Das ollas, o vehae-eashoni eisamaerru nilerru meavyelas, o’difi kaolya nazyas,~ I hinted: “Good men, and who dolefully already belong to many mothermates, will rightfully get goodwill.”   For this nighttide we clothed loosely. Although Kaure would not forsake her maidenhalter, Remaue and I wore mere skirts, which I matched with my neckring and Semuane’s eardarts. Remaue, however, chose a silver necklace of sapphires and opals that spilled into her bosom. Ashi and Leauri met us at the household’s foregate, where we kissed in trend. Then they led us back to the elfyard, dry under maybe the last rainless night ere Floodtide, and shared a light mead. While I sat amidst, with Ashi and Leauri on both sides, and my wifemates on the ends, we overtalked the day’s deeds and even laughed at our flag’s wickedness happening in the wayhall.   Following on ereyesternight’s deed, out talk headed to lovecraft, which Remaue eagerly led. She wickedly waved at Kaure at the far end: ~Leme yue Elaurrya,~ - “This one loves Elves.” which got wonderful asks of what had happened in Qabarat. So we beneeded the tale of the elven blossomyard, Kaure’s bridetide, and also Hauronil, my erstwhile schoolmate who had fled Son to cleave Qabarat’s Damaya-Elves. Our hosts sighed and deemed their tale dearly elflovely, and dolefuly after hearing how he had luckily come to spend a whole month with no service else than to begladden our new blushing wifemate. Then shyly Leauri asked whether Kaure might wish children, which got Kaure’s stutter almost so shy, and made me guess whether our young Hanata outrider may be more reckful of manly love than her maidenhood hints.   After idleness's frolic and nigh Midwatch, we again gathered at the tea hearth’s seats under easy mindshare. Remaue wrapped me in a shroud while I dozed leaning on Kaure’s shoulder. Remaue beseeched me treewater, which I slowly sipped while the others shared an Elven blossomwine. A deep manifold mood held Leauri, aimed at me. Ashi could not withhold kneeling before me and kissing my hands.     2. Vealae, 24,548 - 5th Day in Hanazhyana   Today our skipper outspoke the flood falls enough that tomorrow we shall leave and make furtherness ere true Floodtide strikes. We have yaysaid and stowed all gear we can ere tonight, to offshove northward at dawntide.   To run the Shotalashu, Lady Leauri led us on a ride through the land. Our path followed near Old Hanat’s crumbled spires, which is no small swath even waterlogged, maybe even broader than its daughter city. We saw that in some spots a mere ditch shed it from the land, and some trees - marshtars and banyans - grow among the wreck. There we saw two other scoutfares watching the shore, and with bowmen set. When I asked their purpose, she told Old Hanat is a haven for thieves and outlaws, who at night steal to the city. Although in yestertide the Matronhood had sometimes bidden the fird scour the wreckstead free, it is also home to sundry homeless and brokenfolk who trade with the city. Thus the Matronhood nowwardly deems to let those folk lawfully trade while forbidding thieves. She bespoke it a tight thing.   Tonight our flagmates forespoke of meeting again tonight for a last mirthtide. Furthermore, a welcomebode right came, bidding me, Remaue, and Kaure to Lady Ashi’s household. Kaure, Remaue, and I again showed at Lady Ashi’s household right at Lastbell. Since it rained, we met under the eaves, where the lady-captain served bubblemead. Then she spread arms over me and Kaure while Leauri kissed Remaue. We sang Floodtide’s blessing and made a lovedance, which ended with us all aknot spreading kisses from one to next. I like the thought that we have found friends here in Hanazhyana, whom we had once misdeemed as foes.     3. Vealae, 24,548 - Northbound on Father Yaro   We left on the flatbark at dawn, after a truly early waketide and farewell with Ashi and Leauri. Our gear and the Shota were swiftly stowed aboard (although our steeds love not boatfare). While I write this, we shove upstream, which is still hefty till even with the flood’s fall.   One whit from our leavetide. After I got Ess stalled abaord and Aeosel bedded, I watched Tae and Less awharf speaking with Kiss and Rinare, our ladyloves’ shieldbearers. I reckoned no shock that this foursome, who had grown dear while our stay in Hanazhyana, should bless farewell, nor even that Less, in a beck worshipful to a wife who had bestowed her body’s boon and his manhood's fullness, knelt and kissed Kiss’s belly. Yet next I watched him head to Rinare and lay a same kiss upon her belly. Swiftly she and Tae halted him, bade him stand, and guilitily looked about. Then Tae kissed both shieldbearers and herded her manmate and son to the flatbark ere we offcast.   Over the first poleshift, I brooded on this misdeed until Kaure asked my worry. I said nothing, but nodded to Tae, who stood watch at the Shota-stalls and was setting Yaraess atop Zhamaue her steed. I headed to our doughty firstbow with my wifemate following.   Tae greeted us mildly, though with an inkling she minded her son to shun our reckfulness. I outspoke we had all gladdened of our tide in Hanazhyana and had made new friends, which she yaysaid. I then upsaid Kiss had eyesomely bestowed goodwill on Less, and lightly wondered whether we may need to send Less back downflood in a year to serve fatherdearth. Tae chuckled, but maybe too meekly.   Unstraightly, I added that Rinare had maybe also bestowed some maidenly goodwill. Tae nodded, but elsewise behaved not. Kaure and I waited until the breathtide threatened awkwardness.   Then Tae whispered: ~Ahao Rinare vusye soreatharru ziarru,~ - “Rinare may go to a swift bridetide.”   Even with my inkling atrusted, the truth bequailed. Here was a shametide, and unmerely among folk, but cities, which Tae doubtlessly recked. I reckoned how I must be stern, but also heedful. So I hugged my oldest wifelove and laid hands on her bosom. Then so mildly as I could, I outthought: ~Dei losya-rualdam Hanazhyanara?~ - “Have we shamed Hanazhyana?”   I felt Tae’s fright. ~Illade,~ she outspoke, meaning Rinare: “She wanted it.” Then she begged me not to beguilt Less. ~Leirazyele, o reandas!~ - “When she beseeched, he listened!” She furthermore told that Less, even under lust’s hold, had offered to halt, but that Rinare had bidden him until her womb’s fullness. I yaysaid Rinare’s will as good, and if the deed had ended with Kiss, a fully risen wife already with two children, this would stay small and could be bargained evenly if she grew bechild. Yet if we had lewdly stolen maidenheads, Lady Ashi and the whole city may not so bedeem.   ~Thanme Lessru,~ I bade: “Let us go to Less.” So with Tae bearing Yaraess shieldlike, we went to the flatbark’s bow, where Less and Oshis sat tarrying under a mild Floodtide drizzle. I upcame arear Oshis, set hand on his shoulder, and begged my fathermate watch the Shota in Tae’s stead. His brow wrinkled and swiftly read my mood (after the komori, we withhold few secrets). Then he nodded and headed midboat.   Less stared stirlessly and, from Tae’s look, swiftly bewared. I sat in Oshis’s stead, took his hand, and also Tae’s. Then I deemed that, when we reach Mahyat in a few days, I will bode far-seer word to Hanazhyana - if one already awaits us not - and ask Lady Ashi’s will for her flagmate’s behalf. Then so softly as I could, I warned that if the lady-captain bodes sake, I shall send Less back downflood on the first boat to Hanazhyana and let that, if Tae wishes, she may go with him, and they may together take whatever doom Lady Ashi may bestow. ~Avae udumnazi~ - “The law is eyesome,” I deemed. Then, though it might not even soften the blow, I kissed his brow and whispered: ~Laemya-ruelve,~ - “I yield sorrow.”   Afterward, our whole flag bewared strife and ruthfully gather to Less’s side. Not only are Tae and Less unsettled, but Remaue also angers, since Less is also her fathermate, and she would not bereave Lanaryel their daughter. Frankly, I hate myself even at thought of forsaking our housemate and manlove. Yet what else can I do? Make a shametide between two cities? I have erenever felt so unloved.     4. Vealae, 24,548 - 2nd Day Northboard from Hanazhyana   Less came to me alone yesternight. He knelt, begged sorrow, and swore to do all right to ward our flag’s and city’s honor. Ere thought, I fell aknee, hugged him tight, and swore back I would not forsake him.   Our antennae tangled. I felt his sorrow and dread, nevermind Hanazhyana’s doom. but how he craved my goodwill. Anon his lips stroked my bosom and nipples, and my womb starved hunger. Reckless of the outcome and whoever saw, we shredded waistclothes. Then I took his fullness while he held me upon the wale and wildly swived until his bliss thundered through my mind and body.   Remaue and Tae afterward found us leaning under the wale, my thighs still clutching him, his head slumbering on my breast. They sat on either side and nestled tight. Yet I could not feel guiltier even if I had selfly fordone the sin. Mishappily, our lovetide shifts nothing, else than I have right now drunken a twofold draft of womb-bane and forelook spending the next few days ill. Yet Tae and Remaue have forgiven me, though behanging what word we get in Mahyat, that may shift.   Hauvi - the South Wind - blows the first floodtide rain at our backs. We forelook a shower within the belltide, which also means my hap for writing this log ends unless we upset a tent to keep my bookleaves dry. It also means our rather easy pole-till upflood ends as well. We owe a long, hard boatfare hence.