A Castrovel Adventure: Part 6, Chapter 4

12. Vealae, 24,548 - 9th Day Northbound from Hanazhyana; Mahyat   Nine days from Hanazhyana to Mahyat when wontfully it should take six or less. We have driven hard, and I must thank our boat crew’s strength and skill against Floodtide’s worst. We shared the till, even we wives, to drive the flatbark upflood, since we could not make furtherness unless utmostly working the poles in shifts. Everything not hidden in gumcloth is sodden, even us. We have joked it is right like the Stormshield’s western flank with fewer mushrooms.   Happily, we have reached Mahyat and have unboarded to the wayhall, where we have outspread all to dry nigh a hearthstand. We all tarry bare, since clothes are clammy and we have undergone nothing else since our second day aflood. We drink thick wine and dance lusty songs while the rainy wind inblows, but which the hearthsmoke fights back. We tarry and forelook we will stay some days until our skipper again deems the flood’s ebb.   Also, we are not alone in this outland city. A lady wearing gumcloak and hood came through the shower. She doffed, and I kenned Lady Hivaeri, one of our city’s matrons and my mother’s friend. Although first I unsurely awaited, she swiftly hugged and bade us welcome. We led her to the hearthstand, shared wine, and got our first news from Son our home, though truthfully little bemarksome.   Laterward, when Lady Hivaeri readied to leave, she told I should forelook welcome-bid from the city’s Matronhood. With the flood, we will likely stay through Treesong. I asked her the farseer hall’s stead. When she asked my business, I answered it was more selfsome than dutiful. She gave the steadwhits. Then she again hugged me. ~Maeile si yaze,~ - “Your lady-mother misses you,” she said, and beseeched us soon forgive each other.     13. Vealae, 24,548 - 2nd Day in Mahyat   After mornmeal, I withholdingly clothed and donned a gumcloak. Then I asked my wifemates whether they would come. To my thankful shock, Remaue yaysaid, and also Tae and Less. So they likewise donned, and together we outwent to the far-seer hall. There I wrote the following word to bode, which I thought both cunningly fuzzy and frank:    

~Au Ashi-Evimeil be Vaeol-Riyaeil Yaranevae: Naeshava o Mahyat. O’reqoe-stimi, Kiss mi Rinare naeayele, o ve zhealya-rualf shi omoni yaomae. O’samae-relesi.~   “To Lady-Captain Ashi from Lady-Flagwife Vaeol Yaranevae: We are safe in Mahyat. Under any awkwardnes, if Kiss and Rinare have need, I will answer under my flag’s behalf. In worshipful liss.”

    We came back to the wayhall, where we found a wordbode bidding us to meet Her Highness Lady Saiamel, Mahyat’s High Matron, as guests along with Lady Hivaeri. Yet while we readied, another wordbode came from the farseer hall, who bore this word:    

~A Vaeol-Riyaeil Yaranevae be’Son: O’nifi Hanazhyana-bei. Lessru Kiss mi Rinare kaolya-shyele. Stama eryanyela, o’eriae ruqeamya-shyalf. O’sevae.~   “ To Lady-Flagwife Vaeol Yaranvae of Son: Greetings from Hanazhyana. To Less Kiss and Rinae send goodwill. If anything outcomes, we will surely let you know. Blessings.”

    I beread Lady Ashi’s answer as meaning they had happily taken no offthank. So I found Less idling in the hall. I upcame behind and hugged his nape to my bosom. Then I could not withhold fun and said: ~A laere-verazas, kanao’miari seziss ninu-tei, eshimi ime-le o’niri zeayele,~ - “Maiden-thief, it seems for now you are free from the hook, unless one of them starts to thicken.” When he gaped upward, I giggled and kissed his brow. Tae and Remaue looked oddly. Yet I merrily nodded and read them the word. Sinceward, we have all loosened.     Afterword   I write this log after our mealtide with Her Highness Lady Saiamel. Rightly Kaure and Remaue hosted me, although, under high couthness as my shieldbearers, they were bidden to stand awall almost the whole tide. Rightly an ill mood now owns them, and I meekly thewed brandymilk ere I left them to bed.   Along with Her Highness and Lady Hivaeri our matron, Lady-Mistress Roahi of Mahyat’s outriderhood filled our mealtide’s foursome. I had erenever met the two Mahyate, but swiftly bewared a tightness from Lady Hivaeri while Her Highness served tea. That mood well bespeaks the nighttide.   Over a foredish of fresh riceberries and sour plumworts, Lady Hivaeri cheered my deeds as ~are Sonne o Qabarat be retaea~ - Son’s hero from Qabarat and the moors. When the other ladies seemed little stirred by my nameworth, I talked of Byreath’s War, the Retaea clan warfare we had witnessed, and Istae’s deeds upholding our Miniada kin.   After I told of our stay in Ofu-Laubu and that we had gotten to fly Thakasa-back, however, talk stilled. As lissome host, Her Highness Lady Saiamel asked Qabarat’s news. I answered the City’s Matronhood readies for a lively choosetide. Quoth Her Highness, they had heard there had already been strife among the runners. Lady Hivaeri yaysaid and outspoke she had heard that a Damaya man had sillily tried to run. Although I chose to tell not that we had known Riardon as a friend, talk again died. All three stared at me.   ~Shola~ - “It is true,” I mildly said to fill the stillness. I hoped my answer would let the talk drift onward while the groom outbrought a wild baletoad roast stuffed with cheese, hotcorn, and more plumworts. Instead, the three ladies waited further. ~Dasra evanya-shyaldis?~ asked Lady Saiamel: “Did you ken the man?” Under a queer mood, I yaysaid, and then outspoke Her Highness was wonderfully well inread. When she asked what wildness would overtake a man to try, I answered Riardon had known he could not win but had chosen to show his belief.   Lady-Mistress Roahi asked what belief he had shown. Rather glibly, I told it berecked how easily flustered the city had become after his runbid.   Arear, though they made no din, I felt Remaue’s and Kaure’s antennae fluttering mirth. Unhappily, Lady-Mistress Roahi also witted. Her eye glared at my Korasha wifemate. She then spoke our flag had made our own outlandish wondershow in Qabarat bidding the Motorae’s Korasha foot-trial champion to weapondare, and furthermore had instriven to have our Korasha flagmates ride against outriders. I frankly yaysaid, half-tightening against strife. Yet the outrider-headmistress withheld, likely under Her Highness’s humming antennae outbidding stillness.   Instead, the lady-mistress asked whether these outlandish beliefs of Korasha and men as even with Damaya and wives had anything to do with Yaraesa’s heathen bookminster-temple they had heard had lately reached nameworth. I answered Yaraesa’s bookminster upholds wisdom and lore, and if folk find better self-wisdom in trial, that outcome is a blessing.   ~Avyri qoani o’heshi-bei,~ quoth Lady Roahi, which felt like a chide: “Wisdom grows from service.” Bothersomely, I answered that, mayhap while our stay, I could earn the lady-mistress’s behoof of her years’ wisdom, and then asked whether I might seek her on the drillyard. My mild dare she unheeded.   Our swyness again grew old while the roastdish was borne out and the brothdish bore in: tasty brownstumps simmered with eelcuts. I played with my spoon, and then lightly said Qabarat’s strife may become the Upper Strath’s boon. When in Hanazhyana we had met Lady-Captain Ashi, she had told of the Qabarata seechfares behaving ownersome of Lost Hoshiasa’s wreckstead. Then I reminded that our eldest foremothers the Warrior-Queens, not Qabarat's, had burned Hoshiasa. I underset our cities should together lead the wreckstead’s outseech. When I spoke of the worldgate, however, Lady Hivaeri beckoned a witchward against evil. Her Highness matched the beck and said such eldritchness is better forleft to the swamp’s loss. Their answer rankled while we sipped broth. So I next outspoke Qabarat had found trusty knowledge that the Elves had withheld gatelore, and furthermore lately had meddled with the elfgates. Since Qabarat would doubtlessly dare ownership, I reckoned they would seek northward and more fully mind Hoshiasa to outdelve its secrets. I put forth a forehap for Mahyat, Son, and Hanazhyana: we could match Qabarat’s deeds outseeking Hoshiasa and become even shareholders.   Lady-Mistress Roahi answered the sooner such thoughts stay in Qabarat, the better we are, and then: ~O’romi ta meavya-rualya Elaurathya, mi narutheiura lavyerura, mi eshathara Damayara Korashara!~ - "Let them have their Elvenness, their eldritch worldgates, and their evenness between Damaya and Korasha!”   The room stilled so starkly that I needed not even outspeak offthank. After the shock, I bowed to Her Highness. ~Yaoma reqoea-rualdava,~ - “My flag has yielded offthank,” I spoke, and then: ~O’denealya-ruelve,~ - “We will withdraw.” Then, not awaiting forgiveness, leave, or word else, I stood and headed from the mealroom with Kaure and Remaue following. Lady Hivaeri soon followed and becraved sorrow after this breach of the High Matron’s guesthood. Yet we answered it recked not: we understood rightly what Mahyat thought of us.Then we welcomely bade her save what goodwill she can, but we shall forelook the first boatfare upflood.     14. Vealae, 24,548 - 3rd Day in Mahyat   Today we saddled the Shotalashu and came to the drillyard. Even under the rain, we reckoned we could lightly drill with Mahyat’s spear-riders and, if nothing else, tilt the quirt. When we reached the yard, however, I markedly waited arear both Kaure and Oshis, in beck that, should the Mahyata wish to ride with me, they must first ride with my Korasha flagmates. Eyesomely this forestood a dreadfuller dare than Mahyat’s riders could meet. None came to the yard after even a belltide, not even to welcome us. Under a hall, Meiss waited with shortbill and axe, forlornly hoping to spar.   I looked at all our riders: Kaure, Oshis, Erymi, Sievae, Nae, and Draue, likewise so spurned as I. We asked what answer we owed this shameless offthank. At last I led them to the citadel’s sidegate. Although it stood open, we meaningfully drew it shut. Then I readied swordbill until Kaure bade me stay. I yaysaid. ~O’olloni eize~ - “Better it be you.” Then my wifemate thrust her swordbill into the gate’s wood and made a rather great notch, and too broad to unheed. Then we headed back to the stallbarn, groomed the Shota, and withdrew to the wayhall, where we watched the rain, played with the children, and drank wine. Now the only riddle outstays how Mahyat’s citadel will answer our dare.     16. Vealae, 24,548 - 5th Day in Mahyat   Mahyat’s answer to our dare is no answer. Maybe their have forsoothly rued Lady-Mistress Roahi’s ill word. Yet they have earned no worth. Our flag sparred among ourselves yesterday, wherein none came, either to watch or cleave. I wit a stern will so bidding, forwhy I cannot bedream mean warriors meekly taking slight to their city’s honor. Were we to meet any astreet, I doubt we would behold them friendly. I have kept our flagmates near. We need none beset and beaten in a sidelane.   I met again with Lady Hivaeri and told our bold misdeed. She answered that Mahyat’s tack seems to willfully unheed and await our leave. When our flatbark again heads northward, she will go as well. Quoth the skipper, me must wait until at least Treesong, if not longer, for the flood to lessen.   If nothing else, this tide lets me reread my elder daylogs, which my flagmates find reckfully funny. So we tarry the belltides with more wine than shrewd.     Treesong Eve, 24,548 - 7th Day in Mahyat   Floodtide market where, if the sellers could not upset under an eave or brought not their own tentfly, they did not show, since the shower has rather much fallen all daytide. We ran among the streetrooves and saw what crafts they bore, if for no other reason than to leave the wayhall. In talk with our bark-skipper, Father-Yaro’s flood has ebbed enough that she reckons we may leave northward aftomorrow - beguessing it rises not again. To that end, and with Lady Hivaeri’s yaysaith, she has hired more crew to help the pole-till. With Floodtide’s ever-falling rain, it may also mean now is my last hap to write this log. Thus, it may be some days later until my next.