A Castrovel Adventure: Part 6, Chapter 5

11. Vinelae, 24,548 - Son (13 days since last log)   After a gruesome two weeks poling upflood - and six years since we left - we have come home. It was an unsooth mood coming upon the Aelau's eastern shore, then watching the land rise first to Eizohu's height, and then the copper domes shining from the Ofu, and at last mooring at Lowertown’s wharf. It seemed almost sleepy bematched to Qabarat’s erstwhile bustle, or even Hanazhyana’s. Under a shower, we could bedream nothing has shifted. The Bridgewreck stays the same, as does Thani’s Spire. We even kenned the wharfmistress in her hall, where we left the two lorelings who had fared with us.   Since Blighttide may begin in a few weeks, we beread the one heading further to the Hall of Stars to wait until rain’s end, and then undertake the mountains under dryer weather. Then we took leave of them and Lady Hivaeri, who followed the swifter wreathstair up to the Ofu while we with our Shotalashu and children followed the longer Dale Street until the Nes Citadel.Unlike older times homecoming, we got no showmarch outyelling us to the cityfolk and the matrons. Instead, a bored watchreeve greeted us at the Nes’s gate. When I offdrew my hood, I doubt she kenned me, though her eyes tightened on my scar’s goldgum. I spoke my name and beseeched hearth with Lady-Captain.   Remaue, Kaure, and Oshis got the Shotalashu stalled while we else doffed gumcloaks and made ourselves kempt. While we waited, we wared a whisper flitting through the hall and upper decks. Then Lady Leavomel outcame, hailed, and hugged me. She knelt to greet Aeosel, who shyly clutched my knee. ~Taea nirya-rualdaf,~ - “We have heard your greatness,” she told.   Then a troop of newlings dashed from a sidehall, and anon I stared at my younger self’s mold: rosy-golden hair, ruddy skinstripes, and almost so tall, clad in a maidenhalter and waistcloth, who leapt into my arms: Raeonyl my sister! A maiden grown, and well further in learning outriderhood. Then she clutched Aeosel, lifted him overhead, and whirled. Wildly she leapt and babbled something about Shill her brother, right ere a sharp throat cracked: Elderspear Nevye’s (whose sternness I too well remind). My sister stood sharp and withdrew among the other newlings - and earned her nape’s slap. Then the elderspear shortly bowed, begged sorrow, and said Raeonyl doubtlessly owned will to fulfill drill and chores swiftly ere she gets leave to see us. Ruthfully we forgave.   Lady Sheie, Lady-Captain’s wandbearer, led us up to her stallroom. After a halt, she inlet us, where waited both Lady-Captain and Captain Dosuaesh. Although I touched breast and bowed, straightway Lady-Captain hugged me, and then dancingly offbore Aeosel (who grew bewildered at this endless mindfulness) through the room. Meanwhile, Master-Captain knelt and kissed my belly, which I shrive awkward.   ~Iulya-shyalma,~ outspoke Lady-Captain: “Let us have tea,” and then readied it without forsaking my son, whom she bore ahip. After it brewed, she began to serve all our wives (ingathering Kaure), whereafter Master-Captain samely did all the men. She then deemed we have undergone quite the farfetch these last sixsome years, where under shameful mind we chuckled.   ~Yei,~ she asked: ~Stei kova kolama?~ - “So, how does home feel?” Unsurely we all looked over each other, forwhy strong answer shunned. Slowly I yielded we should much like to understand our stead, now that we have come home. This brought another ask: ~Dei kiadis Maeilere?~ - “Have you met your Lady-Mother?” I naysaid. Lady-Captain called a groom and bade him bode our word to the High Matron’s Hall, wherefor I thanked her.   ~Neamyela, o roea homaea-rualf ruthilea soaraea,~ I outsought: “If it helps, we would like to know our next fetchbid.” At my beseech, however, both captains stayed answerless. I waited hoping they might unriddle, but merely got an odd quiver between their antennae. Instead, Lady-Captain spoke the Nes should bequeathe room until our household’s stead enlightens. Then she called the hallreeve, who forespoke room and bed for all our flag and left to afasten it. Meanwhile, we made smalltalk about Qabarat, our stay in Hanazhyana, and Mahyat’s misdeed.   When the hallreeve came back to lead us, Lady-Captain hugged me and laid another kiss on Aeosel’s brow. ~Kami usi kaolimassi ruthirrya soarrya,~ - “Time enough to overtalk your next fetchbid,” she beread. ~O’vosi-miari ruassara,~ - “For now, begladden your homecome.”   Ere we settled in our room, I went with Remaue, Kaure, and our children to Burning-Mother’s Temple, where, though rain fell through the eyehole upon the Sungoddess’s gilded stonelikeness, we knelt, sang, and danced the Sun Hymn. Thus at last I felt we had come home when we stood upon the same stead where Queen Eieshe had come twenty-four thousand years ago. I had held her axe in Lea, the same she had lifted right here when she swore her oath to Burning-Mother and raised a city: this city, even if it crumbles and slumbers. I hopelessly want our city’s pride and wish to be worthy. I also want it to be worthy of us.   When we found our allotted room, we saw not only our flagmates and Raeonyl my sister (who had stolen from chores), but also Shill my youngest brother, who has right begun newlinghood, and whose shoulders have already broadened Korasha-like. He swiftly kissed my belly and almost knocked breath from me. Then he grabbed Aeosel and proudly set his nephew ashoulder. I hugged him and spoke he is well met.   Then I bewared a tall girl, barely a maiden, sitting on Oshis’s knee, and Erymi hugging her arear. I faltered a breathtide ere I kenned Zheye his eldest daughter. Although I reminded we had left under awkwardnesss, she came and also kissed my belly, and then said: ~Iqovya-rualf teiasra,~ - “I would behold my brother.” Then she dared Shill for him.   Right now a wordbode came bidding us to the High Matron’s Hall. Also, Less has come back from the Lowerfarthing, whence he told: ~Nama mesa o assaqolu,~ - “Someone is dwelling in our townhouse,” which forebodes our homecome will become strifesome. Yet forelooking to soon meet kin and friends, I took behoof of home’s nearness to bode the following farseer-words. First to Aeosiss my father:”    

~A Dias, shorya-rualdaf ulinasra, oe kiadaf Raeonylre mi Shilras. O’allae thani:~   “Father, we have brought your grandson, and have met Raeonyl and Shill. Come Soon.”

      …And to Krastaes:    

~A tollas, naeaf lamura, oe ayaea-shyalf nuasra qoanassasra. Eava Nes. O’allae thani:~   “Old man, we need wine, and would see how fat you have become. We are at the Nes. Come soon.”

      12. Venelae, 24,548 - Son   It is late, and I have many things to write. Yet I will start with something nice. Early at midmorn, Roess Remaue’s elder sister came to the Nes, along with one manmate and three children to merry gathership, since they traded at market. Though I had ere met her sister, their sameliness still shocks me, right down to behavior and whits. They joked they are fulsomely their mother’s aftermolds, which I yaysay, even to their ownersome mood whereunder Roess overlooked our flag’s men.   As share, I also caught a rather strifesomeness among the sisters, dolefully when Roess bade Oshis thew her. Even ere Erymi behaved, Remaue forbade. ~Stireori?~ - “Why?” asked her older sister, and bemarked Remaue had offcast him at her bridetide. I almost dreaded an open fight until Erymi stood arear her manmate, hugged his breast, and offled him, whereat the sisters besoothed they were fighting over naught. Then they worriedly laughed, hugged, and Remaue forespoke to laterward find their market stall.   Not so nicely went yestereve’s moottide with my mother. Remaue, Kaure, and I upclothed so dandily as canny, mayhap to hide our tightness. Yet I also beseeched Erymi and Oshis to come, since this would be the first time Aeosel met his grandmother, and my fathermate rightly owned share. Yet I shrive it was also a dare, since my mother had banned Oshis after my bridetide. Thus we eightsome - five grownups and three children - walked from the Nes, by the Matrons’ Hall, to the High Matron’s Hall.   The tread upon my childhood household’s steps and hallways became oddly soothing, even against my overriding worry. The housegrooms merrily greeted and led us until the elfyard. I could bedream my mother’s tearful love, her open arms, and falling aknee to hug her youngest grandson. My want's strength shook me.   Mishappily, my mother was not alone. My lady-sisters ingathered with Raiale’s new child, a boy named Teiazas, a year older than mine. At once I witted a shutness: no mood nor dear outreach, and more marksome in how near Risodess stood to our mother, almost as if she was warding her - or bidding? I also bewared a hollowness to my mother’s face and wrinkles it had not owned six years ago. Unsettlingly, I beheld my mother old.   We touched breast and bowed. Misluckily, the stillness grew old while we stood worship. Then almost withholdingly, Lady-Mother said: ~O’ryri ruassya-rualdiza,~ - “At last you have come home.” Her word’s haughtiness stabbed.   I stood sharp ~Oe hikisya-rualdaf assamara lomara,~ I answered: “And I have led back all my housemates.” Another dare mildly flung, whereat my mother’s eyes flicked to Oshis and so swiftly fled.   To break the tightness, I knelt and whispered Aeosel: ~Vusi mataerru,~ - “Go to your grandmother.” My son listfully trotted forth, whereat my mother likewise knelt and took him in arms. For the first time, her stiffness cracked while she hugged my son to shoulder and tangled antennae. Tears brightened her eyes. Yet Aeosel looked between her and me, under thrill to meet her but waring worry, which to my thought could not better bespeak our awkwardness. Recklessly, I let them the while, since it made this whole deed easier while my mother and son traded dearness. He yielded a shy smile.   Then Lady-Mother again stood. Soon as her eyes sought me, the wardsome mood came back, though they dwelled on my face. ~Dias eashoni hivushtas kaneshu-sura,~ - “Your father has already been recarving your stonelikenesses,” she softly chided, meaning my scar. She said they must find me a fit watchbid that will not further mar my looks. Then she nodded and offheaded, whereby she beckoned the moottide’s end. We hailed worship and left.   Outside, I almost wept, not from my mother’s loss, but from the stiffness’s relief after we forsook the hall. I merely rued my son’s behalf under such mishap to meet his grandmother. Against our feud, I would not forbid their love. Thus we ended the nighttide with a soft weep with my son in my arms amid my wifemates.   Back to today, Remaue laterward came from the city steward, spitting venom. Less’s yesternight word that someone else dwells in our townhouse is true, against our lawful bestowal. My haughty wifemate spent almost a belltide feuding (with our Korasha backing) but left with the choice: if we becrave the townhouse, we will outcast the dwellers, which even Remaue dared not. So we are beleft without a household we can forsoothly brook. Else than staying less couthly at the Nes, I am unsure of our stead.   In better word, at forenoon Krastaes found us, and bore a whole wheelbarrow of wine jugs, to our flag’s mirth. When the gruff Korasha saw me, he onrushed, dropped aknee, and hugged Aeosel, who stood beside. Then he looked upward, affording weighty worth. ~A ile mae,~ - he softly cheered: “Lady and mother.” Then, for the first time in the many years we have known each other, he kissed my belly ere our housemates drew him into many hugs, and also outyelled that he was not fat, even though he had so bespoken himself. He answered that, bewaring our homecome, he had yesteryear started doing so much heavy work (whereof a farmhold never lacks) and had also drilled with the fird, and thus weighed no more than a stoneweight heavier than six years ago. Less and Oshis bullyingly tickled his belly, which merry threats and shoves answered.   Krastaes selfsomely repeated his worshipful blessing to Tae, since he had also never met Yaraess her son. We also undermet him with Meiss as the Lemussa’s yardfellow, and they forespoke weaponcraft while the young Korasha’s stay. Then we found a wineyard and talked much, whereof I shall write another log doleful to all Krastaes’s news. Yet while we did, my father found us, who swept Aeosel off foot and danced through the yard while my son squealed mirth.   When they whirled near, he stayed enough to hug my shoulder. ~O’mae-bei, stei allada?~ - “How did it go with your mother?” he asked. I told my sisters had been lurking like mobats. He grimly nodded and beread I need to meet her alone. Then he bore my son out to the eaves, where he held him laughingly against the shower.   We gathered all for a late slumbertide noonmeal (with Krastaes’s wine) and overtalked our next run. Beshrivedly, unless we get a fetchbid, little holds us to the city. Tae and I owe one thing: at Treesong we must bring our sons to the Soultree and yield them to the Overmind. Although we have strong welcome-bids from both my father and Krastaes to stay at their wifemates’ farmholds (who swear they will welcomely take us), we will stay the next weektide in the city, and thence foresee where doom may lead.