A Castrovel Adventure: Part 6, Chapter 9

13. Soelae, 24,548 - Ashom Farmhold (four days since last log)   We have safely reached Remaue’s kindred after leaving Hivaea on the Tenth. From Father Yaro’s bank we waved a flatbark who let us board, and then took riverfare down to Son. There we docked at Tonyol on the eastern bank. Thence we rode a half-dayfare eastward and so came to this tidy farmhold on some high land amid the swamp, wealthy with milktrees, goldsaps, shellnuts, and much cheer from Aeal Remaue’s mother and Roess her sister.   I have ere written how strongly Remaue beseems her mother and elder sister, which is moreso mindly than bodily, and wherein my wifemate’s wickedest whits show greatened. Mother and elder daughter rule this farmhold as their tiny queendom, until I must withstand wardsomeness for Kaure’s behalf and bite my tongue against jokes about randy farmwives. Between them, most of the farmhold’s men are either their brothers or their beholden manloves (two being Roess’s fathermates and two Aeal’s), and even loan them to the other farmwives both for work and idler glee. Furthermore, I got a strong whit that most other wives are their wifeloves, which gives the whole farmhold a rather haremlike feel: all thewing the farmhold’s wealth while likewise thewing Aeal’s and Roess’s idleness.   Under this mood, no shock that Aeal her mother has rather unheeded my ladyship, which beholds both freshening and unsettling. Earlier, she came nigh and felt my shoulder while hugging me. ~O’ahi sere thonazif Korasha-yei,~ - “We can work you like a Korasha,” she merrily deemed. So afterward, I overheard her speaking with her daughters to send me and Kaure to mend a ditch - under Remaue’s oversight! If we so do, I will surely bear a shortbill and a dartquiver, since so nigh the eastern march they sometimes undergo mobat raids.   For Remaue’s share, although she gladdens of her neighborly princessdom, she clashes wills with her mother and sister, as we had already witnessed. Forsoothly, they are too much alike, and our queenly shieldbearer-wifemate has grown rather used to haughty behavior over me and our flag. Kaure and I have swyly talked how tmany days we truly stay here until Remaue misforbears enough and chooses to leave.     15. Soelae, 24,548 - 3rd Day at Ashom Farmhold   After yesterday and today, I may now add ~Toaonaze~ - ditch-delver - to my nicknames, though only Remaue’s kin so cheer me, and my blistery hands so mourn. Yet that is not today’s worthiest thing to tell.   While Kaure and I left the workstead and rode our Shotalashu up to the treepath, we met another Damaya rider coming from the hinterland. She bore a fade-deer upon her saddle, as the wont of outer treeholds seeking sale among the bigger farmholds. Yet when the rider and Kaure saw each other, they halted.   Anon the hinterlander nighmost fell from her saddle, knelt upon the bough, and spread her arms. ~A miline!~ she yelled: “Little sister!”   Ashock Kaure's Vali reared, as if misdreading stroke. Yet the mood wafting from my wifemate’s antennae was unspeakable: all her old wrath, sorrow, and loss updredged, and also something more ruthful. I almost worried she would either brunt the wife or flee. Instead, she unsteeded. Upon the pathbough she shudderingly walked to the kneeling Damaya. She touched the newcomer’s face, and then hugged the Damaya's brow to her mighty bosom. All this while, I merely watched, helpless to soothe or understand else than what I knew of my wifemate’s harsh history.I set my little knowledge against the rider’s few whits: clad as a hunter in mere halter and waistcloth. And yet, although as a Damaya matched to my Korasha wifemate, they looked naught alike, I reckoned their hair shared the same silver-green sheen.   At last they rose. Kaure set her arm upon the Damaya hunter’s lean waist while she laid arm upon my wifemate’s stout shoulders. ~E Thiahe mie,~ hoarsely whispered Kaure: “This is Thiahe my sister.”   So overwrought were they both that Thiahe could not couthly greet me. Instead, she endlessly repeated: ~Laemya-ruelve~ - “I yield sorrow,” touched Kaure’s face, and sobbed again. She begged forgiveness for her younger sister’s forsakenness When in youth Kaure had grown Korasha instead of Damaya, and their mother had cursed my wifemate and driven her from the farmhold. We at last upsteeded and headed back to Ashom while Thiahe followed.   When we reached the farmhold, I swiftly outthought to Remaue, who came running and wardsomely stood with our wifemate. Against her earlier bittersweet mirth meeting her sister, Kaure withdrew into mind. When others bewared the newcomer and the mood grew awkward, I bade to Aeal Remaue’s mother I would brew tea, who yaysaid and lit the hearth.   Kaure forlettingly went with Remaue to our bower to cleanse and shift clothes. I yielded Thiahe a seat, and then rinsed face and arms with treewater to begin the brewing rite. While the kettle simmered, I used the rite’s readiness to shun the awkwardness born from our meeting. Yet I felt Thiahe’s eyes. At last, and her hinterland blitheness easily forgave, she asked: ~Dei Vaeol-Zheieveil?~ - “Are you Lady-Outrider Vaeol?”   Mildly I nodded, unforecaught she kenned me, since beshrivedly Son is small. Yet from her ask I learned Thiahe's guilt from Kaure’s loss had grown old ago. So lissomely I could, I filled the brewed cup and yielded it to Aeal our host, who inpoured treemilk. Then I reached forth to Thiahe, who meekly bowed and sipped. After I took it back and answered sip, I deemed the tide to speak: ~O’dumi miere evolya-shyaldis,~ - “Eyesome you have sought your sister.”   Shame flinched the Damaya’s antennae. She stuttered she had not foreseen finding Kaure so nigh home, since she had heard our flag wandered the Retaea. I answered we had right ere come home.   Our stiff talk forestalled when Kaure and Remaue came down. Though Remaue had not shifted, Kaure wore a bright and fresh halter and skirt, wherein I witted Remaue’s insway, who doubtlessly wished to show our wifemate so fair as canny (even to brooking my gems, which Kaure had withstood, aletting merely a swift cleanse and the fresh clothes). They also came with Lanaryel, who walked holding Kaure’s hand and matched her birthmother’s fierce wardsomeness, and with Aeosel, who rode Kaure’s hip. My son stared at Thiahe under an almost warmindful mood. When they sat, I swiftly yielded Kaure tea, acknowledging her intread.   The two sisters struggled swyly, almost fearing words might be unbearable. Thiahe’s eyes narrowed on Aeosel, who stood hugging Kaure’s shoulder. The elder sister’s antennae quivered ask whether he was Kaure’s birth-son. Kaure’s head shook, though her arm dearly hugged him. Then she asked of one named Hoashe, whom I guessed Thiahe’s daughter. ~Qoane hare,~ - “She grows strong,” answered the Damaya sister, and forespoke to undermeet the girl with her aunt. Seeking a couth wise further, Thiahe then bemarked we looked a right warriorly house. Remaue incut: ~Leve are Sonne~ - “She is a champion of Son,” and laid hand on Kaure’s broad arm. Our heavenly wifemate told how Kaure and Oshis had held the Gameyard against Qabarat’s outriders and shown themselves doughtier. Her word rightly swayed Thiahe, though it dropped her back under meekness.   Kaure’s eyes dropped while her antennae quickened. She halted with shoulders tight, as if trying to outshove words. ~Stei voe Mae?~ - “How goes Mother?” she asked.   ~Di vuse,~ answered Thiahe: “She has not shifted,” whereby her antennae drooped and shame again strengthened. Anon she looked beseechingly at us, and then to Kaure: ~O’romi zhoe-vei limya-ruelme?~ - “May we speak alone?” Kaure nodded, whereat they climbed to the hometree’s upper limbs, where we saw them sitting and soothed the children so well as we could.   Remaue and I waited while Kaure and her sister spoke and switchingly yelled, wept, and even held hands (and I behaply cleansed the last ditch mud and donned fresh clothes). At last they came down, where our wifemate lifted Aeosel, and if my son witted tears on his matemother’s cheeks, they were dry. He soon yielded their truce’s proof when he outreachingly kissed Thiahe while she doted him. Then Lanaryel scampered near wishing to witness their glee, and Thiahe named her ~a miaele eiare~ - a fierce shieldsister. Giggling together, they came back to the main deck while Thiahe asked if we would go to the city for market day, which we yaysaid.   Then Thiahe looked at us watching, and her mood dimmed. ~O’nae vusive,~ - “I must go,” she said. She hugged her sister to bosom, and then offstood. ~Limathara hishara meavaf,~ - “I owe another talk,” she grimly added.   Kaure and Remaue stayed to mind the children, and maybe also to soothe our mossy wifemate’s overwrought heart. Thiahe yielded the slain fade-deer to Aeal in thanks, who swore friendship. Then I walked my wifemate’s sister to the shota-roost, and also read hint that something still worried.   When we reached her steed, Thiahe halted and faced me. ~Mae honade osa-aei Kaurei,~ - “Our mother was bitter ere Kaure’s thing,” she said shyly. She shared that, after Kaure had grown Korashe, their mother came to believe their kindred as cursed. She furthermore shrove that, like their mother, a glum mood had often owned them. Then she told her greatest thanks rose from Kaure breaking free. I witted the strength her shrift tolled, and furthermore the hint that Kaure alone had not outstood as their mother’s wrathbutt. I answered we shall ever welcome Kaure’s sister and that, if she need friend, she may seek us. Somewhat grimly, she upsteeded and outrode toward the northeastern hinterland.   I have tried to math the moottide’s outcome on Kaure, whether it has healed her heart’s wound or opened it anew. She has stayed deeply still with the children. I will go and yield whatever soothingness I can.