Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 10

18. Lamashan - 2nd Day in Soan, 28th Day on Castrovel   For the first time since we came to Castrovel, we slept late, partly from weariness and partly from the last night’s excellent, strong wine. Hereafter, however, we are at a loss. Despite our berth’s relative quality, we soon faced reality that we lie in prison, with nothing to do but wait on our mistresses’ mercy.   A couple things happened while the night that supplied whits of these people:   A troop of armed guards hauled in two violent men, who misliked the prospect of staying here. After many harsh words and no few blows, the guards set the twain in fetters within a booth, and chained to opposite walls, where they could lunge forward within inches of each other but could get no bite nor hand to do real harm. They spent the rest of the night scowling or growling threats at each other, in what looked a plight beset of some brawl that got out of hand, forwhy they were now locked up.   A while later, a pair of guards brought in a lone, staggering man. Instead of putting him in a booth, they merely dumped him in the courtyard. When he woke, the guards spilled a bucket on him, and then gave him another with a brush, whereupon he cleaned up his own filth. Afterward, they let him go. Apparently, public drunkenness exists on this world, too.   A third guest we did not first notice, for she was already in her booth when we arrived, and did not soon show herself. A while later, I witted the men gathering at the room’s end, where they were peering through the bars. Through them we beheld a tall woman, skin and hair of forest-green. Her near nakedness and bold curves held the men’s attention, never mind the feelers twitching from her brow. She watched us as well and tried speech. When that failed, but she witted the men’s interest, she communicated by her body, pressing herself against the bars and caressing herself. I harried the men back from the door and bade them find something else to mind. Unsure why this woman is locked up, but if its law-trouble, we don’t need anything more to complicate our stay here.     19. Lamashan - 3rd Day in Son, 29th Day on Castrovel   Today first looked more of the same boredom until we had visitors. I witted a female voice hailing us in Elvish. I looked up and beheld two Lashunta women standing before the bars: one with rose-gold hair and the other with sky-blue. At first, I am ashamed to say I didn’t recognize them. Then their hair-hue kicked memory, and I knew Lady Vaeol our Lady Knight, and her squire, the one we call Buxom Blue, and whose name I believe is Rem-aw-ay.   It goes to say how much a bath and change of clothes can better one’s appearance. Neither was dressed for the field and wore what I assume are civilian clothes. Both had their temples freshly shaven, which in Vaeol’s case shows her rosy skin-stripes continued up from her nape, over her ears, and almost to her eyes. Their long manes both fell to their right in a series of decorative braids and knots, and both wore silver neck rings. Remaue wore a wrapping halter-top that shut in front and displayed her bosom to jaw-dropping advantage, while Vaeol wore a halter made of decorated metal dishes lined with silk. Additionally, she wore openwork wrist-cuffs and greaves, in what I guess are ornamental versions of armor. Both women wore knee-length skirt-wraps that opened at the side. They were barefoot as before, for seemingly these people do not wear shoes.   The arrival of these known and friendly faces, to say nothing of their looks, brought joy to the men, who gathered at the bars and greeted the ladies in boisterous if unintelligible wise, until I spoke to Lady Vaeol in Elvish. She asked after our welfare, whereat I answered that, as prisons go, it wasn’t bad. She asked if we needed anything, and I answered more wine, whereat they laughed while their brow-feelers waved.   Their laughter smote my heart. I swear there is no sweeter music than a woman's mirth, be she Human, Lashunta, Elf, or whatever. After so long afield, and Vanya being plucked from my hands, my throat caught.   Then I realized I was staring, right at the silver cups that held her breasts. Though not so impressive as Remaue’s, she has nothing to be ashamed of. Her skin-strips curled along her ribs and stopped just short of her bosom, and flexed enchantingly when she moved. I tore my eyes away and witted her watching my stare. I know I blushed and stammered a pardon.   The two left with a promise to send us more wine, for which the men crowed thankfully. The ladies’ giggles floated back after they walked from sight, and I wondered what they whispered, or mind-spoke, to each other, though to my ears it could be two maids back in Absolom secretly discussing a handsome man. Also, they were holding hands. It could mean nothing, though I recalled how their brow-feelers had wrapped with each other that once on the way here. While we know barely anything of these people, though they do love and hold faith and trust with each other, and seemingly hold anger enough that two drunken men will seek each other’s harm.   Despite my better judgement, the thought of Vaeol and Remaue draws me. I need to keep myself in check. Love of my captor would be foolish. Just now, the wine arrived along with supper. Lady Vaeol is good to her word.     2. Vinelae, 24,535 - Son   Today I waited on Lady-Captain, wherein we again overwent the Aslanta's tale. I asked whether anyone has yet inseeched them, whereat Lady Captain answered they will be left for the soul-seers. She asked how they had behaved under bond, which I answered they had behaved well for the greater share. I then asked that I might meet the bondthralls, which she agreed.   Laterward, Remaue and I went to the lockhouse, where we got leave to see them. We first found the legless man – his name is Vurn – who is bestowed a bed in the garth, where he has ease and better loft. At our arrival he upsat, took my hand, and set it to his lips, and then to his brow, in almost kisslike wise. While his beck is unknown, I beread therein thankfulness.   We then came to the Aslanta’s broad booth. At once the Aslanta gathered at the ironscreen and gladly barked, and Brand welcomed us. I asked of their welfare, which he answered they were well enough, even reckoning thrallhood. They had food and even a yard of wine, which they said they well liked. They also had bathed, which we found a betterness. It gave our first good overlook of their half-elven, half-Korasha queerness: tall, drab-hued, and antenna-less, but hairy and manly. They are not unhandsome, in otherworldly wise.   I also witted Brand staring at me. I asked him what recked, whereat he reddened in what I besoothened a blush. He begged forgiveness. I felt lust warming from him, which made me blush, too.   We asked whether we could bring anything they needed. Brand laughingly answered more wine, whereat I forespoke to see what we could. We gigglingly left the lockhouse and ran back to my rooms. Remaue asked whether I have thought of bedding with an Aslanta, which made me blush again. I believe Remaue finds them comely. I will ask laterward, and seek forehap to tease her.     3. Vinelae   Today after templetide, I was called to the alderhall, where Lady-Mother met the Aslanta. They were brought in and bowed in odd but kindly wise. A soul-seer worked a dwimmer that let us speak in our own tongue each and understand the other, which helped wonderfully after so much halting Elvenspeech.   At Lady-Mother’s ask, Brand told their tale. He gave his name as Brand-Likaryoas, a sellsword in hire to a seer-master he names Viryan-Telmequs. They hail from a land named Taldora, which is on the world they call Qolaryon, our Blue-Queen. He told his sith had been hired by Master Viryan to come through the worldgate, where he shrove they were bound to seek corpsicum. When asked what their seer-master would do with corpsicum, he answered that is seer’s business and he knows not, but that this seer-master Viryan has forespoken a great fee for this find. When asked why we should let them afterhunt this fetch, Brand answered he had nothing but his goodwill and whatever service they could yield.   At our ask, he told of their world, whereof we have nothing but yore-tales. He told that Qolaryon is a world of many lands and kinds. There are Aslanta (whom they name ~Hyumanza~), which is the most numerous kind, and of course Elfkind, who have often overfared Heaven’s emptiness about Burning-Mother, and also other kinds who were too many and could not easily be bespoken. Of their weirdcraft, he outlaid it is more like Elfcraft than our soulcraft.   Of Aslanta, Brand told that on Qolaryon there once was a land so named, and the folk who there dwelled, but that their land had fallen some ten thousand years ago. At first this befuddled, for as quoth our history, the Aslanta who had hithercome had fled some twenty thousand years ago. Yet then I reminded my lore from the Hall of the Stars, that a year was a world’s time to trend aring the Sun, and that by the starlorewrights' reckonship, Blue-Queen floats twice far from Burning-Mother’s midst as our Greenmother. So I told the alderwives that Qolaryon's year is twice long as our own. Brand bewitnessed that his world’s own history tells these Elder Aslanta overheld a broad and mighty empire. They kenned cunning gearcraft and weirdlore, and even that they brooked these secrets to fare among the stars.    Lady-Mother asked of the curse we heard had befallen Blue-Queen. Brand answered that a baleful falling-star had stricken Qolaryon at that elder time. It had sunken Aslanta undersea, and its few folk outliving had scattered. He told his own land boasted afterbearhood from these outliving Aslanta, though their bloodline was mixed with other kindreds, and few words of their elder tongue have outlasted. He said Taldora outseeks and keeps fast whatever Elder Aslanta lore and hoardlooms it may find.   At end, Lady-Mother thanked Brand for his tale. Then she asked whether he would yield to a mind-seech. He answered he has little choice, for their sith stands under our ruth. He merely asked that, whatever we do, we spare his men’s lives. Then Lady-Mother gave him leave.   After the wardens led him out, Lady-Mother asked my thoughts of them and whether we should let their fetch. I answered that for their fetch it was not my share to deem, but for their behavior they were couth and kindly and had made little bother. Then she asked what I would deem if the choice were mine, whereat I first thought, and then answered that, all else being even, I would learn what I could of them, and then send them on their fetch. Then Lady-Mother thanked and gave me leave.   Erenow I came back to my room, where I found Remaue. She told Erymi had come with word to wish us come to her and Oshis for supper at eventide, and had given stead at a idleyard in the Lower Farthing.     20. Lamashan - 4th Day in Soan, 30th Day on Castrovel   This morn, our jailers had us bathe again. Then a troop of the squat male guards brought us back to the Acropolis, where we were again led through the great tree’s square. This time, however, we were led up the steps and into the dome.   Within and under the dome, we found a wide hall, which was lit with its many glass skylights, and its midst a theater-like room, whose tiered decks ring roughly two-thirds around the lowermost level. We were brought to this spot before a lone, cushioned bench, where stood a lady in a cloth-of-silver saree and golden flared crown, with a golden staff. Upon the rungs above were more benches, and on them sat more crowned ladies, whom I soon learned are the ruling matron-senators of Soan. Then came in Lady Vaeol and the older Captain dressed samely (though Vaeol wore no crown), and several other men and women wearing skirts and with golden chains about their necks, and some of whom wore a golden bead upon their brows. They gathered off to the side, apart from the gold-crowned lady, and across from us.   Then a man with a golden bead stepped into our midst. He shut his eyes, crossed arms, and spread his palms; fingers up. My head buzzed weirdly, and I watched my men shake and blink as well. I was wondering what devilry was done, when a clear, musical voice bade us welcome and ease. I was so surprised that I turned and laughed, where I saw the silver-shrouded woman with the staff. She was a well-made, older lady, with copper-gold hair, golden-tan skin, and with stripes running through, rather like Vaeol’s.   I bade the men to silence, and then greeted the lady as cordially and thankfully as I could, and maybe more thrilledly than I should hear from her speaking our language, which made her smile, and her brow-feelers twitch in a wise I’ve come to associate with mirth. Only after she spoke again, explaining their wish to ask about our business and where we came from, did I realize she wasn’t speaking Taldane. She was speaking Lashunta, which I realized when I focused on the sounds coming from her mouth. Yet I understood, just as now she understood my tongue. Whatever magic they wield is not mean.   Our interrogator, who I soon betook is a lady-magistrate or other high official, had many questions, which Draxy and I mainly answered. We told them of our quest here and Archmaster Virian’s commission, and of the accident that left us stranded. I saw no end in keeping any secret of the corpsicum or anything else. Soon the skirted attendants off to the side joined the inquiry, and from them came most of the questions about us and our world. Of Golarion (or the Blue Queen as they name it) they already had some knowledge, including the Fall of Azlant, though other than Elves and our own kind (who to them are the same as Azlanti) they know nothing. They did have rumor of Golarion’s curse, however, though whether they meant Earthfall or Rovagug’s Cage I could not tell.   At the end, the magistrate asked us why they should help our quest, which at once got my attention, for by that question I underread they might be open to giving assistance. Yet what we may have to offer these exotic, bug-feeler aliens I have no idea. I merely answered, politely as possible, that I would stand in their everlasting debt, and that if I could serve in any wise, they must simply ask. I begged only that they spare my men, and that, if there was any way, to send them home.   The Lady Magistrate looked up to the matrons’ benches above, and if they were engaged in that magical mind-speech I have no clue. Then she looked at me again and asked whether I would submit to something she named a mind-probe. What she meant I was unsure. Yet I saw little choice if I wish their favor.   Then the Lady Magistrate dismissed us, and our guards took us back to jail, where at least we were served a fair dinner and more wine. The men have spent much time debating what the Lashunta may do. Draxy is fearful they will not let us go, but will keep us as freaks for some scientific menagerie. I am less sure. I get the feeling that at least they do not mislike us.