Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 11

23. Lamashan - 7th Day in Son, 33rd Day on Castrovel   The last few days have gone by blurrily, which I know not how to describe. Slowly I am starting to feel again like myself. Yet what was done to me I don’t know.   The day after our meet with the Lashunta’s Matron-Senate, a skirted man, clean-shaven on both head and chin and with browbead, but as greatly muscled as all the others, came to the jail. He used the witchy speech-trick and asked for me. When I rose and went to the bars, he bowed and said he is from the Esotericum, which he explained is the school the Lashunta practice their Arts of the Soul, as he called them. At his word, the guards unlocked the door and let me out. I explained to the men that I would be examined by the Lashunta’s wizards. This first panicked them, for they thought it might mean some foul experiment, though I assured them that, to my best knowledge, they would simply peer within my mind and judge the truth and worth of our purpose. That soothed them enough that they let me go without further quarrel.   The steward, or wizard, as I foretook him as being, and two guards brought me again to the upper town’s height, where on another side of the great tree’s square stood a hall between what looked like two temples. Inside we went, where I saw the buildings were much more open between themselves than I had guessed from outside. Through a gallery connecting to the temple on the left came a set of tree-limbs, broad and girthy as tree-trunks in their own right. Yet, but for a few odd leaves and blossoms along the windows, it looked almost dead.    I wondered on this ancient, almost-dead tree, and why it should have a temple built around it, when I was led to the hall’s other side and up a stair, to a floor just under its limbs. Here waited about a dozen Lashunta, both men and women, and all dressed samely with golden beads upon their brows, which remind me of the mystics I have met in Vudra, who mark a spot on their foreheads as token. All bowed politely, and my guide informed me that they were my examiners. He then bade me lie on a mat in their midst.    What happened next I cannot describe. My examiners began a throaty, humming chant. I felt a weird throb in my head, and when I startled, the guide again bade me relax. Then I seemingly drifted to sleep, though whether I was dreaming or living out some crazed fantasy I cannot tell…  

...I relived nearly every fight and battle I have ever undergone, from fighting Orc-hordes on the Numerian plains to back-lane knife-fights with thieves, and all their terror and exultation…   ...Again I went through the great windstorm on my first voyage to Tian Xia, when waves towered higher than our boat and smashed our masts, and how we huddled belowdecks while wallowing and praying the ship might not sink…   ...Once again I was sneaking past the guards of Silvermount, and how we climbed inside through a portal, and the skymetal statue that sat within the room, and its eyes blazing to life…   ...Between fits of darkness and voices asking questions, I bobbed between these and other memories, until at last I returned to my youth. There again I beheld my mother slain, the sneering lord with his carefully groomed mustache and his hands around her throat, and then again the hot anger flaring, the hatred, the candlestick in my hand, and me beating him again and again until blood splashed. And then I was running breathlessly, fleeing into the forest, and fearing, even believing, they would hunt me down…

    I woke coughing, as if I had been shouting overlong. The hall showed dark, as if night loomed outside. One of the Lashunta mind-seers held my shoulders and helped me sit while another brought water.  I had never felt so thirsty, gulped the water, and promptly retched it back up. Then I blacked out. When I woke, they brought me more water and bade me sip slowly. I think I blacked out again, and then woke and tried to stand. Yet I dizzied, and my legs would not work. The Lashunta loaded me onto a litter, after which I slept.   I next woke within the jailhouse’s courtyard, where Vern was overwatching me, and daylight showed on this morning. Gruffly he chuckled and shrove he was glad at my stirring, for he had worried when they first brought me senseless back to the jail. He asked what had happened, but I had no will to tell.   Later, I opened my eyes and found Lady Vaeol kneeling over me. She stroked my brow, and a look I know not, maybe pity, passed her face. She whispered something soothing in Elvish. Then, so lightly, I felt the tips of her brow-feelers touch my forehead. I lay still while she rose, and then watched her and Remaue head to our jail room.   Still head-sick, I then heard the men’s voices. Their arms lifted me up boisterously and bore both me and Vern into the room. The door stayed open, however, and heedlessly they went in and out. Duster brought me wine where I sat propped against the wall. Merrily, he told that whatever trial I had taken I had passed, and we would be given the city’s freedom, and maybe even a guest house.   Our jailers have gifted us an extra yard of wine, and an Elvish-speaking steward has confirmed we are no longer prisoners. The men have celebrated by drinking out in the courtyard. I have used this time, however, to write this log, and by doing so to order my thoughts over the last two days. Best as I can reckon, they dove in and researched my memories, maybe to learn whether they can trust us, which is the mind-probe they had threatened me with. I am glad it outcame well, though I would not willingly undergo it again.     5. Vinelae, 24,535 - Son   Today my sisters and I hosted Lady-Mother to the Soul-Tree. We went with her to the Esotericum, and through the hall to the inner shrine, where within its cleft the Soul-Tree twists. There she stepped upon the stair. Light overringed her, and she floated aloft. After a breathtide she swerved backward. I heard her voice, and more than only her, in my mind: she bade me join. So I walked up forth and likewise stood, whereat something caught me up. My mind first darkened, and then opened.   Many years had gone since last I entered the Overmind. It still overwhelmed me. I beheld Lady-Mother, and not only her but many else: priests, soul-seers, and more: some whom I knew, even Efadi my grandmother and another she named Eavol my great-grandmother, whose spear I bear. They asked me of the Aslanta and dove within my mind, where they outsought all the whits.   Some other things I learned while in the Overmind. A seer had uploaded the outcome of Brand’s mind-seech, which let us see what they found. Many things from his memory I witnessed, and not all I understand. These ~Hyumanza~ in their soulknacklessness and mindblindness seem utterly lonely, only they know not.   One thing clung to my thought: Brand as a youth watching an older man, maybe a wealthy trade-reeve or queen’s haremmate, frankly I know not, slay his mother. Then Brand himself slew the sinner ere he fled, foreguessably to outlawhood. This mindwhit seemingly overbound him, as further shown in a hundred other sights evenly wrathful and wretched. It makes Qolaryon look dreadful, heathen, and lawless. And yet I rued him from what I saw, as someone who holds love but had too often been made to fight harm, who upholds his friends and shields fellows against foes and awful might. Here was a man who tried to do good against doom, even when he missed.   Then I witted something beyond the Overmind’s gathered souls, greater and brighter, a showing I had ere felt but weakly: Matarasse - Burning-Mother. While I wonderingly listened, She bade us heed the Aslanta’s fetch, and that her wish lies in bringing all her children nearer together.   My mind darkened again, and I woke lying on the floor. Lady-Mother had already risen, knelt beside, and soothed my head. Then she bade me up and see to the Aslanta. With a kiss she left. I came out to the hall, where I found some of my fellow students awaiting, who had heard I had come, and also with them were Remaue, Erymi, and Tae, who waited on my welfare. Together we headed to the lockhouse.   We found the Aslanta still within their booth. Brand had been brought back to the garth and lay beside his wounded mate Vurn. Witlessly he stirred when I woke him. He had undergone mind-seech, which I know is draining. We then went to the other Aslanta, who worried for Brand, for they had not seen him brought back. I had brooked these last days to learn the tongue-dwimmer and so could speak with them. So I went to the jailer and asked him to bring Brand to the booth, which he did and also brought Vurn. The whole Aslanta were happy and gave thanks. Then they begged us for more wine and soon word of what doom awaits them. I assured their doom will be fair, that they should little worry, and that I would give my word for their sake.    While we headed away, they boldly aftercalled us beautiful and that they would love us, which set us laughing. I told the others that we forelook a soon deemship on the Aslanta.     6. Vinelae   This morn, Lady-Captain called me to her stallroom. She told Lady-Mother has deemed the Aslanta: they shall be given set freedom throughout the City, and a house shall be found for them. At the Overmind’s rede, which we weightily overtalked, Lady-Mother has deemed they shall stay a while, wherein we may learn what we can of them and their world. In the same while, we shall bode farseer-word to Qabarat to see what likelihood may help the Aslanta’s fetch, and also of any ayudarao-worldgates that may bring them homeward. Lady-Captain then bade that I have gotten the Aslanta’s oversight, that I shall answer for their watch and needs.   Forthwith, I went to the City Steward and outlaid the bid. She had heard of the Aslanta and had many questions, though I told their body-needs are mostly like ours, and a standard foodshare and boardware should set well. She answered she will find a house readily enough and should have word by Firstwatch. Then I came to the Citadel, where I called Erymi and Remaue and bade we should go to the lockhouse and tell them.   I showed my writ to the jailer and bade him open the booth. The Aslanta gladly gamboled about the garth. I sent Erymi to bring the troop and set them awatch to help the lockwardens. I then outlaid they should have bound freedom about the City, but that they should not go without host.   I am just come to the Citadel after holding watch at the lockhouse. I have also gotten Tae’s troop to help, so that none need stand overlong. We will keep the Aslanta in the lockhouse tonight. With luck, their new house will be ready tomorrow.