Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 12

7. Vinelae, 24,535 - Son   We have the Aslanta settled in a new house in Lowertown’s Near-Farthing, and which is a broad size. I also asked two more troops to help with their watch. Also we took them on a City tour and showed them the greater sights – the Ofu, the Hall of Matrons, the Ihezoshu Esotericum. I think they were awed by our many yore-tales. Yet I wonder if they truly understand our great history and all that has happened over yearthousands.   I believe we made Brand understand that Son is our oldest city. Yet how do we outlay that it has been razed at least once, and its folk scattered even more?; We showed him the spot where Queen Eieshe first swore faith with Burning-Mother and founded Son to ward the Lashunta against the ravening Moqeva. Yet how do we weigh the wreckstead on Ta-Eizohu to the south as the idle-palace of Queen Lanare, who founded the First Empire in the Time of the Warrior-Queens, and how that palace became a token of tyranny (to Son’s shame) for over a thousand years? How do we outlay that the stead where my Lady-Mother’s house stands is the same spot where Ahayil the Last Queen was slain by the Thief-Queens, or that the spot by the Yard-Tree’s roots is where Elmereth the Last Thief-Queen was fortorn by a wrathful throng, thus beginning the Matrons’ rule, or that the elder, gnarled milktree that grows between the Temple of Mahaere and the Ihezoshu is Son’s first Soul-Tree, which outlived the City’s wreck by the Hanata when a priestess took a cutting and hid it for a hundred years until the folk grew strong enough to throw off Old Hanat’s overladies, and refounded the City? A mere sightshow yields no fairness to all the things that make Son what we are today.   I will say, however, that Brand seemed rightly worshipful of what he did understand, especially of the Sun-Temple. He made word that Matarasse is rather like a god of his world, whom he named as ‘Blossom-of-Dawn’. I wonder how our gods are like the Aslanta gods.   This evetide, I thought it right to formally welcome our Aslanta guests, and so threw a feast at their new house. My underreeves helped me bid cooks and food, and the whole troop helped to outlay a full board. There was wine of course, wherefor the Aslanta show overweening love, and bubblemead for us wishing a daintier taste. Then I gathered all within the house’s garth. I first thanked the Aslanta and welcomed them on the City’s behalf. I then praised their good behavior, both on the fare hither and while their stay, and that it stands as faith to their kind, whomfor we are better settled from their example. As joke, I said that if more bondthralls were like them, we should need much fewer bars, which made all laugh. Then I praised my troop and thanked them for smart thewship. We had had a hard scoutfare, and they had handled themselves flawlessly. I bestowed my thanks and goodwill, and that I should lead them again over all else. They cheered, and the Aslanta clapped hands together, which I later gathered means acclaim.   Remaue had found some gleefolk who set themselves in the breezeway overlooking the garth. Soon a dance began, whereof the Aslanta seemed quite enthralled. Some warriors offered to show them the steps, whereto they agreed. It soon became eyesome, however, that they were more enthralled by the Damaya’s steps. We already knew they are drawn to us. Yet soon I beheld open flirt, and even answered by my warriors.   Laterward, a few asked whether they could bear a half-Aslanta child. The thought shook me. I answered I knew not, but would ask the lorewardens.   Then a herald came and outnamed the High Matron. At once we Lashunta knelt, and the Aslanta rather awkwardly followed. Lady-Mother entered and gave words of cheer and welcome. The Aslanta she bade spend some while among us, and that we would seek a way home for them. Then she called me forward. She gave them to me as safewarden, and also said they shall be well kept in her daughter’s hands. Then she withdrew and left.   Laterward, Brand asked me whether I am the queen’s daughter. I told him my mother is no queen but the chosen head of the Matrons. This intrigued him, and he had many questions about our city. We forespoke that, along with our learning of them, they will learn something from us.   The Hyumanza have grown a love of our wine and, with what I had bought, were well drunken when the dusklights quickened. Neither were the Korasha withholding, and soon manly storminess grew. A twain of Korasha held a quick boxing match, whereof I believe their skill beweighed the Aslanta. One Humanza swiftly dared a Korasha, but after the first punch withdrew and set his loosened teeth back in his jaw. I worried of a brewing feud between the Korasha and Aslanta over the Damaya’ goodwill. Ere the drunkenness thickened, I softly called all Damaya and bade us leave. I then bade Oshis and Less set watch and bring the other Korasha to their bunkhouse. Oshis yielded me a kiss when I left. Then Less did as well. Maybe I should beguilt the bubblemead, but I let them.   Remaue and I walked to the bunkhouse with Tae and Erymi. We talked about the watchlog after the Damaya were in rooms, and of worries if the Aslanta become overbold. We forespoke to watch this business.     25. Lamashan, 4718 - 9th Day in Soan, 35th Day on Castrovel   After so many days in jail, now things move swiftly. Though I still hope we will get some help from our Lashunta hosts, either way, I am relieved.   Early yesterday, the two archer-sergeants we had first met on our capture, Ta-yeh the green-blond haired, golden-skinned beauty, and Less her second, the leaner man with copper beard and skin, accompanied a crowned lady, who explained in Elvish that we should be moved to a house. We rejoiced at the news. Then they gathered us all, including Vern on a litter, and led us from the jailhouse. We did not go far, for the house they have set for us stands at the foot of the cliff whereon the Acropolis sits, and near to a carven spiral stairway that climbs up. The house is well sized to hold our dozen, and we can sleep two or three to a room, and with more to spare. It has a broad inner yard with a flowering tree of green and purple fronds, open inner walls, a kitchen and open cooking-hearth fully set with all tools, and even knives, for apparently we truly are no longer prisoners, and a bathpool set right in the floor off the main room, right where one enters from the front door.   The house also comes with a steward, a man (or Korasha, which is the Lashunta word) named Thalaes, who speaks good Elvish. He is a handsome fellow with deep brown skin, a shaven head, and russet beard, with a scarlet skirt and golden belt and necklace. He runs this household along with a pair of servants. Soon each man had a bed, and the servants had opened a new cask of wine.   Upon the tree in the yard, one of the squawky hare-squirrels was sitting when we first came in. The men shouted and waved until it scampered further upward in outrage, a feeling that maybe the servants shared, for they frowned at our deed while the things squawked shrilly and shook its tail upon the roof. Despite my desire to shoot and eat the things in the jungle, I almost hope it comes back.   Then Lady Vaeol and Remaue arrived. The first thing our outrider-knight did was perform the mind-witch trick that makes us all understand each other, for apparently she has learned this craft since we arrived in Son. She welcomed us to the new house, bade that we will have freedom to go within the city (though with escort). Then she offered to show us the city’s sights.   The Lashunta first led us up the spiralway to the acropolis - the Ofu, as they call it - where we had already seen the Hall of Matrons, where their government meets. I had already been to the Esotericum, the hall between the temples where their mind-wizards train. The temple to the Esotericum’s left Vaeol named that of the Green Mother, who I gathered is a goddess of motherhood and fertility, maybe not unlike Jaidi as she is worshipped under the Green Faith. It is a lofty, open place full of tended shrubs, vines, and flowers, which gives the building a somewhat Elven feel. It shares the great, ancient tree, which they call the Soul-Tree, with its neighbor, and also holds a twenty-foot idol of a goddess carven all from green jade, though much worn and missing an arm. Behind, it let out onto a fallen bridge that seemingly had once stretched to the next peak southward, and whereon we could see more ruins long fallen. That stead Lady Vaeol named the ancient palace of Queen La-nar-eh, whomof I gathered few details but that she once had conquered a great empire.   The other temple on this side held a statue of a mightily built Korasha bearing spear and bow, and wearing a crown that twines with his brow-feelers like antlers. Lady Vaeol named him Father Hunter, whom I foretook as a warrior-god. On the near side to the left, which is the peak’s highest point, stands a stout and massive stronghold, where Remaue also mentioned she and Vaeol dwell as members of the city’s guard.   The most impressive building upon the Ofu stands on the northern cliff, where it overlooms the hollow where the river (named the Yaro) undercuts below. It features a lighthouse at its rear, and also a high dome hollowed with shafts of crystalline glass almost from top to bottom, a wealth in glasswork that would beggar even the Keleshite Empress. When we came inside, we saw the dome even had an oculus open to the cloudy sky. Straight under the open shaft stood an idol rising thirty feet from a pedestal already twenty feet high, of a woman wrought or plated in gold, and wearing a crescentlike crown set with glittering red gems. Soon as I saw, I knew this was the Lashunta’s main war-deity. Though a saree-like shroud in crimson and cloth-of-gold wrapped her shoulder, waist, and legs, a sunburst-like breastplate like a golden mirror hung on her bosom, and her hand held a spear, which looked at least silver-gilded, if not pure. Even under cloudlight she shone and glittered, and the men gaped not only for her beauty, for for the uncountable wealth that drapes this idol.   While I stood before a small altar and stared upward, a priestess came forth. She consented to undergo Lady Vaeol’s speech-spell and welcomed us. She explained the temple is dedicated to the Burning Mother, who is the light against darkness and defender of worlds. She went onward to tell that the city of Son was founded here, on this very spot when a Warrior-Queen named Eh-yeh-shay fled here and received a vision from the Goddess, and built here a stronghold to save the Lashunta from an ancient foe, whose name did not translate, called the Mokhay-va. All this happened over twenty-four thousand (12,000?) years ago.   I realized this Burning Mother goddess is the Sun, which I had not seen since coming to this cloudy and tree-whelmed world. Yet this temple, should the clouds ever part, is perfectly built to catch sunlight and thereby enlighten the interior and this statue. In the priestess’s words, the Burning Mother sounds not unlike our own Sarenrae the Dawnflower, who even though she is worshiped by my homeland’s chief rivals, is a goddess celebrated as Champion against the evils that threaten our world, from Rovagug to Asmodeus and his devils. I told the priestess that her sun-goddess sounds much like our goddess, whereat she smiled and answered that should not surprise, for the Burning Mother is not merely mother of the Lashunta nor this world only, but mother of all worlds that ring the Sun, and of all people who dwell thereon.   I asked permission to pray at the altar, and she allowed me. I knelt and said a short prayer to Sarenrae. I asked that, if she could hear me, to help us to find a way home. I know not whether She and this Burning Mother are the same, but maybe they at least talk to each other.   After we returned to the new house, Lady Vaeol surprised us again by throwing a feast, to which she invited both the lizard-riders and the bowmen who had found us. I gathered her interest was twofold: to welcome us as her city’s guests, and to honor her company’s warriors for the hardship they had undergone in bringing us back. She praised their discipline, and I sensed a commander who puts her warriors before herself. The more I learn of our Lady-Knight, the more I like her.   The next interruption we got proved the presiding lady-magistrate from the Hall of Matrons who had overseen our inquiry, whose name is Lady Zhassa-yel. She came with another pair of ladies as escort, who were all the most well-dressed of any here. Like Vaeol, she welcomed us and announced we are under the Outrider-Knight’s charge, whom interestingly she named her beloved daughter.   I stood back and regarded the two women while Vaeol knelt before the older lady. I had not earlier thought it, but, other than their hair - one rosy and one coppery - they do look rather alike, even to the ruddy stripes winding over their shoulders. If they are mother and daughter, it raises more possibilities.   Along with the wine (again much appreciated) and food (interesting but mostly tolerable), we got to see our erstwhile captors in a freer light. Most had stripped to their loinclothes, and some women had forgone their breast-halters (though Vaeol and Remaue had not), which put the men in a lively mood. Whatever one might say of these Lashunta’s buglike head-growths, or of the men’s apelike bodyshape, their Damaya women are full comely, and nothing in their scanty dress hints any shame. This was further, almost painfully, driven home, when a music band began an odd but rhythmic tune, and a dance started. My men first gaped, and then almost fell over themselves asking to be taught the steps, though I doubt, given the Lashunta knack for mind-reading, their true interest was lost. I did my best to keep a sharp eye, lest overeagerness lead to insult. Based on my assessment of the Damaya in the field, I doubt they would cower or suffer any unwanted attention (which I foresaw ending in a well-aimed knee or elbow, and lucky that none were carrying daggers). Also, for better or worse, the Korasha-men oversaw my men’s friendliness with more than comfortable mind. From what I had seen, the men and women mostly served in separate troops - with the few exceptions I have noted - and have limited and dutiful congress while afield. Yet here on this festive eve a new tension emerged, and I bewared my men might have rivals for the Damaya’s affections. Indeed, the squat Korasha joined the dance almost as eagerly.   I reckon that youth might also drive such passion almost as much as sex, and bears the burden of wisdom-lack to boot. Warriorhood is the field of the young, as I, already almost forty, am a virtual grandfather to many I command. Certainly, while overlooking the dance-field of writhing arms and rolling hips, I saw nothing but the first ripeness of adulthood. The eldest Lashunta in the company belooked the four sergeants, who thoroughly played the veteran role, stood apart, drank less wine but more steadily, and laughingly watched the younger warriors’ antics. Of Erymi the copper-bronze beauty and Oshis the dun-hued short but massive lizard-rider, I already knew they were a couple. Yet now I saw the other twain, emerald-blond Tae and ruddy Less the archer-sergeants, were likely matched as well, especially when she stood behind his shortness, rested arms on his stout shoulders, and ran fingers through his cropped hair, while he reached backward and laid hands on her hips. They seemed boldly comfortable together, and dare I say, amongst each other.   Lady Vaeol moved easily amongst all, who gave her reverence whenever she crossed way. Remaue did likewise, much like her mistress’s second. So many questions came to mind, which I knew not even how to ask.   The night culminated in a show of Lashunta boxing, which swiftly hearkened to the warrior-art schools often sponsored by the Church of Irori. The Korasha’s squat, mighty frames give them both center and power I find enviable, especially combined with deep training their throws hinted. Duster was rash enough to challenge their champion. He went several sporting passes until he took a tough chop to the jaw, which wobbled him and had him spitting blood. Soon afterward, Lady Vaeol led the women out. I wonder if she was forestalling cause before further challenges got out of hand, especially for hope to impress the Damaya. The sergeants stayed watchfully, and Master Thalaes, our steward, made himself friendlily present. The excitement wound down, though not before the Korasha taught us a Lashunta drinking-game, in which we must balance a knife-hilt on the nose for the length of a chant.   An interesting whit: when the Lashunta eat, they do not touch food with their hands, but more often make it magically float to their mouths. I have a few times seen this power, which apparently they all share.   Late this afternoon, Lady Vaeol again came to the house. She informed me that she will bring me to a place called the Hall of Stars while the men stay here. When I asked what this Hall of Stars is, she explained it is a stead above the clouds, where one may see Heaven, and that there dwell the Lashunta’s sages who know of other worlds. This prospect intrigued me, including what I may learn. We shall leave in three days.