Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 13

26. Lamashan, 4718 - Son, 36th Day on Castrovel   Today, Lady Vaeol and Remaue gave us a lesson in the Lashunta Tongue, which some of us had long wanted. For the most part, it went well, though many men didn’t take it seriously. Instead, they were more interested in getting our teachers’ chests bouncing. For myself, having learned some languages in my adventures, Lashunta is an airy, rolling language. Its musicality reminds me of Elvish, though with a stronger rhythm, and soft sounds. I learned some useful phrases, such as ‘samaea’, which means thanks, and ‘velya’, which is please. Things swiftly get more complicated, however. While the Lashunta have numbers, their words get confusing when it comes to showing number, in terms of one or many of a thing. There seems no difference between ‘I’ or ‘we’, though their verbs do odd things with inclusion and exclusion, such as ‘we including you’ against ‘we but not you’. Also, my best guess is they have as many five or six genders: a masculine, feminine, and then maybe a common, animal, object, and lastly something like spirit or idea, if I’ve kept it straight.   Curiously, the Lashunta differentiate between ‘damae’, which is the female gender, ‘rie’, which is a wife or grown woman, and ‘lae’, which I think means maiden, since Vaeol and Remaue use that word to refer to themselves. Other words are ‘moare’, ‘moara’, or ‘moaras’, depending on whether the gender is feminine, common (which often gets used for plurals), and masculine, which means warrior. ‘Mae’ is mother, while ‘dias’ is father, and ‘utha’ is child.   So far, I do not understand how marriage works, or anything linked to family. After the lesson, I followed Vaeol and spoke with her alone, where I learned a few things. Lashunta, while they have a strong sense of family, have no concept of marriage, or at least nothing like what we have back home. Instead, they take any number of lovers, which may be men or women, depending on their taste. Lady Vaeol explained that women track their children’s fathers, but only for ritual purpose and not because they owe any obligation, though men (or ‘Korasha’) may owe some service if they dwell with a woman.   When I tried to explain a dedicated, committed relationship, Vaeol asked why it should be so between a man and woman. Our talk grew awkward. I’m afraid I botched the explanation and could give and could give her nothing satisfactory.   When I asked whether she and Remaue are lovers, she admitted it. Apparently, this is permitted for maidens, but who are otherwise forbidden men until they enter wifehood, especially since they delay this while in military service. I will say that this question was the first time I really rattled her. When she blushed, I thoroughly enjoyed the sight.     9. Vinelae, 24,535 - Son   Today as forespoken, I taught the Aslanta a lesson in Lashunta Tongue. It went well enough, though too much laughter and too little lore.   Afterward Brand spoke with me alone. He asked about Lashunta kinship. He understood that Damaya breed with Korasha but asked about mateship. I guessed there was something odd in his question, that mateship may have for him an unlike meaning. So I asked what it means to him. He answered mateship among Aslanta is between a man and wife. So I asked whether that was all. Thereat he grew awkward and shrove it is not always so, but there are rules overbinding and that things become manifold if the rules are not followed. So I asked him the rules, which he answered that a man and wife swear bond-faith and only to each other. I told him that Lashunta are not so bound to one mate only.   He asked of children, whereat I answered we indeed have them, and we both laughed. Then he asked how we know who a child’s father is. I answered a wise Damaya will track her children’s fathers so that the right Korasha may stand under the Hometree, witness his child’s showforth, and swear to the child’s wardship. Then he asked whether Damaya mate only with Korasha, and I answer no, that Damaya mate not only with Korasha but also with other Damaya, and so also with Korasha.   Then he asked of me and Remaue, whereat my cheeks oranged. After a long breath, I answered that we are dear. He grinned. I took my leave and withdrew to where I could get my heart underdighted.     27. Lamashan, 4718 - Son, 37th Day on Castrovel   Quiet day, which I used to ready for tomorrow’s travel to the Hall of Stars. I have set Vern in charge while I’m away. Even down a leg, he’s my best man and the one I trust most. I also asked Duster to keep a sharp eye on Draxy. I’ve gotten a sense that the wizard’s servant might be looking for some angle, to do what I’m unsure, since we are nowhere near to finding corpsicum or a way home. I want all the men on best behavior to keep our Lashunta hosts’ goodwill.   I took some time and walked around the city, mainly to get a better idea in my own head. I found some interesting things in the lower town, which answer some questions. As a whole, I found it a small, thriving city built on the bones of a much older - and bigger - one, which if I believe our hosts that it was founded over ten thousand years ago in our world’s time, makes sense. In one stead, a work crew was removing stones from a half-fallen wall, likely to use for new building. Also, I walked to the island’s north end, whose lane led into the cliff’s hollow. There I found a whole herd of mill-barges anchored to reap the river’s strongest current, and seemingly where a great deal of enginecraft is housed. I watched a team of millwrights dismantle a broken waterwheel and floated a new one instead.   Toward the town’s southern end, I found stockyards mixed with ruins, full of the chubby calflike lizards, which I guess are raised for meats and hides. Out further, the land swiftly yields to more fields, orchards, and meadows, dotted with the giant village-trees.   In a field I watched a group of women-warriors practice, many armed like Lady Vaeol in knightly fashion, and taking turns jousting. It was carefully done, for they took pains not to wound each other, instead striking the small round shields they bear on their left arms. Yet it was grim war-practice, and peculiar from my experience, for the Shotalashu’s leaping, catlike gait makes for a different technique, where the lance-thrust must be timed with the steed’s pounce.   While one pair tilted and struck spears, a rider’s Shota-lizard stretched its neck and nipped its opposite’s flank. The offended beast brayed, lashed tail, and skidded to halt. At once the two riders circled their steeds and rode them further apart (from what I can tell, they guide them through their minds, thus explaining their utter lack of bridle or spurs). They dismounted while the other attendants clustered and conferred. Then the crowd parted, leaving but the two knights afoot standing by their drake-steeds. At some signal unseen and unheard, the two Shotalashu suddenly rushed each other. They leapt, lunged, crashed together, and rolled apart in the dirt. Then they circled hissingly, long necks arched like Vudran cobras before the flute. Again they dashed forth, claws jabbing, bearlike jaws snapping, and let forth frightful yowls when a stroke landed true. After a long moment, the knights stepped forward, and the two riding-drakes backed warily off, whereat the riders stroked their necks, checked their wounds, and then rode them off in separate ways. I was reminded not only of stallions fighting for a harem of mares, but the violence of pit-bears at town-fair spectacles. It makes sense these monstrous steeds, especially if they are herdbeasts, will strive to win their own order. If it comes to warfare, I doubt not these Shotalashu are as mighty weapons themselves.   I note that, although people generally do not bear weapons on everyday business, almost everyone has them. I passed several weaponshops, and in others I saw axes, bows, or spears mounted on walls inside. From what I’ve seen, and with the sergeants’, knights’, and officers’ exceptions, all the warriors are young. I wonder if the Lashunta practice some general military service, and obviously not merely of men but also women. Presumably, they would call older citizens on reserve. It bespeaks an active, aggressive society, despite its great age.   Which begs the question of why one may need such a heavy militia. What threats or foes do they face?   I have already remarked on their fine quality of smithcraft. Damascene work is more common here than back home, but explains as a treatment against the weather’s heavy dampness and resulting rust. Indeed, most all steelwork, instead of polished shininess, shows some kind of treatment, be it oil-bluing or blackening. Also, for common kitchen-knives, wood-axes, or even hunting arrows, I have seen a fair amount of bronzework, which withstands better.     28. Lamashan - 1st day toward the Hall of Stars, 38th Day on Castrovel   Today I joined Lady Vaeol’s rider-troop, including Remaue, Erymi, Oshis, and four others, to bring me to the Hall of Stars. Soon as we crossed the river’s western side, we hit foothills and began climbing. The trees are sparser, meaning the jungle undergrowth grows thicker. Yet there are paths we follow. Further westward and through clouds and rain haze, I have seen higher rises, which I guess are mountains.   For my travel, I was lent my own Shota-lizard, though if ever a dumb beast has treated a Human with scorn, this is it. If Remaue did not hold its lead and master it through more Lashunta mindcraft, I don’t even reckon it would let me ride. I again witnessed the spooky bond between rider and lizard-steed, and wonder if it extends to pack-lizards as well. Certainly the Shotalashu that bears me deems me a burden, for it ignores any beck or order I try.   We stay tonight under a tree-village set within a dale, which reckoning by the roadway running through, sees fair traffic. The headwife greeted Lady Vaeol with respectful ease, which makes me wonder how often they see military patrols. Her Korasha servant brought a bowl of creamy, honey-tea that we shared, in what I deem a hospitable gesture.   Which has gotten me thinking again of what I know of these Lashunta. Until we reached the city, I had assumed these people barbarians: heavily armed raiders overlording a savage serfdom. Yet I watched a group of these tree-dwelling peasants practicing archery with the same weapons as the cityfolk have. The more I learn, the more I think I was wrong. After all, how would an outsider look on Taldane or Chelish peasants and the feudal rights their lords enjoy overhead? I have my own bitter experience with that society. Looking back, I believe my assumption of their savagery was based on their near nakedness, and not on their accomplishments.   I also saw firsthand how this treehome not only provides shelter for these folk, but also food, for it is of the milk-sap kind, and I wonder that many of the giant village-trees may be the same. The Lashunta headwife noticed my curiosity and gave me a tour, whereby I got a firsthand glimpse of their tree-houses. I found them mostly open-walled huts with overmossed thatch rooves. An open small hearth inside serves for cooking and to keep the thatch from molding. Given the tree-limbs’ breadth and leaves’ thickness, they have little need for walls or shutters against wind or blowing rain.   I witted the stairway winding up the main trunk, and also some of the lower houses, are even grown from the tree and part of its living wood. I know not how long the Lashunta live (like us or rather like Elves?), but from what I understand, this kind of livework could take hundreds of years, which means Lashunta have been dwelling in this tree for that whole time.   Last note: I may be wrong, but a feud has seemingly outbroken between Vaeol and Remaue. It’s hard to tell when at least as much of their words go through mind-speech as aloud, especially if they wish to keep private. Yet an advantage of having learned a few words is that, even when they are mind-speaking and I am near enough, on occasion I pick them up. In that instant, I have a few times caught them referring to Azlanti, and even my name. Why I am the butt of their argument I know not, but Lady Vaeol seems bothered, and Remaue amused.       11. Vinelae, 24,535 - 1st day afare to Ta-Shestaru; Tales-Farmhold     Today with the spear-troop we set off toward the Hall of Stars, to escort Brand there. We ferried to the Yaro’s western side at Hiresim. Hence, if the weather stays kindly, we will be five days faring to the foot of Mt. Shestaru, and then another one or two days aclimb, again at the weather’s ruth. We are already among the foothills. Tonight we camp at Tales-farmhold. We are but nine: me and Remaue, Brand, Erymi and Oshis, and our four riders. We will move faster without the archers, and for the most share, these lands are more settled.   Remaue has been ruthlessly teasing me these last few days over Brand. She claims I want him, which I have naysaid more times than I wish. When she threatened to take him herself, I answered that if she scorns her maidenhead so much, she should go ahead. Thereat she answered that maybe she would. This got Erymi and Oshis laughing to no end, which only heatened my blush.