Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 17

6. Soelae, 24,535 - Son   Today I did something I had not done in overlong. I went to see my father.   On my ask yesternight, Lady-Mother told he now works at the Sun Temple. So there I went and found him on the western doorway. At my sight he brightened and hugged me. I told him on my deeds since outriderhood and of the Aslanta’s fetch, and that I would soon leave for Qabarat to host them. He read me to beware, for he has little trust for outland folk, both for Qabarat and the Aslanta.   He showed me what he is working on. This door’s warden-likenesses have much crumbled. He has gotten the job (with Lady-Mother’s goodwill) to mend them. He will also add a roofway to offkeep rain and hopefully ward them from crumbling anew. He has in mind a twosome of Damaya warriors. He then said he needs a life-model and beseeched if I would stand for him. I forecaughtly answered I would be honored but must keep my forquest to Qabarat. He answered that shall stay all right, for he must first build the roofway. Then he bade me not to tarry too long with outlanders and offworlders, and kissed my shoulder.   Afterward, I had much readiness. Happily, Brand’s Aslanta had already heard the plan and had forereadied themselves in his awayness. It will be an easy fare. However, it has outcome that most warrior’s firdhoods end at next month’s end, which foreshows hardship, for we should take skilled veterans and not newlings. Thankfully, the whole troop has offered to join this quest.     10. Neth, 4718 - Son, 51st Day on Castrovel   Last night, I had that chat with Draxy about him whispering lies and making trouble. It was private but for Duster and Krandyn, whom I set awatch against anyone blundering in. I let the little Chelaxian know, in straightforward terms, he must do all in his might to keep us in our host’s good graces. When he denied his misdeed, I got a little rough. Then the son of a devil had the gall to draw a knife on me! I didn’t break his arm since I wouldn't draw that attention, but came damn near. Afterward, I left word that he is forbidden from the kitchen and may eat meals only with his hands.   Today Remaue came by, though oddly without Lady Vaeol. She wafts an engaging warmth: earthy, flirty, and bold. If Vaeol were not the knight, and she not the squire, I would swear Remaue would be their lead. She explained she is holding a supper in her lady’s honor before we leave for Khabarat, and asked me to come as a guest. Despite an uncertain queerness I couldn’t name, I agreed, at which she clasped my hand and winked those heart-melting blue eyes, which so uncannily match her hair. She will send a man tonight to fetch me.     11. Neth - On a Barge upon the Yaro River - 52nd Day on Castrovel   I am trying to understand what happened last night. Most of the supper was common enough. Yet how it ended has bothered me. I keep telling myself this is not my world; these are not my people. Their ways are unlike ours, and I should not judge. Despite so, I cannot but wonder whether I have been lied to or somehow used.   Less the archer-sergeant brought me from the house to a rather ornamental orchard with glowing blossoms atop an old rampart, with good sight of the river’s western side and downriver along the island’s shore. There stood a wide bower set with couches and a low table. Some of the food was good, and I managed to try every dish. Naturally, Lady Vaeol and Remaue were there, but also the four sergeants - Tae, Erymi, Less, and Oshis - which made a small, private affair among the feylights and glowing flowers. Along with a fairly strong, spicy wine, they brought forth a pipe, which if it didn’t hold hemp-gum, held something so close that the difference doesn’t matter. I partook with the Lashunta, which soon had us all loose and easy.   Due to the drug, too late I first came aware of Tae and Erymi, the two Damaya sergeants, who came to sit beside me. Erymi reached up, touched my face, and then laid her brow-feelers against my head in what I’ve come to think as a Lashunta kiss. Tae followed suit. Under the pipe-smoke’s thrall, they felt good, and I took them both in my arms.   Idly I wondered that Oshis and Less, these two women's lovers, were doing. At last I noticed both men were kneeling before Lady Vaeol, where they had clasped her and were worshiping at her bosom’ altar. Remaue crouched between them lower while the rosy knight’s head lolled. Her feelers trailed over theirs, clearly sharing whatever they experienced through their uncanny mind-bond. Her sight struck me like a slap.   Just some days earlier, she had explained to me she was consorting with Remaue alone. Had she lied to me? Yet the truth hinted more complex as the two men stayed where they knelt and took no further liberties. Despite the intimacy, neither Remaue nor Vaeol let a man claim her body. Twisted as it seems, they seemed serious about maintaining their maidenhood, which makes me wonder whether it may have something to do with staying childless for military service.   I remember the look on Lady Vaeol's face and wonder if she had felt as ashamed as I. Then shortly later, she rose and left me to the two Damaya sergeants' attention while Remaue continued teasing Oshis and Less.   After Less led me back, I woke this morn with last night’s unreal memory, and no further understanding. The steward and servants helped us pack our few belongings. Then we were led to the barge and packed aboard, wherein now we float down this broad jungle river. I have little idea how long we will be afare, and less wish to approach Vaeol and ask. For now, little to do but watch the jungle slide by. We are crowded on this barge, and if one is unwary, a Shotalashu may lift its tail and unload as one walks by. This may be a long boatfare.     7. Soelae, 24,535 - 1st day on the Yaro Southward   Much to write. Where to start I am unsure. We are on a flatbark and floating down Father-Yaro, whose wide banks idly slide by. I have not only Erymi's spear-troop but also Tae’s archers. So we are well hosted for this fetch. Along with our fifteensome, the twelve Aslanta, and the three bark-crew, we are thirty aboard and eight Shota, who hold the midboat. We are quite crowded.   I shrive anger with Remaue, for I believe her will led yesternight’s deed. We went to an idleyard in the Far Lowerfarthing. Yet we also beheld an unforeseen guest. They had brought Brand! Unease overtook, and I knew not why.   Whatever my doubt, it proved eyesome that neither did Brand have any inkling what was happening there. He was reckfully glad at my sight, for I worked the Tongue-dwimmer that let us talk. Oshis poured spicewine, and we lay upon the couches to meat, a right tasty stream-eel pickled in greensourwine and wilted sweetleaves tossed in crumbled wormroast and milksap-oil. For a sweetdish, Erymi brought brandy-soaked fingerberries upset on a handlike stand, which we then set ablaze until their sugar glazed. Then we doused them, ate them still hot, and burned our fingers.   The myrrhblossoms bloomed strong and full, and their glows bright after nightfall. Less poured a mulled brandy. Then Tae drew forth a dreamweed pipe, which I shrive I had never tried. She first went to Brand and yielded him it. When he asked what, she answered it is a drug that brings mirth to the smoker, along with weird sights and dreams. He said it sounds much like a weed on his own world and drew a great breath. Then Tae brought me the pipe. I breathed its smoke and coughed a little. Then I yielded to Remaue, who took a small puff and gave it first to Less, and then to Oshis. A slackness overtook me, an unforeseen peace even against my worry at Brand's stay. Bywardly, I witted the myrrhblossoms were shining brighter, and their glows smearing over my sight.   Remaue laid her hand on my thigh, and a wonderful bliss overtook. While I watched, Tae and Erymi sat with Brand and kissed him. Then Oshis and Less sat near me and Remaue. Their heavy arms ringed me. Soon I had them both knelt before me, where they unclasped my halter-top and suckled my nipples like eager bullpups. Their hard hands kneaded my softness while my hands clutched their broad shoulders. My antennae twined with theirs each, and I beheld their idleness fondling me. They held back, which soothed me, though they were awaiting something I could not tell.   Then I looked up and beheld Brand, who was looking right at me. Anon shame overtook, from his eyes on me, from my unmaidenly bareness and from the dear ache running through my body. My face flushed hot, and I drew away.   I locked gaze with Brand, who tried to rise and come to me. Yet Erymi and Tae held him down. I withdrew, leaving Remaue with the two Korasha, which seemingly fit her well.   Anger sinceward owned me, even after we came back to our room, and even at Remaue. She told she had crafted the whole thing with Erymi and Tae as a glee. I chided fiercely the unfairness that I should be so shamed before Brand, and also unfair to him. Yet truthfully I know not which angered me more: that I had been shamed, or he.   We had no time to talk after dawntide, for we had to gather the warriors and Shotalashu and load them all on the flatbark with our stocks. We left dock by Nextbell and floated downflood all day ere we put into shore and now camp. I have met our boatswain: a Korasha named Kaes, and have made a watchlog. We forelook a weeklong trip down the Yaro until Qabarat. Now I merely need to rid myself of the feeling of Brand’s eyes on me.     12. Neth, 4718 - 2nd Day upon the Yaro River, 53rd Day on Castrovel   Something bothers our little company while we float downriver. Maybe it’s the crampiness upon this barge, or the Shotalashu’s endless foulness. Maybe it was the furlough in Son between now and our discovery in the jungle depths. Yet something has shifted among the Lashunta. It may be morale, though nothing I can tell has happened, and I cannot honestly say that mood has worsened. It could be a laziness brought by the boatfare’s idleness, though they don’t seem bored. If anything, our Lashunta warriors seem more alert.   A furtive spirit seemingly has taken our hosts, as if some are planning something others don’t know. I’ve seen mutinies, and it feels the same, and yet no. I believe they like Lady Vaeol too much to rise against. It must be something else.     8. Soelae, 24,535 - 2nd Day on the Yaro Southward   Yesternight Remaue and I made up. She came to me after the troop bedded down and lay in my arms. Together we went into a canegrass grove to speak. She outlaid she had forethought the whole the mirthtide's whole thing, for she had hoped it would gladden me. Truthfully she was right, but rather wish they had not taken my choice.   I could tell something else bothered her and so touched my antennae to hers and found mindshare, where wordlessly I learned her worry. Like the newlings, her firdhood is almost ended, and she wonders whether she must go back to her kindred, or if she may have a stead with me. I answered I would have her stay, whether she be my groom or even my kept maidenlove. She wept, and I with her.   For this dayfare, however much as I would like to spend it with her, we had other things to mind. Our furtherness has gone peacefully. Yet the warriors have taken this fetch rather as a holiday, and dightliness has weakened. I caught a Damaya and Korasha overly flirting and had to split them. Then, after we made camp, I caught two Korasha in the canegrass, rutting manlywise (which I have ever bethought hurtful). The raw deed's sight also made my cheeks blaze. They halted and looked askingly. Almost I feared they would ask me to cleave. Shamefacedly I went on my way.   Laterward when the riders were working their Shotakashu, I called the underreeves to reckon how we may oversee this quest. Erymi made good thought that their firdhood is rightly done, and they are here willfully. As veterans, their behavior may be held to an easier standard. She added that some Damaya may not wish to go home to their kindred and await a bridetide, but instead may wish to bring a babe back to their kindred's farmholds, and that this may be their best chance to find a good fathermate.   At that word, I looked from her to Oshis, who had a look like a Shota hunting in a frog pond.   So we yaysaid to loosen the standard and let the warriors have freedom to mingle as they wish (not that they are not already doing so), so long as it may not break dightliness or make feud. We all know Korasha will too eagerly fight over a Damaya’s goodwill. Kaes the boatswain likewise yaysaidd, and I misdoubt that his crew may likely behoove as well.   After we ended, I bade Oshis and Less to oversee their warriors, which left us Damaya. I then spoke with Tae and Erymi about our last night in Son and their share in Remaue’s lidlegame. I said that I feared we had shamed Brand, since Aslanta ways are not ours. They asked forgiveness, and I gladly kissed them each.