Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 20

15. Soelae, 24,535 - 9th Day on the Yaro; Qabarat   We have reached Qabarat, though our income proved more thrillsome than foreseen. Although I got my hearth with Her Highness the High Matron sooner instead of later, when Lady-Mother had bidden me deal straight with her, I doubt this deedtide she had in mind.   We were nearing the city’s outer edge when a rider troop, against the rain, saw our flag and hailed us from shore. We tied to a wharf, and I unboarded to speak with their leader, whose name is Lady Semuane. She told they were sent hither to meet us, and also to take the Aslanta from our care. I greeted her so fairly as I could and answered that we would come with her but that we would keep the Aslanta under our ward.   Lady Semuane doffed her helm, whereat I saw her fine blue-golden hair like Heaven bared, and also a blue hue, which I had first foretaken as an undershirt, was forsoothly her skin, that deep-sea blue seldomest seen. She looked straight at me and quoth that her troop should host the Aslanta, and that if she must take them from us, then she should happily do so.   By then my warriors had beweaponed and landed, and Oshis and Less had cannily loosened the Shota, who, witting their riders’ easelessness, leapt to shore. Ess’s snout slithered under my arm. I beread Lady Semuane had an awkward choice. We out-tallied her troop, but at any breathtide their backstrength might come. Yet neither did I wish to flee and fight my way free of Qabarat lands with foes arear. If I wished any behoof, I must stir now.   So I dared her to a weapon-trial.   I wish I could bewrite the unbelief shaking her face, wordless of the stir among the warriors aring. I could as wildly have shouted wish to overrun the Formian Colonies. I watched thoughts war behind Semuane’s eyes, unleast among them pride. I had rightly guessed she, like me, is an outrider, sworn to her city as I am to mine, but also with the honor that comes with our service. By our shared law, she could hardly withhold without shame. Ere she chose, I bade Remaue saddle Ess, betaking her stillness as forespeech. Haltingly Semuane yaysaid.   I asked Erymi to stand as my othermate. She met with Lady Semuane’s Firstspear, and they outworked the trial’s rules. It would be me and Lady Semuane alone. We would meet on Shota-back with spears, though our Shota would not be let to fight, and we should keep riding until one lost saddle and fell. Then each troop stood arow and facing each other as a list, and Semuane and I rode to the far ends.   Right ere I turned back, I dwimmered a True-Tell. When I faced and hailed, I aimed not at her, but at the glow within my mind. I hastened Ess to lope and raised my swordbill. Then I flattened my bill’s haft and let my soulsight lead aim.   My blade struck her breastplate’s edge and slid into her shoulder while hers struck my shield and slid off. My bill-stroke twisted her backward while I tightened against the shock. Behind my sight, she lost saddle and fell to ground.   Ess and I swerved back to where Lady Semuane lay bleeding. Her Shotalasu stood over her and hissed, clearly worried for her sake. I bade her othermate call it off, which they did with hardship. I neared, unsteeded, and healed her wound. Her shoulder was still broken, but she would no longer bleed to death. Then I bade her fulfill our bargain.   We incame the city, which I had seen but a few years ereward. Qabarat sits around the Great Harbor where Father-Yaro meets the Shattersea spreading southward, and right northward the Sea of Storms. The river drills a hole through the Stormshield, which is forsoothly the southern spur of the mountains sharing that name. Rather like Son, its Uppertown sits atop the cliffwall while Ship’s End and the Great Market hunker within the bowl. I have heard that more than 250,000 souls dwell within its burghwalls. Even inthriftier, not all are Lashunta, for Elves have kept a farthing here since ere the Time of the Sage-Queens, and which is not only one of the city’s wonders, but also their biggest settlehood beyond Sovyrian.   At my will, Lady Semuane led us to our embassy, where we met Her Highness Lady Nauve, Son’s ambassador. I left my troop and the Aslanta in her care and bade her send word to Son soon as canny. Then I bade Lady Semuane bring me to Her Highness the High Matron, with both Oshis and Less as host. Lady Semuane led us weaponless straightway to the Threefold House, where we were set to wait in a sideroom for some belltides. At last, a steward came and brought us to the High Matron’s hall, where I met Her Highness Lady Ivasill.   I had not met Her Highness on my earlier fares through Qabarat, though I had heard her speak at feast. Lady Ivasill sat on her bench while I came forward with my Korasha host. We bowed, whereafter she greeted me fairly. Yet then she asked by what right or sake I had stricken one of her outriders. I answered I had done nothing to which Lady Semuane had not willingly yaysaid, and that faithfully all my deeds lay under honor. She answered that Outrider’s honor outstretches not to making wrathfulness within Qabarat's landhold, nor does my Lady-Mother’s rank forgive me. To her I yaysaid and spoke that thus why I was now here to stand reckoning for my deed.   Right then Her Highness Lady Nauve incame and told she had gotten my word, and that Lady Semuane’s trial to take the Aslanta had broken the wordbond between Qabarat and Son. Lady Ivasill naysaid any such breach, and furthermore such rightened not my deed, and thus neither should Qabarat be lessened to greaten Son.   Then I answered that Qabarat is indeed great, and Son could not hope to lessen it. Yet neither does Qabarat’s greatness mean that Son may be bullied, and dolefully by an outrider overeager to make nameworth. Her Highness looked at me reckfully. After a breathtide she asked how I was so sure that Lady Semuane had behaved on her own behalf, and not under higher leadership. I answered it recked me not, but rather I liked to see the steadship in the best light canny, and furthermore that I was sure Her Highness would never break her forespoken word to Son.   Her Highness smiled and spoke it meant well. Yet she could not unmind an outlander breaking the city’s peace. She asked what dearthbond I thought fair for this sin. In answer, I said that, so long as neither my oath, my fetch, nor my honor are forsaken, I should gladly yield any dearth. The High Matron sat back upon her bench and spoke that she would not forget my word today and should hold me to it. Then she bade me go back to the Embassy, and thenceforth I should deem myself under housebond.    I withdrew with Her Highness Lady Nauve back to the Embassy, where we now wait. Lady Nauve told she had already sent farseer-word to Lady-Mother and will do so again. She deemed my speech cheeky to the High Matron. When I asked whether I may suffer from it, she chuckled and answered it will be unlikely in the long run, but that the Qabarata will likely find a way to behoove.   The warriors hailed merrily at my comeback, for they cheered my win over the Qabarat outrider. Remaue kissed me soundly, even before the warriors, and outquoth it like a yoretale. Whatever our ill, I have gained my troop's goodwill.