Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 21

16. Soelae, 24,535 - 2nd Day in Qabarat   A restful day after so many afare. On agreement with Lady Nauve, we all stay at the Embassy, with thought that, if I am under house-bond, then so are all the others, even the Aslanta.   This came to trial when a groom came from the Diremoshu Lorehall, with word bidding the Aslanta come before the Loremasters. Lady Nauve kindly withheld, but read that, if the Loremasters wish, they may come to the Embassy. I found this mirthful, since Qabarat's lorehalls are world-renowned, and  the Diremoshu Loremasters have great names, and I guess are unused to coming at another’s call. I have trodden the lorehalls' steps and halls, which are wonders to behold, but have not so luckily learned there.     20. Neth, 4718 - 2nd Day in Khabarat, 61st Day on Castrovel   A few more whits to fill in, here at the great city of Khabarat...   First, we have met our host here at the embassy: Lady Nauve, who is Son’s ambassador and a stoutly impressive woman of elder years. She is taller even than Lady Vaeol, and I wonder could throw me through a wall if she wished. Not only does Lady Nauve speak excellent Elvish, but so do the whole household, even the servants. I’ve also caught a smatter of Elvish words thrown into everyday Lashunta speech, which seems a thing particular to Khabarat. Whereas Elvish in Son behinted upper-class education, here it seems common,a nd furthermore a point of social pride.   I learned some more of what happened with Lady Vaeol, and why we wait under house-arrest. Yesterday at the duel, apparently the blue Khabarat Knight, Lady Semuane, tried to take us from the Son Lashunta. Vaeol challenged her for our possession and won. Thus Semuane accompanied us into the city as hostage until we reached the embassy, although the whole thing has spawned a diplomatic feud. Vaeol has been charged with breach of peace, nevermind that this Lady Semuane should never have tried to take us. Even though only Vaeol is truly under house-arrest, the Son embassy has chosen to keep all us Humans here as well. I smell court-craft, the kind I have fought to avoid over my years. Still, it’s a smart move on Son's part. By denying them us, Son gains leverage, though whether that is to clear Vaeol’s name for some other goal I don’t know. As part, Lady Vaeol had an audience yesterday with Khabarat’s matron-princess. Unsure how it went, though the matter is still unsettled.    Today, however, a messenger came, from what I overheard, from a university (if the word translates rightly) here in Khabarat. Naturally, the request for our presence was refused. Who knows what game we will be involved in?     21. Neth - 3rd Day in Khabarat, 62nd Day on Castrovel   Today brought an interesting twist: a visit from the very university doctors whom yesterday the embassy had refused. Our hosts apparently have no qualm against treating them as guests, merely at letting us out. The three doctors were all Korasha men, which surprised me in light of the Lashunta’s matriarchy. They each wore calf-length silken kilts and broad golden collars upon their shoulders. More surprisingly, Lady Vaeol knows one of them, named Desh, and explained they had both served at the Hall of Stars in years earlier.   Also, we spoke of the worldgate here in Khabarat. My hope of a way home, however, were dashed almost at once. The gate leads not home to Golarion but instead to the Red-Queen - Akiton - as the Lashunta name it. I would not fare across the blackness even further away from home. I admit that, at the news, I fell into a dark funk and lost mindfulness of the conversation. Yet then I caught a word that perked me up. Told Doctor Desh, there are Azlanti even today on Akiton. He has even gone there and met them. He warned, however, that once a people go and settle on Akiton, their bodies somehow weaken. Thus they can never return here or to Golarion, for as he explained, the world’s weight would crush them, whatever that means. Yet it has gotten me wondering what secrets - history, arcane knowledge - these children of Lost Azlant may know. If we found their lore, could we resettle the stars as the Azlanti Empire once had? Could we raise lost lands from the ocean and conquer the kingdoms our ancestors had ruled?     17. Soelae, 24,535 - 3rd Day in Qabarat   Today brought a surprise when the Diremoshu loremasters came to meet the Aslanta, ingathering Master Desh, whomfrom I had first learned while my stay at the Hall of Stars as he spent a year there. They stayed some belltides, and we ate noonmeal together. Brand told them many things he had already told us, though he also spoke of getting knowledge of our world from his world’s Elves. I know little of the trade between Elves over the worlds, but foreguessably knowledge flows both ways. Yet something I learned that I had not known: the Loremasters spoke of the Red Aslanta, who dwell on Red-Queen. They outlaid that, under Blue-Queen’s Curse, some Aslanta had fled through the worldgate to Red-Queen (Aqiton Brand names it), where even today they dwell. Master Desh even told he had gone to Red-Queen and had met them. They may not come here, however, for, as he outlaid, Red-Queen’s world-weightiness is less than ours, so that though we may go thither and be reckoned strong (to leap higher and lift heavier), Red-Queen’s folk are too weak to come onto our world, where they could not even stand under their own weight. While I understand the thought, for it is believed the strength that keeps us on the world, and the worlds likewise aring the Sun, I had erenever reckoned it might have this outcome on ourselves.   Master Desh bade me come to the Diremoshu. With shame I told of my housebond, which startled him. I outlaid the fight with Lady Semuane and how she had tried to take the Aslanta. He warned this is not the tale gossiping about Qabarat, but that we were forelooked to yield the Aslanta. I outwilled that was not the truth. He forespoke to look into the business.   18. Soelae, 4th Day in Qabarat   This morn, we sent the warriors out on fetches. They have too much quickness to keep them all cooped within the Embassy. The nighttides have become endless bedsport. Also, safe to say that some Damaya have tried idleness with the Aslanta. Earlier, I had gotten questions as to whether one can have a half-Aslanta child. Back in Son I had asked the lorewardens, who had answered it is likely uncanny. Even if it were, any child would most likely be barren.   When I was in El, I had met a Half-Elf. Truthfully, he looked little unlike from the Aslanta.   Laterward, Lady Nauve called me. She told that my doom is chosen. Tomorrow I shall go to the Threefold House and show myself before the High Matron, where I shall be forgiven. I took the news gladly, but asked what dearth Qabarat has bidden for my freedom. Lady Nauve answered they would add another tithe from Son for the Formian War, but that in likelihood it is something that Son would have given anyway. She bade me worry no more.   I will be relieved at freedom from the Embassy. Truly Qabarat has much to see, and I miss it.     22. Neth, 4718 - 4th Day in Khabarat, 63rd Day on Castrovel   I have word that tomorrow will be some festival, for we are fitted with silken kilts, and also fine belts of bronze and copper. When I asked the steward whether Lady Vaeol still stands under charges, he answered the matter will soon resolve. How he said it made me unsure.   Something in yesterday’s talk with the university doctors suggested that the city believes Lady Semuane, the Blue Khabarat Knight, had not tried to take us from the Sonna, but instead they believe Lady Vaeol had given some insult that started the duel. I know nothing of the law here, but it seems someone is spreading lies for their own end. Should we worry?   Duster and I got a short chance to sneak out the embassy’s back door, where we wandered the neighborhood. It holds other houses belonging to the upper class and bespeaks much wealth, right up to the mother-of-pearl mosaics on their walls. We beheld many depictions of ships and wonderful creatures that resemble squids, snails, and eel-like fish, which reminded me of the harbor here. Then I caught a tang on the wind that, though odd, definitely smelled of saltwater. Khabarat is a seaport. The wealth’s source, and the city’s size became clear. The Lashunta are not isolated to themselves but share a much wider world. Who knows what possibilities it holds?   Also, does it explain why so many Lashunta here speak Elvish?