Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 29

3. Kuthona, 4718 - 6th Day in Candares, 73rd Day on Castrovel   I’ve gotten word that tomorrow we will return to Khabarat. Otherwise, we’ve had a quiet day in which my wayward men and Lady Vaeol have recovered from their adventures. Rumor from the Lashunta tells that she defeated a snakelike monster and slew it, but also let another free. Yet that’s all they know. Apparently, Vaeol herself has stayed mum.   One oddness has broken the quiet. While wandering the Upper Town’s water-gardens, I happened upon Lady Semuane, the blue knight from Khabarat. Ever since she first fought the duel with Vaeol and everything afterward, I have not known how to take her, nor what exactly her interest is in our adventure. Today, however, I had caught her in a good mood, for she greeted me, came near, and clasped my hand.   I have earlier touched on this Damaya’s appearance, though no description can do her justice. Her skin like the Inner Sea’s hue and hair like a mixed treasure-stream of gold and sapphires make her excellent among women already exotically beautiful. Not only do we Humans stare when she comes by, but also the Lashunta, and not merely the men.   While she held my hands, her brow-feelers lay across my forehead, which intimacy surprised me. I startled, woefully ignorant of how to answer any of the Lashunta’s gestures. Since the supper-party at Son, my confusion had only deepened.   She spoke in Elvish: “Now I know why Vaeol favors you.” Then she left. If anything, this exchange left me more confused.   I had no chance to seek enlightenment. We are told the Candares Lashunta will tonight hold a farewell feast, doubtlessly glad to see us away after the trouble we wrought. I will put on the best face I can and see what goodwill I can curry.     12. Zielae,24,535 - 6th day in Candares; Return to Qabarat   Much to write. We safely came back to Qabarat, where we got rightly welcomed. We and the Aslanta are back at our Embassy, where Lady Nauve has hailed us. Tomorrow we will go to the Threefold House, but that now waits. I will bewrite of things ere our leave from Candares.   Her Highness, Lady Zhovoraeul threw a feast for our whole company. She kindly even invited the Aslanta, for she is willingly giftful, and dolefully since afterward they become no longer her worry. Even so, she took to calling them her Offworld Thieves, which mark went unlost on Brand. He is truly sorry for his men’s misdeeds and would make geldboot if he could. I have almost forgiven him.   The feast sat well, both with alderwives from Candares’ hall and with the city’s great house-ladies, ingathering headwives from many outlying clans that hold the jungles below and above the Lake and bear nothing in their look and wise that behints Qabarat, much like the wives we met on our first day in Lower Town. I spoke with them and learned something of their culture, including the hoops and darts wherewith they pierce their ears and bellies. In all, I found the jungle ~Candaresa~ kindly, well bred, and with enthriving wonts. I also witted that, though they get along well with the Cityfolk, they hold an easy scorn for things they deem Qabarat’s sway. They believe their own worth and withstand the need to copy everything outlandish. Shamefully, we Sonna cannot claim samely.   For the feast, Lady Semuane and I saw fit to sit next to each other. This was forewilled, for I deemed meet to woo her.   The trip to Qabarat was low tide matched to yesternight. Again we led the Shotalashu through the ~aiudara~ gate and strode back into Qabarat’s gateyard. Thence Lady Semuane and I brought word of our fetch’s outcome. Semuane waited on her captain while the steward bade me wait word on how we may send the Aslanta to their homeworld. Semuane left me with a lingering eye.   I was glad to reach the Embassy, where Lady Nauve cheered me and forespoke a hearty duskmeal. After seeing the warriors and Aslanta to rooms, I have had this short while to write these tidings ere we are called to board. Afterward, I forelook an early night in Remaue’s arms. I have yet so much I wish to do and say, but no time, nevermind quickness. They must wait until tomorrow.     13. Zielae - 2nd Day in Qabarat   Today proved happy. I have gotten further on the things I wish. First this morntide, I saw Her Highness Lady Ivasill at the Threefold House. She had already heard of our win and cheered me. Also, she told me she had even heard I had dealt with a hard awkwardness between the Kaymos and Aslanta. She praised my trucework and outcome without ill will. I answered I misdoubted Lady Zhovoraeul would never welcome Aslanta back to Candares, whereat the Her Highness laughed.    I asked whether she had word back from El, Sovyrian’s Capital, as to whether the Elves may give leave to send the Aslanta back to their world. She answered she has not yet heard. If the Elves agree, we shall take the ~aiudarao~ to El, where Brand’s troop may fare homeward through the worldgate the Elves own. I thanked Her Highness, who gave me leave while saying she would look forward to dealing with me towardly.   After meeting with Erymi and Tae and such warrior business, I bathed and went to the Battleyards, where I found the Outriders’ Barracks and asked after Lady Semuane. A groom led me to a small idleyard overlook, where I watched Korasha at spear-drills. A tide later, Semuane came, also freshly bathed, and greeted me smilingly.   I knelt at her feet, took her hands, and kissed them. Semuane drew me upright and kissed back my hands. She said she has a dare in mind if I was willing. I answered that, if I would earn the right to woo her, I would so do gladly.    I also told her I must keep Remaue as my first maidenlove, for I hope to keep a household together in Son. Semuane yaysaid and would rightly yield her first stead. Then she kissed me. Then she led me from the barracks.    We left the Battleyards for the city’s lower farthings. Off the Clothmarket we came to a street whose walls were carven in likenesswise I had seen in Candares. We came into a house where a man greeted us, and who looked and dressed like the woodland Candaresa. Lady Semuane told him we were forelooked, whereat he bowed and showed us to a room with a pair of stools.    Semuane asked whether I would take her dare. I yaysaid. She then said I should have a token of our while in Candares. Then the Korasha pierced my ears in the wise I had seen, and set them with small golden darts. He bade I should so leave them a full two months, whereafter I may restead them with hoops gold or silver at my choice. From the wounds I had surprisingly little hurt, though an odd thrill that sent my heart running.   All meanwhile, Semuane watched this craftwork. When the jeweler had done, she paid him. She asked whether I liked well her gift, and whether I would forgive my flesh’s wound. Swiftly I answered I liked it dearly and recked not, for I had liked the Candaresa look and would take it as her dear token. Thereat she smiled.   After I left Semuane at the Battleyards, the city’s bells were ringing duskwatch ere I came to the Embassy. Soon as I came to our room, Remaue witted I had been with Semuane. I almost bethought her wroth until she dragged me to the bath and herself scrubbed me clean, and then back to our rooms, where she misguilted I had made us late to duskmeal. I think she likes bossing me.     6. Kuthona, 4718 - 3rd Day in Khabarat, 76th Day on Castrovel   Today Lady Vaeol strode into the embassy’s courtyard while my men were betting on axe-butts, which her appearance immediately stopped. A quiver ran through them all as soon as they saw her: gleaming silver breastplates over her silken halter, scarf wrapped through her golden belt, which accents more than hides her muscular hips, rosy-gold toplock braided in tight, military fashion. I believe all the men love her a little. Sometimes I think they’d more willingly follow her than me.   Our Lady-Knight brought word that the Elves have approved our petition. We are going to Sovyrian, and in two days will be a step closer to home. Even with all the questions outstanding, relief overswept me.   After Vaeol’s announcement, she asked to speak in private. I followed to her room. Yet my mind stayed not on business, neither planning for the elfgate nor what we may expect when we reach Sovyrian. Apparently, Vaeol had concerns about how the Elves may treat us, especially for our petition to use their worldgate. Yet for such fears I had no thought. Instead, my mind overran with thoughts of her, and of losing her.    I could not get over the thought that this journey is really happening. After all our hardship, Vaeol and the Lashunta would bring us to Sovyrian where, if all goes well, we will reach home. In Vaeol giving us all we had asked, I would never see her again.    What would it mean, after reaching Sovyrian and sending my men home, if I chose to stay here, a lone Human on a far and alien world? Only is it truly so alien? Despite our differences, are we so different?   I don’t remember grabbing her hands. I do remember asking whether she knows my love, or how much I love her, or however in the Nine Hells I said it. Unsure it really matters, other than I spoke the words that, once spoken, I could never pull back. Even worse than the silence afterward, however, was not even her answer. Rather, her warring feelings running across her face hurt even more: confusion, want, and sorrow, all because I knew they would not change her answer. My Lashunta Lady-Knight is nothing if not strong, and moreover unyielding.   She offered dim words that were soothingly kind. Yet they didn’t matter. Despite my best wishes, my mood soured. That I regret, for fear she might think my anger was aimed at her. Instead, I was angry at myself. In weakness I had let slip something that ruined our friendship, and that in doing so, she might think me less.   Before our leave for Sovyrian, we have all tomorrow for any last business in the city. Time enough for me to settle thoughts on the real worries Vaeol had tried to voice, and that I had maudinly ignored. I hope she will forgive me, for I would not leave her with my poor opinion.