Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 3

13. Rova, 4718 - Katheer   In the course of readying for our worldfare, I had a chance today to consult with the Planar Institutes’s sages. Unhappily, they know nothing more than what I already knew. One sage, however, with whom I spoke also claims to be a seer. She gave me this foretelling:   ...That was all she said. I hope it is a good sign, for we will need it on an unknown world.   Beforehand, when I first had the thought to seek the sages, I had on a whim gone to Mistress Vanya and asked her company. She had answered that Qadirans would not speak with her, a Chelaxian, for their Sarenite faith opposes Cheliax’s Diabolism. So she haughtily declared she saw no point in trying. After my speech with the sages, I came back and let her know what the seer had foretold. Instead of being pleased or interested, she grew angry and left.   Vern, who had watched the whole deal, walked up and clapped my back. "If you're patient, you'll bed her," he chuckled. If I take his word, it may make for an intriguing time on Castrovel.     1. Afaelae, 24,535 – Son   Today we reached home after our second scoutfare, whereafter seeing the riders to the bunkhouse, I brought word to Lady-Captain. I outlaid my reason for our daylag, for we had found spoor likely left by outlaws. Happily, she forgave our lateness. She forespoke she would send another scoutfare, whither likely outlaws might go, and praised our deed.   My word to Lady-Captain ran broadly thus:   On 11. Koelae we ferried to Father-Yaro’s eastern shore and made easy dayfare, since we rode through tame lands, until Toa-Farmhold. Since we would be gone some days awild, I bought wine and shared it among my riders. The deed added to my folksomeness.   The next night after another mild day, we camped under a goldsap tree. We happily climbed and gathered ripe fruits, which made a nice add to our waymeal. Near the stump we built a good fire against stray night-things and reaped fodder for the Shota.   Not in my word to Lady-Captain: after darkfall Firstspear Erymi came to Oshis and asked his blessing. I shrive I was forecaught. While I doubted not her wife-right, I did not forelook them doing so right before the whole troop. Though they offwent into the bush, they were not meek about it. The other riders laughed and buzzed while aghast I lay against the treestump.   Then a hand touched mine. I looked and beheld Remaue, who lay beside. Though she did not look at me, her finger brushed mine. I lay still and did not withdraw.   Afterward, Oshis came to the stump and cast himself on his bedroll right beside me. After two days in harness his hairy man-stench overwhelmed me, and also mingled with Erymi’s. I shrive I was unsettled. Ashamedly I wallowed from him. Right then I found myself face to face with Remaue. Our antennae touched. Thunder quaked me. Nothing had erever felt so good, and I could not offdraw, even if my life behanged, sunderly since I felt through our mindshare that Remaue was so enthralled as I. We wondered at our shared thoughts and so lay the whole night, doing nothing more, but our antennae entwined.   The next day, none spoke of anything as if yesternight had never happened. Oshis and Erymi bore themselves businesslike, though he did find a stream and washed. That night, I wondered what others would say when again I bedded next to Remaue.   The Thirteenth (our third ascout) marked our first day beyond the farmholds. Though we rode under wild rainwood, the path along the river is well kept. At my ask to Oshis, he led us inland away from the river, where we could better read whether outlaws lurk. I wondered whether we might find thieves, to say nothing of any wildthings, beyond the City’s reach. Did I wish or fear? Wiselessly, we found only a herd of wild Shota, who smelled our steeds and gamboled heedfully ere we shooed them.   On the Fourtheenth, we took to the treepaths. It was thrilling to hang asaddle from the Shota while they climbed and leapt. Happily Oshis knew the way, and we made good time through the deepwood. Elsewise, our only wonder came when we spotted a coeurl off among the limbs. It watched us, snarled, and slunk off, forwhy I guessed it unhungry. Even so, I have bidden tonight’s Shota-watch strengthened, for, though a coeurl would not strike a whole pack, I have heard they will to offcut one, which it may take down.   On the Fifteenth, I halted the scoutfare, for we found spoor that might be outlaws. Within a limb-cleft Sievae, one of our bowriders, had found a firestead. I led a short seech of the deepwood floor and found bones and other waste, but then led back to the treepaths, for things scuttled on the Darkfloor, and I feared baletoads or lich-eels. So I chose to ring outward and see what else we might find. Unluckily nothing else. Oshis deems they had likely gone many days ago.   With the day half-gone, I deemed to let us rest and led us back up to the treepaths. We found a campstead at a limbthwart, the better to keep us fast. Then I asked for willing who would hunt. Both Seivae and Nivaue our bow-riders spoke up. They laterward came back with a twain of fade-deer they had shot, which we thankfully roasted.   With nothing else to follow, on the Sixteenth I bade us homeward. We had mild dayfare, though I drove us hard in trial to upmake lost time, broken only by Erymi’s and Oshis’s ongoing nightly idleness, which endlessly riled the warriors, and led to more tight nighttides between me and Remaue, and our antennae brushing while we should be sleeping.   Since homecome, I have thought much on her. I know not what to do. Was it mere idleness, or does she too yearn?   After my word to Lady-Captain, I went to yield worship to Lady-Mother, who was hearing with the matrons. I waited beyond the hall, which ended some belltides later. She looked weary, but gladdened at my sight and welcomed me to duskmeal, whereover we talked, and without my sisters, who keep their own households.   Now I sit within my room while I write this. I shrive I have never felt more alone. I miss the troop. I miss the nearness, even with Oshis and Erymi’s bothersomeness. I miss Remaue.     2. Afaelae   Yesternight after I ended my log, Remaue came. At her knock I opened the door, and there she stood. Swiftly she incame and shut the door. Then she kissed me and shoved me to the bed. Truly I know not which felt better: her idleness or mine.   Laterward, while I lay in her arms with our antennae entwined, she asked under our mindshare, if she had not come, what I would have done. I shrove I knew not. Then she named me a fool and kissed me again.   Sometime after sleep she left with a last kiss and went to her room among the grooms’ hall. I lay in the spot where she had lain and lingered on her smell. All day I have been athinking her yestermind and have even caught myself blushing. It has misdrawn from my seercraft, which I hope none have bewitted.