Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 30

14. Zielae, 24,535 - 3rd Day in Qabarat   Today we heard from Her Highness’s steward that word has come from El: we have leave to fare there, which happens in two days. When I asked whether the Aslanta also have leave to use the Worldgate, however, I got no straight answer. Lady Sheiele instead read the Elves are nameworthy for twisty words and unforeseen ends. Whether they will let the Aslanta or no will outstand until we come there, and who knows what game they will play?   This news I brought to the Embassy, to Lady Nauve and my under-reeves, and to the Aslanta, who were tossing axes in the garth. As is lately their wont, they cheeringly greeted me, and cheered again when I told of our leave-day for El. Though I think they have begladdened of their while here on Green-Mother, foremostly after we saved them from the Darkfloor, still they are eager to go home. From their speech, some have loves and wifemates, whom they will happily rejoin.   Afterward, I spoke alone with Brand, for I let him know the Elves may have some craftiness in mind. This surprised him not, for he has known Elves on his world, who behave much samely.   He eyed me queerly, which he has often done since Candares. I asked what bothers him, whereat he asked back why I had saved his four men there, and moreover had gotten them the Corpsicum. I answered truthfully that Matarasse had so bidden. He then asked why our Goddess should be enthriven to help offworlders. I said She is more than merely our goddess, but Goddess of All Worlds, and of all kindred born on them. I outlaid She is the Sun he knows, and even if she has not the same name on Golarion, doubtlessly there She is known by another name. At that word he startled, but then grinned.   Suddenly he caught my hands and kissed them with his lips. I was utterly startled. Though I had known his want, I had guessed it had ebbed after our awkwardness leaving Son, and then the ill will after his men’s mistried theft. That he still may want me I had shoved from thought until now.   Then he asked whether I know how much he loves me. I gazed speechlessly a breathtide, and then answered it is enough that I know. It bewildered him, though when I did nothing else, my meaning grew clear. His face slowly angered, though he drove it down. He loosened my hands and said that, if that was so, then it must be enough. He then stepped backward, bowed shortly, and left, leaving me guilty as if somehow I was the wrong-doer.   I have no heart to tell him I have taken Semuane as new maidenlove. I know not what would anger him more - telling him truth or not telling with forethreat of him outfinding alone. I may hope that in a few days toward he will be gone and back on his own world, though even that seems cravenness.     15. Zielae- 4th Day in Qabarat   Today Erymi came and asked of El, for though she has met odd Elves, she has never gone there. I told of my first fare-tide and the months I had spent there as fellow of the Lashunta Embassy. I said we will find the Elves kindly but unreadable, for they believe not in outlaying their wise to short-lived Lashunta. Also, I uplook they find behoof in our unmindfulness. I added she would find El beautiful, for little can match Elvencraft when one lives a thousand years to fulfill a work.   Tonight Her Highness, Lady Ivassil held another feast to bid farewell to the Aslanta. Brand, upheld by a Tongue-dwimmer, made a good speech in thanks for the High Matron’s giftfulness. He added cheekily that, if we ever come to Golarion, we may welcomely claim his boon. This offer brought nice laughter from the listeners, which beset to a good end.   Afterward, Remaue, Semuane, and I walked in the idleyards. I told them what we must forelook among the Elves. We shed ways with a threefold kiss. I am glad Semuane will come with us to El, and so we will have more time.     8. Kuthona, 4718 - Sovyrian, in the City of El, 78th Day on Castrovel   I have no heart to write of our leave from Khabarat, for my mood has been too dark. The Khabarat Lashunta threw a feast last night for our farewell. There were speeches, including one I made, or at least went through the motions. We endured thousands of beautiful Damaya in their flowerlike silks, and almost as many rocklike Korasha who could shoulder us away whenever they wished.   I have no doubt that Vaeol and Semuane are lovers, for they were the ball’s darlings. I can’t think on it.   This morn, our company regathered - Humans, Lashunta, and again the small Khabarat retinue accompanying - and returned to the gateyard. This time, we went through the middle-right gate-arch. After the short disorientation, we again found ourselves stepping out into nighttime. This gateyard, however, stretched tenfold the size that of Khabarat’s. Around its girth stood dozens of gate-arches. Here stands the heart of the Elves’ aiudara-network, certainly across Castrovel, and maybe over Golarion.   One gate stood out alone, easily thrice the width of all others, moreso highlighted by several large crystals set within its stone. I couldn’t tear my eyes off, for I am sure this is the legendary Sovyrian Gate that leads to Kyonin, back on our homeworld. To think that home lies so close almost crazed me. Fortunately, none of the men tried to rush through.   Curiously, Lashunta met us before the gates, and not Elves. So we met Her Ladyship Ovele, the Lashunta’s chief ambassador among the Elves. She has seen to our room and board, within what we foretake as the city’s Lashunta Quarter.   The city’s name is El, simple enough, but which makes me curious, for all the many Elven names I’ve heard that include that syllable. Based on my limited Elvish, I had always assumed ‘el’ meant the Elves themselves, or their word for star, which is similar. Yet when one reckons that, before the Elven Return two thousand years ago, all Elves dwelled here in Sovyrian, either in or around this city, the name raises interest.   A breeze blew cool through the night. We all paused, breathed deep, and let fade the constant sweltering heat we had undergone since coming to this world. Not since my too-short trip to the Hall of Stars on its mountaintop have I felt so refreshed. Here is the Elven Wonderland where they dwelled for almost ten thousand years after Earthfall. When we neared the city and saw the lights glowing within the tree-spires, we beheld those millennia’s legacy, undiminished by the woes with which their cousins are beset on Golarion.   So now that our company - we and Lashunta together - are ensconced in a house, and we try to acclimate to this new nighttime instead of day, I have had time to wonder why no Elves met us at the gate, nor why, other than some glowing trees in the distance and some odd bystanders on the way here, have we seen any Elves. I get the inkling our gate-passage to home may not be so straightforward as I’ve hoped. More shamefacedly, I find myself striving to remember what Vaeol was trying to tell when I was more interested in stealing a kiss. Our hardship on this world has not ended, but has taken new and shiftier shape. Once again, we need to depend on our benefactors.     16. Zielae, 24,535 - El, Sovyrian   This morn, we again gathered the whole sith, along with the Aslanta and Lady Semuane. Again we took the bridgebough to the Gateyard, and thence the ~aiudarau~ to El. We outcame in a like yard, outringed by gracefully boughed stoneshafts. Full night darkened the city, which we had forelooked, owing to the day-shift. Yet night is the best tide to see El. The fairest glowblossoms I have ever seen lighten the streets and hometrees. Where they may not be enough, feylights add their wonderfulness, in street lamps, within springs, and upon spires whose steeples’ builders have deemed they must be outshown.   We were met by Her Highness, Lady Ovele of Qabarat, who for many years has been eldest peacebode among the Lashunta. Her I knew from my earlier faretide, barely a year ago. She greeted us merrily with a quip that she had erenever foreseen Son overrunning Sovyrian. I shot back it was only forwhy we have the Aslanta’s alliance, whereafter I outnamed Brand and his fellows.   No Elflord nor thane from the Sova waited to meet us. Such did not first bequalm me, for Elves are ever overgiven to leave even their guests to their own ends, until Brand asked of them. I then reminded of Lady Sheiele in Qabarat when she told the Elves had withheld word whether they would let the Aslanta use the Worldgate. More thereon later.   El is everywise so fair as I recalled in that otherworldly feel that breathes from all Elvendom. Little wonder that their kind spans two worlds! Yet I inthriftily watched Brand’s face while we rode upstream toward the true city and when we reached the first canal. Hence begins the wonderland the Elves have wrought millennia: slender boughbridges and chuckling stepfords stretch between groomed banks fairly shining with blossoms and potter-glazed brickwork. Over them rise the first steeples nestled among their lamaia-trees, and over all the cliff-heights lit with feyblazes, breathtaking even with the great Roarfall unseen at nighttide.   I, now knowing what I had not known on my first fare here, could not help but think of the likeness between El and Candares. It is known that Candares was first founded by Elves long ere the Withdrawal, when they were many on Asana’s mainland.   The embassy stands amid the city’s Lashunta Farthing, though truly they are one and the same. Each Lashunta city’s embassy has its own house - though not all cities send embassies. Son’s was timebound, and until my return I am unsure we have even had anyone instead. Now, however, our whole company, including Semuane and the Aslanta, has gotten a house. We spent midwatch and foredawn in settling them ere morningsong began.   I settled to stay up and get used to this day-shift, which has meant a long day ahead. A riddle has run through my head of what the Elves may be playing, though I cannot foretell. Since Remaue too was awake, I took her on a show of the city. We walked among the canals and springs, all until the Roarfall, where we beheld the noble cliff-houses climbing stairlike skyward. Hand in hand, we bywardly came to the house, where we met Brand.   He asked what we must do with the Elves. I answered we must find out. This misgladdened him, though I could tell nothing else. We left him unhappy, and with the riddle swirling in my head.   If we wish answer, we must first learn the question.