Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 31

17. Zielae, 24,535 - 2nd Day in El   Today a steward from the Sova at last showed to welcome us. He met the Aslanta - though whether he had ever dealt with their kind, or knows anything of their homeworld, we could not tell. Within mid-deed of guesting us the house wherein we are already staying, he dodged Brand’s question of leave to use the Worldgate. Then, masterfully leading the talk in such wise the he both gave Brand no else hap to speak and us no sake to take offense, he deftly took leave.   Afterward, we are rather beleft with a broad, open-ended guesthood, which, from tales I have heard, may even last years under the Elves’ idle ill will, though as likely we may never have another meeting or gain our forewilled goal to see the Aslanta homeward. I could tell Brand was bewildered, for though he had known Elves on Qolaryon, he had never fared to that world’s Elf-queendom, and so had known nothing of the hallcraft they play.   I sought to Lady Ovele. Her Highness read she has earlier seen Elves play this game, which stands on kindly but scornful forbearance. They will welcome a guest, give all meet giftfulness, and thenceforth unheed them until, whether from outgrowing boredom or sheer uncanniness from further wait, the outlander leaves, thereby withdrawing their bother. We agreed that neither we nor the Aslanta can so afford to wait. Her Highness also hinted that, whatever Qabarat’s uphold of the Aslanta’s quest, she has no selfsome inthrift in their gain. After so long as she has dwelt here and held this peacebebodeship, she may be too forsunken in neighborly business. Thus she will not threaten her own standing for our sake. I forsoothed we are widely alone, and unless we make some forthright deed, the Aslanta’s quest will here wither.   So I met Semuane, Erymi, Tae, Oshis, Less, and Remaue. To them I outlaid this riddle and that, unless we do something, we will come to nothing. I added that the reasons forwhy the Elves withhold likely has little to do with the Aslanta themselves, but rather with the Elves’ inner business. After much talk we yaysaid we must craft a deed that will overwin the Elves to let the Aslanta use the Worldgate. So we chose Aslanta who we deemed could help us in this craft, namely Brand and Vurn, the one who lost his leg after we first found them. Even with his crippleness, he is a great and outshowy man, whom we reckon the Elves will find all the nicer and winsome.   This shall need forbearance, so much even as Elves wield and befitting those who live yearhundreds. Yet I think it may work.     9. Kuthona,4718 - 2nd day in El, 79th Day on Castrovel   Today an official from the Elven Court came to the house and welcomed us as guests to Sovyrian. He was interested in our tale and asked questions of our adventure here. When he asked why we had come through the worldgate near Son, I frankly admitted we can give no good answer; we were bidden to use the gate we were brought to, and all other considerations lay with Archmaster Virian. When he asked why we had chosen to seek Elves’ help after Virian had warned us against, I answered I had come to believe that the Archmaster’s advice was faulty, not leastly forwhy he had never given explanation, and based on our strait, I saw no other choice. He did not indicate whether the Elves of Sovyrian have any interest in Corpsicum, whether in keeping it for their own use or forbidding it to others.   I pressed our request to use the Sovyrian Worldgate and return home. Here the official went murkily silent. Paradoxically, he offered hospitality for so long as we see fit to stay. Then with great graciousness he left us and the Lashunta staring at each other.   Lady Vaeol looked less surprised by this turn than the rest, and I remembered the warning she had tried to give me back in Khabarat. I guessed she had some foreknowledge of whatever current may be swaying Elven minds. She threw Lady Ovele a keen look, whenceafter she followed the ambassador. Whatever I may say of Lashunta secretiveness, Vaeol has ever acted in our best interest, even when I’ve not first realized. So I will take her lead.     Afterword   I just came from meeting not only Lady Vaeol, but also Remaue, Semuane, and the whole sergeantry. Those who did not look deadly earnest bore a bemused air. If I had not known the Lashunta and these Elves were allies, I would guess my friends ready to light a battle.   “I have a thought to convince the Elves to let you home,” began Vaeol. “If we let them decide in their own time, we may likely grow old before they do.” Now that her earlier warning made sense, I agreed. “We will promote your reputation within the city,” she proposed: “to the end the Elves may become well disposed and deem favorably.”   I asked how that will happen. “By creation of opportunity.” The rosy-haired knight smiled, but with a predatory edge that doubtlessly made Remaue proud. “We wish to choose two or three Humans whom the Elves may find sympathetic,” she proposed. “Would Vern work well?”   I agreed Vern would indeed be my first choice, to which she added myself, which surprised me. Other than my rough working Elvish, I had never forethought I’m the kind of Human that Elves may like. Needless to say, Draxy did not even bear thought.   So tomorrow it forelooks, under the Lashunta’s oversight, we will begin the trial to make friends within this Elven Wonderland.     10. Kuthona - 3rd Day in El, 80th Day on Castrovel   Today under Lady Vaeol’s direction our promotion began. Unsure what exactly we are trying to accomplish. So far, she has us wandering the town and taking the sights. This city certainly gives pause for wonder. To hear the historians tell: the Elves have been building and improving it for the last ten thousand years, in which for most of that time, it has stood as the Capital of all Elvendom, which makes me wonder what the Elves of Kyonin back home think of that title. I’ve seen fountains wrought of pure silver, for apparently mere stone does not last long enough for such use. From afar we’ve seen (but not visited) the overlooming palatial towers lifting on each side of the Roaring Fall. These make up the residences of the noble houses here in El, which tier above each other from the cliff’s base as it recedes slightly, but not so much that an Elflord standing at his front yard’s rail cannot look straight down into his lower neighbor’s.   Then at night come the feylights. We had bethought the Lashunta exotic with their glowing shrubs and tree-blossoms, but they show as pale and dim imitations to this city of light that the Elves have created. Every tree is limned in fire of green, gold, and heliotrope. Every spire is crowned with a starlike blaze. Every archway and door twinkle to forbid shadow. To see it, one would hardly believe Elves need their vaunted nightsight, for they have wrought a landscape that can glow easily as bright as daytide, and which even does on whim and word.   From that perspective, Vern’s and my forebound duty is barely hardship, other than his strain hobbling acrutch. We have idly gone through the canals and tree-castles and put our best foot forward whenever we find chance. Whenever Elves have greeted us and are overgiven to talk, we have so answered, at least to the best of my poor speech. At least twice we have met Elven children - delightful, giggling, scampy waifs - and have undergone becoming their climbing-trees, whose slight frames we have easily borne. I shall keep this pleasant memory until my days’ end.   Interestingly, no few Elves have mistaken us for Lashunta. We walk among folk who have almost no knowledge of Humankind. If one believes the histories, the last time these Elves met our kind when when their ancestors fled Earthfall when Azlant died. When I think of it with all the strife and suffering that have outcome between Elves and Humans on Golarion, it seems surreal.   Despite our idle wander, ever the Lashunta have hovered at the edges; sometimes one, sometimes a few. Mostly the Damaya make an unobtrusive escort, and were it not for their brow-feelers and round ears, they would not stand out among Elfkind. I remember the Pathfinder interview with the Elf who described these Castrovel natives as the women looking like Elves; with some slight shifts in garb, Vaeol, Semuane, and the other Elvish-speakers may fit right in. Furthermore, with a small but marked Lashunta presence already inserted among the townsfolk, not even the Korasha cause concern. This eve when we finally tired and headed back to our embassy-house, Vern and I passed Remaue in the street. Not ten strides further strolled Erymi and Oshis, and even further Vaeol and Semuane - all seemingly enjoying the city’s magical air. I witted the whole troop must be tracking our steps, speaking witchily by mind, all along the line. Tae and Less saluted us at the end. Then all followed us home.     13. Kuthona - 6th Day in El, 83rd Day on Castrovel   After four days of Vern and me playing bait on the Lashunta’s hook, today we got a nibble. Unsure of all that happened, but fair to say we caught some interest. Moreso, the Lashunta are keen on who took the bait.   The Elflady in question didn’t stand out until she went to the park bench where Vaeol and Semuane sat. Apparently, she and Vaeol already knew each other. From what I overheard (not easy playing Human bumpkins splashing through a pool), Vaeol had once before visited El, where foreguessably the two had become acquainted.   Although they seemed glad at meeting again, soon as the Elflady strolled from sight, Vaeol watched her leave with an unsettling sharpness. At once Remaue dashed up. They traded no words, for I don’t doubt all needing speech was said within their minds’ privacy. Yet they squeezed hands. Then the two knights rose and followed the squire back to our house. Though no command was given, Vern and I followed, despsite them setting such a fast stride that Vern had trouble keeping up.   We got back to the house, where Vaeol led us to her room, and Remaue shut the door. Vern and I waited expectantly before the others, ignorant of whatever mind-speech they had already shared. A fell look had overtaken Vaeol’s face. I know not what had happened, but had ever before bethought her kindlier, especially compared Remaue’s wicked games. Now I could tell that, once stirred, her wrath bears great heft. “We have our mark,” proclaimed the rosy outrider.   She explained the Elflady is Aleriel, granddaughter of the Highlord Berendilarion, and who has invited us, with us Humans as spectacle, to a feast at her family’s palace upon the Roaring Fall’s cliffside, tomorrow night. Our Lashunta knight has devised a plan to ingratiate us Humans within the Elflady’s vanity. What she has outlaid strikes me as bold until foolhardiness.     3. Ashelae , 24,535- 6th Day in El   I believe we have found our inroad. It will make a plighty game, but if we are lucky, it will bear fruit. Also, our mark is too dear to yield.   For the last three days we have made the Aslanta much seen among the Elves - great Vurn limping ruthfully on his crutch, the ideal aflesh of a proud warrior sorrowfully befallen, and Brand who, even against his brashness and awful Elvish Tongue, holds wit and endearing childlikeness. They make a lonesome and outlandish sight within this city that endears all newness, while we have heartened them to play as wanderers and meet Elves however they can. All the while, my hunters have hovered aring them like a net afloat in water. Remaue I set as our lead, for she has a knack for reading folk’s selfness. She voicelessly outcalls marks as they happen through our line. At the same time, I name any Elves and their rank whom I know from my last tide here, and add new names as we can, including household and kinship. Luckily I already know enough of the Noble Houses that I can order news with my fellows’ help.   Here I must shrive a shame. On my last tide in El, I had sillily dreamt of taking an Elven maidenlove. In my trial I had let myself be hurt. Today so happened that my shame’s maker came athwart our path, so that I cannot but wonder whether some godly, doomful fairness might stir awork.   Her name is Aleriel Berendilarion, a lady of high house, though in that unreadable wise Elves follow, she holds no stead, rank, or office at the Everward Hall or her kindred’s business that makes livelihood, else than her house’s name and elder noble rights let her follow idleness and art as she will. This is one of Elfdom’s queernesses I understand not, though now is not the time to unravel. Enough I tell that I was shaken when she walked within our net, though I could not forgo the hap.   We were waiting at the wateryard lying right where the First Canal splits from the stream, not a hundred strides from where the Roarfall pounds its pool at the cliff's foot, and which has ever been one of my dearest spots. The wateryard lies at the canal’s head, where it is shaped upon a shallow ford and a rush of stepstones whereby one may cross. Silvertrout dance amid the stony rush, and all kinds of blossomtrees frame both sides. Semuane and I sat on a bench while Brand and Vern played and hunted the fish. Then came Aleriel right as I reminded: light rose hair, sapphire eyes, and skin so creamy as only Elves have, showing clear to her blue blood underneath.   Startlingly, her sight still hurt. Soon as Remaue witted, she mind-called and beread her as the fulsome mark for our gamble. I agreed so wrathfully that the others were shaken.   Aleriel glided into the yard. She beheld the two Aslanta playing, and then swerved to me. I was sitting next to Semuane, whose hand I held, and paid Aleriel no heed. We let her hover while Semuane and I tickled - letting Remaue call the Elflady’s drift.   At last Aleriel hailed me. I rose smilingly, bowed, and hugged her, and then drew her to Semuane’s bench. My friendliness took her aback while she tried to reckon the steadship. I took behoof and set her between us two Lashunta.   Aleriel bywardly asked after the Aslanta. I told her our hitherfare. She asked of my news since homecome to Son yesteryear. I yielded whits of my outiderhood and of this fetch (making show of my happiness), but aimed on our wonderful find of the Aslanta and how Semuane and I had met, our weapon-trial, and whooship, as nearly so lovely a tale as I could. At my lead, Semuane kept her off kilter, otherwise welcoming but also at length.   Our gamble had the forewished outcome: Aleriel beseeched us to a mirthtide tomorrow at her hall. We shall make a plan and tell the Aslanta their share. Then we will see what we can behoove.     14. Kuthona, 4718 - 7th Day in El, 84th Day on Castrovel   A restless day while we await tonight’s feast. Lady Vaeol and the sergeants have seen to the warriors, who have had mostly light duty since our arrival. Then our inner team met - Vaeol, Semuane, Remaue, Erymi, Tae, Vern, and me. Vaeol went over tonight’s plan, which could have plighty outcomes, and from which we will have little safeguard if it goes awry. Lady Ovele the head ambassador stays ignorant, and I gather we won’t forelook her help if it goes badly. Vaeol particularly wished Remaue, Semuane, and us Humans to understand our parts, for pretty much all hinges on us. I am still surprised, for this plan seems so out of character with what I’ve seen of Lashunta, though perhaps it plays to Remaue’s budding darkness.   If we are lucky, I’ll have a wild tale to write. If not, then I hope Elven prisons are as nice as the Lashunta ones.