Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 32

5. Ashelae, 24,535 - 8th Day in El   We have come back to our Embassy, though I deem it a near miss that we are not in a lockhouse. The Elves are so upset that the Sova has sent ill word to Lady Ovele, who is unforecatchingly wroth. We are forbidden to leave the Embassy and now must wait.   For yesternight’s mirthtide, we readied so heedfully as for war, even with no weapons or harness. Instead for this raid, I had bidden we Damaya look so Lashunta-like as canny. Shamefully, on my first fare here, I had rather shortly become enloved of all things Elven, even until my clothes, food, and speech. No such Elf-love now, for I wished us boldly outstanding. For my own dress, along with my browbead and armbands, I chose my silver breastplates, and instead of a skirt, a silken loincloth. The other Damaya dressed likewise with all the gemstones we could gather and share, while we dressed Brand and Vern in kilts of fuschia and purple. I also bade Tae choose two warriors to come as wardens, in sake things might go awry.   When first we gathered, I beheld stares burning on me, and Brand’s jaw aslack. Also, somehow Remaue had learned my schooltide nickname, and so on sight named me ~Shaemore~ - Warrior-Queen, which sent blood searing through my face, for even after all these years it galls me. Yet in truth, such was the look I wished, and that we should belook as a fivesome Damaya forth-stepped from legend, heathen though Elves might think us, but everywise bold and fair.   Our revelstead was Berendilarion Palace, home to Aleriel’s house, which stands to the Roarfall’s north, roughly midway up the cliffside. An elvencraft-lift thirty strides wide, a witchy wonder in itself, serves the High Households built into the stone; each palace’s garth stepping stairlike from one to next. As we began rising toward, the Lower City opened behind - street-beacons, feylights, and glowblossoms along the canals, a wondershow my pen cannot bewrite.   Stewards welcomed us to the palace’s foreyard among many other guests. The whole yard, with its flutelike springs, singing brooks, and stonebough hall behind, was blazing like a mountaintop sunset with lavender and golden elflights. We mingled while a song of overtaking, aching sweetness peeled through the nightloft and beheld a stead beautiful in that fulsomeness at which Elves outstand, but which also too soon fades to meanness through overuse.   While we hosted Brand and Vurn through the throng, Aleriel found us. She made much show of the Aslanta, as I had forelooked. She also kissed me, though I made forth to stand with Semuane holding hands. Yet whenever she shied off, Semuane or I reached forth and drew her back near. So we kept her guessing as we had yesterday begun.   An inkling had ere risen in my brain, and which I had shared with my fellows, that Aleriel had enjoyed toying with me on last year’s fare. I also reckoned that, given my newfound nameworth and getting mindfulness from others, she might behold me a worthy goal and might try my erstwhile besmittenness to thieve me from Semuane. On this guess our plan was now hinging. So when Aleriel upbrought my last tide here in El, I took no misthanks, as if I had come under her will and welcomed her wooship.   All the while, Remaue, Tae, Erymi, and our two wardens prowled at the edge, unseen but mind-linked. Aleriel as host bywardly came and went, but ever came back. Semuane and I let her loosely, though ever our lovingness to each other greatened when she left, but which we afterward bent again to her.   As the night deepened, Aleriel came back again. She took my hand and stood near Semuane while the heavenly outrider put hand on her shoulder. The Elflady called forth that we should withdraw to a stonehollow set at the palace’s rear. This stead I knew, for it holds both beauty and darkness, and furthermore lovers’ trysts. It would prove fulsome for our purpose, as I swiftly told the others. Semuane and I yaysaid, leaving the Aslanta to themselves.   The hollows’ darkness, even with the Elves' renowned nightsight, let others steal through unseen. Aleriel led Semuane and me to a bench carven from a ledge and set with pillows. Others already there were talking or singing, and more were flirting or already fondling lovingly. Among them we settled while Aleriel herself brought wine and sat with us. Then she beckoned hint to another Elfmaid, who put her arm on Semuane’s shoulder and whispered in her ear. Aleriel took the hap to set her lips feather-light on my brow, and even brushed my antennae. I let her, though stayed still.   Then she spoke that she had not forgotten my erstwhile dearness toward her. Warily I gazed and shrove that neither had I forgotten. She asked forgiveness for how she had mistreated me, raised my hands, and kissed. Playfully I reckoned her offer while twisting my fingers with hers. Then I loosened as if letting the thing by, which she alet as well, and fell to idle talk of our fetch and the Aslanta.   Here I shrove her a wickedness, softly, with my lips near her ear, whose tip I could not withhold stroking: we had no wish to let the Aslanta go free. We had forespoken to bring the Aslanta here, for their hope of going home to Qolaryon. Yet we Lashunta fully forelooked the Sova would not yaysay to let them. Then, after growing hopelessness made the Aslanta yield, we would in foreseeming good faith bring them back to Asana, where we would reap their worldgatecraft secrets (for in my lie I told that they were not lost, but that the worldgate they had used was broken). This gatelore we Lashunta would wield in our longstanding war against the Formians, and moreover, the outlook for trade with the Aslanta enthrives many.   Though Aleriel found my tale wild, under my eagerness I made her believe. After a halt in our talk, Aleriel again asked if she might do anything to win my forgiveness. Here I smiled. Then I leaned forward and kissed her. When she yielded back, I drew her head downward to my bosom while I stroked her hair.   At that token, Semuane rose and overstrode, playing the jealous maidenlove. She quoth she wished to leave and bade me come with. I withheld and answered I would stay. Semuane then stepped back, glowered, and sulked. We let Aleriel begladden a breathtide triumphant and think she had won.   Then in strode Remaue, wrathful like one of the warrior-goddess Qoaronae, and bearing a glowlamp, alightening our playstead for all sight, which she had stolen. She stepped before Semuane, and broke forth a rush of harsh words. False outrider and betrayer she named me. She claimed I had sworn her love-troth, but here was outfound not only with the outlandish Qabarat outrider whomwith I had first cheated, but also this Elven wanton, thus doubling my misfaith. So we started a loud three-way strife among us Lashunta: me against Semuane against Remaue, with Aleriel caught amidst.   Aleriel rose and hopelessly tried to still our feud as outspoken threat to her mirthtide’s idleness. Remaue grabbed her arm and outquoth she would take no reproof from a feckless Elf. She shoved her right against Semuane, who answered she had also had enough of Elfkind, and grabbed her other arm. I had also arisen and added to the din, yelling they had no right to so speak to me. I watched shock and shamefulness on Aleriel’s face grew beyond dearth.   Then in burst the Aslanta. Vurn roared like a bull-Shota and hobbled forth on his crutch even while he made it seem a club. Beside him strode Brand, who spoke in halting (but foredrilled) Elvish that he seen enough Lashunta miskindliness for one night and ever. They brunted in and broke Remaue’s and Semuane’s grips on the Elflady. Then they overstood her wardfully, and threateningly against us. Brand outquoth he would nevermore deal with Lashunta bad faith, that he knew not why we had brought them to this city, for he had misgiven we had ever meant to bring them homeward, else than to keep them like tame freaks. His last offthank he outnamed our misbehavior of Lady Aleriel our host, whose kind he claimed he knew on Qolaryon as fair and worthy.   The stonehollow now blazed with more lights than Remaue’s weak glowlamp, for more had swiftly come with both guests and grooms. By then Aleriel was shivering as well as sobbing from the fright we had given her slightness. While Vurn set a broad warding hand on Aleriel’s shoulder, Brand knelt at her feet. He begged leave to stay in her household, for - he swore - he would rather serve an Elf who gave true and faithful guesthood.   Aleriel clutched Brand’s hand. She swore he should have all he asked and more, and that she would do her utmost on their behalf. She then withdrew with both Brand’s and Vurn’s arms on her shoulders, a wall of manly thews that steadied her.   We three watched reckfully while the mirthtide guests stole off. Soon a steward came forth. He asked whether we needed anything more. We understood the hint and answered we had enough. He bowed, and right then faded from sight. We anon found ourselves alone in the hollow - no other guests, no house-grooms, and no din. The song had ended, and even the springs had stilled.   We headed forth and met Tae, Erymi, and the others, but no sight of Elves, and none of the Aslanta anywhere within the palace’s garth, a sure token I beread as our welcome’s end. We left, rather gleeful that our gamble had worked, though unwholly sure. We made our way down the cliff's Elfcraft-lift, and then followed the canals backs through the city.   Lady Ovele met us soon as we stepped onto the Embassy and outbade what had happened, for she had already gotten word. We tried to soothe and outlay. Yet she would hear nothing and yelled that we have offthanked one of the oldest and highest houses in El. When we seemed unworried, her bronze skin darkened almost purple. She sent us to our house with bid to stay.   Oshis and the warriors were waiting, along with half the Aslanta who were still awake. We told our fetch had gone well to plan, though some folk we had misgladdened with the deed. We told how we had upset Lady Aleriel, which brought hoots and laughter from all, who agreed the haughty Elf (this is a word too among Aslanta) had gotten her ought.   Now today we await our craftiness’s outcome, which means Brand and Vurn must play their share. We had coached them they must tell Aleriel alone their tale, forwhy she is reckless enough to believe, but shameful enough that she will doubtlessly bring it forth in her own wise and put the our forewished words in the right ears. Elves, for all their gamecraft and cunning, do have a belief in rightness. Now that we have inbroken their inward-dwelling overaimfulness, I believe they will do as we wish.     6. Ashelae, 9th Day in El   Today came a steward from the Elven Court, who asked we let leave all the Aslanta, so they may cleave with Brand and Vurn. Warily we withheld. Even so, we betook it as good hint. Also to uphold our lie, we must first seem withstanding. If things go as we plan, it may mean the Elves will let them through the Worldgate. Against my hope, however, I first want the Elves’ forespoken word.   Since we are forbidden to leave the Embassy’s island, I spent this afternoon with Remaue and Semuane, and but us three. I wanted to ensure they meet well. To my gladness, they spoke merrily, and no underflow hidden. Semuane acknowledged Remaue’s foremostness in our love and spoke her as an equal.   Her Highness, Lady Ovele was much away today. Our inseeches have gotten answer only that she was called to the Sova, doubtlessly to answer our misdeeds and to save herself any aftermath. I can merely pray she will not offsell us. What dearth we may pay, however, I know not.