Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 33

7. Ashelae, 24,535 - 10th Day in El   Her Highness, Lady Ovele saw me and Lady Semuane. She told us that we are called forth. With her we left the Embassy, hosted by her grooms. She led us not to the Everward Hall, but instead back to House Berendilarion, where we had broken the mirthtide.   We went into the palace’s springyard, where an Elflord wearing silvercloth met us. Lady Ovele forthwith bowed, which wise we followed. The Elflord began by asking whether we knew who he was, which we answered nay. He named himself Amendaris Berendilarion, which name I knew. Not only is he a high lord of the Everward Hall, but I recalled he is Aleriel’s grandfather. This business had taken a selfsome bend.   The High Lord then spoke he could not unmind our offthank toward his granddaughter and asked whether we would willingly answer for that misdeed. Semuane and I glanced at each other, and then both answered yes. This seemingly gladdened the High Lord, though I could read he still held his reproof in thought. Yet he bade us sit and had a groom bring tea.   High Lord Amendaris outlaid that, with his stead at Hall, he has share to knowledge doleful to tidings beyond Sovyrian. Therefore, he knew somewhat of the Aslanta’s worldfare, and of the help we had until now bestowed. He added that when his granddaughter had told of her wound at our hands foreyesternight, she had also given the inthriftiest tale about our foreclaimed reason for bringing the Humans to El, that we had done so with no wish to let them go back to their world. Yet oddly, he remarked, that reason had little match to any truth of our earlier deeds when one knowledgeable read them.    He spoke that, unless he heard better, he might believe we had used his granddaughter’s blitheness to reach a further outcome. Here we bowed heads and hid shameful smiles.    The High Lord witted and asked whether we had ever reckoned there might be another wise to reach our goal without mishandling a blithe and heedless Elfmaid. I answered that His Highness was doubtlessly right, and such a wise outstands, but that we Lashunta, along with the Aslanta, have no year or more to unwhelm it.   High Lord Amendaris stared. Against himself, he slipped a swift snort, and then muttered that Lashunta short-lived and short-forethought are a good match to Humankind (which was the first word ever that he knows something of the Aslanta). He then told his granddaughter Aleriel has beseeched a boon to to outwrack her wrong: first that we should be banned from El, and otherly that the Humans should be taken from us and sent homeward through the Worldgate, foreguessingly to spite us. The High Lord asked whether we would take this doom.   Semuane and I bowed our napes. We answered we would meekly atake, if given that we may watch the Aslanta go through the Worldgate.   The High Lord sternly reckoned. Then he nodded. He bade us go back to the Embassy under house-bond, and that his steward would gather and take the Humans. Lady Ovele blessed the bargain, whereat we Lashunta rose, bowed, and left.   On our walk back, Lady Ovele chided us fiercely. Whether she understands our craftiness’s end I know not. Anywise, she deems we have gotten our ought and have no right to gainsay.   We reached the Embassy, where shortly afterward the High Lord steward came for the Aslanta. I led her to their rooms, where I bade they must go with her, but that they would recleave Brand and Vurn and would soon be let homeward. Mirth outbroke, which din soon brought forth our warriors. I told all the news while the steward forbore.   Yet then all their mood darkened when both the Aslanta and the warriors forsoothed that now was their last tide together. Suddenly sorrow arose, and I witted both we Lashunta and the Aslanta have grown near over these months. I was fully aware many Damaya had dallied with them along our wayfare from Son, and that even the Korasha had warmed to friendliness. They traded many hugs, tears, and dear words, even when they did not understand, until at last grudgingly the Aslanta shed ways and followed the High Lord’s steward.   A queer mood has settled over the house. Wordlessly my troop gathered. I spoke what few words I could to cheer them. I reminded we have helped the Aslanta find their way home over millions of cold empty ~sem~ that shed our world from theirs, affitting Burning-Mother’s wish. I outspoke we had done a worthy deed they may proudly tell their children in toward years. Also, this means we can soon go home ourselves. This word they took with worshipful if fuddled looks.   After we were alone, Remaue hugged me. Wordlessly I lay in her arms.     17. Kuthona - 10th Day in El, 87th Day on Castrovel   Let me begin with where I left off…   On the night of the feast, Vern and I joined our Lashunta conspirators. I admit their sight stood forth as one of the night’s brightest moments, when we beheld the ladies fully arrayed. The word that first came to mind was barbaric. They did not wear the usual high-class saree-drapes. Instead, loincloths hardly covered their rears, though they draped almost to ground, and bosom-harnesses likewise small. In Vaeol’s and Semuane’s case, they forwent the usual silken bandeau and forbore their breastplates’ naked metal. Remaue commented that so Damaya had dressed during what they call the Age of the Warrior-Queens, whereby I gathered that everything about their appearance was intended. Happily, not only we were staring, for the ladies had to nearly tear off the Korasha come to escort us.   Together we headed through the city. At the Roaring Falls we took a lift up the cliffside. At first I had guessed it a winch-engine like we’d ridden in Candares. Yet we soon learned it was even more wonderful. The swan-and-flower-carven deck lifted off ground of its own power, and with nothing holding us from above or supporting below. So we found our first sign of the legendary Elven magic that we were hoping would bring us home. Neither were we alone in our ride, for a company of Elflords and Elfladies joined, wearing more scarves and frill than actual clothes. They ignored the deadly drop that our lift failed to obey. I gathered them as fellows to our same goal, which floated brightly above.   We soon arrived at one of the fairylike cliff-palaces and stepped off, where we joined other guests in mingling among fountains, glowing shrubs, and music. I confess I had a hard time not growing distracted by the winking lights and illusory beasts dancing among the channeled brooks. I succeeded, however, in snagging a fluted goblet of light Elven blossomwine. Then I did my best to school my senses.   Lady Aleriel’s appearance, however, reminded us why we were here. She first approached and hailed us loudly, and then crowed over me and Vern as her showcase Humans from Golarion, like a pair of prize dogs, and so got the throng’s notice. Swiftly, however, her mind turned to Vaeol, as forelooked. She left us to her guests’ idle curiosity, who tolerated us with little engagement. I forbore the awkwardness and conversations directed around instead of at us, especially reckoning I could understand barely half of what they said, and Vern even less.   Bywardly, Aleriel disappeared with Vaeol and Semuane, for which moment we had planned. We and our escorts flowed to our intended watch-steads. Vern and I stayed within the palace’s main court while we watched Remaue head toward the rear, and Tae, Erymi, and the others string out between. Then we had little to do but grab another flute of blossomwine, which Vern and I swilled while the wine-lovers sampled the bouquet. Fortunately, we were in no risk of getting drunk. I started hoping that any Elves who danced over my path would ascribe my distraction to Human boorishness, instead of the true reason. Among the shifting Elf-nobles the hour drew out, with little to do but watch Tae and another Korasha idle among the guests - the next link in the mind-chain leading to the rear.   At last, Less tapped my shoulder and waved his brow-feelers toward Tae. Vern and I set forth at as swift a pace as we could with his crutch and not trampling any Elves. Tae and her guard fell in behind, along with Less. Then we reached the palace’s rear, where waited Erymi. They bade us hold at a grotto’s mouth, which delved within the cliffside, where glowed a lone lamp.   I peeked within and beheld a scene straight out of a brothel-brawl. Within the lamplight jostled Semuane and Remaue, in mid-catfight with the Elflady. Vaeol looked ready to jump in, while a ring of half-naked idlers clutched hands and scarves to bosoms or scurried fearfully from the Lashunta’s loudening shrillness, all a theater for our entrance, as Vern and I had readied for our moment.   When Erymi waved us forward, Vern gave his best bear-roar (not that anyone else knew what a bear sounds like) and vaulted forth on his crutch as if he was charging a shieldwall. Soon as he drew all eyes, I strode before and spoke the words Vaeol and the others had bidden me say in my best practiced Elvish. Almost I choked on the lie told within. For of all the evil or questionable deeds I’ve ever done, willfully besmearing those who have given me honor and goodwill I have hated the most.   Before Lady Aleriel I named the Lashunta false hosts, as Vaeol had bidden me. I accused them of misleading me to believe we could find a way home here in Sovyrian, and that they had done so to keep us for their selfish ends. I asked the Elflady’s protection, so I could forsake the Lashunta. By then we had shoved the Damaya aside. Vern glowered shieldingly over her while I knelt at her feet.   After the fright she had gotten, she was openly sobbing, childlike. Then she clasped my hand, declared she would do all she can for us, and bade us come with her. We escorted her from the grotto while grooms hastened inward, bearing more glowlamps. We withdrew to what I assume was an antechamber to the lady’s private rooms, into which a servant ushered her further within.   For a tide Vern and I waited. When Lady Aleriel re-emerged - eyes hollow but dry - she was wearing a plain robe. At a wave servants brought a heartier, mulled mead for us all. Then she looked at me and asked: did I really believe the Lashunta so duplicitous as to come up with this scheme to keep us on this world?   I looked straight at the Elflady and answered I had no faith that the Lashunta had any power or influence to send us home. Furthermore I believed them even so duplicitous as she said. Within, I told myself I was lying only a little, for she had not specified whether the scheme was to keep us here or merely to make the Elves so believe.   Lady Aleriel weighed my answer. Then she declared that, on her honor, she would see us Humans all return safely to her kinfolk on Golarion, and that until then we shall be her guests. Also, she would send for our men at once. Vern and I bowed while she again withdrew. Then we let ourselves be led away, where we were made comfortable.   The next day and yesterday passed painfully. Vern and I waited in lonely splendor, guests without purpose in this palatial house of wonders, with no word of what was happening in the city below. A steward told our men had been sent for, but the Lashunta were refusing to release them. I could only nod, look politely worried, and hope that Lady Vaeol understood whatever deep game she was playing, presumably to encourage the Elves to help us spitefully.   Then today the men appeared with most but not all their belongings, and Duster even bearing my journal, which has let me write this update. They told how over the last three days Lady Vaeol has prosecuted her conspiracy, which now has succeeded. This was confirmed when Lady Aleriel came and bragged (most eloquently, as only an Elf can) how she had forced the Lashunta to let my men go, and that now she would fulfill her promise. I groveled and thanked her so heartily as I could.   After we got the men settled, I noticed an Elf standing across the courtyard. Though I didn’t recognize him, he was richly dressed in silver-embroidered robes, such that I betook him as noble and not a servant. I bowed (in what little Elven etiquette I know) as to one of higher but unknown station. To my shock, the Elflord greeted me in Old Azlanti, which I can only read. I chuckled, guessing for all I knew, he was old enough to have known the Azlanti, and answered that he doubtlessly knows more of its words than I.   The ancient Elf nodded graciously and switched to Elvish. “You are happy for your soon-coming return to your homeworld?” he asked. I answered yes and asked whether he would have any favor whereby I could show my gratitude.   “My main concern is my granddaughter’s happiness,” he said, whereby I guessed his kinship to Lady Aleriel. “By helping send you home, she will be appeased.” To this comment I reckoned best not to speak, and merely bowed acknowledgement.   When I lifted my eyes, I witted the elder Elflord studying me. I gave him time, whether deciding whatever he had to think, speak, or withhold.   “She must love you a great deal,” he pronounced: “to aid you in all she has done, and to risk our displeasure.” Then he turned and left with no more explanation, and me wondering at his back. Yet I suspected he was no longer speaking of Aleriel his granddaughter.