Chapter 10

8. Shenealae, 24,535 - Son   More busy days - watch, drill, loretide if I am lucky, more drill, and repeat. Thankfully, Remaue in wisdom has offput her bridetide plan until Newyear. This has let me heed Less and Oshis’s rough kindliness on the drillyard, and outcoming bruises. Still, my foot-game is bettering. I may catch a few Korasha who foreguess they can strongarm me about the gameyard. Neither of my shieldmates is weak, and both outweigh me by at least six stones. Tae has lovingly named me Dancer after watching me offspin from their brunts, which may be true. Moreso, I feel my thews toughening.   I have also come somewhat to know Captain Dosuaesh. As forespoken, he has told of his firdhood and quests in the South, within the Formian War. His tale is grimmer than I had forelooked, though he had given an inkling when first we met at Lady Nauve’s duskmeal in Qabarat. I have heard he has earned many honor-crowns. Yet when I asked, he gainsaid not, but downplayed their worth. He has a gift for making war seem dreary and gloryless when matched against heroes’ legends.   Warfare against the Formians as made among the Western Asana Thofthood that Qabarat heads, teaches Master-Captain, is the sheerest kind and most sorrowful. It has ongone for millennia, sometimes quelling, sometimes growing. Though Lashunta or Formians may win a battle, overrun an island, or offdrive the foe, the other side ever comes back. Neither has won, told he, and fears that neither ever may.   15. Shenealae   Today while at drill with Less and Oshis, Captain Dosuaesh behappened. Erymi and Tae straightway stood sharp and asked his will. He bade them ease and merely watched our fight-drill. Then he came into the yard. He bade Less (whom I was sparring) stand down, and then that I stand at ward. He walked all aring me. Then he clasped my shoulder and with his toe shoved my feet to another stead. He bade me try the fight with that new stance. When we did, I found my sidleness bettered.   I wonder I have found some small goodwill in Master-Captain. It warms my heart.   In other news, I have gotten word from Lady Semuane. I had ere written to tell of our return and Remaue’s outquest for wifehood. Semuane has sent back her cheer and good wish, and also her will to fare her for Newyear. I am thrilled, though worried of her watching me in the Games.   18. Sheneale   Duskmeal tonight with our sixsome and a welcome break from watch and drill. We gathered again at our dearest idleyard among the myrrhblossom-trees. Even better, tomorrow is the wontful start of Heavenwatch, when rain and sky are thinnest and likely to yield Heaven’s blue glory and Burning-Mother overshining all. While we feasted on honey-glazed thurseloin and roasted pepperworts, I told the legend that Heaventide is the time when Matarasse seeks her manmate Father-Night, which is why the daylength shortens and nighttide lengthens while they dally (though lore now teaches otherwise), and thus afterward new stars are born. We drank to wish them many glad nights while the northern winds blow cool and dry.   Speech fell foretellably to Remaue’s bridetide. Tae and Erymi asked our plan, which we have nothing made. They told tales of their own bridetides, wherein Less had been Tae’s First Man, whereafter he then became her sworn manmate. Yet Erymi shrove she had lost her maidenhead while young, ere she started newlinghood. This bold secret I had not known, and wondered. She is lucky she did not get bechild, for the shame would be great. She had had no great bridetide, for her kindred is poor. She and Oshis had met while they fought in the Formian War. Of him she told he had been a wanton Shota-bull slaking lust on any Damaya who would have him. Yet they had found love on warfare, though under war-law they could not cleave together until that firdtide ended. Then he had let himself be tamed - somewhat, we laughingly spoke.   Then Less and Oshis came forward and knelt earnestly at Remaue’s knees. They besought she hold them each under deemship to become her First Man. When she looked to Tae and Erymi, they both nodded and blessed their manmate’s boons. Erymi spoke she would be honored if her child become half-sib with a child Remaue bears, and Tae repeated the wish. I could tell Remaue was greatly stirred when her eyes shed tears. No choice she made, but she thanked them all for this honor bestowed and forespoke to deem them both well.