Some commonly used words are below. Replace th on end of words with ness and t with d or ed and most of the rest are obvious if sounded out aloud. Some words with n or en on the end can be easily understood if the n is replaced by a d. Only difficult words and words that do not exist in English are now referred to specifically. There is now an appendix of Folk words and language and one of places, food, animals, plants and minerals too. Both follow the story chapters.
The brackets after a character e.g. CLAIRE (4 nc) indicates Claire is a character who is 4 years old and a character not encountered before. Ages of incomers are in Earth years at this point and of Folk in Castle years. (4 Folk yrs ≈ 5 Earth yrs. l is lunes, t is tenners.) There is a list of chapters and their significant characters at the bottom too.
21st of Darrow Day 53
Midnight was long since when Turner cooked their meal by firelight and said, “We’ll run late thisday, Otday, for we’ll wash clothes with truedawn and bathe again. The reek of the pleasures of the bed can become offensive with not much time, so it’s as well at least to wash in the forenoon after an eve of pleasure rather than upset our customers. Our washt clothes and bedding can dry on the waggon as we move, but it’s a four day trip to our next stop and I need to do some hunting. You can do some fishing and get an hour’s practice with your bow. Before we braek camp and leave I’ll look at those stitches and see regards removing them so you can heal properly before the thread becomes impossible to remove other than by Cwm or one of her specialist healers. We’ll leave the plates till we arise, for I’d like to be bedd again and if you like we can spend all night at it.”
Later that day, when Otday was completely overwhelmed by several hours of lovemaking, Turner had been rendered so tender, for Otday was large and vigorous, that above a supine Otday she’d turned berount and completed what she considered to be his basic education as a man. Otday had proven to be a surprising lover, for besides having the size and power of a stallion ploughing a mare in her heatth he was capable of gentle tenderth as well, and, more importantly to Turner, he instinctively knew when each was appropriate. He was caring and concerned for her enjoyment, and as, in between her orgasms, he’d tasted the source of her fragrance she’d explained of the details of women’s softths and what gave them pleasure. Otday learnt rapidly and each of her orgasms was higher and reached more quickly than the last. Unable to stand the one sided nature of their activities she taekt him in her mouth, and Otday had bashfully asked what would she like him to do for her, but she was warming to her task and determined, despite his size, to take him all till the end.
Initially Otday couldn’t understand how she had his full longth in her mouth. It was only when he realised Turner had him in her throat that he understood why she hadn’t answered his question, and it was only after his enjoyment was as complete as hers, just a few seconds later, that she was able to tell him as on her hands and knees she finally presented her still eager softth for his attention. An hour later Turner concluded that she now knew exactly how her mare Shwetha had felt as shuddering she’d stood stock still, solid and four square for Tibok to power his prodigious organ repeatedly into her gushing softth, and it was glorious. She said, “That’s it, Otday. I can’t take any more. I’ve never sayt this before, but I’m just too raxt.(1) I’ve never had aught near your size in my softt before, and you’ve no need to apologise. That was wonderful. I’ve always enjoyt being bedd from behind on my hands and knees, but never have I had so much pleasure. But I can’t take any more now.”
Turner considered that making a man of Otday was going to be easier than she had anticipated, but the effort certainly had its compensations, and she’d every intention of enjoying them to the full, despite any temporary tenderth. She also considered that making a waggoner of him was going to be harder than making a man of him.
Before they washed their underwear, Turner handed Otday the knickers she’d placed on the fallen tree lastday and said, “I wore them for two days because I’d not been able to wash any and had no fresh ones. My secretions have dryt on them now, but they still have my fragrance. I find it unpleasant when it’s more than half a day old, but most men are attractet by it. Take my scent. How do you find it?”
Otday could see the source of what he could smell and inhaled deeply but slowly. “I have catcht the scent of other women before, but did not know what it was I was experiencing, or realise it was that which affectet me so. They are all slightly different and all arousing which considering where the fragrance originates is hardly surprising. Your scent is powerful and uniquely yours and affects me more than any other I have ever experiencet. You can see the effect it is having on me. I suspect I could smell your softth in total darkth and know it were yours. My sorrow if that is offensive, but you doet ask.”
That maekt Turner consider that her suspicions concerning Otday becoming one of the changt were not ridiculous for all of the changt had heightened senses as compared with others, but she said nought of it and explained, “It is not offensive, for my scent does what Castle givn me it for: it attracts men, but a compromise is requiert. I will you to be attractet, for I desire your attentions, but I don’t will to hate being with myself. When I can I’ll don freshly washt in the forenoon and we’ll see what it’s like if I sleep in them too. What bethink you?”
“I’ll enjoy that for I can’t help but be aroust by your scent. That you desire my attentions is truly wonderful, for you have given me the best thing I have ever experiencet in my life, and I will us to continue thus as long as you will. Even if you will my attentions no longer, still your scent will arouse me whether you will it or no.”
“Then from now on, if you wish, you can wash my knickers, for you’ll enjoy it, and I don’t. Yours don’t have quite the same effect on me, but they do carry your scent, and it’s pleasant, so in return I’ll wash yours. Yes?”
“Yes. I’ll enjoy that. Shall we start now? Washing each others’ knickers I mean.”
“Indeed and there is no need to be ashaemt of your enjoyment or hide taking my scent.”
After washing their clothes and bedding, they ate braekfast and washed the plates from the eve before and the braekfast dishes too before fishing and hunting. Otday managed three perch of respectable size and was pleased with his progress with his bow. Turner had a couple of coneys and a glider when she returned complaining bitterly regards uncoöperative yellow leggen(2) shrub fowl.(3) Before they left at just over noon Turner looked at Otday’s stitches for the first time in full daylight and telt him, “They need to be removt betimes. They’ve been left over long and the thread is embedding into the healing skin. Fortunately the thread is gut not fibre, so if I remove them it will not pain you as much, but it shall pain you. I suggest I do one each day. Are you willing? For if not you will need a healer to remove them using pain numbing herbs and probably a knife to cut them out.”
“You do it.”
Turner passed him a wooden spoon and said, “Bite on the handle. It will prevent you biting your mouth, tongue or lips. Ready?”
Otday bit on the spoon and nodded. Turner had stropped a knife to razor sharpth on the palm of her hand and cut the thread as close to the skin as possible on one side. She held the skin of his scrotum back close to the thread exit point with her fingers to limit skin damage and placed the thread between two fingers. She gently pulled on the knot with her other hand to see in which direction to pull it. “Ready?” As Otday was nodding, she pulled the knot hard and heard Otday gasp with the pain, but the thread was out with not much bleeding from the slightly torn skin berount its exit. She carefully wiped the blood away and telt Otday, “That was the worst one. The other two should be easier, or at least less painful. There is no swelling nor infection and the wound has healt tightly. How do you feel, Otday?”
“Better now, but I doet feel sick for a few seconds. I can take the pain and if I vomit I vomit. Remove another one.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Ten minutes later all three stitches were out and it was a wan looking Otday Turner helped onto the waggon. Turner considered that Otday had been taught some hard but necessary lessons by Jed. She bore Jed no animosity, nor thought ill of him, for all he’d done was look after his own, and had Otday remained at the Keep he would undoubtedly have had little in the way of life expectancy, and even if he’d managed to stay alive he’d have had no quality of life. Folk needed time to forget and move on and Otday’s continued presence would have prevented that. Jed had done him a favour, for the reality of his existence on the waggon was making him grow and develop. Even the pain of removing the stitches she knew Otday had borne with a fortitude he had not possessed a few days before.
That eve Turner was reconsidering her thoughts of the afternoon. Otday had recovered rapidly from the shock of her removing the stitches and unusually had engaged her in conversation. Mostly he had asked questions as to why she did certain things the way she did, for he’d added he’d noted she always did them the same way. She’d always assumed he was indifferent to his surroundings and noticed naught, but his questions caused her to reëvaluate him. She was may hap not cynical but certainly cold and calculating, her childhood had maekt her thus. She’d not set out to seduce a young lover, despite all she’d said, she’d set out to have her property service her needs, vaucht(4) or no, and she’d not only succeeded in that she’d discovered may hap she’d stumbled over some thing of greater worth.
May hap.
She’d initially removed Otday’s stitches with a view to maintaining her property, for she didn’t wish aught untoward happening so close to her source of relief, but when Otday had telt her to remove the second and third stitches, despite his pain, she’d started to view him differently. It was possible she considered they could grow to like each other. The sex they’d shared had naught to do with her thinking. It was his care that maekt the difference. Every mare in her heatth was happy to present standing stock still and four square to be ploughed by a stallion, but neither cared to the other. Like every mare in her heatth she’d thoroughly enjoyed being ploughed, but whilst servicing her Otday had been no different from a stallion driven by his lust, yet the gentler tender things they’d shared after were different, for they required a level of thought and care she’d only ever been given by one other, and that beseemed almost a lifetime over.
It was a deeply disturbed Turner who was sitting in front of their fire that eve. She’d been there over an hour gazing at the flames all the while, and her thoughts were still a dis-jointed, jumbled, inchoate mess as ephemeral as the flickering flames, and it was all Otday’s fault. She was going to shout at him, not for any good reason she just willen to shout at him, but when Otday sat down beside her, kissed her cheek and said, “Your leaf is calt. Here, I bringen(5) you a hot one,” all thought of shouting at him had gone.
She taekt the mug from him and to her great surprise reached to hold his hand. “Gratitude, Otday.” They sat for a few minutes holding hands and drinking their leaf before she said, “You are not now what I believt you to be, and I am trying to reconcile my views of you now with what I was telt you were. It is difficult for me, for I have spent all my life since twelve alone on this waggon. Well truly this is my third waggon, but alone on a waggon. I don’t understand folk well, and I don’t get on with folk well. There are reasons in my girlhood for that, mostly because I was different and reactet poorly to folks’ bigotry and suspicions. I can’t help it, for though in truth there were few who trett me badly they trett me so badly that I came to be wary of all, and part of me deems all to be as bad as those few. Though I know it not to be true it is safer for me to behave as though it be true.”
“All of those folk are a riandet, Turner, but I’d like you to get on with me. I’d even like you to understand me, though that may not be possible till I understand me. You have helpt me and I am grateful. If there is any way I can help you you only have to ask.”
Turner reached for Otday and their kisses were vigorous but without the violence of before. They had their hands to each other and enjoyed their pleasures. Turner maekt leaf whilst Otday fed the fire. They had spaech till it was over dark, and Turner telt Otday of her difficulties which drove her away from folk, yet forced her back to them to relieve her hungering softth. They both realised they had problems that they could help each other with and an unspaeken commitment to each other was given. “I need to be bedd, Otday, but my raxt softth still rebels. Yet, I wish you inside me, so we must try else where. I’ve never been sure how a man takes a big man, but we shall have to find out and take all slowly.” Otday was aware of what she was referring to and with his still automatic acceptance of her every word just nodded.
Turner fetcht a blanket to spread in front of the fire and indicated he was to undress too. “I’ve some hand cream to aid.” She opened the jar and put a small amount in the palm of her hand. Using both hands she covered his manhood from the tip to the root ensuring all was well coated. Taking a little more she lubricated herself and dropped to all fours on the blanket. “Slowly, Otday. It will hurt me to begin. Ignore it, for it will pass and I need you.” Turner produced the spoon he had bitten on earlier and put the handle between her teeth. He pushed gradually harder with no result till suddenly Turner’s resistance yielded and she was halfway down his hardth. Turner was gasping in pain, and still with the spoon in her mouth muttered indistinctly, “Mercy, that hurts. Don’t move for a while.” After a minute she said, “Slowly, just slowly. How is it to you, Otday?”
“Tight. Very tight and hot. It doesn’t hurt and it feels good.” They gradually increased their pace till Otday’s ploughing was moving her forwards on the blanket with the force of his thrusts. As both reached the point of no return Turner collapsed as Otday powered his weighth forward. The ground resisted her further movement and as Turner’s release taekt her she was aware of her breasts stretching by staying with the blanket as she moved forwards, Otday penetrating her further than she’d believed possible and the warmth of his essence which felt high in her belly. Turner’s release was so intense she lost consciousth for a few seconds and she came to aware of Otday kissing her ear and asking in worried tones, “Are you all right, Turner?”
As she could feel him moving to leave her she said, “Stay where you are, Otday. That is pleasant, but mercy it hurt to start with. Let me lift up a bit to ease my breasts.” Pinned and under his weighth, it was a novel experience for Turner to be giggling. She couldn’t help herself, for Otday was licking, kissing and breathing on her back, spine, neck and ears. She started cursing at him when he put his tongue in her ear, screaming at him to stop. It was the first time he had ever defied her and as both were aware she could easily have stopped him, but both were aware she wasn’t going to. When they’d finished playing games, she asked, “If I turn over can you do that again? Gently this time. I’d like you to be able to kiss my breasts, and me of course. How long do you need to recover?”
“I don’t. I’m ready.”
Immediately Otday withdrew, Turner turned over and repositioned herself in the middle of the blanket. Turner brought her knees to her shoulders and said, “Kiss me. Taste me. Pleasure me, Otday, please.” Otday knew what was expected of him and willingly complied. When Turner was shuddering with delight, after so many orgasms immediately following each other it had seemed to be one continuous thrill, Otday broached her again. He was surprised at the ease of it this time though it was still a sudden event which occasioned a sharp intake of breath from her as Turner accepted him. Their lovemaking was gentle and Turner had the kisses, nibbles, licks and breaths she desired and more, much more. Even her own scent on his mouth aroused her more. Her face, neck, breasts, chest and shoulders, with particular attention paid to her mouth and nipples, were gently tormented for the entire three hours during which Otday’s iron manhood never left her. Otday had peaked four times, taking longer each time, and Turner had lost count. They fell asleep with Otday still within when they awoke.
“Let’s feed the fire, wash and eat, Otday.” Otday had gathered a large pile of firewood earlier and as Turner stacked the fire he washed in the stream. He was still washing when Turner gently pushed his hands away and said, “I’ll do that, for I wish to. Would you like to wash me? I’d like it if you doet, and if you get a bit too intimate I’ll forgive you in advance.” They played like children and only stopped when the chill of the water and their hunger for food overcame their hunger for each other. They dresst and ate their warmed stew with the last of the now four day old bannocks given them at their last halt. “I will to have spaech greatly of us, but on the waggon nextday, for we’ll need to be on our way early. I’m tiren and I have a great want of sleep, yet I’d like it well to share body heatth as we fall asleep. May I?”
It was rare Turner asked rather than ordered regards aught of their lifes and a surprised Otday replied, “I’d like that too.”
They snuggled like a pair of kittens in a litter as they fell asleep. Both were aware things had changed, and it was not just Otday who was less tense as a result of their new found relationship. Only ever close to one other, and that was many years over, Turner realised Otday was a rare person in her life, one she could become close to without her childhood fears rising up to haunt her. For Otday it was not so dissimilar, Turner was the first person in his life he had shared reality with for he’d never lived in reality before. Over the next tenner Turner and Otday established a new relationship, they were lovers at night and Mistress and rapidly learning apprentice by day. They had become close and each valued the other for the inner peace they enabled.
“We’re two days from the Keep, Otday, and I don’t will you there. I’m not being deliberately difficult. I wish this for your weäl, and I hope you come to realise that. I’ll leave you this eve at a holding and will be back in four possibly five days depending on the trail. I’ll not overnight at the Keep. I’ll just unload and reload, for Tarse of that ilk is not the best of Folk, but it’s the only option. I regret it, but I’m not going to discuss it.”
“It’s unusual to name one self after the holding isn’t it?”
Turner laught, a dry cynical laugh and said, “You’ll understand when you meet him. Tarse named the holding after himself.”
Tarse was an ill favoured, medium height man with a limp and an aggressive attitude. After Turner had left, he telt Otday he could bunk in the barn and he would be fed three times a day if he split firewood for his keep.
24th of Darrow Day 56
The day was eventually organised and fifteen girls and boys with a couple of light handcarts left early in the forenoon. Abigail’s crafters had provided the same high energy packed meals they provided Will’s huntsmen, for they had standing instructions from Milligan to look after the boys in the squad. Unknown to the fishers but known to Abigail there had been discontent mongst some of the kitchen crafters at the superior nature of the lunches provided for mere children.
The fishers had divided into four groups, and Jed had gone with Warbler, Stonecrop, Beth and Waverley. At Jed’s request Beth had decided where they would try for the trout and she’d been a good judge of the river. They caught a dozen or so foot long trout each before going back to join the others for lunch. Over lunch Waverley and Jed had been spaeking of their new lifes, “It’s much better for me here, Jed. I was an only child, and after my mum and dad died in an accident, I ended up on my own living in a Sally Army(6) hostel. The Sallys were good to me, but they had a lot to do. Mum and Dad here really care and Nectar is nice. I always wished brothers and sisters. What of you, Jed?”
“I had two brothers and two sisters. We were all nutters really. Mum hadn’t got a hope of controlling us. I was the youngest. The only decent people I knew were Doris, whom I worked for on the mart on Saturdays, and Mr. Edwards my form teacher at school.”
Waverley’s ears pricked up at that, “What was he like?”
“Who? Mr. E?”
“Yes. My form teacher was called that too, he taught maths.”
It didn’t take long to establish they had gone to the same school and had had the same form teacher. Both were puzzled as to how they could have done as Jed had been five years in front of Waverley, yet they were the same age. It didn’t take them long or many questions before they discovered all the newfolk had been taken to Castle in different years spanning four and a half decades. The coincidence of a shared form teacher was to form the basis of a good friendship.
One of the may hap more intriguing things to come out of the children’s conversation was that some of them were completely in the dark as to what a mobile phone was. Those decades they had come from had been times of rapid technological change, none of which meant aught on Castle. On Castle all were dependent on their own efforts, abilities and achievements and not technology.
When they returned to the Keep, it was to deliver over seven hundred trout to the kitchens, which Abigail maekt sure the malcontents in the kitchens were aware was a more than reasonable return on an outlay of fiveteen packed lunches, be they of howsoever good a quality. She also pointed out the children had been entitled to sell rather than gift the fish to the kitchens as they had not been crafting but fishing during their own time and despite many having a craft none were adult so under no pecuniary obligation to the Folk.
25th of Darrow day 57
It was mid-afternoon when Turner arrived back at Tarse holding where she’d left Otday. Under the eyes of Tarse she’d said, “Up you go, Apprentice Otday. I’ll settle our accounts and we’ll be on our way.”
Otday could hear the settling up, but Turner seemed to be paid considerably less than what had been agreed on, and to Otdays surprise she hadn’t argued. She’d just said, “I’m sure I will receive a fair price eventually.” Tarse had started to shout, but she’d already turned away from him and without altering her step climbed aboard the waggon and started the team moving.
Once away from the holding, Otday remarked, “He doetn’t pay as much as he agreen, Turner. What was the shouting for?”
“I’ve no idea regards the shouting, for Tarse is not one I’ll willingly listen to when he’s quiet. I’m certainly not going to listen to him shouting. You’re right concerning the payment, but the difference was your keep which he deductet, and the price was nigh to thieft. A decent holder would have gladly doen me the favour, but I’ll recover it.”
“How?”
“I won’t deal with him again, and once I make sure all of the few other other waggoners who will deal with him know the tale the service will cost him so much more he’ll live to regret his greed. He’s bad tempert and ill liekt, and I’ve been thinking of stopping dealing with him for a couple of years. He’s just bringen me to a conclusion. What he doet was within the terms of the Way, but there is more to the Way that what it states. There is what it means. Some never learn that, and Tarse is arrogant as you have doubtless deduect(7) yourself.”
“I misst you, Turner.”
“I misst you too, Otday. Doet you come to understand why I left you? I know you doetn’t like it.”
“Yes. The folk there all keept their distance from me. Tarse should not have deductet for my keep, for he telt me to split firewood in exchange, and I gave him far more than he gave me. I was given poor food and not much of it and I slept in the stable loft. I was so hungry I went hunting lasteve and killt a coney. I was roasting it over a fire when Tarse must have smelt it. He said it was on his holding and so the Way sayt it was his. He took it and I smelt it cooking from the stable, but I receivt none of it. Tarse took the pelt too. His agreän, Orgé, seemt pleasant, but aflait of her man. The rest seemt aflait to behave normally for that it would irritate Tarse, and keept their distance from me.”
“Tarse gives all his family more kicks than grossths(8) and is a peel peeler(9) to boot. His family are all aflait(10) of him, but till one of them either kills him or reports him to the Master at arms office for vaucht he is free to continue. I wish I’d known when we were settling up regarding the coney. Still, I’ll be able to recover it for you. The coney was not his to take. I doubt the Way says what he doet was thieft, but it will certainly say it was not right, and at the least I shall recover the value of your coney and its pelt. How much more doet you split than your keep would come to?”
“I split may hap a lune’s burning, certainly no less, for other than when Orgé bringen me a bowl of thin soup and a crust of stale bread none aproacht me, and she never had spaech with me, so I had a lot of time with naught to do in it other than to split wood. I doet naught else for sixteen hours a day for three and a half days. The dogs were fedd and chambert better than I, and none could survive long only existing on what they fed me. I was going to leave there thiseve, whilst they were eating, to hunt and wait else where on the trail for you. Thinking is all there is to do when splitting wood and I came to believe you don’t wish me to return to the Keep till winter, so folk have had more time to forget, and to keep me safe from Jed and his brothers. Could his kinsfolk really kill Tarse under the Way with no retribution?”
“Of a certainty. Most waggoners stopt dealing with him years over, and the Master at arms office already knows enough of him from waggoners’ tales to attribute his deadth to an act of beneficence. I doubt they would bother to investigate the matter. The holding has a strange and disturbing history. Tarse’s father dien when he was a boy and his mother dien birthing his sister when he was thirteen. Tarse was a much disliekt child and grew no better with age. He’d apprenticet as a grower before his mother dien, and he and his only syskon, Vlœnna his seven year old sister, livt in his mother’s chambers till they left the Keep. Despite crafting at the Growers’ Grounds, none would craft with him, for he was aggressive and contentious. He never had any friends, and it was suspected he left the Keep to stay alive, for surely he’d have been killt before long as an act of beneficence if not put out for Castle to take for creating unacceptable discord, and even then it is unbelike the matter would have been investigated.
He was twenty or so when he foundet the holding with Cuillin his fourteen year old pregnant wife and Vlœnna his seven year old sister. It was a matter of astonishment that he’d managt to find an agreän, for girls and women avoidet him, but Cuillin was not overbright, and she never sayt aught gainst Tarse. The midwifes and healers adviest them not to leave the Keep till she had birtht, but Tarse wouldn’t hear of it. Cuillin birtht Orgé at the holding and went on to birth another eight before Tarse sayt she dien in child, but it was rumourt that Tarse had beaten her to deadth her in temper. That may or may not be true, for none have ever left the holding since it was foundet and only waggoners have ever visitet there. Tarse makes sure none ever have spaech with his family, but if a waggoner had been telt Tarse had killt Cuillin by one of the holders the matter would have been reportet to the Master at arms office, so I suspect the rumour to be baest on dislike for Tarse rather than fact though given his nature it may be the truth.
Tarse doetn’t shew any grief over Cuillin’s deadth, and by then was known to be bedding both his sister Vlœnna and his oldest daughter Orgé. He beds all his daughters. No doubt you noticet the number of tiren looking pregnant women there, for like Cuillin he keeps them permanently that way. There are a lot of children there, but there should be far more, especially boys. There is a plot behind the barn where dozens are burryt, far more than one would expect. There are no markers, but it’s unmistakable where a grave has been digt.(11) It is believt by the waggoners that he kills in temper.”
“Do you believe that, Turner?”
“I do.”
“Why doet you leave me there?”
“Do you believe he could over power you or even surprise you when sleeping?”
“No.”
“I don’t either, for you are becoming changt, but it was still a flaught thing for me to have doen. I should have left you to camp somewhere. You have my sorrow, Otday, but,” Turner smiled, “may hap deep down I hoept you’d kill him, but I don’t know.”
Otday nodded in understanding though he didn’t understand Turner meant he was becoming like her rather he believed she meant he was becoming stronger and fitter as a result of his changed circumstances. Changing the subject he asked, “Doet you have spaech with my mum and dad?”
“You are almost right concerning keeping you away from the Keep. I’ll let you consider it more, and yes I had spaech with your mum and dad. I telt them you are acceptable as an apprentice waggoner and were hale. I doet not tell them regards us, for I believe they should hear of us from you on your return. Naturally they are distresst. I suggest you write brief letters to your mum to pass to waggoners going to the Keep. Write little but oft. Tell her you love them and of your learning. If you feel it to be true tell her you are happy, but if it is not true do not lie to her. Now I see from the look on your face you can tell I doet not wash thisforenoon. So let us leave this ill favourt place far behind and head for a site where we can indulge ourselfs and bathe after our endeavours. It’s a little out of our way, but worth the trouble. I really doet miss you, Otday, and not just for the bedding.”
“I too, Turner. What are we carrying?”
“A mixt load. The usual letters and parcels, but mostly ordert tools and commodities: a fishing net, string, rope, hardset and the like. Also trade goods, fabric, clothes, boots and some confectionery. We are also carrying a tree which I am not yet ready to tell you of. It is the most important item of the load. I’m telt it needs a mug of water every third day, but I shall not forget.”
25th of Darrow Day 57
When Zoë started birthing it was three in the forenoon, and she and Torrent had been in bed for hours. They had maekt love on going to bed and fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Zoë awoke wondering if she had indigestion or whether she had Torrent’s elbow sticking into her. She dozed, but the next time it happened she knew she was birthing. She was thrilled by it, but knew she would have to be careful so as not to alarm Torrent, who was far more considerate of and worried for her than she had ever been. She carefully eased herself out of bed ready to tell Torrent she was going to the facility, which had been necessary several times a night this last lune, She went to Zephyr’s chamber and was going to awaken her when she heard Zephyr whisper, “Is it the babe, Zoë?”
“Yes, but I haven’t awakened Torrent, Mum. You know how he is.”
Zephyr arose, put a robe on and said, “I’ll make some leaf before I go for a midwife. Let’s go to the eating space where we won’t awaken Torrent.”
They had finished their leaf when Zoë had a much stronger contraction, and said, “I think I should like you to go for a midwife now please, Mum. I’ll be in the spare bedchamber.”
Zephyr left and returned with Agrimony a quarter of an hour later. Agrimony asked, “Have you had another contraction since Zephyr left, Zoë?”
Zoë was going to reply when she had another. When it had passed she replied, “I had three whilst Mum was away.”
Agrimony was thinking when another occurred, and she said to Zephyr, “You had better fetch Torrent.” Zephyr went for Torrent, and Agrimony said to Zoë, “For a young woman of your age having her first you are proceeding very quickly. At this rate, the babe will be with us within the hour. We need to ready you for birthing.”
Zephyr returned with a pale looking Torrent who asked anxiously, “Is everything all right?”
He looked to Zephyr and Agrimony as though he were going to be an example of the worst kind of husband with a birthing wife to deal with. Zoë patted the bed at her side, and said reassuringly, “Everything is proceeding as it should, but it looks as if it is going to be faster than I expected, and I’m not sorry. Sit down here, and hold my hand, Love.” Torrent much to his mother’s surprise did exactly what his child wife telt him all the way through her birthing, till Columbine was birtht.
Forty minutes later, whilst Agrimony and Zephyr maekt Zoë comfortable, he was nervously holding Columbine, but reluctant to give her back to Zoë till she telt him gently, “You can hold her again shortly, Love, but she needs to be nursed.” Zephyr came to the conclusion her new daughter, who in Castle terms had three years to go before adulthood, had her son in the palm of her hand and was definitively a person who would be impossible to ignore. She was a loving wife who was going to be an even better mother, and Zephyr loved her the more for it.
30th of Darrow day 62
Stonechat’s spaech a lune since with the three remaining women had had the desired effect, and over the last lune one by one they came to have spaech with her of what they wished out of life, and how they thought they could contribute. She telt them all their babe, and a willingth to have more, or to adopt, was of great interest not just to the men of the Folk. All the Folk were always interested in expanding their kithfolk.
All three had started to take a more positive interest in the grower craft. Vikki was also interested in the holding hens, Carley started helping to cook, but Bekka was interested in holding generally and liekt living at the holding. The three of them noticed a relaxing in the attitudes of others to them and no longer felt as outsiders looking in. They saw Aaron from time to time, and he explained aspects of the Way to them. They discussed making an appearance with him as well as with numerous others. As Stonechat explained to them, “You have a long way to go, but you have now joint the Folk, and have justifyt my son’s offer to help you. You are contributing which makes you Folk.”
1st of Uernith Day 63
Basil telt the Council, “I am sure you all know of the deadth of Patrick at the hands of Kroïn, a tenner and a half since. He pusht Happith so hard he fell and shoutet at and strikt Kroïn, and it’s fair to say a very aflait Kroïn killt him in panic. Any man who would shout at and then hit Kroïn, or any of the Folk of the level of consideration Kroïn deserves is no loss. Kroïn is still upset and will be for some time. Had I had been there Kroïn would not have had to kill the miserable insect, for I’d have killt him.” Basil having wasted as much breath as he considered Patrick warranted looked berount and Thomas confirmed his views.
Will after a nod from Basil taekt over from him, “Two tenners since Basil askt me for assistance. Gerald had never reportet for duty with the firekeepers after his first day in Oier’s gang and could not be locatet. I had his chamber watcht, but he wasn’t using it. Milligan telt Gale some of his bakers were sure they had seen him eating in the Refectory in the middle of the night. I’m sure we are all aware hot soup and leaf and warm food is left out for the guardians and any other unfortunate enough to be crafting through the night. I had been telt by the growers Gerald had been met by some of them a few days before and he’d been abusive. Pritchel remonstratet with him of his lack of contribution, and he became even more abusive before hitting her and running away. I was telt by the healers she had facial bruises, but she was angry rather than aught else.” Gosellyn, Alsike, Basil and Milligan nodded their confirmation of what Will had said.
“I had two squads of hunters and trackers watching his chamber and the Refectory day and night, and he was apprehendet in the middle of lastnightsince(12) when he came to eat. He was bringen to me, and I sat in adjudgement in Thomas’ place at three in the forenoon, for I doetn’t wish to trouble his sleep with such a miserable specimen.” There was brief laughter as the Council understandt exactly what Will would have thought at the time. Will continued, “I telt him ‘You have eaten our food and keept warm at our expense, and given us naught in return other than abuse. You have been difficult, argumentative, contemptuous of us, and finally become violent. No more. Since you are so superior you can now manage your own life.’
“I had him dragt out and taken back to the incursion site wearing the clothes he arrivt in. I also had three squads making sure he doetn’t try to gain entry any where at Outgangside as well as informing the squad of guardians warding the Keep gate of the situation. By mid-forenoon he had goen, no doubt some creature has had a good meal and recovert our efforts on behalf of Castle.” What Will had done was within the tenets of the Way, but only just, though none were bothered since he had done exactly what Thomas would have done, and it was better done in the middle of the night when children were abed. It was obvious to the Councillors Thomas and Yew already knew and approven. Most of the Council were relieved all the newfolk at the Keep had been fully assimilated into the Folk, and the others didn’t care since they knew one way or the other the entire incursion had long been under control.
Yew telt the Council, “I had spaech with Irvine and Nightshade several days since, and they telt me the section of the water supply pipe that tunnels through the hill which had collapst and caust the cessation of the supply is now completely rebuilt and the water they’d had to divert to effect the repair has now been returnt to its normal course at full flow. This is much to the relief of the growers of the new water vegetables who now have access to as much piept water as they require without having to have it pumpt up from the cisterns. All that remains to be doen is the stone face-work berount the tunnel entrance, which does not affect the water flow.”
Gosellyn spake for the healers, “Our infection control is still improving, and as some of you are aware we startet inoculation with a small number of hale adults. We are now inoculating children, the elderly, major crafters and the Council. We plan to inoculate one in ten of each group to start with, and as recovery takes place we shall inoculate enough to maintain a supply of inoculation material and to create no more folk who may require care awhile than we can look after easily. Yew insistet he was the first to be inoculaten.” There was little reaction to Gosellyn’s last statement as it was entirely in keeping with Yew’s character having taken the decision to inoculate the Folk to take the risk himself first
Alsike delivered her growers’ report saying, “I have had favourable reports of the suitability of the land north of the river for growing cereals, but the land is heavy and the sod will be difficult to braek initially. I goent to see George to see if he could aid us, and he has modifyt a plough which will be taken over there with a team of heavy horses to see how it works. George is going over the river to watch the plough at work and if necessary modify it further with the smiths’ facilities at Dockside.”
There was considerable discussion of the land north of the river but eventually the Council concluded the probability of the land proving to be unworkable was very low and provisionally approven the building of the new mill subject to George’s and the plough crafters’ reports on the feasibility of ploughing the land.
Wolf telt them, “The first reaper-binder is finisht and awaiting a ripe crop to test it, and the other two will be finisht within half a tenner. After dealing with the plough, George is planning on making a two furrow plough for a four horse team. He sayt for ploughing virgin sod a team of six or more could be uest. Over winter, he plans to build what he callt seed drills for sowing grain next spring. I’m casting light two wheel frames for Vinnek to finish for him, and he tells us a seed drill is nowhere near as complicatet as a reaper-binder and most of the parts will be wooden. The gas generation project is proceeding, and I suggest any who wishes to be astonisht goes to look at the size of the barrels Silas has his senior apprentices making for it. I’m not claiming they are bigger than the Council chamber, but they are certainly very little smaller, if at all.” There was a murmur of interest at that with several Councillors obviously intending to have a look.
Alfalfa the Mistress animal husbander telt the Council, “You are not going to be telt a proper tale by me concerning the Dairy crafters activities, but they had none available to report to us, so as the Mistress animal husbander I shall tell you what I can. They have startet to produce some soft, set milk products which are popular with children.”
Milligan added, “They can’t produce enough for me. It’s the easiest way I’ve ever seen of putting milk into a growing child, especially if flavourt with some fruit.”
Alfalfa resumed, “On Gina’s recommendation, they have askt the waggoners to inform them of any potential caves for cheese maturation and storage with a view to seeing if they can create a bluen cheese. Apparently the cave needs to be damp but not wet. I don’t understand how a cheese would know the difference, but that’s what I was telt. Even if the cave is a long whilth away they are prepaert to try to start a milch beast holding nearby since even if the grazing is poor goats will be happy there.”
Siskin smiled as she announced, “I suspect my news is the best we shall have hearet for some time. Lucinda and Glevoë are heartfrienden. Camomile and Cormorant and Weir and I are pleast for the children and our families. I’ve seen them kissing when they bethinkt themselfs there were none to see. However, I request that she remain on the list of protectet childhood till at least the end of the year.”
“I would not have considert her removal from the list till she was at least fourteen of our years, preferably sixteen, Siskin, for there can be delayt effects from traumatic events.” As Campion finished spaeking she looked to Gosellyn.
Gosellyn added, “I would have suggestet the birth of her first babe would be the appropriate time to remove her from the list, for nursing and caring to a babe would take over as the most significant event in her life.”
Most of the Council, who were still smiling from hearing of the children kissing in supposed secrecy nodded in agreement, and Yew remarked, “I regret what she goent through. It should not have happent. This is good news indeed and doubtless the best end we could have envisagt. Glevoë is a kind and considerate boy and Lucinda will be well come as a granddaughter.”
Yew looked to Rowan who laught and said, “You have all doubtless noticet that my good agreän here doetn’t even mention his pleasure at the idea of great grandchildren. Yew, you are a complete fraud, so if none has aught else to say close this meeting because I wish to visit Camomile and Cormorant thisday.
It was amidst much laughter Yew closed the meeting, for all knew Rowan had been right and Yew would be as eager as she to meet and extend well come to his new granddaughter whom doubtless he would encourage to wrap him berount her little finger. Yew as all knew was a tough and robust man, he had to be to be Lord, but he was weak with children and especially weak with girls, as his daughters and granddaughters would, much to his embarrassment, tell all and any. Too, he was completely unaware he was much the better thought of by the Folk for what they regarded as an entirely human and decent weakth.
1st of Uernith Day 63
It had taken Gage a long time to name the polecats given to him by Trapper not least because he’d had to learn to identify them first, and they were very similar to each other. He was at it again, but at least the minxlets all looked different from each other. After a hard forenoon’s work thinking of names for them, in the end the little hob he decided to name Wriggle, and the three jills, Nibble, Patch and Mischief. It was a happy and relieved Gage who had then taken some kennel hinges needing repair to Oak’s smithy, which was where he first met Lilly. The last bit of growing up Gage had to do involved the complex relationship between girls and boys, that evolved into that between women and men which was a much more gradual change on Castle than on Earth. Folk adults as well as children taekt much more seriously the relationships between girls and boys than their Earth contemporaries, and there was no pre- or early-pubertal distancing of the sexes to allow a new type of relationship to form after puberty. Few Folk children were not heartfrienden by the age of ten, many were so by the age of four, and it was common for Folk couples who married to have been heartfriends since early weanhood, and from his arrival Gage had been determined to become totally Folk. His dream was to become the Master huntsman.
Lilly was a few days short of being eleven, but taking into account the longer Castle year she was a year older than Gage. However, her behaviour was that of a young woman rather than of an older girl because she had been motherless for a year, and had looked after her dad. She’d been taking some food down to the forge where Oak and Jason were repairing and modifying a roller chopper for Rawhide. Having repaired it the smiths were fitting a pulley wheel, provided by the machinists, to its spindle which would enable the originally hand powered device to be horse powered. The device rolled, crushed, chopped and mixt straw with green whin.(13) Rawhide managed and scythe harvested the whin as feed for the plough and waggon horses, but it was too rich on its own and had to be mixt with the straw. Lilly was in Gage’s eyes the epitome of a Folk girl. She was mature beyond her age by the standards of whence he had come. She was skilled, competent and most importantly of all she had a care to her family. He also thought she was pretty, and he was lost. She haunted his thoughts, and he kept looking for her. He saw her again a few times berount Outgangside, and one day, in an attempt to strike up a conversation, he asked her if she would like a brace of coneys. He would have been humiliated if he had been laught at, but he was driven to say something, and it was the best he could come up with.
Lilly had lost her first heartfriend to an unknown wasting disease and her second to the fevers, and she felt that time was passing her by. She wasn’t desperate and certainly wasn’t prepared to accept any boy, but she did feel under sufficient pressure to explore every possibility. Lilly was aware of Gage’s interest in her and was not at all unhappy to be fancied by a boy as highly regarded as Gage, who had achieved Mastery long before adulthood and was considered to be a good catch by the girls. She knew a number of the girls were trying to attract his interest, and she’d been wondering what she could do to encourage him. Now he had maekt contact she had no intention of letting any, including her friends, proceed any further with him, so she replied, “Please, that would be kind, and coney is a favourite of Dad’s. I bake for my family sometimes. Dad and Jason like pasties for lunch if they’re eating at the forge because they’re so convenient. Shall I make you some in return for the coneys? For when you go out with the dogs.”
Gage pink with pleasure at the exchange replied, “Yes please,” but he couldn’t think of any thing else to say. However, a contact had been maekt, and they would meet again when he delivered the coneys and when Lilly gave him the pasties. The exchanges became frequent. When she discovered he liekt fruit pasties, Lilly started to include a dried apple and shredd honeyroot(14) one as part of the regular exchange. She was aware she had a potential heartfriend, but knew she had to be careful, for newfolk could be different, and there was much talk(15) of how very different the boys of the squad were. There were all kinds of rumours going berount concerning Otday and the squad, and though none knew what was true and what wasn’t all were agreed the squad members, including their sister Beth, were dangerous and difficult to understand, and Gage was their leader. They were known to be even closer than tightly knitt Folk families. Even the youngest were regarded as adults by all who had dealings with them, and most of their friends were ultra high status adults like Yew, Will, Aaron, Gale, Leech and Milligan who all had reputations for being as eccentric as the members of the squad.
What amazed folkbirtht children most was that their parents knew they drank spirits, and Jackdaw drank with them. That they drank but little and exaggerated the tales deliberately was not known. Lilly knew Beth and, despite Beth’s reputation for being unforgivingly hard and deadly with a blade, knew she loved her brothers and thought her reputation an ill founded calumny that derived from jealousy and spite, for, when in the company of Greensward, whom many a girl had desired, she behaved more demurely and femininely than most girls whether they be folkbirtht or newfolk. Lilly considered Beth’s behaviour with Greensward to be as genuinely Beth as her rather different behaviour when crafting with her brothers. She also approven of her wisdom in her choice of a man to be father to her children and who would have a care to her when she could not craft due to her cares to their children whether she had born them herself or no. Lilly liekt Beth who’d always been pleasant and helpful with her, so she decided to have spaech with her regards Gage.
Index of significant characters so far listed by Chapter
1 Introduction
2 Jacques de Saint d’Espéranche
3 The Folk and the Keep
4 Hwijje, Travisher, Will
5 Yew, Allan, Rowan,Siskin, Will, Thomas, Merle, Molly, Aaron, Gareth, Oak, Abigail, Milligan, Basil, Vinnek, Iris, Margæt, Gilla, Alsike, Alfalfa, Gibb, Happith, Kroïn, Mako, Pilot, Briar, Gosellyn, Gren, Hazel
6 Chaunter, Waxwing, Flame, João, Clansaver, Irune, Ceël, Barroo, Campion, Limpet, Vlæna, Xera, Rook, Falcon, Cwm, Sanderling, Aldeia, Catarina, Coast, Elixabete
7 Mercedes, Spoonbill
8 Lyllabette, Yoomarrianna
9 Helen, Duncan, Gosellyn, Eudes, Abigail
10 George/Gage, Iris, Waverley, Belinda
11 Marc/Marcy, Pol
12 George/Gage, Marcy, Freddy/Bittern, Weyland, Iris, Bling
13 Thomas, Will, Mercedes, Llyllabette, Yoomarrianna
14 Kyle, Thomas, Will, Angélique
15 Mercedes, Morgelle, Gorse, Thrift, George/Gage, Chris, Iris, Thrift, Campion
16 Bling
17 Waverley, Mr. E
18 George/Gage, Larch, Mari, Ford, Gorse, Morgelle, Luke, Erin
19 Will, Pilot, Yew, Geoge/Gage, Mari, Ford, Gosellyn, Cwm, Cerise, Filbert, Gareth, Duncan, Helen, Thomas, Iris, Plume, Campion, Pim, Rook, Falcon, João, Hare
20 Yew, Rowan, Will, Thomas, Siskin, Weir, Grayling, Willow
21 Brook, Harrier, Cherry, Abby, Selena, Borage, Sætwæn, Fiona, Fergal
22 Yew, Thomas, Hazel, Rowan, Gosellyn, Siskin, Will, Lianna, Duncan
23 Tench, Knawel, Claire, Oliver, Loosestrife, Bramling, George, Lyre, Janice, Kæn, Joan, Eric
24 Luke, Sanderling, Ursula, Gervaise, Mike, Spruce, Moss
25 Janet, Vincent, Douglas, Alec, Alice
26 Pearl, Merlin, Willow, Ella, Suki, Tull, Irena
27 Gina, Hardy, Lilac, Jessica, Teal, Anna
28 Bryony, Judith, Bronwen, Farsight
29 Muriel, Raquel, Grace
30 Catherine, Crane, Snipe, Winifred, Dominique, Ferdinand
31 Alma, Allan, Morris, Miranda
32 Dabchick, Nigel
33 Raquel, Thistle, Agrimony, Benjamin, Ian, Phœbe
34 Eleanor, Woad, Catherine, Crane
35 Muriel, Hail, Joan, Breve, Eric, Nell, Mayblossom, Judith, Storm
36 Selena,Sætwæn, Borage, Grace, Gatekeeper, Raquel, Thistle
37 Siân, Mackerel, Winifred, Obsidian
38 Carla, Petrel, Alkanet, Ferdinand
39 Dominique, Oxlip, Alma, Allan, Tress, Bryony
40 Agrimony, Benjamin, Ian, Ella, Kestrel, Judith, Storm
41 Ella, Kestrel, Tress, Bryony, Tunn, Whin, Plane
42 Weights & Measures and Sunrise & Sunset Times included in Ch 41
43 Ella, Kestrel, Serenity, Smile, Gwendoline, Rook, Tress, Bryony, Tunn, Whin, Plane, Sapphire, Mere
44 Pearl, Merlin, Rainbow, Perch, Joan, Breve, truth, Rachael, Hedger, Ruby, Deepwater
45 Janet, Blackdyke, Janice, Kæn, Ursula, Oyster
46 Janet, Gina, Alastaire, Joan, Breve, Truth, Bræth, Mayblossom, Judith, Storm
47 The Squad, Mercedes, Fen, Judith, Storm, Iola, Alwydd, Heidi, Rock, Stephanie, Matthew
48 Bronwen, Forest, Opal, Spice, Vincent, Kathleen, Niall, Bluebell, Sophie
49 Janice, Kæn, Ursula, Oyster, Imogen, Wryneck, Phœbe, Knapps
50 Erin, Nightjar, Eleanor, Woad
51 Gina, Jonas, Janet, Gerald, Patrick, Tansy, Craig, Barret, Ryan
52 Constance, Rye, Bling, Bullace, Berry, Jimmy, Leveret, Rory, Shelagh, Silas
53 Rachael, Hedger, Eve, Gilla, Mallard, Fiona, Fergal, Tinder, Nightingale, Fran, Dyker
54 Pamela, Mullein, Patricia, Chestnut, Lavinia, Ophæn, Catherine, Crane
55 Susan, Kingfisher, Janet, Gina, Jonas, Ruth, Kilroy, Judith, Storm, Iola, Alwydd, Heidi, Rock, Stephanie, Matthew
56 Gina, Jonas, Patricia, Chestnut, The Squad, Hazel, Janet, Blackdyke, Swift, Clover, Vetch, Mangel, Clary, Brendan
57 Erin, Nightjar, Xera, Josephine, Wels, Michelle, Musk, Swansdown, Tenor
58 Timothy, Axel, Nectar, Waverley,Yvette, Whitebear, Firefly, Farsight, Janet, Blackdyke, Swift, Clover, Vetch
59 Lilac, Firefly, Farsight, Lucinda, Gimlet, Leech, Janet, Blackdyke
60 Douglas, Lunelight, Yvette, Whitebear, Thrift, Haw, Harebell, Goosander, Judith, Storm, Iola, Alwydd, Heidi, Rock, Stephanie, Matthew, Matilda, Evan, Heron
61 Brendan, Clary, Chloë, Apricot, Llyllabette, Yoomarrianna, Otis, Harry, Gimlet, Leech, Jodie
62 Gimlet, Leech, Lark, Seth, Charles, Bruana, Noah, Kirsty, Shirley, Mint, Kevin, Faith, Oak, Lilly, Jason, Gem, Ellen
63 Honesty, Peter, Bella, Abel, Kell, Deal, Siobhan, Scout, Jodie
64 Heather, Jon, Anise, Holly, Gift, Dirk, Lilac, Jasmine, Ash, Beech, Ivy, David
65 Sérent, Dace, Opal, Spice, Vincent, Clarissa, Gorse, Eagle, Frond, Diana, Gander, Gyre, Tania, Alice, Alec
66 Suki, Tull, Buzzard, Mint, Kevin, Harmony, Fran, Dyker, Joining the Clans, Pamela, Mullein, Mist, Francis, Kristiana, Cliff, Patricia, Chestnut, Timothy, Axel, Nectar, Waverly, Tarragon, Edrydd, Louise, Turnstone, Jane, Mase, Cynthia, Merle, Warbler, Spearmint, Stonecrop
67 Warbler, Jed, Fiona, Fergal, Marcy, Wayland, Otday, Xoë, Luval, Spearmint, Stonecrop, Merle, Cynthia, Eorle, Betony, Smile
68 Pansy, Pim,Phlox, Stuart, Marilyn, Goth, Lunelight, Douglas, Crystal, Godwit, Estelle, Slimlyspoon, Lyre, George, Damson, Lilac
69 Honesty, Peter, Abel, Bella, Judith, storm, Matilda, Evean, Iola, Heron, Mint, Kevin, Lilac, Happith, Gloria, Peregrine
70 Lillian, Tussock, Modesty, Thyme, Vivienne, Minyet, Ivy, David, Jasmine, Lilac, Ash, Beech
71 Quartet & Rebecca, Gimlet & Leech, The Squad, Lyre & George, Deadth, Gift
72 Gareth, Willow, Ivy, David, Kæna,Chive, Hyssop, Birch, Lucinda, Camomile, Meredith, Cormorant, Whisker, Florence, Murre, Iola, Milligan, Yarrow, Flagstaff, Swansdown, Tenor, Morgan, Yinjærik, Silvia, Harmaish, Billie, Jo, Stacey, Juniper
73 The Growers, The Reluctants, Miriam, Roger, Lauren, Dermot, Lindsay, Scott, Will, Chris, Plume, Stacey, Juniper
74 Warbler, Jed, Veronica, Campion, Mast, Lucinda, Cormorant, Camomile, Yellowstone
75 Katheen, Raymnd, Niall, Bluebe, Sophie, Hazel, Ivy, Shadow, Allison, Amber, Judith, Storm Alwydd, Matthew, Beatrix, Jackdaw, The Squad, Elders, Jennt, Bronze, Maeve, Wain, Monique, Piddock, Melissa, Roebuck, Aaron, Carley Jade, Zoë, Vikki, Bekka, Mint, Torrent
76 Gimlet, Leech,Gwendoline, Georgina, Quail. Birchbark, Hemlock, Peter, Honesty, Bella, Hannah, Aaron, Torrent, Zoë, Bekka, Vikki, Jade, Carley, Chough, Anvil, Clematis, Stonechat, Peace, Xanders, Gosellyn, Yew, Thomas, Campion, Will, Iris, Gareth
77 Zoë, Torrent, Chough, Stonechat, Veronica, Mast, Sledge, Cloudberry, Aconite, Cygnet, Smokt
78 Jed, Warbler, Luval, Glaze, Seriousth, Blackdyke, Happith, Camilla
79 Torrent, Zoë, Stonechat, Clematis, Aaron, Maeve, Gina, Bracken, Gosellyn, Paene, Veronica, Mast, Fracha, Squid, Silverherb
80 George/Gage, Niall, Alwydd, Marcy/Beth, Freddy/Bittern, Wayland, Chris, Manic/Glen, Guy, Liam, Jed, Fergal, Sharky
81 The Squad, Manic/Glen, Jackdaw, Beatrix, Freddy/Bittern, Fiona, Fergal, Wayland, Jade, Stonechat, Beauty, Mast, Veronica, Raven, Tyelt, Fid
82 Gimlet, Leech, Scentleaf, Ramson, Grouse, Aspen, Stonechat, Bekka, Carley, Vikki, Morgelle, Bistort, Fritillary, Jed, Warbler, Spearmint, Alwydd, Billie, Diver, Seal, Whitethorn
83 Alastair, Carrom, Céline, Quickthorn, Corral, Morgelle, Fritillary, Bistort, Walnut, Tarragon, Edrydd, Octopus, Sweetbean, Shrike, Zoë, Torrent, Aaron, Vinnek, Zephyr, Eleanor, Woad, George/Gage, The Squad, Ingot, Yellowstone, Phthalen, Will
84 Morgelle, Bistort, Fritillary, Alsike, Campion, Siskin, Gosellyn, Yew, Rowan, Thomas, Will, Aaron, Dabchick, Nigel, Tuyere
85 Jo, Knott, Sallow, Margæt, Irena, Tabby, Jade, Phthalen, Yumalle, Stonechat, Spearmint, Alwydd, Seriousth, Warbler, Jed, Brett, Russel, Barleycorn, Crossbill, Lizo, Hendrix, Monkshood, Eyrie, Whelk, Gove, Gilla, Faarl, Eyebright, Alma, axx, Allan, daisy, Suki, Tull
86 Cherville, Nightshade, Rowan, Milligan, Wayland, Beth, Liam, Chris, Gage
87 Reedmace, Ganger, Jodie, Blade, Frœp, Mica, Eddique, Njacek, Whiteout, Sandpiper, Serin, Cherville, Nightshade, peregrine, Eleanor, Woad, Buzzard, Silas, Oak, Wolf, Kathleen, Reef, Raymond, Sophie, Niall, Bluebell
88 Cloud, Sven, Claudia, Stoat, Thomas, Aaron, Nigel, Yew, Milligan, Gareth, Campion, Will, Basil, Gosellyn, Vinnek, Plume
89 Llyllabette, Yoomarrianna, Silverherb, Cloudberry, Smokt, Skylark, Beatrix, Beth, Amethyst, Mint, Wayland, Bittern, Fiona, Fergal, Joan, Bræth, Nell, Milligan, Iola, Ashdell, Alice, Molly, Rill, Briar
90 Morgelle, Tuyere, Bistort, Beth, Beatrix, Sanderling, Falcon, Gosellyn, Gage, Will, Fiona, Jackdaw, Wayland, Merle, Cynthia, Jed, Warbler
91 Morgelle, Tuyere, Fritillary, Bistort, Jed, Otday, The Squad, Turner, Gudrun, Ptarmigan, Swegn, Campion, Otis, Asphodel, Jana, Treen, Xeffer, Stonechat, Bekka, Vikki, Carley, Beatrix, Jackdaw
92 Turner, Otday, Mackerel, Eorl, Betony, The Council, Will, Yew, Basil, Gerald, Oier, Patrick, Happith, Angélique, Kroïn, Mako
93 Beth, Greensward, Beatrix, Odo, Morgelle, Tuyere, Bistort, Otday, Turner, Gace, Rachael, Groundsel, Irena, Warbler, Jed, Mayblossom, Mazun, Will, The Squad
94 Bistort, Honey, Morgelle, Basil, Willow, Happith, Mako, Kroïn, Diana, Coaltit, Gær, Lavinia, Joseph (son), Ruby, Deepwater, Gudrun, Vinnek, Tuyere, Otday, Turner
95 Turner, Otday, Waverly, Jed, Tarse, Zoë, Zephyr, Agrimony, Torrent, Columbine, Stonechat, Bekka, Vikki, Carley, The Council, Gage, Lilly
Word Usage Key
Some commonly used words are below. Replace th on end of words with ness and t with d or ed and most of the rest are obvious if sounded out aloud. Some words with n or en on the end can be easily understood if the n is replaced by a d. Only difficult words and words that do not exist in English are now referred to specifically. Words ending tt and dd are invariably a past tense of the stem.
Agreän(s), those person(s) one has marital agreement with, spouse(s).
Bethinkt, thought.
Braekt, broke.
Cousine, female cousin.
Doet, did. Pronounced dote.
Doetn’t, didn’t. Pronounced dough + ent.
Findt, found,
Goen, gone
Goent, went.
Grandparents. In Folk like in many Earth languages there are words for either grandmother and grandfather like gran, granny and granddad. There are also words that are specific to maternal and paternal grandparents. Those are as follows. Maternal grandmother – granddam. Paternal grandmother – grandma. Maternal grandfather – grandfa. Paternal grandfather – grandda.
Heartfriend, a relationship of much more significance than being a girl- or boy-friend is on Earth. Oft such relationships are formed from as young as four and they are taken seriously by both children and adults. A child’s heartfriend is automatically one of their heartfriend’s parents’ children too, and a sibling to their heartfriend’s siblings. Such relationships rarely fail and are seen as precursors to becoming intendet and having agreement.
Intendet, fiancée or fiancé.
Knoewn, knew.
Lastdaysince, the day before yesterday.
Loes, lost.
Maekt, made.
Nextdaynigh, the day after tomorrow.
Sayt, said.
Taekt, took.
Telt, told.
Uest, used.
1 Raxt, raxed. This is a lessor, but common intransitive use of the verb. A vaginal tenderness, soreness or feeling of being over stretched after having had sex, oft uest in connection with having had sex with an unusually well endowed male, e.g. she feelt raxt. The major use is transisitive and regerfs to muscle strain, eg she raxt her calf muscle.
2 Leggen, leggèd.
3 Shrub fowl, a variety of partridge. Only the males have bright yellow legs.
4 Vaucht, usually implied as a result of a misuse of a large imbalance of social standing or maturity, i.e. power. Nearest English equivalent is coercion. Vɐχt. A serious offence under the Way.
5 Bringen, brought.
6 Sally Army, the Salvation Army.
7 Deduect, deduced
8 One who gives more kicks than grossths, a bully, especially of children, one who gives more physical chastisements than rewards. A grossth is a tiny amount of money, a one hundred and forty-fourth of a token, oft given to children as a reward for good behaviour or in appreciation of their help.
9 Peel peeler, a miser, or nigon. A parsimonious person.
10 Aflait, frightened.
11 Digt, dug.
12 Lastnightsince, the night before last night.
13 Whin, Ulex, a yellow flowered thorny shrub roller crushed and chopped as animal feed, green shoots can be over rich so it is mixt with chopped straw.
14 Shredd honeyroot, shredded sugarbeet.
15 Talk is a noun in Folk and never uest as a verb in any form.
