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.
16th of Uernith Day 78
Since marrying Phthalen, Jade had settled considerably, for none had shouted at her, she enjoyed crafting with Yumalle and the goats, and was liked by the goats who Yumalle telt her were fussy regards the folk they liked. To her surprise like Yumalle she was addressed as Mistress goatherder and treated with respect by all. She knew Phthalen loved her, but still found it difficult to accept that he considered her his equal. Neither of them realised it, but he did most of her thinking for her, usually followed by, “What bethink you, my love?” Even though she usually just agreed with him, he always waited for her response. Her life was better than it had ever been. She had never had any who cared for her before, and she had more loving relatives now than she was capable of remembering at any one time, and they were all kind to her. The biggest change in her life was Phthalen. He was gentle in bed, before sex had been something men had taken from her which she had accepted, but now love making was something to be shared and enjoyed something she wished and oft initiated. Phthalen didn’t shout at her, he explained things or said, “There’s no reason to worry, Love, I’ll deal with it,” but the biggest difference was she trusted him. Her love grew out of her trust. Gradually, she became able to manage more of her life herself, because she was no longer aflait of being shouted at if she maekt a mistake.
When Jade started birthing she was with Yumalle who sent for a midwife. Jade remembering her first time, which had been traumatic, for they had taken her daughter away at birth, and Jade had never seen her again, was distraught, and Yumalle, Margæt and Tabby could barely control her. Margæt had sent Tabby for a male healer or herbal to help. However, Phthalen had arrived shortly after Pim, and on his saying, “Don’t worry, Jade Love, naught bad is going to happen. I’m here, and I shall stay with you,” she calmed immediately much to the amazement of the others. Phthalen held her hand and spake with her for four hours till Larov was birtht. As soon as Larov cried, Phthalen said to Margæt imperiously, “Don’t wash him now. Put him to Jade’s breast, Margæt, she needs him now.” Margæt much to her surprise complied immediately, and as soon as Larov found Jade’s nipple Jade sighed with relief, and Phthalen said, “See, I telt you, Love, none can take him away. It’s not allowt.”
Phthalen let her nurse Larove till he’d had enough and holding Jade’s hand said gently, “Let Margæt hold him for a minute, Love. I’m here and there is no reason to worry.” He taekt Larov off Jade and handing him to Margæt said, “As quickly as you can please, Margæt.”
Whilst Margæt did all that was necessary, and Tabby finisht making Jade comfortable, Jade never taekt her eyes off her son. Margæt returned Larov to his mum and telt her, “He’s a lovely little boy. He’s three and three quarter weights.”
Jade put Larov back to her breast and asked, “Is that big?”
“It’s perfect for a newbirtht. We’ll leave you to have a rest now. I need to have spaech with Phthalen, but he’ll be back in a minute. Whilst times Yumalle and Tabby will be with you.” Margæt who knew a little of Jade’s past went to the far side of the chamber with Phthalen and whispered, “I doetn’t realise how badly she was affectet by the loss of her firstbirtht. Whilst he’s little, I suggest you keep any she doesn’t know far away from her. Keep her with family. It’s lucky you’ve a lot of them whom she accepts. I’ll advise the midwifes it would be better if just myself and Tabby call on her for a while.”
Phthalen nodded and said, “She’ll settle down betimes. I’ll take what ever time I need from my crafting to support her. I’ll go back now. My gratitude for all.”
When he turned Jade had fallen asleep and Tabby was putting a blanket over Larov who was in his crib. Tabby had already packed the midwifes’ bags and she and Margæt left quietly. Phthalen telt Yumalle what Margæt had said. She said, “I’ll organise it for you so there is always one of us with her.” Yumalle smiled and continued, “Better yet, I’m thinking if she spends her days knitting with some of the elders, all of whom she likes and trusts, there will be naught extra to organise, and I’ll suggest she learns to crochet babe clothes with them, which will give her something to occupy her mind in the stead of worrying that Larov will be taken from her.”
22nd of Uernith Day 84
Morgelle and Tuyere were out seeking ocean leaf north of the holding on a warm day. It was early afternoon, and they had collected as much as they could take back when on a whim Morgelle said, “Let’s not go back now, let’s swim.”
Tuyere not averse to the idea said, “Not here, the water’s too deep and calt and the current is dangerous. The other side of that headland there is a little bay where the water is shallow and the shine warms the sand at low tide, which makes the water warmer when the tide is in, and it’s much safer because there is virtually no current. When the tide is out you can walk berount the headland but we’ll have to go over it.” Leaving the light handcart, they climbed the headland, and back down the other side. Tuyere declared, “Perfect, the tideʼs near full in, and the water’s nigh as warm as it will become.” He looked at the cloudy sky and said, “We can make sure our clothes stay dry even if it rains in the cave over there where we had lunch when looking for the pools.”
They ran to the cave and undresst, both looking at each other naekt for the first time. Morgelle had small but noticeable breasts, and both gazed at each other up and down. Both were excited by the visible evidence of the other’s excitement, but they were young enough to still wish to swim. Hand in hand they ran down the beach laughing and squealing for the sheer pleasure of being alive. They didn’t slow as the reached the water’s edge but ran in splashing till the resistance of the knee deep water tumbled them over into each others arms. Kissing and spluttering they stayed in the water till they needed some air. The water wasn’t cold, but neither was it warm. They played as children will splashing each other, and occasionally touching each other as adolescents will. They enjoyed the water though they did little swimming.
After twenty minutes or so the tide had turned, and they had had enough as the water was beginning to cool them down. As they standt to leave the water, Morgelle was aware of the effect the caltth and her excitement had had on her nipples, so was Tuyere. When they left the water Morgelle could see Tuyere’s interest in her, and in turn was aware of her interest in him. A tingling sensation, she couldn’t describe even to herself, was running between her breasts and her loins, which she felt tightening, and she knew she wasn’t only ready, but eager to start her marriage. They left the water holding hands, and ran to the cave and their clothes. As they entered the cave, leaving the chilling wind behind them, they turned to each other, and started to kiss and caress each other. Despite the urgency of their desires, their kisses and caresses were gentle. Both of them realised they had a lifetime of such opportunities in front of them and there was no need for haste.
Morgelle led Tuyere farther into the cave seeking somewhere comfortable. Not far from where they had left their clothes she found a wind and water scoured depression with a smooth surface. She left Tuyere for a moment to grab their furs and lined the hollow with them. Unknown to either of them, they maekt love in the hollow which had been uest for that purpose by many hundreds of couples over the centuries. Neither of them had ever maekt love before, but if they lacked skill they maekt up for it with youth and passion. With the vigour of youth, they spent the rest of the afternoon making love and discussing their future. Both agreed they were going to publicly announce they had agreement. Tuyere because he didn’t wish any other paying court to Morgelle, and Morgelle for exactly the same reason.
Though it was not quite nine when they arrived back at the holding the gloam was arriving earlier and darker than usual due to the maroon hued heavy weather clouds blowing over from the ocean to the west. They had agreed the first thing they should do was to find Fritillary and Bistort, and tell them of their agreement, so after leaving the ocean leaf on the cart in one of the sorting sheds they hurried into the house to find them. The couple found both Fritillary and Bistort in the affairs chamber together trying to make sense of an order for supplies that had been put together by different folk. Their problem was the same things had been ordered several times. Fritillary and Bistort could tell from the expression on the young couple’s faces what their news was, but they let them tell it in their own way.
They were delighted, and as Bistort taekt Tuyere with him to fetch glasses and something to celebrate with Fritillary said to Morgelle, “I am delightet for you, Daughter Morgelle, and I opine you chose the best of them. Just as his grandfather, Tuyere will be a caring husband and a good father. Now let’s go and enjoy that drink shall we?”
They eventually left Fritillary and Bistort, and went to collect Tuyere’s belongings and take them to Morgelle’s chamber. They decided to sleep in his chamber because the bed was bigger. Nextday they were going to acquire a double bed from Uncle Streel’s furniture store for Morgelle’s chamber, which was nearly twice the size of Tuyere’s.
Bistort taekt great delight in announcing at supper that the couple had agreement and was amused by the venomous looks Tuyere attracted from his various cousins. Bistort wasn’t bothered by their reactions, he knew they would overcome their disappointment. He intended, over the next few tenners, to have individual discussions with some of them as to why without restraint they were of no interest to any woman ready for agreement. They had to learn without restraint women saw them as boys not men, whether they had turned fourteen or no, and if their behaviour indicated they could not accept Morgelle’s choice of man, or indeed any other woman’s, they would be deemed bebaben(1) by the girls and young women till they had matured sufficiently to be worth any consideration as young men. Morgelle on seeing the faces berount her when her agreement with Tuyere was announced declined to play or sing and went to bed early. Fritillary was darkly amused at the reactions of those who had expected Morgelle to entertain them, and knew Morgelle’s behaviour was teaching them they were entitled to think and react as they chose, but then they had to pay the price. She knew eventually they would grow up, but it beseemed it would take time.
The major storm coming in from the sea had arrived over the holding by the time Tuyere joined Morgelle in bed. The young couple, still coming to terms with their marital status, were, in between more intimate discussions, discussing their future. Tuyere asked Morgelle in a worried tone, “If you become pregnant will you be able to nurse a babe?”
Morgelle knew he was genuinely concerned for her and for their potential babe, and as she put his hand to her slight breast which it covered, replied, “I shall tell you what my granddam’s sister telt me of such things. She was a midwife and highly skilled. The size of a woman’s breasts has nothing to do with her ability to produce enough milk, even completely flat breasted women can rear a pair of twins with no trouble. So I should be able to do so.” She waited for him to acknowledge what she had said and continued, “Women’s bodies adapt quickly to their requirements. A woman with twins can feed both, and a woman who starts to nurse another as well as her own will in a matter of a few days be producing enough for both.” She giggled a bit and slid her hand across his hips, her hand not quite able to span him. “She also telt me women’s bodies adapt to fit their man.”
They both giggled at that and Tuyere said, “That’s good to know.”
“Yes, it’s good,” she said, her hand continuing to maintain his interest. Still giggling she pushed Tuyere’s hands away from her more than ready softth and knelt over him, spreading herself with one hand and holding him with the other. She moved herself berount a little before allowing her weighth down. As she rocked herself on him she moved up and down a little, put his hands to her breasts and as Tuyere caressed her nipples she continued her previous conversation. “Aunt Sorcha also telt me women and men both adapt in their heads to love what ever they have. A man whose woman has small breasts grows to love small breasts, if he loses her and then marries a woman with large ones he comes to love large breasts. It is the same with women. A woman who marries a man with a lot of muscle comes to love heavy muscles, and a woman married to a slim built man comes to love that build.”
Since the latter described Tuyere’s build he was glad to hear her say it. He didn’t feel inferior to his more muscular cousins, but still he was glad to hear her say it. Morgelle continued, “I always wished a family, and if I am pregnant soon, which is possible, I shall rejoice and if I’m not for a while I shan’t worry. Let the future take care of itself.” Her breathing was now becoming a little erratic, and eventually with a shudder she impaled herself downwards. The spasms of Morgelle’s release initiated Tuyere’s. After a while Morgelle lay down beside Tuyere and as he caressed her rapidly recovering sex she reached for him to caress his softth and now less flaccid longth and whispered in his ear “But that doesn’t mean we can’t give it some help from time to time.”
Morgelle opened the curtains and they enjoyed the violence of the storm and their emotions as they maekt love amidst the thunderclaps and the lightening flashes. They finally fell asleep as the storm abated with a mere two hours to go before braekfast.
25th of Uernith Day 87
Bramling was birthing and her entire close family was in attendance. Loosestrife, her mother, Tench, her brother and his husband, Knawel, Gdana and Grebe, her children, and Claire and Oliver, her brothers’ children, they were all there, though Oliver, who was only two, thought he was there for extended playtime. Mistress midwife Agrimony birtht Goldfinch, Bramling’s third child, in rather less than four hours, and though he hadn’t understandt what had occurred Oliver was amazed at his tiny new cousine who had appeared from nowhere. Loosestrife, who knew Goldfinch was either the child of Tench or Knawel, but was certain her daughter neither knew nor cared which of their two part time lovers had fathered her daughter, was delighted and as Bramling nursed her little girl said, “I am so pleast for you, Daughter.”
Knawel said, “We are all pleast, Mother, and that makes five children in the household whom we’ve all decidet to declare obligations to next Quarterday.”
Agrimony was no wiser as to their family arrangements, which were far more involved than any of the Folk had considered, when she left than she had been when first called for.
Loosestrife had lost her husband, Oarweed, to a lung complaint four years over, and four months after his deadth in the anguish of her loss had taken Knawel to her bed. Like Bramling she had since shared her bed with both Knawel and Tench on an irregular basis. All four were happy with the situation, and Loosestrife, like her daughter, had decided she had no need to seek a man, when the two she already loved met all her needs. They didn’t spaek of it to any outside the family, not because they were ashamed, in Folk terms there was naught to be ashamed of, but rather because they were all rather private persons and didn’t wish to become involved in tedious explanations. A lune since, Bramling had finally managed to persuade their Mum to move in with them. Loosestrife had been reluctant, not wishing to intrude, but Tench and Knawel had convinced her. Tench had remarked, “When you wish a man, Mum, it will be much pleasanter and more convenient for all of us, and the children will love you living with us.”
26th of Uernith Day 88
The Dolphin was back in the dock and Svertan the cargo Master was supervising unloading the hold. His wife, ship Mistress Jana, had gone to hand the Dolphin’s log in to the archivists and to find Will and Thomas to tell them of Otis. She espied Will in the courtyard as she was on her way to the Master at arms offices. “Will, I need to have spaech with you and Thomas. Do you have a few minutes?”
“I’ve just left Thomas spaeking with Gale at the Huntsman’s Place,” Will replied, “so we’d better return.”
As the pair walked back, Jana said, “Otis is dead, but I don’t wish to say it all twice.”
“You don’t need to tell me any more, dead is dead, and I can’t say I’m saddent. That’s why I wisht him shipt out, so as to give him the chance to die if he wouldn’t join the Folk. It’s a waste, but doubtless it was his choice.”
They arrived at Gale’s affairs chamber, with its usual piles of paper on her desk, to find Thomas laughing at a bewildered Gale, who was being ordered out by Linden, supported by Guelder. Linden, clearly enraged, was shouting, “And don’t return till we’ve cleart, cleant and organiest this disaster you call administration.”
Gale and Thomas along with Jana and Will left, and Gale said, “I’m to the Commons. I need a mug of leaf, if only to stop me from turning to the brandy. Linden on her own I can survive, even if the woman is obsesst by records,(2) but with Guelder too it’s too much.”
Thomas was still laughing, and Will, trying to keep a straight face, asked, “How doet that come to be?”
Gale wholly unrepentant replied, “All because I mislayt a piece of paper. It’s not as if it wouldn’t have appeart eventually. She came in like a whirlwind and taekt my affairs chamber over. I’ll never be rid of her now.”
Will, laughing too now, said, “Look to the best of it. You’ve finally managt to delegate your record keeping, and you’re several steps nearer to letting me retire. If I were you, I’d give up the affairs chamber and give it to Linden and Guelder.”
Gale thought that through, and as they reached the Commons said, “Leaf for all?” They all sat down, and Gale asked a kitchener for mugs of leaf, which were provided in seconds. “You’re right, Will. I’ll do it, but it feels as if I just loes an argument.”
Will still laughing said, “Linden will be respectful as long as you don’t make a mess of the office records, but as you just findt out elsewise if you do. The solution is easy, don’t do any, let her do it.”
Jana had been trying hard, and failing, not to laugh and finally spluttered out, “It’s the same everywhere, Gale. In bed, Svertan is my man, my lover, and as a woman I am fulfilt by his masculinity enjoying taking the womanhood of his wife. Aboard ship I’m ship Mistress, and he’s a loyal crew member, but in that hold of his, the same as any other, I do as I’m telt.” They all nodded at that, understanding the implications of what she was saying.
After a few moments, Jana continued, “As I have telt Will, Otis is dead. It’s a sordid tale, and he was a nasty piece of work, but it will need to be recordet, Thomas. He keept to himself and was liekt by none of the crew. The women crew members reportet to me his continual sexual comments to them. I telt them as long as it was just unpleasant spaech there wasn’t aught we could do, but to keep me informt. He groept Treen below decks, and tryt to rape her. She knockt him senseless, dragt him on deck and telt the crew to give him a work knife to defend himself with, for as she put it, ‘None is going to accuse me of gelding an unarmt man.’ It was a fair fight, and Otis dien by putting himself overboard. If you wish to know any more ask some other. Spaeking of him makes me feel as if I need a shower.”
“Gratitude for telling me yourself, Jana,” Thomas said. “I won’t be asking for more details. Otis was just a failt incomer, the archives tell us to expect between ten and twenty of them, and that’s what I shall have addet to the archives.”
Will, who had a robust, and oft dark, sense of humour and no sensibility at all, asked Jana, “I take it this was attestet by some of the crew?”
“Yes, they were all on deck.”
Will laught and said, “Excellent! I’ll be in the Swan thiseve, drinking with your crew. I’m sure I’ll hear the full tale for the price of no more than a few glasses.”
Thomas looked at Will in despair and said, “You know, Will, you are a conscienceless degenerate.”
Will laught even more and said, “I should know. You’ve telt me oft enough, but Yew will wish to know the details, and even if you knoewn you wouldn’t tell him, so reluctantly I shall have to perform the task.”
Even Jana laught at that, as Yew was almost as lacking in sensibility as Will. As they braekt up to go their separate ways Gale said to Will, “I’m off to see a woodworker for some shelfs and drawers for Linden and Guelder in their new affairs chamber. I don’t wish an affairs chamber any more, for I’ll only fill it with rubbish again.”
Will thought a lot of Gale, but he was normally an undemonstrative man, and much to her surprise he kissed her cheek and cheerfully said, “You’re learning, Gale, you’ve come much further thisday than you realise.”
28th of Uernith Day 90
Reedmace had had the crew back at the Keep for a tenner. The men had been busy ordering what they wished to help Jodie’s cooking and acquiring what she had telt them she wished. Reedmace had ordered a crib from Peregrine who at his insistence had been introduced to Jodie, “A forestry conjoint with a kitchen theme would be appropriate,” he had said which none had understandt, but the crew had willingly subscribed to. Jodie had learnt the fundamentals of baking bread and how to keep her own supply of yeast growing from Maisy Mistress baker, and had acquiert a four foot by two foot shallow wooden bowl for mixing dough in from Mistress Alkanet. The men had had a portable bread oven of some size maekt, which they telt her had been maekt to fit over and be heated by the existing water heating stove and they could set it up for her in seconds. She had also had some cookery lessons and had acquired from the Master at arms archivists a one hundred and eighteen year old receipt book with a lot of receipts in it.
The first time Jodie read the book, written by Ellberry who had lost her entire family to the fevers, was an emotional experience, and it reduced her to tears. However, it also drew her closer to the Folk, and she felt Ellberry had in some way become her several greats grandmother, so she had sought contact with the descendants of Ellberry’s siblings. Ellberry had had two sisters, and though one had no surviving descendants, the other had numerous descendants all of who were sheepherds, and most were currently a week’s whilth from the Keep. A message had been sent to them regards Ellberry’s book, and Jodie, despite reassurances given by Ellberry’s kin at the Keep that all would be delighted to accept her as kin, was excited and nervous at the prospect of the return message she was awaiting from the most senior of her potential new kin who were at present with the nomadic sheepherds on their return to the Keep.
Jodie had also had an intensive first aid course from Reedmace’s wife, Cwm, and the healers and herbals had provided advice, both verbal and written, regarding the contents of a first aid chest, it was far too big to be called a box, which she now knew how to use, up to and including stitching wounds. She hoped that would not be required of her till she had seen it done considerably more oft than the once, which was her only experience thus far.
After seeking advice from Mistress cook Abigail, who had introduced her to Coaltit, Dabchick and Spoonbill, she had ordered a much wider selection of dried and preserved foods than the camp had previously had, a large quantity of roots, mostly starchroot,(3) waxroot(4) and winter root(5) and a selection of spices and culinary herbs too, with a few live plants to grow including a variety of herbs growing in large planters. At the suggestion of Swansdown, whom she had met at lunch in the Refectory, she had acquired a dozen laying hens from Olga and a magnificent, iridescent, metallic red and green cockerel she named Redd whom she had saved from Odo and a cockerel soup. Mica had had a coop woven for the hens and a travelling basket for Redd by the basket makers and said he would build a proper wooden coop when they were back at the camp. Jodie had also acquired some curtain material and sewing necessities, a couple of pottery flower vases and a two gallon pail of beeswax polish for the mess tables along with a range of cleaning items.
Reedmace, who was paying for all she ordered, was keeping a close eye on what she bought, not as was believed by many because he was bothered by the cost, but because he enjoyed his food and wished to know just how much better things were going to be. When he’d realised eggs were going to be on the menu he asked Ganger when he and the crew were drinking in the Swan one eve, “Why doet we not consider having some hens before?”
Ganger laught and replied, “Because none would have lookt after them.”
Peach was birtht when Ganger was away at Dockside collecting tools maekt by the smiths, who had large workshops, smelting furnaces and foundries there, to be near the shipwrights whom most of their output was maekt for. Jodie was birthing for ten hours, and when he returned he had a daughter. They hadn’t come to any conclusion regarding names, but Peach had come to Jodie whilst birthing, and when he returned he was telt that was her name. He was so besotted with his daughter he would have accepted aught, but he rather liekt the name Peach.
29th of Uernith Day 91
Three eves since Tuyere had said to Morgelle “It’s a graill(6) lune in three eves so we had better have some sleep that day because Grandfa will have us all on the shore all night.”
Morgelle vaguely remembered Shearwater mentioning Fritillary and Bistort harvesting graill at her first interview, but there had been so many new things to take in she had not asked of them. “What’s a graill lune?”
After a little discussion Tuyere had realised Morgelle had no idea what graill were, and he explained, “Graill are highly priezt edible creatures that only come out of the sea to feed on the strand line in the warmth of summer when Lune is full and Dimidd nearly so. That only happens between two and four nights of the year. The eve when they come out of the sea is refert to as a graill lune. Possibly ten thousand of them arrive on the sandy beaches to the north, and we usually harvest two hundred of them that night. Bistort looks at each and every one harvestet himself and becomes really upset if any has tryt to take a female with young to lay. He believes they come ashore for something to do with their breeding cycle, but none is sure. They have fourteen legs, and the ones that come ashore are between a foot and three feet long and from a span to a foot high and wide. They can weigh aught from three to fourty weights, though we leave the larger ones to breed and the smaller to grow, and we only harvest from what Bistort considers to be tender immature grail of from eight to twelve weights. They are a very valuable harvest for the clan.”
On the eve of the graill lune the entire clan, except a few babes and elders who remained to look after them, went down to the shore in the graill-light, as the light from the twin satellites was known, which was almost as bright as daylight, with several of the light, wide-wheeled handcarts. Morgelle holding hands with Tuyere saw the first of the graill to emerge from the sea. “It’s a huge pill-bug!”(7) she exclaimed.
“What’s a pill-bug?” asked Tuyere.
“One of those, but they are only this long,” Morgelle explained, indicating their size between two fingers. “They live on rotten wood in damp places.”
“We call those slaters,” Tuyere said. “Yes, that’s seems right. Slaters are edible, and according to stories in the archives have savt the Folk from starvation several times. There are a couple of children’s learning stories and a song too that mention eating them in fell times.”
That night they collected two hundred and seventeen graill before Bistort declared, “That’s enough. Leave the rest for the future. What we have will support us for in comfort long time.”
One of the younger men challenged him and said, “Let’s take as many as we can.”
Bistort, with the entire clan watching closely and wondering how he was going to handle the situation, smiled at Fritillary, kissed her and slowly walked to Furnace allowing the tension to build to an unbearable level. When almost nose to nose with Furnace Bistort looked him in the eyes and said quietly, but naytheless heard by all, with a deadly menace in every syllable, “Furnace, when you are man enough to be clan chief I shall follow you even unto starvation.” Without moving away a wiedth, he smiled at Furnace and barked, “And?”
Furnace backed away hastily, and said, “You are clan chief, Bistort.”
Bistort answered him calmly, “You are not entirely devoid of intelligence, Furnace, and we shall have spaech nextday of why I maekt that decision, so if the day comes when you are clan chief you shall never jeopardise the weäl of the clan by flaughtth(8) or greed. Come to me in the affairs chamber an hour before the eve meal nextday.”
It was not a request, and a subdued Furnace said, “Yes, Bistort.”
The graill were taken back to the holding and stored with ice, but not frozen, to render them immobile but alive till a ship collected them for the Keep. The best were reserved for the nexteve meal.
Morgelle thought for a long time, over many days, of the confrontation between Furnace and Bistort. She realised Bistort had given Furnace all of the following day in which to fray his nerves over his coming meeting with his clan chief, and came to a much deeper appreciation of Fritillary’s reasons for reaching agreement with Bistort. Her mum had clearly not telt her all there was to tell of her dad’s qualities as clan chief, not least of the power of his love for his wife. Fritillary and Bistort had telt the younger couple they were considering them as their successors, but they were not to say aught of it to any. Morgelle was storing it all up for the day when Tuyere succeeded Bistort because she realised a lot of Bistort’s capability as clan chief came out of his love for Fritillary. He had needed to smile at and to kiss her before putting Furnace in his place, and she had every intention of being for Tuyere what her mum was for her dad.
1st of Stert Day Day 92
The routine discussions of the Council as usual had been concluded rapidly, but the consequences of the incursion were still taking place and of considerable interest.
Bracken, who was not a Councillor, as requested came to report on what the Dairy crafters were doing. “The production of yoghurt, which is what Gina refers to the soft set milk product as, is steadily increasing and becoming ever more popular with children.”
She nodded to Milligan to continue, “We are serving it with a selection of honey, crusht, toastt grains and seeds, and assortet fruit and nuts. Using dryt fruit in winter will sweeten and thicken it as the fruit absorbs the liquid from the yoghurt. Yoghurt is as Bracken says popular with children. The dairy crafters are teaching Mistress pudding cook Hville and her crafters how to make it, so we can produce it from milk delivert to the kitchens in twenty-five gallon batches.”
Bracken continued, “Modesty the newfolk milch goat crafter and Solace have already increast the richth of the goat milk as a result of Modesty’s knowledge. We are telt Milligan’s new yoghurts are foods that are good for the haelth of growing children, and the healers are pleast with the situation. Unfortunately, for those with a more adult taste in milk products, we have not yet had any luck finding a suitable cheese cave to see if we can ripen a cheese with the bluen moulds. However, we have findt a cheese with a trace of a blue mould(9) on it in one of the Keep lower chambers. Before Gina came, the mould would have been cutt off for the hens and the cheese uest for cooking. Now we are deliberately trying to inocu…, what ever the word is, some other cheeses with it. The waggoners are still seeking a cheese cave though.” Bracken indicated she had finished, and Gareth nodded to Alsike who was indicating she wisht to spaek.
“The plough George taekt north of the river workt like a hot glaive in a barrel of butter, and then Master ploughman Chent tryt his two furrow plough with a team of four and then a team of six.” Alsike paused and continued, “I have seen them both ploughing myself, and our ploughs are just blunt sticks in the ground by comparison. Chent believes with a team of six he can plough a larger expanse of the difficult sod before the weather closes in than we have ever ploughn before, and he is still over there doing it. Chent and two of his sons have twelve horses over there and are rotating them so none are over workt, and mongst them they are ploughing from firstlight to fulldark. They will have another dozen horses with them within half a tenner. The growers are are contributing the extra horses and their tack to make sure they can keep ploughing till the weather stops them. We may not have enough seed, but Joseph says he will contribute what ever we are short from his stores provided he has it returnt from that first harvestet, so the Folk do not have to suffer ale rationing.” There was wry laughter berount the table at the thought of such a dire event, and Alsike smiled at Joseph in appreciation who merely nodded in return. “We believe George’s seed drill will be able to sow what we need, and whether the mill is built or no we are committet to holdings on the north side of the river. We have any number of growers who wish to be involvt over there, not all wishful to grow cereals.”
There was limited discussion of the new mill since in essence the decision had already been taken, and it was agreed to allow Judith to start building the mill when ever she felt was appropriate. It was appreciated Judith, Storm and Bay, the millstone dressers, would be unavailable till the stores of flour had been replenished from this year’s harvest which would be somewhere in the new year. The mill would be only be started when the weather warmed next spring.
Gosellyn reported, “The first to be inoculaten have recovert from their cowpox, most were not seriously ill. However, some were, and though we never believt they may die they had a want for a lot of care to ensure they doet not.” Gosellyn looked at Yew who had been the first to be inoculated.
Yew smiled, and said, “As you see, I doetn’t die, but there were times when I considert deadth a reasonable option. Compaert with most, I was definitely not ill. But, if it means I’ll never have the fevers it was worth it.”
Gosellyn smiled and continued, “We can’t guarantee that, Yew, but we are confident. The inoculation of the Folk is proceeding, and now we know what to expect in terms of the level of care we shall need to be able to provide we are increasing the number of inoculations. We expect to have all the Council inoculaten within days, all major crafters by the end of the lune and all elders and children in the Keep within two lunes. We are inoculating small and increasing numbers of hale adults as we proceed and expect to have the Keep persons all inoculaten within half a year. We suspect it will be yet another half a year before we manage to inoculate the remaining holders and waggoners who live at considerable whilth from the Keep, though we are inoculating any such who return to the Keep for what ever reason when we can. It is our intent to visit all the holdings eventually to ensure all the Folk are protected.” Few of the Council understandt the reasons for the way the healers were handling the matter, but like Yew, they accepted even if the healers maekt mistakes they were the best persons to make the decisions.
Wolf telt the Council, “The barrels for the gas project are finisht along with all the pipework. They have yet to be tart before they are fillt. Eleanor expects the first one to be fillt in a lune, and gas to be available a tenner after that. At the moment the gas is to be piept to the fires which provide hot water for the bath chambers, for they require virtually no modification to use it, but there are other ideas being plannen. The lights are much stronger than they were, but still fragile, and more work is being doen. It is plannen to insulate the barrels with straw and hay gainst the caltth of winter. The barrels are being rooft over in a new much bigger feed and bedding store for Gudrun than the stables currently have. The original store will become an extension to the kennels. Gage wills to use it as a large pen where his birds can fly, and use the old mews pens for his ferrets. Needless to say, Gudrun and Gage are very happy with the new arrangements”
There was not much discussion of the deadth of Otis. Will had already put his arrow in its eye when he had said, “A dead problem is no problem.” Jodie’s placements caused a little discussion. Her marriage to Ganger and her desire to learn more whilst back at the Keep to birth her babe, Peach, were mentioned, more because of her willingth to return to crafting at such a whilth from the Keep rather than any other reason, which most found to be remarkable in a mother of a newbirtht.
1st of Stert Day 92
Faith had a noticeable bump now. All her children had had hands on bump experiences from time to time as soon as it became visible at all. The boys were fascinated, but Lilly may hap understandably was mesmerised. She, Ellen and Faith had long conversations of pregnancy, birthing, babes and nursing, and she was determined to help her mum in every way she could, for though Granny could hardly see and couldn’t help much Lilly didn’t wish her to feel guilty. Having had no mum for over a year had matured her beyond her age, and maekt her appreciate her new family members. She loved her brothers, but she was especially glad to have Granny and Faith to have spaech with of women’s matters as she approached womanhood. She enjoyed working berount her home and particularly enjoyed cooking. Those who dwelt at Outgangside invariable ate at home more oft than those who dwelt in the Keep where the Refectory was usually more convenient.
After a visit to the midwifes, Faith came home to find Lilly baking and having spaech with Ellen in the kitchen. Lilly oft cooked for the family. “What are you making, Love?” Faith asked.
“Coney and vegetable pie. Gage sent me a brace of coneys and a partridge lastday. I’ll cook them some partridge and roots pasties in exchange, so when they go out for a full day’s hunting they can take easy food with them. I like Gage, so I’ll make some apple pasties too as he likes them.”
Faith knew Lilly more than liekt Gage for they’d had spaech of him oft.
When Ellen said, “That’s the way, Love. Feed them right, and they do what they’re telt. Men will do almost aught for a decent meal,” they all giggled.
Gage’s ambition was still to work for Will as a full time huntsman like both his parents. In the meantime he and his squad were all very serious regards their craft, which was now providing the Keep with large quantities of food and keeping the entire Keep and Outgangside rodent populations in check, because it was practice for the craft of hunting which they all wished to do when they were older. For Gage it also meant he was taken seriously, especially by Lilly. He was enthralled by Lilly, which wasn’t unusual in the folkbirtht who more oft than not married their childhood heartfriends, but it was somewhat unusual for a newfolk male of his age, and though a number of such now had heartfriends Gage was nervous regards the matter. He knew he loved Lilly which terrified him.
By contrast with the newfolk boys most of the newfolk girls had heartfriends and the difference between the newfolk girls and boys puzzled many of the Folk, children and adults alike. Beth had telt Lilly, “It’s not much different for girls whence we came from how it is here, but it’s very different for boys. They are deliberately maekt to feel insecure and inadequate by many girls. Girls have much more control over relationships than here, and adult women have almost total control. So much so that a lot of men just won’t enter into relationships any more and won’t father children, for so many have done so and after being rejected by their wifes they have been forced out of their family home, which in many cases belonged to them before their marriage, forbidden to ever see their children again and forced to give all their remuneration to their ex-wife for the rest of their life. Many can’t earn as much as they are ordered to pay, so become homeless, even more are locked up as a punishment for failure to pay what they are ordered and huge numbers take their own lifes.
There are places where millions, that’s thousands of thousands, of men won’t even talk to women for fear of what may happen, and those fears are not unreasonable. Many women entrap men so they can do this and never have to craft again. Society is breaking down for women are having to pay in advance very high prices for the skills that in general only men train for, but very few boys and men are undergoing the training any more, so those that do can name their price. Just keep having spaech with Gage and make sure he knows you are pleased to see him. It will take time, for I suspect he is very nervous regards making himself appear flaught.(10) I know you don’t understand, Lilly, but he is aflait(11) of you, and whence we came there is good reason for that flait. If you really will him you will have to be patient and let him gradually become easier with you.” Lilly hadn’t really understood, but she could see Beth had been right for Gage was becoming easier in her company, and sought her out far more readily than of yore. When she waved to him in the Greathall in the eves he came to her immediately now and was her regular dance partner.
“Do you wish help with aught, Love?” Faith asked.
“Make some leaf, Mum, and then sit down and take your shoon off. I’ll have this dryt fruit loaf finisht in a few minutes and then we’re ready for thiseve.”
“You spoil me,” Faith declared.
“You’re the only mum we have, and I’ve telt the boys we’ve to look after you.”
“Spaeking of the boys where are they?” asked Faith.
“Both down at the forge with Dad. Master grower Geän(12) bringen a braeken plough to mend, and whilst they have the opportunity they are improving it to the new designs of George the Machine Master, but it’s huge and it had need of all of them all to hold it. They should be back in an hour, but I’ll take them some leaf when I’ve drinken mine.”
Lilly washed the mugs they had uest and filled a can with a tight fitting lid and a carrying handle with leaf. She had asked her father to make the can for her, and she oft uest it to take leaf or sometimes soup from the house to the forge. She put mugs and some sweet bannocks she had maekt earlier into a basket. Ellen remarked to Faith, “If he keeps her interest Gage is going to be a lucky young man one day.” Faith agreed. Lilly smiled and taekt the leaf and bannocks the eighty or so strides to the forge. Her father and Geän were handling the plough, Gem was manning the bellows and Jason was wielding a forging hammer under instruction from Oak. She waited quietly, so as not to disturb their concentration, and when they put the plough down to cool she announced leaf and food. Taking the lid off the can she filled the mugs and passed them berount, along with a plate of the bannocks which were baked with dried fruit and some shredded honeyroot.(13) She put the can, which still contained some leaf on the edge of the hearth in the heatth from the fire so as to keep the leaf hot.
Geän said to Oak, “Becoming clever with a hammer isn’t he?”
Oak replied proudly, “Startet making his own tools a couple of tenners since, doetn’t you, Son?” Jason nodded, his attention mostly on the bannock he was eating.
“How long will you be, Dad?” asked Lilly, “It’s just I’ve a coney pie to bake, and I’d like it to be ready for you?”
“May hap half an hour here, and then another half hour to wash and change, and if you don’t mind another half hour to relax before we eat. Is that enough time, Love? Boys?”
The boys agreed, and Lilly said, “Plenty of time, Dad.”
Gem, who was now six was growing like a weed, though only upwards as yet, and was always interested in food, asked, “What else are we eating, Lilly?”
“There are vegetables and mushrooms in the pie, which has your favourite fancy-layert-pastry top, masht starchroots with coney giblet gravy and a dryt-fruit loaf with cream.”
Gem’s eyes enlarged as he said, “That sounds good.”
Lilly said fondly to her brother, “You’d say that of sawdust providet there were enough of it.” She retrieved the can and poured the remaining leaf out giving them half a mug each saying, “Now empty those mugs, and put them in the basket with the plates, and I’ll take them back for washing. Mum’s back by the bye.”
The men drained their mugs, and did as they had been telt, and Lilly taekt the basket and the can away. Geän shook his head as he watched her hips sway on her way out and askt, “How old is she now, Oak?”
“Just turnt eleven, and nearly thirty.”
“That’s how they all start,” said Geän mournfully, “My girls are just the same, and she’ll be manhigh and seeking a bedding betimes. They’re all a menace to every boy on Castle at that age.”
“She has one pickt out now,” Oak telt him, “and Faith and Mum are aiding and abetting her in planning the poor boy’s doom.” Geän just laught, and the four of them carried on working on the plough, with Jason doing the forge-welding of the white hot, not quite molten, sticky metal, till the plough was finished.
Geän telt them, “I’ll be over in the forenoon with my boys and the waggon to collect it.” They wished each other goodday, and as Geän left he said, “You doet a good piece of work there, Jason.” Jason went pink, but Geän, a father of two adolescent boys as well as three daughters, left it at that.
Oak and the boys tidied the forge tools, maekt sure the fire went out and, after not quite closing the big door so as to let any smoke escape, went home. When they arrived they went straight into the kitchen, and Lilly said, “There’s loads of hot water, some fresh towels and I’ve put a bit more sand in the soap as you askt, Dad. If you will some more tell me, for I’ve put a pail of fine sand with the soap and other cleaning materials. Mum’s having a rest. Her feet hurt. Granny and I are peeling roots, and dinner will be on the table in an hour.” When the menfolk had hung up their leather aprons and washed, without any other comment Lilly offered them each a tall glass of a cloudy white liquid with bubbles saying, “Try that.”
They did and pronounced it tasty and refreshing, and Oak asked, “What is it?”
“It’s maekt with beer yeast, shredd honeyroot and aught you wish to put in for flavour, I uest crusht, dryt gooseberries. It has a tiny amount of alcohol in it, for the yeast and the honeyroot which make the bubbles make alcohol at the same time.”
“What, you maekt it, Lilly?” asked Gem.
“Yes. Diana the newfolk scien…something or other who marryt Gander of the stillhouse is crafting with the roots. She says she’ll make them to grow with more sweetstuff in them, which will eventually produce a drink with more bubbles and more alcohol, and she shewt me how to make it.”
Faith came in, saw what they were drinking and said, “It’s good isn’t it?” She then said, “I’ve been examint by three different midwifes thisday, including Irena with the bad back who is sayt to be the best, and they all say they can hear two hearts beating,” Faith paused and added, “as well as mine. I’m having twins.” The excitement eventually calmed down, and Faith continued, “I’ve agreen with Peregrine I shall sew some clothes for his wife in return for a twin crib. He was most willing, because Gloria is newfolk, has few new clothes and she wishes a dance gown to her own design, and he had never drawn and maekt a twin crib before. He sayt to tell you, Oak, it would give him an opportunity to use the new steam chest you maekt for him for bending the rockers.” Ellen, who could only see very close to, was already planning on making another set of newbirtht garments. It was a happy family that sat down to what Gem considered to be an even better dinner than usual. Faith continued, “Whilst I was with the midwifes I met Honesty, and she’s three lunes pregnant too, but at least she knoewn from having misst her lunetimes.” Then with a considerable sense of ill usage, Faith added, “And she’s had no forsickth.”
Gem considered the matter and said, “May hap you become sick, Mum, if you’re having twins. Is she having twins?”
“No, just one.”
“Ah, there you are then,” he said in the patronising tones of one who considered his mum’s pregnancy to be of a clearly superior order.
He couldn’t understand why the three adults and his siblings were all laughing at him, but it didn’t matter when Faith hugged and kissed him and said, “My gratitude, Gem, I needet that.”
Faith also had another couple of pieces of news she kept for Ellen and Oak after the children had gone to bed. Aaron had telt Honesty she was carrying the girl child she had wished. They wondered how he knew and why he had said aught. He never did aught without a reason, and invariably it was because it was in the interests of the Folk that he do so. The second piece of news wasn’t as puzzling in one way, but was much more so in another. Irena had birtht Melody daughter to Reed with the missing eye of a stillbirtht child a lune and a half since. She had subsequently met a lot of Melody’s kith, including Ousel Melody’s brother, who had come to support their bereft kinswoman. There had been considerable speculation as to whether Reed, who had a vicious facial disfigurement from the same accident that cost him his eye, would reach agreement with Irena, who had a hunchback, and they had been seen together from time to time. It turned out Irena, who was thirty-one, was going to marry Ousel, Reed’s good-looking twenty-one year old son, which, whilst the Folk were not at all critical of the marriages of others, did seem strange. It would be wondered what it was they had in common that had maekt a couple of them.
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
96 Faith, Oak, Lilly, Fran, Suki, Dyker, Verbena, Jenny, Bronze, Quietth, Alwydd, Evan, Gage, Will, Woad, Bluebell, Niall, Sophie, Wayland, Kathleen, Raymond, Bling, Bittern
97 Jade, Phthalen, Yumalle, Margæt, Tabby, Larov, Morgelle, Tuyere, Bistort, Fritillary, Brmling, Tench, Knawel, Loosestrife, Agrimony, Jana, Will, Gale, Linden, Thomas, Guelder, Jodie, Peach, Peregrine, Reedmace, Ganger, The Council, Faith, Oak, Lilly, Ellen, Gem, Beth, Geän
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 verb 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 granddad, gran, granny. There are also words that are specific to maternal and paternal grandparents. Those are as follows. Maternal grand mother – 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 Bebaben, one who is so immature as to be equivalent to a babe.
2 Records, general term for paperwork.
3 Starchroot, floury potatoes.
4 Waxroot, waxy potatoes.
5 Winter root, swede, rutabaga.
6 Graill, a giant isopod that lives in the sea and uses the tideline possibly to breed between two and four nights a year. They can reach three feet long and forty weights. The plural of graill is graill.
7 Pill-bugs, slaters, woodlice. Woodlice are Isopods of within the suborder Oniscidea, there are over 5,000 known species on Earth. There are less than that on Castle where they can reach two wiedths long and both a wiedth high and wide.
8 Flaughtth, foolishness, stupidity.
9 Penicillium roqueforti.
10 Fluaght, foolish or stupid.
11 Aflait, frightened. Flait, fright or fear.
12 Geän, pronounced jee + ann, (dʒi:an).
13 Honeyroot beet, sugar beet.
