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 at the end of the chapter. Appendix 1 Folk words and language usage, Appendix 2 Castle places, food, animals, plants and minerals, Appendix 3 a lexicon of Folk and Appendix 4 an explanation of the Folk calendar, time, weights and measures. All follow the story chapters.
1st of Von Day 151
“The last of the ships we placet incomers on are now back,” Thomas opened the meeting with. “We loes another incomer, Neil, but from what I have been telt it is fortunate we doet. He was a big strong man with an uncontrollt temper. Fortunately for us he was neither as big nor as strong as Mouse. Suede descriebt him as nithing,(1) with which the crew all agreen.” There was a little laughter at the remark regards Mouse since none was as big and as strong as Mouse. There were bigger men on Castle and there were possibly stronger ones too, but not in one body. That Neil was considered nithing maekt all glad he was dead.
Pilot shrugged and said, “Will willen to kill him in the Gather tent. We knoewn he wouldn’t be coming back, but I’m glad to hear he was dead before he doet any any harm.”
There were bleak looks on the Councillors’ faces, but none said aught as they looked at Pilot and Will, so Thomas continued. “However, we have benefitet greatly from the remaining three men, who along with Alastair, have now all marryt. Steve startet mapping the night sky, yet though he was laught at to start with all now agree even his as yet unfinisht charts are a huge benefit to those still learning the stars. He is going to continue crafting on the Surf Braeker, but purely to chart the stars probably for the next two or three years, and then he intends to join the huntsman’s map makers. He has marryt Stargazer.” All the Councillors were interested, but many of them had no familiarity with the stars or the sea, and thus could not appreciate the value of Steve’s work, but that Steve had married Stargazer amused most.
“Robert was a sailor before he came here, and he is an expert on navigation. He has marryt Madder who is also a navigator, and he will be crafting on the Storm Rider. He has knowledge of navigational instruments that are improvements on ours and of others that are completely new to us which they are having maekt. If successful, and there appears to be no reason why they should not be, they will be able to tell us where the Mother is when the sky is overcast, and also how far east to west a ship is. Our ship Masters and navigators are very excitet by the prospect.” Again as with Steve’s star charts the Councillors were interested, but many could not really appreciate Robert’ work any more than Steve’s.
“Terry, who sailt on the My Love, is an expert on what he calls draughtsmanship. To us, that is the skill of drawing accurately scaelt drawings. He has joint George and the other Masters working on the new grower machines. He will be doing all the drawing, leaving George free to aid the crafters who are making the pieces. He is also going to be teaching his skills to the apprentices. The craft Masters involvt say his skills have greatly facilitatet their endeavours.” The Councillors could much better appreciate Terry’s work than Robert’s and Steve’s, and most felt grateful something they could understand had been presented to them.
“Four sets of miners and foresters have returnt, and the foresters have been luckier than the miners. Both mine crews loes a man, and both the forests crew returnt with three newfolk. Rosebay deputy mine Master of the Hard Edge crew has marryt Sheridan, and Gælle has adoptet both Elliot and Paris neither of whom are very mature for their age, all three men have joint the crew.” Thomas related how Jake had dien, and there was some discussion of safety rules being maekt very clear to all apprentices and the tale being written up for apprentices to read.
“The Galena mine crew have been joint by Jude who has marryt Raspberry. It will probably come as a surprise to those who have not already hearet, but Truedawn has marryt Nathan who has acceptet a placement with Box as the crew cook.” There was considerable surprise expressed at that as few had heard the news. “Box sat in adjudgement on Ryland for the attemptet rape of Wæn and ruelt he left them or they would geld him. They findt what they believt were his chewt bones sometime later. Box opient a chlochan(2) killt him.” The Councillors were all aware without any explanation why Box would have maekt that particular ruling and considered Ryland’s behaviour alone justified Will’s decision to have the potentially dangerous young men initially crafting at some whilth(3) from the Keep.
“The Deep Vale foresters have recruitet Bill, Gary and Norman, and Norman is taking over as deputy forest Master from Firkin who has joint Jacob and the Longwood foresters to be nearer the Keep, so as to help look after elderly kin. The Tall Pines crew have recruitet Paul, Ross and Sherman. Trout was shockt to hear of the unfortunate experiences of some of the other crews. That leaves us with just two sets of foresters to return, and we have loes eighteen incomers in total so far.” Thomas grinned and continued, “On a different and rather amusing matter, Dayflower, Flagon, Quorice and Crossbow, who returnt on the Surf Braeker from harvesting the last load of reeds to help with the grain harvest, were taken aback to find the harvest had been already been gathert by George’s machines and there was naught for them to do.” There were smiles berount the Council chamber as the four holders were not the only folk who were having to come to terms with the efficiency and speed of George’s machines. Thomas indicated Vinnek was to spaek.
Vinnek was grinning hugely as he taekt up Thomas’ tale, “When George hearet of the reed cutters he sayt that it should be an easy matter to have a reaper-binder modifyt to harvest reeds and next year he wills to travel on the first ship so as to see the reed beds and decide what needs to be doen. When telt the mud the reeds grow in was not possible for horses to work he sayt, ‘If the reaper-binder is on a flat bottomt boat callt a punt wind or persons could provide all the effort requiert to make the punt move and harvest the reeds.’ He also believes it is possible to make a reed harvester that could slide over the freezen mere cutting and binding the reeds above the ice. He sayt they could be stoert at the site if protectet from the winter winds, or even taken down the freezen river to the bay on what he callt a wind powert ice-ship which could then be toewt back to the Keep by a normal ship. His idea is reeds could be harvestet for an extra lune or two to provide warmer roofing for some of the houses at Outgangside and Dockside.” Vinnek looked berount at the amazed faces of the Councillors and continued, “George is giving us more and more, yet despite the number of projects he is involvt with he is managing them all. As more and more folk are joining him and becoming skillt at his many crafts he is delegating the projects in such a way as to make his craft life manageable. We were a little concernt he would over tax his strength, but Lyre is managing his domestic life and preventing any over exertion on his part. I was surpriest by just how unpleasant she can be to any who wills more from him than she is prepaert to allow.”
The Council meeting braekt up with the belief the Folk had indeed benefited greatly out of this latest incursion.
2nd of Von Day 152
Master forester Skua reflected on the events of the tour. He had taken three young men from Will’s meeting, and two out of three was not bad. Three out of three if you counted proper disposal as a success. He mentally organised the events in chronological order rather than as he had become aware of them. He had taken nineteen year old Marcus who had turned out to be a good man as well as a competent crafter. He had also taken Dale, a very immature sixteen year old, and Lucas a twenty-one year old of malicious disposition. As well as emotionally immature, Dale was physically small for sixteen, and he had subsequently explained he had been intimidated into remaining with the reluctants in the Gather tent on his first day on Castle. He was of slight build and shy, and in translation of his own words after the dust had all settled, “As the son of a good crafter clan who live according to our version of the Way, I have always been aflait of people like Lucas who are violent, contemptuous of the Way, and thief from any who has aught they wish. I had only ever met them in my nightmares.”
Lucas had been a thug and continued to intimidate him at the camp making Dale do some of his work for him. Lucas had threatened if Dale said anything he would kill him. Dale was naïve enough to take Lucas seriously. Marcus had telt Skua, and others, he thought Lucas was threatening Dale and he suspected Dale was at braeking point. One eve, Dale had as usual sharpened his axe to the razor sharpth required for felling work, and Lucas had telt him to give it to him and Dale could have his.
Dale had decided to confront him and refused, and Lucas had telt him, “If you know what’s good for you you’ll do it.”
Dale had refused again and telt him, “Sharpen your own axe.”
Lucas tried to grab Dale’s axe and take it off him, but Dale had resisted and held on to his axe. Lucas had picked his own axe up and telt Dale, “I’m going to kill you for that.” Dale believed him and frightened prepared to defend himself. When Lucas maekt a swing towards Dale with his axe that was just to frighten him into dropping his axe and running away Dale had believed it was for real, and in self defence swung his axe into Lucas’ chest. Heavy and razor sharp it went straight through Lucas’ ribs and heart and lodged in his spine. Lucas taekt less than a second to die. When Dale was discovered he was sobbing like a child and convinced he would be executed for protecting himself from a murderous attack. Skua, thinking of Marcus’ warnings, had realised he had not done enough, soon enough, and understanding there was a lot to be discovered asked Cranesbill his deputy, a thirty-five year old woman with sons near to Dale’s age, to learn from Dale what had been going on. He asked her because he could see Dale was heartbraeken, terrified of consequences and was just a child needing a mother’s reassurances. That naught was going to happen to Dale he personally telt him, and he left the rest to Cranesbill.
A couple of the crew, without awaiting instruction, recovered Lucas’ clothes and tied him by his ankles to a forestry horse, and dragged him out of camp to a high place, out of sight, where the carrion eaters would reclaim him on behalf of Castle. Eventually the entire story of Lucas’ persecution and systematic terrorisation of Dale emerged. That Dale had believed the nonsense Lucas had telt him merely emphasised his immaturity. That Lucas had dien because he had been so successful in his terrorisation of Dale the entire crew thought an ironic, but a befitting, end to Lucas. Cranesbill had telt Skua and the crew she had adopted Dale and would be taking him home with her when they returned. The crew all approven of Dale’s action, and when he had settled, after what for him was the worst experience of his life, he had said he would be returning for the next tour with his mum.
Skua had telt the crew, “Dale’s a good crafter. I examint his axe and could have shavt with it.” He had asked Marcus, “How doet you know what was going on, Marcus, when the rest of us had no idea?”
“I didn’t know, Skua, but there are many men like Lucas where we come from, and it offered the most probable explanation for what I did know.”
Skua had thought regards that and said, “I’m glad I’m here not there.”
Marcus had grinned and said, “Me too.”
Skua had offered him a place on the next tour, and Marcus had accepted saying, “As long as I can find someone to reach agreement with before the tour starts.”
“Of course.”
When Skua handed his log in for copying at the Master at arms he met with Willow and explained the circumstances of Lucas’ deadth.
“How is Dale now?”
“Much more settelt. Cranesbill adopting him has given him the family he needet. He’ll not be ready for agreement for years. Marcus will be seeking a wife, and as long as he finds one will be on the next tour. He has over a lune, so I imagine there’ll be no problem.”
Willow agreed and said, “I suspect if he arrives thisday he’ll be a marryt man before the eve meal.”
Marcus had arrived shortly afterwards, and met with Campion. It didn’t take her long to establish Marcus wished a woman of his own age who wished children but who currently had none.
“I’m not very good with children and should like the opportunity to start from nothing if possible. If not as young as possible please.”
Campion came back with a few files and said, “I opine the best match is Almond. She is a twenty-two year old spinster and loes her man to the fevers over a year since. She is four lunes pregnant, and if she knows who the father is she is not prepaert to say. She wishes a man of her age who is prepaert to give her more children. I can introduce you within fiveteen minutes, or I can tell you of some other.”
Marcus had not considered the possibility of a pregnant wife and found to his surprise all he thought was it would give him children sooner. He said, “I should like the introduction to Almond please.”
Not long after he was introduced to Almond who was noticeably pregnant but only just so. Campion left them, and Almond telt him, “I am a spinster with a large extendet family, most of who are kine crafters. In my sorrow for my husband, which keeps coming back, and I suspect will do so till I find a new man, I drank too much one night and awoke in bed with two men. I left before they awoke but subsequently became aware I had slept with four men, though I not how many or whom I had sex with. The possible fathers of my babe were more drinkn than I, and since I only know who two of them were and none are aware they could have fathert a babe I do not wish any to know, so I have no intention of ever telling any who the two I know are, for it may well be one of the two I know not who is the father, and that includes whomever I reach agreement with. I truly know not what happent that night. I may have bedd any number of them, but this is my babe, not one of theirs. My babe will be that of the man I reach agreement with and I will no other man to have even a tenuous claim, so my silence is to ensure that.”
Almond was an attractive looking tall woman with substantial hips and a determined and managing look. Seeing Marcus was smiling she continued, “I lovt my first man, but he was weak and sometimes unkind, so I had to be strong. I shall dominate if you let me, Marcus, but I should much rather you doetn’t let me. I don’t wish to, but it has become a habit. I wish a man who will be a man, a kind man who will create a family life where I can enjoy being a woman and a mother. I wish that because it is something I have never been able to be, and I have always wisht just to be myself. I had to play the man’s part from time to time. I wasn’t good at it and doetn’t like it. I resentet it.”
Almond braekt down in tears, and Marcus realised though she had never been able to be herself, and that had hurt her, she had done her best, in his terms, to play a good game with a poor hand. Marcus put his hand on hers and said, “I do understand. I have never really been able to be myself either. I don’t see myself as a domineering man, but I do know I am a man, and I should love to have a wife who was happy to be a wife and a mum. I have never had a long term relationship before, but I believe we should make each other happy and I do find you attractive.”
Almond dried her tears and said, “I have a big cotte(4) my previous man maekt fun of, and I doetn’t like it. You wouldn’t do that would you?”
Marcus replied with a smile, “I have noticed your cotte, for it is a very womanly one, and I do like peaches.”(5) Almond smiled at his reference to her having what he considered to be a desirable cotte. “If you like, you could sit on my knee awhile, and we could discuss it’s suitability. On the other hand you could sit on my knee, and we could share a few kisses and discuss the merits of your cotte later.”
Almond smiled and asked, “Does it have to be one or the other?”
“Of course we could do both,” he telt her. Almond stood and sat down on his knee.
Marcus telt her, “Most satisfactory, but only in a wife of course. Do I have a wife, Almond?”
“Yes,” Almond replied, wriggling her cotte a little on his knee. “Now, those kisses you offert me, Marcus.” They shared the kisses and eventually decided they had better things to do than be kissing in the Master at arms office. They telt Campion they had agreement and left hand in hand.
Almond, who now realised it had never been her cotte that was the problem, but the unkind things said of it, and the nice things Marcus said of it even maekt her glad she had it, said mischievously when they were in the fresh air, “Are you planning on a long conversation discussing the merits of my cotte, Marcus? Because if you are I opine we should eat at home where you will be able to give the matter your full attention.”
“To do justice to the matter will require several hours I imagine,” Marcus said reflectively, “and a meal at home with a glass of wine would probably be the perfect setting for such a conversation and any subsequent activity. Surely a taste of wine would be all right for you?”
Almond stopped him and kissed him again saying, “I have every intention of becoming uest to being a wife and a mum as soon as possible, and I at least wish a taste to celebrate. I’ve never had so much fun in my life, and we haven’t even arrivt home yet. Shall we run?”
“No,” replied Marcus severely, “Running is not good for pregnant mums, and besides it may spoil the wine. We shall walk at a decorous pace anticipating the wine, the meal and your cotte. Sorry, Almond, I meant the discussion of your cotte.”
He kissed Almond, and she demurely and submissively said, “Yes, Dear. Please don’t spaek to me for a bit, I’m busy…anticipating.” They both laught at their enjoyable rôle play of the dominant man and the submissive woman which they both suspected was to become an enjoyable and playful part of their agreement when in private and carried on to collect the wine.
4th of Von Day 154
Georgina’s newbirtht boy Osprey had been birtht in their huge marital bed, and was the first child of her marriage to Birchbark, Hemlock and Quail. Though they had formally agreed their marriage at an appearance not quite two lunes before at Third Quarterday they had been married for five lunes, and they had settled down to married life so happily that Georgina and Quail, who were both newfolk, couldn’t understand why such marriages as theirs were not more common on Castle and why they had never, to their knowledge any way, been accepted on Earth. All four of them were happy their family now had a child, and they were even happier when Quail telt them a tenner later she was a half a tenner late for her lunetime, which had never happened before.
Georgina had started crafting with her husband Birchbark, but Birchbark had been producing little work that had need of a finisher and polisher, and after finishing their bed she had started crafting with Peter at Abel’s boatshed, and the pair became a highly successful partnership. The original high chair Peter had maekt for Coaltit in exchange for Joseph’s help learning to make beer had given Coaltit so much independence back it resulted in orders for many more. He had been falling further and further behind in meeting demand, and in an effort to catch up had asked Josephine to turn all the spindles for him, and though he still hadn’t quite caught up with himself things were improving. There had been a serendipitous misunderstanding over exactly what a high chair was, and it had resulted in Peter also making highchairs for toddlers, and he had a goodly number of highchairs yet to make too. Georgina had been polishing and finishing them as fast as he was making them and had taken just a tenner from crafting after she had birtht Osprey. Peter had maekt a crib for Osprey before she resumed crafting. Once she had resumed crafting she had joked, “By the time Quail has hers, I should have been able to polish it, and by the time we catch up with the orders Osprey will be ready for a highchair.”
Peter had laught with her and said, “Yes, I know, but your highchair for Osprey and Honesty’s high chair for Dad are going to have to jump the queue or we’re both going to be in trouble.”
6th of Von Day 156
It had been barely a tenner before Mistress forester Bruana had started to regret taking this tour rather than postponing it a lune or so. She was missing her new husband Noah and their two adopted daughters Kirsty and Shirley. They wished more children, but had only had two days to spend together before she’d had to leave for the planned tour in the forest some considerable whilth from the Keep. She hoped she was pregnant, but thought it improbable and resented she would have no opportunity to become pregnant for four lunes. The girls had cried when she had kissed them good bye, and Shirley whose past had not involved any love till two days before had asked desperately, “You will be coming back, Mum, won’t you?”
“Of course I shall,” she’d replied. “Your dad can only survive on his own for so long. I’ll have to return to reorganise him. Men are like that you know, Girls. I have to do this four lune tour, for it’s been plannen for nearly a year, but I shall not be doing any this long again. I don’t wish to go. I’ve only been marryt and been your mum for two days. So you have to look after your dad for me whilst I’m away. You know your dad and I wish a babe as soon as possible. When it happens I shall stop going away altogether.”
Reassured by this Kirsty had asked Noah, “What shall we do whilst Mum’s away, Dad?” She had left them full of plans which it hurt to know she would not be involved in. And now, in stead of being with Noah and her girls, she had Jimbo to deal with. All three of the reluctants she had taken from Will’s meeting were a problem at the forestry camp in some way. Twenty-one year old Fyre was inept, and he’d telt her he had always wished to be a farm worker, which was what he referred to both grower crafters and animal husbandry crafters as. He did his best willingly, and when she had tentatively suggested he look after the camp itself and taekt on a larger share of the cooking, tentatively because most of her crew would have seen it as a humiliating step for a forester to take, he’d been relieved to accept. The Master at arms office would she knew be able to provide Fyre with a craft and a wife too.
Nineteen year old Toby was not bright enough for crafting in the forest. He was obligingly compliant, but had to be constantly supervised. He always did what he was telt, and therein lay the problem, exactly what he was telt. He was absolutely literal in his understanding of what was said to him, so instructions had to be given carefully in simple words and literally, which was tiring for the crew. The entire crew had tried, and failt, to find something he could do with minimal supervision. Much to every one’s relief it was eventually discovered he was a good fisherman, and he was now spending his time fishing for the camp cook house which kept all much happier. He had telt Bruana he would like to work with chickens, by which he meant hens, and she had promised him when they returned to the Keep she would find him a placement with a poultry raising clan. She knew all such clans, and there were several, would be able to provide the level of supervision Toby needed, and would be certain to have any number of women seeking a man. A big, strong and reasonably good-looking man like Toby who was biddable in the extreme would be the answer to many a widow’s dreams, especially if she were struggling to rear children.
Jimbo was a different matter altogether, for to start with he was obnoxious, sweated heavily and didn’t wash. As a result he had a cabin to himself because the crew preferred to have a little less space each rather than share accommodation with him. He was constantly making what he thought were funny remarks, which were always at the expense of some other. That they weren’t funny and just in spitefully poor taste he didn’t understand. He wasn’t witless, but he wasn’t bright either.
Toby was the frequent butt of Jimbo’s spiteful remarks, but he didn’t understand most of them. Which as deputy Mistress forester Frost, a forty-five year old feller, telt Jimbo, “You owe him gratitude for because if the man doet understand he flatten you with one blow, and the rest of us would be standing in line to shake his other hand whilst he washt the one he’d hit you with.” Frost was a popular woman who oft entertained the crew in the eve with song and gitar, and when pressed thought much faster on her feet than Jimbo. He had tried to best her once and just ended up calling her a worn out old woman, and she had telt him, “You’re right. I was birtht a woman, but what’s your excuse because for certain you’re no man? At my age, I have a right to be wearn out. I became wearn out smacking nonsense out of the cots of my sons when they were little. It’s a pity none caert enough to you to do the same. However, if you don’t mind that mouth of yours I’ll have a couple of real men hold you down and try it.”
Jimbo had stormed off with the crew howling with laughter behind him. He had never confronted Frost again, but became little better with the rest of the crew. The crew were primarily seeking oak, ash and beech for the sawyers, most of which was uest to make furniture, but were always on the lookout for specials for which they all received considerable bonus. Maple, walnut and other attractively figured woods were always in demand by the furniture makers, as was burl of any species by the turners, but the rare ironwood and yaarle were the most valuable and sought after. Ironwood grew to be a huge tree and the hard and wear resistant wood was uest for wheel bearings by the wainwrights and pulley blocks by the shipwrights. Yaarle grew to nowhere near the size of ironwood and the attractively figured and resonant wood was desired by the luthiers to make musical instruments with.
One forenoon Jimbo found an ironwood tree and if it were harvested he would be entitled to the finder’s bonus as well as his share of the crew bonus. The fellers had gone to examine the tree which was huge. The standard procedure was a pair of fellers would climb the tree to the first practicable set of limbs and construct a platform from which they would top the tree leaving just the platform branch stubs to be removed when the tree was felled. The fellers all walked berount the tree looking at it from every angle. Frost pointed to a dark stain running down the leeward side of the trunk high up. The others squinting to see nodded their heads and they all started walking back to camp. Jimbo was beside himself demanding to know why they weren’t discussing felling the tree.
“No point,” he was telt, “It’s rotten. The rot will probably go all the way down, the tree isn’t worth it and it’s too dangerous to even try. The dark stain is the rotten rain water leaking out of where a branch was.”
Jimbo was convinced they wished to prevent him having his finder’s bonus, and none could be bothered to explain the entire crew was disappointed. “I’ll top it myself,” he raegt.
The others shrugged their shoulders and carried on walking. They didn’t bother to tell him of the brittelth of rotten ironwood, or even if he did manage to top the tree any sudden release of stress could cause the tree to braek up explosively, or that ironwood contaminated by even a trace of rot was worthless, for he wouldn’t have listened. That he was probably going to die soon didn’t bother them either. They heard the distant rhythmic sound of a felling axe for more than an hour, and as they were sitting down to their eve meal they had heard the explosive crack and felt the vibration of the ground caused by the splitting tree as it blew itself apart due to the locked in stresses suddenly being released by the topping process.
The entire crew went to look and walked the three quarter of an hour whilth in silence. When they arrived at the site they couldn’t find any trace of Jimbo and could only presume he was under one of the numerous pieces of trunk, most of which weighed many thousands of weights. The trunk had been rotten to below the ground and had been a hollow tube with a wall thickth of less than a foot, worthless. Frost explained to Toby what they thought had happened, and he had grinned and said, “I may be a useless bag of shit like he said, but right now I’m better at breathing than he is. Know what? I think I’ll go fishing thiseve. It looks as if it’ll be a pleasant eve for it, and the trout should be biting.”
Frost and Bruana looked at each other in disbelief. Toby had not only maekt a joke but displayed understanding they had thought utterly beyond him. They all walked back to camp no longer in silence. Each and every one of them regretted Jimbo had been the way he was, yet realised life was going to be a lot pleasanter from now on.
The next lune and a half passed without the tension caused by Jimbo’s presence, and all were satisfied with the eventual bonuses when the the tour was over. Bruana was surprised none of the women had noticed she was pregnant because she felt so different, but none did, not even by the time they were packing to return to the Keep though she was barely shewing and with her work clothes on it was impossible to tell.
It was mid-forenoon when Bruana and the crew arrived back at the Keep. The first thing she did was take the camp log to the Master at arms where she met Thomas and telt him of Jimbo. “Frost sayt, ‘The only thing he doet a proper job on was dieing,’ because we doetn’t have to expend any effort disposing of him, and I have to say I agree.”
Thomas had informed her, “We’ve loes a few of the reluctants, but in the main we’ve benefitet. Tell me of the other two, successes would you say?”
She telt him of Toby and Fyre, and he had smiled and said, “I don’t even need to look at the files for Toby. I shall have to for Fyre, but I know we shall succeed. You go home and spend some time with your girls and Noah. It was unfair to expect you to have goen so soon, and we are grateful for your help dealing with the incomers. Gratitude again. I know it is a little belaten, but I look forward to your early pregnancy.”
Bruana said, “I am looking forward to telling Noah and the girls of it too.”
“Go home, Bruana. Congratulations.”
Bruana was overwhelmed by her reception on her return. Noah let the girls reach her first, and she kissed them and said to Shirley, “I telt you I’d be back, but I’ve misst you so much.”
Shirley excitedly telt her, “Look, Mum, Kirsty’s got bosoms!”
She looked at her elder daughter who had just started to fill out and who was both embarrassed by and proud of what her sister had blurted out, “We must celebrate. Kirsty is becoming a woman, I’m back home and,” she looked at Noah with tears in her eyes, “I am carrying a babe neath my heart, so at most I’ll be doing one short tour more.”
Noah reached over the girls for her, and said, “I’ve missed you, Love, but the girls did as you told them and looked after me. I have to tell you though, Shirley has been seen holding hands with a boy which has improven her beyond all recognition, even if she does neglect me a bit.”
Shirley who Bruana remembered as a shy and hurt little girl said, “That’s not fair, Dad. I haven’t neglectet you at all, and besides Wormwood’s nice.”
Noah suggested, “Shall we all eat at home thiseve and we can tell each other all the news? I’ll get something nice to eat for thiseve and something with bubbles to drink.”
They agreed, but Shirley insisted, “We can collect the food and the bubbles too, Dad. You can have spaech with Mum, of the babe.”
The two girls left, and Bruana said, “They’ve grown and changt, Love.”
Noah kissed her lovingly and said, “Yes, as you probably gathered, Shirley has changed out of all recognition. She tells me she can’t wait to start her lunetimes and wants to have at least twelve children when she grows up. Wormwood is a pleasant boy whom she runs rings round, and I don’t think he has any chance at all of escape. Usually, Kirsty goes along with her, and the girls are good to each other. At the moment Shirley is plotting and manipulating Kirsty and Glen, a rather quiet young man in the kennel squad, into a relationship, so they can do things as a foursome, but I don’t think Kirsty or Glen have any objections. I must say I’m glad you’re back, Love. I need help to deal with them badly, and I suspect Kirsty would very much like to talk to you concerning Glen who’s a few lunes younger than she.”
Bruana kissed her husband again and wistfully said, “You seem to be managing them without me, Love.”
Noah responded so seriously that Bruana had to take him seriously, “That’s only because they knew you were coming back. They have missed you dreadfully. They wanted and needed their mum. Enough. Tell me how have you been?”
“I’ve been hale. None suspectet I was pregnant, and I certainly don’t look it, not even showering, I was much bigger than this at four months with all of my other pregnancies.” Bruana started to weep for the children she had lost to the fevers, and Noah hugged her tightly. After a minute she sniffed and kissed him before carrying on. “But I have been feeling so different. It feels wonderful, and best of all I had no forsickth. I so much wisht to tell you, but I’m home now and I’ll avoid another tour and only book on for a short trip, a lune at most. I’ve misst you so badly. I almost wish I were not pregnant, so we could try for one thisnight.”
Noah hugged her tightly again and asked her with a mock serious tone of voice, “We could possibly make love just to have some fun, but only if you really wouldn’t mind?”
Bruana put his hands to her breasts, wriggled suggestively, and at odds with her behaviour replied, “I suppose so. Just this once mind, Noah.” The pair of them were still giggling like adolescents and spaeking nonsense when the girls returned and they had to behave like adults again.
It was late, the girls were in bed and Bruana and Noah had maekt love twice just for fun. They were holding hands and glad to be back with each other. “Love?”
“Yes,” replied Noah.
“I’ve been thinking. I misst so much of my previous family’s growing up due to my craft, and I don’t wish to risk that again. The girls are nearly women, and before we know it they will have agreement and babes of their own. I would love grandchildren, but I wish to enjoy being their mum too whilst they are still girls. We don’t really have much time left with them, and I wish to rear my babe, not leave it to you and the girls as soon as it is weant because I have to go back to the forest.”
Noah smiled and squeezed Bruana’s hand, but he said nothing because he didn’t understand to where Bruana was leading the conversation. It seemed as if she were asking for permission, or seeking approval, for a course of action, but he couldn’t see what or why. If she wished to change craft to spend more time with the children he didn’t see it as any of his concern, and he would see more of her which would be good, but he knew she knew she didn’t have to ask, so he realised there had to be more to it than just that.
“I wouldn’t feel I had doen aught inappropriate if Frost takes over the crew because she is more than able.” Bruana halted, and Noah knew that what ever came next was the part that maekt her uneasy. “But I would have to take a considerable drop in my remuneration.”
Noah hugged her tightly, kissed her cheek and said quietly, “But you would be here with us, which would make us all happier.”
Bruana moved away a little, and looking into her husbands eyes saw truth and care. “Would you mind if I doetn’t go back to the forest at all? I mean before the babe too.”
Noah just kissed her again and said, “Don’t be silly. We shall manage, and we would all prefer you home. The girls would enjoy being with you as your pregnancy progresses, and I suspect are sufficiently Folk now to want to watch the birth of a sibling.”
“Then I shall look berount me for a suitable new craft for after the babe is birtht.”
When Toby arrived at the Master at arms later in the day, he was met by Campion who introduced him to Saxifrage, a hen keeper of a large poultry raising clan. Saxifrage had been telt of Toby in advance, and she was thirty-one and had three young children under four. She was seeking a man and Toby sounded ideal to her. She managed the hen flocks and could manage him too. She was impressed by his size and his total transparency was a major attraction to her. Campion telt Toby, “Saxifrage is a poultry crafter with lots of hens and you could craft with her if you wish.”
Toby looking intently at Saxifrage said, “I should like that.”
Campion artlessly asked him, “Do you know where you would live, Toby?”
“No.”
“Would you like to be marryt, Toby, to a woman who would look after you if you would protect her?”
Toby replied, “Yes,” to Campion, but carried on spaeking with Saxifrage whom he had not yet taken his eyes off, “You are pretty.”
Saxifrage glanced at Campion who nodded to her and Saxifrage said, “I wish someone to protect me, Toby. I have three small children and I need a dad for them. Would you like to marry me and then I can look after you if you protect me and our children.”
Toby still staring at her, replied, “Yes.”
Saxifrage stood and taking his hands in hers drew him to his feet, he was at least a head and a half taller than her, and said, “To be marryt to you I have to kiss you, and I can’t reach, not even on tip toe.” She thought Toby would bend down, but he put his hands berount her waist and effortlessly lifted her till her face was level with his. He was very inexperienced at kissing but managed. Saxifrage said very calmly to him, “We are marryt now, Toby, put me down please.” Toby lowered her to the floor, and Saxifrage turned to Campion and said, “Gratitude for your excellent advice, Campion.” She put her hand in Toby’s and said, “Let’s go home, Toby.” Toby nodded and she led him out of the chamber spaeking of the children.
Fyre went to the Master at arms’, not long after Saxifrage and Toby had left, where he was met by Gareth who asked him, “Which would you prefer, Fyre, growing or animals? Bruana said you liekt both.”
“A bit of both really if it’s possible.”
“I believe you are looking to marry, Fyre. We have a twenty-four year old woman with two children on our books. She loes her husband to the fevers, but she crafts at Eversprings holding with her two sisters and their men and families with their grandmother, her late man’s mother. Her parents live at Outgangside. The holding grows food crops and keeps a small number of animals. I can arrange an introduction nextday if you like. It is the best match to your wishes we have.”
“That sounds ideal for me. I do want to settle down, but I’m not very good with tools. What is her name?”
“She is Hotsprings. Shall we say meet here at ten next forenoon?” asked Gareth.
Fyre agreed and was back at ten nextday. Hotsprings was a small and generously built woman, as her apron(6) proclaimed to any who wished to notice. Fyre noticed and Hotsprings noticed him noticing. She knew it had been a good idea to wear the apron. Gareth introduced them and led the conversation awhile then he askt Hotsprings to explain to Fyre of her crafting activities. When that had been done he said, “I know you are both looking to reach agreement and I shall leave you to discuss that in private. Call in at the main affairs chamber to let me know the result and arrange another introduction if you need to.”
As soon as he had closed the door behind him Hotsprings said, “I wish a man, Fyre, both for myself in my bed and as father to my children, and I wish more children. That you wish to work the kind of holding my family work is very attractive to me as are you yourself. Is there aught I can do you help you decide to reach agreement with me because as long as it’s reasonable I shall be happy to do so?”
Fyre smiled and looking at her bosom again replied, “No, nothing special. I want to settle down with a wife and children and I believe you have everything I want.”
Hotsprings stood and looking at her bosom she said, “I believe I do.” As she had stood so had Fyre, and she taekt his right hand and put it into her apron bib so as to cup her breast and standing on her toes kissed him gently and said again, “I believe I do. What bethink you, man of mine?”
Fyre caressed her breast and said, “I believe you do too,” before kissing her again and removing his hand.
Hotsprings straightened her apron top and said, “We’d better tell them.”
They found Gareth, and telt him they had agreement. He congratulated them and they left.
Hotsprings said to Fyre, “We can go home, a journey of two and a half hours whilth or stop the night with mum and dad and go home nextday. Which would you prefer?”
“Which would you prefer, Hotsprings?”
Hotsprings replied immediately, “To stop at Mum’s. They’d like to meet you, but the main reason is because I haven’t had a man in my bed for a long time, and I should enjoy it more if we were not tiren by the journey.”
Fyre nodded and said, “I agree and for similar reasons.”
“Mum’s it is then.” his wife said.
7th of Von
Though the Mother was shining in a cloudless sky she gave little warmth and the nights had been bitter. The days were better but still cold and bleak, in the teens of heats below freezing, but the early afternoon breeze was light and the hard frozen trails were passable with care, much easier on the team than the foot or more of liquid clay earlier in the year. Turner and Otday were returning to the Keep for the winter with a mixt load of herbs for the herbals and fresh-water fish, game and meat for the kitchens, as well as all the usual small goods and letters they’d picked up along the trail. It was two lunes since Turner had been at the Keep and Otday had not been back since he’d left with Turner four lunes over. They were looking forward to may hap four lunes of warmth and comfort. The motion of the waggon hurt Turner’s breasts, for at three lunes pregnant they were over twice their previous size and her apron was not much help. Oft she lay down to avoid the pain, which had its own problems. When lying down, even on her side, the weightth of her breasts pressed gainst her chest, or each other, and they leaked milk copiously which was not pleasant due to the temperature. She’d found no position in which she could avoid both problems.
Turner had never enjoyed the winter before, for her differences singled her out and she had never fitt in at the Keep. This was the first time she had ever looked forward to returning to the Keep, and it wasn’t just for the comfort of being off the waggon whilst pregnant. She felt different, and that was not just due to her pregnancy, but more due to her love for her husband, Otday, which she knew would enable her to ignore those who previously had maekt her life difficult. Otday, now fourteen, had initially been a reluctant apprentice, but falling in love with his Mistress, who was twenty years older than he, had redeemed him from the personality flaws of his childhood. His body, which had been flabby with excess fat, was now tightly muscled and his bronzed skin gleamed with health as a result of his outdoor life and exercising with Turner in her muscle tone maintenance methods. He’d grown a span and a quarter, and was now six feet and a span and his chest had noticeably widened and deepened. His shoulder longth, sun-bleached, brunet hair, which Turner had insisted he leave to grow, and blue eyes gave him an appearance that Turner enjoyed women looking twice at, for he was hers and never even glanced at other women.
“Otday, opine you my forsickth is over? It’s been half a tenner now. I do ho— Give me your hand, now!”
Otday put his hand to his wife’s pregnancy and grinned at the peremptory command that was now usually a thing of the past. It wasn’t the first time he had felt his unbirtht babe move, but it was a more powerful and longer lasting event than any before. “I suspect you’ve finisht being ill in the forenoons. I telt you I remembert Mum and some friends of hers having spaech of it with Smile and agreeing it had usually stopt at three possibly four lunes, but with the babe kicking like that, Love, you’re going to have to take sleep when the babe allows. We have the tokens, so why don’t we stop waggoning till the babe is birtht? You’ll be at least seven lunes before the weather improves significantly, so it’s only an extra two lunes at most, or we could just take nearby deliveries and collections? What bethink you?”
“I don’t know. There’s lots of time before we have to decide, and, despite my breasts, I may wish to escape the Folk from time to time. However, I have come to some decisions regards what you askt me lastdaynigh. I definitely don’t wish to live in the Keep, but I’m happy to try Outgangside first, and if that is too difficult for me we can try with one of the waggoner families at Dockside who’ll be pleased to have us with them. I don’t belive we’ll have to resort to one of the holdings, but if we do my sorrow but we do. We’ll stable the team with Dad to start with. And the other thing I’ve decidet is I’m sickent by the way I’ve been denigratet and disparagt as a freak by one canard after an other all my life. I admit I’m different, and if that makes me a freak so be it, but that’s no reason to treat me with despite, and I’ve had enough of it. I have agreement and betimes a babe, and I will some status, and I will it for both of us and more importantly for our children, so I don’t wish the chlochan pelt selt to be cut up for trim.”
As a Mistress waggoner Turner already had a lot of status, so Otday wondered what she meant. “So what do you wish it to be selt for?”
“I don’t wish to sell it at all. I will it as a cover for our bed which will give the meaner spiritet some thing to have spaech over other than how different I am, or of your past.”
Otday smiled and said, “That will upset a few who regard themselfs as affluent won’t it?”
“Do you object? It’s a lot of tokens we’d be giving up.”
“No. It’s an excellent idea. It’ll divert considerable gossip away from both of us. As to the tokens, I know you sayt a third were mine, but you killt it, and we doetn’t have the tokens before, so their lack will not cause us to miss them. Furs are there for the taking, and it’s not as is we are struggling is it?” From their poor initial relationship the couple were now close, for, as Otday now knew, Turner had problems as difficult as his to deal with and she needed and willen him every bit as much as he did her. They anticipated some initial difficulties on their return, but neither were bothered. They were in love, had a babe to look forward to and by the standards of most of the Folk were affluent as a result of both their endeavours. They had their winter planned, Turner was going to spend time making arrows and clothes both for herself and the babe as well as for Otday. Though his arrows were still mediocre, Otday had become a fair bowman and an even better trapper, and they had a fortune’s worth of prime furs for trading, besides the fabulous chlochan pelt. Otday was going to see what he could learn of farriery over the winter as well as running trap lines berount the Keep. Other than that they planned on enjoying themselfs, may hap in the Greathall. but mostly at home just being with each other. “How long to Outgangside? Hour? Hour and a quarter?”
“No I bethink me not, Love. We’ve been making good time. The trail is good, any hap my breasts aren’t hurting, and the horses aren’t having to work too hard. From the way they’re pulling I suspect they know where they are and that there are oats in a warm stable not far away. May hap fourty-five or fifty minutes to Gudrun’s, a bit less to Dad’s. You happy regards that?”
“Yes. Nervous, but happy. He’ll know of where we can find somewhere to live. I suppose if all else is taken Ivy will have chambers available, if you don’t mind living mongst the working quarters of the Mistresses of Leisure? For there’ll be a lot of folk coming and going there, and I know that makes you uncomfortable.”
“I consider that to be a good plan. Taking chambers at Ivy’s is not the same as being surrount by a lot of folk at the Keep, for most of the folk at Ivy’s don’t live there, and when Havern and I taekt chambers there I wasn’t uncomfortable. Those folk will be far too busy enjoying themselfs eating, drinking, dancing, being entertaint and bedding to bother us. Havern telt me Ivy long since had agreement with a waggoner and trett us all with favour. She certainly won’t accept poor behaviour under her roof to any, least of all a waggoner. Last time I hearet of one insulting a waggoner she wouldn’t serve him for a year. If you pay your debts and are polite Ivy will not let any insult you with impunity under her roof. And any hap she’s as much a freak as any and is proud of it. An other benefit is the Swan’s crèche if we keep the chambers for when I birth the babe. I like the idea, so let’s try there first, for we can always find warm workshop space for us both at Outgangside.
“However, what ever happens and where ever we live I’d like us to dine alone this eve, and we’ll invite Mum and Dad to eat the evemeal with us nextday. Let’s not rush aught. I know I’m not big, but it’s obvious I’m pregnant, so that gives us something safe and easy to have spaech of, and I’d like to visit the midwifes nextday. I suggest we just forget every thing to do with why you left. Give Mum, Dad and Smile your sorrow once, and then never refer to it again to any. There is certainly no need to refer to it with Warbler or Jed or any of his syskonen. When we take the chlochan pelt to be finisht the furriers will ask how we came by it, for it’s the biggest they will ever have seen. I don’t mind you telling the tale, for it will serve a purpose. Jed is sure to hear of it and he will pass the matter over(7) with you rather than risk a confrontation with me, and of course once the pelt is on our bed, Ivy’s chamberers will see it and the entire Folk will know of it within two days. When it is known that I am training you in the muscle skills of the changt, as it will be quickly after our first practice bout, none will wish to find out the hard way just what you can and can’t do. I’ll tell Swegn of it, and he’ll make it known to any who ask of us we’ve been agreen for lunes and you’ve been training with me since our agreement.”
As they pulled their waggon up outside Joseph the brew Master’s stables, they looked at each other and smiling steeled themselfs. As they were dismounting, a couple of ostlers came running out, and Turner said, “Full stabling(8) for the winter please. The near centre is six lunes in foal so I will her fedd appropriately with marestrongth,(9) but there’s a labelt sack of it in the waggon to use first before we need to pay for any. We’ll discuss the unloading and delivery of the goods after I’ve had spaech with my father.” She held her hand out to Otday, and the couple went in linking arms. The ostlers knew who Turner was, for all who had aught to do with horses knew who all the waggoners were, and they recognised her horses and knoewn their names too. They knew Shwetha, the pregnant mare, and of her adventures with Tibok, but they didn’t recognise Otday and wondered to whom she was referring as her father. Turner saw Eorl with his back to her cleaning some tack. “Goodday, Father Eorl.”
Eorl whirled berount, for, on hearing himself addressed thus by a female voice, his immediate inchoate thought had been that Smile now had a female agreän which bewildered him for she had just acquired a male heartfriend and was a long way from thirteen. He barely recognised the stranger standing in front of him holding Turner’s hand as Otday. He taekt the two steps to his son and hugged him as though he’d never let him go. Both had tears streaming off their cheeks. “My sorrow, Dad, for causing you such grief.”
Eorl dashed the tears from his face and said, “Water down the Arder,(10) Son. Your Mum must be telt betimes that you’re back.” He choked and said, “There’s not been a day she hasn’t cryt for you, Son, but you have my gratitude for your letters, for they easen your mum’s pain greatly. Well come home, Otday.” He turned to his daughter, who was only eight years younger than he, and indicating her condition said, “I see you keept your side of the bargain and maekt a man of him.” He opent his arms to her, and, kissing her cheek, asked, “When do I become a grandfather, Daughter Turner?”
Turner blushed as she admitted, “We are not entirely sure as neither of us know much concerning pregnancy. I know much more of mares than I do of women. We have a record of the date of my last lunetime and are hoping the midwifes can offer some what more than we know. I have no family, kin or clan I can have spaech with of the matter, but Otday says the womenfolk in my new family will probably give us advice if we ask. I hope so.”
“You need to be careful asking questions like that of our womenfolk, Daughter. Advice of that nature is like the long hoept for summer rain after drought, the storm’s deluge is too much at one time and guaranteet to cause confusion. Just ask you mum to start with. Let us find her betimes.”
Otday said quietly, “We have the load to deal with first, Dad. There is a lot of meat and fish for the kitchens and herbs for the herbals. The herbs are all labelt. Other than the three crates of parcels and the crate of letters at the rear which are a few hundreds of individual deliveries mostly from folks’ kin and kith not returning to the Keep for the winter, the rest including the marestrongth and the furs is ours.”
Eorl shouted, “Axle, Ester, Spile, fetch six or better eight large hand carts and aid. The meat and fish to the kitchens and the herbs to the herbals, please. The food will be a want, so hurry for the evemeal please. Take the three rear crates and the mail to the Master at arms receiving office and ask that they have their contents delivert. Where are you taking chambers, Son?”
“We bethinkt ourselfs at the Swan for a variety of practical and personal reasons,” replied Otday quietly. Eorl was pleased at the change in his son, but it would take some getting uest to.
They walked out to see crafters lighting the yard lights ready for sunset at quarter to three. “What of your chattels?”
“If you could store the two crates of furs till they go to the furriers for finishing we’d be grateful, Dad, but the rest including the chlochan pelt should be taken to The Swan, please.”
Eorl nodded to his daughter and said, “Of course.” Eorl was impressed by sheer number of furs in the large crates, which were worth a small fortune. He ran a hand over the top one in one of the crates, and was further impressed when he felt its neath side by it’s quality which was such as to increase its value considerably, for few were brought in by the waggoners in such prime condition. Then he saw the chlochan pelt, the largest and the most luxurious he had ever heard of never mind seen. “Mercy me! How doet you acquire that and what doet it cost?”
“Turner killt it with her hands whilst it was in mid-spring, Dad. So it cost us naught. We’re going to have the furriers finish it and use it as our bed cover.”
Eorl had heard the tales of Turner and the others like her, and had discounted most of them as the products of an over active imagination or too much out of a mug, glass or bottle, or more belike both. This, however, maekt the tales seem wan by comparison. He gulped and swallowed before saying, “I see you have many tales to tell. Would you like the pelt taken to the furriers to await your instructions? Rather than the Swan?”
Turner hesitated before saying, “Gratitude, but no, we’ll take it ourselfs. We do not wish any fuss, Father Eorl. We have our different reasons for wishing to spend a quiet winter. I wish to make arrows and clothes for the three of us and Otday wishes to continue trapping, he’s the one who provides and prepares the furs. He also wills to learn some farriery if it can be arrangt. We both need to maintain our muscle skills which is one of the reasons we will chambers at the Swan, for the dance hall isn’t uest during the day and we can exercise in private there. We also wish to find warm workshop facilities some where, preferably close to the Swan. What I have just telt you is as much as we wish to be maekt public. Please help us, Father Eorl. Neither of us will the glare of scrutiny, and if we can’t get the privacy we need here we’ll try Dockside. If that doesn’t work, we have been telt we are well come at a number of the all year holdings we service.”
“I’ll protect your privacy, Daughter, and make sure the Folk are aware of what you wish them to be aware of. My son is lucky to have agreement with you.”
Turner could see Eorl knew exactly what was going on, but concerned he only had part of the tale she said, “I suspect what you see is only half of the truth, Father. I need Otday’s protection as much as he needs mine. More may hap, for his difficulties will eventually end whereas mine will be with me to the grave. It is a different kind of protection, but my want is deeper than his. We were both lucky to find and come to love each other. Now I’d like to have spaech with Mum of babes after arranging chambers at the Swan.”
Eorl saw to the disposition of the marestrongth and gave all the necessary orders, and they walked to the White Swan where after some initial spaech of their requirements and possible ways of payment, David was happy to make the chamber arrangements for them. “We can provide a suite for you either at the back of the building which is quieter or one at the front overlooking the activity of most of Outgangside. Which would you prefer?”
Otday looked to Turner who smiled and to his surprise replied, “One at the front please, David.”
“Certainly. Ivy has gone with the girls and some of the children to the Greathall, but, as soon as she returns with my daughters, they’ll arrange bedding and the like, and I’m sure she’ll be happy to accept payment in fur, meat or future service. She’s always happy to accommodate those of your craft, and she will be pleased to see you again, Turner. Especially pleased to see you are married and expecting. My sons will see your bags and appurtenances are taken to your chambers, and all will be ready by six. My daughters use the dancehall to keep a hundred or so children out of mischief in the afternoons, but you are welcome to the use of it in the forenoons, and the boys and I shall ensure your privacy whilst you do. What time would you like to dine at? And would you like to dine in the dining chambers or in your suite?
Otday shrugged at Turner who said, “Half to eight in our suite please. It’s been a long day.”
David kissed her cheek and said, “Neither Ivy nor I are considered to be typical of the Folk, some call us freaks as they do those like yourself, but we care not. On behalf of us both and our family you are most welcome here, and we and ours shall ensure your stay is pleasant, for custom such as yours, rather than that of casual drinkers, is what ensures the future of our children and theirs.”
As they walked from the Swan to the Keep to find Betony they chatted, first of David’s well come and then mostly of trivia, and Eorl realised this son was someone who with his agreän could forge craft agreements of high value and he no longer knew him. Turner had always been an enigma and regarded as the most changt of the changt, and that was why he no longer knew his son, for to Otday there was clearly naught enigmatic regards Turner at all. He reflected that it must be true, and not just a tale she’d given him to protect her man, that she needed Otday as he needed her.
Betony was at home. She hadn’t been crying, not since lunch any hap, but she maekt up for the tears she hadn’t shed thisday when Turner and Otday arrived. She dismissed Otday’s apology as had her husband. Naturally enough of all they had to tell it was of Turner’s pregnancy she was most interested in. Given the date of Turner’s last lunetime she doet some rapid calculations on her fingers and announced, “Somewhere in the middle of Svertan, Love.” Betony noticed Turner easing her breasts in her apron and said, “Your breasts look over heavy, Dear. I was the same with Smile, and it was paining. However, now you can go to the seamstresses for aid. One of the newfolk women and a group of others make garments especially designt to support a heavy bosom which a lot of pregnant and nursing women say provides considerably more support and comfort than an apron. With nearly six lunes to go you may be glad of some. Unfortunately I can’t remember what they are callt, but it is a newfolk word that sounds rather peculiar.”
“That sounds more than useful, Mum. This last lune I’ve increast in size dramatically and I’m permanently leaking. Worse, I’ve had to let Otday do most of the driving whilst I’ve lain down in the waggon bed to avoid the hurt. We were both glad to arrive at the Keep.”
“If nextday after seeing the midwifes you go to the seamstresses and then call here we can look through the newbirtht’s clothes. I still have much that Otday and Smile were dresst in. You are the only one I’m aware of pregnant in the family at the moment, so if you will to make babe clothes you’ll have plenty of aid, and probably enough giftet too to dress twenty babes, for there’re a lot of us and outgrown clothes are given to any who has the want at the time, but I kept some for Smile’s babes.” Betony looked awkward as she realised she had unwittingly admitted she had considered it unlikely that Otday would ever be a father, however she recovered and continued. “Would you like me to enquire for a crib? There must be at least half a dozen unuest somewhere with the clansfolk at the moment. Can you knit?”
Turner, with tears in her eyes, turned to Otday, kissed his cheek and said, “You were right, Love, but I have to admit to the doubts I had.” She turned to Betony and said, “I have none at all to turn to, but Otday telt me the women of my new family would help us. I sayt naught at the time, but unuest to such help I doubtet him. We should be grateful if you could find a crib.” As a thought flitted across her mind she braekt off her conversation to Betony and said, “Otday Love, we don’t have to trade all the furs. We could keep some of the warmest larger ones as crib blankets. What bethink you?”
“I’m hoping to provide some more long before we’d need them on a crib, but yes I’ll go to the furriers and pick out the best. How many?”
“Six. That would be aplenty and I could make warm babe clothes with some of them, and I’d like a whole sheep’s skin too, so see if you can trade for one please, and then we’ll trade the trimmings.” Turning back to Betony Turner continued, “I had none to teach me to knit or crochet when I was a girl, and being ill regardet as a freak I was too proud to ask any for help, but I teacht myself to sew, and I can seam fur and leather as well as I can hem cloth.”
“No matter. If you can handle the reins of a team you can knit and crotchet. You tell me when it’s convenient, and I’ll teach you myself, or Smile will if you are happy regards learning from one so much younger?”
“Learning is learning, Mum, and has no connection with the age of the teacher or the learner. Will you dine with us nextday at the Swan? I bethinkt me just the four of us the first time. Say at half to eight?”
The arrangements maekt the couple returned to the Swan. “That wasn’t too bad was it, Turner?”
“I feelt comfortable. Your dad always trett me plumb, and I’ve always liekt him, but I was a little nervous regards meeting your mum, for more women than men regard those like me with despite, but I like your parents. Your dad is a lot cleverer than your mum isn’t he?”
“Yes, but Mum makes most of the decisions. Difficult to believe I know, but she’s a lot harder than Dad. I love you, Turner.”
“I love you too, Otday, but what maekt you say that just then?”
“I’m not sure, but it occurt to me I hadn’t tell you for a while, so I just doet.”
“I don’t wish to seem ungracious, but it beseems me it is some how wrong to express gratitude to one’s agreän for unsolicitet expressions of love, so I won’t, but I am happy to be your wife and happier still to have your babe neath my heart, and I will to be your wife for a long, long time and to have many more of your babes neath my heart too. And wrong or no I’ve changt my mind. Gratitude, Love, for I love you.”
“Turner, one of the things I love regards you is your constant inconstancy. However, I have no such issues. Gratitude for your love, Love.” The pair giggled like children all the way back to the Swan.
After the couple had gone, Eorl telt his wife of all he knew of the couple that had befallen before they had arrived home. “He’s not just grown up, Love. He’s become some other, almost like one of the changt. Still our son, but a man of ability, care and, hard to believe I know, discretion. They are greatly affluent, and Otday seems to be the major creator of their affluence. There was a lot neither of them discloest, but you can see they are more than just agreäns. Mercy knows how it all came to be, and I’m sure we’ll never be telt. Crafting with horses means I know Turner may hap a little better than most, but none know her well, I suspect not even Ivy who has always regardet her highly and championt her cause. She has always been Folk, but never of the Folk, for her differences and the way she was trett as a child maekt her feel apart. I believe Otday is no more of the Folk than Turner now, and the pair will only be truly happy alone on their waggon.”
“All that is possibly true, but a riandet,(11) for they are expecting a babe, Otday is alive, and whether he is some other or no the family is whole again. I wonder if Coney still has that crib or if she passt it on? I’ll have spaech with Mother Åse, she’ll know who has what.”
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, Alastair, 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, Coral, 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
98 Turner, Otday, Anbar, Bernice, Silverherb, Havern, Annalen
99 Kæna, Chive, Ivy, David, Birch, Suki, Hyssop, Whitebeam, Jodie, Ganger, Reedmace, Whiteout, Sandpiper, Catherine, Braid, Maidenhair, Snowberry, Snipe, Lærie, Morgelle, Tuyere, Bistort, Fritillary, Ælfgyfu, Jennet, Cattail, Guy, Vikki, Buckwheat, Eddique, Annabelle, Fenda, Wheatear, Bram, Coolmint, Carley, Dunlin
100 Burdock, Bekka, Bram, Wheatear, Cranberry, Edrian, Gareth, George, Georgina, Quail, Birchbark, Hemlock, Bramling, Tench, Knawel, Turner, Otday, Ruby, Deepwater, Barleycorn, Russel, Gareth, Plantain, Gibb, Lizo, Thomas, Mere, Marten, Hendrix, Cuckoo, Campion, Gage, Lilly, Faith
101 Theresa, Therese, Zylanna, Zylenna, Cwm, Ivy, David, Greenshank, Buzzard, Zeeëend, Zrina, Zlovan, Torrent, Alastair, Céline, Meld, Frogbit, Midnight, Wildcat, Posy, Coral, Dandelion, Thomas, Lizo, Council
102 Beth, Beatrix, Falcon, Gosellyn, Neil, Maple, Mouse, Ember, Goose, Blackcap, Suede, Gareth, Robert, Madder, Eider, Campion, Crossbill, Barleycorn, George, Céline, Midnight, Alastair, Pamela, Mullein, Swager, Msrgæt, Sturgeon, Elliot, Jake, Paris, Rosebay, Sheridan, Gælle, Maybells, Emmer, Beauty, Patricia, Chestnut, Irena, Moor
103 Steve, Limpet, Vlæna, Qorice, Crossbow, Dayflower, Flagon, Gareth, Næna, Stargazer, Willow, Box, Jude, Nathan, Ryland, Eller, Wæn, Stert, Truedawn, Martin, Campion, Raspberry
104 Coolmint, Valerian, Vikki, Hawfinch, Corncrake, Speedwell, Cobb, Bill, Gary, Chalk, Norman, Hoopoe, Firkin, Gareth, Plover, Willow, Dewberry, Terry, Squill, Campion, Tracker, Oak, Vinnek, Wolf, George, Jason, Lyre, Spelt, Treen, Bullrush, Paul, Bilberry, Ross, Whirligig, Sherman, Trout
105 Council, Thomas, Pilot, Vinnek, Dale, Luca, Almond, Macus, Skua, Cranesbill, Willow, Campion, Georgina, Osprey, Peter, Hotsprings, Fyre, Jimbo, Saxifrage, Toby, Bruana, Shirley, Kirsty, Noah, Frost, Gareth, Turner, Otday, Eorl, Axle, Ester, Spile, David, Betony
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.
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 Nithing, an exceptionally vile, despicable person, a person completely without honour. A term of utmost opprobrium especially uest in connection with oath braekers and murderers. Nithing is a noun that is usually used without an article thus ‘he was nithing’ rather than ‘he was a nithing’.
2 Chlochan, a huge snow leopard that usually hunts elk, winter-elk and aurochs. At maturity they are the size of a large waggon horse. The queens, females, are larger than the toms, males.
3 Whilth, distance expressed as the time taken to cover it.
4 Cotte, a female bottom, see below.
5 A cotte like a peach. Refers to a woman’s bottom. The Folk word for a female bottom is a cotte. The word derives from apricot and the male form is cot. Apricot fruit oft have a defined cleft like a pair of buttocks. Peaches are much larger than their close relatives apricots, so a woman with a large and attractive bottom has a cotte like a peach. The expression is only ever uest to indicate an attractive feminine looking woman. The terms cotte and cot are every day respectable words uest by all. They may also be uest to indicate a single buttock. A woman has a left cotte, a right cotte and a cotte that includes both. She does not have a pair of cottes. The words cotte and cot are singular and plural. Like most but not all Folk words the default is the feminine. Cotte would be uest for example for a babe of unspecified sex.
6 Apron, a direct descendant of a Bavarian Dirndl. An apron consists of a laced bodice atop a full skirt. It is worn with a low-cut blouse with short puff sleeves, which often are threaded with ribands, and an apron. It is normal and frequent wear for women of the Folk.
7 To pass the matter over, to put it in the past, the matter being now closed.
8 Full stabling, Folk term for full livery.
9 Marestrongth, a herb particularly beneficial for pregnant and nursing mares, and efficacious for ailing and convalescent horses.
10 Water down the Arder, Folk expression equivalent to Water under the bridge. It indicates something that has passed and is over and done with.
11 Riandet, a mater of no consequence.
