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.
7th of Von Day 157
After Jodie had returned to the Keep with the crew and her family she was immediately contacted by Sunshine. Sunshine who was sixty-three was the great-granddaughter of Ellberry’s sister. Sunshine, with Peach on her lap, telt Jodie “I am here on behalf of the clan. Such of the clan as could be contactet have discusst the matter, and we are all pleast to hear you have Ellberry’s book and feel you are family. Three of the elders remember Ellberry and they would like to tell you of her, but all are delightet to accept you, Ganger and Peach as members of the clan and in particular you and Peach as the descendants of Ellberry. Our only sadth is Ellberry will never know.”
It was a very emotional meeting. Jodie flooding with tears asked, “When can I meet the elders who knew her?”
“The flocks are already being bringen back to be nearer the Keep before the winter snow makes it impossible, so the entire clan will be back within a tenner. The elders bring the children back first and they will be back in a day or two. So you will be able to meet with my mum who is Pennyroyal and also with Scallop and Spikenard then. They are in their nineties and all hale. Mum is ninety-seven, and she sayt you were the most interesting thing to have happent for fourty years.” Sunshine explained how the merging of the estranged clan lines which had been attested to by the Folk at second Quarterday meant Jodie had at least two hundred new clansfolk, some of who were at the Keep now.
That night in bed Jodie asked Ganger, “You don’t mind do you, Ganger?”
“Of course not. I’m happy to belong to the clan as well as to our family acquiert via Dad, who will, I know, be delightet for you.”
Within two days Jodie had met nearly forty of her new clan and had never felt such a sense of belonging. Jodie, Ganger and Peach were invited to dinner by Pennyroyal, a formidable looking old woman who declared, “There are tales to tell of the days when I had pretensions to beauty, and I am pleast to have someone interestet to tell them to before I die. Ellberry was my granny’s sister, and I lovt her.” Pennyroyal introduced Jodie to Scallop and Spikenard saying, “These youngsters have tales to tell too.” She introduced Peach to a number of folk saying, “This is Peach, the great-great-great-great granddaughter of Ellberry, and as with all children in her lies the future of the clan.”
The dinner was for twenty-four and Peach, and it was held in one of the small chambers off the Refectory. After dinner Jodie nursed Peach, and Spikenard telt her, “Of all the sights a man can see, a woman nursing her babe is probably the most rewarding, for in the sight is immortality. Like Pennyroyal I am relatet to Ellberry. I am the grandson of a cousine of hers. How does it feel to have all these new clansfolk, Jodie? Because as usual there will be a grand and formal dinner for the entire clan when they return, but this time you and Peach will be the guests of honour.”
Jodie had had some time to come to terms with her new clansfolk by now and replied, “It is wonderful to belong. I never did before I came to Castle, and I look forward to meeting my new relatives. Do you mind if I write down in my book what you tell me of Ellberry?”
“Not at all, I suggest you bring it with you to make notes if you like. Scallop, for whom Ellberry was the the great auntie of some cousins, none of who are still alive thisday, would like to spend the afternoon of nextdaynigh with you, and Pennyroyal and I should like to join her. If that is convenient?”
It was, and by the end of that afternoon Jodie felt she knew her adopted ancestress much better. She even knew what she looked like because in a book written by Pennyroyal’s mother, Wjätte, there were sketches of various family members one of which was of Ellberry, the sight of which reduced her to floods of tears. Pennyroyal telt Jodie, on behalf of the clan, she would have Hobby copy them somewhat larger and one of Jodie with Peach sketched too as a well come to the clan present.
When Hobby came to see her regarding her sketch she was nursing Peach, and when he was shewn in by Ganger she heard his intake of breath, “That is wonderful! May I sketch the pair of you thus?” Jodie nodded agreement, and Hobby had finished before Peach. Ganger thought the sketch was beautiful, and Jodie thought Hobby had captured a magical moment that maekt her prettier than she had ever felt. Hobby explained, “I’ll just do a copy for Pennyroyal and if you will, shall leave this one with you. I’m going to copy the others later thisday, and Pennyroyal is going to have them fraemt for you, but if you will I can take the original for framing too?” Jodie agreed, and late nextday Pennyroyal came to see her bringing not just the six framed sketches, but another four too, most with several folk on them including herself, Scallop and Spikenard.
Pennyroyal telt Jodie, “I’ll have Hobby sketch all the rest of us too whilst we’re still here to be sketcht, for Peach be able to see when she’s older. I’ll include a family record(1) so it all makes sense.”
Jodie, who was not the most intelligent of folk, was thinking it all through, what she had been and the process of change to what she now was. She wondered why she could never have become what she was now back on Earth, after all life was much harder on Castle, yet she was much more successful and respected here. She came to the conclusion it was down to society's expectations. On Castle the Folk expected one to grasp opportunity. If you failt you simply tried again may hap a different way, none thought the worse of you. If they could they would help you. On Earth the opportunities were there, but it was almost as if people were afraid to reach for them, for fear of being laught at if they failt, or worse thought stupid for trying. It was safer to watch soaps all day still wearing pyjamas and claim the handouts.
8th of Von Day 158
After braekfast, Otday had received a note from his father saying Astrid and Thistle farriers of the huntsmen would be happy to teach him farriery and had asked that he have spaech with them of the matter.
At the infirmary, Turner and Otday were telt by Otter Master midwife, with his apprentice Luval doubling his observations and examinations, he thought she was most likely to birth on the sixteenth of Svertan, though she could so do as much as a lune either side of that, which agreed with Betony’s ‘the middle of Svertan somewhere’ and that he considered her and her babe to be in perfect health. “I approve of you maintaining your muscle skills, for exercise is good for all including the pregnant and their unbirtht too. I’ll tell you what I tell all healthy mothers to be. Just take note of your body and your babe, for you’ll know when it’s time to curtail your activities. If you have any worries come and have spaech of them. It’s what we are here for. I’ll have Luval visit you at the half tenner, for he needs the challenge and will have spaech of each visit with me afterwards. For the while you have no want of me other than at two tenner intervals. However, should you have any concerns tell him, and I shall examine you straightforth.”
The couple left and Otday said worriedly, “Are you satisfyt with being seen by an apprentice, Love?”
“Yes. For Otter with the others are training the next generation of midwifes who have to learn. Otter has telt us that he has oversight of me and the babe and if we have concerns he is available at short notice. Too, I know that Luval is considert to be one of the best apprentice midwifes they have ever traint. Otter is skillt and the midwife of choice for many, and it is believt that Luval will, like his Master, become one of the best. There are others as good, but I do believe our babe is being lookt after by an excellent midwife with a well chosen apprentice. All is well, my love.” All of which assuaged Otday’s worries considerably.
Their meeting with Janet, Mistress brassière, of the seamstresses was a revelation to both of them. Janet shewed them the various styles of support brassières her crafters maekt, including the nursing brassières with the drop down fronts. Both she explained were designed to accept the highly absorbent sphagnum(2) pads to make the matter of leakage dry and comfortable. When she realised Turner was a waggoner crafting with her man, she insisted on making sure Otday knew how to readjust the shoulder straps and to determine which of the five sets of eyes the hooks should be uest with as Turners breasts increased in size.
“A brassière has to be altered whilst you’re wearing it, or it will take forever to get it right, Turner. Which means you can’t do it yourself at all easily. A poorly fitting brassière can become so agonising you prefer not to wear one at all.” Janet chuckled, “Or so I’m told. I’ve never been pregnant, nor had enough bosom to need to wear one, but the benefit of that is even at my age my breasts are still reaching for the horizon rather than my toes. Whilst you’re at the Keep, if you have any problems at all come back and ask for me or Ninija. Keep the one you’re wearing and that box of pads. They can be washed, dried and reused dozens of times. In the meanwhile I’ll have five made for you so you have two in each of three sizes. Another to fit you now, two are for later as you grow and two for when you are nursing and are significantly larger. I’ll have some more pads sent to your chambers at the Swan. You may wish to consider a visit to the pad makers, for they make feminine hygiene products, incontinence products for the elderly and healer dressings as well as the breast pads and products for babes. A number of your craft are taking considerable amounts of them as trade goods.”
As they were leaving Turner offered her gratitude and said, “I can’t believe how much more comfortable that is, Janet. Gratitude again.” When outside, Turner said, “For the first time in a lune I feel dry and comfortable. I wonder how long a pad lasts?”
“I’ve no idea, Love, but I suppose it depends on how much you leak. On the waggon and nursing you’ll need more than are in several of those boxes, for you’ll not be able to wash them every day. Unless of course we carry enough extra water and a bowl. We could always wash underwear every day then too, but we’ll have to have fittings added to the rear of the tail board to carry them, for there’s no space else where. Or we just buy a bigger waggon since there will be three of us, and I’m sure a babe will require as much space as an adult if not more. What do you consider of Janet’s suggestion concerning trade goods?”
“A bigger waggon I opine, Love, like Bernice and Anbar’s. We’ll have spaech with Lucimer and Vinnek and ask regarding awnings too. As to the trade goods, a decidetly good idea for aught that makes such things easier for women will trade well.”
Turner left him to meet with Betony to look at babe clothes, and he went to find Astrid and Thistle at Gudrun’s stables at the Huntsman’s Place. On his way he bumped into his sister, literally bumped into her as they walked berount a corner into each other. She’d grown too and he was maekt aware of the swell of her breasts as they buffered her impact with his chest. She was a little taller than when he’d last seen her but at five feet and two spans she only just reached his shoulder. She threw her arms berount him and flooding with tears said, “I’m so happy you are back. You’ve grown, Brother.” So close was she to him she was craning her neck back to look into his eyes and it thrust her breasts forward.
His eyes looked down and she blushed as he said, “So have you, Sister, and you are very pretty. I have sorrow for all the problems I caust you in the past, Smile, and I offer you apology.”
Smile blushed even deeper as she stuttered, “I love you, Otday. Mum telt me you are now greatly different. You have my forgivth. It always was yours for the asking, but now I’d rather forget it if you don’t mind?”
Otday bent down and kissed her forehead, “Gratitude, Smile, that is what I should like to do too.”
She agreed with her Dad, he was not the Otday she had known any more, but she could tell he loved her and the problems he had caused were over. It was nice to have a handsome big brother who loved her, and she was going to be an Auntie which was exciting. She pulled his head down to her level and kissed his cheeks and then his mouth before pirouetting away. “You sayt I am pretty. I have some news for you, Brother. Phillip opines I’m pretty too, and he’s rather impresst that I’ve grown too.” As she said the last she blushed again looking at her bosom and said, “They seem to be growing by the day. It’s quite exciting really. Do you mind?”
“Why should I mind that my little sister is becoming a woman? Isn’t that what all girls do?”
“No, not that! Phillip! Do you mind that he’s my heartfriend?”
“Of course not! Who is he? Tell me of him.”
Reassured, Smile said, “He’s threeteen, but that’s in incomer years, so I’m not sure exactly how old he is. His mum is Alsike the Mistress grower and his Dad is Adze the quarter Master at the huntsman’s stores. He’s shy but very nice, though he needs a bit of practice at kissing before I let him kiss me in front of any of the girls. I opine that’s because he’s newfolk.”
“I doubt it’s because he’s newfolk, Sister. It’ll be because he’s a boy. I wasn’t very good at kissing to start with either. We’re a bit slow at that sort of thing.”
“Really! You weren’t very good at kissing too! I don’t feel so bad regards Phillip now. Gratitude, Brother. When can I meet Turner? I’m excitet regards becoming an Auntie.”
“I’m on my way to have spaech with some farriers because I will to learn how to shoe our team, but Turner has goen to Mum’s to sort through babe clothes for newbirthts. Mum sayt she still had some we were dresst in, so if you hurry you’ll be able to join them.”
“Bethink you she’ll let me feel the babe move, Otday?”
“I don’t know. Turner can be a very private person, Smile. It’s why she became a waggoner. I can’t answer for her. It’s her body. She lets me, no she expects me to feel the babe move and even shouts at me if I don’t move fast enough and miss it. You can only ask. She’s never deliberately rude, but as I’m sure you’re aware she’s different from most. She struggles with too many folk getting too close some times and needs to push them away and then to keep them at a distance. I believe she can’t help, as a result of past difficult experiences, distrusting folk. She is, sensibly I believe, suspicious and wary. However, you are her sister, so I expect she’ll say yes, but I don’t know. The best advice I can give you is to tell her the truth, that you are excitet by becoming an auntie and would like to feel her babe move, but make it clear it’s her choice by adding you will understand if she feels uncomfortable with your request.”
“She shouts at you if you don’t feel your babe move?”
“Only some times.”
“Agreäns can be very strange. Just consider Mum and Dad! I wonder if I’ll go that way with Phillip too. I’ve got to go. I wish to meet my sister, and after that Phillip doesn’t know it but he’s got a surprise kissing lesson on the west wall ramparts.” With that Smile ran off in the direction of home leaving a happy brother behind, but she was thinking Turner wasn’t the only one in the family who was different.
Astrid was honest concerning her craft’s wants. “We don’t mind how it works with you, Otday. The Folk desperately need more farriers no matter where they craft nor for whom, so we have come up with the idea of extendet apprenticeship for cross crafters or may hap that should be extendet lærership(3) because some will lap over from apprentice to lærer. I always willen to invent a word so may hap extendet applærship? Any hap a craft farrier has a long list of things they have to be able to do before they can shoe a horse. Obviously the more time you put in the faster you learn to do them. If you learn here over the winters and make sure you don’t lose the skills over the summers by taking a small anvil with you on the waggon for practice you’ll master the requiert skills, it’ll just take you a bit more time. You won’t be able to shoe horses for some while, but most of the tasks you need to be able to do find application elsewhere in general smithcraft, so I imagine you could earn some tokens on your travels long before you become a Master farrier. If you will to learn we are willing to teach you.”
“How long does it usually take a full time apprentice? How long doet it take you, Thistle?”
Otday was taken aback by the guffaws of laughter from both farriers. Eventually Thistle replied, “I was not typical, Otday. Astrid was my Mistress, and my clumsyth was oft her despair. She had never hearet of an apprentice farrier who taekt as long as I to learn. I never spent less than sixteen hours a day, oft twenty, at the anvil and I taekt twice as many years as most. From threeteen to goen twenty-one.
12th of Von Day 162
Shelagh had been happily married to Silas for five and a half lunes. He had turned out to be a kind and considerate husband, exactly the kind of man Shelagh had given up on trying to find back on Earth. As her pregnancy had progressed she had of course had an expanding waistline but even at nine lunes she was not large. Her bosom on the other hand was now in a fair way to becoming a rival to Molly’s. Silas had admitted in bed he was impressed, and since she enjoyed his attentions she was happy it should be so. Though she warned him if he became less attentive as her breasts eventually reverted to their former size she would be seriously unhappy with him. Silas had laught, and she had asked him what the laugh signified. Silas with mock contrition replied, “If pregnancy gives you that which commands attention, there’s a simple solution to a shrinking bosom isn’t there? And I have exactly what is requiert to provide that solution don’t I, my love?”
Shelagh realising what he meant laught and said, “I told you I wished a family, so I suppose it’s a fair solution. Especially since I am rather fond of that particular solution.” Despite her pregnancy, they had tried out Silas’ suggestion just for the practice. When Basalt was birtht, after a hard twelve hour birthing, Shelagh had required stitching after the effects of the herbs Suki had finally felt there was no option but to use. As she nursed Basalt, in a rather weakened voice she had asked Silas, who was much happier than he had been two hours earlier, “You do remember the solution you proposed to counter shrinking bosoms don’t you, Love?”
Silas replied with a smile, “I do indeed, Love.”
Shelagh continued, “Don’t forget it because it may be a while before we can put the plan into operation.”
Silas smiled again and said, “I won’t forget, Love. I promise.”
17th of Von Day 167
“Look, whales, Robert.” Madder pointed off the starboard bow where in the distance they could see the whales as they played between the ice floes powering themselves up to leave the water and making huge waves that rocked the floes as they returned to the ocean. As the Rider neared the whales they could hear the eerie haunting whale song.
“They have been hunted to near enough extinction on Earth,” Robert telt her angrily with tears in his eyes. “It is believed there is no longer a sufficient population of most species to survive, and they like a lot of other species are doomed.” He telt her of the great auk, dodo, passenger pigeon and many more. “I don’t have a problem with hunting, but the greed and waste has been incalculable. There are many knowledgable persons who believe humans have damaged the Earth’s life systems and its lifeforms both plant and animal so badly the planet itself is doomed.” Robert would be a very old man when he learnt how close that greed and waste had taken the Earth to the very brink of extinction and how fragile its tenuous redemption by the survivors was to prove.
It was clear to Madder Robert was much upset by what he telt her, and she didn’t know what to say to comfort him. So she hugged him and said, “You’re here now, Love, and its not like that here. In the shipcrafters’ archives is a record of some two dozen men in the last incursion who formt a crew and built a ship to hunt whales, there were no folkbirtht in the crew. The newfolk set sail and were never hearet of again, which was considert to be appropriate. Whales and their relatives are not huntet by seamen here, though we do eat ones that become beacht and die. It’s not that it’s considert unlucky to hunt them, more that they are too like us since they have spaech with each other.” Robert nodded and smiled bleakly.
Over the next tenner she thought of what Robert had telt her and his obvious hurt from it, and in bed one eve she said, “You should write it all down of the whales and everything else you telt me, Love. And have all the other incomers write down what they know too. Tell Aaron what you are doing because if any can make sure it will never happen here he is the one. At least that way you will have doen everything you can, and be easy with yourself.” Robert nodded as he considered Madder’s words, and started his writings three days later.
Every watch since setting sail, Robert and Madder had checked the sunstone devices,(4) the modified sextant and the new one too all the way to the the Far North Glacier where Storm Rider had voyaged with fuel wood for Glacier View and was now loading ice blocks at Ice Wharf. The Rider had not originally been going north, having recently been there, but it had been decided to exchange voyages with the Dolphin in order to test the instruments. The Dolphin’s crew had been happy to go south into the warmth. and the Rider’s crew were happy to go north even in winter as they all felt they were involved with the new instruments. The sunstone devices had been a bit of a disappointment at the latitude of the Keep, but the farther north they voyaged the better they worked. By the time the ship reached latitudes where magnetic compasses were problematical, they were working well, and though few ships went that far north other than to collect ice from the Far North Glacier or to take hunters seeking furs or mammoth, it was felt the sunstone device was so useful an instrument that every ship should carry one. The modified sextants worked efficiently and the new ones were equally good, but no better. The advantage of the new ones was they were much easier to make.
On watch on the return voyage to the Keep, they were observing a particularly splendid display of the Castle lights one eve when, Madder said to her husband, “You know, Robert, you should have a first mate’s papers. I have, and it’s flaught(5) for a man with your abilities to remain an ordinary seaman, you’re a navigator! You should see Eider.”
“Madder, be reasonable. Eider can’t give me a first’s papers straight from being an ordinary seaman.”
“Why not? You know everything a first has to know and more, none would insist you goent through all the usual steps. Eider’s no member of the flaught,(6) he knows unusual circumstances call for unusual measures.” She paused before continuing, “You know I wish a family, but I wish to ship on one of new ships…as captain. They will be huge and I could have my family with me. If you shipt as first you would learn everything you needet for captaincy within a year, long before the new ships will be launcht. Mostly its just tides and places to avoid. Let’s see him together.” By Robert’s next watch he had his first mate’s papers. But he insisted he kept watch with another experienced watch keeper so he could keep learning stars.
Steve’s incomplete star charts had been of so much help to the young navigators on the Braeker to learn the night sky they had been copied for all ships to use, incomplete as they were. With the agreement of the crew and the craft Masters, rather than taking the usual turns on the routine voyages, Limpet was voyaging the Braeker to wherever Steve needed to go to add as much as possible to the charts as quickly as possible. When last at the Keep Madder and Robert had had spaech with Steve with a view to beginning a Castle almanac.(7) The major problem was in order to create accurate ephemerides(8) for astronomical objects they had to have a better system of time keeping than Castle uest. As a result they were all hoping George’s chronometers would be accurate enough for the purpose.
Madder knew she could possibly be two lunes pregnant, or just have missed a lunetime, and she was desperately hoping she was going to miss this lunetime too, so she could allow herself to believe she was pregnant. Robert was as anxious as Madder, for her and for himself too. Though he said nothing, he knew by the time they had returned to the Keep Madder would either be an overjoyed mother to be, or a deeply distressed woman who would probably need more help and support than he could provide, the idea of which caused him considerable distress. Despite that, they were however going to see Honey, the ship Mistress to register their desire for one of the explorer class ships.
18th of Von Day 168
Bekka had had her babe, Cowslip, a hale little girl of just over three weights, two days since. Burdock, her husband of two lunes, had had to go to Pike Mere lastday with a waggon loaded with all sorts of things, but it was the waggon itself that was the most important piece of equipment he was taking. By waggon it was a five day trip, and the last part from Galena mine was a new and poor trail. He would be returning by sea which could take less than a day with a favourable wind. The waggon and its contents could have been taken by ship, but he had to do some trading at a holding on the way. Burdock had had to go to the holding four times since they had married, and Bekka, as before, was missing him, but since a lot of the waggon’s load was furniture and household effects connected with taking his wife and daughter home she was reasonably content he had gone this time.
Though she had met the other three couples who crafted at the holding, she hadn’t met any of their nine children. She was looking forward to meeting the children who ranged from nineteen down to babes, and she was eager to make a start on her new life. Burdock would be back in a few days, and next time when he left for the holding they would all be going as a family by ship. In the meanwhile, she was not just looking after Cowslip, she was looking after a hen with a dozen newly hatched chicks she had been given by Swansdown, whom she was friends with, as a present for her new home. Swansdown had assured her they would be safe and hale in their weaven coop till they finally arrived at the holding as long as they had fresh water and a little coarsely ground meal which she had also provided. Bekka was looking forward to surprising Burdock with them. As far as she was aware the holding had no hens.
21st of Von Day 171
Though Aquilegia was not a Folk name, it was the name of a beautiful flower that Susan liekt. Flower names were popular for girl children with the Folk, but aquilegia were called bonnets on Castle, and Susan didn’t wish to name her daughter Bonnet, so the family were awaiting the arrival of Aquilegia. Susan had been on Castle for nearly six lunes, and her babe was due any day. She had been married to Kingfisher and mother to his five children for almost as long, and they were all very excited anticipating the arrival of Aquilegia. Susan still missed her son, Struan, left behind on Earth, but she had worked through the grief of separation and knew his father would look after him. The pain was less than it had been initially, and though she still cried occasionally Kingfisher’s love helped her to accept the situation.
Her marriage to William had been safe and colourless, but though her marriage to Kingfisher was safe it was aught but colourless. They loved each other fiercely, so they had their disputes, which were equally fierce. They usually resolved their disputes in bed. Years over, she had read, in a book called Fifty Tips on How to Have a Successful Marriage, never go to sleep angry with each other. She had taken that tip to heart. Susan was thinking of a particularly passionate resolution lastevesince of a silly and trivial matter, which they had both admitted later was due to childishth on both their parts, when she realised they hadn’t much time left to wait for the arrival of Aquilegia. Seven hours later Aquilegia maekt her entrance into the world. Kingfisher and the children were overjoyed. Susan was tired, but already thinking of love making. She knew to the Folk adoption had the same status as blood, but she hadn’t grown up with that belief, and she wished a child of Kingfisher’s fathering, so she had every intention of becoming pregnant again as soon as possible. She smiled as she thought, ‘A good row should do the trick.’
24th of Von Day 174
Carley and Dunlin, her husband of nearly two and a half lunes, had fallen in love as they had hoped to do, and they had continued to live with Garnet, who had taken Carley as her apprentice in the meat kitchens. Catkin, Dunlin’s sister, had moved out to live with her man Caltforce, but the two young women had become close. Catkin had become the sister Carley had never had. The midwifes had come to the conclusion Carley must have her dates wrong, and Carley telt them Stonechat had said, “I believe you could be a full lunecycle less pregnant than you believe.” What ever the reasons, Carley had been hale, the midwifes believed her child to be hale, and she eventually started birthing a lune later than she had expected to. Dunlin had been far more worried than she, and was relieved, when Carley eventually started birthing, rather than frantic which had been what his mother had expected of him. Syke was birtht as truedawn was lighting the Keep, and Dunlin felt a huge sense of relief because he had been worried there would be something wrong with his son to account for his delayed arrival.
Margæt telt him, “It is possible Carley misst a lunetime before she became pregnant, or she just maekt a mistake. These things happen, and it is my belief Syke was not late at all.”
Garnet was thrilled with her grandson, and Catkin, delighted to be holding her nephew, embarrassed Caltforce by saying to Carley, “I envy you, Sister. Can you believe it? I’ve been marryt for two and a half lunes, and I’m still not pregnant, and believe me it’s not for lack of effort.”
1st of Topal Day 181
“The last of the forestry crews have returnt, later than we expectet because the weather has been mild, and both have loes a man, which is a total loss of twenty out of the entire incursion, which is at the high end of expectation, but considering the quality of some of the newfolk and what they have bringen us I still consider we have benefitet enormously from this incursion.” The Councillors voiced expressions of agreement with Thomas, and he continued with the details of the latest news.
“The Oaken Ridge foresters have recruitet Marcus who has marryt Almond and Dale who has been adoptet by deputy Master forester Cranesbill. Lucas was killt by Dale. Lucas was an unpleasant man liekt by none and unbeknownst to any had been terrorising Dale to do some of his work. He telt Dale to give him his sharpent axe in exchange for his own which was blunt. Dale decidet to stand his ground and refuest. In an attempt to frighten Dale into complying he blufft he was going to kill him and swung his axe. Dale believt it was all real and killt Lucas with his axe. Skua considert it befitting Lucas had been killt by Dale because his terrorisation had been so effective. Dale is immature and being adoptet by Cranesbill has settelt him and he is happy to be going back to the forest with his mum next season.”
Thomas paused to see if any had aught to say, but he continued when it was indicated he do so. “The High Force crew taekt Jimbo, Fyre and Toby. Fyre has marryt Hotsprings and will be crafting with her family at Eversprings holding. Toby has marryt Saxifrage and will be working with her clan’s poultry. Jimbo dien as a result of his own arrogance and flaughtth.(9) He found an ironwood tree of some size and could not accept it was worthless due to a rotten core. Bruana believes he believt the crew were trying to ensure he doetn’t receive the finders bonus when they refuest to fell it. He wouldn’t listen and startet to fell it himself. I doetn’t know, but apparently a tree like that is very dangerous, and if you take an axe to it it can explode. They hearet the explosion, but when they goent to look they couldn’t find Jimbo and believt him to be neath one of the large pieces of tree. And that I hope is the last of that kind of news we shall be hearing for a very long time.” The Council agreed with that sentiment and looked berount to see what else, if aught, they had to deal with.
“If I may?” asked Master Miller Briar. Gareth nodded his agreement. “There has been some misunderstanding between Mistress Judith and ourselfs as to what constitutes a proper mill on the new mill site. She assuemt the new mill would be of the type she is familiar with which would essentially straddle the river with a building on either side to provide a bearing house for the wheel axle, with the wheel in the middle of the channelt river. This would result in a smoother running and vastly more powerful mill of much greater capacity requiring far less maintenance. The extra cost incurt is not due to the extra building which is trivial, though it could be built so as to provide housing for folk or beasts at a slightly higher cost, but due to the much larger stones the mill could use and the mill wheel effectively powering two mills one on each side of the the river which means an additional pair of stones. Storm is making the stones at no initial cost, but they will require much stronger mill gear and stonework. Not only must the stonework be stronger there will need to be a lot more of it. The lack of a wheel counter weight would be a trivial saving since they are maekt of rubble and hardset. It is the mill crafters’ view we should be prepaert to incur the extra cost in view of the weighth of grain that is going to be grown over there. We anticipate the extra cost to be another fifth to a quarter again, and to begin to recover the cost in three years.”
The Collective(10) was known to be nearly empty owing to the heavy cost of the vital water supply repairs, which many crafters had worked on for no cost to date. Some needed paying to avoid hardship and others were going to recoup it by not paying their Collective contributions for some time. As a result there was some concern expressed regards the extra cost and Yew asked Briar, “Over what period of time are we anticipating the cost to be incurt, Briar? I ask because I do not see a problem with the cost itself, but if it were all to be needet, say nextday, then we do have a problem.”
“I have had spaech with all the Master crafters who will be supplying us or crafting for us, and none will need to press us for three lunes after work commences, which will account for half of what we need. The rest will be spread over the next few years. I can’t be exact you understand, but what I have sayt will be near enough. The mill will not have to be completely finisht before we can use it which will ease the situation.”
Yew looked berount and stated, “I see no reason not to proceed on the basis of what Briar has sayt. What bethink you, Sagon?”
Sagon who was the Master accounts keeper for the Collective and the Keep, was nominally a personal assistant of Thomas, but in effect he ran his own office of twenty-odd specialist staff. For a nominal charge, his staff also managed the accounts of many concerns and crafters who wished the service. “I don’t envisage any problems, Yew. I know there appears to be virtually naught in the Collective at the moment, but that is not the case. The Collective is oewt considerable amounts which it is never possible for those who owe to pay quickly.” He shrugged his shoulders and continued. “It’s not of concern to us because we shall be payt as soon as those who owe can do so. The situation exists for most because they are at some whilth(11) from the Keep and they’ll settle their accounts when they are next here. It is not an unwillingth to contribute. Those debts are as good as tokens and we can work with them. It is a little more complicated, but not difficult. We simply write notes for any who need urgent payment that say what we owe them, which they can use as tokens, and eventually we redeem the notes for tokens. It’s not oft doen from necessity, but in my time as Master accounts keeper it’s been doen four times. However, we always hold considerable tokens for large concerns like Joseph’s brew house, the White Swan, and a number of the larger clan coöperatives who find it more convenient to trade with our notes rather than large quantities of tokens.” Joseph nodded in agreement, “Whilst times we use those tokens in circulation and note our debt to their owners.”
Most of the Councillors did not understand how what Sagon was describing would work, but they accepted if he sayt it could be doen it could. Yew understood, but for the benefit of others added, “I just willen to make sure none will suffer hardship due to not being payt that we could not alleviate out of Collective funding, till the mill is operational and able to pay its debts.”
Sagon added, “If it is the will of the Council to proceed with this, my office shall make it possible. In our archives it states it is one of our functions.”
There was a little discussion. Most agreed with Yew, but some were not sure. Yew looked questioningly at Thomas, who nodded to Gareth, who as usual was chairing the meeting.
Gareth asked, “May I know who is in agreement with Yew?” He counted the agreements and then asked, “And who disagrees?” There were no disagreements. He continued, “Then would I be correct in saying we have a consensus if not a unanimous agreement.” All of the Councillors agreed to that, and Thomas said, “Proceed on that basis if you would please, Briar, Sagon.”
Gosellyn looked to Campion indicating she was to spaek for them, and the Council unaware of what was to follow were interested. “We were all aware of the potential problems poest by Otday, Betony and Eorl’s son, half a year since when we discusst the thrashing Eorl givn him. Normally such a beating would be completely unacceptable and Eorl would have been subject to possibly the ultimate sanction under the Way. It was the unanimous conclusion of the Council that given the circumstances Eorl had behavt tightly and bravely in order to keep Otday not just alive but alive unshent and with the possibility of some status as an adult. It was a set of circumstances none were happy to discus and all were relievt when Eorl apprenticet his son to Mistress waggoner Turner which taekt Otday away from the temptation to further pursue his cousine Warbler which would have led to certain justifyable retribution and his deadth at the hands of her heartfriend Jed or one of his syskonen.(12) The matter is now truly at an end, for Turner has agreement with Otday and when they returnt for the winter she was three lunes pregnant.
“They have taken chambers at the Swan. Otday has grown up, or may hap I should say become some other, and the couple are affluent from his endeavours as a trapper. I’m telt the quality of his furs is of the very highest. We all are aware of Turner and those of her abilities, but few will to have spaech of them. She killt a chlochan(13) to finish it with no trimming at all for they willen to use it as their bed cover complete with the claws. Blackdyke sayt they clearly considert its value to be of no interest, but if they decidet to sell it they would have no need of crafting for four or five years. He valuet their other furs at above ten years remuneration for most crafters.
“Turner, not surprisingly for one who is with child, is learning to knit and crochet. However, Otday is training in the muscle skills with his wife in the dance hall at the Swan every forenoon. The muscle skills at Turner’s level make a person a formidable fighter, more a weapon in herself rather than a fighter. How many of the Folk would be able to kill an attacking chlochan in mid spring with their hands? Turner killt it with one blow and she is tiny compaert with her man, which makes one wonder what he is capable of, for, though they have sayt naught, I am certain, from what has been sayt by those who have had glimpses of them training, and it is only glimpses for Ivy’s menfolk are zealosly guarding their privacy, that Otday is becoming one of the changt if he is not one already. I’ve been telt he has become much stronger, but crafting as a waggoner could explain that, but I have also been telt he can move faster than the eye can follow, and only the changt can do that.
“Otday is also learning farriery with three others over the cold weather with Astrid and Thistle who have agreen to regard him as a long term apprentice learning the craft when ever he is back at the Keep. Clearly the couple have no intention of settling at the Keep, for Otday’s intention is to be able to shoe their team himself. Astrid has said if it takes Otday till he is twenty-five to achieve Mastery it matters not to her and they have had several further enquiries of such apprenticeships and lærerships which they will also be happy to accept such is the want of farriers. Needless to say Otday’s family are relievt by this development.”
The Councillors all looked relieved too, but none said aught till Yew looked to Will and Thomas who both nodded before he looking askance at Campion askt, “Why is this development of such concern to you, Campion? You sayt the matter of Otday is over doet you not?”
Campion looked to Thomas who said, “Tell it all, Campion, not just what we know, but what you suspect too.”
Campion nodded and said, “The matter of Otday, his cousine Warbler and her heartfriend Jed is over, but it is not the matter of Otday directly that causes me concern. It is Turner or may hap Turner and her kind now that one of them has the level of affluence Blackdyke spake of. Otday has somehow developt the ability to craft for tokens by the waggon load. He is not the Otday any here knoewn, for, according to Eorl when Otday helpt to change the wheels on their waggon he pickt up the wheels by two spokes and slid them on to the axles by himself. Those wheels are normally handelt by an overhead hoist and when that is unavailable by four strong men. Eorl also addet he is vastly cleverer and quieter to the point of taciturnity than of yore, and also many-craft skillt and completely devotet to his wife. The wife who is regardet with a great deal of suspicion by a sizeable minority of the Folk. It is the envy of that minority that concerns me.
“Let me be clear. I like and always have liekt Turner, and nothing has changt regards that. Looking berount this chamber I see none who regard her differently from the way I do, but we are intelligent, rational members of the Folk. The flaught are elsewise. They are the sort of persons who can only see being a Councillor as a privilege worth tokens that they are envious of. We know the time it takes us away from our families and the tokens it costs us in loes crafting hours aren’t worth any purely imaginary privilege. We know we do it because unlike most we can and some one has to do it, but those very gifts and talents that enable us to do it blind us to the inabilities and unreason of that minority I spake of. Those of Turner’s gifts are all highly intelligent, yet till now they have been seen to be disadvantagt, which that minority consider is right and proper, but if they become seen to be advantagt as Turner will be as a result of her husband’s abilities to create affluence we have a situation fraught with explosive tensions.
“Turner is not just the only one of the changt to have agreement, she is the only one of the changt in the records to ever have had agreement hithertofore. I can find no record of any of the changt in child or fathering a child. To have agreement and carry a babe under her heart Turner must have resolvt all the most significant problems the changt have always confrontet regarding permanent relationships, so I suspect many more will learn from her how to make an agreement successful and subsequently have a family. If the, let us call them Turners till we have a better name, decide they have to defend themselfs, as they may have to, they will justifiably under The Way kill possibly hundreds or even some thousands. The Turners have always shewn themselfs to be restraint when dealing with prejudice and bigotry, but when confrontet with hysterical mass opposition that turns violent they will not have the luxury of containing their attackers, they shall have to kill or risk their own lifes and those of their families, and, as with any other, with an agreän and a family to protect they would be far more dangerous. In addition should their agreäns become a Turner as it appears Otday has there will be twice as many of them, and only time will tell whether their children will be Turners too
“They may choose to leave the Keep before the situation becomes critical. I’m telt Turner and Otday are well come to live at all the holdings they service, especially for obvious reasons at Woodland’s Edge Holding. We have always known the holders that do not return to the Keep to overwinter are some of the most self reliant and able of the Folk. I would also add they are some of the most intelligent and perceptive of the Folk. Certainly none of the flaught could survive their first winter away from the Keep as holders without significant aid. Possibly the Turners would go to Dockside, but I doubt it. They would probably found a new settlement with some of the holders who have overwintert far from the Keep for generations, and they would chose a highly defensible site. As a people the Folk need the Turners and those holders far more than we need that minority that we usually refer to as the flaught. With their skills and abilities we can’t afford to lose them whether they are under threat or no.
“The questions we, the Council, have to answer are how do we elevate the status of a despiest and resentet handful of Turners sufficiently to keep their intelligence, knowledge and skills available to us? And then if we succeed how do we then control a potential mob to protect that mob from a self inflictet deadth at the hands of the Turners? Ironic isn’t it? To consider we were once asking ourselfs how do we protect Otday from a self inflictet deadth at the hands of the Squad, and the matter was resolvt so tightly that our problem is now the same but hundreds of times larger, for within a decade we could have well over a thousand Turners, not the hundred and odd we know we have now.
“In addition I would point out it is highly likely there are more Turners than we are aware of, for many probably hide their differences to avoid the bigotry and discrimination, and all are evasive concerning their numbers. I askt Qvuine to look into the matter, and after examining their numbers in the records and the way their known numbers have increast over the years she estimatet there are probably ten or twelve times as many as we are aware of, and she sayt that nigh to one in twenty of the Folk is probably changt to greater or lesser extent. Which she estimatet would mean possibly twelve thousand of them in a decade. The Turners without doubt are capable of obliterating the mob, and if we wish the best outcome should it come to a confrontation we need to ensure the Turners know that we side with them and not the mob. Qvuine estimatet that by the time it becomes critical the mob would potentially be three and a half to five thousand in number which is larger than I suspectet, and I am convincet that the Turners could wipe them out with no problems at all.”
Yew looked berount the room to see faces on which were writ the same horror he felt as the reality of Campion’s exposition became apparent. “Do you have any suggestions as to how we deal with the situation, Campion?” Yew asked.
“Yes, but till I have had deep spaech(14) with Turner, her man Otday and as many of the Turners as will have spaech with me and then with Gosellyn, Aaron and Nigel and Wayland too, my ideas are unformt and have a great want of clarity. As soon as we five have any reasonable ideas to present I shall request Thomas to summon an emergency Council meeting.”
Many voices asked, “Wayland‽” in shock and some in horror.
“Yes. Wayland, for he is highly intelligent and as a result of his background he is startlingly creative. Like all the squad he is tight moutht. Aaron?”
“Had you not suggested it I would have consulted him, for he shall surely join Nigel and myself as a person of powers beyond the normal betimes, though I would not have spaeken of it, Campion. Undoubtedly he will become the youngest Councillor on record. I suspect the greatest talent he can bring to bear on this situation, which I know will upset many of you to hear it spaken of, is he is a conscienceless manipulator of folk, yet has a conscience few if any can match. And I am not going to explain what I mean. I have one suggestion which I put to you for immediate implementation.” Aaron looked berount him before continuing, “I suggest one of us has spaech with Turner, Swegn and other notable Turners with a view to them putting forward one of their own to join the Council. If it is the will of the Council, I shall have spaech with them.”
There was general agreement that Aaron should have spaech with the Turners regarding a Councilor, but a general murmur of unhappith at Wayland’s involvement, though none wished to nay say Aaron’s will. Yew sensing it was time to close the meeting asked, “Any wish to table aught else? No? We will all be informt of the next meeting by Thomas’ office. Gareth?”
“I’ll deal with it, Yew.”
“This meeting is now cloest.” It was a sombre group of Councillors who left.
After the meeting when all bar the Collective group,(15) which comprised Sagon, Thomas, Will, Yew, Siskin, Plume, Basil and Milligan, had left, Will asked, “Have we really enough debt in the Collective to cover the worst that could happen regards the new mill, Sagon?”
Sagon grinned, but Yew snorted and said, “Of course not. Have we, Sagon?”
“We haven’t, but we have more than enough to cover the most likely course of events. If things become worse, we write more notes and redeem them later. It’s just a matter of having enough to work with in the short term. There’s no need to press any for payment or to worry them with the details of the accounts. The Folk shall be fedd.”
“You ever run out of debts before, Sagon?” Thomas asked.
“Just once in my time managing the Collective. In my time it was due to the two poor harvests eight and nine years over, and all was completely restort within a year of writing the notes. Then, as this time will be, it was the next harvest, which was a good one if you recall, that endet our problems. But there are many such instances in our archives, and I can recall two such when I was a junior member of the office. It’s simply a question of keeping accurate accounts, and at the end of every lune we settle the accounts of all our major account holders. After all if say Ivy owes Joseph something and he owes her something it is more sensible to reconcile the matter to a single one way debt. That way there is minimised need for notes or tokens. Then we send each account holder a copy of their entire account’s assets and obligations just as we do for Basil, Milligan, Roebuck and the other Keep offices. There are many crafters who have small accounts which taken together make up a significant part of our notes in circulation. Some of those accounts are tiny. Oft children who shrimp, lisebrime,(16) fish or hunt prefer to accept notes or even just an addition to their account which they can write notes on rather than take payment in tokens. We always have remunerated the Quarterday water squad(17) via their accounts, though historically they have always been deemed to craft for Milligan.”
“Sagon, I know you oft write several smaller value notes rather than one large one for Lunelight to use, but how do you know how many of what value to write?” Siskin, who had spent a quarter of a year with Lunelight, Joseph’s Mistress administrator because she had wished experience of private concerns as well as that of Keep offices, was clearly puzzled.
“Oft we don’t,” Sagon replied, “and it is normal, what ever the value of the notes we write, for them eventually to be of too high a value. The notes are bringen to us to exchange for what ever combination of value notes is required, but all who use notes do the same even children. Suppose a child who hunts kills an animal with an expensive fur. Oft the furriers just add the value to the child’s account with us, but if the child wishes they will provide a note. Suppose the child then wishes to buy a knife and to have a few tokens to spend at the Gather which together come nowhere near the value of the fur. They could exchange their note for one written by the knife maker of their note’s value less that of the knife, or if they have enough with us they could tell him to collect payment from their account with us. They can collect tokens from us from their account. Too, the White Swan and a few other large concerns will give them tokens in return for a note if they prefer. There are many ways tokens can be paid and receivt without using tokens.”
The Councillors, who all understood the details of what Sagon proposed, were happy that the only thing that mattered would be achieved: the Folk would be fed. The trivia of dealing with the details of the accounts Sagon’s office would deal with. All was satisfactory, but the matter of the Turners loomed large in all their minds.
2nd of Topal Day 182
Jasmine, her wife Lilac, their two husbands Ash and Beech as well as their six children and their mother Rebecca, had returned to the Keep for the cold weather two tenners since. As always they lived with their mother Fescue, and all were looking forward to the birth of Jasmine’s seventh child. Jasmine who had never had any trouble birthing, telt Lilac, “Ash and Beech take it in turns to be with me when I birth, the other looks after the children. Beech is to be with me this time, but I should like you to be with me too. Mother Fescue is going to help Ash with the children, and Mother Rebecca has sayt she would like to be with me. Are you willing, Lilac? If this makes you nervous, I won’t be offendet if you stay with Ash.”
Lilac kissed her wife and replied, “Nothing would make me happier than to be with you, Jasmine. Not least because I wish to know what to expect, and I think I am ready for contributing children to the family.”
They had been at Fescue’s for nearly a lune when Jasmine started birthing in the late afternoon. They had expected to be there at almost a lune and a half before that happened, but Jasmine had been philosophical and said, “Babes can neither tell the time, nor use a calendar.”
Jasmine had been birthing for less than two hours when Tusk maekt his appearance. Beech watched Tusk nursing for a minute or so, kissed Jasmine and said, “I shall go and tell Ash.”
Jasmine knew he would tell Fescue and their children too, but Ash was their husband and would wish to know as soon as possible, so Beech would tell him first. She smiled and said, “Tell him I love him, and to bring the children to meet their new brother.”
Being present at the birth of her grandson was the best thing that had happened to Rebecca for a long time. With moist eyes she had held Tusk and said to Jasmine, “I haven’t had one this small in my arms for a long time, but he’s a treasure.”
Suki had left saying, “I shall be back nextday sometime.”
When Rebecca and Fescue had taken the children for their eve meal, Lilac announced to Jasmine, Ash and Beech, “Watching Tusk being born was so moving an experience I can’t describe how I feel, but I am now certain I wish to have a babe myself. So Ash and Beech you need to decide how this is going to happen.” Lilac had shared a bed with her agreäns since her marriage and had joined in with their loving, but hadn’t to that point felt she had been ready to make love herself. She continued, “I wish to bed you as soon as possible, but it has to include Jasmine too. This is to me a matter concerning all of us, and I wish all of us present.”
Ash said, “We all knoewn this was how it was going to be when you eventually wisht children, Lilac Love. Let us give Jasmine a lune to recover. Then she can join with us in love. There is no need to rush things.”
Beech growled in his deep voice, “I have waitet a long time to be able to make love with you, Lilac. I telt you when we met, none was going to do aught to any wife of mine without her consent unless he wisht to sing soprano. If you are ready we are ready, but what Ash sayt is sensible. Whilst times we can continue as we have till now. When Jasmine says she is ready, you tell us when you are ready too, and we shall proceed at what ever pace you tell us, and no faster. We love you, and we wish you to love us too, not just now, but as we all grow older too.”
Tusk was a joy to his siblings and kin. Some of who were looking forward to Lilac providing Tusk with a younger sibling. The quartet as always was looking forward to bedtime.
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,
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
106 Jodie, Sunshine, Ganger, Peach, Spikenard, Scallop, Hobby, Pennyroyal, Smile, Otday, Turner, Janet, Astrid, Thistle, Shelagh, Silas, Basalt, Suki, Robert, Madder, Steve, Bekka, Cowslip, Swansdown, Susan, Aqualegia, Kingfisher, Carley, Syke, Margæt, Garnet, Catkin, Caltforce, Council, Thomas, Briar, Yew, Sagon, Joseph, Gareth, Gosellyn, Campion, Will, Qvuine, Aaron, Siskin, Jasmine, Tusk, Lilac, Ash, Beech, Rebecca, Fescue
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 Family record, a family tree.
2 Sphagnum, is a genus of approximately 400 species of mosses that can all store water. Both living and dead plants can hold large quantities of water inside their cells. They can store up to 30 times their dry weight in water.
3 Sunstone devices, devices constructed to determine where the sun is using naturally occurring crystals. Sunstone, sunstone (sólarsteinn in Icelandic) is a mineral referred to in several 13th–14th century Icelandic written sources. “Rauðúlfs þáttr”, mentions the sunstone as a mineral which could locate the sun in an overcast and snowy sky by holding it up and noting where it emitted, reflected or transmitted light.
4 Flaught, foolish, stupid.
5 The flaught, used here as a collective noun for the foolish, the stupid.
6 Almanac, strictly an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers’ planting dates, tide tables, and other tabular data often arranged according to the calendar. Astronomical data and various statistics are found in almanacs, such as the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon(s), eclipses et cetera.
7 Ephemerides, the plural of ephemeris, give the positions of naturally occurring astronomical objects in the sky at a given time or times.
8 Flaughtth, foolishness, stupidity.
9 The Collective, the exchequer, the fund of available public moneys.
10 The Collective, the exchequer, the fund of available public moneys.
11 Syskon(en), sibling(s).
12 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.
13 Deep spaech, a Folk expression for profound conversation.
14 Collective group, one of a number of standing sub committees of the Council
15 Lisebrime, beachcomb.
16 Quarterday water squad, a group of children who ensure the Quarterday stalls are kept supplied with water.
Comments
Turners?
I think I'm missing something. The Council is making plans predicated on their being hundreds or thousands of Turners, meaning (as I understand it) Changed people in permanent relationships likely to lead to children. But so far there's just the one couple, plus however many there might be who are hiding their status. The others have demonstrated that at best they're uncomfortable in long-term relationships, and at worst totally unsuited to the point where such liaisons are impossible for them.
So where is the Council expecting to find this large cohort, not simply of Changed individuals, but of Turners? (Especially since they expect many or most such families to leave the Keep for someplace more amenable to them, even if they have to create one for themselves.) Obviously the Council needs to be ready in the event such a confrontation as they're envisioning does take place, but they seem to be treating it as a near certainty, on the scale of the Fevers.
Eric
Turners
Qvuine's estimate is of possibly c. 1500 Turners at the present time, 1 in 20 of a population of c. 30,000. Admittedly many with lesser degrees of change than Turner and Swegn. The rest is a worst case senario in the near furture, say within a generation. If those 1500 can learn to cope with agreement and do marry and have children, on marriage there are may hap 3000 Turners within a few years if their agreäns become changed, plus adult children within 14 Castle years and more every year thereafter. 3000 Turners could easily deal with the 3500-5000 members of the flaught she estimates, come to that 1500 could. A major source of worry is the loss of the changed. Folk thinking works along the lines of prepare for the worst and be grateful when is doesn't happen.
On a different note, when I posted Ch 106 I left a sentence out. I have corrected the error and the sentence is now added to the summary too. It occurs when Madder and Robert are discussing the ecological damage humans have visited upon the Earth and I include it here.
Robert would be a very old man when he learnt how close that greed and waste had taken the Earth to the very brink of extinction and how fragile its tenuous redemption by the survivors was to prove.
It makes no difference to CTS at the moment but is of significance when the final dénouement occurs.
regards,
Eolwaen
Eolwaen