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.
6th of Topal Day 186
Helen and two craft colleagues were halfway through making the pastry for a batch of several hundred fruit pies, for consumption in the Refectory nextday, when she realised her babes were on their way. She had been swept off her feet by her husband Duncan on her first day on Castle and had enjoyed being married to him, being pregnant and Duncan’s reaction to her pregnancy. It had been his seriousth that had initially attracted her. He was the complete opposite of Jenson, who had left her back on Earth the moment he had been telt she was pregnant, for Duncan was a good husband and she knew he would be a good father. She’d wished a family man who taekt things seriously, not an amusing clown like her last man. She was looking forward to nursing her babes and had admitted to Duncan she wished to be pregnant again as soon as possible after the babes were birtht. Her life before Castle hadn’t had anything terribly bad in it, but neither had it had anything particularly good.
Helen was in love, and her life was in her opinion wonderful, but she knew Duncan was going to be a problem whilst she was birthing. For a highly intelligent personal assistant to Thomas, the Master at arms, he was absolutely without sense when it came to the weäl of his pregnant wife, and she dreaded to think how he was going to be to deal with, but contingency plans had been maekt with the midwifes and his brothers to keep him out of the way till he was needed.
When Duncan was finally allowed in to see her, he had, as one of his brothers put it, “Been melloewt by having a reasonable amount of brandy pourt into him.” Duncan’s brothers, unlike he, were all big heavily built men who regularly drank large quantities of aught that would pour, so just how much that was Helen didn’t wish to know.
Irena pointed to a chair and to Helen’s hand, and said, “Sit in the chair and hold Helen’s hand. If you are a nuisance I shall hit you.”
Though of slight build, Duncan was a tall man who towered over Irena, but he had smiled, and said, “I’ll be good. I promise.” Scent and Silk were birtht in that order twenty minutes apart, and they were small but hale babes. Duncan admitted to Helen with tears running down his face, “I was so afeart for you.”
Helen who knew he couldn’t help himself, and also that his love was the most important thing in her life pulled him towards her, kissed him and said, “Not as frightened as I was for you knowing you were out drinking with those brothers of yours.”
15th of Topal Day 195
As Loosestrife dried herself off after her shower she caught a glance of her self in profile in the full longth mirror. Her usually slim outline appeared ever so slightly thickened at her waist. She spake to the other herself in the mirror, “Ah, Loosestrife, you can’t expect to remain slim all your days. Be honest, you’ve lastet a long time to go fourty-eight years before becoming a little stout. You’ve keept a figure many a woman would have given all she had for. It’s probably because your lunetimes have stopt, a lot of women become a little stout them.”
She looked at her other self in the mirror who appeared to be looking back at her with a mocking, almost patronising look in her eyes. She ignored it, after all it was but a reflection of herself. That is she ignored it till she winced as the hemmed edge of the soft towel caught her right nipple, and it hurt. She touched her nipples in turn and they were both more sensitive than usual. She looked at her nipples which were prominent and firm, which was not surprising since she was wet and cooling. Her nipples did that when they were cold, or she thought with a mischievous and erotic smile, when Tench or Knawel givn them reason to. She reflected back to lastnight, Bramling had taken both the men of the house to her bed and half an hour later when she went to bed herself she had realised she wisht to make love, but rather than upset any she had simply slid into bed with all three of them. Tench turning had said, “Goodeve, Mum,” and his love making had given her nipples good reason to respond. They had become much more sensitive than they were now. Before arising for braekfast this forenoon she had maekt love with Knawel which had had a similar effect.
It wasn’t the first time the four of them had been in bed together, but it had not happened oft. Whilst she and Knawel had maekt love this forenoon Bramling and Tench had too. Whilst they were making love she and Bramling had held hands and afterwards Bramling had said, “That was lovely Mum we should do this more oft.” She smiled at the memory because as she had spaken Bramling had caressed her. As the sun began to melt the rime of hoarfrost off the casement glass her son and his husband had maekt love and Bramling’s caresses led to she and Bramling making love too. Life could be very strange.
However, she studied her breasts more carefully. They beseemt her ever so slightly fuller than usual, the soft skin on the upper surface a little tauter, and both her nipples were prominently firm in the coolth. The whole effect she thought givn her breasts the appearance they’d had may hap ten years over just before her lunetimes. She asked her other self, “Bethink you your breasts fill out a little with the rest of your body when your lunetimes cease?” Her other self in the mirror was looking at her with a decidedly pitying look now. That was when she noticed her areolae and nipples were not only slightly lager than usual they were a shade darker too. In trepidation she looked closely below her navel, and saw what she was looking for, and hoping gainst hope that she wouldn’t find, a faint line extending from her navel to her cleft. She stared at the line, touched it, rubbed it, almost hoping she could rub it off, but it remained, the mute and incontrovertible evidence of her pregnancy. She stared at the woman in the mirror, and said accusingly in tones of anguish, “Oh, Mercy. You’re pregnant!” Her other self now looked back at her with extreme compassion and resilience.
She started to consider the situation. She had recovered from the grief the deadth of Oarweed caused and had always been a woman who enjoyed the pleasures of the bedchamber. Though, four years over, she had resumed love making within four months of Oarweed’s deadth it had been an infrequent occurrence, and usually only happened for comfort when her grief was overwhelming her. It was only this last year she had been making love regularly and frequently simply for the joy of it. For the last two years her lunetimes had been erratic, and she’d not given much thought to pregnancy, she suspected that at her age few woman did, and she had enjoyed with Tench and Knawel the resumption of the quality of life she had enjoyed with Oarweed.
Clearly, the changes to her body were not as a result of her lunetimes ceasing, her lunetimes had ceased as a result of the changes to her body: pregnancy. She quickly came to terms with her pregnancy and became excited by the idea. Her only reservation was as soon as her pregnancy became obvious the family arrangements would become public. When it was realised she was pregnant with no apparent father then the Folk would inevitably draw the correct conclusions concerning both herself and Bramling. Finally dry and reasonably happy with her thoughts she looked into the mirror and said, “Loosestrife, your life is definitely going to be interesting for the foreseeable future isn’t it?” This time her other self looked back smiling and with love. As she dresst she noted her now dry and warm nipples were still prominent and firm.
At braekfast that forenoon, in front of the children she announced, “I’m pregnant. We need to discuss this some time.”
“Are you going to have a babe, Gran?” asked six year old Grebe quivering with excitement.
“Yes. I am, and the moment she or he is birtht you will have an auntie or an uncle, but it’s probably best to use the word cousine or cousin.”
The children considered this to be excellent news. That it was not going to happen immediately but many lunes in the future was considered to be a little disappointing.”
Later, without the presence of the children, Loosestrife explained, “The whole of the family arrangements will now become public knowledge. I di—”
“Mum, it’s a riandet.(1) It’s not your fault. The only things that matter are how do you feel regards carrying a babe under your heart after all these years and how do you feel regards having a babe to rear when you are a granny?”
Loosestrife smiled at Knawel and replied, “Excitet and happy, but I don’t wish your lifes to be maekt difficult.”
Bramling smiled and said, “They won’t be. We don’t need to volunteer aught and folk won’t ask. They will gossip and speculate like at present, but also like now they won’t know aught unless we choose to tell them. We may choose to so do, and if we do what of it? What’s to say? The four of us bed each other, what of it?”
Knawel and Tench both agreed and Tench summed it it by saying, “We’re family. We all love each other and the children and they love us. It’s a riandet isn’t it, Mum?”
There was an uneasy silence that lasted may hap half a minute before Bramling said in exasperation, “Mercy to it all! I’m going to see the woodworkers to have a bed maekt that will take all of us in comfort and the children in the forenoons too. We can take the empty solar as our new bedchamber and the two chambers between it and here too. The solar is large enough and as the children grow we’ll need more space any hap. The persons I love are more important to me than the gossip that having a bed maekt will cause, and it’ll only be a tenner at most before folk find something else to gossip of. They only gossip of us now because they don’t know. Once they know they won’t bother.”
The three of them realised that Bramling had put her arrow in its eye, and that was that.
Knawel after thinking a while said, “Since we don’t give a mercy who knows or opines what, and it looks like we have formt a marriage of four, I don’t wish a sister and a mum I wish two wifes, what bethink you, Tench, Bramling, Loosestrife?” That he referred to Loosestrife by her name and not as Mum had maekt his point.
It was agreed by all they were now a marriage of four and all were happy that it should be so. Even better still was that Loosestrife was going to bring a sixth child to their marriage.
16th of Topal Day 196
The Storm Rider had arrived back at the Arder estuary late lasteve and she’d stood off the coast till there was enough light to navigate the channel, stay away from the mud flats and dock safely. Madder had missed two lunetimes and she had been counting days over and over again, she couldn’t help herself. At two and a half lunes pregnant she had thought she had the beginnings of a bump, at three lunes there was no longer any doubt. She knew she was now three lunes pregnant, but still she wished to visit the midwifes as soon as she could to have it confirmed. Robert had been as anxious and excited as she, and she had agreed with his suggestion that they did not go to sea again till after her birthing.
The couple disembarked at nine and went home for a bath and ate in the Refectory where they met lots of Madder’s kith. Despite their excitement they were both reluctant to tell any till they had been to see the midwifes. It was gone eleven when they arrived at the infirmary and they were met by Otter, a highly skilled twenty six year old who was oft requested by the pregnant as their midwife of choice. He examined Madder who held Robert’s hand all the while. Otter explained, “You are pregnant Madder, as I’m sure you know. This listener(2) I am going to place on you is for me to try to hear your babe’s heartbeat. We can hear the heartbeats of some babes much sooner than others, so if I can’t hear your babe’s it is no cause for concern, for I’m sure I shall be able to in a tenner or two.” Otter placed the end of the instrument on Madder’s bump, which maekt her flinch as it felt cold, and moved it berount as he listened. He finished listening and telt the couple, “I can definitely hear babe heartbeats and there is no reason to suspect aught ill, but would you mind if Luval my apprentice listens too for the experience?” Madder was happy with that, and he left to come back shortly with Luval and Irena.
Luval, listened for longer than Otter had done and nervously said, “I believe I can hear the heartbeats of twins.”
Otter smiled and said, “Excellent, Luval. What bethink you, Irena?”
Madder and Robert could hardly believe what they were hearing and as Irena listened Madder asked, “May I listen too?”
“Of course,” Otter replied and Madder and Robert both listened in turn.
Robert said, “It’s exciting. I suppose all couples think so, but I can’t tell any thing from listening.”
“It’s very confusing,” Madder said. “How can you tell it’s twins?”
Irena and Otter looked at each other with knowing looks and Irena replied, “Like Otter, I’m not sure it is twins. Would you mind if we have another opinion?” Madder, Robert and Luval were all perplexed by this since Otter had said, “Excellent,” to Luval when he suggested twins, but they were agreeable. Luval went for Margæt.
Margæt listened and confirmed twins, but Otter and Irena both shook their heads. Margæt a little indignantly said, “I can definitely hear the heartbeats of two babes.”
Otter looked at Irena and indicated she was to respond, “So can we, but we hear a third one too.”
Otter telt Madder and Robert, “Irena and I belive you have triplets. I should like to be able to keep a close watch on you, Madder, as your pregnancy develops. There is no need to worry, but your pregnancy will be as interesting for us as it will be exciting for you.”
Madder had tears in her eyes and said, “All these years, and now a family at one birthing.”
Robert hugged her and said “We definitely are not going back to sea till they are born.”
Margæt indicated she would like to listen again and after doing so said, “You could be right, Otter, but what you hear as the third heartbeat I take to be an echo of one of the other two and I am not convincet, but we’ll know soon enough.”
The couple left the midwifes almost too excited to eat lunch. But Robert insisted, “You need to eat very sensibly now that you are eating for four.” They both laught at the idea of eating for four and after lunch went, as they had decided whilst still at sea, to see Honey.
Honey was delighted to see the couple and congratulated Madder on her pregnancy. Madder merely expressed gratitude to her, she was not superstitious, but didn’t wish to tempt fate by admitting to possibly be expecting triplets. Madder explained why they were there, and Honey smiled, “We have already had one meeting as to the possible captains for the new ships, and your name has been mentiont. I can safely say you will have one of them because we shall only have just enough qualifyt seafarers. Some of the older captains will have retiren before Explorer Yan is launcht and other captains nearing retirement age aren’t interestet. I don’t suppose I could interest you, Robert, in say Explorer Fem or Explorer Sex?(3) You would be more than knowledgable by the time either is launcht.”
Robert didn’t even look at Madder before replying, “Thank you for the offer, but I wish to ship with Madder, though I’ll apply for captain’s papers when I feel I’m ready.”
“If at any time you change your mind let me know.”
The couple left Honey both amazed at how easy it had been. Madder had been aware there was only a finite number of possible captains, but not that the craft considered there to be so few. What she was unaware of was it had been decided only to appoint captains who had first class navigational skills, and, despite his lack of formal qualifications, Robert had been considered before any other, even Vlæna, though it had been thought he would be unlikely to accept aught where he was not with Madder. That he would ship with Madder had maekt it certain Madder would be offered a captaincy, and for the first time ever the craft were considering a joint captaincy.
17th of Topal Day 197
Beth had been taking the feminising herbs for two and a half lunes and Falcon and Gosellyn no longer had any worries concerning side effects. Falcon had said he only willen to see her twice a lune, and at her convenience, but also if she ever became ill or felt at all different. That forenoon she noticed her chest felt sore, and when she telt her mum Beatrix insisted they went to see Falcon immediately. Knowing her mum was worried for her, and she was a little worried herself, she just agreed when Beatrix said, “Right now, Beth.”
As he examined her, Falcon explained, “It’s the herbs, Beth. They’re working, and you’re undergoing puberty. The soerth is your breast buds forming. Feel.” Falcon took her fingers and placed them carefully berount her right nipple, “Your nipples are harder and slightly raised and larger than they were. I suspect your soerth is mostly under your now enlargt areolae, for that is where it usually resides. Don’t press too firmly for it will hurt, but check your other breast for yourself.”
Beth checked her breasts several times and with tears of joy asked, “How long will it take for me to have proper breasts, Falcon?”
“I can’t tell you, for I can’t tell any girl how long her puberty will last. For some it’s a rapid change, and for others something that takes several years. Over the years I’ve trett may hap twenty girls like yourself and they have been as variable as all other girls, some respond rapidly to the herbs others over several years. Mostly it depends on how rapidly their mothers went through their puberty and development. Have you any idea of your birth mum’s experience?”
“No. She was completely open with me and we had spaech of her lunetimes, and my best friend and I had spaech of her lunetimes and her mum telt us both of hers, but neither my mum nor I ever thought to discuss her breast development.”
“Unfortunately without that information I can give you no hint as to how long it will take. Was your mother large breastet?”
“No not really. She was quite petite with a small but noticeable bosom though she telt me she only achieved most of her size after her first pregnancy.”
“Then you are most likely to be a petite breastet woman, but at your highth that will seem larger.” Falcon smiled before continuing. “You will eventually have breasts and hips too, and you will look like a woman, so all you need is patience. However, most girls whether girlbirtht(4) or elsewise acquire at least three-quarters of their adult breast size over three or four years. I shall supply you with a mild desensitising cream you can use if your breasts become too tender. The padding you use in your clothing will help too. Some girls experience extreme tenderth or even pain as they grow. The cream will help, but the seamstresses can help too by providing cushioning. Just remember we are here to help, you are not on your own. If need be we can give you more powerful herbs to control the tenderth. Unfortunately the preparation makes most drowsy, but few require such. There is one other thing I need to tell you of which for us, by which I mean myself, Gosellyn and Cwm, will not be an option for at least two possibly five years. Your males(5) can be removt which would mean you would no longer require the masculine development arresting herbs and it would assist the action of the feminising herbs. Your breasts, cotte(6) and hips would increase a little, but it would only be a little, and your longth(7) would decrease in size too. However, the combination of the arresting herbs and the feminising herbs does nearly all that can be doen with or without the procedure.”
“Why the wait, Falcon? I’m not saying I will to have them removt; I’m merely asking why.”
“Our records shew long over some had regrets when they had the procedure young, so we prefer to wait till we are convincet that there will be no such regret. There is one other possibility too, though it is a rare event. Some few girls and women like yourself have agreement with a woman, and the couple wish a child of their bodies, which is of course possible, and we can assist in a number of ways. It may be a thing you wish to consider in years to come.”
“Gratitude for your help and advice too, Falcon, Shall I see you again in a lune?”
“Yes, but if you have a want come sooner. I’ll prepare your cream and send it to your chambers before the eve meal.”
Beatrix now as near as she could reckon was six and a half lunes pregnant. She was a small compact and substantially built woman with an ample bosom and cotte. Since she was not significantly larger as a result of pregnancy, and her bosom looked to be as it always had looked, large, she was not noticeably pregnant. However she asked Falcon, “May I have another container of the cream Luval gave me for my nipples? I don’t think it does reduce stretch marks, or if it does I’ve have been more marks than there was space between them, but he was right about it healing and preventing further damage and pain to my breasts. I couldn’t believe how effective it was. I was in a lot of pain to start with and in a matter of a few hours the pain had gone and in two days the cracks had healed.”
“Certainly, but how did you allow that to happen?”
“Ignorance, Falcon. This is my first, and till I had spaech with Molly I’d never heard of the cream. I suspected none of the other newfolk had either, but Molly has already been to see all the other pregnant newfolk and intends to tell all the other newfolk women regards it. Luval said he would make sure all the midwives were aware of the situation.”
“I’ll make sure all the herbals and healers are aware too. I won’t be a minute fetching the cream, Beatrix.”
As Beth and Beatrix left, Beth asked, “Did yours hurt as a girl, Mum?”
“My breasts? No, but I went to hell and back with my periods for a few years, and I really resented that when I realised I couldn’t have children. Still, at least you won’t have that problem, and like me you can adopt. The joy I have as a result of adopting you lot made everything I’d been through seem a trivial price to pay. Though I have to say I’m happy to be expecting.”
“There is that I suppose. You reckon the seamstresses can help with the soerth?”
“I’ve no idea. You can but ask, so let’s talk to Amethyst on the way home. What did you think about what Falcon told you last, Beth?”
“What, orchidectomy?”
“Orky what?”
“It means removal of the testes, castration, Mum. Back on Earth I couldn’t have had any surgery till I was at least eighteen. Falcon has stopped my male puberty, given me boobs, a bum and hips and most importantly time to think it all through. I’m happy with Greensward, and he’s happy with me the way I am. My penis and testes are tiny compared with the boys’.” Beth looked at her mum’s face and said, “We can’t avoid seeing each other when we shower at the kennels. After some of what we do we have to shower there. That’s why we keep clean clothes there.”
“Ok. Sorry for my suspicions. I probably just have a dirty mind.”
Beth laught as she said, “We all know that, Mum! But back to Falcon. I can wait and if I’m happy in five years I may not bother, but right now to answer your question I’m not thinking regards it at all.”
Beatrix merely smiled and said, “Good.”
Beatrix and Beth tracked Amethyst down and Beth explained her problem. “You need to have spaech with Janet Mistress brassière,” Amethyst explained. “Doubtless she can create something to cushion your breasts as they develop. I’ll ask her to have spaech with us.”
Amethyst sent a message and Janet was with them in a few minutes. After Beth had explained, Janet said, “I don’t see any problem, and there may be other girls who could benefit from it too. I’ll talk to Ninija and we’ll see what we can come up with. I suspect a brassière containing several layers of what is used for swaddling loosely put together with air spaces between them would protect you from the discomfort of bumping into any thing or anyone, and such a garment would provide, shall we say, a more feminine outline? Give us a few days, Beth. I’ll have a message sent to you when we have something ready for you to try. But before you go, let me run a string around you to get the size right.”
After thanking Janet, Beatrix and Beth went home. “Things looking up, Beth?”
“Definitely, Mum. Breasts on the way and brassières that will make me look like I’ve already got them. All I need now is a cotte and some hips.”
“You want to be careful what you wish for, my girl, or you could get it and end up looking like me! Mind, your dad would be bitterly disappointed if there were any less of me, so it wouldn’t be all doom and gloom even if you did.”
It was a cheerful mother and daughter that went home laughing at the vagaries of the male sex to prepare lunch for their menfolk.
17th of Topal Day 197
A tenner and a half later Jasmine awoke early in the dark on a cold, calm and what was a good day for the last lune of the year. She went to make leaf for herself and her agreäns, who had all awoken. As she passt the leaf to them she put her mug on a press before removing her nightgown and declaring, “Enough is enough. I need a man. Lilac, how do you feel regards it? We’ve time enough before the children awake not to have to rush.”
“I’ve needet a man since Tusk was birtht, but I’ve been patient. Now, like you, I am ready and no longer patient.”
The wifes held hands whilst their men carefully brought them to readith and even more carefully maekt love with them. Lilac who had been present many times when Jasmine had reacht her peak in any number of ways and had reached her own peak in every way other than by making love was astounded at the difference. She had felt no discomfort when her deepth was sounded for the first time by Ash and was aware of feeling a little raxt especially towards the end of her first time with Beech, but it was all intensely pleasurable and for the next three hours her three agreäns focussed on her pleasure in dozens of ways. By the time the children awoke she was happy regards being a woman and no longer a maid, but most of all she knew she now deserved the names the children called her: Mum and Mother Lilac.
20th of Topal Day 200
Janet sent a message early in the afternoon, but Beth only received it after she returned home from the kennels. She went to the seamstresses before eating the eve meal accompanied by Fiona. Janet was still there but packing her bag ready to go home with Blackdyke. “I’ll only be ten or so minutes with Beth, Blackdyke. You don’t have to wait for me.”
“I’ll wait, Love.”
“Beth, let’s use a fitting room.” Beth and Fiona followed Janet. “The initial brassière we came up with is maybe a little more than you want, Dear. It’s a D cup, and it has a slightly stiffer than usual fabric for the cups which contain the softer cushioning material. The stiffer fabric holds the cushioning in place, but it means the outline under a dress or blouse is, well as I said, a D cup. The cushion is provided by cattail fluff and air in what I suppose one would call muslin envelopes. The weavers produce the muslin for cheesecloths. We are still working on the concept and expect to be able to provide a C and possibly even a B cup eventually, but this is what we have right now. Do you wish to try it or to wait for a smaller size?”
“I’ll try it. I don’t mind the size. I uest to have a pair of D cup breast forms.” Beth smiled and said, “My friend Pol said I was becoming a hussy and a boy magnet.” Beth tried the brassière on and said, “That feels really comfy and safe too. With this I may hap don’t need my breast forms any more. Can I keep it, Janet?”
“Certainly. Would you like another couple in a D or perhaps smaller? The larger cup size does offer more protection, but on your frame it’s very noticeable.”
“I’d like another couple just like this one please.”
“I’ll send them to you when we have them.”
“Gratitude, Janet. What are they going to cost?”
“Nothing to you, for you have our gratitude. The word went out as soon as Ninija and I explained to our other crafters what we were trying to create, and within two days we had orders for hundreds of them. The orders are still coming in. I suppose I should have thought of it, but never having suffered from the problem I didn’t. Anyway there must be a few hundred girls with the problem, so we have lunes of work in front of us. Two of the younger girls who need them have apprenticed to us.”
As the girls left Fiona said, “Your friend Pol was right using the word hussy, Beth. And before you say mine are bigger at least I never chose to have boobs this size, but what you going to tell the boys?”
“The truth. I always do, and it’s never been a problem.”
As they entered the living chamber there was a chorus of wolf whistles. “Bloody hell, Beth, you’re stacked! What the hell have you done?”
“Got a new brassière, Bittern. Like it?”
“You’re going to have to tie Greensward’s hands down. That’s positively cruel to the poor guy. Seriously though, you look gorgeous, what have you done?”
“The herbs have started to work, but they make me feel sore and vulnerable. Bumping into anything or anyone hurts, so Falcon gave me some cream and said he could give me something stronger if I needed it, but I don’t like the idea of using the stronger herbs, cos he sayt they would make me drowsy, so he suggested the seamstresses may be able to help. Janet designed the brassière which is mostly cattail fluff and air. Sort of like boob bumpers.(8) It’s clever, for it offers protection and gives me a bit more figure.
“A hell of a lot more figure, Girl.” Bittern grinned, “But it suits you.”
“Beth’s still nowhere near as big as me, Bittern, so there’s no need to give her a hard time.”
“I know, but you’re a foot taller than Beth and twice her size, Fiona.”
Beth laught and askt, “You know what the best of it is?”
“What?”
“It cost me nothing and I’ll not have to pay for the other two either, cos Janet’s office has had orders for hundreds now. She said it seems it’s a common problem with a lot of girls and was grateful for the idea.”
“Well, doubtless we’ll get uest to it in a few days, but till we do you’re going to get some serious teasing, Girl, but I still think it’s a wickt(9) thing to do to Greensward.”
“That’s what I love about you boys, the teasing.”
“You’re joking!”
“No. I don’t mind being teased by those who I know love me. Before I came here all I got was abuse from folk who should have loved me but chose to despise me instead. Greensward’s picking me up at eight after he’s finished crafting and taking me dancing, so cruelty here we go.”
“I’m with Bittern on this one, so I think I’ll eat here too.”
“What do you mean, Fiona?” asked Beth.
“I’ve never seen a boy’s eyes drop out before, and I’m not going to miss that!”
As the girls left, Beth said quietly so only Fiona could hear, “I wonder if Greensward would like to help me with the cream. What bethink you, Fiona?”
Fiona laught and said, “He’s a bloke isn’t he? They all like boobs no matter what size they are. That’s a really stupid question, Beth.”
“Yeah. I know. Just as well for us they’re like that isn’t it? But I was just thinking of the fun we’re going to have.”
25th of Topal Day 205
The meeting had started at two and conversation and debate had been intense. George had no problems adopting Castle’s units and he accepted the current limits of accuracy, but as he said to Axel, Oak, Terry, Wolf and Vinnek in synopsis, “It is easy enough given the equipment we have to achieve relative sensitivity and make one part match another, but if we wish to create precision engineering equipment we have to achieve reproducible accuracies of about a thou, preferably less, which is less than about a five-hundredth of a wiedth. We also have to decide how we are going to measure things. We can use the traditional old fashioned Earth and Castle fractional methods which, as we have agreed, have serious limitations, or we educate our apprentices to use the decimal system as well which will involve some serious thinking on our part. This will in the main fall on Axel’s shoulders because he is the one teaching mathematics, though Josephine, who used to be a mathematics teacher, has agreed to cross craft with us one or two days a tenner. It makes no sense to insist wooden parts are manufactured to those tolerances because a slight change in temperature or humidity will cause greater dimensional changes than the tolerances, however we shall need to be as accurate as we can.
“Once I have created our first screw cutting lathe we shall need to consider how we are going to standardise our thread forms. We have all my experience and knowledge to draw upon, a great deal of which is the history of mistakes we shall not repeat. I intend to put all that in writing for you and the apprentices to consider before we come to any conclusions. We have time, but I suspect our greatest challenge is going to be the creation of our education system for the apprentices. It is my belief that a large part of the education of each tranche of apprentices should be managed by the previous one. I say this because we have clever and willing apprentices who need as much challenge as we can provide them to reach their full potential and they will provide the next generation with more challenge than we should be able to. Teaching something is without doubt the best way to complete your learning of it.”
The others all nodded in agreement. Wolf asked, “So there are no limits on what we teach them?”
“Yes, just so. We teach them anything and everything we know because we have no idea what they will need or be able to use. The less able will simply not absorb it all, but the most able will be able to take it to places we probably can’t even envisage, but we should all write it all down for the records.”
“My daughter Dittander wishes to learn. She’s bright, but it’s probably just a passing fancy because she’s only nine. She’s attended a few classes without telling me. Squill’s not happy regards it, but I am if it makes her happy. Has anyone a problem with that?”
“She’s clever, Terry, and has a feel for the steel. When she builds a bit of muscle she’ll be able to forge useful parts quickly. She’s well come in my forge,” replied Oak. He added, “Harmony isn’t happy concerning her crafting with Jason, but till Harmony becomes his heartfriend Jason’s his own man, and though I don’t think they’re interestet in each other that way should Dittander become his heartfriend we’d be happy regards it. Let her be.”
The others who had all had Dittander in their classes were surprised she was only nine but agreed with Oak’s view to let her be.
It was gone six in the afternoon, long over full dark and the meeting was winding down when Lyre entered the chamber. She was five and a half lunes pregnant and looking a little unhappy because George had agreed to be home for half six. George, looking guilty and realising his predicament said, “I’m sorry I’m late, Love, but things ran over a little. May I have five minutes?”
“Yes. We’re eating in the refectory this eve so naught is spoilt, but you promisst to take me to see Matilda for some crochett babe clothes after we had eaten. I’ll wait outside.”
Lyre left, and after she had closed the door, Vinnek said with a smile, “We’re doen for the while, George. You’d better go before you are in even more serious trouble.”
The others agreed, and after George left Wolf said, “For a man of his age he manages an unbelievable amount of serious wife problems.”
Terry snorted with laughter, but said in response, “Be fair, Wolf. He’s a clever man who feels he has heavy obligations to the Folk, and he also has a young pregnant wife which gives him time conflicts no man could reconcile. He’s doing amazingly well really don’t you think?”
The others laught at Terry’s perceptive analysis, and as they left all agreed they were glad they were not in George’s place.
1st of Faarl Day 210 New Year’s Day
It was Fourth Quarterday. A north westerly storm had blown in from over the sea bringing deep snow, and the weather was predictably life threatening. The ingeniators had as usual ceased all their outside maintenance work. The extreme conditions had, as usual for the time of year, maekt it too difficult, dangerous and cold. The only outside work undertaken was what was vital to keep the Folk safe, and the Keep water supplies flowing. Even the geothermally warmed water needed assistance at this time of year. With only two hours and thirty-six minutes of daylight, the temperature in the courtyard was colder than fifty heats below freezing during the day and colder still at night. When the storm had finally blown itself out, the tranquillity of the flat calm was initially appreciated, but as was usual with no wind the temperature plummeted to eighty below, sometimes colder than a hundred below,[-150ºF] and after a few days staring through the casements at alcohol frozen in thermometers many wished the wind would return. As Yew put it, “The only thing any sensible person can do in this weather is celebrate Quarterday in the warmth of the Greathall with a plentiful supply of fuel wood, an accomplisht dancing partner and an endless supply of good brandy.”
Fourth Quarterday was, as always, being celebrated in the Greathall, the Refectory, numerous other spaces in the Keep and the White Swan. The archives said the courtyard had been uest to celebrate the day, but it had never been so uest in living memory, and most couldn’t imagine such an occurrence. As usual the appearances would take place in the Greathall. It was mid-winter, and the midday temperature somewhere in the eighties below freezing. The courtyard was covered in a stride and a half of snow with a steel-hard crust, and the only routes across it were those maintained by the ingeniators. The most difficult to keep open was the access to and from Outgangside, and oft it was blocked by snow. George was working on ways to make the route to Outgangside easier to keep open, but nothing was in place as yet. The buildings that comprised Outgangside were all accessible from each other all the year round. The routes could be somewhat circuitous with only a few covered walkways bridging the road, but to a Folk uest to the even more circuitous routes berount the Keep that was not considered to be a problem and it was what had provided George with his ideas to link the Keep with Outgangside via a covered tunnel.
Despite decades of ill chance in the kitchens, Milligan was still a perceptive optimist, and he’d kept a close eye on Iola since she joined the kitchens. From meeting her, he had been convinced he had a future manager in her, and since he needed managers now, or at least as soon as possible, he was prepared to do what ever was necessary to assist Iola’s development. Over the last few lunes, he’d had Gibb leave her in charge of groups of crafters increasing in numbers with time, and he’d telt her he was pleased with her progress both in terms of her cooking skills and her supervisory skills. What he had not telt her was from the day she started in the kitchens it had been recognised by all his significant crafters that she was a highly organised crafter who in a natural way taekt charge during difficult circumstances, which happened all too frequently, without causing resentment in the older, limited crafters she instructed as to their relief she solved the problems confronting them, oft by somewhat unconventional means. Alice had telt him, within three days of Iola’s placement, that Iola was systematically making life easier for the more limited crafters in her kitchens who all readily lookt to her for guidance. Too, despite her oft diffident seeming behaviour, Iola was a robust character who was, she opined, impossible to cow.
Milligan had had Iola crafting in every section of the kitchens since then, even if only briefly, so as soon as possible he could justify giving her some advancement, where and when ever an opportunity arose. Unexpectedly, even to Milligan, due to Crook’s retirement from ill health and the subsequent necessary movements mongst his staff, he required someone to take charge of meat cooking, and there was only Eudes available who had the necessary cookery skills, though his supervisory skills left a lot to be desired. Eudes had been in charge of the the soup and stock makers, and Milligan without hesitation had offered the now vacant, significant post to Iola rather than to one of the older, more experienced, junior or middle ranking cooks, none of whom had Iola’s innovative energy, nor any where near her personal and supervisory skills. He wished large scale change, not more of the same, and he was prepared to risk major disruption to create it, not least for the opportunities it would afford him for disciplinary proceedings. Though he said naught of it to any other than his managers all of who were agreed none else should be informed of their intent, his desperation had convinced him that since trying to keep things calm and on an even keel had achieved naught for decades may hap the only way to solve his problems was via the brutal solutions that would be required to deal with major disruption that the malcontents were certain to cause, and he was not only hoping that would be the case he was looking forward to it.
Abigail had telt the managers it was clear sooner or later Morris was going to cause mayhem in his dealings with his obstructive staff and Gibb, his deputy, had agreen with him it maekt no sense to attempt to calm things, but was far better to wait for the storm to break and offer them opportunities to deliver a few object lessons. All in all, Milligan and his managers were anticipating vast improvements in the long term, but as Abigail had said, “We’ve keept the major sources of disruption alive for so long they are now a threat to the Folk. We can no longer justify so doing, and Morris is upsetting them a great deal more than they are upsetting him. If they leave good, but if they don’t and in order to remove the threat they pose to the Folk they all have to die, so be it, for all have known from early childhood that the Way decrees the weäl of the Folk transcends all.”
It was after lunch on Quarterday, and Milligan had telt Eudes two hours since he was now the Master meat cook when he offered Iola the post of Mistress soup and stock maker, starting at six nextday forenoon. On the face of it it wasn’t a huge responsibility, but it was much more than it appeared, and, though none had maekt much of the office for decades, the records over the centuries evidenced it as a key part of the kitchens’ efforts to feed the Folk and ensure best use was maekt of everything that the kitchens handled. She would be overseeing a minimum of two dozen crafters, most of who required considerable guidance, and a similar number of over winter volunteers. When soup was on the main menu, at least seven days a tenner, she would be expected to be able to provide aught to twenty thousand portions, though four thousand was a typical requirement and oft much had been left and wasted. She would be responsible for ensuring there was minimal waste in the entire kitchens, and at least fifty gallons of emergency hot soup were required to be available at a minute’s notice at all times of the day and night. It also meant she was formally no longer an apprentice, and moreover gave her the title of Mistress cook which was unheard of at her age. It was recognised as a stepping stone all senior cooks had taken.
The office was also regarded by most of the kitchen staff as a mug of bile(10) which none of sense who wished to advance would will to have for any longer than necessary. Iola, who knew how others regarded the office, didn’t see it that way. She’d been aware of the poor quality of the soups provided since her incursion and couldn’t understand why most had been so unpalatable when what needed to be done to dramatically improve the situation was so easy to do. She’d had been delighted to accept and saw it as an opportunity to improve not only the performance of her office but the entire kitchens too. She’d been proud to shew her family her instrument of apprenticeship now duly signed as complete by Milligan and attested by Alice, which her mum was going to have framed and hung on their living chamber wall.
Iola was reflecting on her life before Castle and contrasting it with her present one. She’d always felt she’d been maekt to feel inadequate at school. It wasn’t that she was slow, she was highly literate, had a good command of `the language, an astonishing memory and was extremely good at mental arithmetic. She just wasn’t interested in mathematics and the other academic subjects. She had always wished to cook and had thought things would improve when she studied domestic science, which was always referred to as cookery at school. In the stead of cooking, she learnt how to plan supposedly healthy menus, of food additives and what the labels on food packaging meant. She had also learnt a huge amount regards food regulations, but she had never cooked anything at school. The only cooking she had ever done had been at Melanie’s house. Melanie was her best friend whom she went to school with, and her parents had a grocery shop that selt newspapers and magazines too, and as long as she was careful they’d had no problems with her reading the out of date cookery magazines before they went back to the publishers. She’d spent a lot of time at Melanie’s where both girls helped in the shop and delivered newspapers for pocket money which her stepfather approven of, for it meant he didn’t have to provide her pocket money and saved money on her meals. Because Melanie’s parent’s worked long hours they ate a lot of take away food and thus so did she. She had been an avid reader of cookery books and magazines. Much of what she’d read she remembered, and she’d dreamt for years of trying some of the thousands of receipts and ideas she had in her head.
Despite the caltth outside, Iola felt a warm glow all over, her apprenticeship with Master Milligan had been adjudged excellent, and she was now a high ranking Mistress cook. But that was a small thing. Heron her heartfriend, whom she had been seen holding hands with since the day they had met and whom she had recently allowed to greet her with a kiss in public, had asked her if she would be his intendet, and she had agreed. Her step-dad had beaten her for spaeking with boys because he said they would get her into trouble. He was a Presbyterian minister, a complete stranger to love or compassion, and charity was not just an alien concept to his faith, it was something he disapproven of, for he considered it to be challenging God’s will. In his view the indigent were so because it was God’s will to so punish them for their sins. She had wondered many a time why her mum had married him when her dad had been so different. His deadth, as a soldier thousands of miles away from home, had devastated both her and her mum, but part of her mum had dien with her dad, and she was just a shadow of her previous self who agreed with everything her new husband said. Melanie had telt Iola, “Your step dad’s just a miserly, miserable bodach(11) who thinks it’s sinful to enjoy anything, and you should leave home at the first opportunity.” Melanie would have assumed he’d beaten her once too oft and she’d run away.
Now on Castle with a new family whom she loved and who loved her, she was happier than she had ever been. Storm, her wonderful new dad, had telt her she would know when she was ready for more than kisses. Kissing Heron was wonderful, and so was the pleasure she could provide herself thinking of his kisses, but she had been thinking of Heron providing her that pleasure as he kissed her for a while. She knew she had to do something regards it when in the throes of her release she had found herself whispering his name. She considered First Quarterday to be the perfect day for new beginnings, and she had every intention of finding somewhere private later in the day for more than kisses, and she was looking forward to telling her family and friends that Heron was now her intendet. She had also decided to visit the herbals for the herbs that prevented pregnancy, for she had no idea how much more she would be ready for in the near future and considered there was no sense in not being prepared. Though for the while she had no intention of telling Heron she would be taking the herbs still it was a wonderful and warming day.
1st of Faarl Day 210
The appearances as was usual for Fourth Quarterday taekt place on the musicians dais in the Greathall.
Immediately on the Elm Tarns forestry crew’s return to The Keep for the winter Reedmace started recruiting to double the crew size. By the time Reedmace had recruited the full complement ready for next season’s work he had a crew of sixty-three including eight women forest crafters and four women to assist Jodie, Annabelle and Fenda. Annabelle and Fenda, sisters married to Eddique, were pregnant. After a lune at the Keep Fenda and Lars, a twenty-three year old horse logger recently recruited by Reedmace, decided they wished agreement, and with the goodwill of Eddique and Annabelle, Fenda and Lars became agreäns. The situation created a problem though, for who had obligation to Fenda’s unbirtht child? For Fenda was of limitations and had want of care to her. The Way was clear and said Eddique may not pass on his obligations owed to Fenda and her babe-to-be to any this side of his deadth, but Lars was Fenda’s man and the Way said as Fenda’s man the babe would be his child. Aaron and Nigel had been consulted, and they had decided this was one of those situations where The Way had to grow with the Folk.
The Folk wondered what was happening when they saw Aaron and Nigel on the platform. Arron waited for quiet before saying, “Many of you have been wondering concerning the care to the babe-to-be of Fenda and the obligations of care that Eddique and Lars may or may not have. Nigel and I have bethinkt ourselfs deeply upon the matter and we have a solution to the difficulties the situation poses which we would put to you for we hope your approval. I’ll let Nigel explain.”
Nigel waited for the murmuring to die before starting, “It is our belief that there is no problem since the matter may be dealt within the existing tenets of The Way. It is just that a broader interpretation is requiert. Lars is the man of Fenda and hence the father of Nutwood. It is so defient in part of the family obligations of the Way, so he therefore has the immediate and primary obligation of care to them.”
The Folk could be seen nodding in agreement for that much was obvious and many shouted “Agreen and approven.”
Nigel continued, “There is no conflict createt by Eddique’s fathering of Annabelle’s babe-to-be and Fenda’s babe-to-be,” Nigel paused and the crowd drew in their breath, for this was where it could potentially become difficult and painful for those involved. “As long as Annabelle and her agreän Eddique and Fenda and her agreän Lars continue to regard themselves as the close family and kin that they are, and their babes are trett as syskonen rather than close cousins there is no problem for the adults or the children in the future. This is not an agreement of four but a relationship akin to it. Akin being in this situation may hap a new use of the word which provides a description of The Way’s interpretation in what is a special and rare set of circumstances.
“The obligation of care that Annabelle has always insistet she has to Fenda and therefore to Fenda’s babe too extends to Eddique, but it only becomes the immediate and primary obligation of care to them should aught happen to Lars. In the event of that tragedy, since Annabelle caert to her sister for years and Eddique was marryt to her and fathert Fenda’s babe, the clear and unavoidable obligations that the Way places on them require no alterations to the Way. Aaron and I have had spaech with all concernt and they are in agreement that this is not only a tight and decent interpretation of the Way, but it is in total accord with the way they feel regards the situation. Thus we ask the Folk to agree and approve of this broader interpretation of the family and kin sections of the Way for any such events in the future.”
There was quiet in the crowd for may hap half a minute as the Folk considered the matter. Eventually it was understood there was no radical departure from what they already accepted, and all considered Aaron and Nigel to have achievt a clever and necessary analysis of a complex event in such a way that hurt none.
The “Agreen and approven,” was not the usual roar but a quieter and may hap more appropriate acknowledgement of the matter.
Aaron stepped forward and said, “We are grateful to the Folk for listening and shall ensure all copies of The Way are added to to include this decision for all to read when they wish.”
When Yew with Thomas and Will appeared on the dais in the Greathall there was instant silence, for none had had any hint of impending disaster. None could remember all three of them on the platform together, not even when food rationing was to be enforced, for which usually two of them with Milligan and Qvuine were present, and all wondered just how serious circumstances were to require their combined presence. Yew indicated Thomas was to spaek. “Our sorrow for any unnecessary alarm we have caust. All three of us willen to make this announcement, and since none would renounce the privilege we agreen to tell you together of the Council’s desire for Oak Master smith to join us.” The shouting and cheering at this hugely popular, albeit long anticipated, decision was such that it was nearly quarter of an hour before things could continue. In the meanwhile it was seen that it taken a full squad of guardians to manhandle Oak on to the dais although his children and heavily pregnant wife went willingly.
Will moved to the front and said, “I believe we should have doen this years ago. It should not have taken the petitioning of the good Folk I see before me to have remindet us that we of the Council had been so remiss. That the Council can overlook so important a matter reminds us all that we all have to play our part in the administration of the Folk and our lifes. I am grateful Oak never stintt us of his sound advice, which was always tight and freely given particularly during the early days of the recent incursion, despite our remissth of not having him join us on the Council till now. My gratitude, Oak.”
Oak was blushing for he was a shy man, but he had yet more to endure as Yew spake. “I am telt I have been a successful Lord. I agree, but lest any consider that is conceit or hubris let me explain why I opine it so. Any Lady or Lord of Castle can only be as successful as the advice they receive from their Council allows them to be, for one person can not do it all. I have been a lucky man, for at my side giving aid have been Goodwife Rowan, my friends from boyhood Thomas and Will and what I sayt at the time of the incursion is the best Council we have had for a very long time. We now also have Councillor Nigel’s deep thinkings, for which I hope you are as grateful as I, and Councillor Oak’s quiet, bethinktful intelligence concerning matters technical, especially with the new Machiners’ craft which will help us greatly as we develop Castle. I am grateful that when Rowan and I retire Siskin and Weir shall be adviest and assistet by such women and men as Rowan and I are privilegt to craft with. My gratitude to all of you for attending our appearance.”
The shouts and cheers taekt a mere five minutes to quieten before Thomas spake again, “This is a good day for the Folk, but it is Oak’s day.” The three men all shook hands with their new fellow Councillor and stepped aside so his family could finally kiss and hug him.
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
107 Helen, Duncan, Irena, Scent, Silk, Loosestrife, Tench, Knawel, Bramling, Grebe, Madder, Robert, Otter, Luval, Honey, Beth, Beatrix, Falcon, Amethyst, Janet, Lilac, Jasmine, Ash, Beech, Fiona, Blackdyke, Bittern, George, Axel, Oak, Terry, Wolf, Vinnek, Dittander, Squill, Harmony, Jason, Lyre, Iola, Heron, Yew, Milligan, Alice, Crook, Eudes, Abigail, Gibb, Melanie, Storm, Annabelle, Eddique, Fenda, Lars, Reedmace, Jodie, Aaron, Nigel, Thomas Will
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 Riandet, a matter of no significance.
2 Listener, a Castle version of a stethoscope.
3 Archaic counting from one to ten in Folk went, Yan, Två, Tre, Fyr, Fem, Sex, Sjkwu, Ot, Nin, Tio. Though rarely used any more the words are still used as personal names, day names and for special purposes. They were used for the naming of the new explorer class ships.
4 Girlbirtht, born as a girl.
5 Males, testicles.
6 Cotte, Folk word for a female bottom, male is cot. Both words are respectable and uest by all. Both derive from apricot which like buttocks have a defined cleft. The default is the feminine, like most but not all Folk words. Cotte would be uest for example for a babe of unspecified sex.
7 Longth, in this context penis.
8 Bumpers, fenders in American English.
9 Wickt, wicked. Not a Folk word but becoming one. Used here with a Folk past tense structure.
10 Mug of bile, Folk expression equivalent to a poisoned chalice.
11 Bodach, old man.
