Some commonly used words are after the list of characters. 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.
16th of Stert Day 520
Veronica and Mast left the Keep with yet another load of finished good and tools. They were carrying crockery, cutlery, treen and a lot of clothes, and anticipated returning with what ever the holders, mining and forestry camps provided. At this time of the year that would mostly be frozen meat carcasses and frozen fish, for unlike many waggoners Mast rarely carried ore if he could avoid it and never hauled building quality timber. “My waggon isn’t built for it, and with a team of eight to feed the tokens aren’t enough for what we could carry. We scarce braek even carrying ore though from time to time braeking even is considerably better than taking a loss travelling part, or worse fully, empty. If I’m returning that way with a part load, Red Stone Bluffs always have bagt ore to fill the waggon with which is convenient, but that’s the only ore I carry at all frequently. A waggon built for building timber can carry much more and a team of six can make it pay, but I don’t like hauling resinously sticky sticks, though I have hault huge single sticks intendet for roof timbers in the Keep on axles from time to time.”
One of the holdings they were calling at bred horses and Mast was hoping to find two mares to buy. He rarely callt thither, but he’d been telt they had some quality stock and he needed another two to pull the large waggon with the anvil and a full load. He had the option of borrowing a couple of good horses from Eorl who ran Geoffrey the waggon Master’s stables on the basis of a future favour, but he preferred to buy rather than borrow, because it avoided complications, but mostly because he wished more horses from which to breed at Sunwarmth. Even if they weren’t as big as the ones Shag would like Veronica and Zoë wished more horses, so as to be able to distribute some over the holdings which had agreed to stable them on behalf of the waggoners’ coöperative, and, despite the extra cost, the women had specified mares for breeding rather than geldings.
Kmiec and Qvist were both big mares, not as big as Shag would like, but big enough to pull as centres,[swings in US] even rear centres in an eight or ten horse team. They were four and five years old respectively and although neither had foaled Tasha thought Qvist was three or four lunes along, for he’d seen her served by his stallion, and she had not come into her heatth since. The price was high but Mast considered fair. On the chance he’d find something somewhere Mast had been carrying the extra tack required for lunes and he tacked them up in front of his wheelers explaining to Veronica, “We may as well all get uest to a ten horse team before we truly need the extra pulling power, and I’d definitely rather they were uest to the pole before we need the braeking with that anvil aboard.”
“Are their names common, Mast?”
“No. I’ve never hearet of them before. A lot of animals get naemt for a sound they make, like Cronk, or a characteristic. Sedge has a tom cat naemt Dotn which was because he was a messy eater when a kitten and always had food on his nose. Her children callt him dinner on the nose cat and he still is. Dotn, Freckle, Spodge, Socks, Boots, Blackface, Mountain, Badth. There’re loads naemt that way, but a lot are just maekt up names. Some because their owner likes the way the word looks when it’s written down, or the way it sounds.”
18th of Stert Day 522
Zoë and Torrent set off for Aurochs Watch driving two six horse waggons. Though they had been discussing using eight horse teams like Veronica and Mast they had not managed to find suitable horses. They’d found two possibilities, but due to their temperament Torrent had said, “They’ll be more trouble than they’re worth at the far end of it. I’d rather have a team of six with nice manners than have the extra pulling power of an eight where two of them ignore the team leader. Driving would be hard work for me under those circumstances, and I certainly shouldn’t recommend you even consider it, Zoë.”
They pulled up to camp for the night, and after eating, seeing to the horses and settling Columbine Zoë said, “Tell me more of the holders at Aurochs Watch and where they live, Torrent.”
“It’s a distant holding in an isolaett valley. I suspect they prefer to be away from most folk for they are unusual and there has always been much gossip, mostly untrue, concerning them. They grow their own food and hunt aurochs which they take back to the Keep using three twelve horse custom maekt waggons that can load up to eight aurochs each depending on their size. They have another such waggon being maekt by Vinnek at the moment for the twins to drive, and their stallion is busy with the mares producing the extra horses they’ll need, though Zrina telt me they have a considerable herd of both draught and riding horses. I know not if this trip will be profitable, but I have long willen to see their home, for none other than the triplets and their wifes Zylanna and Zylenna have ever been there. The aurochs live in their valley all year and the holders crop natural hay for them gainst the hard times of winter. They say the aurochs are neither tame nor domesticatet, but they can’t be considert wild, for they come for the hay and are placid with them, even when they are near the calfs. They over winter at home because the high pass that leads in and out of the valley is impassable for three lunes of the year due to snow and they don’t wish to spend that long near the Keep. During the summer they hunt whatever they can find and when they visit the Keep they stop with their mum Ivy at the White Swan twixt loads which they freeze with ice from the glacier in their valley and insulate with hay for the journey to the Keep.”
“How long is it going to take us to arrive?”
“From the Keep to their home it is aught from two tenners to a lune depending on the trail conditions. The conditions are fair, but we’ve been taking it easy on the teams so they will be ready for the climb to the pass. I bethink me probably two and a half tenners for the entire journey at this pace. That means we have may hap thirteen days in front of us. They telt me the pass trail is wider than and not as severe as the Long valley Descent, but longer and not one to be trifelt with. The air is thin above the tree line, so the horses need longer and more frequent rests and extra oats. The triplets taekt four days to the travel the route up and down into the valley the first time they maekt the trip, but now they take five and advise us to do likewise. The journey down from the pass into the valley has to be travelt entire, for there is no water nor grazing and though it is easily wide enough for a waggon it would not be sensible to overnight on it. Each day’s travel is shorter than they covert the first time, but the last camp is nearer the pass, so as to leave more time for the descent. We should see the cairn marking the valley trail up to the pass in seven or eight days. They markt it for they sayt tis easy to miss. The trip back to the pass is hard on the teams for tis a rise of one thousand five hundred strides [5000 feet, 1500m] over a twenty thousand stride [12½ miles, 20km] trail and once at the pass the horses need to continue down for better air.
“As I telt you before they are not just syskonen(1) but agreäns too, and had been long before they had agreement with the twins. Doubtless Zeeëend being of two natures maekt them closer together in order to protect her. They are unusual folk, but good folk. I have always liekt them. What I know of them is what they have telt me themselfs, so unlike the gossip that flies berount regards them what I can tell you is belike to be correct, at least as long as what my memory recalls is correct. They are fourty-three or -four years old, birtht at one birthing and loes their family years over to the fevers. Ivy taekt them in, for she was close kith to the family. Zrina is a woman, Zlovan a man and though Zeeëend is of two natures, without doubt her feminine side dominates her personality. She is the cleverest and most forceful one of the three. Socially all three dress as women, when crafting they all dress as men. I’ve never askt why. They cross craft as waggoners and hunters, though Zylanna and Zylenna cross craft as growers too.”
“What do the triplets look like, Torrent?”
“Big, very big. Zlovan is six feet and a span and three-quarters [6 foot 7, 201cm] and massively chestet, slim hipt, green eyen and strawberry blond, an archetypal hunting male. Zrina is six feet and may hap half a span [6 foot 2, 188cm], big bosomt and wide hipt with violet eyes and deep red hair. Zeeëend is six feet and a span, [6 foot 4, 193cm] big bosomt with the hips, cotte(2) and legs of a woman like her sister, yet she has the shoulders and arms of a man like her brother. In addition Zeeëend’s right eye is violet and her hair is deep red on the right side, but her left eye is green and may hap a quarter of her hair is strawberry blonde starting from the left side. Her asymmetric facial features are a little softer on her right hand side. She jokingly says she is a perfect blend of her syskonen and refers to her right hand side as female and her left hand side as male. Zlovan has a good baritone voice. Zeeëend and Zrina are good sopranos and the three usually perform at second Quarterday in the Great Hall after the banquet. However, neither Zylanna nor Zylenna can sing the same note twice.”
What Torrent didn’t tell Zoë, because he didn’t know, was Zeeëend’s left hand and foot are a little larger than her right ones and her right breast is larger than her left with a darker and larger nipple and aereola. Her right labia is larger than her left, and though she has a fully formed scrotum only the left testicle is present and she is unaware she only has a right ovary. Her penis is not as large as her brother’s, and is a little smaller than average whilst her clitoris is a little smaller than her sister’s, and is a little smaller than average. Her genitals have full sensitivity. Her lunetimes not surprisingly occur when Zrina’s do but she has a lighter loss.
“The three always laughingly refer to each other as ze rather than he or she. Most of what else I know Ivy telt me. She was willing to because she knows I don’t indulge in gossip and though we see little of each other we are friends. Zrina gets zer and zers, Zlovan zim and zis, Zeeëend gets mostly zer and zers though not exclusively so, because they all make mistakes. It’s not something they take at all seriously. Zeeëend behaves like a woman and there is little if aught of the man in her personality. The children usually call her Mum but sometimes Dad, but they are a little indiscriminate with what they call all of their parents. The entire referent(3) thing is a family in joke and none of them are bothert by whatever referents others use.”
“What of their children?”
“Their children are envyt and there is spaech of their heartfriends who live at the Keep and resent their lack of togetherth going to live with the family at the valley. Their heartfriends’ parents are happy with it. They’ll miss their children, but can see a future with Zeeëend’s family is one their children will benefit enormously from.”
“Why would folk allow their children to live so far away?”
“The holders have high status and are wealthy and the Way says their children’s heartfriends are already part of their family. It is a not unusual thing for the heartfriends of distant holders’ children to go to live with the holders, for if that is to be their future they may as well embrace it young when learning is easier. They had nine children when I last spake with them. Zrina had four and Zeeëend five though I couldn’t tell you any of their names other than that of the eldest who is a thirteen, or may hap fourteen now, year old girl naemt Eolwaena and was birtht by Zeeëend.”
There was a lot Torrent was not aware of concerning the holders nine children. Not even the most senior healers and Campion were aware of the children’s parentages, though Ivy was aware of the details. Zeeëend fathered Eolwaena upon herself by accident. She couldn’t have been fathered by Zlovan as he wasn’t there at the appropriate time. The subsequent two children, Tualla a boy of twelve and Quoylay a girl of ten, Zeeëend fathered upon herself deliberately. Zlovan was the father of Zeeëend’s other two children, Isdeän a boy of six and Qheræce a girl of four. Two of Zrina’s four children, Molleande a boy of twelve and Sayley a girl of eleven, were fathered by Zlovan and the other two, Sennen a girl of seven and Waggon a girl of five, were fathered by Zeeëend.
“How doet Zylanna and Zylenna come to live there?”
“You must not repeat any of this, Zoë.”
“I know. It must be hard enough to live with from time to time without being regardet as entertainment too.”
“The twins(4) as you know share a body that is of two natures. It is not widely known outside the healers that they have two natures. They loes their parents and syskonen to the fevers and had never managt to find a heartfriend nor a man interestet in them. Ivy considert they may be suffering from overgrief(5) and suspectet life was becoming too much for them to cope with at the Keep. Their new parents are friends of Ivy’s and she suggestet they may find leaving the Keep for a while may ease their troubles and her children at Aurochs Watch would at least be understanding. When the triplets next delivert meat to the Keep the twins goent to Aurochs Watch with the triplets when they returnt, and may hap a year later they all had agreement. The twins were originally Theresa and Therese but became Zylanna and Zylenna so their names all began with Z. I bethink me they all find it rather amusing. I suppose the children will refer to them as ze, zer and zers, or may hap zey, zem, zeyr and zeyrs. As I sayt referents are an in family joke.”
“What do the twins look like?”
“Quite tall for women, may hap half a span below six feet, [5’ 10”, 178cm] they just look smaller gainst their agreäns. They are pretty and both are deep blue eyen with long blonde hair that is almost white. They are of womanly appearance with a cotte like a peach(6) and are substantially bosomt which seemingly is just like their birth mother Anœlle, though I’m telt in their faces they look like their grandma Katarina who dien years over.” Torrent hesitated before continuing, “I always liekt them and had been considering seeking agreement with them.”
“What happent to prevent you so doing, Torrent,” Zoë asked intrigued.
“I met you, but though none was aware of it, it would have come to naught, for they already had agreement with the others by then.”
19th of Stert Day 523
Vivienne, now forty-five, had had a poor life on Earth. She’d never married, and had two children for whom she’d just been a convenience. They’d left home without leaving any means of contacting them and never contacted her after they left. Her employers had taken advantage of her intelligence and skills without paying her a fraction of what they’d maekt out of her.
However, her life on Castle was different, She crafted as a baker and cross crafted with the soap makers, both of which she enjoyed. A plain and generously built woman who’d never managed to attract men other than for sex, she was now the much appreciated and lovt wife of Minyet a smith with an extended family who loved their new mum and granny. Now she was birthing her third and was looking forward to being a mother in a close, loving and supportive family. Two of her new granddaughters were present with Minyet, one of them watching a birth for the first time. Vivienne was relaxt and as she sayt afterwards, “I don’t think I can say I was enjoying myself, but I was very happy with events.”
Nicola was birtht at eight in the eve and Vivienne had never imagined that life could be that good.
20th of Stert Day 524
That forenoon, there was considerable excitement in the kitchens, notably mongst the butchers and the meat cooks. Morris who was his usual calm self had asked Dabchick to accompany him to have spaech with Iola. Iola, who was aware of events, fetcht them all some leaf and asked, “How can my crafters help you, Morris?” Dabchick nodded that she would have asked the same question.
“I’m not too sure yet, but I wisht us all to be aware of what we could be facing. An orca could be twelve strides long and weigh ten thousand weights. I’ve butcht one half that size once before. I’ve been to the dock and it’s big, at least five possibly six or seven thousand weights. I don’t know how fresh it is, but Shy, of the Ocean Shoals, said it didn’t smell at all, so I suspect we shall have a lot of meat to deal with. If that’s so, how do you want to deal with it? My apologies if I’m stating the obvious but it’s meat not fish, and there will be a span thick layer of blubber fat under the skin.”
Iola looked to Dabchick to start. “I’ll take all the blubber in what ever siezt pieces are convenient, Morris. I’ll render it in water, so I’ll be happy with anything that will go into one of Iola’s stock kettles. Cut the meat as you will for me to store, and I’ll ask Eudes if he wishes any immediately and give him what he requires, if aught. My crafters will manage the grallochth as usual.” She looked to Iola and asked, “Shall I deal with the rest in the usual way for you, Iola?”
Iola nodded and said, “As long as I can fit the bones and what ever other pieces there are in a stock kettle, I don’t mind how it comes.”
“So, it’s just a big, short-leggèd aurochs then?” Morris asked. They all laught, but they agreed.
“How long will it take you, Morris?” Dabchick asked.
“If your crafters manage the grallochth, and Iola asks some of the fire keepers do the carrying for us, somewhere between three and four hours to gralloch and skin the carcass and butcher the meat. I know there’s a lot of meat but its in big pieces and requires little work. An hour at most to separate the skin and blubber and may hap another two to cut the bones small enough for Iola’s kettles.”
Iola said, “I’ll have spaech with the firekeeper gangers regards some help, Morris. They will be glad to do it for us.”
The whale was brought into the butchers’ receiving hall on one of Geoffrey’s large flat bed waggons which it overhung all four sides of. It was so big the wheel guards, normally left off other than under muddy conditions, had had to be fitt to avoid it catching the wheels. The waggon was pulled slowly by twelve horses which were handled by Geoffrey and Godfrey, his youngest son.
“It smells fresh,” remarked Morris.
“Send a runner when you wish me to remove the waggon, Morris. I assume you’ll start with the beast still on it?”
“I don’t know, Geoffrey. I wish Roebuck to tell me if the roof would take the weighth because it would be easier if we had it suspended by the tail.”
Roebuck was sent for and he shook his head. “It should take the weighth easily, but I wouldn’t risk it. The hall roof hasn’t been inspectet for five years, it’s due for inspection next year, but we already know it will need renewing somewhere in the next fifty, and the big timbers are ordert with Axel overseeing their construction. But why bother, Morris? We’ve a much bigger version of the hoist you borrow to deal with mammoth, aurochs and the like. It’s easily capable of hoisting this by the tail to take its nose off the floor. It’ll hoist twenty thousand weights [44000 pounds, 20 Tonnes] to a highth of fiveteen strides. This can’t be more than eight thousand weights and nine strides surely? Shall I send it with some apprentices to help erect it? It’ll only take twenty minutes of so before you’re hoisting.”
“Gratitude, Roebuck. I suspect it’s six thousand weights.”
Geoffrey looked berount him, and said, “Better we wait for the waggon than we go only to return betimes. Will someone provide some leaf?”
Letta, who had agreement with Caldera Geoffrey’s second son, said, “I’ll fetch a kettle of leaf, Dad, and bring some mugs.”
An hour later the carcass was hanging from its tail, and Geoffrey, Godfrey and the waggon had gone. Morris was a great believer in the hands on approach to learning, and he said to Redstart, “This is when you truly learn just how good a butcher you are. Using a saw-knife, go in at the throat and cut your way upwards through the skin, blubber and sternum, Where it’s possible use the knife edge and where necessary the toothed section of the blade. You need to have a goodly number of teeth cutting by angling the blade, at least three preferably five. You’ll be able to feel where the sternum ends so slow down just before you reach the end. You don’t want to cut into anything that will cover you in stomach contents. After that stop because you’ll have done your share.”
Redstart grinned and said, “I’ll try hard not to make a mistake, Morris. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“You need a bath and we have to hose the meat after hosing you down. Don’t worry, we won’t lose any meat no matter what happens.” Much happier knowing she couldn’t cost them any meat, Redstart maekt the initial incision, and climbed the twinned ladders as she continued cutting upwards. Morris was explaining to his five butchers why everything was done in the order it was. When she’d finished and climbed down, Morris said, “Excellent, Redstart. Russell, you’re next. I wish you to carry on the cut through the skin and blubber to the far end of the cavity. You’ll need to be to one side to avoid the guts as they drop. That’s why we cut the sternum first or we’d have struggled to have them all out. What are you going to use to do it with?”
“A long blunt endet skinning knife, so I can put my fingers on the end and avoid cutting into the guts or me.”
“Good. Up you go.” One after the other, Morris had his five butchers involved in the gralloch. As always he kept repeating, “Don’t worry regards speed. Do it skilfully. Think of what you are doing, learn slowly but steadily. Skill is what you are learning, speed comes with practice all by itself.”
An hour later, Dabchick’s crafters had removed the grallochth and Morris’ crafters had started removing the blubber still connected to the skin. That done they uest huge blunt knifes, which lookt more like digging tools than butchery equipment, to separate the skin and blubber which the firekeepers taekt to the tanners and Dabchick for them. At that point they ate and had leaf before continuing with the meat and the bones. Three and a half hours after they had started all they had to do was cut the bones up, which taekt another hour and a half. Half an hour later the receiving hall had been washed down and Morris and his five butchers finished work for the day.
23rd of Stert Day 527
Zoë and Torrent reached the cairn marking the turning onto the trail up to the pass in the early eve and Torrent suggested that since Columbine was fast asleep they camp for the night and get up early so he could possibly sling for an early coney or use his crossbow on else larger. Zoë was tired and was agreeable.
24th of Stert Day 527
It was a bright yet crisp forenoon, and whilst Zoë lit the fire for braekfast Torrent lookt berount for meat. He’d killt three coneys with his sling and was may hap quarter of an hour from the waggons on his return when he espied the fleetfoot.(7) Not seriously expecting to have time to unlimber his crossbow nay the less he did expecting the deer who were naemt for their warith and speed to disappear before he had time to try for one. He concluded the wind must have been in his favour for he taekt a three year old buck and was feeling a little smug when he reacht the waggons. Zoë was nursing Columbine and drinking leaf when he returned. “I doetn’t prepare a hot braekfast in case you returnt with else better than oatcakes,” she explained. “If you gralloch them whilst I nurse Columbine, I’ll fry the livers, kidneys and hearts to eat with the last of the lastday’s bread. The lungs and the rest of the edible grallochth I’ll soup with the coneys in the large kettle. If I bring it all to the boil and put it in my haybox it’ll all be cookt by thiseve. But take some leaf first, Love.” Torrent smiled at Columbine who smiled back, he kissed Zoë and after pouring a mug of leaf reacht for his belt knife.
It was half ten [9:30] when the waggons left their camp site. Zoë willen to go first and since her horses were the steadier team Torrent agreed. As Zlovan had suggested all stones that had fallen onto the trail that had to be removed to make passage they loaded on the waggons to fill in the holes of the river bed at the fords. Zlovan had said that the fords were certainly no longer a risk of braeking a wheel yet still they considered it sensible to improve the fords both in levelth and wiedth.
The cairn erected by Zeeëend’s family to mark the first ford wasn’t necessary, for it was obvious where they had to cross. Over the years, the holders had been depositing the boulders and stones from the trail in the river and the ford was now at least twice as wide as a waggon and the river rippled over its hard packed surface of smaller stones which ranged in size from a fist down to gravel at a depth of a span or so. There were a few deeper channels across the ford which allowed more of the water to pass, but none were deeper than a foot and they were easy for the wheels to span without touching the bottom and having to be pulled up and out of by the horses. As they crossed they offloaded the rocks from the trail onto the river bed, just upstream of the ford, and Torrent remarked, “The holders must have been shovelling the small stones off the trail to make the ford this good, Zoë, but Zrina did tell me this ford is much better than the next.”
It was late afternoon when they crossed the river, and Zoë asked, “It doesn’t matter if we take six or more days to get there does it, Torrent?” before adding, “I wish to fish, for there are hundreds if not thousands in the river, so surely I should be able to catch at least a few.” Torrent smiled, for, despite being a fast learner of almost all, Zoë was still a woeful fisher and it irked her. After eating coney soup that was more like a stew than a soup Zoë was amazed at her success, for the fish were almost desperate to be caught, so much so she only kept the trout. After gralloching and filleting her catch she dug up some cattails from the river edge for the roots which she planned to bake with the trout. She maekt bread to cook in her bread oven and left the fish and roots to slow cook on top of the oven wrapped in fresh grass and water mint also from the river edge.
25th of Stert Day 528
Torrent saw to the horses whilst Zoë nursed and changed Columbine who enjoyed a brief splash in the chill river water. The couple had fresh bread and trout with roots for braekfast and Columbine thoroughly enjoyed her coney leg bone and demanded more meat. Torrent shrugged his shoulders and gave her some of his fish which instantly disappeared. “I know she’s eating a lot more solid food, Love, but at sixteen lunes she’s not old enough not to need the comfort of the breast. Molly sayt she’ll wean herself when she’s ready, so I’ll give her some more fish.”
“I’m a lot older than Columbine, and I know exactly how she feels, Love,” Torrent said with a suggestive leer.”
“I’ll deal with you at lunchtime, Torrent. Whilst times let’s make a start.” The couple were still laughing when all was packed and they mounted their waggons.
The trail was in the most part clearly established and easy to follow. They could see the evidence of the holders passage where they’d had to cut down small trees to make their way and most of the scores of small streams feeding into the river had waggon wheel ruts at their edges. However, on the level but firmer terrain berount the lakes they’d had a little trouble finding a route past the water, and Torrent concluded they must have loes the holders’ trail at some point, probably where the wheel ruts disappeared on the harder ground, for he’d not thought it would take that long to reach the second ford. When they reached the cairn that marked the second ford it was clear Torrent had been correct, for they could see the holders’ waggon ruts approaching the cairn from off to their right. They’d been concerned, were tired and relieved to be back on the proper trail and decided to cross the ford nextday when rested.
26th of Stert Day 529
The couple were grateful for the cairn that marked the second ford, for unlike the first ford it was not obvious, was deeper and needed much more care to cross. They knew what the holders had had to do to passage the ford the first time and that many waggon loads of rocks up to more than a foot across had been used to render the ford more level by dropping them into the holes in the river bed. Zlovan had also telt them the holders had spent some time levering out the larger rocks that had broken the water surface and that the last few they had removed with explosives when the river had been at its lowest. Again the couple offloaded the rocks they’d gathered from the trail into the deepest holes in the ford, but this time they were all in the narrow ford and it seemed it would be years before the ford became much wider. Despite the thousands of weights of rock the holders had dropped into the deepest holes over the years it was still a bumpier passage than the first ford and the wheels sank down over a foot and a half several times.
“I doubt this ford will ever be as easy as the first one,” Torrent reflected, “for though the the river is narrower here it is swifter and smaller stones will constantly wash away, but the river is not as wide as lower downstream, so may hap the edges could be fillt level with stones and the middle section deepent and bridgt. I’ll have spaech of it with the holders when we arrive, for there is aplenty of timber here for a bridge, and even if it be decidet to use oak rather than softwood a supply is not far away.”
Still marvelling at the scenery and the wildlife which though not as prolific and oft harder to espy than lower down the valley they slowly maekt their way along the now easier to follow game trail.
“Torrent, what is that? It’s gorgeous!”
Torrent looked where Zoë was pointing and whistled beneath his breath when he saw the animal. “That is a wolverine. I’ve only ever seen a glimpse of one before. The hunters say they are rare and usually secretive rather than shy. It’s sayt they are a large member of the weasel clan. That one seems to be watching us with as much interest as we are watching it. They are ferocious hunters and sayt to contain more aggression for each weight than any other animal on Castle including chlochans.”(8) The animal was the size of a large dog and had wide creamy stripes starting at its shoulders going backwards over its sides to meet on its back just afore its tail. Its coat was long and other than the creamy fur on its intelligent looking face and the stripes was a rich brown. “Their fur is priezt for like chlochan fur your breath does not freeze on it. It is expensive so usually only uest to trim the hoods on cold weather jackets.” It seemed the wolverine had viewed all it was interested in for it disappeared going straight up the almost sheer wall of the valley. Torrent added, “I forgett to add they are sayt to be able to scale a vertical cliff whether it be rock, ice or snow. I never believt that before, but I do now.” They watched the wolverine make its way straight up the valley wall not deviating for anything to find an easier route at an almost unbelievable speed, and in a few minutes they saw it crest the ridge and disappear over it. It was difficult to estimate how far the wolverine had climbed, for they were too close to achieve any sense of scale, but Torrent telt Zoë, “It must be at least four hundred strides to where it goent over the top, probably five and possibly six hundred.”
“That was the most awesome thing I have ever seen, Torrent.”
“Me too. There’s an ages old tale of a hunter who lived in a cabin north of the Arder.(9) He came across a dead female that must have been nursing. He lookt for the kits and hand raist the pair of them. The tale says they were boisterously playful and even after they had grown and left him to find their own way they would visit him from time to time.”
The couple had no need to hunt more meat, but maekt camp in the late afternoon. They left the horses to graze what they could, for though the grazing was not good they knew it would only become poorer before ending completely as they climbed to the pass.
27th of Stert Day 530
The couple had a late start, for on the holders’ advice they only intended to go up to the treeline that day and whatever the horses could forage in the forenoon would enable their supply of oats and hay to last that bit longer. Zeeëend had said that whilst there was water above the treeline they could drink it was inaccessible in sufficient quantity to water the horses and it would be sensible to fill their barrels from one of the small pools at the treeline that were the horses’ last watering place. Zrina had said that the trail from the treeline to the pass was steeper than the rest of the trail and it became progressively steeper as one approached the pass, but it was straight with no significant turns increasing the distance. It was she had telt them the most sensible way to manage the pass, for the air started to thin appreciably five hundred strides above the treeline and the horses would need progressively longer and more frequent halts, and once at the pass they would have need to descend for thicker air reasonably quickly. A long slow walk was how she described the best way to manage that section of the trail. She telt them the first time the holders had gone over the pass they had started early from much lower down the trail, and the horses were already tired before attempting the last and steepest portion up to the pass, which had been a mistake they had never repeated.
Once at the treeline the couple could see where the holders had maekt their fire and they gave the horses a double ration of oats and a goodly quantity of hay after allowing them freedom to drink what they willen from the pools in what was now merely a rill rather than a river. Both were aware the air was a little thinner and much calter, but the horses weren’t bothered and the double ration of oats and the sweet clover hay kept them happy whilst Torrent filled the water barrels.
28th of Stert Day 531
Zoë was calt when she was awakened by Columbine, probably she decided because Torrent was already up. She knew he could not have been up long, for she could still feel his residual warmth in their bedroll. When she left the tent she could see Torrent feeding and watering the teams, for he’d had to break the ice for them on the rill. “We’ll wait till eight so the shine(10) can warm us all some what before we leave, Zoë. I bethinkt me on their first time over the pass the holders maekt it there in three or may hap four hours from here, but I never bethinkt me to ask whether that was with a six or an eight horse team. The Mother(11) goes down over the horizon at quarter over five, so we’ll have daylight till may hap quarter to six which is more than enough to reach Aurochs Watch. If you see to Columbine and braekfast, I’ll ready all else.”
It was ten before eight when they left. The horses maekt slow but steady progress and despite the thin air and the steep trail were not experiencing any problems. They were stopping every twenty minutes for five and on the hour for water and a ten minute rest. It was half to four when they crested the pass and despite what they had been telt to expect of the valley by the holders Zoë and Torrent were completely stunned by what lay in front of them. The sight of the more than a hundred forces(12) and their thunderous roar as the water fell three or four hundred strides [300-400m, 900-1200 feet] to vanish into mist before reaching the ground in many cases was mesmerising. They only stayed at the pass a minute before starting the much more moderate descent. They could see in the far distance to their right the holding and its buildings which looked to be opposite the foot of the descent. The horses were clearly much happier now, for the waggons taekt themselves down the incline even with the brakes in constant use, and the air was getting better by the minute. Just over an hour after they had left the pass they were half way down, for Torrent had decided to travel a little faster to start with to reach the better air. They stopped to rest the horses for a few minutes and Torrent said, “I’m full glad for George’s new brakes. This isn’t as steep as the Long Valley descent nor as hard on the nerves, but its longer. I’ll pour some water on the brakes to cool them off a little. George said they are not as effective when they become over hot and cooling with water would not harm them. I bethink me it’s a priority to use eight horses if we’re going to travel this way again, Zoë, but two possibly two and a half hours and we’ll be there. Just bethinking myself of warm stables, food and beds is making me feel warmer already.”
“That’s one of the things I love you for, Torrent, you bethinkt yourself of the horses first. Will we need to rest the horses again because Columbine is hungry. If I nurse her for five or ten minutes she’ll settle, but if I can’t her screams will echo berount this valley for some time.”
Torrent grinned and said,“You’d better nurse her now if you will. The air here is good enough for even a long break. As to stopping, I suggest we travel a bit slower now the air is better, so the brakes don’t become as hot. I bethink me we should stop halfway to the bottom from here. Not for the horses, but to cool the brakes again. May hap again when we reach the bottom for the brakes, but only for a minute or two. Then it’s may hap ten or twenty minutes to the holding.” After a couple of minutes Torrent said, “I am going to have spaech with George concerning fitting a water tank to drip water onto the brakes to keep them cool. If there were a spigot at the bench one could turn the water on and off at will without even stopping.”
The waggons had almost reached the valley floor when from the shouts they realised they must have been seen. Torrent was cooling the brakes when Zeeëend, riding a huge bay without benefit of a saddle that clearly was no draught animal, reached them. “Well come, Torrent and…?”
“Zeeëend, this is my agreän, Zoë, and somewhere on her wagon is our daughter Columbine. Give me a minute to cool the brakes and you can lead us to warm stables, food, beds and gossip. I’m sure you’ll have as much to tell us as we have you.”
Watching Torrent pour a slow stream of water onto his brake hubs, which steamed on contact, Zeeëend said, “I’ve never seen brakes like those before, Torrent. Why do you have to cool them?”
“They are of a completely different design to the older type. These are callt hydraulic brakes and were designt by George who’s newfolk. He and many others have formt a new craft, the machiners. Craft Masters Vinek, Wolf, Oak, Axel and Terry have all joint him along with more than a dozen of the brightest apprentices on Castle. As you can imagine to be askt to join them confers instant high status. Mast and I askt George to create a better brake for us and these are far better, but George sayt they lose effectivth when hot because he hasn’t yet managt to find a friction material as good as what he is uest to, and on a long descent to cool them with water. Rather than just having brakes on the rear wheels if you look you can see one on each wheel all operatet by the hand levers and the foot pedals, both of which can be easily movt from side to side to suit the driver and any on the bench, for the two levers and pedals allow one on the bench to concentrate on driving and another to operate the brakes, but both can operate the brakes if they will. All new waggons are fitt with them now and Vinek and the other wainwrights are gradually converting all the older waggons. For any who go down the the Long Valley descent, or what we’ve just come down I bethink me they are essential. You need to have your older waggons fitt with them. Your new one will be any hap. The wainwrights say they are no more costly to fit on a new waggon, but obviously there is a cost to have an older waggon fitt with them.” Torrent walked berount both waggons pouring water on the brakes and satisfied there was no more steam said, “That’s good. We can go now.”
“May I see the little one, Zoë?” Zeeëend askt.
“Of course, but she probably won’t wake up. She operates her own idea of waking and sleeping times.”
As Zoë picked a sleeping Columbine up, Zeeëend laught and said, “They all do. Sensible parents who willen to have the best amount of sleep they can have allow them to. All ours were the same.” To Zeeëend’s surprise Zoë passed Columbine to her to hold. Columbine opened her eyes briefly to look at Zeeëend’s face and promptly closed them for more sleep. Zeeëend chuckled and asked, “Doet I pass inspection bethink you, Zoë?”
Chuckling too, Zoë replied, “Well, she’s not screaming, and she’s not that tiren, so I believe so.” Zeeëend passed Columbine back. Zoë replaced her daughter in her crib and picked up her reins.
“Elk ribs with young roots from the twins’ garden followt by apple and lingberry(13) pie with cream. Apples from the twins’ trees and lingberry from further up the valley. Cream from Zrina’s goats. How does that sound for dinner thiseve?”
“Heavenly,” replied Zoë. “I’m quite a good trail cook, but trail food is trail food and can’t compete with a meal cookt with better materials, a proper kitchen and the time to do it properly. But most of all I’m looking forward to a good warm bath with time to soak the trail dust off. It’s over half a lune since Columbine and I had a nice warm bath.”
“There’ll be time before dinner to bathe. Come let’s have all introducet and shew you to your chamber. We’ll have been seen by the others by now and things will be being prepaert.” The three waggons started towards the holding and Zeeëend said, “Follow me to this side of the paddock nearest the house. I’ll let us all in and close the gate behind me. If you drive to the far side you can drive your waggons straight into the big barn. We can loose your horses into the paddock to graze and unload your waggons later. We’ll see to your horses after we’ve eaten. You’ll be tiren, for crossing the pass is exhausting. I’ve done it dozens of times and it’s still the same.”
Zeeëend taekt the lead and without dismounting pulled a sprung vertical lever that extended from the gate latch to open the gate. The waggons entered the paddock and when Zeeëend pushed the gate lever Zoë and Torrent heard the gate latch close with a loud click. At the far side of the paddock two persons were opening a pair of gates which opened the paddock and closed gainst the sides of the barn entrance. The height of the two informed Zoë she was looking at Zlovan and Zrina. As she drove her waggon into the barn the pair both bad her well come and as Torrent pulled up along side her they were already seeing to the horses. After the horses were turned loose introductions were maekt and Zrina said, “The twins are preparing airt linen for your beds, though now we’ll have to tell zem only one bed is necessary. I believe all is ready for cooking, and there is always hot water aplenty for bathing. Come, pass what you have immediate need of down from your waggons and refresh yourselfs.”
Zeeëend and Zlovan had a hurried conversation, and Zlovan said, “You must tell us more of your waggon brakes after dinner, Torrent, but there is time aplenty. We plant on leaving for the Keep in four days, but now may hap five not four.”
Despite all that Torrent had telt her of the twins, Zoë was surprised when they met as she entered the house. They were far prettier than she had imagined and though smaller than their agreäns they were big women. They moved towards Zoë and both chuckled. Seeing her uncertainty the twin on the left facing her said, “I am Zylanna, ze is Zylenna. We share all we must, but my kisses are my kisses and zers are zers.” The twins hugged Zoë and kissed her cheek in turn which Zoë returned. All three laughed and all awkwardth disappeared.
Zylenna said, “We have an excellent piept water system which is heatet by the kitchen stove. The baths are filling and we’ll start cooking in an hour. Whilst you bathe we’ll finish preparing your chamber and find some fresh bedding for the little one too. We’ve chaest all the children out so you can rest awhile before they overwhelm you with questions regards events outside the Valley. If there is aught you have need of or will ask us, for we manage the house and garden and it’s possible the others won’t know where what you will is keept.”
The bed in their chamber was huge and Zylanna explained, “The others uest this bed before our agreement. Now we have a much larger one than this. We’ll just shew you the bath chamber and leave you alone till you decide you are ready for conversation and dinner. And of course the onslaught of the children.”
All of the children had been to the Keep, but to them all, even the eldest, it was an exotic place of wonder of which they could never hear enough. The younger ones remembered little other than staying with Granny Ivy at the White Swan and were especially eager for more stories. Zoë and Torrent did their best, but were grateful when Zlovan said, “Children, that is enough. Our friends have had a tiring day and I will peace at the dining table, so off you go to help Mother Zylanna and Mother Zylenna serve dinner and lay the table. Hurry because I’m hungry.”
The chorus of, “Yes, Dad,” didn’t sound in the least intimidated to Zoë, but the children disappeared, and sounds of rattling crockery and cutlery could be heard in an adjoining chamber.
Dinner was delicious and a lively event. The children were well behaved and two of the girls were delighted to help Columbine with her dinner. Zoë was amazed as the children, more or less in reverse age order, took themselfs off to bed. Zrina said, “They are sensible regards bed time and go when they become tiren, for all enjoy being up early and helping to cook braekfast. I suggest we leave it till nextday to have spaech, for I noticet you both trying not to yawn. It’s half to ten, and we are rarely still up without cause beyond ten. If you will I’ll make leaf and you can take it to your chamber. Yes?”
Zoë and Torrent nodded agreement and were abed and asleep just gone ten.
29th of Stert Day 533
Zoë and Torrent were awakened at half to nine by a knocking on their chamber door. Zoë said, “Come in,” and a boy came in with a tray with two mugs of leaf on it.
“Good forenoon. I’m Molleande and Mother Zylanna sayt to tell you your braekfast will be on the kitchen table in fifteen minutes. Mother Zylenna sayt to tell you Dad and Mothers Zrina and Zeeëend goent hunting before first light for aurochs and will appreciate some help with the gralloch when they return which will probably be mid afternoon. Quoylay and Sayley sayt if you like they will give Columbine her braekfast. That’s all.” Molleande gave them the mugs and departed with his tray as they offered gratitude for the leaf.
Twenty minutes later after they’d both washed and dressed Torrent was in the kitchen. “Zoë is changing Columbine and sayt she’ll nurse her before they both have their braekfast. She’d be grateful for your help feeding Columbine, Girls. I imagine she’ll be here in a few minutes and nurse her at the table.” When the smoked fish were put on the table Torrent asked, “Where do the fish come from?”
Zylenna replied, “Years ago, Zrina catcht them from the river the other side of the pass with a net when they were at most half a span [2 inches, 5cm] long. Ze bringt them back in barrels and releast some in the river and some in the lake. The lake fish don’t grow quickly. We suspect there is not enough feed in the lake for them, for it is mostly fed by glacier melt water, but the river fish grow rapidly and have been breeding for years. On her last trip to Granny Ivy’s Eolwaena discovert the process of smoking fish and meat. She findt out how to make a smoke house and built one here. She is the one who smokes them.”
Torrent tried the fish and smiling at Eolwaena said, “Tasty, very tasty, but not an over powerful smoky taste, and not too dry like some smoekt fish. What do you smoke them with, Eolwaena?”
“The younger children collect dry, dead oak twigs and young larch boughs to put on top. The larch keeps the heatth from drying the fish out and is what gives that slight, taste of pine. When we have enough fuel to complete a smoking we all go fishing.” Eolwaena turned to the children and said, “The eggs still have to be collectet and the forenoon tasks to be finisht. If Waggon and Qheræce help me to ready all for the aurochs the rest of you can do my usual tasks and we’ll help as soon as we can. Quoylay and Sayley you help Zoë with Columbine and join Tualla when you have finisht.”
Zoë had entered the kitchen and hearing Eolwaena was not at all surprised the children accepted Eolwaena’s authority, for she had an air of responsibility and competence. A young girl said, “Isdeän and I can do your feeding tasks, Eolwaena, when we do ours.”
“Gratitude, Sennen. I chopt enough meat lasteve for all the ferrets, cats and dogs, so you won’t have to do that. Tualla, I know you won’t have Quoylay and Sayley to start with, but could you please bring in a two day supply of firewood, for I suspect we are all going to be busy for the next few days. I’ll help when I can. As usual we’ll see to the horses after lunch.”
The children, without any discussion, just disappeared. Zoë sat down and said to the two girls, “I’ll nurse Columbine first, for as soon as she sees me eating she’ll make a fuss till she is given some.”
Torrent who had long finished his fish and was eating a slice of buttered toast with his leaf said, “It’s smokt fish for braekfast, Zoë.” He turned to the girls and grinning said, “Columbine likes fish, but smokt fish will be a new taste, so things may become a little messy whilst she decides if she likes it. I’d use a big bib and have a piece of buttert toast ready to quieten her with if she doesn’t like the fish.”
Quoylay said, “I remember when the little ones were that age. I’ll get a kitchen towel to use as a bib.”
Zoë was drinking leaf whilst Columbine applied herself to her first course of braekfast, and Sayley said, “It’s ages since either of our mums were nursing, but I do love to watch. How big were your breasts before, Zoë?”
Zoë smiled and said, “I had big breasts before I was eight, berount the size of yours, may hap a little larger but not much. They really began to grow when I was six or seven lunes pregnant. I was eleven when I came to Castle. I was seven and a half lunes pregnant and I know my breasts had not long since startet to fill. Once Columbine was birtht they became this almost size almost overnight. They became a little larger as she nursed more, but I bethink me they’d stopt growing by the time she was eight or nine lunes old. She’s sixteen lunes now.”
As Zoë changed Columbine over to her left breast Zylanna said, “The children will be able to watch us nursing betimes, for we are two lunes now. We intend to take a trip to Granny Ivy’s early in the year so we birth at the Keep. It’s possible by then Eolwaena will have a babe under her heart too, for this trip we’re bringing Iffan her heartfriend back with us. They have sayt they will agreement rather than to be intendet, for Eolwaena wishes a family. We hope to bring several of the children’s heartfriends back with us this trip, but a few details need to be finaliest. What have you on the waggons, Torrent?”
“We loadet Zoë’s wagon with all discusst with your agreäns when they were at the Keep and mine with mostly sacks of dryt cerials and pulses. There are some spices, cloth, metal and various other bits and pieces too. If I’m shewn where to put them I’ll start unloading the food sacks.”
“We’ll shew you where the stores are and how we stack the sacks,” Zylenna said. On seeing Torrent’s face she explained, “We stack them with wooden spacers twixt the sacks. It allows moisture to escape preventing any mould and gives the cats access to every where. That is why we’ve never had a problem with rats and mice in the stores. The children’s ferrets catch the odd vermin in there too.”
Columbine decided that she liked smoked fish and ate so much that she was asleep before Zoë left the table.
By lunchtime Zoë and Torrent had unloaded all they could because the twins didn’t know where aught else had to go. There was laying fowl with mixed fungi pie for lunch. Sayley explained, “Mums and Dad had the pie for lunch too, for it eats well cold too.”
After lunch the twins went to tend the vegetable garden with the four youngest children, and Zoë and Torrent with the other children went to tend to the horses. “Who has a heartfriend back at the Keep?” Zoë asked.
“You know I do, and that Iffan is returning with us,” replied Eolwaena. “Tualla’s heartfriend is Ælle, Molleande’s is Constant and Quoylay’s is Fulcrum. It’s been agreen that Ælle, Constant and Fulcrum can live here and it’s belike they shall be returning with us. Sennen and Isdeän have been heartfriends for years and we all bethink ourselfs they are lucky. Sayley’s heartfriend is Catfish, but it is not certain he can return with us. We all hope so. Waggon and Qheræce are friends with Lingwood and Fyrday and are hoping to become heartfrienden with them when we reach the Keep, though it is unbelike they will be able to return with us, for it takes parents time to become uest to the idea.”
Zoë was interested and asked, “How long have you known Iffan, Eolwaena?”
“All my life. We’ve been heartfriends since I was three. He’s nigh to a full year my elder. He’s a vegetable grower like both his parents, and Mothers Zylanna and Zylenna are really happy he’ll be here to help, for zey will to expand the gardens, so we can eat a wider variety of things. He’d have come to live here last time we returnt from the Keep, but he had a bad chest, and Dad said him going over the pass was not a good idea. Iffan willen to risk it, but I sayt no and offert to stay at the Keep. He telt me to go home and he’d be patient. Quoylay, Tualla and Molleande have been heartfrienden for years too. Sennen and Isdeän shaert a crib and have shaert a bed ever since. Waggon and Qheræce are a bit unlucky really, but Lingwood and Fyrday are nice boys and really like them, so the girls are planning on kissing them into heartfriendship, but I don’t believe the boys will need much persuading.”
Zoë still had difficulty accepting the maturity of Folk children and the way they selected life partners from so young an age. What was really surprising to her was that most relationships that started at so young an age lasted a lifetime. Qheræce was barely five in Earth years and yet she was already planning to kiss a boy into what was essentially marriage, and her relatives approven, and clearly none thought aught concerning Sennen and Isdeän, who were eight and ten in Earth years, sharing a bed other than that they were lucky to be able to do so.
By the time the horses had been seen to the afternoon was advanced, and as they left the stables for a mug of leaf at the house a huge four axle waggon could be seen in the distance. As the waggon approached Zoë could see it had five aurochs on it which no where near filled the available space. The waggon veered away from the stables towards a large barn. “That’s where we gralloch aurochs,” Quoylay explained. “I’ll tell Mums Zylanna and Zylenna to make leaf and something to eat for us all before we start.” Zoë and Torrent followed the children as they headed to the barn.
By the time Zoë and Torrent entered the barn Zlovan was already hoisting an aurochs up by its back legs from an overhead timber using a block and tackle and Zrina and Zeeëend were preparing a couple more to be hoisted. “We’ll get them all hoistet and explain over leaf,” Zlovan said. “Did you sleep tight? I always do after going over the pass.” Torrent aided in hoisting the beasts, but Zoë not sure she could help and not wishing to be in the way stayed with the children who clearly thought as she.
The twins arrived with leaf and sent Tualla and Quoylay for the sandwiches. With five aurochs hanging ready for gralloching Zlovan took a mug of leaf and started to explain what had been happening. “We have twenty-seven beasts already freezen in the store. Eight for each of our waggons and three for yours, for we doetn’t expect you to arrive with two waggons. At braekfast Zrina suggestet we hunt another three for your other waggon, but Zeeëend sayt if we providet another pair of horses for each of your waggons, and extension boards too, eight horses could easily pull four aurochs on your waggons. So better ze sayt we hunt for another five aurochs. If we gralloch all this day we can ice them early nexday and move them into the ice store with the others and they’ll be freezen solid in three days. We can load them packt with ice and insulaten with hay and leave in four days on the third of Larov. What bethink you of it?”
“I’d wish to practice driving an eight before going over the pass, Zlovan.”
“That’s easy to arrange, Zoë, and if you like the twins can travel with you on the bench. Zey can drive a twelve, so an eight would be fine. Torrent, you’ve sayt naught.”
“It makes sense. Yes I agree. How do you freeze the carcasses so quickly?”
Zrina answered him, “The ice from the glacier is much colder than just freezing. You can’t handle it without gloves or you’ll permanently damage your fingers, or worse lose them. We pack the carcasses inside and out with ice and use mats maekt from hay to wrap them in and more to cover them. The ice has never completely meltet by the time we arrive at the Keep, not even in the warmest of weather.”
Zoë asked, “How do the children travel?”
Zeeëend replied, “The older children travel on the drivers’ benches and take a turn driving, for they are learning to handle a team of twelve. I have two benches on my waggon and the one behind the driver’s bench is for the younger four. It has harnesses to make sure they are safe and can’t fall off.”
Once the gralloch was under way it was clearly a well practised procedure, for the older children were as familiar with it as the adults. Once the grallochth was removed the carcasses still with their skins on were washed out and left to dry. The children dealt with the grallochth which they separated into what was required for the kitchen, what was animal feed and what went onto the vegetable garden. The kitchen and animal foods were washed, barrelled and taken to the freeze chamber. The rest was dumped for the hens to scratch through. All was done before nine and Zrina said, “That will do till nextday when we ice them. The twins will have dinner on the table as soon as we have all baetht, so let us do our best to smell a little better. Sayley, Twin mums will probably be putting the little ones to bed after their dinner. Tell them we’ve finisht will you please and start the baths filling. All of the baths please. We be there as soon as we’ve swillt the floors.”
“Yes, Mum, and I’ll make leaf.”
It was a late dinner for the adults and the older children, and there was little conversation before bed. Nextday was another day.
30th of Stert Day 534
Zoë and Torrent were up earlier than the day before and joined the holders and their family for braekfast. Columbine was cantankerous, but quietened immediately when Quoylay offered her some smoked fish and a buttered finger of toast. After braekfast most of the children went with the twins to tend the garden and all else went to ice the aurochs which were already partially frozen in the cold air. The aurochs were transferred by a hoist that slid on a rail to the ice chamber where they were laid on a low platform for packing with ice before the cavities were rough stitched with cord. Zeeëend explained, “We leave the heads on, for not only do we obtain a better price the horns make tieing them to the waggons easier and sell for a good price too. We’ll not wrap them till they are completely freezen and the wrapping hay is over there already freezen. It’s flexible enough even at this temperature.” As she spake Zeeëend pointed to a pile of large mats and loose hay. “There are other materials we could use to insulate and shade the carcasses but using hay means we are carrying emergency feed for the horses.”
After dinner that eve Zeeëend said, “Tell of the new brakes, Torrent.”
“Mast the waggoner and I were having spaech of improvements we could have maekt to the waggons and we agreen that the most significant improvement would be brakes that doetn’t require so much effort to apply.”
Zlovan interrupted saying, “Why bother with having brakes fitt at all, for they only slow you down!” At which all the adults except a puzzled Zoë started laughing.
Zrina explained, “It’s a waggoners’ joke that’s centuries old, Zoë. Any waggon drawn by an appropriate team, I mean appropriate in terms of the number of horses and their pulling power, can be movt by that team even with all its wheels completely lockt in exactly the same way they pull a sledge. The lockt wheels would just slide over the ground on their iron tyres. Brakes on a waggon can only slow it down, they can’t stop it moving if the team wish to move, especially if the team leader wishes to move, for the rest will comply with the team leader’s will. There is a tale of unknown age that tells of a waggoner naemt Vvavva who was exploring the land to the north of Graill Shores holding. She stopt on the chalk cliffs to admire the view and to decide which way to proceed north. She applyt her brakes, but her team keept going and she was powerless to prevent them. The team pullt the waggon inland away from the cliff for a couple of hundred strides, and when she turnt to look back she seeën fifty strides of the cliff was collapsing into the sea. Had she stopt the horses, waggon and she would all have gone into the sea with the cliff. All apprentice waggoners are teacht that if the horses will to keep going to allow them their will.”
The others all nodded in agreement and Torrent continued with his tale. He telt of George and the new craft of machiners and the new brakes. Then he added, “If the hydraulic system fails, and I know not how it works, the pedal and the lever will still operate the brakes, but it will require the same effort that is requiert to operate an old fashiont set of brakes.” He telt the holders what little of the mechanism he was aware of saying, “Like all the machiners are involvt with the brakes will doubtless be subject to continual improvement. I will to have the waggons fitt with water tanks that drip water onto the brakes to keep them cool. If a spigot in the pipe is fitt near the bench one could turn the water on and off at will without having to dismount. Better I bethinkt myself to keep the brakes cool than to allow them to become hot and then have to cool them.”
1st of Larov Day 535
Torrent and the holders spent the forenoon selecting four horses for the two teams of six from the holding herd. It was not just a matter of choosing horses of the right size and power the horses had to be socially acceptable to the rest of the team, for there was little time for them to become uest to each other. Eventually it was done, the waggons were provided with the extra tack required and the teams were tacked up. Zoë and Torrent put the new teams to the test driving to the glacier at the far end of the valley with Zlovan and Zeeëend. Zoë had desired to see the valley in more detail since cresting the pass and was yet again awed by its grandeur, for the forces were even more impressive when viewed from close quarters, and the glacier to her surprise never stopped creaking and groaning generating an amazing variety of noises ranging from the highest of squeaks to low rumbling sounds as it shifted and ground away the underlying rock. “Do you not bethink you it beautiful too, Zlovan,” she asked, for he seemed indifferent to the wonders berount him.
“Yes, but we live here. Zrina says we have become so uest to the valley that most of the time we no longer see it.” He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I may not say over much of it, but I truly will not to live else where. Don’t go any closer, Zoë, for occasionally huge pieces like those over there fall from the top. The smaller pieces that shatter off them when they land are what we collect to ice the aurochs with.” The pieces Zlovan was indicating were colossal and Zoë moved a little farther away.
Over the next three hours, Zoë became more confident handling her team and was happy with her new horses. Torrent had more difficulty than she, and after half an hour he changed the new, near side, rear centre with his new, off side, rear centre, which he said was better and twenty minutes later switched his off side, rear centre with his lighter, off side fore centre. It was seen by all that they were a much better team tacked up in their new configuration, and he said they were now as easy to drive as his original six had been. Zlovan said, “Changing the new horses from side to side was an obvious thing to do, but changing the off side horses was not, for you now have a heavier horse in front of the a lighter one. None I know would have done that, including me. It seems unnatural, yet I can see it makes them a good team which before they were not. What maekt you bethink yourself of it, Torrent?”
Torrent shrugged and said, “I know not, but without wishing to be insulting I am an experiencet full time waggoner, and it just seemt the right thing to do. I like to bethink myself I am a good waggoner and that I understand horses.” He smiled and after a moment’s hesitation asked, “As I telt you we’ve been seeking extra horses, Zlovan. For what consideration would you will to sell us these four?”
Zlovan shrugged and looking at Zeeëend it was clear he was leaving it to her to answer the question. “If we pay you the agreen rate for delivering six aurochs to the Keep and you deliver the other pair free of charge and agree to do like wise twice more at least once next year and then the second trip no later than the following year we would consider the horses paid for in full. Is that acceptable?”
Torrent considered the offer. The horses would not be cheap, but neither would they be expensive. He looked at Zoë who indicated it was up to him to accept or decline. “If I don’t have to decide till we’ve driven them for a couple of days that would be satisfactory.”
Zlovan nodded and said, “That’s fair. I wouldn’t will to buy a horse that doetn’t work in an existing team. As long as you let us know before we arrive at the Keep.”
At dinner Zoë mentioned their encounter with the wolverine and Zrina tellt them, “We see one in the valley may hap every couple of lunes. They are not botheret by our presence and are well enough fed to ignore all our animals. They catch coneys and other small game, but mostly they seem to be on their way else where, for they are only here a few days. We recognise three may hap four of them as individuals, but they are all cream headed and striept like the one you seeën. I know else where some do not have the cream colouration on the sides and heads and are solid brown in colour but I have never seen such.
1st of Larov Day 535
Despite a very wet and poor year for the growers, this year’s grain harvest was the best ever recorded, which was entirely as a result of George’s machinery. More was sown by machine than had ever been sown before and the losses were minimal. Most of the grain had been harvested damp but George’s dryers had solved that. George was asked to join the Council. When he accepted it was universally approven by the Folk. Lyre and he celebrated at the White Swan, all her family were present, and much to his surprise he had been telt he was now clan chief, since they had not considered any to be suitable since Lyre’s grandmother Winnow had dien from the fevers.
The grain produced north of the river was all milled by the new mill, albeit with the mill operating at a fraction of it’s potential, though they did mill for twenty-four hours a day to start with. As Briar had predicted that immediately taekt a lot of pressure off all involved and eventually allowed the mill’s debts to crafters to be paid that year and a small amount of the Collective(14) funding to be repaid. When askt, Sagon had said it be better that the crafters were paid first rather than the Collective as that would put more of the tokens into immediate circulation.
Graill who had movt with his wife Joanna to live at the mill site had proven to be invaluable, he could fix and fettle almost aught and was good with the horses which were initially necessary to help loaded grain waggons up the steep mill approaches before they were improven. Fiddil and Orcharder too had movt to the mill site to oversee any maintenance the mill stonework required. Brock and Bruin had long left, their last task had been the installation of the mill stones using a crane specially built by George which would enable Judith and Storm to handle the stones safely in future for any dressing they required. There was now a small settlement berount the mill and twenty-two adults, some with families, said they were going to over-winter at the site. Graill had a senior apprentice woodworker and two senior apprentice builders supervising the construction of a dozen or more of the long cabins, accommodation for both folk and livestock, and the sheepherds, goatherds and new-beast herds were going to over winter with them.
Various crafters had maekt enquiries as to whether they would be well come to live and base their crafting from the mill site. Since these included waggoners, hunters and vegetable growers the mill site would soon become an independent permanent settlement. Though the improvements to the approaches had obviated the need for the team of horses maintained there to help pull loaded waggons up to the mill it had been decided by the waggoners, that since Millside, as it was now known, had become a reasonable siezt, all year settlement, to keep the stabling facilities there and maintain spare horses there too. Waggon Master Geoffrey’s second son, Caldera, with Letta his wife and their two children, agreed to move to Millside and manage the Waggoners’ affairs there.
The residents of Millside elected a small council and Graill was askt to represent Millside’s interests at the Keep Council as the Millside Councillor.
1st of Larov Day 535
Beth had been taking the feminising herbs for over a year. They had not been fast acting, but much to her joy she now had sizeable breasts, a feminine cotte and hips too. Falcon had been correct in that she would never have a figure like her mum’s, but none could ever mistake her for a man, for even when dresst for hunting in clothes of a style normally worn by men just like her brothers’, which she preferred, their fit meant she definitely lookt like a woman though she reluctantly conceded she’d never have enough cotte and hips to really fill an apron be it of however slim a fit.
In conversation with Warbler and Fiona she’d said, “They’ve been a long time coming, but I’m happy they’ve arrivt.” She gave a smile full of innuendo and said, “And so is Greensward. I’m not big, but I’m glad I’m big enough to finally remove all the padding from my clothes, and I am bigger than my breast forms now, so I’ll probably never use them again.”
Warbler laught and said, “They’re there for the touching, Beth, and as long as you’ve enough to be toucht, you’ve enough, and it is wonderful to be a girl. Only problem is if you’ve a nice boy you have to put considerable effort into making sure he knows you will to be toucht. You wouldn’t believe how long it taekt me to have Jed put his hands inside my frock. For a long time I had to put them there which isn’t quite the same some how. Still better that than a groper.”
Fiona who was nursing Isabel said, “I never had that problem with Fergal. But we’re older and he is a very caring and considerate man who trys to keep both of us happy. He’s also as interestet in my breasts as Isabel. You’re right though, Warbler, it is wonderful to be a girl if you have a nice boy, and gropers are not nice. It’s also true that as long as you have enough to be toucht, you’ve enough. Fergal says more than a handful is a waste, so I’m lucky he has big hands, yet even his hands can’t span my cotte, but I know he does his best, so I forgive him.”
When the girls had finished choking with laughter, Warbler asked, “You going to the dance, Fiona?”
“Yes. Mum’s looking after Isabel, and Fergal is an incurable romantic. I do believe he wishes the opportunity to grope my cotte by candlelight at the end of the dance, and you never know with a bit of luck I’ll have him ravish me and make me pregnant again when we go home.”
Beth said in mock shocked tones, “I bethinkt me you said gropers are not nice? And where do ravishers fit on the not nice scale?”
“Ah, but that only applies if you don’t wish to be groept and ravisht, Beth. This is all together different! You should try it some time. I’m sure Greensward will coöperate if you ask him nicely.”
“Well he doet help me with the desensitising cream when my breasts startet developing and were sore, so I’m sure he will coöperate. He’s not unreasonable.”
The three young women between bouts of hysterical laughter maekt their arrangements to meet for the dance.
Beth, who time over had enjoyed Greensward’s coöperation with the cream Falcon had provided for her over sensitive budding breasts, decided a bit of groping by Greensward would be a mutually rewarding experience and was considering which of her dance gowns would best facilitate the matter.
2nd of Larov
Most of the day was spent readying for departure. The extension boards were fastened to Zoë’s and Torrent’s waggons and the thirty-two iced and insulated aurochs carcasses were hoisted onto waggons, tied down and wrapped with more insulation before being tied down yet again. All necessary stores were loaded and fastened down and the fifty-two horses were looked over and readied for the journey. Just in front of the centre of the driver’s bench on the holders’ waggons was a vertical staunchion with a double gimbal arrangement with clips on the top. “What are the posts for Zrina?” Zoë asked.
“The crossbows. We carry smaller ones for smaller game but the ones for the waggons are large and powerful enough to kill mammoth, aurochs and aught else of that size too, but they have to be mountet for they are too large and heavy to use else wise. We’ll mount them just before we leave and put their covers on to avoid rain and even dampth slackening their strings.”
Over lunch and shortly after Torrent had mentioned where he had loes the trail leading to the higher ford and his idea concerning bridging the centre section. Zrina said, “We’ve bethinkt ourselfs of abridging the ford and decidet that if we placet a lot more stones into the edge sections the force of the water in the centre section would probably wash out and deepen the channel which would then be able to take the larger amount of water. We’ve already startet moving stones to protect the side sections. Zlovan sayt if it doetn’t happen of its own accord we could help the centre wash out with some small quantities of explosives when the water level is low. Probably not nextyear(15) but nextyearnigh we’ll have time enough to do it. I bethink me I know where you loes the trail and we can make it clearer on our way past this time. We are all so familiar with the trail it doetn’t occur to us that you may lose your way.”
Zylanna and Zylenna had with the children’s help harvested and stored all that could be, and the hens and livestock had been enabled to survive an extended period without assistance from the holders. It had been done many times before and was now a familiar procedure. Zoë now understood why the fences berount the twin’s vegetable plots were so robust. “They’re aurochs proof,” Zylenna had explained.
Thateve, there was what the holders described as their traditional departure party. Dinner was early to enable dancing and music and singing without too late a bedtime. The holders and the children all dressed in their finest. Zlovan wore what Zoë considered to be a stunning dancing gown which was especially so because of his size. Noticing Zoë looking at his frock he said, “You are aware of our natures, Zoë, and why we use the referents we do?” Zoë nodded. “Years over there was a lot of unpleasantth directet towards Zeeëend which upset us all, so we decidet to cast all despite back in the teeth of those who were only interestet in scurrilous gossip even were it hurtful. We decidet to dress socially as women and when crafting to always dress as men, all three of us. The twins usually dress as women when crafting in the kitchen, but wear men’s apparel when gardening. You’ll see them dresst as men on the waggon nextday. It’s a very practical arrangement that completely perplext folk, and they knew not which direction to focus their gossip on.
“Mum, Granny Ivy we mostly call her, deliberately threw confusion into the pot by adding a considerable amount of misdirection if not to say outright lies, and the gossip became so ridiculous most folk laught at it rather than become hurtful themselves. We already had agreement with each other so we were not risking driving away potential agreäns by dressing in such fashion. There is no longer a need for it, but it is practical arrangement and none of us can imagine living any other way. The children do likewise most of the time, but that’s their decision not ours.
3rd of Larov Day 537
All were up well before truedawn and braekfast was a substantial and prolonged meal. “Eat up children,” Zylanna telt them, “for this will be your last meal of this quality for some time.” Packed meals for a few days had been maekt by the twins lastday and were already on the waggons along with all their stores and travelling equipment. Zylenna sayt to Zoë, “We are truly grateful to have avoidet forsickth(16) for I imagine that would not be pleasant on the waggon.”
Zoë nodded and said, “I was grateful not to suffer it too.”
Zoë helped Zrina to strap the younger children into their harnesses on their bench and was surprised when Qheræce said, “Gratitude, Zoë. Will you and Zorrent be coming back to the valley?”
Zrina grinned and said in explanation, “Zoë begins with a ‘Z’, so they probably acceptet you as one of us immediately. Torrent probably soundet quaire to them, for, all the agreäns they love and trust have names that begin with ‘Z’. It would appear that the children have acceptet you as close kith. Torrent has been close kith to us for years, and it would suit us all well to regard you in the same way. How beseems it to you?”
The hug confirmed the matter and Zoë said to Qheræce, “ We are contractet with your parents to return at least another twice, but we’d like to return much more than that. Now, I’d better go, for the twins are impatient to be off, and we’re going first.”
The train of waggons set off across the valley and started up the climb, Zoë with the twins driving the first waggon followed by Zrina with Mollyande and Saley, Torrent with Quoylay, Zeeëend with Tualla and Waggon, Sennen, Queræce and Isdeän on the second bench. Zlovan brought up the rear with Eolwaena. With a stop more than halfway to the pass to water the horses, and to eat a sandwich it took Zoë four hours to reach the pass. Once all were over the pass they watered the horses again and then eating their preprepared lunches on the waggons they kept going till they could water the horses at the treeline pools where they untackt the horses in turn and let them drink at the pools before retacking them and feeding them a generous quantity of oats in their nosebags.
It taekt an hour before the horses were ready to continue, and they maekt their way down to a much wider and less rocky part of the trail where they turned the horses lose to drink from the now widening rill that wasn’t yet the river it would become and to graze what little they could of the sere vegetation. The children were clearly uest to the setting up of camp and went berount their tasks with a high degree of organisation. After they’d set up camp, the twins had started preparing food. After eating, the children uncovered the hay racks at the holders’ wagons’ sides and the horses had access to as much hay as they willen which Zrina said ensured they wouldn’t wander far overnight.
“You have now done it both ways, Zoë, and the rest of the trip is the easy part. I’m always glad to crest the pass and reach here on our way to the Keep, for at least here there is water, and grazing and game are not far away. We are no longer dependent on what we carry with us. Would you like a glass of brandy to celebrate with us? We always do here. Even the children have a brandy when we reach here, though theirs are small and in a goodly amount of fruit juice.” Zlovan was smiling yet Zoë found it hard to believe that the big man was admitting to any kind of nervousth which his relief indicated.
“Gratitude, but no to the brandy, not whilst I’m nursing. I’d like some fruit juice if there’s enough to spare. What are the twins cooking?”
“We’re carrying a barrel of fruit juice, so there’s aplenty. I believe it’s aurochs stew.” At the look on her face Zlovan said, “I’m only joking. I believe its a dove stew zey’re warming up, and there are fruit pasties too. The twins’ trail food is significantly better than most. I’ll fetch your fruit juice.”
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, Eorl, 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, Bluebell, Sophie, Hazel, Ivy, Shadow, Allison, Amber, Judith, Storm Alwydd, Matthew, Beatrix, Jackdaw, The Squad, Elders, Jennet, 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, Ramsom, 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, Margæt, 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
108 Aldeia, Coast, Chris, Wayland, Liam, Gage, Fiona, Fergal, Beth, Greensward, Jackdaw, Warbler, Jed, Guy, Bittern, Spearmint, Alwydd, Storm, Judith, Heidi, Iola, Heron, Beatrix, Harle, Parsley, Fledgeling, Letta, Cockle, Puffin, Adela, Gibb, Coaltit, Dabchick, Morris, Lucimer, Sharky, Rampion, Siskin, Weir, Alsike, Milligan, Gosellyn, Wolf, Campion, Gareth, Aaron, Nigel, Geoffrey, Will, Roebuck, Yew
109 George, Lyre, Iola, Milligan, Gibb, Adela, Wels, Francis, Weir, Cliff, Siward, Glæt, Judith, Madder, Briar, Axel, Molly, Coaltit, Dabchick, Bluesher, Qvuine, Spoonbill, Ashridge, Morris
110 Nectar, Cattail, Molly, Floatleaf, Timothy, Guy, Judith, Briar, Axel, Storm, Beatrix, Iola, Coaltit, Siward, Cockle, Gibb, Lune, Manchette, Gellica, Dabchick, Morris, Sycamore, Eudes, Fulbert, Abigail, Milligan, Ashridge
111 Iola, Turner, Otday, Alwydd, Will, Dabchick, Sgœnne, Coriander, Saught, Ingot, Molly, Vivienne, Michelle, Nancy, Fledgeling, Letta, Milligan, Spoonbill, Knawel, Beaver, Cnut, Godwin, Ilsa, Holdfast, Jeanne, Tara, Lanfranc, Furrier, Joseph, Crag, Adela, Jason, Judith, Gem, Wolf, Storm, Terry, Axel, George, Oak, Coaltit, Posy, Gage, Bluesher, Nigel, Heron, Aaron, Orchid, Morris, Russell, Thomas, Eudes, Ashridge, Polecat, Redstart, Herleva, Fletcher, Jasmine, Ash, Beech, Lilac, Elaine, Kaya, Fulbert, Buzzard, Raymond, Firefly, Roebuck, Francis, Cliff, Odo, Alice, Grangon
112 Council, Bruana, Iola, Kirsty, Glen, Shirley, Wormwood, Noah, Aaron, Dabchick, Nigel, Judith, Milligan, Campion, Gibb, Morris, Polecat, Ilsa, Glæt, Braun, Turbot, Voë, Llyllabette, Yoomarrianna, Sledge, Cloudberry, Smockt, Burgloss, Hubert, Skylark, Srossa, Cygnet, Uri, Cnara, Sexday, Luuk, Slew, Quinnea, Roach, Vosgælle, Siward, Adela, Bluesher, Olga, Amæ, Helen, Odo, Wels, Camomile, Fulbert, Ashridge, Swaille, Gren, Spoonbill, Alwydd, Puffin, Chub, Gage, Ivy, Sippet, Orcharder, Knapps, Eudes, Fledgeling, Cnut, Letta, Nightjar, Greensward, Saught, Carver, Wlnoth, Flagstaff, Coaltit, Thresher, Parsley, Harle, Coriander
113 Aaron, Glæt, Braum, Sandpiper, Ellflower, Abigail, Nigel, Morris, Iola, Ivana, Zena, Trefoil, Comfrey, Scorp, Milligan, Ashridge, Polecat, Gibb, Basil, Knapps, Sagon, Pleasance, Posy, Woad, Will, Gage, Strath, Eric, Ophæn, Coriander, Vivienne, Michelle, Camilla, Odo, Siward, Swaille, Fulbert, Adela, Coaltit, Dabchick, Eudes, Harle, Matthew, Grangon, Hayrake, David, Gellica, Biteweed, Heron, Qvuine, Hjötron, Fledgeling, Parsley, Spoonbill, Greensward, Bluesher, Beatrix, Roebuck, Sagon, Letta, Carver, Wlnoth, Beaver, Saught, Swegn
114 Iola, Dabchick, Gage, Fulbert, Eudes, Coaltit, Burnet, Adela, Sippet, Milligan, Spoonbill, Coriander, Fennel, Knapps, Llyllabette, Yoomarrianna, Smockt, Wheatear, Cloudberry, Sanderling, Scree, Eve, Sledge, Hubert,Irena, Suki, Burgloss, Harle, Polecat, Gibb, Gordon, Douglas, Lunelight,Lovage, Francis, Pleasance, Siward, Grangon, Qvuine, Ashridge, Abigail, Alice, Emma, Embrace, Basil, Aaron, Nigel, Hville, Heron, Bluesher, Musk, Michelle, Joseph, Ivy, Bruana, Noah, Ianto
115 Council, Basil, Iola, Ilsa, Crag, Sgœnne, Waternut, Joseph, Ivy, Dabchick, Milligan, Roebuck, Polecat, George, Yew, Will, Gage, Raspberry, Lisette, Bruana, Ianto, Noah, Evan, Yanto, Jocelyn, Lætitia, Faith, Kæn, Janice, Oak, Lilly, Jason, Wolf, Irena, Mica, Quartz, Peregrine, Ellen, Ousel, Abel, Honesty, Rose, Suki, Veronica, Chris, Mast, Vinnek, Alan, Jane, Beatrix, Jackdaw, Nancy, Douglas, Euan, Coriander, Yæna, Gosellyn, Peter, Bella, Anne, Joa, Joanna, Harrion, Beth, Otter, Luval, Bittern, Wayland, Tansy, Craig, Jonathan, Rhame, Moil, Blush, Alfalfa, Puffin, Briar, Bay, Storm, Hobby, Gibb, Judith, Bjarni, Mhairi, Kbion, Nigel, Bluesher, Spoonbill, Grangon, Kell, Deal, Wryneck, Weir, Musk, Joseph, Knapps, Deepwater, Gordon, Ashridge, Yanwaite, bluebean, Alice, Alfgar, Matthew, Heidi, Rampion, Heron, Siskin
116 Fiona, Fergal, Nightingale, Margæt, Milligan, Polecat, Tinder, Beatrix, Whitethorn, Irena, Lilly, Isabel, Beth, Warbler, Gage, Cicely, Will, Bruana, Coaltit, Gibb, Ianto, Noah, Iola, Morris, Joseph, Dabchick, Kirsty, Shirley, Ivana, Judith, Posy, Wolf, Oak, Jason, George, Gem, Firefox, Mangel, Mace, Millet, Faith, Yew, Hazel, Rowan, Siskin, Basil, Hobby, Thomas, Nightlights, Alkanet, Ferdinand, Eudes, Fulbert, Ashridge, Abigail, Briar, Almond, Crake, Storm, Barret, Alec, Harris, Brock, Bruin, Graill, Joanna, Alice, Alfgar, Fiddil, Orcharder, Melanie, Adela, Spoonbill, Betony, Michelle, Ellen, Jocelyn, Lætitia, Abel, Mari, Ford, Peter, Honesty, Bella, Yæna, Harmony, Dittander, Molly
117 Lyre, George, Irena, Lilly, Goshawk, Peregrine, Graill, Judith, Oak, Dabchick, Iola, Coaltit, Fulbert, Spoonbill, Parsley, Knapps, Gage, Ashridge, Eudes, Oullin, Bruana, Diana, Hville, Adela, Ingot, Herron, Rosebay, Gwyneth, Sheridan, Sturgeon, Jake, Maybells, Council, Yew, Will, Thomas, Rowan, Qvuine, Milligan, Joseph, Bluesher, Greensward, Morris, Grangon, Ryan, Hobby, Phœbe, Harris, Alec, Fiddil, Orcharder, Briar, Sagon, Storm, Durance, Charlotte
118 Iola, Adela, Knapps, Dabchick, Bruana, Beatrix, Bwlch, Burnet, Winefruit, Twailles, Saught, Spoonbill, Coaltit, Fulbert, Eudes, Coriander, Milligan, Hobby, Morgelle, Caoilté, Fritillary, Tuyere, Ælfgivu, Morwen, Bistort, Furnace, Turner, Froe, Otday, Otter, Luval, Molly, Ivy, Eorl, Geoffrey, Betony, Gosellyn, Smile, Phœbe, Cwm, Angharad, Vervain, Irena, Lilly, Falcon, Judith, Storm, Iola, Alwydd, Charlotte, Heron, Heidi, Rampion, Yew, Rowan, Spearmint, Veronica, Mast, Flint, Peregrine, Loosestrife, Bramling, Tench, Knawel, Oliver, Claire, Gdana, Grebe, Ironwood Agrimony, Joseph, Gordon, Diana, Gander, Gibb, Lunelight, Pleasance, Bay, George, Jason, Briar, Barnet, Oak, Acorn, Knott, Ingot, Gage, Beth, Jed, Guy, Qvuine, Swegn, Mortice, Mike, Spruce, Linden, Will, Gale, Morris, Rock, Revæl, Rampion, Matilda, Silverherb, Wheatear, Brock, Bruin, Estelle, Slimlyspoon, Edwin, Aspen, Musk, Joseph, Cynthia, Sannie, Lobelia, Merle, Laura, Warbler, Mint, Allia, Kevin, Laiqqa, Davvi, Madder, Robert, Crossbill, Barleycorn, Compass, Sextant, Sólarsteinn, Fulke, Bryony, Cobalt, Tress, Livette, Whin, Plane, Tunn, Lavender, Balsam, Jade, Phthalen, Tallia, Yumalle, Larov
119 Joseph, Briar, Sago, Swegn, Tress, Bryony, Gordon, Livette, Whin, Plane, Tunn, Lavender, Balsam, Cobalt, Sppleblossom, Lotus, Veronica, Mast, Flint, Peregrine, Bloom, Weälth, Coppicer, Lacy, Silverbean, Marjoram, Scorza, Gooseberry, Cove, Gowwan, Hugh, Earnest, Campion, Aaron, Skale, Xera, Horehound, Joaquim, Lorna, Leofric, Sabrina, Shag, Vinnek, Ruby
120 Warbler, Jed, Thrift, Firefox, Beth, Greensward, Will, Leech, Livette, Gloria, Peregr Janet, Ninija, Fiona, Isabel, Lilac,Ash, Beech, Jasmine, Rebecca, Francis, Yellowstone, Buttercup, Gage, Opal, Mist, Odo, Milligan, Thomas, Will, Gareth, Yew, Rowan, Basil, Hobby, Sagon, Campion, Joseph, Iola, Alwydd, Spearmint, Heron, Heidi, Rampion, Bowman, Gibb, Coaltit, Gordon, Douglas, Dabchick, Pleasance, Fergal, Åse, Leveret, Durance, Wayland, Laura, Stonecrop, Aaron, Nigel
121 Warbler, Jed, Thrift, Firefox, Iris, Otday, Gooseander, Harebell, Haw, Molly, Campion, Qvuine, Axel, Milligan, Veronica, Mast, Shag, Flint, Scoter, Sabrina, Marjoram, Peregrine, Clarice, Lingon, Cove, Gooseberry, Boarherb, Lorna, Horehound, George, Gowwan, Bloom, Leofric, Silverbean, Scorza, Flittermouse, Bryn, Hugh
122 Will, Gage, Mari, Ford, Milligan, Basil, Gudrun, Fergal, Rowan, Iola, Llyllabette, Yoomarrianna, Sledge, Hubert, Svetlana, Stanislav, Kathleen, Reef, Desmond, Raymond, Nigel Dabchick, Gabriëlla, Campion, Qvuine, Swegn, Nuulla, Gareth, Juniper, Leech, Thomas, Pilot, Yew, Janice, Ashlar, Slate, Whitethorn, Marble, Kæn, Berg, Linden, Lorna, Horehound, Banana, Veronica, Mast, Joaquim, Sabrina, Shag, Bloom, Cove, Hugh, Dlupé, Seela, Bullnut, Rutlan, Coppicer, Peregrine, Gowwan, Torrent, Irena, Chiffchaff, Lilly, Gosellyn, Cwm, Pim, Agrimony, Margæt, Otter, Suki, Whitethorn, Falcon, Mink, Ousel, Lyre, Dudaim, Yew, Sagon, Rowan, Jed, Turner, Otday, Hazel, Flint, Geoffrey, Eorl, Kæna, David, Harle, Clarity, Joseph, Milligan, Gibb, Gooseberry, Spoonbill, Ashdell, Bruana, Grangon, Pleasance, Heron, Basil, Alsike, Wolf, Zoë, Torrent, Columbine, Madder, Robert, Compass, Sólarsteinn, Sextant, Fulke, George, Peregrine, Molly, Falcon, Briar, Spoonbill, Dabchick, Honey, Bruana, Eudes, Fulbert, Grangon, Milligan, Gibb, Ingot, Sagon, Paul, Bulrush, Brightth, Happith, Douglas, Aaron, Nigel, Euan, Musk, Plume, Hobby, Courage, Truedawn, Nathan, Wolf, Geoffrey, Gosellyn, Steve, Axel, Yew, Zoë, Flint, Zephyr, Fletcher, Orkæke, Lunelight, Damson, Agrimony, Æneascoffey, Siskin, Brock, Bruin, Vinnek, Turner, Otday, Havern
123 Veronica, Mast, Zoë, Torrent, Columbine, Zrine, Zeeëend, Zlovan, Zylanna, Zylenna, Eolwaena, Tualla, Quoylay, Isdeän, Qheræce, Molleande, Sayley, Sennen, Waggon, Ivy, Vivienne, Nicola, Minyet, Morris, Dabchick, Iola, Geoffrey, Godfrey, Roebuck, Letta, Redstart, Russell, Iffan, Ælle, Fulcrum, Constant, Catfish, Lingwood, Fyrday, Vvavva, George, Lyre, Sagon, Graill, Joanna, Fiddil, Orcharder, Brock, Bruin, Judith, Storm, Caldera, Beth, Falcon, Warbler, Fiona, Isabel, Greensward, Jed, Fergal
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.
Seeën, saw.
Taekt, took.
Telt, told.
Uest, used.
1 Syskon(en), sibling(s).
2 Cotte, see ‘cotte like a peach’ below.
3 Referent, Folk word used for pronoun.
4 The twins Zylanna and Zylenna used to be Theresa and Therese. They are conjoined twins. For more information see Castle The Series - 0101 Theresa and Therese.
5 Overgrief, a euphemism used by healers for clinical depression which they see as a mental illness amenable to treatment by altering the environment the sufferer finds themself in. That means the folk she associates with need to alter their behaviour. If that is not possible the preferred treatment is to have the sufferer move to a different environment like a holding or to Dockside over the river. A euphamism is uest by the normally blunt Folk, for it is believed that its use aids the sufferer to recover and telling her she has a mental illness could make her worse. In essence the healers believe the sufferer needs to see half full glasses not half empty ones. Note the Folk usage, in the preceding explanation, of the feminine default when no person is specified.
6 A cotte like a peach. Refers to a woman’s bottom. The Folk word for a female bottom is a cotte. The word derives from apricot and the male form is cot. Apricot fruit oft have a defined cleft like a pair of buttocks. Peaches are much larger than their close relatives apricots, so a woman with a large and attractive bottom has a cotte like a peach. The expression is only ever uest to indicate an attractive feminine looking woman. The terms cotte and cot are every day respectable words uest by all. They may also be uest to indicate a single buttock. A woman has a left cotte, a right cotte and a cotte that includes both. She does not have a pair of cottes. The words cotte and cot are singular and plural. Like most but not all Folk words the default is the feminine. Cotte would be uest for example for a babe of unspecified sex.
7 Fleetfoot, a species of small deer. Adults of both sexes are typically three feet tall at the shoulder and bucks are up to sixty weights, does up to forty-five weights. Plural fleetfoot. Not found on Earth.
8 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.
9 The Arder, the river whose estuary the Keep is built to the south of.
10 Shine, sunshine.
11 The Mother, the sun.
12 Force(s), waterfall(s).
13 Lingberry, lingon related to cranberry:Vaccinium vitis-idaea.
14 Collective, equivalent to the treasury or exchequer, the fund for public enterprises. The Collective also functions as a banking service.
15 Nextyear, next year. Nextyearnigh, the year after nextyear.
16 Forsickth, morning sickness. Derives from forenoon sickness.
