Julina has decided her need for more information requires a rapid dash downvalley to overtake the slow-moving Royal Party so she can interrogate Senidet more closely about living away from Blackstone.
Only then, she feels, can she give Prince Keren her answer as to whether or not she would set up her Consociation of Caterers nearer Palarand City or keep it in Blackstone. So far, Dekarran AND Brikant have been suggested as alternate locations.
The Journey starts with something of a rush
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
“Good morrow, Mistress Pachet.” I used the formal address because I was not sure that everyone else knew everyone else. Again I found this social convention to be so restricting and wasteful. But all the elders tell me that they thought the same as a youngster, but only really appreciated it as they grew into their more mature adulthood. Then I realised that the Rangers would all be strangers to her and I had been right. Oh Kallisthena! How stupid it all is.
“Maker! Good morrow all!” she nervously greeted me, then looked at the others.
She raised her eyebrows ever so high when she took in the Rangers’ uniforms. She obviously suddenly realised another consideration which was urgently required as we four women all slipped off our saddles and headed, sort of scrunched up, without waiting for an invitation, towards her front door. A front door that was now proudly displaying a larger and very cheery sign, excellently painted, above it which told the world that this was the ‘Clay Pot’.
We women were just not going to wait for any formal introductions. I was content to leave all that to Uncle Steef; let him explain the circumstances, he had an extra advantage after all.
In fact, I must say that I was more than content to let Uncle Steef handle it.
Almost desperate for him to do it, you might say.
We had, as you will probably know, departed from the Ptuvil’s Claw up in Blackstone at dawn almost exactly. Actually the Dawn bell rang just after we had crossed the bridge on our way out of town. We knew that today would have a smidgeon over a dozen bells of daylight, so, after many a discussion beforehand, we had set ourselves achievement targets for our journey down.
A dedicated Valley Messenger Service courier was known to be able to keep up a pace of about 10 marks a bell, but he would have access to changes of animals every 2 or 3 bells, certainly less than 4. We therefore based our targets upon information that we considered to be more ‘sensible’.
We tried to keep the calculations easy – we knew ’twas 68 marks to Tranidor and we also wanted to have some time to spare at the end, or to use to get by some unforeseen delay, so we simplified it all and said: call it 70 marks to be done in 10 bells – that comes to 7 marks a bell. (Those Garian numbers really do make mental arithmetic far easier!) Now Bezlet was roughly 32 marks from Blackstone, so we needed to be there after four and a half bells. And we would have a further five and a half bells to go afterwards. So we weren’t even half way when we got to Pachet’s!
Which all meant that, very roughly speaking, we needed to be at the Forest Roadhouse, which was about ten marks nearer Blackstone than Bezlet was, by the third bell. We could in all actuality be just a little later than that, but that was what we set as our first target.
However, we only managed to reach as far as the Bunkhouse before the first delay came.
All the wagons that had been parked there for the past full day (the day before had been the Longest Day celebrations so no-one had worked) were jostling for position on the road. We had to pick our way through them all, which was difficult for the Rangers to keep us all together.
And then we had not a few of them to overtake.
We finally gained a clear road ahead and we as well as the frayen enjoyed a quarter of a bell of higher speed riding, which caused Waxerwet some little anxiety, for she had not gone that fast before.
We women then had to let two or three of the early wagons come past us again. Much to the men’s regret. So we had the task of overtaking them yet once more.
There followed a short period of clear road, again at higher speed, before the first wagons came the other way, they having started out their day from the Forest Roadhouse ahead.
At the top of the traverse down and across the rockface, we encountered the next delay.
It was highly ironic for ’twas I that had made the suggestion of loading and unloading the wagons of steel rails for the railroad. And that was exactly what it was that delayed us. Again, we women disappeared into the woods up there, but this time it delayed our progress not at all, for we were just using time when all of us would be stalled anyway.
We went down the slope at a fast rate, discounting Captain Bleskin’s advice – which was something, when I mentioned it, that produced a brief moment of shock to Mompik’s face: “You, Mistress!? You were the young girl with us that day? Mistress Pemmet or something was the older woman. I remembered not that ’twas YOU with us.”
I laughed: “We have not done a ‘Van Change’ yet on our journey, Mompik.”
His whole demeanour changed as he at last – at long, long last – relaxed: “Mayhap we should practice once we reach level ground!”
We had a short break at the Roadhouse, mostly to refresh the beasts; all the humans understood our need to keep going. We were then a quarter of a bell behind our self-imposed schedule. So we pushed hard along the road past the Retreat. When we got to the Clay Pot in Bezlet, the beasts were breathing hard - the men’s, the adult men’s that is, particularly so.
Mistress Pachet welcomed us fulsomely, and I noticed she gave a special squeeze of the arm to Uncle Steef. She then called an urchin to her by means of loudly whistling a short series of notes from her front door. Almost immediately a young lad appeared. “Go fetch Goodman Dilligas and Mistress Talbet – they are awaiting news of their daughter’s arrival.”
The lad sprinted off. Pachet ushered us into her inn and asked if she could fetch us something to eat or drink. I smiled as I realised we had gone into the inn to use the facilities and had then come out of it again to join the conversations. Only to go back in again at that moment. She ushered us to a set of tables and chairs and bade us be seated.
Whereupon I told Pachet I had something to show her.
When I went into the kitchens with her, to teach her about the ‘Brets’, I just happened to notice three small barrels sitting just outside, one of which had blue streaks down the outside. I decided to wait until we were all together back in the dining room before I asked her for an explanation, so she wouldn’t have to repeat herself.
“Maker! These Bret things are easy are they not? And such a good idea for a small meal. What else have you to tell me about them?”
“I have found that, to MY taste, just putting the slice of bread around the food inside makes the result just a little dry. By smearing a light coat of dripping on the inside, obviously matching the dripping to the … the … the … contents to be used, then it seems to ease the dryness a little, and adds an extra level of taste. I also deem that a small amount of sauce added when appropriate - ’twould be inappropriate to add a fish sauce for example to a Bret of cheese, or even of sliced gavakhan - helps keep some of the dryness at bay.
“I need to find some way to be able to keep these fresher though, for the bread slices dry out remarkably quickly. By making them fresh upon demand, then that problem does not arise – however, ’twould be nice to be able to make a batch of them in advance, I deem. I also found that differing sorts of bread taste better or worse with differing contents. I regret I have not had time to fully study the idea, but I confess I am pleased with the concept.”
“Aye, Mistress. I had not yet thought that far. Do you have any ideas as to how to hold in some freshness?”
“Well, when we get deliveries of paper – or at least when we used to get such deliveries, since the printer in Blackstone now also makes paper supplies and is just now managing to keep ahead of demand – then the packages of paper have been wrapped in a layer of paper that has somehow been waxed. This is, I gather, to prevent the paper stacked inside from getting damp, torn or otherwise battered.
“I deem such waxed paper might be able to be used to wrap the Brets and keep them fresher but I know not how and when the wax is applied to the wrapping. If ’tis AFTER the package has been made, then that process would in all probability ruin the Bret inside.
“And we wouldn’t want to wrap our Brets directly so that the waxy stuff is in contact, lest the taste of the wax is able to leach somehow into the Bret!” I shuddered as I thought of biting into wax, and Pachet did too after processing what I had just said.
“Indeed, Mistress. I shall ask some of my visiting drivers to enquire how ’tis done down at the paper makers.”
By this time, with Pachet’s rapid understanding, we had made two Brets for each of the travellers, one batch with a meat content, one batch with a cheese content along with some thinly sliced vegetables to help keep the thing moist. We added a few more of each in case Davvy’s parents were content with such a light lunch. If not, we could take them with us.
We returned to the large table the others had made and I was somewhat surprised. I had imagined that we would almost certainly immediately remount and head out but Mompik shook his head: “The beasts have been pushed quite hard already today, Mistress Julina. I deem they should have another half bell to rest and regain a little strength.”
Dilligas and Talbet came in then, and the little family had a most fond group hug.
I spoke to Mompik while Davvy was squeaking out to her parents the exciting plans we had for our journey: “I noticed that the mounts of you soldiers and of these two men with us seemed to be slightly worse for wear than our ones. Is that because we are so much lighter than you men?”
“Indeed so, Mistress. Ours have far more work to do with us astride them.”
“Would it help if we were to change around, we women take one of the beasts that you men have ridden, while you take the ones we have used?”
“But there are four of you and six of us, the numbers do not tally.”
“Then take also two of the pack beasts, they have been scarce hard driven. For they are far from being so heavily laden.”
“There could be much in what you say Mistress. May we think about it at the end of this day, for we have trained together with our beasts and thus have a far deeper understanding with them? And we will know more about the demands we have made, and shall make, at the end of this our first day.”
“I deem that would be a good idea.”
But actually, it was an idea that got forgotten in the somewhat hectic and complicated arrangements we made later. But that is yet to come.
I searched around for another subject with which to break the silence that had suddenly fallen. Everyone started to turn their eyes towards me.
Then I remembered those briefly seen small barrels, the ones I had espied through the windows of the kitchen.
“Mistress Pachet,” I began, (the Rangers were with us so I had to be formal, *sigh*), “I saw some small barrels outside your back door. Does your beer get delivered in such small containers here?”
She laughed. “Oh no, Mistress Julina, they are for the rock painter, who overnights here whilst he does his work. They contain paints.”
“Rock painter?”
Then ’twas time for Dilligas to enter the conversation: “Indeed. You may not know that just recently the way around the nose of Kord’s Peak has been opened ...” His eyes widened when we nodded that we did in fact know that already. “... ’Tis still very narrow, but nevertheless ’tis possible now to walk and/or ride down to Tamitil with no need to climb the hill up to the Chaarn Road junction. In fact, now I think on’t, ’twould probably be of great benefit to you all to go that way and spare some extra, and now totally unnecessary, strain upon your beasts. I must say that it doesn’t reduce your way by so very much distance, maybe just a mark, at most two, but the strain on your animals will be considerably eased, and it should be overall faster.”
Mompik was very interested, we could tell, but still he remained a little wary: “But I am told, Goodman Dilligas, that the forester’s tracks the other side of the peak are nought but a maze. How should we find our path?”
“That was exactly the point I was attempting to come to, File Leader. In all truth, from this side, ’tis but simplicity itself. Coming the other way is more complex because of the number of side tracks that must be ignored. Going from here to Tamitil you must simply follow the track, the one to which this new path leads, as it twists and turns through the trees. Eventually, you shall reach a junction at which you must turn either right or left. You turn right, back towards the river. Again that track ends in exactly the same type of junction, and again you turn right. This final track you find yourself now on is the one that brings you then to Tamitil.”
“But the other way, you say, the way to come back here, is somehow more complex? I’m not sure I fully understand why that should be.”
“Ah that is because you need to know which one of the many side tracks you encounter is the one at which you would need to turn. Going from here, you just turn when you would otherwise bump into the trees.”
We thought about that for what seemed to be a full minute, I deem. Then I realised the full import of what he was saying and a great light went off in my head. The others followed after me quite quickly, starting with Mompik and then there seemed to be a race amongst the others to catch on after that.
“But the paint? And the rock painter? What of that, of him? What is he for, what does he do?” I asked, to a chorus, if that’s the right word, of nodding from several other heads round the table.
“Ah! It’s not just a team of one, that team of specialist forest workers. There are several of them actually. One pair of them is employed across the road here, as more and more workers are sent into the woods there; for where this so important, yet mostly grossly misunderstood, railroad track shall come through.
“What they are doing is placing markers at those important junctions to make that journey easier. To get around the very problem I have just described.
“What the rock painters do is to place a relatively large rock at each of the important junctions and then they paint it white. After that, they place smaller rocks, which they name ‘pointer rocks’, at the foot of the white one in such a way that this pointer rock indicates the trail to be taken. The pointer rocks are painted in colours that correspond to a destination.
“Let us say you get to a junction in those woods. You see a white rock. From the foot of that white-painted rock, a pointer rock, maybe more than one, will point towards the road you have just approached from. Others point to the possible tracks you could take from the junction. Say red and black to the left, green to the right, just as an example.
“For you, you need to know the following: Yellow rocks point to Tamitil, blue ones point to us here, other colours to other destinations. Should you in fact choose to go that way through the woods, rather than up to the Chaarn Road junction, then you just follow the yellow rock road and everything shall be fine.”
“Where does this track emerge then? What I mean to ask, to state it more accurately, is where does it finally emerge? The other side of Tamitil, that is?” Again, ’twas I who was the first to ask.
“I understand that the track that serves the other side of Tamitil joins with the Chaarn road at the so-called ‘new’ border of Her Highness’ lands. Right by the semaphore tower there. By the way, it can no longer be named a track on that far side of Tamitil, ’tis a well-used, but still a bit bumpy, road.” I wondered briefly if Papa knew about his road that was now in his ‘district’ so to speak, but then I remembered that he had a local office based in Brayview, run by Master Leofer, so ’twould be their responsibility rather than his. Did they know ...
“So we would bypass Brayview too? As well as the climb up to the Chaarn Road Junction?”
I had been away in my thoughts and Mompik had sensibly filled the brief silent gap that had ensued with a question of his own. I happily ceded place in the conversation to Mompik since his questions were, of course, of great importance to the execution of his duties.
“Indeed, File Leader Mompik,” confirmed Dilligas with a nod of his head.
“And these woods you recommend we shall traverse – Bandits? Citizens? Wild animals? Anything else that might afford us some difficulty or even danger?”
“No bandits have ever been reported, nor any specially different animals, and there are very, very few inhabitants. I myself have been to Tamitil that way twice now, in an attempt to learn the pathways, and I have never encountered another soul on my way there nor on the way back. In one way, the silence is very relaxing, giving me a sort of energy refill in some strange way. The footing is soft and flat, no marsh, no quicksand, no old and brittle trees.”
We all darted glances at each other after which I was sure that all the others, every single one of them, were as keen as I was to take this new route. We might be having a difficult day, but let us have a little fun whilst doing it. We didn’t take a vote or anything, we all simply silently agreed.
And so it shall come as no surprise whatsoever that that is what we did.
Before we left, we women again took a ‘just in case’ break. Doing that reminded me of something I had earlier thought to remember to ask Pachet, and would have forgotten had we not done that.
“That soap you provide for hand washing, and body washing I see from the bath, is particularly nice and it has a pleasant smell, one that is familiar in some way and yet tantalisingly elusive. What might it be?”
“Mistress Julina, ’tis a honey soap.”
As soon as she said the word honey, I realised exactly that that was it. I had just never associated honey with a soap before. “And whence comes it?”
“There is an Eppriman, who is, I must warn you, a bit of a recluse, across the main road from here. He makes it. I, well actually it’s Meglina of course, ...” she grinned “… buy it from him and I have now placed it everywhere soap is required.”
“How much can he produce? I would fain purchase a large amount, particularly for the Frolicsome Frayen up in Blackstone. The visitors that stay there for their weddings would enjoy it, I deem. ’Twould provide a touch of luxury to start their wedded life. I would have liked it for all of our inns actually, and maybe even for the Bunkhouses. It is, I deem, a good way to enhance Meglina’s reputation. Give our guests something else to talk about once they have gone.”
She drew her breath in sharply. “I doubt he could produce quite so very much, Mistress Julina. But I shall, of course, ask.”
Another thought occurred to me then, one I kicked myself for not thinking of earlier. “Of course! What a ked I am. I should send Mistress Megrozen to him, for she too is something of an Eppriwoman.
“Please obtain as many pieces as you can. And send them up to Bailiss Michet in Blackstone with an explanatory note, if you would be so kind. Priority to here of course, but then to the Frolicsome Frayen and then to the Stoop. I shall report this to Mistress Megrozen tonight, and no doubt she will contact you about it.”
“As you say, Mistress.”
“Now, is there any other news for us before we go?”
“Let me see. We have no fewer than four more families who have crossed the now completed bridge over to the West Bank. Her Highness has it seems some very rich crop farming lands over there, that have never before been worked. And those families make a point of coming across here again to get, as they say, ‘in touch with some civilisation’. We always have extra fun of an evening when those folk join in with our entertainments.”
“That is good to know. This community is slowly but steadily growing.”
We chatted on for just a few more moments.
That honey soap really is rather special, I found myself thinking. I must remember to tell Epp all about it. “Davvy, help me to remember to talk this night with Epp about the honey soap.” She nodded, but indicated she had just packed away her paper and reedlets.
Less than five minutes later, we were on our way again. All of us being equally excited at being trail-blazers for once, as it were. The first group anyway ever to make their way through those paths.
And what a glorious day it was to do it on too. Just a few high clouds drifting lazily across the brilliant blue above us.
… … …
Passing the nose of Kord’s Peak was … tricky.
Frankly, I must confess I was absolutely terrified.
I worried lest Trumpa baulk at something and drag me off my feet and into the rushing waters below. Or the frayen attached to Trumpa’s saddle did something stupid and dragged us both down together. I really had to screw up my courage to make passage across that pair of narrow casts.
The workers there were not overly pleased to see us. They had to cease their work to allow us to pass, even the workers working higher up – lest anything fall and strike us. They all frowned at us as they afforded us the chances to have a safe passage. And as we went in single file, that was eleven people and all of 18 frayen, it took us a fair while for all of us to pass, much to the workers frustration if not actual annoyance. Mompik brought up the rear and reported ruefully later exactly what they had said once he had passed. It was certainly not very complimentary, and I deem Mompik gentled down some of the words.
We bunched all of us together once we had gained the more reassuring ground on the far side of the far stream. That second bridge seemed a little rickety to me, but mayhap that was because my nerves were already hard a’jangle. We paused as we gained the solid ground beyond. We all gathered together as we looked at where we were about to go.
There was little chance for error though. There was indeed, as we had been forewarned, only the one track.
Ahead of us we inspected an obviously recently made track, one that seemed as if it had just been crudely hacked through the thinner growth of trees that grew there. To our left, a cast or so away, was a noticeable line where the thicker tree growth started, but this crude track ahead of us led straight for about half a mark.
We set out forward, the Rangers setting a pattern for our travel of one in front, one behind and one on each side. I was shocked at the footing for it was far from being as smooth as Dilligas had said it would be. My heart sank into my boots, or that’s how it seemed; if this was how the rest of this traverse to Tamitil was going to be, then we were in trouble, time-wise.
Big, big trouble.
Trouble that threatened our entire schedule. All the way down to Dekarran.
But I am happy to report that, after that initial half mark, we gained a far more pronounced and ancient track, with such a good footing that I thought it must be ideal for our animals to hurry along it.
And hurry is exactly what we did. ’Twas noticeable to me that Waxerwet was becoming more accustomed to a speedier pace.
Less than a bell after starting through this area, we came upon the first junction that had painted rocks. Exactly as had been described, there was a white rock, with a blue pointer rock showing the way we had just come, a red pointer rock in the direction of the track that went off to our right, and then three pointer rocks in the direction in which we were already headed – green, black and yellow.
We were soon all so wrapped up in the silence of the woods here that our speech was muted and infrequent. By and by, we came to the first of our dead-end junctions. A green pointer rock showed the track to the left, black and yellow ones showed down the track to the right. Red and blue were pointing back down the way we had come. We turned the way the yellow rock pointed.
Sooner than I expected, we came to the second such junction. This time the black rock pointed the way to the left, whilst green, red and blue pointed back the way we had come. This time there was but just a single yellow one showing to the right.
By then, ’twas time once more for us women to dismount for a hand of moments. The frayen all looked grateful to us, even if the men didn’t.
We remounted and naturally we continued along the way. Only a short while later, I, we, could hear the steadily increasing sound of water rushing downvalley in the river. I laughed: “Well, if we had not stopped just back there, we would have had to stop here; that sound is really very demanding.” Two of the men soon demonstrated the truth of my words, but they of course were far quicker about their business so we even left them behind, letting them catch up when done.
Even though the trees were growing thinly here, it was still a sudden almost shock when we came out unexpectedly onto the river bank and saw the splendid, unspoilt view.
Pure Nature untrammelled by any human intervention.
We all just had to stop, to drink in the beauty of the both the spot and the moment.
“’Twill almost be a crime to force a tow path through here,” said Steef with a wistful tone in his voice.
“And we shall ruin it all with a railroad track too. Drink deep, all of you, this beauty shall soon be despoiled by us humans.”
And so we continued, now saddened a bit by the knowledge of what was to come, wrought in the name of progress.
We followed the bank of the river for a few more marks until its curve round to the west took the bank away from our track which now arrowed straight through the trees again. Soon after, our ears and noses told us we were nearing what must surely be Tamitil.
Tamitil is a beautiful village of old houses huddled, clustered even, along the river bank above the flood line.
A beautiful village that was marred by two enormous mills, both working flat out.
There were ugly wharves along here, with a couple of barges loading up with flour. A string of wagons were also loading, and I recognised some of the drivers as being regulars up in Blackstone. I was a little taken aback that none of the wagons was painted in Blackstone Wagons colours.
We decided it would be a good idea to take a swift break here, to find some pel and some pastries.
The animals were thirsty but not noticeably more strained than when we had been in Bezlet a bell and a half ago. We took advantage of an offer of some bales of fodder for them as well. We broke the bales open and let the animals graze, the locals promising that anything left over would be used sensibly. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the rates we were charged at that stop.
There were small boats crossing to and from the far bank, from land I knew was not belonging to Her Highness. I struggled with my memory, trying to remember the name of the Lord whose lands they were. I knew I had been told it sometime, somewhere. But the memory was proving elusive. I actually grumped about it for a little while, until the others jollied me out of it.
“Innkeeper, those boats there, they seem very busy and are crossing the river quite often, I deem?”
“Mistress, the opening of the mills here has opened up a speedier way for the farmers over there to get their crops sold. They say that three more farming families have now moved in over on that bank. Previously, ’twas a laborious drive down to Tranidor for them to sell their produce. Now they can bring it over here by boat.”
“The boats though seem very small?”
“Indeed, Mistress. They use what they can find easily here. So they require many crossings to bring their produce over here. No doubt, as they prosper, the boats shall grow.”
Whilst we sat there, enjoying our half-bell’s break, we were inundated with questions, suggestions and advice from fellow customers. There was one older man sitting in a corner who kept muttering about the impatience of youth but everyone, locals chiefly amongst them, just laughed at him, telling us to pay him no heed, he was always grumpy. He also grumped about women riding, how unseemly it was, and so on. I think that actually helped us, for it seemed to me the locals were more interested in his grumpiness than the novelty of women a’riding.
However, they were all surprised, some perhaps even awed, when we said we were underway from Blackstone to Tranidor, doing the journey in a single day. Of course that opened up a slew of questions about our route, one from a man of retirement age who seemed the least ... how shall I put it? ... stuck in his remote village ways.
Uncle Steef was the first to reply to him: “We have come through the trees from Bezlet just now ...”
“Where? Never heard of it!”
“’Tis a new village being built up the Bray valley at the point where the road drops down to the valley floor from the Chaarn Road junction. There is being built there a barge wharf and so on, soon there shall be barges plying the stretch of river between here and there. Next year, I deem, that trade will become established. Bezlet itself is just the other side from here of the rock that separates the two streams that nearly converge.”
“Ah! Yes, I went that far as a young ‘un once. I ken now where you mean. Was it difficult crossing the two streams and traversing the thick woods between them?”
“We came, Goodman, around the nose of the rock, for that has been chipped away now to allow passage. In a few months after the rains, it shall be widened to allow wagons even.”
“Maker! Shall we be buried in wagon traffic then? Shall our peace in this village be shattered even more? I was only just getting used to the mills.” He tapered off briefly before continuing: “I might take a ride up thataway soon, to see these ‘developments’ as you call them.”
“Just follow the blue pointer rocks, then! And there is a most friendly inn in Bezlet, at what is known as the road end of the village.”
“Pointer rocks already? Well I never. And is the way good?”
“We have today been the first larger party to essay that route.” He laughed. “I suppose you could say we have assayed it. There is room for improvement, particularly up there at the streams and rocky nose end, incidentally that rocky nose has been named Kord’s Peak, but the route was delightfully peaceful. Our beasts are grateful not to have had to climb up the valley wall to join the Chaarn road.”
“Aye! I can understand that, I deem!”
I was about to launch into an explanation of the railroad to come, but a subtle shake of his head allowed Pyor to deflect me from that. Later he told me he deemed the locals were almost upset already just about the possibility of having increased wagon traffic. I adjudged him to be right, once I thought on it.
Now the day’s exertions were beginning to tell on us. Speaking for myself, I suppressed a groan at the thought of climbing back aboard Trumpa but I did, pasting on a cheerful face as I encouraged the others. We were beyond the half way point there, I announced loudly. We all of us had taken a natural break before remounting and pulling out, Mompik this time in the lead and Vakter bringing up the rear. We were gawped at by everyone it seemed as we made our way through and beyond the village, keeping on the river bank once we were clear of the buildings.
We noticed the new route that had been cut through the trees heading off to the north-east, and which led directly to Brayview. Our track though headed south-east so we swiftly passed out of sight of that rip through the trees, a rip that was only able to be described as savage. For the first time, I really understood Her Highness’ edict that we must replant wherever possible to replace what had been cut down.
“Baron Werrel,” I suddenly and unexpectedly called out.
“Huh?” said Gyth and Davvy together.
“I just remembered the name of the landowner across the river from Tamitil. He is a vassal of Count Trosanar down in Tranidor. The Count is already annoyed with Her Highness and bristles as soon as anyone mentions the word Blackstone. I bet he won’t be happy to hear that the Baron’s farmers are not selling their crop in the Count’s estates but rather in Her Highness’ estates.”
There were some murmurs of agreement to that, but ’twas not long before we lapsed once more into a companionable silence.
That track that we followed from Tamitil was indeed wider and obviously more travelled, and indeed we met with some frayen riders and a few wagons as we progressed once more. We were then again forcing the pace - to take advantage of the relatively light traffic. We all knew that once we reached the main road, then we would be necessarily slowed.
And so it proved.
We had one more stop for us women’s comfort, which we took at one of the roadhouses, where we enjoyed the more civilised facilities, and then we plodded on. Yes, by that time we were plodding. Or at least the men’s mounts were. Trumpa I could somehow feel was weary but not at the point of exhaustion. How would we manage with another two days of travel like this?
For the first time, I began to have some serious doubts.
By and by, we reached the Bridge that led into Tranidor. There were quite a few more people crossing the bridge than I expected for that time of day, so we joined a tailback caused by the toll-takers. We had been just under 11 bells in all and I was feeling every one of them in my limbs. I paid the tolls and we were through.
And assaulted by the noise and the smells and the bustle of it all.
Rather than cut down through the less-frequently used roads to Epp’s, I kept us all together and we used Cross Street until we got to Junction Square, where we could halt together forming a large clump of stillness amidst the incessant comings and goings.
Wenders were dashing about, fully loaded. Bacs were in great demand. Wagons, both loaded and empty, were passing, frayen were being ridden, footgoers were scurrying, standing, moving slowly, stopping to chat. I always forgot the noisy chaos of Tranidor until I arrived here again. And then it always thumped, thumped, thumped into my head and body. The Rangers were looking around in awe, hands on their hilts.
Surtree had never been further downvalley from Blackstone than the Retreat. He was sat there hunched, hands over his ears in a forlorn attempt to get some relief. I could see he hated it immediately.
“Don’t worry, Surtree. Your brain soon gets used to it!”
He absolutely refused to believe me, even when we finally arrived at Epp’s.
“Mompik,” I called, for ’twould be impossible to have a normal conversation here, “to keep up our schedule shall be difficult, I deem. But not impossible. Your Inn lies yonder, across that bridge ahead of us and out of this, the Old Town. The town part across the bridge ahead is called West Tranidor. The road splits then, either right or left. Take the left and follow it until you are nearly at another bridge. Just down to your left you shall there find the ‘Iron Spear’. Mistress Megrozen apologises but she was unable to find any other accommodation for the four of you to be together. The town here has been busy, it seems.”
“I understand, Mistress Julina.”
“And ’tis a deal quieter there, I promise you.”
He just nodded to acknowledge my statement.
“Now, ideally I should like to be away as early as we were this morning, however, I deem that that is in its way self-defeating, for our beasts shall tire sooner. The advice given to me is that we should be able to pass Haligo and get on towards Teldor, even if we depart at the first bell. This will give us a little more sleep, a slightly more leisurely time to break our fasts, and ’twill give the beasts a little longer to recover. I recommend a hot bath tonight for the inevitable muscle aches we shall all suffer from.
“In the morning, we shall depart from your inn and travel down the west bank of the river, otherwise I must come across to your inn, pay your reckoning, and then we all must cross back through here, the Old Town. I shall pay for your evening meal, your breakfasts and your sleeping rooms for the night. I will not, however, pay for any drunken excesses tonight.”
“Yes, Mistress. Thank you, Mistress. Fully understood. Did you all hear that, you lot?” he too called loudly.
There were nods of agreement and a small chorus of what I assumed to be thanks.
“Very well. Thank you all for today, sleep well, and until the morning.”
“Good night, Mistresses, Masters.”
“Good night, to you.”
“Oh, hold! Our belongings are distributed over the pack beasts, we must retrieve them now. We can manage to clasp them to ourselves for a short trip such as we have.”
There was suddenly a flurry of activity. None of us women dismounted though, allowing the adult men to sort everything out. I doubted my muscles could have carried me back onto Trumpa’s back if I were to dismount now.
I had forgotten in all of my planning that Pyor had family here in Tranidor and so he would go to sleep there, a few semaphores having arranged everything some two or three days ago it seems. He (loudly) agreed to meet at the Rangers’ inn at the first bell. He too broke away from us there and then, leaving the rest of us to follow my lead down to Epp’s mansion. We went straight down the road and past the ‘Nest’ which I saw was just closing up for the night.
The welcome at Epp’s was very … welcome.
The lack of one of the expected guests was easily smoothed over. In fact, the extra food that had been catered for was soon gobbled down by all of us, once those blissful but all too short baths had been taken.
My colleagues all chose to go to bed early but I was left to regret being a businesswoman, for I needed to report to Epp on all sorts of matters. And she to me. And agreements were to be found. And future happenings to be arranged. And so on. And so on. And so on.
… … …
“… and then I could glean from Senidet what I might need to do, and be wary of, and all that sort of thing were I to move downvalley. So if we can overtake their slow-moving column ...”
… … …
“Honey soap? I have never heard of it!”
“Nor had I! But Pachet has found it and provides it for guests at the ‘Pot’.”
“I shall go up there then and see her and this Eppriman if possible. Perhaps stay at the ‘Pot’ myself, if our private little house is not yet available.”
… … …
“… is easy to follow. Just let the painted rocks guide you. Blue for Bezlet direction, and yellow for Tamitil direction. Now, talking of Tamitil, I deem that that village will expand greatly and that that expansion shall be soon. We should consider having an inn or two there too. We should buy the land early before prices soar. Mayhap you would want to investigate that too when you are there. I can tell you I have the coin for it, and it appears that we are beginning to make reasonable profits from the place here in Tranidor ...”
… … …
“… Mousa has determined that the old VMS building is more convenient for her business, so she shall pay a small rent for using that. It shall ever be small, for now I must tell you that, as of recently, I now own the building ...”
… … …
“… a brewery up there. Sookie has all the details ...”
… … …
“… Bunkhouses. Keep the Inns for the more discerning of travellers that shall stop there ...”
… … …
“… called them ‘Brets’ and they are very easy to make, but need to be fresh ...”
… … ...
Then it was her turn.
“… Bormio and his property. I thought that ...”
… … …
“… if you take the west bank as you indicated you would, then there must be several possibilities for more and/or better inns down there. I deem that beyond Haligo shall be too far for us. Let me know what you think ...”
… … ...
“… perchance build a few small bedrooms on a floor above. Kaffer would still be prepared to continue to run the ‘Nest’ but wishes to start to reduce his worries. He feels that with a reduced involvement, he could continue for another three or four years. I think that ’twould be a sound investment. And Bratet is prepared to do some of the foodery, to afford Kaffer even more rest.”
I didn’t really need much persuasion as to doing that, for that place had always been a favourite of mine.
“Agreed, you may arrange to purchase it for Meglina. Master Schild can arrange everything no doubt, or Master Ruckem, maybe even Master Moshan! Should I sign a paper?”
“No need, I deem. Doesn’t our agreement allow each of us to act somewhat independently?”
“Oh yes. So it does!”
… … …
There were just a few more topics that we discussed and then she could see I was fading.
“Off to bed with you, sweet girl. I shall see you in the morning.”
Finally, I was able to get to my bed. I was so tired that I didn’t even take the time I usually did to appreciate fully the comforts of my room here in Epp’s house nor the normal delights of the balcony outside of it with those lovely views over lights twinkling on the darkened water.
The muscle-torturing journey continues with unexpected happenings appearing often
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
I groaned as I dragged myself out of bed and headed off to the bathroom where we women had another warm bath that eased some our muscles – even though we knew that today’s activities would sorely try them once again. ’Twas dawn as I first dragged my feet across those floorboards.
The bathing woke me and eased me sufficiently to walk properly back to my bedroom, where I also managed to clothe myself properly for the day ahead. I descended the stairs and headed for a spot of breakfast.
And then I was surprised, for Master Ruckem had been sent for, and he had agreed to attend, so that the necessary contracts and so on could be signed.
An urchin, at a cost of a day’s wender ticket, had been sent to the ‘Iron Spear’ to explain that signing business contracts would delay me by half a bell. “Tell them to enjoy an extra breakfast to fill both the time and their bellies.” The urchin grinned at that and dashed off.
Surtree, who was even now this morning still showing some signs of distress, went with the two boys to do some Tai Chi somewhere. I deemed that that wretched Tranidoran noise had hit young Surtree badly. Shall I ever have time again for Tai Chi? I promised to send them notice when we were about to be finished.
Then I started my own breakfast, with frequent apologies to Master Ruckem for talking with my mouth full.
Sigh! More ‘heard and witnessed’s, more herein, herewith and hereto statements, not forgetting one or two instances of hereinafter. Pyor, Steef, Gyth and Waxerwet joined with Epp and Shemel in bravely keeping the boredom and confusion from the myriad of facts from showing on their faces.
Pyor also took some time off from all this witnessing to inform me that he had been in touch with a Master Baran down in Haligo – North Haligo he told me, which sat awkwardly with me for some reason – and he would be staying at some inn named the ‘Northern Gate’. This was, unconfusingly, situated in North Haligo; which I suppose was really rather considerate of it.
“’Tis a fine inn, that one. By no means the cheapest, but good space in both sleeping and public rooms. The food is most decent too,” affirmed Ruckem.
“Then I too shall stay there the night, and tell my contacts to find me there for breakfast!” Steef added in.
We did a few more bits and pieces of document-work and then Master Ruckem took his, as always, polite leave.
Finally, finally, finally we set out astride our animals once more, those early muscle aches being soon absorbed. I stopped quickly at the west station to send a few semaphores to various people, keeping them aware of our progress. Pyor and Steef did too and then the tiny little jobs that crop up too often in business life were done and we could go down the road to the Rangers’ sleeping place.
Maker! Tranidor was busier than at anytime I had ever seen it – so much so that, even though we arrived at the inn on time, we still only got out of the last parts of South Tranidor and into what we had assumed was going to be the peaceful countryside as the second bell sounded.
We had stared, absolutely astounded, at a great swathe of destruction that had been wrought along the very edge of the township, hard up against the valley wall. Several houses had been demolished and a broad road bed was being laid there. ’Twas only as we approached the end of the township that we saw why. There, there on that broad way, just outside the threshold of the town, were laid two parallel tracks of railroad rails, steel rails nailed to the half trunks that were themselves laid, well actually nestled strongly would be better to say, down into low but broad piles of rock chippings.
Surtree wanted to dismount and inspect things which gave us all a jolt as we realised his intense fascination with all things railroad. It was with a heavy heart that I refused him permission to do so.
“Surtree, today we must say hello to Haligo as we race through it and out the other side. ’Tis as far from here as going from Blackstone, past Brayview, and reaching the border of Her Highness’ lands. And we are already later in starting out than we had planned – my fault entirely, I acknowledge. But I regret, we must push on. Mayhap we shall have another chance to inspect more closely these rails. If we’re lucky, there may be some more near where we break for a short lunch.”
Pyor backed me up by saying at the same time: “Nay, lad. That we cannot do today, we must needs push on as quickly as we may. You can always have a closer look on the way back. And anyway, there are only two or so casts of them here. I deem that the length of rails shall be longer nearer Haligo.”
I winced at that, but the confusion of two people speaking at the same time may well have masked a simple fact hidden in there. I don’t know if I was the only one to be aware that Pyor would return some days before we would. Surtree, it seemed to me, had thankfully not yet realised that, so we moved on with a minimum of fuss.
I was however now worried about the lad. He hadn’t slept well and we could all tell that today something was bothering him. Gone was the cheekiness that made him such a delight to be with normally.
Despite the slight awakening of his interest whenever we found something to do with the railroads, he was still mostly withdrawn. And he got, it seemed to me and was confirmed in a whispered conversation with Waxerwet, worse during that second, hard day. Even when the noise levels had dropped down from the ones in Tranidor; which I mentioned before had been my first thought as to his problem. There was one incident, late in the day, when he was roused from his morose self, but other than that he was a grave cause for concern.
We women discussed it again and again as we went along, whenever Surtree had moved out of earshot to travel alongside his railroad hero, Pyor. But we were completely unable to form any conclusion as to what it was.
I must report that all of us in the party, Rangers and us alike, were, for most of that trip down the west bank on that day, continually assaulted by all sorts of things; things that were a continuing set of real eye-openers.
First of all, though, I must describe that that road we followed was not one of the great trade routes, so was not, I assumed, as well maintained as the road over the other side of the river; I admit I was forced to guess at the state of that road over there, but we could see a busy amount of traffic using it in both directions with few hindrances. I was basing my assumptions upon what I knew to be the state of the road between Brayview and the Tranidor East Bridge, which was, of course, my only known thing that I could use as a comparison.
Secondly, on our side of the valley, there was much bustle and building and scurrying going on generally. Wagons loaded with rails, with rock chippings, with ores as well as those with foodstuffs and clothing and tools and so on. And empty wagons travelling in both directions, having unloaded and now travelling to find their next loads.
We got to a piece where the ground was being cleared for the extension of what would be the railroad. There was a great pile of rock chippings some several casts further on, then a pile of halved and trimmed tree trunks, all cut to the same length, then a small pile of the steel rails. A worker opened a small metal storage shed, then turned back to a wagon and lifted out a large sort of bucket. We gawped with amazement as he poured an enormous quantity of sturdy nails into the storage shed.
Surtree was moved to observe: “Those must be the nails they are using to attach the steel rails to the tree trunks that keep them from sinking into the piles of rock chippings. And which serve to keep the rails tied to a constant width apart.”
Pyor grunted his approval and added: “Well done, lad. That is exactly right. You’re very observant, aren’t you?”
Pyor paused to think for a few seconds, heartbeats, then decided to give us all a little lecture, calling us to halt briefly as he pointed things out in a carrying voice: “I deem I see how they are doing this. Look ahead a couple of casts, the ground has been cleared. A few more casts ahead of that is the ‘normal’ ground with shrubs, bushes, trees and rocks. Nearer us the ground has been levelled, with run-off channels next to the roadway they have prepared. Then here next to us now, they have strewn the rock chippings and built it up to the same level as on the completed part just behind us.”
“Indeed Master, that is exactly as we do it,” interrupted a passing worker. “Are you involved with the coming railroads in any way, Master?”
“I am helping develop the splitting of rail tracks up at our test centre way up the valley in Blackstone. We have many things we are testing, including a number of different ways to set up the attachment of rails to the trees beneath them.”
“Blackstone you say? Have you met that Master Pyor up there? He has already invented one way of splitting rails that has been very useful to several of our colleagues downvalley. And the basics of another method has been finalised with his help apparently.”
We all looked at our spokesman and then turned away again, trying not to smile when he answered: “I have met him, indeed.” He tried then to change the subject. “What sort of length of track laying do you achieve in how long?”
We could see the man readjust his thinking to the question. “As you said Master, we have split the tasks into several phases. You mentioned four phases, but we actually have six, sometimes seven. We have them ongoing as we progress, just like you suggested. Each phase takes around a week on average. So for each cast or so, we have a total of about six or seven weeks. But in that time, the entry phases of the next stretch are being enacted, so ’tis almost impossible to say an accurate answer to your question. Also we have not so very many of the steel rails, for they are most difficult to make, apparently.
“We are just experimenting here at the moment, trying to get some good solid experience before the rains come. I dare say we shall be working far harder, once we can, when we start on the job properly. WE have started up here in Tranidor as you can see, and they have also similarly started down in Haligo. Some time next year we hope that both ends shall have grown sufficiently to meet somewhere around about opposite Holville. They are about to start the same thing over there on the other bank, by the way, sort of spreading out either way from Holville as the start point.”
“That is most interesting indeed, and there was some valuable information there, well delivered. Thank you for your time. Unfortunately we must press on, we have to be beyond Haligo this night.”
“Maker! That is a fair trek you have. You are most welcome, Master, Mistresses, Guardsmen. I wish you well. In one way ’tis a shame that you are parting, for in a bell or so, we will be bringing down a test load on our ‘hand-pump-wagon’. Which is a wagon bed with a railroad wheel at each corner, but which is powered up and down the rails by two men using a pump-type action on a great pair of handles. Someone over in Holville created it and it has been of great use to us as it travels up and down, using the rails. We even found one place where the rails gradually neared each other and we could then adjust the settings. That was quite ...”
“Yes, I see! Most clever of you. But I must again thank you and remind you that we are pressed for time, so therefore we must bid you farewell.”
We all of us turned and moved away, recognising that the man was one of those garrulous types and would keep us there talking for the whole day if we weren’t careful!
Even though we were, as Pyor had said, pressed for time, I couldn’t help but be mischievous, so I hung back just a little until there was only myself and Rakshak, who was to bring up the rear of our column, remaining. Then I called loudly enough for all concerned to hear: “Shall we have to go a little faster than we did earlier, Master Pyor?”
The worker spun round with his jaw dropping open. Pyor, fully aware of what I was doing, turned round and simply stuck his tongue out at me.
And he did indeed speed us up so Trumpa and I had to look sharp just to keep in touch. Rakshak and I shared a laugh as we hastened to catch up.
… … …
I could fill this chronicle with details of all the things we saw that were new or unusual to us – plants, bushes, shrubs, trees, crops as well as factory construction, barge details and new-to-me avians. And so on. My head was swivelling all around as we made our way ever southwards. We also looked across the valley and could see over there in the distance the busy trade route still with traffic in both directions. It wasn’t long before we women were looking at the much more salubrious roadhouses over there with a certain degree of longing.
I personally was interested in nearly everything. So I was sure I was missing much behind me as I scanned off in one direction.
However, I remembered Epp’s very strong suggestion to me, so I was also trying to scout out places where Meglina might have success in establishing an inn. Davvy and Gyth, with the occasional input from Waxerwet, were making suggestions too as we progressed. Steef also helped. Surtree, noticeably, stayed silent.
We continued as fast as we could given the generally crowded nature of the second class road we were on. Sometimes we pointed out this or that, sometimes we had a question for another and so the bells slowly passed.
At one point, later on in the journey, Steef was very excited by something that was happening on the water. I looked where he pointed but failed to see anything too much out of the ordinary.
“That barge there, the one going downstream – going with the water that means – see it, with the red stripe along the side?”
“Errrm, the one that is ever so, ever so, ever so slowly turning?”
“Indeed. It has broken loose from its controls. There could be a major accident soon.”
“How can you tell from this vantage?”
“There are no ripples running down the side of the barge, which means that it is moving at exactly the same speed as the water. And if it is doing that, then it cannot steer itself unless it can be rowed or sailed. It has no mast, so therefore must be rowed. I see no oars.”
“Why can it not steer itself if it is on the water?”
“Ah! That is because in order to steer any boat, it requires the water to be passing the vessel, no matter how slowly. It is the passing water that allows the steering to function. Let me think a moment for a good example to help you understand.”
He said that last because all our faces were looking very confused. We were again stopped on the road, an operation that was filled with difficulties for we all wanted to hear what was being said and yet we needed to keep the throughway clear. It took appreciable time for us to arrange ourselves. Time in which there was noticeable change on the breakaway barge.
“Look you now. This is what I would have done. They have launched a small boat which the crewman shall row away from the barge. You can go either way, but ’tis a lot easier to start by heading downstream, for that grants him a little more time to make things secure. Because he is rowing, he can get away from the barge quite quickly. He will have a light line with him. I look now further downstream and indeed I see a helping committee collecting.
“If he was alone, the rower’s task would be nigh-on impossible. He has to get the line ashore, then pull ashore a thicker line, then secure that line to something sufficiently tough to take the huge strain that is about to come onto it.
“Maker! That rower is a strong man, look at his speed. Oh! Well done, he has two lines with him. The strain of trying to hold the weight of the barge and suddenly stop it is such that often the line is broken – and, by the way, flailing lines are always dangerous, just to let you know of yet another potential hazard here – men have been killed in the past! If the line breaks, and then only if the men are still capable, then the process needs be repeated. This is why I am so very pleased to see the two lines. That tells me immediately that someone knows what they are doing over there.
“Once the lines get stretched, then, immediately, the barge shall become steerable – yes, I shall explain that later, when not so much is happening – so I hope the steersman is a good one. If he can use that brief moment, he could steer the barge over to the bank and any other crewmen can then scramble ashore and tie the vessel more securely. Let us watch what happens.”
We all sat still and silent, staring from the bank across the broad river. So much so that our actions attracted others to stop and look too. It was not long before the entire roadway by us was blocked, rendering our previous manoeuvring totally redundant..
Uncle Steef continued with his commentary, just a little louder for he noticed some of the others were straining to hear: “Ah! Now, THAT’s a good move! See? One of the helping committee has waded into the river whilst being held by a chain of men. He snatches one of the lines from the rower who himself then continues rowing still faster, so he can deal with the second line. That first line is being hauled now by the helpers, see how quickly the heavier line is already being pulled in. Meanwhile, the rower has reached his spot farther down and is tying up his skiff. He too is now hauling his thin line in to get the heavier line across.
“Oh no! Surely that would be a disaster, the strain that would com… oh wait! That too is a good move. Indeed, a clever move! The first line, look, has been transferred to a moored barge and at first I thought they would attach the line solidly to the barge, but they haven’t, they have simply wrapped it round a bollard with one loop of rope. When the strain from the runaway barge comes on the line, the line will not be held fast but shall slip and it shall slow the barge but not stop it. Less strain that way. If ’twere indeed held fast, then ’tis possible the bollard could be ripped out of the moored barge, maybe even taking the barge’s wall with it!
“The runaway barge is just about to come by them now, see them frantically shortening that first line. Get ready now. Here we go. Yes! It has worked! The barge has slowed now. The steersman can steer. Downstream a bit, the second line has now been tied tightly, that will be their backup line, ready just in case the first line parts. The first line, oh look, they loop the slack now around a second bollard and haul it all taut. And sure enough the two bollards have managed to take the strain without breaking up the barge they are attached to. Well done all. Well done, indeed!”
A smattering of applause broke out from our watching crowd which by now must have numbered close to thirty.
Then a shout much closer at hand made all eyes turn this way. After a swift all-round visual searching, it wasn’t difficult to focus upon Kabarad who was surprisingly holding a man at sword point. I gasped, for I only then saw that the man was holding one of our packs in his hand, a pack he had plainly cut off from one of our loads whilst we all were attending the other spectacle. Vakter then drew our looks as he rode down another man, knocking him over with his frayen’s shoulder. This one too was holding one of our packs. Pyor was quickest to jump off and help keep the would-be thief quiet.
I gasped yet again as a thought occurred, and quickly went to each of our loaded beasts, scaring a man who was observing matters from a point nearby. I rapidly counted the packs that were still attached to our seven carriers. I called loudly: “One more pack is missing. Three are gone.”
There was consternation from all around us for a moment or two. Then we heard a voice half a cast or so away shout: “I have one here. Is it yourn?”
Mompik was nearest and managed to immediately identify it as indeed being one of ours. It was being held by a third thief who was wriggling as he tried to break the grip of the powerfully built worker who had apprehended him. As soon as it had been confirmed, then two more workers grabbed the man as well. His struggles soon ceased.
And then came the awkward and highly embarrassing moments. And tough decisions.
The three were dragged before Mompik who shook his head and pointed to me. Despite their surprise, the crowd then parted so the three could be forced marched over to stand by my right foot, staring up at me. As I looked around from my elevated viewpoint a furtive movement took my attention over at the back of the crowd. I focussed in on one man over there, only later realising I did so because he was dressed the same as the other three and also slightly differently from all the others in this crowd – and because he was the one that had been hovering near our pack animals!
He saw my attention sharpen so he swore loudly and turned, shouldering aside his neighbours, running out through the last rank of all the onlookers. He was last seen heading up the road towards Tranidor, although Tranidor was by then a good thirty and more marks away. We had passed Holville, on the other side of the river, some appreciable time before. We had even passed Toomer’s Gully over there, Uncle Steef having pointed it out to us some time before the barge incident.
I desperately needed some time and space in which to think. I had not expected to have this responsibility thrust upon me. And I knew immediately that this was not going to be an easy thing to do.
And I also needed time to swallow a lot, for I knew I needed to say whatever I might say with a strong and firm voice. Get this first announcement wrong, and the crowd gathered around us could turn nasty.
To gain some more of that precious time, I just beckoned my colleagues to hand over to me the stolen packs. I made a bit of a show of looking into them. One of them had been my own bag.
Then I finally looked at the would-be thieves, really looked at them. Up and down. With some fire in my eyes and a slight curl to my lips.
The man who had been holding my bag was quite thick set and wore a big and bushy full set of facial hair. He was about as tall as Pyor, who was looking at him menacingly and with ill-hidden distaste.
“I see you tried to make off with my spare clothing, man! Are you one of those who would wish to be a female, then?”
I could not have said anything better as the crowd roared with laughter. I suppressed a feeling of guilt towards dear Venket back up at home, but at least I had not made an error with my opening remark.
I held up a hand and was surprised at the instant silence and attention I was afforded: “What do you normally do hereabouts to thieves that are caught?”
The answer made me go white.
As it also did to the three captured convicts I had before me.
“We brand them on their faces, cut off their dominant hand and then throw them in the river. Life is tough enough for us without being preyed upon by people who are too lazy to work for their coin.” A low but insistently menacing murmur of agreement sounded all about, and the crowd seemed to take a half step nearer.
My mind was racing as I sought a better solution to it all. I could strongly sense the mood of the crowd and I knew they were thirsting for a harsh punishment, but I also knew I could not allow them to do what they had so barbarically suggested.
I had to make up my mind before things could get any uglier. But I needed more information. Oh dear. Do ALL my decisions always require extra knowledge?
At this point, my sensible mind broke through after battering on the wall of inefficient thinking that surprise had thrown at me. I asked myself a simple question: ‘What would Fedren and Suril do?’
I beckoned Mompik to me, along with Steef, Pyor and Waxerwet.
I called out to the crowd that we needed to have a small conference. I confess I lied slightly. “We are on a special mission for the Prince Keren and are rushing to catch up with him. We have need to be beyond Haligo this night, so cannot afford any long delay. I must consult with my colleagues to see if there is any way we can afford to devote some of our precious time to you all.”
One man replied: “Mistress, that is a very difficult thing to achieve now. I doubt you shall be able to get through Haligo and out again all the way to the other side much before dark, even though dark is just about the latest of the year nowadays. And Haligo’s Gorge is even more restricted now they are starting to build the towers there.”
I was intrigued to find out what the ‘Gorge’ was and what those towers might be, but deemed that that conversation might take an overly long while. “Nevertheless, we must try,” I said firmly, before bending my head to the others.
Keeping our voices low, I started by saying: “We need to pretend to be talking about our ‘duty’ to the Prince. But we can’t let this mob just brand and mutilate these men. They didn’t actually get away with anything so technically speaking they haven’t stolen anything! Mompik, you are the nearest thing to authority here, your commands will carry weight. Can we just say that we shall ride to this North Haligo and from there send some sort of Watchmen or Guardsmen to fetch the miscreants?”
The others all thought about that whilst murmuring as though we were having discussions. At the end they agreed that that would probably be best. Our little conference broke up and the crowd as well as my companions waited for me to announce our hoped-for solution.
Using my teacher’s voice, I called for order once more, to quell the few small conversations that were taking place. Again it was granted immediately. I scanned the crowd before me.
“Men, and a few women I can see over there, we have conferred and regret that we MUST attempt to catch the Prince at Dekarran by tomorrow night, ...” There was an audible gasp from all around. “… so we have no choice but to leave here immediately. It is your responsibility to hold these three men until the Watch or the Guard arrive from Haligo, which may not now happen until the morning.
“It is NOT our duty as citizens to punish these men, they should be fairly tried first, so I will be telling the Watchmen where they can be found, and in what condition they were in when we left. I too abhor thieves and find that they should be dealt harshly with. But I am not an authority of any sort that can impose punishments. Our Guard commander here is named Mompik, and HE shall give the report necessary to the authorities. Mompik!”
Mompik straightened his legs which enabled him to raise himself above his saddle. He used a strong voice that rang with authority, which surprise managed to startle most of us in our party: “Be aware that, technically speaking, these three have not actually succeeded in stealing anything, so there shall be no mob-law branding or anything happening here. I shall instruct the authorities as to what happened. No doubt they shall appear and drag the prisoners off to their cells. Now my Prince’s commands mean that we must make haste. Thank you for your help, I will be sure to mention THAT too. Fare you all well.”
He turned to us all and gave authentic-sounding orders: “Blackstone to Dekarran group! Attend! Vakter, lead us out!”
We all acted as militarily as we could and rode off, the crowd actually pressing back to give us passage.
I let out a heartfelt blow of relief as soon as we were out of earshot. “Pheeeeeeeew!”
And the others all let out a similar noise, which made us laugh somewhat nervously in more relief.
This event cost us, though, nigh-on half a precious bell in all.
I remembered to thank Kabarad for being so alert, and the guards generally for doing their duties. Again Waxerwet supported me in that, as did the others shortly afterwards.
… … ...
Unfortunately, that was not the only delay we had that afternoon and into the evening.
The attempted theft had forced me into a deal of self-introspection. I understood just a part of what Her Highness had had to go through at the trials up in Blackstone – and it made me feel for her. Such responsibility carries with it a difficult amount of remorse, it appeared to me. So I was less aware of my surroundings as we continued down the road. I cannot say if the others were quieter or not, but my recollections suggest they were.
I only really came back to more attention when we had stopped for another natural break. I was the last of us to come back out from behind the bushes. My attention was grabbed as I was sure that I heard Davvy whispering something to Surtree, urging him to do something: “… tell her. You MUST. ’Tis not fair to either of you. Hushhhhh – she comes.”
… … …
By now, the valley itself was beginning to have some problems.
The walls were closing in and anyone could see that there would soon be great difficulty to fit in a river with a road on either side of it. I supposed that was why, when we came across some more track-laying for the railroad, we could see the … bed, I suppose I must call it … of the works following a track that had long ago been chipped out of the rock of the valley wall. There were maybe two, possibly three, casts of track already laid, this time heading upvalley towards Tranidor, rather than the track heading out of Tranidor heading for here.
Pyor’s eyes were everywhere, and even Surtree’s surliness was in abeyance for a little while as he to tried to take everything in. Pyor pointed out something to the lad, but loud enough for us all to hear: “See they have chipped out a path wide enough for parallel sets of rails here at the bottom, but are only doing a width wide enough for one set of rails further along. I deem the two sets shall come together just there, whenever a reliable design for the points or switches or whatever the final name shall be can be finalised.”
I looked across to the other side of the river, and yes there was the same sort of work going on over there. My eyes followed the direction of that track and before long came across a bit that was obviously much wider, for there was a great conglomeration of men and beasts and tools at that point. I had to squint a bit but then it suddenly resolved itself. There had been a substantial building up there which had been partly demolished and they were cleverly using the foundations of that to minimise the work of progressing the rail bed.
… … ...
“If you look closely, you can see that he has not quite got the balance right. The boat is down at the stern – at the back end, that is. But I have to confess that ’tis very impressive. I must think through the ramifications though.”
We were all gaping astounded at the sight of a small boat being obviously tested on a pond to the right of the road, away therefore from the river. We were making our way along, approaching, nay, limping into Haligo. Pyor’s frayen, Pyor was the heaviest set of the men, was exhausted and he had changed onto a pack beast, Surtree, the lightest load possible, had mounted Pyor’s and the load was placed onto Surtree’s. The beasts beneath the other men were also showing increasing signs of weariness.
I had been forced to realise that we had been overly ambitious in our targets of distance we could travel. I had, somewhat bitterly, appreciated that we could not make it all the way to Dekarran by the following evening. We would therefore cut this day short relatively soon.
We would overnight in Haligo this night – hopefully at the same place as Pyor and Steef – and take a more leisurely trip down to Teldor for the following night, maybe just stop in Teldor on the south side of the ferry, then finally get into Dekarran on the 4th day of our travels. If the beasts had managed to recover sufficiently for us to do a little over 30 marks a day, rather than the near 70 we had managed on the first day and the roughly 50 we shall have managed today.
But this small boat had stopped us all from our journeyings. It was of interest to all, even the ever-surlier Surtree. Gathered along the low wall that formed the road-side edge of the pond were a crowd of onlookers, some of whom were jeering, some cheering.
On each side of the boat were a pair of wagon wheels kept apart by many short planks, each of the same length. Both pairs were mounted upright, as on a wagon, on an axle the went the entire width of the boat and which was somewhere in the middle connected to a steam engine. The steam engine drove the wheels around, the bottom third of which were under the surface of the water. The short planks caught on the water and drove the boat forward, like an engine-driven rowing machine. The man testing it needed a lot more practice because he kept driving from one end of the pond to the other, parallel to the road, and crashing his boat into the sloped edges to stop himself. At least that’s how it seemed to me.
I managed to persuade the men to leave this utterly fascinating sight and to press on. As I said, I had by then resigned myself to the fact that there was just too far to go for us to get to Dekarran the following day and we would have to add in an extra overnight. But I wanted still to reach the town of Haligo that evening if at all possible.
In retrospect, I cannot really say why.
I think, however, that ’twas probably a good thing. Knowing that Pyor and Steef were to leave our party and we would continue without them, I somehow wanted to part in a sort of town environment rather just any old roadhouse on the less popular side of the river. That seems a silly reason, doesn’t it?
Now I had never been this far down the Bray/Palar valley so all I had to go on was what I had been told by others. I had built up in my mind a picture of what it would look like as I approached. The description I had in my head was mostly from the life-story Epp had long ago told me. Older Julina: You will find that long description of Epp’s life way back in the chronicle I have numbered as ‘001’.
The reality was extraordinarily different. But even then, I did not learn of the full differences until we continued on our way the following morning.
We approached what we assumed to be the town where we could see some houses. But the sight was just a little puzzling. These were big houses, rich people’s houses. Maybe two hands of them, maybe a dozen. Three hands perhaps? I didn’t actually number them. However, we could see little of the normal infrastructure of a town hereabouts. It was almost as if this part was just homes. Surely that couldn’t be? There was one building that was different, but we could soon see that that was a smallish guardhouse.
The valley walls had swept in now, almost meeting. The Trade Route that ran up and down the east bank rudely shouldered its way across our little road and made just one route for continuing upon.
There were three parallel arcs of nets strung across the mouth of the river as it gathered force and tumbled into the deeply-carved gorge. Steef told us they must be the last line of defence for water craft, to prevent them from being dashed to pieces. Although he somehow doubted that the flimsy netting would stop a fully-laden barge.
Further down the Gorge, we could see that the road straddled back and forth across the river on several bridges as the constricted space scarce allowed anything else in there. Even though we were in the evening sun here, the gorge ahead looked dark and somehow daunting.
But of a town, a thriving and busy town, we could detect no presence.
None at all.
I looked up at the sides of the valley here, sides that seemed so close a man could almost stretch out his arms and touch both at the same time. This proved rapidly to be an optical illusion though. The walls were actually a few casts apart. But noticeable on the walls on both sides were tracks and very narrow roads that weaved back and forth as well as up, down and along the walls. A semaphore station was perched high up on the western wall above us.
But still, this so-called town was lacking anything to say that it actually was a town.
However, we knew we were in the right place, for there, not too far in front of us, was a large and unmissable sign announcing the ‘Northern Gate’.
… … …
“… most comfortable, we thank you, Mistress.”
“Now what did their animal man say?”
“He agreed that the beasts require time for recuperation, most of them anyway. Those with the lighter loads have fared better, but are still weary.” He laughed a little bitterly. “He said we must breed frayen tougher than normal up in Blackstone; to have achieved around one hundred and twenty marks in two days is actually an excellent result. Then he went on to show me that one of the ones with more work to do is also footsore. Since that beast belongs to Master Steef here, and he shall not be going on with us in the morning, then I must leave the decisions there to him himself.”
I looked round the table.
The place itself was clean and well-appointed. We all (quietly) agreed that Meglina standards were higher when it came right down to it. I had been a little surprised at the rates they charged me, rates which I knew they had not attempted to inflate, for they were clearly written as we came in. I deemed it was for that reason that they could accommodate 11 travellers and 18 frayen at such short notice. A cheaper establishment would doubtless have been filled by now.
Frankly, I was by then so weary that I would have paid almost anything just to get us all off the road, now we knew the original schedule could not be adhered to.
The rooms were indeed comfortable, and the space in them was larger than most we had seen. Pyor and Steef shared one room, Vakter and Surtree another, Kabarad and Rakshak a third. Mompik had declared that he didn’t mind being the one to be alone, which left Davvy and I together, Gyth sleeping with her mother, of course. Once we had stabled the animals and relieved them of our loads, we split up to freshen ourselves up.
We women were nearly late for our agreed meeting time in the dining room with the others simply because that deep and warm bath was just SOOOOOO … required.
We fetched Vakter and Surtree as we passed their sleeping room and descended to the common room. On the way, we discovered that Surtree had been teaching Vakter some of the throws of that unarmed combat stuff. Yes, Surtree was teaching Vakter, not the other way around! The two had consequently become quite close, it was apparent. But the lad was still strangely subdued.
We reached the common room where we saw the other three guards sitting at a large grouping of tables that had been pushed together. The managers of this place had kindly shoved smaller tables together to create something that would seat all eleven of us at one big array.
I looked a question at Mompik who was sitting facing the stairway and the door through which all must come. He jerked his eyes and chin in two differing directions. I looked here and there and soon saw Steef at one table of men, and Pyor at another. I also noticed that both had a foaming tankard in their left hands!
I led us women to the table where the guards were sitting, followed closely by Vakter and Surtree. Once seated next to Mompik, I looked over again at the two adult men in our party. I saw Pyor sketch a wave to his new-found companions, stand up and walk over towards us. It was as he reached us that Steef scraped his chair back and he too took his leave of the men he had been chatting with.
Thus all eleven of us were seated, and a serving girl came over to offer their fare and to take our orders.
Formalities were impossible to maintain in such a setting, so ’twas not long before we were all chatting with no need for titles. Mompik told us that he had ridden over to the guardhouse to make his report and that they had thanked him for the courtesy. We chatted briefly about the earlier incident, but we dropped the subject quite quickly, moving gratefully on to another topic.
A quarter of a bell passed before the drinks arrived and maybe half that time went by after that before our opening courses were delivered. In the Salon, I would have been angry if my staff took so long, but here there were many more diners and the food had not been pre-ordered.
The Food? On the good side of adequate, Davvy, Surtree and I all thought. Gyth and Waxerwet could find no fault and yet said ’twas difficult to praise. Pyor and Steef said they found nothing wrong with it, and reminded us that the standards in the Salon are considerable higher so we should not judge using them as a basis, whilst Mompik spoke for the Rangers when he declared this to be better than their usual fare. This made me tell Davvy to make a note. Not for the first time, I had thoughts shooting through my head about the quality of food served in the Barracks. When we got back up there next week, I really had to go and stick my nose in there!
And so we had settled down to a comfortable and indeed light-hearted (except for Surtree) meal at which we all got to know each other more personally. The main course dishes had been cleared away, replenishments for drinks had been ordered and we awaited the final course.
And it was at this point, after a painful dig in the ribs from Davvy, that Surtree tentatively spoke: “Errrrm, Mistress Julina …”
I was suddenly widely alert and highly concentrated when he said that, for he hadn’t ‘Mistress’ed me for a long while now.
“… I find I have to say something, and I am torn.”
I plastered a smile to my face, and nodded supportively, hopefully positively, even while my heart was dropping as some unknown worry hit me: “Go on, Surtree.”
He swallowed, sneaked a sideways glance at Davvy who glared back at him, forcing him with her will to continue. He looked around the table at the rest of us, one by one, and finally getting back to me.
Suddenly the dam broke, tears sprung to his eyes and he started gabbling. “The fun has gone, ’Lina. I find I fiercely miss Blackstone, I want … all that noise … not enjoying … Kissa ... I don’t think I can anymore … I must leave your employ … can I borrow the fare for wagons to get back home? I will manage somehow on my own.”
I suddenly realised what his problem was. He was homesick, scared a little by all the new sights, by the strangenesses of it all, by that overly loud atmosphere in Tranidor, all that. And I noted he included my young sister’s name in his gabble. It seems he misses her fiercely too.
My heart sank as the ramifications started to become apparent. I knew I could not bring myself to deny him, but I could not just send him, a young lad, home, travelling on his own. Maker! What on Anmar could I do?
I knew too that I had to reply as soon as I could, to help him calm down, and to try to allay some of his fears.
“Surtree, that was a very brave thing you just did. I do wish though that you had told me earlier, for maybe we could have arranged something last evening with Mistress Megrozen up in Tranidor. I now though find myself in a very difficult position. I cannot, would not, force you to come with me, and yet – as you well know – I must complete my task here. I cannot with any good feeling simply send you home alone for that would be ...”
“Julina, mayhap I have a solution?” interrupted Pyor.
Waxerwet too had been about to say something but she subsided when Pyor spoke up. I was pleased to grab at anything, any chance, any suggestion. I raised my eyebrows at Pyor, getting him to continue, even while acknowledging Waxerwet with my eyes.
“Surtree is an intelligent young lad. He has shown interest in the railroad – great interest. Maybe I could take him back with me, for I shall start back in the morning. But on one hand, that would probably prolong his return beyond anything he would actually like to do, since I shall be travelling far more slowly and will have many questions of those we pass. On the other hand, that way he could learn more about this rail business too, and I would be there to support him on his journey.”
Ping! An idea shot into my head, fully formed. I turned to the lad: “Would the fact that you know you are returning allow you to take just that little longer?”
“Er… I deem it might. But Mistress, I am contracted to you, and I am not fulfilling my contract which indicates I am to stay with you. I confess I wish to leave this noise and hectic and chaos and … stress. I want to get back to where I know everyone. Where I feel on safer ground. And I miss your sister too. And yet I need the coin I get from being employed by you.”
“Hah! Young lad, you have known me long enough now, I do not believe that you deem me to be so cruel. I have a solution, if Master Pyor agrees.” I glanced at Pyor, who was looking interested. He indicated that I should continue. “What say you two that Surtree is from now on employed by Blackstone Rail?” My eyes looked up at Pyor and he didn’t disappoint me. He understood immediately what I was trying to achieve.
“That would be a wonderful solution, Mistress.” He turned to the lad. “Surtree? Do you want to become my apprentice? Help me down here to learn – and up there to develop? We could go back home, but a little slower than we travelled to get here? And I can explain all that I know as we go?”
Surtree looked at me, a little wonderment in his face: “Just like that? You would let me go, release me from my obligations?”
I smiled at him: “Surtree, you have been a good friend to me as well as a cheerful and willing helper. You have still to achieve your majority and I have been wondering, when not struggling with other decisions, what I am to do with you when you get older.
“I invited you – remember it was an invitation, I made it clear you didn’t HAVE to come on this trip …” He nodded his agreement. “… because I thought you would appreciate seeing something more of our world, have something else as experience behind you for you to make up your mind when you decide what you might want to do with your life. I see now that the changes in culture and habits have been too much of a shock for you at too young an age.
“Will you go home with Master Pyor here? Be a good apprentice to him? Will you go with my thanks for all you have done, including introducing me to Davvy here? Will you let me let you go from my personal service, will you agree to at least work with and for Master Pyor until my return in a week or so? That we can then all sit and decide what to do?”
He looked at me and I’m sure he was again a little misty-eyed.
I continued: “And if you were to go with Master Pyor, then I deem you would be back home in the safest and swiftest way any of us could arrange.”
“You would do that for me, ’Lina? Really?” He swung round to Pyor. “And you too Master Pyor?”
“Indeed,” said Pyor, with a sincerity that could not be doubted. “And if it helps, you should remember that Blackstone Rail is a company that is also owned by Mistress Julina here, so in one way you would still be working for her.”
Pyor’s was a sincerity that brought back a little of the old cheekiness to the youngster. He dried his eyes on a cloth that Gyth offered him, sniffed a couple of times, and said: “I shall always be in awe at your ability to find solutions, ’Lina. I accept those very generous terms. And apologise once more.”
And so our evening meal conversations continued in a lot lighter vein than I had at first feared.
And Surtree, plainly happier now his great burden had been lifted, later added in some good questions as we went along.
Somehow, in between mouthfuls just a little earlier, we had talked about the Rangers and we learnt much from them about their life. The subject continued even after the plates and cutlery had been cleared away, and another round of drinks had been served.
After that, we covered a wide range of subjects but the greatest emphasis was on all the things we had seen that day. Surtree asked Pyor an intelligent question about the building of the tracks that we had seen. And then they were off. We had a good half a bell on railroads which educated us all, Rangers included.
“These towers in Haligo’s Gorge. What of them, why such a restriction?” asked Mompik.
Pyor smiled. “Ah Mompik, this is what one of the men over there said: ‘Master there is a thing called the railroad coming and there is much construction for it up and down the valley, on both sides. It appears that ’tis necessary for some connection for the railroad tracks from one side of the valley to t’other, and Haligo Gorge is by far the narrowest part of the entire valley. There shall be bridges built up in the sky atop these new towers.’ Not entirely complete news for us, of course.”
Kabarad asked if Pyor had discovered anything more about the subject so Pyor borrowed a reedlet and a small piece of paper from Gyth as he sketched a diagram. He explained even as he drew it.
“These outside lines are the tracks that shall be built against and along either valley wall, high up. This does not mean that the railroad shall climb, at least not so very much, but more that it shall remain roughly level here, letting the valley floor, or the Gorge floor, drop ever more away from it.”
He looked up from his drawing then, to explain some of the current thinking of the designers and builders.
“There are existing animal and foot tracks high up along each of the gorge’s walls. These will have to be widened which will not be the easiest work. However, they run along the valley walls from above Haligo to below it on both sides. The only other way to have a railroad come down here would be to have a giant bridge-like thing they call a viaduct, running down the middle of the gorge, as well as the road as well as the river. They shall try not to have such a large construction for a number of reasons, not the least being all the extra constriction it would cause on a very busy thoroughfare.
“As was said, Haligo Gorge is the obvious narrow point in the whole valley – all the way from our home in Blackstone, all that way behind us, and on down to the mouth of the Palar as it joins the Sirrel at Dekarran. And so, therefore, it is sensible to make a bridge here. At that very narrowest point.”
He then went back to his diagram.
“Such a bridge to connect those lines that shall run down the very edges of the valley here, allowing traffic to change to the other side of the valley if necessary ...” He drew a straight line across the middle of his diagram then, not touching the outside lines though. “… Here shall be the main bridge. Each end shall have a tower for the main bridge to rest upon.” He added in two square blocks at either end of the line he had just drawn.
“But railroads cannot do sharp turns so we need curved stretches of line to join onto the ends of the main bridge, one each way at both ends.”
He added in the curves and then plopped a circle in the middle of each curve. “These circles then are the towers that shall support the railroad curves that connect the main bridge to the outside lines.”
We were all again amazed at how simple he made his explanation. We called for some drinks to savour the moment.
Before we go any further, I need to report that Waxerwet had been elected in some unspoken fashion to be the ‘mother’ checking on her children that they behaved properly. She prevented any of us from drinking too much that evening without actually saying a word.
The need for curves occupied my mind for a little while as I pondered aloud the requirements up at Bezlet, particularly by the wharf. We discussed that for a short while.
And thus we got onto Steef and his barges. We asked him for more details of his mission down to here, which he readily supplied, but in a roundabout fashion; for he started by talking of that little steam-engined boat that we had seen. I must say, Steef was very clever to involve us all; he asked questions such that we all had to think about matters.
“What made that boat go through the water?” he said, looking first at Rakshak.
“The steam engine.”
“Exactly. ’Twas driving those wheels around which pushed on the water. And how many steam engines have YOU seen, Kabarad?”
“Many, Steef, many. Usually used for pumping or lifting though.”
Steef nodded at him before turning to the next man: “They also do a good job of turning, do they not? Mompik, what do they consume?”
“Coal, coke or wood for the fires and water for the steam – and a lot of operator’s time.” We smiled at that.
“And have you, Mistress Julina ...” I realised then that he was going round the table person by person “… ever seen a steam engine run out of any of the things it consumes?”
“That I have not,” I was forced to concede. But his question made us all think about it.
Waxerwet, who incidentally was NOT the next person round the table, surprised me then. “I have, Steef, I saw one pump stop because the steam engine couldn’t produce steam any more. There was nothing to keep the fire alight.”
“Ah hah! Thank you. Now what would happen if that was to occur when such a boat was in the middle of the streaming current in a river?”
Then I suddenly realised where he was going to go with this. “So such a boat must also have aboard the … the … the … food for the steam engine?”
He grinned at that: “Are you so strongly fixated by food, ’Lina?
“But you have my point exactly. And, not only for that reason, must so a boat carry at the minimum a set of oars.”
And so we went on about barges for a good half bell.
Steef revealed that the special barge he had come downvalley to see was going to be a steam-powered one, again with two of what he called paddle-wheels – a neat name that, I thought – one on each side. But each paddle-wheel was to be driven by a steam engine, a more powerful one than we had yet seen.
“Some steam engines could be built bigger now that they had some steel for the cylinders on them. And the amazing thing was that more steel could be produced now that they had bigger steam engines. And then, with more steel, even bigger ones could be built, and so on.
“You were going to explain,” said Gyth at the point when Steef started to slow down his chatting, “how a barge needs running water to be steered.”
“Ah yes!” said Steef as we all nodded our heads.
He looked around, scanning the room rapidly. He stood swiftly as he said: “I’ll be back in just a second.”
He went over to the serving girl and borrowed her serving salver. He dashed back to us as she followed more gently.
“Waxerwet, do you have a spare cloth about you by chance? I will wish to dry up some water. Ah! Thank you!”
He placed the salver on the table and poured just a little water onto one side of the salver’s upper area.
“Look you! The water stays where it is. But now! If I raise the edge where the water is, it runs down the salver to the other side. That is what a river does, it flows down. As I am sure you all understand.”
He dried the salver thoroughly and then picked up the small length of wood that carried a number on it, so the staff could deliver food and drinks to the correct table.
“Again, I place a small amount of water at this edge. This time I place this wooden block in the middle of the salver and hold it tight. When I do nothing, the water and the wood are unaffected. But when I tip the salver again – see the water is deflected by the wood.”
He then wiped everything down again, and reset it as before with water and wood back into the places on the salver.
“Now I hold the wood in place at just one end, so that it shall pivot under my holding finger.”
Again he demonstrated. We saw the wood pivot as he claimed it would.
“So you see, the water presses on the wood and forces it to pivot. Do you all understand that?”
We nodded.
“So when the water hits the wood, it presses upon the wood. There is a force applied to it. If the wood is held fast then the water is pressed out of the way. If the wood is not held fast then the wood is pressed out of the way.
“That is how a boat is steered. We place an equivalent in such a way as to cross the straight stream of the water. We call this thing either a rudder or an oar. The water then presses on the rudder and pushes it to one side. If that rudder is attached to a boat, then that part of the boat is pushed to one side.”
Again we all nodded, picturing in our minds what he said.
“But for that to happen, then the water must be pressing upon the rudder. As the rudder is attached to the boat, then if the boat is just drifting on the stream, there is no water pressure upon the rudder.”
Aaaaaah! So simple really.
We all thanked him even as he thanked the serving girl for her help and handed her back the salver, with a small coin – which made her smile at him and curtsey her thanks.
We agreed to meet at the same table at the first bell to break our fasts and I arranged for us women to have a hot bath before then, with mugs of pel available to us.
We felt a little guilty towards the gathered and waiting staff that we were the last to leave table and make our way, just ever such a little unsteadily, to bed.
Their destination is almost in sight
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
“Good morrow, all.”
A chorus of greetings erupted from those of us already seated around the table as a once more grinning Surtree came to join us with Vakter. I looked a little more closely at the two of them and they seemed a tad dishevelled somehow. Was that a straw sticking to Surtree’s collar? I jerked my chin at him and asked with my eyes what was there. His hand shot up, felt around a little, and removed the offending article. Every eye except Vakter’s was looking at him so he knew he had to answer the question we all had.
“Vakter and I have just spent a bell Tai Chiing and doing some of the tumbling exercises on a straw-strewn floor of an unoccupied stall in the stables. We had an audience of two stable lads who determined that we were mad, it seems. But we have worked up a healthy appetite, I can tell you.”
They both then proceeded rapidly to prove his point. A young male’s capacity for food is a thing of wonder.
But Surtree’s remarks caused me some small discomfort. I felt guilty at not having Tai Chied properly since we left, but ’twas guilt for but a fleeting moment.
Then came an interruption.
A man approached our table, his head cocked slightly to one side and with a very penetrative and yet enquiring glint in his eye. I kicked Pyor’s shin under the table and eye-spoke with him when he looked at me. Pyor turned and then surged to his feet.
“Master Baran?” he enquired.
“Indeed so. And you, I presume, are Master Pyor?”
The next three weeks (or so it seemed) were taken up with all the introductions and explanations as to why each of the eleven in our party were present. The only unusual thing was when Surtree was introduced as Pyor’s apprentice, an introduction that made him sit a little straighter and push his chest out a bit.
We rearranged our seating so that the three railroad men could be next to each other, which was a good thing as they used up several sheets of paper and about a week’s supply of reedlets drawing diagrams as they chatted on and on about some arcane and weird stuff to the ears of the rest of us. I was SO proud of Surtree as he made several apparently good and pertinent observations and suggestions.
The rest of us weren’t really listening that much as we chatted amongst ourselves but we were aware of their conversation too.
(Older Julina: Many weeks and months later, though, I found I could talk quite knowledgeably about the details of the railroads with some of the land’s leading experts, so my brain must have absorbed far more than I realised at the time)
We did all, however, devote our full attention when they started talking about the route through the local Gorge. Pyor had after all drawn us a diagram of it last night, which he had now produced and which started this new thread of a conversation.
“That indeed, Master Pyor, is how we originally planned it. You have been well informed. And indeed it is still possible that eventually that shall be as it is.
“However, we have struck difficulties with that plan and may well have to change things around a bit. Down the west side of the Gorge, there is a rocky outcropping which blocks the route. There is a thin and dangerously narrow animal track, down which a brave man could ride a frayen, but I doubt I myself am brave enough to do that. That narrow track winds round the face, with a long fall down to the Gorge’s bed. The twists and turns are far too sharp for a railroad track to be laid there.
“There are, we deem, three ways we can overcome this problem. Go around the problem by building some form of gallery viaduct that overhangs the Gorge, by tunnelling through the hillside, or by climbing much further up until we get above the shoulder level of the walls. All of these shall take an inordinate amount of time to achieve, and the climbing up variation, which naturally includes climbing down again at some point, is really a non-starter.
“Or ...”
He laid such emphasis on that little word, and he looked around at all of us individually when he said it and followed it with a longish pause.
“… We can take a lesson from the Trade Routes themselves. We run just one track down the side of the Gorge, down the eastern side. That would mean that we would require a bridge at this end of the Gorge, to allow the west bank tracks to cross over to join the east bank route. And then we would need to build a further bridge – more a long viaduct actually when we get down to the town itself at the far end of the Gorge.”
“Ah!” said Mompik at that point. “we were wondering, Master Baran, about the lack of signs for a town around here as we came in last evening.”
“I fully understand that, File Leader. We who live here in these houses – in what is officially named North Haligo, but which we call the ‘Threshold’ - do so because of the afternoon and evening sun. There are just fourteen houses here and a guardhouse. There exists a local term for us residents up here. I am indeed one of those we call a ‘Dweller on the Threshold’.
“Down in the town itself, there are some unfortunates who reside near the outpouring of the Gorge who never actually get direct sunlight on their dwellings.”
“How so is that, Master?” asked Gyth. For which I deem all of us silently thanked her.
“Mistress, the Gorge itself is narrow and twisty, the twists and turns going both ways, of course. The sun naturally shines from the North and the Town is situated at the south of the Gorge, as the valley walls once again spread out. Most of the houses and shops of the town are placed a short distance, maybe as much as half a mark from the mouth of the Gorge, in an attempt to get some of that precious sunlight.
“When you leave here to go to Teldor you will emerge from the Gorge into the widened area there; the cliffs to the west being just slightly lower than those to the east, so therefore the houses on the east side of the valley do manage to get some afternoon and evening sun. So the town has spread more to the east. Also the banks of the river force more to the east. There is just space for some of the waterborne craft repair businesses on the banks to the west of the Gorge mouth. But the Trade Route must squeeze through there so space is very limited at that point.
“So, to the East of the Gorge mouth is where the town is now established, and where the Count Thermin has caused to have built his new abode, cleverly constructed on a raised base to bring it up in height slightly more towards the sun’s rays.”
“What happened to his old one then?” Waxerwet asked, quite forcefully.
“We have used it to our railroad track laying advantage,” laughed Baran. “This Gorge used to be, at one time, the northernmost limit of the area known nowadays as Palarand, so a fort cum castle was constructed at the northern end to guard against invaders from wherever (who incidentally, have NEVER appeared, neither then nor since). So tradition kept the Counts in that castle up there.
“We have now partially demolished it for the railroad rails to be laid along there and it is a wonderful place for us to gather; to store the tools we need for all that construction work. And to have stabling and a place to cook a warm drink or meal and so on. ’Tis reported that the Countess Florizel and her children all danced for joy when they moved out of the old place, which was, they claimed apparently, cold, damp and draughty with insufficient ventilation to draw away all the smokes from the many fires they required to be lit.”
Ah! That must have been the destroyed building we saw last evening, where the men were all gathered, with the beasts and tools and so on.
“Anyway, back to the town itself and the required bridge or long viaduct for our rails.
“Where the rails shall emerge from the Gorge is at a point still quite high above the town. From there, we can see that the curves of the rails shall be easy to achieve so that the tracks can be laid down the east bank. Leading eventually, I am given to understand, the hundreds of marks to Brankane, the capital of Vardenale. And of course to the only deep-water port on the mouth of the Sirrel at Viridor.
“’Tis coming the other way, to run rail tracks down the WEST bank, that the difficulties lie. The cliff face there is nigh-on sheer with just a few grasses and shrubs clinging on and there is barely room for the Trade Route down to Teldor and onto Dekarran. We deem we might, just, be able to lay a single track railroad bed along there by building a bridge/viaduct from the rails as they descend above the eastern town back across the Gorge mouth and then descend gently down to the Trade Route level once the first bend on it has been negotiated. All that means a great series of arches are to be built all across from the eastern side to just downvalley from the barge repair docks. The Trade Route itself will have to complete its journey into Haligo there by using the underside of the railroad arches as a roof over the road.
“At least, that is the plan as it currently stands. Knowing the way these things have been going, then that plan shall in all probability be changed yet again, but I doubt ’twill happen too often afore the rains this year.”
Pyor laughed: “Hah! Don’t count on it. There are still a few weeks before the rains, so maybe we will be lucky and only have a hand or two of changes before then!”
We all laughed too at that, so much so that many of our fellow guests frowned as they looked round at us.
One of the older ones called out: “Don’t be so sure, young fellow-me-lad! We seed quite a few grakhs flying over recent-like. I would wager the rains’ll be early this year.”
“Don’t listen to the old codger,” called out one of his more youthful breakfasting companions. “’Tis but an old farmer’s tale!”
“I tell ’ee, young whatsyername, rains aren’t far off.”
“Now, now, Granddad. No need to get all riled up.” Their voices dropped again and we could hear no more distinct words of their still animated argument.
Surtree then said: “Excuse me Master Baran, but that seems to be a lot of construction that shall happen rather than just the simple bridge as shown in Master Pyor’s diagram here. Would it not be possible to have a copy of this made maybe further down the Gorge, after your inconvenient outcropping?”
“Good question, lad. Good question indeed. But ’tis that west wall from the mouth of the Gorge that is also a great problem. I’m afraid you shall have to trust me on that one, for today we must ride upvalley to Holville. And I will have no chance to show you what I mean.
“However, there are advantages to having a long and arched viaduct there. We are crying out for more storage space here in town and all the roominess there shall be underneath the arches shall be a boon for those who need such space.”
And so they went on, whilst the rest of us, with the exception of Steef, started to anticipate our route for the day.
We eventually stood up so we could do our final preparations before starting out on our journeyings once more. Which action provoked the railroading trio to cease their animated discussions too.
… … ...
At last, our final meal with us all together was finished and we gathered in the courtyard to say our goodbyes to those leaving us.
I confess there were tears in my eyes as I hugged Surtree. There were definitely tears flowing as Davvy hugged him. I handed a letter to Pyor, with a copy to Surtree, that was signed by me and witnessed by Waxerwet and Davvy, and which stated clearly the changes in Surtree’s status. Pyor would talk to Master Schild about it as soon as they returned.
The three of them swung up onto their beasts, Master Baran calling out in surprise when he saw that the others were mounted with the so-called ‘new’ saddles. He was till using an old-style one.
However, he still managed to ooze a degree of leadership: “Come Pyor and Surtree, let us away to inspect briefly those started towers they mentioned before we head once more in the upvalley direction. We shall return northwards along the other side of the valley to the one you used to descend. You shall see how they are doing their tasks there. The developments at Holville look to be differently organised, I deem.”
The three figures, each trailing a pack frayen behind them, waved to us all, passed out of the gateway and were lost to sight immediately.
The parting with Steef was not quite so emotional, although I did have a small lump in my throat. Steef had mounted his pack animal today, letting his sore-footed riding beast have the lighter load for a change. He too waved to us as he turned the other way out of the inn’s gateway.
I went back into the inn to pay the reckoning, with Mompik to escort me lest any light-fingered miscreants were about. That done, the men then got all twelve beasts ready whilst we women swiftly used the facilities before departing.
We turned right out of the inn’s gateway and our third day of journeying started out.
… … …
Had we wanted to be in a hurry, it would not have mattered.
’Twas surely impossible to go anywhere above a walking pace, so crowded was it. The valley walls seemed to squeeze inwards, the constant sound of the rushing water beneath the seeming myriad of bridges, the darkness (for the sun could only penetrate at a certain, specific, short period of the day), the clamour all made me very glad I did not actually live there.
But I learned a great deal as various thoughts and memories zoomed through my head. Captain Bleskin had once told us about how difficult it would be for an invading force to come upvalley. A hand of moments here in this tight-pressing gorge made me understand exactly what he meant. We had the greatest difficulty picking a path through the people, animals, carts and wagons that seemed to occupy the entire gorge floor.
I doubt any of us were surprised to find an inn at the other end of the gorge called the ‘Southern Gate’. What was surprising to us geographically down there was the rapidity of the way the valley walls opened right up again.
Of course, once we emerged from the gloom, which had been most oppressive both visually and orally, we had to find our way to the semaphore station. Which meant turning away from the way we wanted to go.
I sent my messages off and we continued on our way, retracing our path across the upper town until we regained the Trade Route. I was quite surprised at the amount of business I saw being done by the wenders they had operating here. And the bacs.
And, of course, I was very pleased to see most of the wenders and bacs were decked out in Master Tanon’s colours. I idly wondered if I would actually recoup the accounting for all of us from the inn last night from the amount of journeyings I saw going on down here right now.
And the rapidity of the river’s flow was colossal until it spilt over the final ledge and created a wide river once again. Two marks or so farther down, no observer would believe the foaming torrent was so closely situated behind us – down there the river was almost calm.
Where the raging torrent tumbled at long last into a peaceful basin, a small ‘extra’ town had sprung up, a little town to feed the many wharves and warehouses situated there. I looked around this part eagerly, for I wanted to get a feel for the facilities that are provided to those who work with the barges.
Also down there, quite close to the eruption of the torrent, an obviously new and very large building was still being worked upon, despite it being occupied already. Our enquiries elicited the information that this was the new castle belonging to Count Thermin and his family. In fact, we could just make out the men-at-arms exercising in the courtyard there. The surprising answer, remember, as to why they needed a new castle, was that their old one, on the northern approaches had been demolished to make way for the railroad!
We all breathed a sigh of relief as we regained the Trade Road with a much wider valley around us. It felt somehow that some invisible bonds about us had been cut and dropped away.
Just next to the road as it came out of Haligo and turned sharp left as dictated by the valley wall, there was a large barge repair area, in which there was one being busily worked upon. ’Twas sturdy-looking but yet somehow to a lesser degree, it seemed a bit battered. Many workers were swarming over it, scrubbing, sawing, planing, painting. Obviously, the vessel was under new ownership, for a worker was just painting out the old name prior to adding the new one. This vessel was looking like our frayen, a little tired, a little worn in places, as though it had had a hard life so far.
“Something seems to suggest that this barge has been abandoned for a little while?” I asked generally of my companions.
“Aye, I deem you are right,” said Mompik slowly as he studied the vessel closely.
“I also deem you are right Julina. There are signs to my eyes of neglect on what had been before a well-maintained barge.” Gyth agreed with Mompik and I.
“Hmmm. I wonder what the new name shall be?” I had seen the old name as it disappeared from sight under a generous application of white paint. The ‘Gray Skwod’ it had been called. I idly wondered to myself if anyone had ever told me what exactly a skwod is or was. All I actually knew about them, I realised with a great start, was that there was a ‘Nest’ of them up in Tranidor, which was now a part of Meglina. I was about to comment on that when another observation side-tracked the conversation.
“But look at the differences in the barges down here on this side of Haligo!” said Gyth. “Steef did warn us, but seeing the actuality is far more demonstrative somehow.”
“Yes! It is, is it not?”
And then we got into discussing barges in some depth. (And yes, you may smile at that!)
It was a busy river here, bearing all sorts of sailed and rowed craft as well as a busy towpath that was full of dranakh pulling barges up and downstream.
“That question of Surtree’s last night, that was a really intelligent one wasn’t it?” asked Davvy to many agreeing nods.
I think that had been possibly the most surprising of all Steef’s revelations.
Surtree had asked how barges passed each other if they all needed towing along a towpath.
“Do they hold one of the ropes up on high on poles or something, so that the other can pass beneath it?”
“Something similar in fact, but a lot neater. And it works whether the two barges concerned are going in the same direction or in the opposite direction. Alright, sometimes, yes, it is necessary to pole the ropes upwards. But can you remember when we watched that little drama on the river earlier, that the second line, the one they used ‘just in case’, had little things that looked akin to circles dotted every so often along it?”
We cast our minds back and realised that we had in fact seen that, but not really registered it.
“Those circles on the rope, they are actually weights woven in. They are there to make the rope sink if necessary. One of the two barges that are involved in a passing simply lets their rope sink below the water. The other barge is then unhindered.”
We had all been impressed once again with the simplicity of it all.
… … …
Before too long at all had passed, we were settling down to what had become normal travel for us. We were out in the countryside, no town around us. The well-maintained Trade Route stretched ahead of us. Roadhouses appeared every half mark or so. All this was so very familiar to us.
Except for one thing.
This part of the Trade Route was the busiest road I had ever seen.
A constant stream of traffic somehow kept moving along it in both directions. There were wagons, carts, carriages, dranakh, frayen and walkers. I doubted that we would have been able, in all actuality, to ever have pushed the pace to that which I had originally planned.
One of these roadhouses seemed to be bigger, better appointed and busier than the others we had passed. We passed this one too, for ’twas as yet not time for a break.
Waxerwet demanded of a fellow traveller on the road: “Excuse me, Master? That roadhouse we have just passed – why is it so different?”
“Ah! Mistress, ’tis a most famous one. Many folk say that one of the cheeses available there is the best in the land. ’Tis named Silton after the name of that roadhouse.”
I gasped at that and wished now we had stopped to see where the Brayview Administrator Kolston’s famous cheese was mostly sold. It was, we knew, actually made in South Tranidor but was shipped all the way down here whence it had gained a reputation. And whence it had gained a name.
The river in this stretch of the valley twisted and turned, sometimes nearer the road, sometimes farther away. The road itself was not straight, kinking first left, then right, then left again and then right again, the stretches between the kinks getting progressively longer it seemed. We covered some few marks in this way. A final kink to the left opened up a long straight road in front of us, the first long straight stretch we had seen since we were approaching Tranidor. It almost made me feel at home again.
“Our beasts seem a lot happier today,” remarked Davvy. “Even the Rangers’ ones.”
“They realise that we are not forcing the pace today as we have done for the past two days,” replied Kabarad. “Although they are still not as sprightly as they were last week up in Blackstone.”
“We have pushed them hard, as we all know. I just hope that we have not done any permanent damage,” Rakshak voiced my own worry. And probably the same worry everyone else had.
“The inn’s beastsman seemed to think they would recover, with longer rest and good fodder. And plenty of water,” added Mompik.
“Let me see now,” I mused aloud, recalling a list of distances I had once seen. “From Teldor to Dekarran is less than from Blackstone to Bezlet, and yet more than from Blackstone to the Forest Roadhouse. About the same as Blackstone to the Retreat, I would say.
“And from Haligo to Teldor, which we are currently doing, is just a little farther than getting to Bezlet from home. We have a ferry to cross to get out of Teldor, so I propose we stay in Teldor tonight. The ferry wait and crossing will be extra rest for the animals for they shall not require to carry us so we should arrive in Teldor in good time to find an inn and get settled in, with an allowance then to explore the town a little before our dinner.
“The other option is to push on through Teldor tonight and find a roadhouse towards Dekarran. That would be a little like riding from Blackstone to Brayview, I would estimate.”
“What plans have you for the morning, Julina?”
“Ah, Mompik, a good question. If we stay in Teldor, then ’twould have to be that we are up at first light, to give me maximum time with Senidet before the Royal Party depart the following morning. If we stay in a roadhouse nearer to Dekarran, then we could leave a little later, I suppose.”
“May I therefore suggest that we see how weary our animals are when we get to Teldor? I confess I would favour staying in the town tonight, but understand, and indeed approve, if you wish to carry on.”
“Indeed, Julina, I feel that would be the best,” said ‘mother’ Waxerwet. The others all agreed.
“So we shall stay in the town tonight, then.”
… … ...
The river had turned more than the road had at that last kink I mentioned, so we found ourselves getting more and more distant from it. And, although there were some farms along here, the river bank was getting ever more crowded with industrial sites.
Arising from which was ever more smoke and steam. And noise.
And down there amongst it all was a sight that Pyor and Surtree should have seen. There was a long stretch of double sets of railroad tracks, several marks long, I estimated. There were laden wagons on the rails, being pulled by dranakh. ’Twas exactly as Pyor had once described to me the way he felt it should be developed up by our homes. Have such a double set of rails along the Loop Road round to just below the Bunkhouse.
Every so often the twin sets of rails came together, connected with a set of those Pyor Points. Then came a short stretch of straight single rails followed by another set of the Pyor Points which allowed the rails to continue once more as a double set. Somehow, ’twas obvious to us observers that the rails here were made of wood.
At one point, we saw one of those hand-pump-wagons that someone had told us about yesterday – ah, yes! It had been that worker just outside South Tranidor, the one who could talk the hind leg off a pakh. The little wagon was flying along along in a most alarming fashion. The two men operating it were bending and straightening, bending and straightening, bending and straightening. How very strenuous, it all seemed to me. And yet, I doubt I had ever espied a vehicle travelling at such a speed.
Suddenly I saw why they were trying so very hard.
There was a line painted across the rails and a huge crowd were gathered near there. This was obviously a race along that set of rails, for as the wagon flashed past the line, the operators clearly eased off; some of the crowd looked on happily at some of the more downcast ones, hands held out. I realised further that there had been a number of wagers concluded. A considerable number, it must be said.
We watched in fascination as factory and busy workplace after factory and busy workplace passed by our eyes. There were also new wharves that seemed to be nearly as busy as the road we were on. There were newly made side lanes from the Trade Route down to the industrial strip along the side of the river, all of them in use in one way or another as we went by.
… … ...
The comparative luxury of the roadhouse we eventually stopped in to take refreshment made me regret my previous choice of using the west bank road from Tranidor to Haligo.
So much so that I found it most necessary to say: “I must apologise to you all for the choice of route we took yesterday. It appears from our current surroundings that ’twas a poor choice of mine.”
“Julina, you were not to know. We have survived, we have further experiences to add to our lives, ’twas not so bad as you fear.”
“Thank you for being kind enough to try to ease my guilt.”
“Come Julina,” said Mompik, quite surprisingly a little testily. “When we were preparing for this trip, I had the wrong impression of the situation. Subsequently, I gained the wrong impression of yourself and your colleagues. My eyes have been opened as to what you do, what you have achieved and with whom you surround yourself.
“Waxerwet there is a sensible, intelligent, good-natured, jolly and at the same time stern over-watcher of you three younger ones. She has brilliantly helped and guided when any of you have required it. And her delight at seeing such new things is also a delight to observe.
“Her daughter here is a highly intelligent woman with her own strongly held views. She has a similar delight to her mother at the revelations she has encountered. And she has weighed all that you have done and is quite prepared to jump in if required. That she has found no requirement so to do is one of the greatest compliments I can bestow.
“Young Davvy here is a treasure beyond price. She helps you, listens to you, supports you and smooths things as far as she can to make your life as easy as she can. And she herself has many good ideas that have made all our lives easier on this trip.
“I have learnt why your mission is as it is. I believe that from what I have learnt on this trip that ’twould be a great loss to Blackstone, and yet I deem that your employment down here would be of an equal or greater benefit to our entire land. I will do anything within my power to help you reach a decision and will back that decision to the fullest extent of my powers.”
“And that goes for us too,” said Vakter, indicating the other two with his hand.
I had to leap to my feet and find my way awkwardly to the women’s facilities. It was awkward because my eyes were filled with unshed tears. Unshed because I refused, simply refused, to cry in front of them. Davvy’s one useful hand nestled under my elbow to make it easier. Then Gyth’s hand slid under my other one.
And I couldn’t hold it back any longer.
… … …
“Good afternoon, Mistress Julina! We have everything ready for you.”
She laughed as I looked confusedly at Waxerwet and then at Mompik.
“We had two men on frayen arrive a bell or so ago, telling us you and your party were coming. They said that arranging all this was to be a surprise for you.”
My head was swivelling between Waxerwet and Mompik still. ’Twas the latter who answered: “We arranged this with the two men when you dashed off with the girls where we stopped earlier. We had been enquiring about good places to stay. Several recommended here, and the two men said that they would get here before us and so would warn the people here.”
I had to grin at that, ruefully it must be admitted. If my weakness had not arisen, then this pleasant surprise could never have happened.
We were in the ‘Fishermen’s Rest’ in the centre of Teldor. They explained to me that: “... the name is a joke, for, when fishermen retire, they mostly want to get as far as possible from the water they have been on for all their lives. This inn was built on the one spot in Teldor that is farthest away as it is possible to be from either of the rivers.”
I confess I had to smile when I heard that, as did the other three women with us. The soldiers were just a bit too busy being military and efficient to be able to crack a smile.
But one of the preparations they had made involved a bathhouse, deep warm water and sweet smelling soaps. We were very soon luxuriating in there.
We emerged, went to our rooms and changed into something decent to be seen in whilst supping in the dining room.
To our great amusement, we eight were obviously the subject of much speculation amongst the other diners in the inn that night. Just to confuse them, we sometimes stood and changed places, breaking up the ‘couples’ the others thought they had identified. The Rangers were not in uniform that night, wanting to have their uniforms washed and pressed in order to make a good impression when arriving at Dekarran Castle in the morning.
Knowing that this was the last night of our ‘Downvalley Dash’ made for a strange mixture of weariness, relief and yet not a little sorrow that the adventure was coming to an end. Our journey next week back up the valley would not be imbued with quite such urgency. I idly wondered when exactly it would be that we would depart. The beasts needed a good rest. But then again, my purse was not bottomless. The longer we stayed in the Inn, the more ’twould cost me.
It would depend, I guessed, upon the urgency of the Duke’s replies to the missives we were bringing. I hoped Mompik would remember to tell His Grace (as I remembered Countess Merizel had told me he should be addressed) about our animals’ weariness.
The meal was very good, just a few little things I would have done differently, and we parted to our rooms at a sensible hour, that little bit steadier on our feet than we had been the night before.
… … …
There were some of the diners from the previous evening present when we took our breakfasts in the morning, and they all gasped with surprise when the smart Rangers appeared, fully formally dressed and armed. More whispered speculation was flying about amongst them as we ate, so we adopted our most formal attitudes in word and in body language, just to mess about with them slightly. We lingered not over our meal, somehow wanting to get going, to get the journey finished and done with.
We ate, we women prepared ourselves with a last-minute visit to the facilities, I paid the accounting and we went out to the courtyard where the stable boys had prepared our mounts. Again there was a lot of surprise from the gathering crowd of onlookers, particularly when we women swung up to straddle our beasts. Mompik was suppressing a grin as he issued his orders, orders which surprised us as well as the onlookers.
“Guards! Vakter in the van, I shall bring up the rear. You other two take each side, so we surround the prisoners. Dekarran party, head out.”
We rode out with our heads held proudly high. We even managed to turn onto the street outside with a precision that would have made any military group proud.
We got about two casts down the road before we all burst out laughing. Davvy had to stop for she couldn’t hold her ribs with her one good arm whilst still guiding her animal with the reins. We all stopped too, of course, and we looked back to the Inn’s gateway where a forest of heads were peering out at us. Oh deary me! That just renewed our laughter. I was grateful we had used the facilities only just before.
By and by, we progressed through the town, stopping only for me to send my usual semaphores up to Tranidor (Epp) and Blackstone (Em) and down to the Countess in Dekarran, whom I had also been keeping aware of our progress. I asked her if she could be so kind as to arrange accommodation for us at the Inn the others had used. I reflected briefly on the fact that I could not receive any replies to my messages since we had so far never known exactly where we would be for any of the nights, so we would go to that Inn in the hope that a reservation had been able to be made.
So I did sort of know where we would be that night – in the Inn where the Captain and the Wedding Party had stayed when they descended the valley to attend Their Highnesses’ nuptials. It was named the ‘White Safkh’. I was curious to learn what that inn was like, something I was looking forward to being able to share with others who had had experience of it.
We rode down to the ferry which would carry us across the mouth of the Telar, and from the south side of which the Trade Road went as straight as an arrow all the 30 odd marks to Dekarran. It was a minor curiosity to me that the ferry slip here was on the south side of Teldor and yet was named North Slip. We found the place where I would pay for our passage, then stood beside our mounts, conserving their strengths, as we watched the ferry battle the currents as it crossed towards us from their South Slip.
We were given what I felt was undue deferment by the others waiting with us to cross, but that meant we would be first off and on our way with a reasonably clear road ahead of us. This was our first time on a ferry and so we stood there looking all around and gaining as much as anyone could from the experience.
The skills of the ferrymen crewing the vessel that day were very impressive to us first-timers. The boat lined up with the slip and just gently kissed the slope with no noticeable shock. The ramp was lowered, and we were away, drawing some inquisitive glances from those awaiting their turn to cross over to the town.
We noticed a difference in the hills and ridges as we progressed. No – better to say we noticed some overall differences.
The ground sloped up on the right towards a line of forest. There were farms here, too, but they seemed to be larger than the many smaller ones that dotted the space between the road and the river bank. Some of the lower fields of these larger farms had been ploughed for crops but others, where the slope was greater, had animals in them. Above the forest the rock-strewn slopes of the mountainside reared up, making a jagged line that seemed to get jaggeder and jaggeder as we neared our destination.
There are two larger rivers – I wanted to say streams at first but these were larger than streams and yet so much smaller than the Palar itself – that have carved distinct valleys in the major valley wall to the right of this road. We crossed the first and liked the rugged beauty of it as it tumbled down into the so much wider Palar on our left. The plentiful craft down on the Palar itself generally gave ‘our’ side river a wide berth at that confluence although I noticed something I would have to ask Steef about; there was a bridge down there, right across the mouth of the side river. It looked very strongly to me as though it were a towpath. Why would they have a towpath across somewhere other vessels were avoiding?
“Shall we enquire of travellers about your accommodation this evening, Julina? We shall be in the castle barracks I expect, but shall of course escort you first to wherever you might find your beds.”
I realised with a jerk that I had failed to pass on my information. How could I be such a ked? “There is no need, Mompik. Other travellers have been this way before and have recommended that we stay in a place near the docks. Captain Bleskin himself overnighted there when he and a party of Blackstonians came down to attend the Royal Wedding. It is named the ‘White Safkh’. Which animal is apparently some sort of sea monster, by the way.”
“Do you tell me? I wonder if their inn has a sign with a picturing on it. I would fain see a representation of such a monster.”
“I have sent a semaphore down to Countess Merizel asking her to detail someone to go down there and make reservations for us. We shall find out if my arrangements have been successful when we get there, I suppose.”
Just after we had crossed that first side river, the Palar swung gently away from the road. Doing so opened up a much wider space betwixt the two. It was with some sorrow that I saw that much of that space was being given over to the construction of yet more of those ‘factories’ and work places, removing some farms forever from the landscape. Again, down there we saw the burgeoning lengths of railroad roadbeds being constructed. I found myself desperately hoping that all this change, all this … destruction, was going to be worth it.
I think that by that time, we were all ready for the journey to be over, so we were progressing with little conversation amongst us. But that is not to say we were uncomfortable with one another. The companionship was almost growing in the silence, it seemed to me.
We passed on, making a steady progress, passing along at a generally faster pace than almost all the other traffic going our way. And yet so much slower than our first day’s hecticity.
Then a bell or so later, we got to the second of those two side rivers I mentioned.
… … ...
I shall always remember that moment. Every sight, etched into my head in full colour, every sound, every taste, every touch, every noise.
The day was very warm, with a few high clouds scudding across a sky that was the same cerulean shade as the under wing of a brifil. Occasionally there was a large enough cloud to plunge us into a welcome shadow. The Palar was sparkling where the wakes of the many craft upon it were making large ripples on its deeper blue shades. The side river was noisily dashing and tumbling beneath the bridge we were using to cross it, almost completely silvery white from the turbulence. It was joyously shouting its exuberance to anyone who could listen.
’Twas one of those moments when the road was by happenstance clear of anyone else in either direction. I was internally debating whether or not ’twas time for a natural break.
Mompik was bringing up the rear. Kabarad was in the van. Vakter was to the left and Rakshak to the right. I and Waxerwet were the leading pair of women, I on the left. Gyth was behind me, and the pack animal I was leading, while Davvy was next to her and behind Waxerwet.
I can even remember remarking another new-to-me avian sort ahead of us, one with a bright orange body and a yellow head.
There was a hint of salt in the air; water and salt and what I later discovered to be a form of seaweed, although the scent and taste of it were beyond my experience just at that moment.
If I had adequate words, I could even describe the heady scents of the plants, shrubs and bushes that grew in great and joyous profusion just off each side of the road.
The heavy earthy tones of animal droppings tried to mask the more pleasant ones of the plants, for a street scrubbing party had obviously passed this way not long before, leaving most of the droppings in small elongated piles on each side of the streetway, but carefully not in the drainage ditches.
( Older Julina; Even now, sitting here at my desk, I can close my eyes and see it all once again. I believe that there was a small tear near the hem of Waxerwet’s riding skirt, and Davvy was working her withered arm up and down presumably to relieve some of her muscles. I can even sniff it all again.)
“’Ware! Soldiers approaching rapidly!” called Kabarad.
“Blackstone Rangers! Van change bringing me to the front!” called Mompik loudly. “Execute!”
As smoothly as I have ever seen either before or since, the men performed their moves and Mompik was riding ahead. “Close up please ladies, you two in the rear come forward until next to the pack animals. Weapons ready men but sheathed. All of us ride to the left so that we hug the edge there. Vakter, a crossbow at the ready, please.”
The oncoming guardsmen were now close enough to be seen as individuals. Their red and blue halved uniforms proclaimed them to be Duke Gilbanar’s men. They slowed as they neared.
Their leader called: “Mistress Julina? We are from the Castle at Dekarran with messages from Countess Merizel.” He swung his gaze to the man at the front of our group. “File Leader Mompak? I am Quadrant Shar – third Quadrant. I am impressed by your readiness. You may stand your men easy now.”
“With respect, Quadrant. Not until I know you are who you say you are.”
“I admire your fortitude, young man. I deem you have a question for me, one that has a two word answer. One that was selected by a mutual acquaintance. Whom you are also to question me about.”
I could see Mompik begin to relax. “This person, would he be of a military background?”
“Indeed! He transferred from our barracks to gain a long overdue promotion up in Blackstone.”
I should have kept quiet, but the tension in the air forced me to burst out: “Quadrant Ponstib!”
Both the groups’ leaders looked at me in astonishment.
“Indeed, Mistress Julina. That is the name I had in mind. That both of us had in mind.”
Mompik returned to his attempts at ascertaining this Quadrant Shar’s credentials. “In which case, you would know the name of the late night drink he favours.”
I giggled as Quadrant Shar began to answer. I timed my next outburst to harmonise with the second word.
“Whistler’s ...” began Shar.
“… Whetstone,” we both completed at the same time.
Both men were again astonished.
Mompik was first to recover: “How in the name of all that the Maker has done here on Anmar, could you POSSIBLY know the answer to that? You are a constant surprise with the depth of your knowledge, Mistress. You are consistent in your ability to astound me with just how much you know.”
Shar of course didn’t know me that well. His question was loaded with suspicion. “And where is or are the origins of this Whistler’s Whetstone?”
“Dekarran Castle Guards Barrack room,” I answered as insouciantly as possible.
Their mouths just dropped open.
I noticed too that all the others in my party of travellers were looking on in astonishment too. And the three guardsmen that Shar had brought with him. I looked more closely at one of them, some recognition forcing its way into my mind.
“Jarman? Jarran? Jarlin? Something like that anyway. You came up to Blackstone with the Prince and the then Baroness Garia, did you not? But you weren’t a guardsman then, I seem to recall. Maybe a wagon guard? … No … hold … a driver of a wagon?”
“Your memory is excellent, Mistress. ’Tis Jarrin, though.” He turned to Shar. “This is indeed Mistress Julina of Blackstone, Quadrant. I can confirm it as I was asked to. I also recognise the young lady there, her name starts with a ‘G’ I deem.”
“Gythy is my name err…. Driver? Guardsman?”
“Guardsman, Mistress.”
“Well all seems to be in order,” said Mompik. “Stand down men. Back to riding ease. And uncock that bow, please, Vakter.”
“Will you allow your men to take my commands, File Leader Mompak?”
“’ Tis actually Mompik, Quadrant, for the record. But I shall indeed release my men to you, Quadrant. Men, we are now under the Quadrant’s command.”
“That was well done, Mompik. A credit to Quadrant Ponstib’s training. You shall carry back a good review mark, when you return. Now men, some of my men from Dekarran shall take the van while two of you – you and you – shall take the rear. The other one shall take the right flank with Jarrin here. Meanwhile Mompik and I need to question Mistress Julina about the depth and breadth of her knowledge. Take your positions. Execute. Good. Advance.”
My mind was already racing for I knew not if Mompik knew all of Em’s story. Would I have to keep quiet about that?
We headed off at a brisk pace. I was about to say something when Mompik beat me to it: “With respect Quadrant, we must needs slow down a trifle. These animals we are astride on have travelled all the way from Blackstone in only three days. They are on the point of exhaustion.”
“Guards! Three-quarter pace! Execute.” We slowed down some.
But not enough.
Mompik suggested that we should actually adopt a half pace which was soon performed upon Shar’s order. I could see Shar studying each of our beasts to satisfy himself of their state. This man was being extremely cautious.
Then he turned to me and started my interrogation.
“Mistress Julina. Who are you? How know you so much about Dekarran Guards? This mystery I must resolve!”
Now I had two ways I could have continued and I was torn as to which way to go.
My mischievous side won out, and I decided to make him a little more uncomfortable first: “So you accept that I am indeed Mistress Julina?” My tone was aloof, almost arrogant which made Gyth, Davvy, Waxerwet and the Rangers all look at me in surprise, if not shock.
Whether it was a question that I asked in answer to HIS question, or whether it was the question itself, or whether it was my assumed tones, I don’t know; however, a number of surprised looks flitted across his face. I turned away slightly and looked at Mompik, winking at him with the eye most shielded from Shar. HIS face went immediately blank – which told me that he was waiting for how I was going to deal with this.
“Well … yes, I suppose I must. You answered to that name, and File Leader Mompik and his men have travelled with you for days and they all confirm it. Guardsman Jarrin recognises you. So yes, Mistress, I accept you as this Julina person.”
“Then are you not somewhat delinquent in your duties, Quadrant?” I lifted my nose a little higher.
“Huh? What? I don’t follow.”
“I can see that you do indeed find it difficult to follow. What is the purpose of your expedition this morn?”
“Well, we were sent to find you.”
“And?”
“And to … OH! Your pardon, Mistress. Yes, I do have messages for you.” He started floundering a little as I looked at him steadily.
“So which is more important? Your interrogation of me, or your fulfilment of your assigned duties?”
“Ah! Yes, Mistress. I see now what you mean!”
“Now,” I continued, almost breaking across his words, “as you have failed to give me any messages, I can only guess that the orders you were given will be confirmed by these mysterious messages you are holding back – and that they include your accompanying us these fifteen or so marks back to Dekarran.”
“That is true, Mistress.”
“So it is entirely up to you, Quadrant. We have two or more bells for you to complete your interrogation AND to pass on the messages. Which would you prefer to do first?”
I couldn’t keep it up any longer though and started giggling as he tried to make a decision. Which made the poor man a little angry with me.
I held up a hand in apology, which he was gracious enough to accept after I said: “Nay, Quadrant, I am not giggling at YOU, I am doing so at myself. I find I cannot keep up the pretence of being an arrogant and aloof woman. Please be so kind as to ask Mompik here to find that that is just not in my character. I was indulging myself and it was a little bit at your expense, for which I swiftly and humbly apologise.”
I grinned at him, and he started to grin back as my journey’s companions began to laugh. There was a muttered “Got ’im” from one of the guards.
I saw just a little cunning enter his face as he said: “Errrm … the message from Countess Merizel is that she has NOT booked rooms for you down at the ‘White Safkh’.”
I had sufficient clues by then to be able to ask: “But, Quadrant, I deem that that is not the message in its entirety?”
He grinned back. “No Mistress, your party is invited to stay in the Castle this night.” He laughed as the shock hit us.
At the Castle? With all those other Royal Guests? Oh Maker! What shall I, no, we, wear? I looked at the others and saw the delight and then the dismay hit them too.
“Now you understand why I wish to know more of you, Mistress. Why should a … a … a … well, I’m not sure WHAT you are actually, receive such an invitation from the Countess, and backed up by the Count too? Their safety is a prime concern of mine and I would know more of you Mistress. I determined to use the display of knowledge you showed as a way of finding out that more of you.”
“Quadrant,” I said, my mind worrying about presenting ourselves amongst such august company, “I am merely a cook.”
“A cook!?” exclaimed Mompik.
“Yes,” I replied. “That is my primary function. Gyth here, Mistress Gythy that is and I both work in the ‘Salon’ up in Blackstone.”
“How then does the Count and Countess know you?”
“Ah! That is a complex tale, Quadrant, as is the one concerning my knowledge of Dekarran Guards and their practices. Allow me to start by saying I am also a teacher. I teach people their letters and numbers and how to read. The Countess was kind enough to join in with some of my lessons with the younger children. And then the Count and Countess were among the eight guests that enjoyed near a week at Princess Garia’s ‘Retreat’ up there, and I was lucky enough to be selected to do the catering for them during that time.”
“Mompik,” demanded Shar, “why is your mouth hanging open like that. It appears you do not agree with the Mistress’ account?”
“No, Quadrant. That is, yes, Quadrant. I do agree with that account as a number of even further things have now dropped into place. I have learnt that Mistress Julina here has a company that runs inns in Tranidor, Bezlet and Blackstone. I have also learnt that she owns a company that is involved in the development of Palarand’s railroads. AND she is involved with the opening up of barging services up the Palar as far as Bezlet. I had not connected her other activities too. But I know enough about Blackstone to know that she must be telling the truth. What she says ties in so much.”
Gyth, the wretch, then added: “And she invented the hand glass mirrors. And she invented the Beam Lanterns. And she invented the wender system. And she invented the bacs!”
“Oh hush, Gyth! All that is not relevant.”
“Not relevant?” This came from Waxerwet. “The Quadrant needs to know about you and us, after all there was that fuss with the then Baroness in Dekarran Castle, so they MUST be careful. We have just let him know your full talents. Although I confess I would fain know how you know about that Guards’ drink!”
She turned to Quadrant Shar who was looking a little as if he had been hit on the head with a sandbag. “Our mission to here is because Prince Keren himself has asked our dear Julina to open an institute of learning down in Dekarran. He asked that she leave everything she knows and holds dear behind her, and move down here, just to teach cooks to be better. The PRINCE himself. You may ask him when we get to the Castle soon.”
Quadrant Shar, however, looked confused.
“Ask the Prince? How? He and his party moved on to Palarand and the Palace two mornings ago!”
The four women are first put up by a friend, much to their delight. Then things get interesting.
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
“Then ask the Duke,” I said through my sudden and almost crippling shock. And through the tears that were suddenly trembling upon my lids. I had hauled Trumpa to a full stop, which forced all the others to stop too.
Our journey has been in vain. We have put ourselves through all that discomfort for nothing. I was just a selfish ked. How can I look the others in the face? How could I demand from them so much sacrifice of their time and comfort?.
Then I remembered something that might be of help. I sniffed loudly before speaking: “The Prince promised me he would discuss this with Duke Gilbanar. You can ask HIM for confirmation.”
“Alas Mistress! He too has gone, with most of his family, to Palarand City for the Harvest Festival. Only the Count Terinar and Countess Merizel are in residence in Dekarran at the moment.”
“Well, SHE knows – SHE was there when the Prince made his suggestion and invited me to do this!” My voice was spiralling higher and louder and screechier.
I started properly weeping then, and Davvy came next to me to hug me even as we continued to ride along the road. Shar looked at Mompik helplessly. Gyth too took my other side, while Waxerwet’s face reflected her sadness.
The men all looked perplexed at my behaviour.
’Twas Waxerwet who tried to make the man, the men, understand: “She has been struggling over this problem for weeks now. She finally decided to do something about it. She has put herself through much discomfort and many problems just to get down here in time to speak with a member of the Prince’s party; a woman who was once a childhood friend. To gain information that shall help her with her decision. And you have just told her that the last few days of her life have been pointless.”
She turned to me. “Well, Julina dear, let’s look at what we HAVE gained from this mad dash downvalley. At least we have seen more than just our little part of the valley; a valley that is so much mightier than any of us up there could ever manage to envisage. We have seen painted rocks and fresh buildings. We have seen watercraft we could never imagine. And new vehicles. And new dishes. And new avians. And new animals. And new plant-life.
“On top of that, you now know that you have done everything you could have done, which is the most anyone can ever demand of anyone else.
“And, not the very least, we shall experience overnighting in a castle. That is something none of us could have ever been expected to be able to do, so I for one thank you most heartfully.”
It was scant comfort – at first. But it did work to get some gentling into me as we eventually continued. The other women also gently assured me of their agreement.
It was, however, at that moment, revealed that there was another person who was also extremely dismayed – Mompik: “But I have missives for the Duke to which some replies are expected. Shall we also have to stay down here until such time as the Duke returns?”
Waxerwet spoke at her most forceful level as she too addressed Quadrant Shar: “If we are delayed so very long, we might well run out of time afore the rains; time needed for us all to get back to Blackstone. And we shall all have to travel together, for surely four women alone and unescorted would NOT be a good idea!”
Shar just looked at her and smiled gently, one hand raised to try to stem the torrent of her words.
“Now, Mistresses all, I freely confess here and now that I am not privy to every detail of every decision made by the Countess and Count, nor those of the Duchess and Duke, nor any of the other nobles that abound. However, I am fairly certain that, in this instance, the Count and Countess have laid plans for any and every eventuality. I must most strongly recommend that you leave it up to THEM to reveal what they have in mind.
“As for your concerns, Mompik, then I should imagine that, as usual, we must await our masters’ pleasures. I fail to see anyway I can help to expedite YOUR mission.
“Now, all of you,” he said, raising his voice slightly, “may I respectfully suggest that we shall achieve nothing by sitting here stationary in the middle of one of Palarand’s busiest roads. I deem the women may like to be closer together for the moment, so I will assign their pack animals to four of you. Vakter, are you any good with that crossbow?”
“Top of my group, Quadrant.”
“Then you shall remain untethered to another animal. You other two, Kabarad and Rakshak, take two of the women’s beasts and attach them to yourselves. Jarrin and Dino will take the other two. All four of you shall bunch up behind the women. Vakter take the rear, Mompik and I shall take each side, by the women, leaving you, Mandes, in the van.”
The rearrangements were swiftly made and I found myself, still weeping, moving along the road once more, with Gyth on one side, close by, and Davvy on the other. Waxerwet was just in front of us three younger ones.
I assume that Shar kept silent so that I could have some time to recover somewhat. I deem some quarter of a bell passed before the silence was broken.
By me.
“Very well, then, Quadrant Shar,” I began, listlessly, “what is it you wish to know – exactly?”
“I believe, Mistress, that mayhap we might start with whichever topic you would prefer?”
“It is all so very intertwined that I deem we must first describe to you our home town of Blackstone. Let me allocate Mistress Waxerwet to that task. Mayhap, Mistress, you would describe our town up to the moment that the Prince Keren and Milady Garia, as she was then, departed after the first visit?”
I had been shocked, grievously hurt, by Shar’s news, but no quite so grievously that my brain had shut down completely. By letting Waxerwet fill everyone in on the story of Blackstone, I had gained more time to decide just how much of Michen/Michet’s story I could retell. A quick whispered chat to Gyth gained the answer that I must confess I already really knew: “Well, you basically told everyone up there the story yourself, at the funeral.”
So ’twas without a guilty conscience that I told, once Gyth’s mother had drawn her narrative to a close, all present about Morden’s demands, and Michet’s oath.
To say they were shocked would be a gross understatement. But Shar did remark: “Ah yes! I recall Guardsman Michen back from when I was a fresh-faced youngster. He did fight valiantly against those robbers and fully deserved his rewards. But now you tell me that he was a she all the time! Remarkable!”
Mompik, Vakter, Rakshak and Kabarad all had their mouths hanging open as I revealed the full story. The latter was the one who let the big felk out of the bag: “But Bailiss Michet and Quadrant Ponstib, they’re sweet on one another!”
Waxerwet grunted: “So? She is just a hand or so of years older than he, what is wrong with that? I can point to a good dozen couples in Blackstone where the woman is older than the man.”
A dozen? I could but think of a hand!
I rushed to change the emphasis: “When Quadrant Ponstib first arrived in Blackstone, he was temporarily billeted in the Bailiss’ house, where my, our, restaurant is also situated. When we were clearing away the last of the night’s washing up, and just about to start banking the fires, he came into the kitchens and requested some hot water for his usual bedtime drink. You will know, of course, that it has a distinct aroma. An aroma that drew Michet immediately into the kitchens. ’Twas then I learnt about Whistler’s Whetstone and its origins. And incidentally, I must say that I too found it a most pleasant infusion.”
“Ah! I understand now, I thank you Mistress. But you ladies have used some strange words to me,” continued Shar. “Bailiss? Salon? Those two will do for starters.”
Waxerwet began to answer his question by explaining the background to the Salon, when Trumpa suddenly started fidgeting nervously beneath me. Davvy let out a little scream but Shar was the one who was quickest to react properly. His eyes darted at us all, down at his mount and then up and down the road.
He bellowed: “All of us, about turn, and make for the roadhouse entrance we just passed, about a hundred strides up from here. As fast as we can go without losing our bunched formation. Quickly now. Action.”
His hand had shot out to support Davvy even as his eyes were scanning the skies above us.
“Men, get ready with your pikes. Keep the animals as calm as you can. Vakter, load a bolt please and get ready for as rapid fire as you can manage.”
I looked ahead and saw other frayen-mounted travellers all also turn and head for the same roadhouse entrance.
Shar’s next words were explanation enough. “Vakter, we may be attacked by grakh shortly. Their vulnerable spots are the eyeballs, the base of the throat and their wing roots. The throat though usually requires two or three accurately placed bolts whereas the wing roots can require up to a dozen. But if we form a large enough, noisy enough group, then they won’t usually attack, particularly if we have several pikes to prick them with as they swoop in. They have learned that much. Ah! Good! Look ahead there. We have some dranakh about too. They set up a most unpleasant roaring sort of vibration that scares any grakh off - usually.”
All our hearts were in our mouths as we scrambled towards our goal. I couldn’t help but scan, every so often, the skies above us too but must have been regarding the wrong sector of them, for I saw no grakh as we made that mad dash for the collective safety. Part of me was soothing Trumpa, another part soothing Davvy’s mount whilst hoping that she could manage to cling on with her one good arm. A minor part tried to ignore the fact that I suddenly remembered that my mother had been killed by a grakh attack.
We made it to the roadhouse entrance and were encouraged by Shar to go into the inner courtyard where he made us dismount and go to the heads of our animals. I discovered then that ’tis much easier to keep a beast calm when you are by their head and down at their level. And when you whisper nonsenses to them.
Finally, I spotted, way up above, the passing flight of the hand of grakh, but they were seemingly quite high, and seemingly concentrating upon something ahead of them, up towards Teldor way.
Once again, ’twas the frayen and dranakh who signalled the all-clear before any human did. Their trembling stopped and they relaxed.
Nevertheless, Shar kept us there for a good five minutes before requesting us to mount up and ride out. He was frustrated though when we females decided to take advantage of the facilities available there.
At long last we got out and away once more.
… … …
The markstone indicated we had 4 more marks to go to reach Dekarran. The sides of the castle were visible now but my eyes were drawn ever more often to a massive tower that reached above and yet well to the left of the castle as we looked at it. A tower that seemed to rise from outside the walls and also seemed to be connected at the top by the slenderest of connections to the main structure. My mind was thrashing through old conversations, for I deemed I had been told, or maybe I had overheard, some explanation for this strange thing. I could see that the slender connection was being supported along its length by a tower or two, or an arch or two; we were still too distant for the details to reveal themselves. I wondered at the strangeness and the intricacy of it all.
However, my eyes were also occupied with matters far closer to the road we were travelling along. At that markstone, off to the right, a crude track, roadbed, whatever had been hacked into the side of the valley. Even though our roadway still sloped gently down, I could tell that this freshly hacked way was sloping gently up. My first thought was that this would eventually become a railroad bed, but other observations cast doubt upon that conclusion. The most obvious one was that it seemed the track was aimed straight at the castle itself.
At the enormous castle.
So enormous that I knew immediately that this one would not be demolished just for a railroad. Could not be demolished.
They must need a more direct access for some reason.
To our left, down at the level of the riverbank, yet another obviously industrial factory site was being constructed.
And to our front, about a mark away, there was a great collection of travellers, all stationary.
BOOM!
The sudden noise made us jump, but we recognised it immediately. This was a gunpowder explosion, like the ones we had seen up in Blackstone. The tell-tale cloud of smoke and small particles showed itself along the extension of the track they were making to our right.
BOOM!
Again along the same track. This time a heavy rock was dislodged and slid, bounced, fe …
BOOM!
A third explosion was followed swiftly by the BOOM of a fourth, and final, one.
We watched in awe as a great amount of rubble rolled down onto the roadway, some even bouncing over the roadway and carrying on down to the water.
Shar did not stop us when we reached the tail of the travellers that had been sensibly halted until the way could be be made safe again. He simply directed us to use the right hand side of the road, which had been prevented from being filled by a line of a dozen or so guards, all dressed as Shar was in the red and blue colours of the Dekarran garrison. Each of these guards saluted him, and therefore us, as we hurried by.
When we reached the front of the stoppage, we halted out of the expected range of anything more the workers above might send tumbling down. Some quarter of a bell passed as they shovelled and dragged unrequired rock fragments of various sizes, from fist to frayen, and rolled them down to the surface below. Some green flags were then waved from above and two teams of workers, one from each side of the stoppage, then leapt into action and they started clearing the road surface ahead of us.
Soon it became apparent why this great conglomeration of travellers had been held on the left side of our road. We could see ahead other travellers, wishing to go uphill, had been gathered in a great bunch there. They too had been held to their left side of the road. In that way, once the road was opened, there was space for the traffic to pass each other.
The clearing workers brushed, dragged and otherwise cleared that half of the road first, for that side of the road was against the cliff. By and by, they opened it up to that traffic wanting to go uphill and the backlog of their direction soon cleared.
When it had become a mere trickle of normal traffic volume, one of the guards over there held up the uphill traffic once more and waved us through first, followed by the start of the mass of traffic that had been on our side of the road.
As we progressed, I looked back and saw that they then alternated the traffic directions, even as the roadway was being cleared. I must say I was impressed.
I suddenly realised that my earlier weepiness had been entirely erased by these fascinating events.
Nevertheless, having been stationary for quite some time, I was aware that ’twas exceeding hot, the unrelieved sun making my skin redden.
“Aye! Julina. Ours too!” replied Waxerwet for the others once I had mentioned this aloud.
“And it feels to me that the air is somehow heavier. It seems to me there is … errm … something …. more … something extra, if you like, in it than in the air we are used to up at home.”
We Blackstonians, the Rangers included, all agreed. And we felt ever so slightly threatened by it.
“And I’m not so sure we have ever felt so warm a temperature as this,” said Gyth, whilst Davvy and Waxerwet nodded agreement.
“That’s strange,” I said slowly. “Up in the mountains, we are higher up. And so should logically be hotter since we are there slightly nearer the sun. And yet ’tis undoubtedly hotter and thicker down here.”
Shar then said: “I deem that there is so much air around that it begins to have a presence of its own. When I have been up in mountainous places, after having lived all my life down here at sea level, then I have noticed that I tend to breathe more frequently up there than down here. So I conclude that the air higher up is thinner than down here, is lacking all the things we have down here. It has taken me sometimes up to three days to get accustomed to living and working at altitude.”
He then said something for which I shall ever be grateful: “See ahead, maybe 100 strides, on the left of the road there is a stand of trees. Be prepared for an amazing sight once we reach the ends of those trees. I have oft seen travellers such as yourselves espy that sight for the first time. You are lucky, for today is clear and there are few clouds. Visibility is optimal, I would say.”
With our curiosity so aroused, it could have been a monstrous let-down when we got to the point Shar had mentioned.
But it wasn’t.
Despite all the stories I had heard about ‘The Sea’ I was woefully unprepared for my first ever sight of it.
It robbed me of my breath. Not just me, all the other seven who had travelled down with me were likewise affected. I even think Trumpa was too!
Shar formed us up so that the Dekarran guards could guide the traffic behind us around the stationary knot of gawpers that we had become.
And then Shar shocked us.
“This,” he said with a slight laugh in his voice, “is not even the real open sea, this is merely the mouth of the river Sirrel as it meets the sea. When we get to the turn off up to the castle, just ahead there, see, about two hundred strides, you will have an angle that has widened out, and you shall see more of the sea. And even more of it when you get to the castle balconies.”
… … …
“Welcome to Dekarran Castle.”
We were sliding down from our saddles even as Count Terinar spoke. It was amazing. We had a welcoming committee consisting of a Count, a Countess, several servants and several military men.
“You have, it would appear, set a new national record for travelling from Blackstone to Dekarran without changes of frayen. Only the VMS have ever done it quicker, and they have fresh beasts every three or so bells. I can see that your animals have felt their journey though. They will be looked after here.
“Now, before I hand you over to exposure to the Countess’ plans, I must warn you that I suspect your lives are hardly going to slow down too much. There is an urgency about the next steps that shall happen. After you reach a decision. Which decision shall be required before we all retire this night. That said, I shall allow you females to thrash out the options whilst I take your leave for me to do other things I am required to do.”
So saying, the Count saluted us, repeated his welcome and turned smartly about before walking over to, and then through, an ornate doorway that led from this courtyard into the castle itself.
“Hello again, Mistress Julina, Mistress Davabet, Mistress Gyth and you must be Mistress Waxerwet. Welcome to my home!”
I scanned the Countess and deemed that I could nowadays see the baby bump at her front, but ’twas not yet completely obvious.
We all thanked her swiftly, managing to do so before she started issuing orders. After identifying our pieces of baggage, she got two of the waiting manservants to carry them inside. She then asked Shar to stay, along with Mompik, whilst the others were detailed to lead the frayen round to the stables and bed them in nicely. The Dekarran soldiers politely took their leave of us and helped Vakter, Rakshak and Kabarad with the reins of our valiant beasts.
Then she started with her series of surprises. “First of all, before we even move from here, I must impress upon you all there is a need for haste – probably. The reasons can wait until a more sensible moment, but for you women we have need of a decision right now, as it happens. There are baths awaiting you, and much-needed facilities, and a meal so I shall keep you here only a few moments. I believe ’twould be sensible for you all to travel onto Palarand City on the morrow.”
She held up a hand when we gasped in surprise and started with our questions.
“No, no, not now! Let me swiftly explain something else of relevance. If you do go on to Palarand City, and I acknowledge that it is a great ‘if’, then you shall require suitable clothing. And that suitable clothing will have to be made and/or altered this very afternoon...”
We women all gasped as the words made complete sense to us.
“… ’Tis already after the first bell after noon, so you see we have very limited time to equip you all properly. These ladies here are to help you. First, I present Prevet, she shall be the maid in charge, next to her are Danet and Toria, the three shall act as maids to the four of you while you are here. These other two are amongst our seamstresses here in the castle. With most of the family absent, then the staff here shall be glad to have something to do. Even if the work must of necessity be fully urgent.
“Now I shall be staying here, Julina there knows why, but Count Terinar shall depart tomorrow to spend a few days in Palarand with all the others of our family before they all return after the Harvest Festival. He and his guard detail are happy to escort you ladies. So you will require clothes for the Festival and for the two nights you shall be there. File Leader, you and your men can rest here, joining the guard activities here as you do, or you too can seize this chance of seeing our capital. You can go even if the ladies decide to wait here after all, and not have that mad dash to add to their burdens.
“Now, I have told you in broad outline what we have envisaged, I shall leave you all now to use the facilities and have the bath that I am certain shall be very welcome. We can talk more when we eat after your bathing. Prevet will tell you all she knows. As you will appreciate, the longest time required will be dealing with the clothing. If you decide NOT to go, then we can stay the seamstresses. But they have only from now until you depart tomorrow in the forenoon, if you do decide to travel onwards.
“So once more welcome, and I look forward to hearing your tales at our meal shortly. As well as making a more full explanation.”
She nodded to the men and then to Prevet, before she and Tandra departed.
“This way, if it pleases, Mistresses.” And thus we were left in Prevet’s charge, so as to speak.
… … …
“We have close to a full day before we would needs start travelling again, and it seems to me that we have come so far, just to stop here when we are so near to other valuable sights, AND so near to you achieving your objectives, it will just take four or five days longer than you planned, ’Lina. So I deem that we should go on.”
I had to laugh at that.
“Your desire to wander far and wide is well known, Waxerwet. And, before YOU say anything Gyth, I know you too wish to travel further.”
I turned more serious then: “I must consider you all whatever decision we come to. We had planned this so that we could easily return before the rains started. Taking another five days out of that ‘reserve’ strikes me as being foolhardy. And, talking of reserves, whilst I am become a rich woman suddenly, those riches can just as suddenly disappear. I deem I do have enough to fund our travel and accommodation, but that would be straining my resources now that I have committed so much to my companies. ’Twould leave me with few remaining funds with which to meet any emergencies. Forget not that I still have to pay for us all to return to Blackstone, which journey will have at least one more night than we took to reach here.”
“Ah hah!” said Gyth, almost triumphantly. “You have, by saying nothing, shown that you too are not averse to seeing our capital, albeit briefly.”
“Prevet,” I turned my face to the maid standing by the wall, “have you perchance any idea how much all these dresses the Countess spoke of shall cost me?”
“Mistress,” she replied, completely shocked, “those dresses shall be provided by the family here, I am sure. They acknowledge that they shall be sending you somewhere that is not your fault, and was not in your planning. The dresses shall be in some small way a sort of compensation to you all. I daresay that the seamstresses are even now busy upon that task, since they dashed off with all your measurements before you got into that water.”
“Oh!” I said somewhat weakly. “I must remember to thank the Count and Countess more properly.”
We talked on about the situation, Prevet adding whatever she could to the discussion. Which was quite a lot as it happened, enough to help us make that further decision.
Finally, resignedly, I agreed that we should travel some more.
Prevet promptly sent Toria to scurry to the Countess to let her know a decision had been reached. I think ’twas that small gesture that finally brought home to us the actual enormity of the task in front of the staff here.
“Prevet,” I said, this time definitively, “how can we help you people here?”
“Well, frankly, Mistress, ’twould be best to exit the bath as soon as you feel refreshed so that we might eat as early as possible. The Countess will explain all to you over the meal...” She broke off with a giggle as all four of us stood up and went to climb out before she even finished her sentence.
… … …
“… Senidet was required to report to Milsy what she had learned, observed and implemented ...”
“Excuse me, Milady? Milsy?” asked Davvy.
“Ah! That is quite the story as it happens. When the Princess was here on her way up to you, there was an attempt ...”
After she described the shocking events that had taken place, we all understood just who Milsy had been, and indeed still was.
“… and now she has shown herself to be a highly intelligent young woman, she was placed in charge of House Blackstone should the Princess be called away at any time. When she accepted the task, she had no idea that she would be required to ...”
“Excuse me again, Milady. But I am getting confused. House Blackstone is somehow different to Blackstone House? Which is again different to Blackstone Hotel?”
The Countess smiled fondly at her husband, the smile clearly inviting him to explain, for some reason she seemed to feel he could do a better job of it. At least that’s the way it seemed to me at first.
He coughed diffidently.
“Mistresses, each of our noble families have a way of referencing that family and its descendants. My father the Duke is the King’s brother, so the King, my father, I and my sister all belong to the same noble family, which we term as being a ‘House’. In our instance it is House Navaben-ar, named after the area from which our ancestor came. That area now being beneath the greedy waters of the Sirrel, drowned when the Sirrel altered its course. The -ar bit on the end has come to mean something like ‘ of royal blood’ some say, others say ’tis like saying ‘son of’ just as many other societies do. Hence we have Robanar, Gilbanar, Terinar and many others. I confess I am hazy on the complete and full details of that, for sometimes the custom is NOT applied, Prince Keren, for example, is named after several former Kings of Palarand, but that is not relevant to us right now.
“Before the Princess married the Prince, she founded her own noble house which she named House Blackstone after she was granted the title of ‘Baroness Blackstone’. So House Blackstone is her family lineage if you like. Of necessity, this is the newest noble family line in our country, for she is only newly arrived here.
“She resided in the Palace until after the Yodan War but her inventions and experiments and her increasing army of accountants and so on were threatening the available space in the Palace. She then purchased not one but two mansions, not so very far from each other, one for her to reside in and set up workshops and offices and so on; for her guards to have a home base too. This one she named Blackstone House. So it could be said that members of House Blackstone reside in Blackstone House.
“The second mansion she determined to be available for residents of her lands to stay overnight when visiting the capital. This is named the Blackstone Hotel. Where you ladies shall reside for your visit. Semaphores have already been sent announcing your arrival on the day after tomorrow. No doubt Gullbrand will be arranging everything even as we speak. The Princess maintains the costs of the Hotel from her own funds, so there will be nothing to pay for you all. But,” he continued with a laugh even as he issued his warning, “the plans and funds are NOT expected to be available for a more permanent residency.”
“Errrrm … Gullbrand?”
“When the Princess was up with you at the head of the valley, there crashed onto the seashore of Plif a ship from a country called Einnland, a long way to the south of the Palamak mountains on the other side of the Great Valley ...”
And thus we learned of Princess Eriana’s arrival. We knew, of course, of some of her story from Captain Subrish and also from the Einnlanders that had visited Blackstone with this latest Royal Party, but this tale rounded out the picture of their arrival and introduced several other names which we had hitherto not heard.
I suppose, looking back on it now from afar, that meal was the single one in my whole life at which I learnt the most.
Amongst many other things, we discovered what a Stagecoach was, and the schedule set up to whisk travellers to the capital from the South Slip of the ferry, one of which we would be taking on the morrow. There were no less than three departures a day. We would take the one that left South Slip in the early afternoon and overnight at a roadhouse just shy of the capital itself.
The early one made the journey to the capital in one hop, with several changes of animals, during these days of longer daylight. But we could not leave so very early, and the evening departure would get us to Blackstone House late the following night. So we were scheduled to be on the middle one.
We would be taking this stagecoach thingy since our poor frayen required several days of rest in which to regain their strengths. The Count and his guards, and our Rangers, would escort the stagecoach on its way through central Palarand. The Rangers would be issued some frayen from the stables here.
Eventually, this highly educational repast drew to an end.
Countess Merizel then announced that: “’Twas time for a nap.”
“Excuse me, Milady? Nap?”
… … …
“Eeeeeekkkk!” I made a frantic grab to prevent the tellyskip from falling from my hands. Count Terinar laughed, the meany. He had warned me I would be shocked and therefore had not allowed me to lean on the wall of the King’s Tower for my first ever use of the instrument.
Gyth took her turn, again keeping well away from any possibility of dropping such a valuable instrument the many hundreds of feet to the unforgiving rockiness below us.
Waxerwet had not been able to force herself to come along the walkway from the Upper Guard House and Davvy had (thankfully, I deem) stayed behind to ‘keep her company’ even though Prevet, Danet and Toria were there as well.
Now we knew what to expect, we were allowed to lean the tellyskip on the parapet and thusly gained a far steadier picture of things that were unimaginably distant just a few seconds before.
“Mistress, if you focus on the semaphore tower over at South Slip ...” He waited patiently whilst I gained the target “… and now lower this end of the telescope ever so slightly, which shall raise the other end ever so slightly, then you shall see the next semaphore station in the chain ...”
He talked me through the simple steps of following the semaphore as it went across the country to the capital itself! He then led Gyth through the process of following the chain that ran mostly along the banks of the mighty river, until she found the small town of Sheldane. Indeed she spied a further chain continuing beyond Sheldane.
He demonstrated to us the vast width of the Great Valley, and just some of its vast length; and at long last I fully understood why the Prince had suggested that the Consociation should be in Brikant.
And I at last finally fully and completely understood the entirety of the meaning in the phrase “her horizons had been widened”.
And the vastness of the sea took all our breaths away. I began then to appreciate more of Swayga and wondered at how she had manage to wander all the way to the farthest point of Palarand away from her beloved sea.
… … …
“… so glad that we came, and after this evening’s post-nap viewings from the King’s Tower, I am now more than happy we decided to travel on. What other wonders shall we encounter in the capital? Gyth and I thank you, Milord, for the opportunity to visit the King’s Tower. And not simply because we can now tease our two too cowardly colleagues!”
Everyone except Davvy and Waxerwet laughed; they just blushed.
“But I do have some questions for you Milord, if it pleases you, about what we saw through that tellyskip thing ...”
“Telescope! T E L E S C O P E, actually,” gently corrected the Countess, who helped me enormously by spelling the word out letter by letter.
“Oh! I thank you Milady. Yet another thing learnt on this wondrous day.”
“You were asking, Mistress Julina?” said the Count.
“Ah yes. We saw the chains of semaphore stations marching across the lands but I also espied other structures that were similar, and yet smaller with none of the arms the semaphore things have. Instead they had a sort of circular arrangement of arms. What were they?”
“Do you know how a miller grinds his grains?”
His question took me slightly aback. “Not exactly, Milord. I know only that all the mills I have seen have been beside rivers for they require the water power to operate.”
“That is a good start! Those mills you have seen have large wheels attached to them, wheels made of a continuous chain of buckets so the river power drives the millwheel round, which movement is then converted to driving the miller’s grindstones round. Those structures you saw today are similar, but they do not use the power of water but rather that of the wind.
“As opposed to up in the valleys and in your mountains, the wind down in the Great Valley floor is nearly always from the north-east, from the sea in other words. It almost always dies down of a night, and springs up again during the day, getting stronger as the day heats up. The arms of those windmills you saw are very like sails on a ship, they catch the wind and the force drives them round, just like the water force does on a watermill. That circular movement is also converted ...”
A minor ding went off in the back of my head. I knew immediately ’twas one of those ideas that needed to grow. Despite this, I could still follow the Count’s explanation.
“… into a driving force for the grindstones inside the buildings. Being so reliable a force, the wind-driven mills can be built anywhere that will catch the wind. Should the mill be required on a day when the wind is not so favourable, then dranakh are used to turn the grindstones.”
“Ah!” said Gyth. “That is why almost all of them were in use as we watched them. ’Tis near the Harvest Festival to mark the end of the gathering.”
“Indeed. And as we have mentioned often in the past few bells, the rains shall follow shortly after the Festival, so all produce needs be secured before then.”
Waxerwet then joined in, startling us younger ones with information new to us that we didn’t know she knew. “I thought that the Harvest Festival was held in differing parts of Palarand each year, and we know ’twas in Palarand City last year. Why has the venue not changed for this year? And why is it relatively later this year?”
The Count looked at her with some respect. “Mistress Waxerwet, you have posed good questions there. The reasons are simple and yet complex since they involve the culmination of several factors. Some of those reasons I am unable to speak about without the King’s permission but I yet deem the ones I CAN tell you about are sufficient to explain.
“Much, it might be said, has changed in Palarand in the last year ...”
This statement was greeted by good-natured derision and laughter.
“… and the King has made several proposals to the other rulers in the Great Valley. A convocation has been called and many of the rulers have again descended upon Palarand’s Palace, for, frankly, other venues would not be suitably large and grand enough to host them all. We have also had a war with Yod recently, which, coupled with the ever-increasing population, has meant that little time has been available to prepare a large enough festival ground in Brikant, where the Harvest Festival was due to be held this year. It was deemed that this year the Festival shall be held once again on Palarand City’s Shevesty Field and that the rotation shall begin again in Brikant next year.”
“I see. Thank you, Milord.”
The conversation then drifted off, as good conversations do, onto other subjects and sooner rather than later we found ourselves describing our journey down the valley.
And through that, we got eventually onto the subject of the railroads.
I deem I impressed both the Count and the Countess with my knowledge on the subject for their eyebrows raised on several occasions.
“When we approached the Castle here this morning, we were delayed by some gunpowdering they were doing. It looked very much like a railroad bed was being made in the valley wall there, gently sloping up. But the track was pointing directly at this castle. Now in Haligo we saw an old castle had been demolished to make way for the railroad track, but that is surely not the case here?”
The Count laughed in genuine pleasure as he exchanged a glance with his wife. “Maker! There is no way in which that is ever going to be possible. However, there is a glorious joke present here of which you will be unaware.”
We all looked at him, our attentions captivated by the laughter and the sincerity in his voice.
He grimaced though before continuing. “To our everlasting shame, last year the now Princess Garia was very nearly abducted from this castle. The miscreants managed to get her to walk into one of the lower levels of the castle – you will have gained an idea of our levels from this afternoon’s after-nap introductory tour I took you on – where she and her maid fought them off successfully. That railroad bed you saw being constructed shall pierce the wall of our castle and then the tracks shall be laid along that very tunnel allowing trains to pass THROUGH the castle and out the other side.
“We deem that is the only way we can get a workable railroad track to get round this corner where the two valleys join without demolishing most of the town outside, or without making a tedious climb up high and an equally tedious descent the other side. On that other side of the castle, we shall construct a gallery such that the railroad bed passes on arches built above and across the trade route. This shall be nigh a mark long before there is sufficient edge space for the railroad to run along the very side of the road.”
It was soon established that all this work would take years to achieve, that they were just getting what they could done of the basics before the rains put a stop to it all for nearly a threemonth.
We chatted about some others subjects and I am sure we could have sat there and chatted all the night away.
But the Countess started to feel a little strained and we all raised ourselves to our feet.
And so the most pleasant dinner drew to a close.
The Countess herself still found the energy to conduct us to the seamstresses where they had already managed to make our dresses ready for a final fitting. She left us there and waved herself away, wishing us all a good night.
As for the rest of us, well we indulged ourselves in this department of the castle for about a bell before we too trooped off to our beds.
… … …
“But we are going sideways, not across!”
“Aye, Mistress. ’Tis the strong current, you see. I reckons though as how ’twill be a hand of moments afore ye sees the difference.”
My mind was threatening to reel away into madness.
If I thought yesterday had been a learning experience, then today had been even more so.
We had risen early, done our Tai Chi, enjoyed yet another warm bath, and consumed an excellent breakfast all before the second bell. I noticed on the wall of the small dining room we had used during our stay that the ‘repeater clock’ hung there told us ’twas but a few minutes after half past seven of the morning.
At eight o’clock, we went down to the courtyard into which we had arrived and there we sat on the tail of a dranakh-drawn wagon which left the castle and descended to the North Slip of the ferry. There were the four of us and two of the maids, Prevet and Toria. The wagon had been loaded with our belongings and was being sent ahead of us to minimise any disruption if there was a problem with any of the ferries. (Which precautions made us uneasy about our onward travel, I can tell you!)
Prevet and Toria then led us on a rapid foot tour of Dekarran town and explained that the narrow streets and tight corners were a natural defence – imagine, a maid knowing all this – and yet the entire population could retreat into the castle if it became necessary. She showed us, mostly I admit from vantage points, where various parts of the town were and once again the views of the vastness of the not-so-distant sea were somehow uplifting and yet in a strange way humbling.
There were three distinct areas of the town, we discovered.
Down at the water level was the wharfing area, naturally kept reasonably clear to allow for the rise and fall of the water’s surface.
From there, several short but quite steeply pitched ramps led up to the town area. Which was basically a crowded jumble of buildings either side of the trade route, which was strongly constricted by the buildings. It was teeming with people, wagons, carts, animals and all the rest. And ’twas extremely noisy.
The third level was, of course, the castle which wrapped tightly round the edges of the two valleys and which towered high above everything.
Prevet and Toria then guided us back to the castle where the Count once again showed us round some other parts of the castle, including the ‘Garia Gallery’. We learnt then of the vastnesses hidden within the walls.
Upon returning to the Countess, we had a final chat over a pot of pel with her before a carriage no less took us down to North Slip again, but this time we were surrounded by a file of guards and the Count himself. There we met with the Rangers who all looked as rested and well fed as we did. They had been loaned fresh frayen, all our Blackstone animals being stabled in the castle to recuperate until we returned.
We filed aboard the ferry which soon slid out into the water of the estuary, as we had been informed it was called.
There was so much to see and observe and evaluate as we set out, for the first time in our lives, upon a large boat to cross the largest river any of us had ever seen. I make no apology for my dropping chin and my awe-struck staring.
And the ferry’s crewman was right.
In just about five moments or so, the sideways movement of the boat visibly slowed. For a while there, we seemed to be sitting still, the shore behind us barely receding and the shore in front of us barely approaching. Then suddenly we reached a point where, without noticing, the shore behind had become further away than the shore in front, upon which more and more detail was emerging. Our sideways travel started up again, but this time it seemed we were being swept into the river’s mouth rather than out to sea. I made a mental note to ask about this, but freely confess that the question was lost swiftly in the enormous amount of new information that was pouring into my head.
An extra urgency in the beat-chanter’s voice made the rowers expend extra effort as they fought to cross this current going the other way. The steersman headed the boat at an angle to the bank we were approaching and we soon escaped the might of the current into a relatively sheltered spot.
Now I have said that this was the bank of the mightiest river we had ever seen, but in all honesty, this side was scarce a bank, more a gradual incline towards a flat expanse of ground.
“River’s at its lowest right now, so the slipway is nigh on a mark across to those buildings there,” my friendly ferryman explained. We gawped at the lines of tall poles that were around, scarcely able to credit the ferryman’s statement that after the rains, the poles would be all but submerged.
The Count gently took myself and Prevet to one side, the two of us for propriety you will understand, and he said in a low voice to me: “Don’t pay the ferryman. Don’t even ask the price. This journey, and that of your return are charged to the castle’s account.”
I murmured all our thanks and told him, gently, that the Countess was a lucky woman because he was so wonderful.
I laughed delightedly as he blushed. Prevet, discreetly, nudged me and grinned.
… … …
How can I describe the stagecoach? ’Tis a difficult task. Mayhap ’twould be better were I to begin by describing the reasoning such a vehicle was developed.
Or reasons, rather.
To get passengers swiftly from one place to another, in greater comfort than by riding upon a hard-bedded wagon, and swifter than by being drawn by a dranakh.
Just like the Shuttle set up up in Blackstone and Tranidor, these coaches depart to a strict timetable. This is so that the drivers and passengers all are aware of when to be ready.
There was a baggage compartment hung on the rear wall of the enclosed passenger space, a space that was fitted with a little door on each side, each door served by a set of steps up which the passengers climbed to gain access. The lower step was naturally about a foot off the ground so that it did not scrape as the vehicle progressed.
Inside the … the … the … cabin, I suppose, for ’twas indeed the size of a small pakh-herder’s cabin, there were two rows of padded seats, one against each of the front and rear walls. Across the middle of the cabin, stretching almost between the two doors was an upholstered bench. The sides of the cabin were half-walls above which there were rolls of what looked like leather to me, fastened to the ceiling of our box.
Three people could be seated comfortably on each of the end rows whilst each side of the middle bench could seat two. Thus ten people in all could be conveyed, five facing forward and five rearward. Each seating position had a leather strap dangling close-by for the passenger seated there to grasp onto, thus preventing them from sliding about too much.. The straps were securely fastened to the wooden ceiling that provided shade and some protection in the event of rain showers. The top of this roof was also extra baggage space should it be required, but that day we four Blackstonians, the two maids (Danet had stayed behind in Dekarran to continue to learn to ride a frayen, the two with us having done their lessons successfully) and two strangers, both men, were not travelling with sufficient baggage to make the use of the roof necessary.
Before ascending to the cabin, I and Prevet checked that all our bags had been delivered properly and had been loaded securely. I saw the Count talking earnestly with a man atop our contraption, the man I correctly assumed to be the driver. As we went to get in, the two men who would be travelling with us graciously suggested that we six women took the seats at the front of the cabin for: “It can sometimes get a little dusty towards the rear if the leathern cloths are not lowered over the openings.”
Then one said: “Look you, cousin. The front and rear openings on each side of THIS coach have been fitted with glass. That will keep out more of the dust!”
“Aye, Master!” called the driver from his steering box on the roof at the front. “Soon all the stagecoaches shall have glass windows that you will be able to slide up and down. Such development being driven by several complaints from customers that the interior becomes very dim when all the leather rolls are lowered.”
The two men laughed: “So you DO listen to we who pay your coin, then?”
“Only occasionally,” came the dry reply.
I made sure that Davvy had the corner of the front bench that favoured her one good arm, and that Waxerwet had the other corner; those two being the ones most likely to need the support of double walls. Gyth was seated between them. All three were facing backwards to our direction of travel, facing myself who could study their faces as we went along. Behind my back, and facing the two men seated in the rear were the two maids.
“Luggage compartment checked and tightened down.”
“Thank ’ee,” called our driver down to his assistant on the ground.
There then followed about two moments of comparative silence as we passengers all settled in and all those outside made more preparations. We could hear a few rattles and knocks from above as the driver adjusted his equipment. To my right, the ground assistant passed by heading towards the six frayen held in harness in front of us. He muttered as he almost had to shoulder his way through the mounted guards on that side. They soon got the hint and eased back slightly, affording him some more room.
“Harnesses checked and confirmed,” soon called the other man.
“Thank ’ee,” called our driver down to his assistant once more.
There was then a scrambling noise and a couple of grunts, the entire equipage rocking on the strong springs beneath us that were attached to the wheel axles. I finally worked out that the assistant had scaled the side of the coach to join the driver up there.
“All ready, down below?” came the driver’s voice once more.
The elder of the two men looked at us for confirmation before calling back: “Aye! All ready here, driver.”
Outside and to my left, the guard leader called his men to the alert, and then the driver whistled and clicked and we started off with a slight jerk.
We went along very smoothly for about two hands of casts, the driver using commands and his whip – and much cajoling – to get the six beasts all moving in some sort of harmony.
The elder man at the rear called out gently to us: “Ladies! I suggest you hold on now.”
I was almost too slow to take his meaning and I nearly rolled back into the maids behind me as the carriage suddenly increased its pace until it was going along about as fast as I had ever gone whilst riding a frayen.
Surely they can’t keep up this pace for very long?
Surprise was written over all the three faces that I could see. A low chuckle came from the men behind me.
And then a grunt of surprise.
For Count Terinar’s grinning face now appeared at the door to my right. “Everything alright, Mistresses? We shall be like this for a few marks now.”
“I can scarce believe it, Milord. The poor animals shall be beyond exhaustion by the time we get to Palarand City!”
He grinned back: “Ah! You shall soon see how we deal with that problem. Now, if you shall excuse me, I need a word with my guard commander.” He sketched a sort of salute and increased his pace so that he disappeared from our view towards the front.
Revealing another face grinning at me.
Mompik too was thoroughly enjoying the cantering all the animals were doing.
A low voice behind me asked, in a slightly shocked tone: “Did she just say ‘Milord’?”
Toria’s voice answered him with a mixture of pride and amusement: “Indeed, Master. That was Count Terinar, son of Duke Gilbanar. He and his men are escorting us to Palarand City where we have urgent business with Prince Keren.”
That news seemed to drive the men into a shocked silence so we women studied the countryside to either side, passing comment on all that we saw.
The fields spread out as far as the eye could see. Most of them were vivid with colours as the scurrying figures of the farmers tended the crops. Some fields were empty though, both of people and colour and it took me, us, just a little while to realise that these crops had already been harvested.
We watched fascinated at all the activity on either side of the road and soon began to make some sense of how these people went about their business.
“I wonder if those farmers take a nap in the full heat of the day?”
“Not at this time of year, Mistress,” answered the younger man. “The crops must be brought in and stored afore the rains. ’Tis a very busy time for them all.”
“Why are we slowing?” suddenly asked the older man. “We don’t normally slow here.”
“So you travel this stagecoach regularly, then Master?” asked Waxerwet.
“Indeed, Mistress. We find this arrangement of travelling to be most beneficial. We can conduct our business in the capital and be back home some two days quicker than we used to be able to do.”
Just then the Count pulled up to the window on the right.
He addressed the men first: “Masters, I trust you shall indulge me. We shall be but a quarter of a bell here, for these good Mistresses have travelled all the way down from Blackstone and I would fain show them the battlefield where one of their friends was so infamously killed by the treacherous Yodans.
“Mistresses, the stagecoach would not normally halt here, but as we shall be stopping later at a roadhouse to pass the night, we shall not be delaying any further progress today. Indeed, I doubt we shall be more than half a bell behind the company’s schedule when we get there. I have requested our good driver to allow me to take you to the memorial erected to those that died here that day, amongst them young Jasinet.”
And so it was that we gained even more information, but this time far more sombre in nature. Our two travelling companions asked the Count for permission to accompany our party, and the driver despatched his assistant too when the Count promised to give a full description of the battle.
Four of the guards, who already knew the history, were sent on ahead to warn those involved of what had happened and that the stagecoach had not been attacked or anything. Four more were allocated to holding the animals, which then allowed the driver himself to join in with the history lesson.
And then the Count, with authority, compassion and great tenderness talked us all through the events of that dread day. Where the Yodans came from, how they halted the column, where the desperate defence had taken place and how they fatefully killed a dranakh deliberately. Such was his storytelling power that I for one could almost see the events actually happening around me. The men travelling with us were also deeply moved and very grateful for the detailed explanations.
We Blackstonians were weeping gentle tears as we were led finally to the stone memorial and ran our fingers over the engraved name of our friend. Even Davvy and the maids, who had not known Jasinet, had ‘moisturous eyes’ as we climbed soberly back into the coach.
I arranged for myself to be the last to climb the steps and turned to the Count with one foot on the ground still. I said with as much sincerity as I could pack into my voice: “Milord Terinar, on behalf of all of us, and of all ‘old’ Blackstonians, I thank you for this service you have done us today. I am doubly glad now that we were convinced to continue to the capital rather than just rest in Dekarran. We find it a relief that dear Jasinet, and all the others who gave their lives in defence of our Princess, are not to be so easily forgotten.”
There was little conversation amongst us once the stagecoach had again got up to speed and we rushed onwards. The two men had offered their condolences to the guards and to us and then they too leant back in their seats and allowed us all to think our own thoughts.
… … ...
Not that long afterwards, in the shadow of one of the semaphore stations, the driver slowed again and pulled off the road into a roadhouse. There the mystery of the speed of travel was solved as the six frayen drawing the coach and the eleven frayen beneath the Count, the guards and the Rangers were all replaced! The four guardsmen sent earlier had of course already changed.
The driver announced a halt of just over a quarter bell as opposed to the normal half a bell, that he might recoup some of the time lost by our unscheduled battlefield tour. So we women had a barely dignified visit to the facilities.
It was only at the next stop to change beasts a few bells later that we had time for a refreshing pot of pel. This was the scheduled ‘nap’ stop so we easily made up the rest of the lost time by having a shorter nap. I had not believed we would sleep at all, but we quickly surrendered to our suddenly heavy eyelids.
… … …
“Milord, there are a number of questions that have occurred to me as we hurtled across this part of Palarand. So might we start with the one that is to me the oldest?”
The Count grinned at me, motioning with his hand for me to continue as he chewed his last forkful of main course. A main course that Gyth and I had already rolled our eyes at, with the beginnings of an understanding of what had been meant when the others were more enthusiastic about my Consociation idea.
“That railroad bed, sloping up from the Teldor road and eventually to go into your castle. From my understanding, there is currently a degree of difficulty in producing the steel rails for railroad tracks and that there are still some years to go before all the planned track shall be laid. Why are they working on that right now, as opposed to next year or the year after, or even later?”
A final chew and a quick swallow, accompanied by a little grimace, ensued. He took a quick swig from his mug of ale and then he looked around the table.
He was quite flattered to be the only man at our table, and grateful to the maids who had served him as well as us. The guards and rangers were all seated, apart from the hand of them on duty, at a large table across the dining room. Our two fellow travellers had met some business contacts and were eating with them. The driver and his assistant were seated with their company fellows and their hand gestures told us they were recounting the details of the battle. The rest of the many guests this evening were unknowns, some travelling to the capital, some away from it. Some may even have been making their way cross-country.
“Mistress Julina, I confess to being pleasantly surprised by your knowledge, particularly that of the railroads. Why, you know more than I on many facets of the operation. You may not, however, be aware of the full routing that is planned. Her Highness encouraged us all to ‘think big’ and that is what the planners have done.
“It shall be necessary to have a railroad run through Dekarran. That is absolutely clear.
“You mentioned last e’en that your journey downvalley led you through the gorge at Haligo. And you mentioned also that there was some problem encountered there that forced them to change their plans. They discovered that problem only by trying.
“We are trying to see if there will be a problem that forces plans to change down at Dekarran! If we were to leave it all for another five years then maybe we shall discover that problem THEN and only then try to find a way around it.
“My father decided to try to gain as much advanced warning as would be possible. What you saw is just the planned route to the walls of the castle. It does not mean that we shall yet actually breach the walls. Captain Jokar is already tearing his hair out at the security aspects of allowing trains and strangers access to the lowerish levels of the castle. He insists that the railroad tunnel, or – probably – tunnels, shall be sealed away from other ramps inside the castle. New staircases shall need to be made to provide connections to the levels below and above the tunnels. And things like that. So we need to discover potential problems as soon as we may.
“You would do well to also bear in mind that Her Highness also told us that steel rails are the best, but, treated gently, wooden rails would also function. So all this rail laying might happen sooner than expected.”
And so the evening went on, we women asking the Count and each other many questions. I deem that our chatter eventually drove him away but he was (and is) so good-mannered that we shall never ever know. He was sitting laughing with the guards when we took ourselves to our bedchambers.
… … …
The Tai Chi helped in the morning as had the warm bath, but I cannot in all honesty recommend that roadhouse for either the quality of their mattresses, nor for the quality of their food. Adequate would be the politest expression I could find.
And still they told us that it was one of the better ones on that oh so busy main road.
The two men had managed to get some more business done by riding the rest of the way with some colleagues, in less comfort, but deep in business conversations. ’Twas only after they left that we realised we had never discovered their names.
This morning, the sun had risen at such an angle that some of the rooves of distant Palarand City were reflecting the light towards us. We had seen the city the evening, or late afternoon to be more accurate, before, when we arrived. A distant blob with a barely discernible skyline on a seeming platform that was raised slightly above the surrounding countryside. This morning it looked somehow a little more real.
When we were all ready to board and ’twas discovered the men would not be with us, the Count had another word with the driver.
“There are only the women with you today. I would propose that you take them directly to their destination, I can guide you through the city. This saves them having to dismount at the market, gather their baggages and then hire someone or something to carry them the rest of the way. I shall make it alright with your masters and would be personally grateful were you to do that. You know by now who I am, and you could tell them, if necessary, that I commandeered you …?”
“Milord, that won’t be necessary. I would be glad to do that small service. Blackstone Hotel is not far from the refurbishment facility we shall eventually end up at, so it will actually shorten our journey slightly. I will send a semaphore now to tell them what we shall be doing.”
So it was that we departed a hand of moments after the scheduled departure but soon we were bowling along again at the usual rapid canter.
… … …
Palarand City is larger in area than Tranidor, but only if you do not include Tranidors West and South. The streets of the capital are narrower and twistier. There are more buildings in Palarand City, squashed in more tightly. And more workshops. And a lot more steam engines, all pouring out smoke and vapour which added to the unaccustomed heaviness of the air.
Our driver did his best to name things, point out places of interest and so on, but did finally realise we were getting overwhelmed with all the information. However, there were indeed some interesting facts that emerged that we could all recall afterwards!
I, for some reason, remember particularly clearly one of his statements: “The City has built up over the years from the original which was, as far as anyone can tell, founded by the Chivans. They had constructed a strong (for those times) fort here, placed on the centre of the raised part of the land. They also built many other things they deemed a fort town required; for example a huge arena for sports and other audience-involved ‘meetings’.
“Nowadays, the old fort, most of it that is, is in what is known as the Old Town. And they recently discovered the sporting arena as being beneath the soil of what is nowadays known as the Shevesty Field, where the Harvest Festival is to be held tomorrow.”
We gawped all around when we got to the Old Town to see if we could see any of that ancient fort the driver had told us about.
Hah!
The Count explained loudly to all of us, guards as well as coach passengers, some more facts.
Remarkably, the great sprawl of the modern Palace actually straddles the walls of the Old Fort. New parts of the Palace contrast starkly with the other parts – both the old and also the even older parts!
But I must say the flag flying atop the tallest tower of that enormous Palace was strangely proud, strong and reassuring.
We turned a sharp corner, almost too difficult for the coach to negotiate but our driver did manage, much to the disgruntlement of other road users, and I had to gasp. The sunlight was coming at just the right angle to reflect from some glass windows of a building close by. The effect was to cast pools of glorious gold onto the street surface. For a fanciful moment, I imagined that this might have been the origin of the old tale about Palarand City, but I swiftly realised that that saying had been around a lot longer than glass windows.
Surprising to us was also the number of women we saw riding frayen. Even though some were only doing so to make some obscure statement rather than out of necessity. Those ones were easy to recognise; they looked like they spent more time in the hair-styling rooms than in the saddle. Why would women need to ride about the town? Surely they could easily walk?
The driver did take a slight detour to take us past Blackstone House, where there was also a flag flying. The same colours as the one we saw shortly afterwards flying atop Blackstone Hotel – the House Blackstone colours. We arrived at the Hotel after just a turn or two in the streets from the House and pulled up outside. The stagecoach could have turned into the courtyard but the driver doubted he would have room to turn around and get out again! Six harnessed frayen require a good deal of space.
A squad of men and women exited the building and gathered round us as we descended from our most comfortable transport.
A large man, obviously in charge, came forward, scanning the six of us as he approached. His briefing must have been good (thanks no doubt to the Countess and her semaphores) for he made straight for me after seeing the colour of my hair. He got all our names right as he said: “Mistress Julina, welcome to the Blackstone Hotel. And Mistresses Waxerwet, Gythy and Davabet. My name is Gullbrand and I run these two establishments on behalf of Her Highness.”
I must confess that I was showing off my own briefing as well as my abilities when I replied; «Milord Gullbrand! Good day!» in as best an Einnlander accent as I could muster in their language.
Julina manages to change parts of tradition
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
I suppose I should have expected a sudden torrent of the Einnlander tongue in response. I was almost as surprised at that as I was at the number of people in the greeting group who raised their eyebrows and muttered to each other in that language. Oh! There were Sigsten and Vidrik who had come up to Blackstone, and there were the two girls, Geska and Odgarda. There were also a couple of other faces that showed they understood that strange and somewhat guttural tongue.
I held a hand up, laughing.
“Milord Gullbrand. I am, as you must be aware, from Blackstone. There we not so long ago met some of your countrymen and from time to time we overheard some of your speech. Indeed there are several faces of your countrymen and women that I recognise here today.”
Gyth, the traitress, muttered in the background: “Met one horizontally, didn’t you?”
I deem I saw a flicker cross Gullbrand’s face, but only he would have been able to hear her, and then only if he had exceptionally keen hearing. That realisation did nothing to stop me blushing, of course.
Nor to stop me kicking my foot backwards and successfully meeting my soon-to-be ex-friend’s shin. She yelped, but I didn’t turn round.
Count Terinar laughed aloud and I knew he guessed what had been said by the now firmly ex-friend.
Gullbrand looked up at him – and then HE flushed in some embarassment: “Milord! I most humbly apologise. I had not realised that you were a part of Mistress Julina’s escort.”
“I could do no other, Gullbrand. She was a valued guest of ours at Dekarran, and is some way to being a national treasure to we Palarandis. She is one of the most talented cooks in our land, has invented several things and owns several companies. Please look after her VERY well. She has business with Prince Keren.”
“As you command, Milord!”
“I shall leave you now, for I and my file are expected at the Palace. These four Blackstone Rangers shall stay, and train, with Her Highness’ guard for the day or two they are here. I leave them with you to show them where they are to go.”
“As you say, Milord.”
With that, Count Terinar saluted us all, making eye contact with those he knew, and led his men away. It was somehow a little daunting to be suddenly without him, even though we had been in his company for such a relatively short while.
There was, however, a plus side to this almost overwhelming welcoming committee. I had, as I said, recognised several of the faces but one in particular stood out to me, with her smiling face. She it was who took up the conversational reins once more: “Welcome to your home from home, Mistresses all. I see you have arrived in comfort, though my ears have told me that you had a great strain on your journey at first. There is much wonder circulating at your achievements. To reach here in but 5 overnights must be some sort of record I should imagine. It took us over 30 overnights to do the same journey!”
“Mistress Jenet. It is indeed a pleasure to see your smiling face once more. I imagine you are in charge of the housekeeping side of this mansion?”
“Indeed that is so, Mistress Julina. Of both mansions as it happens. We have many more residents over at the ‘House’; indeed you are our first stayers here in the ‘Hotel’ for quite some while now.”
She turned to the others and welcomed them prettily too, before continuing: “Now, Mistresses, we have prepared four rooms and one for the maids. Your names I understand are Prevet and Toria? I believe, Prevet, we met briefly on one of my earlier visits to Dekarran?”
“Indeed so, Mistress Jenet.”
Jenet turned back to us again: “Your rooms have been prepared with delight, I should add, for ’tis, as I said, a while since we had anyone stay here. Please be welcome and follow me indoors, once you have identified your pieces of baggage. These men and women shall then deliver them to the correct room. I shall now show you to those rooms, show you where the facilities are and then escort you to our dining room, for Gullbrand there has much to tell you. And we have a light luncheon to eat.
“I regret to say, I deem you shall find a great deal more of hustle and bustle in the next few days.”
I grinned and told her: “I invented a word that seems somehow better to my ears – hecticity.”
She had the grace to grin at that before turning away, beckoning us to follow. She led us off to the pile of baggages we had brought with us even as Gullbrand (‘Please, no Milording me. Simply my name, I would beg of you.’) turned to the Rangers: “If I may ask which of you is in charge?”
“That would be myself, Milord. Mompik is my name and I am File Leader by rank.” It was obvious Mompik could not bring himself to drop the title.
“Very well, File Leader Mompik. Would your men please stand guard over the baggage here until we have collected it all? The beasts may be tethered over there.” He pointed to a tethering rail positioned just inside the courtyard gate. Mompik assigned Rakshak to the duty of tending to the animals with a few silent flicks of his fingers.
And so it was that we arrived, still just in the forenoon, at what was planned to be our home for the next two nights.
… … …
I sat there stunned as Gullbrand told us all that had been planned behind our backs.
We were still seated around the table at which we had eaten an adequate luncheon, prepared by a blushing and apologetic woman who had said to us: “I am Sulinet, Mistresses. A simple wife to a simple soldier in Her Highness bodyguard – Toranar is his name, you may remember him from Blackstone?”
I nodded at her to let her know I knew him, the nod also informing her that I wouldn’t interrupt her.
“We all normally eat over at Blackstone House, in the Street of the Thatchers, and Craftmistress Milsy, her husband Craftmaster Tarvan and the guards there, with wives such as Guildswoman Senidet, have all expressed satisfaction with the fare I and my daughters serve, but I am aware that my skills are limited. I desire to learn some tips and tricks from someone as yourself. Particularly for when Her Highness returns.”
She ground to a somewhat abrupt stop at that point.
“For that reason,” said Gullbrand, taking back the conversation as Jenet nodded her agreement with Sulinet’s summary, “we have arranged, if it pleases, and, let me stress, ONLY if it pleases, for you to create a dinner for Prince Keren and another two hands or so of his invitees on the evening after tomorrow. Tomorrow is the Harvest Festival so there would be no time for you to prepare what you must. Therefore the following day.”
As I said beforehand, I was stunned.
I looked slowly around the table.
Davvy looked as surprised as myself, but I fervently hoped I looked not so panic-stricken.
Gyth was calculating, but she knew full well I would need her to help so she, after a pause to think, nodded at me.
Waxerwet it was though, the ever practical Waxerwet, who answered first: “Milord … Gullbrand, ’tis not as if Julina and Gyth have not cooked for His Highness before, so they have no fears of so doing. My fears, however, are that we shall be delayed in departing and thus be unable to cross both the Sirrel and the Palar and get as far north as Tranidor before the rains set in. That is already an extra night to add onto the plans we had for our stay here.
“Secondly, IF, and I repeat that with emphasis, IF this meal is to go ahead, then is there still time today to gain the supplies that Julina shall require? For, as you so correctly pointed out, the morrow is the Harvest Festival and no doubt all suppliers shall enjoy a day off.”
Gullbrand and Jenet both nodded to each other in what seemed to us to be approval. I had the feeling we had passed some sort of test. I noticed almost as an aside that the man’s eyes remained on Waxerwet for a little longer than was normal.
Nevertheless, ’twas he who replied: “I should perhaps explain a little more, before you can make that decision. I have here a missive from His Highness for you Mistress Julina.” He handed it over to me. “However, I am authorised to tell you verbally the gist of what is in it.”
He paused, looked around, and found all our eyes were boring into his. My eyebrows had risen at that strange statement, so I left the note he had handed me unopened for now.
“After the usual greetings, the Prince thanks you for coming this far to answer the questions he posed when he sat with you up in Blackstone. He suggests strongly that the proposed evening meal here would serve as the best demonstration of your skills and would lend weight to several others accepting the idea of your Consociation…”
At this point he broke off what was obviously a description of the contents to the letter to add in an aside of his own. “You should know that the Prince and all those of his party have returned conveying enthusiastic reports of the meals you have served them. The two Princes, the Counts, the Commander – all have been talking of your skills.”
I glanced at Jenet and she nodded emphatically as she said: “The Duke Gilbanar has something of a reputation for eating and he has expressed a determination to travel up to the Salon if you will not come down here!”
Guess what I did?
Yes, I blushed.
There was some more that Gullbrand said (it became obvious that he was letting all of our party know all the relevant details, to save me having to read them to myself and then tell the others) but that was essentially the general idea.
It appeared that a certain amount of ordering had already been done – even to the extent of redirecting the deliveries to the Palace kitchens should I refuse to take up this latest ‘offer’.
I confess that my first reaction was one of irritation.
As was indeed my second reaction.
And probably my third.
Was the Prince trying to manipulate me? He was forever arranging things and making me conform to his ideas, or so it seemed.
But Waxerwet put me straight when she stopped my immediate tetchy outburst: “Julina! Be fair! If this is going to have to happen, and again he has given you the choice of so doing, then that is surely the only time any such event can happen. We are constrained dreadfully by the pending rains. It would also be a way for us to ‘earn our keep’ so to speak. I for one would be grateful if you said ‘yes’. And I will do whatever I can to assist.”
Gyth nodded and Davvy showed me that she would abide by any decision I might make.
“Very well, then.” I began, slowly. “HOWEVER … before I say yay or nay, I must inspect the kitchens and the facilities I will have at my disposal. I assume that this shall happen over at Blackstone House?”
“Well, actually, Mistress, it is most doubtful it could be done here. We are replacing half the ovens over here at the moment for ones that will withstand the extra heats of using coal or coke. The evening meal will indeed have to be cooked and served over at the ‘House’ as it happens.”
Gyth then broke in: “I saw two men painting some wooden things in the courtyard as we arrived. Do they still have a goodly quantity of that paint? For I doubt not that the future King would prefer to eat one of our special meals in a fresh and lively atmosphere. If the dining room over there is the same as this, then I would strongly recommend that I redesign it and maybe repaint it. We have this afternoon and evening to do that in. This room is adequate, but a little dated, if I might be brutally honest. How many men might be available to me to direct the changes?”
Waxerwet then chipped in: “When was the last time those kitchens were used for a banquet? I understand you ported the food this time from Blackstone House, but this was really just an in-house meal. A banquet involves much, much more. Oh - and what fuel do the ovens there burn? And are there adequate plates, covers, napkins, cutlery and all things like that.”
It appeared we suddenly had a new front-of-house manager. Gyth and I exchanged a raised eyebrow. Jenet accepted those questions with a grin, in which I deem I detected a small amount of relief.
“Please take us NOW to the kitchens there and I will be able to answer you – and the Prince.” I stated a little more forcefully than I had originally intended.
Gullbrand looked stunned at all the decisiveness that was suddenly thrown at him.
Even Prevet and Toria seemed taken aback by it.
Sulinet looked at me, a mixture of hope and dread written clearly upon her face. “We have used the kitchens here really only for heating water for the very infrequent guests that come. As Mistress --- Wexerwat, was it? --- so rightly pointed out, we have produced this meal, and all those of the past, around the corner in the House. We have just a few permanent residents and the guards to cater for, so we have not done many improvements over there.”
“I see,” I said slowly, “so I am not to expect too much when we get there, then?”
… … …
“Commander Feteran! I wish I was in a better state to greet you!”
“Mistress Julina! I had expected you four arrivals to be enjoying your afternoon nap by now. I did NOT expect to see you working so hard with all these others, and here in Blackstone House too. I doubt I would have recognised you at first had it not been for your magnificent hair. And in all reality, ’twould have been my pleasant duty to be welcoming you to this establishment.”
“Well you see, Commander, the Prince has again asked me to do something for him which I find I cannot refuse.” I looked up at him, astride his frayen. I kept looking at him because I was trying my hardest not to glare at all the others in his party, all of whom were staring at me every time I happened to catch an eye.
“Ah! You have answered the question that I came here to find out if it had been determined yet or not.”
His roundabout speechifications alerted me to the fact that he didn’t wish to have to explain everything to those riding with him.
“And I determined that it would all have to take place here at the Blackstone House. Here there are sufficient … materials … for up to four hands of people, whereas there, with the kitchen renovations taking place, we would be far … cruder. I am working with everyone to get it all to happen on time.”
His eyes flashed a message of thanks to me for remaining circumspect and also in understanding of what I was trying to say.
Just then, Gullbrand and Gyth emerged from the house, Gullbrand attempting to stop the torrent of words pouring from my by now reinstated friend.
“… without the shutters on the windows; just look at the direction those windows face. Just change the two rooms around. The flow will be far better, you’ll see.”
Just behind them, Sulinet plucked at Gullbrand’s sleeve: “She’s right, Master Gullbrand. ’Twould indeed be much better. And now would be the best time to do it, with renovations already started.”
Commander Feteran laughed and called to Gullbrand: “I see you have met the talented Mistress Gythy. Her design suggestions have transformed much of Blackstone and apparently, within bells of arriving, are affecting one if not both of the Blackstone properties here in the capital.”
Gullbrand sighed theatrically. “Are all Blackstone women such tempests of activity? Do they breed them that way high up in your mountains?”
I heard a gasp from one of the mounted party and watched him out the corner of my eye as he dismounted hurriedly.
“Now, now, Gullbrand dear. I won’t let you disparage me and my girls.”
The shock of watching Waxerwet flirt nearly drove all other thoughts from my head.
This is my friend’s MOTHER! Flirting! What on Anmar w...
I jumped as a voice spoke next to my ear, using a tone that was low enough for our conversation to remain between just the two of us: “Mistress Julina! I am honoured to meet you. I have heard much about you and your talents, which appear to be similar to my own. My name is Maralin and I serve His Grace the Duke of Joth. I am a special advisor to His Grace and, from time to time, to your own King. My rank is Tenant which is equivalent, so I am told, to a Quadrant in the Palace Guard.”
“Ah yes!” I said, struggling to regather my scattered wits. “You are the peet-zer man. And you know somethings of cooking, I am told. I too find myself honoured.”
He inclined his head at my acknowledging remarks. “Indeed I am he. I will offer you one piece of advice immediately but I must be swift since we all have various appointments back in the Palace. When you cook up in the mountains, you may well not have realised it, but the altitude up there means that your cooking temperatures are lower and your timings are longer than you will find down here at sea-level. Be careful when you come to prepare meals down here for the first time. I would urge you to experiment.”
“Can this be true?” I confess I was shocked. I had always thought that cooking was cooking was cooking.
“It is indeed! Have you noticed that the air down here in the Great Valley seems heavier than you are used to up in the mountains? That thickness of air changes how the fires burn, and they will burn much hotter than you may be used to. One day, perhaps, I will be able to explain better, but for now I felt I must warn you.”
We were interrupted at that point: “Tenant, I understand your willingness to speak with Mistress Julina, and maybe I can guess at your choice of the subject matter, but ride you now with us to the Palace? Or stay you here for a while?”
“Commander, I shall accompany you, I deem. I am expected there. Mistress Julina, ’twas an honour.”
“Likewise, Tenant.”
I watched him climb back aboard his frayen and I looked around once more at his group. A few of the soldiery I recognised, as they did me, so we nodded to each other. Others were looking at me with neutrality, others with a curiosity. Maybe two or so were doing so with hidden aggression, but I wasn’t able to tell exactly.
But there were two young women, younger than myself, in his group who intrigued me to such an extent that I found myself concentrating on them and all but ignoring the others. Their intelligent faces were staring at me intently. As if weighing me somehow. This went on for a good few moments. They both nodded suddenly, at exactly the same moment. They turned and looked at each other, grinned and then turned back to me, smiling widely with such smiles that I felt my heart somehow lighten. I wondered if even their parents could tell them apart, so identical were those twins.
… … …
“At what time should we depart on the morrow?” I asked Senidet.
“While ’tis not far to the Shevesty Field, Milsy has organised a coach for us. She and Tarvan will be going from the Palace, but there shall be coaches no less for us so that we may carry our food and our other things we might need more easily.”
“Ugh!” I groaned. “Don’t mention food just now. I deem I have been in the kitchens here just about since we arrived.”
“But the results were spectacular, Julina. We haven’t ever eaten so well as we did this evening,” added in Gullbrand, with no detectable trace of oiliness in his compliment. “We who have remained here all this while can now readily understand the reputation that preceded you. Milsy and Tarvan shall surely regret they merely dined in the Palace this night. I thank you most heartfully for a truly splendid dinner. And also for all the preparations you have done for the food for tomorrow.”
“I deem the hero of the day must actually be that nice Jothan Tenant, Maralin. If he had not warned me about the differences cooking at different altitudes makes, then I daresay we would still be scraping all the burnt bits off our food.”
Feteran said then (somewhat fiercely, I deem): “Oh come, Julina. Surely you would have quickly realised and accustomed yourself to such changes. This meal was almost as good as the ones we had up in the Salon, and all from scratch and with ingredients you did not yourself purchase. You must surely begin soon to believe you are as talented as you are.”
“That’s very kind of you to say so, Commander, but I’m sure you exaggerate.”
“Not at all,” chipped in Jenet.
“I just did something with what you had thoughtfully provided. It was kind of Sulinet to allow me the use of her domain.”
“She tells me that she learnt much this day but fears for her job now she has seen how unskilled she is!”
“Oh Jenet, tell her she has nothing to worry about. She has the ability, I merely showed her, and her daughters, especially that Heliga, some techniques that were new to them.”
I decided to change the subject slightly. “Heliga has a real talent, I can assure you all. Despite her very youth. And yet she speaks with an accent that sounds almost Einnlanderish, or should that be Einnlanderian? No, there is some other word, but never no mind, it shall come back to me soon. So I was wondering how she is Sulinet’s daughter.”
There were a few glances amongst Gullbrand, Jenet and Feteran at that remark, and I realised that I had unwittingly stumbled across a subject that mayhap I should not have mentioned. My three colleagues also all noted the fact, but wisely bit back any remarks.
Thus, I did not object when Gullbrand took that conversation in another direction: “You yourself have remarkably strong Norse – that by the way is the more usual form we use to describe what you said was ‘Einnlanderish’ – characteristics, Julina; your hair colour is most unusual for a Palarandi and must surely be a beacon to any Einnlander who is not blind. There must undoubtedly be some Norse in your background somewhere?”
“Ah yes! Now I remember. Norse. That was the word that Dj… one of your countrymen used. I was struggling to remember it.”
Gullbrand, with a mischievous glint in his eye, said: “Ah! Yes, you mentioned you had met some Norsemen up in Blackstone. There was one who apparently allowed himself to get attacked by a dog and was quite severely injured.”
“Djerk was NOT attacked by a dog!” I began hotly. “He ...”
But then I had to grin reluctantly, because all the others were laughing at me.
I had been ‘got’ successfully as we say.
Feteran and Jenet knew the truth as did Senidet and Tedenis. They had all been present at that fateful demonstration. Gullbrand had probably been told by them.
I subsided, blushing so much that I’m sure my face matched my hair.
Davvy, through her grins, came to my rescue and asked the others what they thought about the changes that Gyth had wrought in the afternoon.
“I deem Milsy and Tarvan shall be surprised when they return later,” said Gullbrand. “Maybe even a little confused, now that that room over there has been emptied and painted, making this room all very overcrowded. I look forward to seeing it tomorrow evening, restored or, rather, refurbished. Mayhap on the following morning though, depending upon how late we all return.
“Your arguments, Gythy, were most persuasive and most sensible once we had actually thought it all through. The staff have expressed their approval and have all said that they wish THEY had thought of it. Movements shall be much easier, with fewer changes of directions now.
“Although Milsy needs be consulted about repositioning the double-clock.” He looked across most apologetically. “I mean no offence when I say that, Senidet, I am sure your solution is workable. I would just rather involve her at some small part of the proceedings, letting her make a decision rather than simply present it all to her as a done thing.”
Senidet nodded her head in agreement: “That is precisely why YOU are a diplomat and I am a … what are we called now … ah yes! … an engineer.”
And so our day finally drew to an end. We chatted on talking about this and that for another half bell or so, before Feteran sent for two guards to join him and Gullbrand in escorting us to the ‘Hotel’. I appreciated the gesture but wondered about the need for we saw, in the brilliant yet brittle light cast by the moon, no other living thing except for some nocturnal scurrying creatures little bigger than a murid, certainly not as large as a lab. But the shadows made accurate judgements awkward.
I was helped to prepare for bed by a busy Prevet, who looked after Davvy too. And I thought I would be soon fast asleep.
But no.
I lay awake for a good half bell, thankful that I had managed to cater for most of the sauces and so on that we would take along with our brets and to-be-cooked meats on the morrow. It was fortunate we had been able to gather the materials for those zeers, things which had astounded Sulinet and her girls.
And then I started to think about the dinner for the Prince.
I had been amazed at the difference in times and temperatures caused, according to Tenant Maralin, by the altitude we were at. But today’s efforts were sufficient of a practice to fill me with confidence for the day after tomorrow. Now that Heliga, she showed real promise. I wonder what the back story to THAT little interplay is. I think that mayhap …
ZZZZZZZZZ
… … …
I was grateful in the morning for the mug of water that Prevet proffered me after waking me gently. It was gradually occurring to me that the mornings I awoke with a dry mouth were most often after drinking more wine than usual the night before. Could there be some connection?
That thought stayed with me, at the back of my brain, for a long while that morning. Through the bath, through the Tai Chi and into the kitchens round the corner in the ‘House’, where I supervised Sulinet and her ‘crew’ in the making of the day’s dishes. As I arrived there, I saw briefly a woman with Her Highness’ hair style leaving as she went off towards the Palace, accompanied by some guards, a maid and a man with whom she was so familiar that I knew immediately he must be her husband. Those two must be Milsy and Tarvan, I surmised.
The team in the House kitchens also found the idea of the brets to be simple and good. Heliga suggested that we try wrapping them in a damp cloth to attempt to keep them less dry. So we each made one there and then, wrapped them accordingly and left them to see what would happen in the two or so bells before we departed in the coaches. If that idea worked, then we would also take a stack of brets to share with our neighbours at the Festival, as well as all the stuff we had more traditionally prepared.
… … …
“Just go with Prevet, ’Lina. We are all ready but you have yet to change. I will finish off that sauce you are making and organise the making and wrapping of the brets, now that clever Heliga’s idea has been shown to work. Hurry now, we are due to leave in less than half a bell.”
In the following hectic moments, both Prevet and I learnt much. Particularly about how my mass of hair refuses to co-operate whenever I am in a rush. Prevet learnt how recalcitrant it is, and I learnt some clever tricks with ribbons that managed to hide almost all the annoying tangles. Prevet warned me that there would be a price to pay later that evening when her elaborate workings were finally removed, but we deemed the price to be worth it. She was even fumbling with my hairs whilst I squatted on the facilities to have a final precautionary emptying!
Somehow we managed to make me look presentable in time for our grand departure, although poor Prevet’s preparation time was vastly curtailed.
As we gathered in the courtyard, there was a flurry of activity as a last-minute wagon was being prepared.
“Waxerwet had the bright idea of taking along the zeers, some of them anyway, to help keep our food cool,” Jenet explained. She went on to say that we could use them to mark out our claimed territory as there would apparently be much jostling and barging later, particularly during the more official happenings. I did not quite understand the reference at the time. Nor the apparent haste that was being applied since we were still very early, I deemed.
The reason for the earliness soon became clear though when we travelled to and then reached the Shevesty Field.
The streets were already quite full as our little convoy of three carriages made its way along. Despite many citizens being stationary as they lined the roads we took (“To greet and wave to the King, Queen and other nobles,” explained Jenet) there were still sufficient walking to the Field to mean that we were unable to travel as fast as we would have normally. The guardsmen, whose number included ‘our’ Rangers, were hard pressed to forge their way, or so it appeared.
Finally we turned into the field, and Jenet urged the driver to go as swiftly as he could to a particular spot she indicated. Indeed, she sent some of our guardsmen on ahead to try to claim the area she wanted. We followed a curving path that seemed to run completely around the circumference of the field.
We Blackstonians were most amazed, I can tell you.
At a number of things, not just Jenet’s urgings.
This ‘Field’ was vast. ’Twas probably three or four times as long as it was wide, but the length must surely have been closing upon a mark! My mind was trying to judge the distances based on what I knew to be the length of Main Street up in Blackstone, and I didn’t suppose ’twas so very much different to that.
But the differences were otherwise enormous.
For a start the base was flat, and not going up and across a slope. Nor were there any buildings crowding round the clearly marked and straight path along the centre of that flat bit. This path was clear to see for the grasses either side of it were mostly strewn with much straw. Workers were just covering the last of those flat areas as we arrived. Others were beginning to make some sorts of supports dotted frequently amongst the straw.
The end edges of the Field area were sharply curved, whereas the side edges were only gently so. All around the edges, the land sloped down towards the flat space in the middle. These sloping sides were pierced in five places to allow access from outside. At the far end from the one at which we had entered, part of the grand curve there was fenced off. I was later told that they were digging away the ground there, exposing what had been discovered (after Her Highness had suggested it) of the original Chivan foundations.
Just to the left of these workings, a large array of awnings had been erected, the major one of which had what looked like side walls. “That is the Royal Enclosure” explained Jenet. “I am trying to get us a site to the left of that and about a cast or so away, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that there is the best spot for the angle of the sun when it comes to our nap time.”
I know my mouth gaped. We were attending a festival and we would be napping? On a field? I looked around at my companions and the others who were new to all this. They all looked as confused as I felt.
By dint of some fast frayen work, and, frankly, some gentle bullying, Jenet’s preferred spot was secured for us. I looked on amazed as the servants and some of the guards started unpacking all the stuff we had transported. In no time, or so it seemed to me, we had our own (smaller) complex of awnings arranged in a semi-circular formation. We also had an area at the back with its own two awnings that Jenet explained would be our temporary kitchen arrangements.
I looked back at the general surroundings. Just outside of the large central flat area were the awning ‘villages’, erected on the most gently sloping ground. Just outside of these was a pathway, maybe a roadway, that had been made of hard compressed straw. Outside of that were a jumbled mass of booths, tents and stalls.
Molleena explained those to us with a certain relish in her tones: “That is where the people can buy food or drink, chance their coin at various simple games, get fortunes told and so on. I am looking forward to seeing some of that later!” The smile dropped rapidly from her face when she received a warning glare from Jenet, and she flushed.
Senidet dryly said: “We’ll see if we have time to do so then.” But I could tell, as could we all, that she was also intrigued by them. Jenet was very much of the old school of maids, refraining from publicly mentioning any personal desires, but I deemed Senidet and Molleena had a … looser relationship. Certainly I knew that Senidet would have had no exposure as to how to behave to and with a maid. I had the same problems with my relationship with Prevet.
Carts and small wagons appeared in increasing numbers around then and we watched as their loads were taken and stacked on and around those supports in the straw that I mentioned earlier. Almost in the blink of an eye, there were suddenly carefully piled arrays which I saw were the offerings of the harvest; fruit, vegetables and wine, pyramids of freshly-baked bread, stacks of bound faggots of firewood. And, curiously, a number of low tables being left empty.
Jenet answered my eye-speak question: “Those will be for the meats and fish and pies and sausages and so on - but they would rapidly spoil if left out too long in this warm weather. Once the more formal parts of the Festival’s opening ceremonies are completed, then this offering of food is available for all to come and take as they wish. Some of the booths will cook for them, some of these awnings are also more public cooking areas. The idea is that all shall enjoy a small part of the Harvest, that none shall go hungry after the second meal later in the day. And, almost more importantly, that the Royal Family is seen to eat just as the populace do. The first meal taken is usually just cold cuts and bread since the cooks, as you will readily appreciate, require time to cook the meats.”
I realised then that our wagons and coaches had disappeared somewhere. I had not noticed them going, even. (Later I was told there was a giant corral for the vehicles and the animals behind the hill or mound or whatever they called the raised sides of the field to my left.) It was a further shock to me when I realised there would have been no room for them near us because the crowd around had grown so much and filled almost all the space whilst keeping the pathways clear.
Again, ’twas Jenet who provided an explanation but with such a frown upon her face that I knew immediately she was unsure of something. “Normally,” she began with a slightly raised voice in order to be heard over the ever-increasing babble of the crowds around us, “the Royal Party enter in a great … convoy, I suppose, although that somehow seems disrespectful to say … through that gap there, the one nearest the Royal Enclosure. They would then do a complete circle of the rounded path to allow as many citizens to see and cheer them. Then they would dismount and set up their Enclosure much as we have done here. I suppose, though, with those works over there interrupting the rounded pathway, that this straight central path down the middle shall be used today. I see more than a little confusion in the faces of the people for ’tis most unusual to have a pathway there. And there are stewards of some sort every cast or so, keeping it clear.”
She continued to explain to us newcomers the format that the day would take until her explanations were cut short by her husband.
“Right men, gather round.”
I looked at the groupings and gave a little gasp of shock. Most of the men were in uniform, but I saw a little group of a hand of them dressed in everyday clothing. I recognised a face or two amongst them. I (wisely) kept my mouth shut as I realised they were not supposed to be seen by the populace as being guards.
Commander Feteran continued in his ‘command’ voice: “You have agreed as to your four groupings, allowing each of you some little time to enjoy the booths, so I want to remind you, before the events get underway, that there shall be no acceptance of drunkenness nor of tardiness. We have agreed the timings that the camp guards here shall change, and the times the early shift shall hand over to the late shift. Is there anyone here who requires a reminder?”
No-one said a word, so he continued: “Good. Then we shall split up accordingly now. I would like ...”
“Excuse me Commander,” I called loudly, interrupting him in full flow.
He looked at me queryingly.
“As it appears I shall be in charge of the catering side of things here during this day, would you like me and my helpers to prepare meals for your men too? You may tell me more privately of the timings required, of course, but I just thought that the men should know whilst they were all here gathered. I shall require half a bell or so’s notice, mind you.”
“Thank you, Mistress Julina. That shall be most welcome. Men, you may show your appreciation.”
There was a sound then, almost a roar, as they thanked me in unison.
Sigh! These wretched blushes
I busied myself then at the back of our area, making sure that I could indeed carry out the promises I had just made. Thus it was that I missed some of the Great Arrival of the Royals.
I became aware of it as the crowd around us surged slightly toward that central pathway and much clapping and many cheers swelled up. My view was mostly blocked so I had to wiggle and waggle my way through many bodies (some of whom could have at least tried to wash) to be able to see.
Thus it was that I first saw the King and Queen on that day. A few moving mind-pictures, framed by shoulders, heads, arms and armpits.
I was about to turn away again when I espied, on one of the carriages in that Parade, those two twin girls that had been studying me so intently the day before. That shocked me for some reason. I had imagined them not to be so … so … so … noble.
Davvy and I struggled our way back to the relative calm of our protected area. It was only as we got there that I realised that Davvy was scared almost out of her wits.
I looked at her and she explained: “With just one good arm, I cannot defend myself or my belongings so easily. I really do hate crowds. And I must have at least a hand of hands of bruises on my … posterior. Why do men have to grope us women when they think they can get away with it? One even squeezed one of my breasts.”
“Oh, Davvy. I am so sorry. I should have thought. We will try to surround you in the future. Protect you as best we might. But yes, I too received several unwanted … attentions. I managed to dig my nails into one of them, though.”
Gyth had just joined us then, so we answered her unspoken question and she immediately realised the problem with Davvy. She too was most apologetic.
Then we were interrupted by a visit from the Commander and a discussion on how and when to feed his men.
“… and your men not in uniform?”
He looked at me sharply. “And how do you know about that?” he almost whispered so as not to be overheard.
“I recognised some of the faces from before.”
“Hmmmph!” he grunted, obviously wondering to himself if anyone else could be so observant. “Yes, then, please. As that is now another secret I have not managed to keep from you, it shall matter not if you feed them. I had been pondering what I should do for them. I shall bring a few men to you off and on, as the day progresses, then.”
All conversation was brought at that point to a shuddering halt by the almost deafening fanfare of mouth-blown instruments coming from the front of the Royal Tents. Remarkably, a great silence descended over the entire vast field. I could even suddenly hear my cooking pots gently bubbling.
An old man stood by the King, dressed in a white robe, accompanied by two women. The stole he wore was red and yellow, signifying summer and autumn, according to Feteran who whispered to us, explaining also that this was the priest who attended most, if not all, of the official functions, funerals and festivals alike. The priest, I never did get his name, stepped forward and began to speak, his strong voice at curious odds with his apparent frailty.
"The Maker made the world, and the Sun, the moons and the stars above. The Maker made the plants and creatures within the world including ourselves. We do not know the Maker's purpose, and we do not know if the Maker has ever visited the world since it was made. All we know is that the world is the Maker's creation, not ours, and we have a responsibility to live in the world in such a way that it is kept as the Maker may have originally intended.
"This includes the responsibility to prepare ourselves, our families and the animals in our custody for the coming winter, and that includes gathering the fruits that the world has seen fit to provide us with this summer past. All of the foodstuffs we see in front of us have been given by those who took part in the harvest, in order that all Palarand may share in the bounty. What we eat together now and later today will be a token of the commitment we make to share the harvest amongst everyone, that none may go hungry in the dark and cold of the coming winter."
The priest turned towards the King. "Sire, is it your will that this food be distributed?"
King Robanar inclined his head before replying formally. "It is our will. Let the food be prepared, for a luncheon that all may enjoy together, to celebrate this festival of the year's harvest."
The noisy fanfare blew again, and numbers of servants poured onto the centre of the field where they began removing the food. They were followed by a surge of people who started collecting the offerings for themselves, once the Royal Party had been served, so as to speak.
The noise levels rapidly increased as the great crowd started talking amongst themselves once more. Talking, shouting and occasionally squabbling. We were all surprised though that there was less of the latter, even when two or more tried to grab the same piece of food from the temporary ‘tables’ set up to hold all the offerings. It seemed to me that maybe the amount of food set out was almost inadequate, so rapidly did it disappear.
And then it was time for me to retire to my little work place and get things going. Jenet had indicated that the first meal, the luncheon, on this day was traditionally bread and cold cuts since the offered meats and fish and so on would take some bells to cook. However, yesterday I had prepared a great amount of various sauces which would enliven the tastes so I determined to heat them up and have a few swiftly seared slices to go with them. The soldiers would appreciate them, I deemed.
I was busy for the next half a bell, but then had sufficient ready for me to send Davvy to Feteran to tell him. And then I was busy with Gyth and Davvy and Waxerwet, producing a steady stream of plates of food, not too large portions of course, as people came and claimed their allocation. At one point, I saw out of the corner of my eye a … how shall I say it? … well-built man, certainly quite a long way away from being thin. He was well-dressed and bore a face that looked somehow familiar. I saw Waxerwet take his empty plate from him and hand it to the others to clean even as she handed the man a follow-up snack of one of our brets. Who was this man then who could take two person’s allowance?
I was busy at the time, so I didn’t think too much about it, but something had registered almost subconsciously, that and the way that Waxerwet had been almost fawning over him. Oh well, no time right now to ponder over that mystery.
Others around us had been drawn to the unusual availability of warm food at that time, and so we handed out portions to them too. Until I had to whisper to the others to say we were running short, as the crowd of people awaiting seemed to grow and grow, some even bearing food for me to carve and cook. Those who received portions were kind enough to heap much praise upon us, which made it almost worthwhile. I continued dashing forward and back, slicing, dicing, stirring and so on.
Jenet it was who brought me back to the practicalities of our day. “Julina, no more. You must eat yourself. You have fed just about everyone within a cast of us, you have even cooked some of the food they offered you to do so. There is a more than general trend now of people coming to you. And all are satisfied. Feteran’s men shall hold any more back, for you must eat and then we shall have our nap. Waxerwet is even now preparing the mats for you all.”
I realised with a start that I was indeed quite weary, not to mention a little sweaty. I was about to start a plate for myself when I suddenly saw those two twin girls heading determinedly towards me.
“I shall just feed these two, Jenet, then I shall deal with myself.”
Jenet turned and looked where I was pointing, suddenly gasping as she saw them. “Julina, they are the Countesses Dalenna and Terissa, twin daughters of Duke Visselen and Lady Sindenna — Duke and Duchess of Brikant. Address them as Miladies, although they are yet young.” She was scanning the crowds nearby, suddenly tense. The girls came close and I could see Jenet begin to relax, even as she hurriedly filled me in with as much information as she could: “Only their immediate family can tell them apart and the girls delight in making mischief based upon that fact. They have a younger set of twins, boy and girl, and an older brother named Marlin who caused Her Highness some problems early on. It seems he is not come here today, for which I shall privately confess I am grateful. Ah! Now I see their guards close by, not in uniform.”
She had no time for more, as they were there and in my face, so as to speak.
“Mistress Julina?” one of them asked me.
I held up a hand to stop them there and then. They glanced at each other, but stood indeed still and unspeaking before me. I scanned them closely, searching for a differentiating mark, one that I now knew must be there if the family could distinguish them. They grinned engagingly as they swiftly realised what I was doing.
It took a while, maybe even as long as three minutes, but I deemed at last I had found it.
“Mistresses!” I said that deliberately as I knew they thought I knew not who they were. Why should I not have a little fun too? “Thank you for allowing me to scan you so closely. I would wager that you have fun trying to confuse people as to which of you is which, but I deem I can now tell you apart. Please introduce yourselves. Should our paths cross again in the future, I will forever use whichever name you choose now to refer to you, so I would expect the truth now. I know you know I am Julina, but your names are unknown to me.”
A swift glance together and then they said simultaneously: “I am Terissa/Dalenna.”
I grinned at their perfect timing of speech, done of course to add in a little more confusion, but I had been observing one of their mouths and spotted the pronunciation of an ‘s’ in there; so I pointed at her, saying simply: “Terissa.” I faced the other: “So you must be Dalenna.”
I suppose it might have reflected badly on her if Jenet had not made the formal introductions then, but I had been looking forward to seeing how they would correct my form of address to them.
“Good morning, Miladies.”
“Good morning, Jenet.”
“With Her Highness away temporarily, I have some little spare time nowadays. You may not know or remember that now I am married to Feteran, Her Highness’ personal guard commander. One of those weddings you attended back at the Spring Dawning. There was much going on then was there not? Nevertheless, with my now temporarily reduced responsibilities, I have the honour to be advising this group of visitors come down all the way from Blackstone. I would present Mistress Julina of Blackstone to you both. Mistress Julina, these are the Countesses Dalenna and Terissa of Brikant.”
I pretended to be shocked. “Miladies. I most fervently apologise.” My eyes were brimming with mirth, though.
Terissa said simply; “We too found it fun!” And I knew they knew and they knew I knew.
Milady Dalenna then explained their mission, much to my shock at her early words: “You earlier served a portion of lunch to Duke Gilbanar and he has been telling all in the Royal Enclosure how delicious it was. Would you perchance have some left that we might have a taste?”
“Just a taster you understand,” added in Milady Terissa, “not necessarily a full portion...”
I flicked a finger at Gyth and Davvy without taking my eyes off the twins. Such was our teamwork that I knew they would begin to fulfil the twins’ request.
“... We have heard of your prowess from Keren, er ... from the Prince, that is. And that you might open a sort of higher-level learning establishment for the cooking and serving of food. However, he also said he was unsure you would want to travel all this way and stay away from your family.”
“So we dashed over here to get a taste lest you decide not to do it,” finished Milady Dalenna. She then added, a little bitterly, “I doubt we shall be allowed to travel up to Blackstone for many a year yet.”
In one way that relieved me, for now I knew that the Prince was uncertain. It enabled me to see more clearly that all he had done was to prepare the way for me to make my considerations.
“Miladies, may I in turn present Mistresses Davabet and Gythy, also from Blackstone. They are even now preparing a plate for each of you. Gyth, Davvy, be pleased to meet Countess Terissa and Countess Dalenna.”
And so it was that I properly met The Twins for the first time. I find I cannot write about them without using the capitals.
We had a pleasant ten or so minutes in which they demonstrated to me clearly their intelligence. They asked many a question and they found the brets to be a splendid idea, as had many of our neighbours earlier. I deem I quite impressed them with my own abilities. By and by, they scampered off. They reminded me strongly of my little sisters, just reaching that time of changing from girls to women.
I ate a little something myself, allocated tasks for the clearing up and allowed myself to be ushered away.
And then ’twas indeed time for a much-needed nap.
… … …
“… pel, m’dear?”
I was so startled I jerked myself myself fully awake in about a heartbeat. I had been very deeply asleep, so deep that I had been dreaming, but I forget now about what.
I eagerly took the mug of pel from Waxerwet’s outstretched hand.
Oh, there was never a sweeter taste than that.
Maybe it was because we had been sleeping in the open surrounded by thousands of other people, maybe because I had worked so hard, maybe … oh maybe anything, but that mug of pel was one of the most memorable of my life.
We all soon were fully awake, we used the facilities, we checked on the supply of food to be cooked and shared a little later and then we were free to wander the booths. Davvy took some persuading but we promised to remain around her, protecting her at all times.
As we left our little area, I heard an announcement from the Royal Enclosure, which I saw had been rearranged. A slightly circular arrangement of chairs had been effected, an open circle of course, so that the occupants all faced a focal point. The King was in the central one, Prince Keren next to him, and then several other men, one of whom had to be Duke Gilbanar. His facial resemblance to his brother was obvious now the two were so close. That was why his face had been slightly familiar earlier.
The Chamberlain Kendar stood now to one side and banged his staff on a flat stone especially placed there for the purpose.
"Be it known to all men in the city and country of Palarand, that as is customary during the Harvest Festival, the Commons Court is now in session! If any have wrongs or grievances which defy the judgements of ordinary proceedings, they may present them especially to the King for his personal decision."
After a pause, during which all involved and the interested crowd all settled into their seats or squatted on the ground, Kendar again banged his staff.
"Bring forth the first appellant!"
Davvy decided that she was after all too scared to face the crowds so she would remain and watch the court proceedings. We could not budge her. There were sufficient females around for her to be protected that way, so we three women set out on our own venture, spurning any male company.
The booths were attractive in a fairground sort of way and we had great fun visiting fortune tellers and comparing their predictions afterwards. All in all we visited a hand of them. In three of them, mine all said about marrying and having children, one said I would travel extensively whilst the other caused the most merriment in its ridiculous suggestion that I shall: “Be employed in the Palace and gain much influence and respect.” Not a single one of them mentioned anything about the Consociation, nor the other reason they wanted me down here (the language thing), nor a single peep about Blackstone, mountains, catering, restaurants, breweries, hotels, railroads nor inns.
Gyth’s predictions? She shall be married and have children, although the descriptions of her future husband varied wildly. Not a peep about anything else.
Waxerwet’s? Oh surprise, surprise, surprise! She shall be married and have children. Her husband material was strangely consistent though and Gyth and I started to tease her about Gullbrand who loosely fitted the descriptions. I think we were both shocked when she confessed to having a strange compulsion to be near him.
Prevet and Toria also got told they would marry and have children. Toria seeming to be the keenest amongst us so to do!
We found a shoemaker who promised us he could make us a pair of shoes each and deliver them to Blackstone House the following day, so we made a part payment and walked on. I found a couple of trinkets each for my sisters and Swayga, and some for other friends up in Blackstone and Bezlet.
We were on our way back when we encountered a group travelling the opposite way.
“Mistresses Julina, Gythy and Waxerwet, well met. If I may introduce Craftmistress Milsy and her husband Craftmaster Tarvan? Milsy, Tarvan, these are three of your four guests in the Blackstone Hotel. Mistress Julina, Mistress Gythy next to her, and Mistress Waxerwet on our left. Mistress Davabet is not with them for some reason.”
We all murmured the usual thanks to Senidet for the introductions and the usual greetings amongst ourselves but I was aware that the Craftmistress was studying me intently – so I returned the compliment.
The Davvy explanation was offered and readily grasped by all three of them. Milsy impressed me with her immediate sympathy for our absent member’s plight.
In the next five minutes or so, we all chatted with each other sufficiently to get a clear feeling about each other. I am pleased to report that we all seemed to like what we met.
Senidet attached herself to us, allowing, she told me later, the married couple some time alone. I was glad that we were returning for, with four principals and three maids, we were in danger of becoming an unwieldy group.
We walked on and soon again encountered someone we knew.
“Tenant Maralin, I must thank you most heartfully for your warning about the cooking times and temperatures. I deem I managed to make a presentable meal after all and would indeed have had difficulties without your kind forethought.”
“Mistress Julina, I have heard that ’twas a great success. I’m glad I could have been of assistance. And I hear that you have managed to invent those bret things. Similar to what we call ‘sandwiches’ (he spelt it for me, strangely intensely gazing at me as he did so) back where I come from. How came you to that name?”
He laughed when I told him that it was merely a contraction of ‘bread pielet’. He excused himself and went on his way towards whatever it was he was intent upon doing. I was left with the feeling that he knew something about me or us of which we were as yet unaware. In fact, I had that impression from many we had encountered either directly or indirectly.
We returned to find that Sulinet and her girls and the other women had started up a production line for brets which idea had grabbed the imaginations of our neighbours. Including several in the Royal Enclosure who had sampled them once the court session had ceased. I glanced over at that enclosure and saw four or five women all studying me intently it seemed, although they looked away when I caught their eye. The only one who didn’t look away was the Queen herself. I lowered my eyes rather than hold the gaze.
When I next looked up, The King and Queen were in discussion with Prince Keren about something which was nice to see, a true family picture in plain view of everyone.
But then it was time once more for me to return to the cooking area.
Where I received a great surprise.
There was a line of people there who begged me to cook their meatstuffs for them, so I decided there and then to have an impromptu cooking lesson, with Davvy (as far as she could), Gyth and Waxerwet, Sulinet, Megren, Salia and Heliga all demonstrating what I was talking about to the … ‘pupils’ I suppose.
Gradually, I saw the people who were interested had grown from a small class up to something that could only be described as a small crowd. I had an inspiration then, and asked if anyone would like to work hard for the rest of the afternoon but learn by doing. In the end, I had to choose a hand of hopefuls from the twenty or thirty who had volunteered.
I was getting somewhat carried away, involved in the self-appointed tasks I had now created when a voice broke into my concentration as I demonstrated a cutting technique with a very sharp knife.
“Mistress Julina. If I might be so bold?”
I looked up and immediately broke into a grin. It was The Twins, and they had swapped dresses, hoping that way to have some fun as those who spoke with them assumed they were the other one.
“Yes, Milady Dalenna?”
Their eyebrows shot upwards and an appreciative grin spread across their faces.
“Might we interrupt you for but half a moment? We should need to talk privately, though,” she warned in a low voice.
“Give me just two minutes more here, please.”
They nodded. Surprised again, I deemed, about my use of the word ‘minutes’. It also confirmed to me (which was why I had chosen that usage) that they knew about hours, minutes and seconds.
I turned back to my little crowd of helpers and onlookers. “So now we have finely sliced these, we plunge them in a pot of boiling water … CAREFULLY ...”
… … …
“I beg your pardon? I mean, this is most irregular. I do not wish to imply that you are untruthful, but I have never had such a summons before. So I find I must say – are you sure?”
“Oh yes,” said Terissa. “Queen Terys didn’t want to disturb your … meeting, here, for that is exactly what would have happened had she come herself. She really would like you to attend her in the Palace as soon as you may after breakfast.”
“And,” continued Dalenna, “she is aware of the dinner you shall prepare the following evening so promises not to keep you very long. I suggest that you look across to her from the front of your awning there.”
I did so, and saw her in conversation with another woman. I saw a maid gently touch her shoulder and whisper something in her ear. She turned and looked straight at me, gracefully nodding at me before turning once more to finish her conversation. The twins then scurried off.
I managed to turn back to my impromptu lesson and complete it to a very gratifying round of applause. All around declared themselves to be satisfied with the two sauces we had just made.
And then we started cooking the meats and fish that were required, not just for this crowd, but also for the members of our enclave and the guards.
I was busy then for a fair while, aware vaguely of the priest’s further speech for the evening meal emanating from the Royal Enclosure.
As we sat down to eat, Milsy appeared to say hello to everyone. Being the temporary head of House Blackstone, she had been involved with the Royal Party all day but looked forward to having a relaxing ‘day off’ on the morrow for most of the day. In a veiled reference, she let me know that she too was expected to accompany me to the Palace early on.
Hmmm. Curiouser and curiouser.
She also asked us if we wished to stay on until after dark, as many people do, enjoying the booths once more, or if she should command the carriages for when the meal was finished and tidied away. She explained the Royal Party shall depart promptly after the meal, for many of the visiting Dukes and Counts would leave in the morning to reach home afore the rains. The Dekarran contingent wishing, of course, to get back to Countess Merizel as soon as they might. It had been determined that the Rangers would travel with them, allowing Duke Gilbanar to formulate his replies to the despatches from Blackstone. We could then use the stagecoach to travel there on the following day.
And so it was that a most interesting and entertaining day drew to an end, with only a few minutes work of furniture moving once we got back to Blackstone House. Again we were escorted from there back to the Blackstone Hotel.
With Prevet’s help, I was soon ready for bed after taking a welcome cooling bath. ’Twas a bed in which I slept swiftly and deeply, but not without a few moments of wonder at the Queenly summons. What on Anmar could the Queen want with mere me?
Close contacts with the Royal Family
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
The day started well enough, but the morning soon disintegrated.
Bathing and Tai Chi were all right, but, upsettingly, there was a row before breakfast.
“You can’t wear that!”
“I have nothing else. The Harvest Festival gown requires washing, despite my attempts to keep it pristine yesterday, which we both know was doomed to fail from the outset.”
“But you must have something else,” wailed Prevet. “Something semi-formal perhaps?”
“I have only this and my strained and stained travelling dresses since what I call the Dekarran dress is still being cleaned.”
“But you can’t present yourself to the Queen in a working woman’s garb!”
I picked up not only on her anxiety for me but also the hidden, unstated criticism that my drab dress would reflect upon her prowess as my maid.
“Prevet,” I said both firmly and forcefully, “I shall not be moved on this, so I suggest you push the point no further. I shall, if it becomes necessary, make it clear to Her Majesty that you objected and I overruled you. At the same time I shall make it equally clear that I left Blackstone in a hurry and packed but lightly. I had no intention of being here let alone have an audience with the Queen. On top of that, she knows that I know that she knows I have a minor banquet to cook tonight for her son, pre-arranged without any consultation with me whatsoever. Pah! I confess I am beginning to be irritated by our Royal Family’s presumptions when it comes to my life and their interference in it.”
Prevet’s face was one of such shock that I nearly had to laugh aloud, but she would have been overwhelmed by that, I deemed. She continued to try, of course, but I stood firm.
Eventually, and far too late I thought, I prevailed and we scurried round to the ‘House’ for a swift bite of breakfast and a slurp of pel; where Milsy and Senidet met us, and Prevet started up again.
Both the other girls were wearing their Inventor’s Suits despite the heat that would come later so, when Prevet mentioned her problem with my garb, Milsy simply told Prevet that: “Her Majesty accepts working attire on special occasions and she already knows of Julina’s schedule for the day. She mentioned it to me yesterday.”
Prevet just grumbled under her breath after that and sent beseeching looks to any other maid whose eye she could catch.
“Her Majesty has asked me to take you, Julina, to the room in which she shall be breaking her fast. We really should be there before she has finished doing so! ’Twould not do to be late. I am known to the guards and can thus usher you in easily and I know the corridors we shall require. She will then greet you and take us to another room for her meeting. We may have time for some pel whilst we wait, but I want to leave here as soon as possible to ensure we are not delayed in any way.”
And so the first problem was finally dealt with.
But then we had a problem with Davvy.
Not that I realised this at first.
Frayen had been prepared for us to ride to the Palace. Three for the principals and three for their maids. Julina, Milsy, Senidet with Prevet, Bursila and Molleena.
None for a certain Mistress Davabet.
’Twas only then that I realised how very much Davvy had been looking forward to meeting the Queen personally. I started to wrack my brains for a way round this but was brought to an abrupt halt. Milsy would not allow us any time to arrange another frayen and so we left poor Davvy behind, eyes bright with unshed tears.
As we left, a steady stream of people were coming into the ‘House’. “Those are the counters and such that keep track of Her Highness Garia’s expenses and income and the like. Also some planners, housekeepers and so on. People that do not overnight here but come to work daily.”
“Ah!” I answered – a short reply that Milsy nevertheless understood. I found I was liking this woman more and more.
On the way to the Palace, I was given a quick lesson in Royal protocol. Milsy and Senidet told me that I should first address the Queen as “Your Majesty” and after that initial entitling, she should be addressed as “Ma’am”. They told me when and how to curtsey and told me and Prevet the names of Her Majesty’s servants and those we were likely to meet.
Despite their constant reassurances, I was getting more and more nervous.
We turned into the Palace courtyard and continued through a gate too narrow for anything wheeled where a liveried servant there took charge of the beasts once we had dismounted. Both my companions were readily recognised and Milsy said, almost casually: “This is Mistress Julina, with her maid Prevet. We have an early appointment with Her Majesty.”
“Very well, Craftmistress. Please proceed.”
And with that I was in. Inside the Palace itself. A very rare thing I should imagine, particularly for a lowly-born mountain girl.
Then I was marching along and up and down a bewildering array of corridors. These corridors were filled it seemed with more than several others who all seemed imbued with both purpose and determination. Some were laden with bags or boxes or trays. Some were empty-handed. Some just clutched documents (and I should add here that some of those were clinging onto the documents as if the whole of Anmar would shatter if they let them go!)
We were then shown into a large (to my eyes, then) dining hall. The Queen was unmistakable and was sitting and chatting with three others whom I immediately classified as ‘Ladies of the Realm’. Their very clothing and posture told me they were important. Along with their limited apparent deference.
My legs decided then to start behaving on their own. They took such an effort to move all of a sudden. I frowned at both that and the sudden sheen of sweat I felt in the small of my back. Milsy nearly had to drag me over there to be presented and I confess that I was eased a little when we were met most civilly by Her Majesty and her companions. I curtseyed deeply and the shaking in my legs almost prevented me straightening again. All this was most uncomfortable. And I felt the first stirrings of anger.
“Your Majesty, good morning,” said Milsy “If I may present Mistress Julina of Blackstone as requested? May I enquire if you are likely to require the presence of myself or Senidet for your meeting? We have already broken our fasts and so may go about our duties if not.”
“Good morning, Milsy. And to you Senidet. And thank you for attending so promptly, Mistress Julina. These three ladies are the three Duchesses of Palarand, Vivenne of North Palarand, Sindenna of Upper Palarand, or Brikant as many prefer, and, lastly but not least, Shenna of Lower Palarand, also known as Kendeven.” She paused for me, us, to acknowledge the other ladies who all also greeted us most civilly. “The King has a quick meeting this morning with his three Dukes and so these ladies shall be with us as we conduct our own business.”
I was very aware that all four were studying me quite intently and embarrassment was fighting within me against a rising tide of irritation. I knew I must not lose my temper here, a knowledge that just increased my tension - and this in turn was increasing my irritation. I waged a very private war within myself.
“We shall pass on to the room I have assigned for our private … chat, shall we say, in about five or so minutes, I should imagine, unless some emergency arises. This shall be a chat at which you are not required Senidet, but I deem that Milsy, you should also attend. After all, Milsy, you are the nominal head of matters Blackstone and there shall most probably be some involvement in that way. So if you take a seat over there, you have time for a mug of pel. Bursila, you may show … Prevet, I deem? … where the necessary things may be found.”
I was astonished that Her Majesty knew so much detail about us that she even knew Prevet’s name, but then I remembered that Prevet’s Duchess was seated right by her and might well have whispered the name to her as we approached.
The mug of pel was welcome and did indeed go a little way towards settling me down, but the nerves kicked in again as we all rose and followed Her Majesty and her little crowd of duchesses and servants and some fierce women who looked like guards.
The passage along yet more confusing corridors and skirting around the foot of several staircases was slow, particularly when those we met on the way, who all greeted Her Majesty with a little bow or a curtsey, had no space into which to retreat to give us all a free path.
There was, however, one surprising encounter. We had passed yet another group and the Queen began striding out once more when someone called with a surprised voice: “Mistress Julina? Can it really be you?”
Of course, I stopped and looked round properly at the man. I knew him instantly, even if he was far more smartly dressed than as I normally knew him. “Master Rindal! You are returned from Blackstone? How are you? And how’s Vastan?”
“He is well and, dare I make such a joke, he is blossoming. He and I have ...”
He was interrupted by an urgent hiss from Prevet who used her eyes to indicate that the Queen had turned and was waiting for us to finish. Both Rindal and I coloured and murmured our apologies. I had just time to say to him: “We depart on the morrow hoping to get as far as Tranidor before the rains.” He raised his hand hand to acknowledge he had heard.
We were ushered into a comfortable room, well decorated and with a small kitchen room off to one side that I immediately noticed, for there was pel a’brewing there. There were three Duchesses, one Queen and two commoners present, if a craftmistress can be counted as the latter. And no fewer than eight maids. It was quite tight in there.
Through a connecting door, which was closed, we could hear the low-toned rumble of men’s voices.
The Queen sat down and indicated that the rest of us should do so too. We sat silently as pel things were distributed around and the mugs were poured. The Queen lifted her mug to her lips which released the rest of us into activity. We all also copied her behaviour.
Then she broke the silence: “Thank you all for taking the time on an otherwise very busy day to attend this little chat. Events conspire that we must be swift this morning, I have various guests who shall wish to take their leave for they depart today, this very morning in fact. Mistress Julina there has a large and complex meal for which she has to oversee the preparations, and Milsy here has, I deem, some urgent work to complete, having lost time for the Festival yesterday. I know that Lanilla is already waiting for her.
“I shall therefore commence straight away, foregoing the usual delicacies of general conversation as we sip our pel. But first, I must remind all present, and specifically you Prevet, that anything said in this room today shall remain amongst ourselves and never be spoken of outside this room. Is that clear?”
After all-round confirmation, she restarted: “I am a mother to a family as well as to a country. I thus often act with a mother’s caution and concern. When my son returns home after many weeks of travelling and having lost his recent wife, and yet has another woman’s name upon his lips, a woman to whom he has made expensive gifts of wine and to whom he is promising housing and work buildings, then my suspicions were immediately aroused.”
She looked me straight in the eye, pinning me it seemed to my chair. “We have frequent attempts by scheming young ladies to wriggle and worm their way into some sort of favour, so I instigated some checks ...”
Boom! My nervousness had been steadily increasing ever since the summons had been delivered yesterday afternoon. I had slept badly and I had a lot to do for this dinner that I felt had been forced upon me. Suddenly my temper flared.
She wanted me here today to warn me off any liaison with her son – a man with whom my relationship was already on a somewhat frosty basis. My respect for this Royal Family plummeted in that very instant, and all my frustrations boiled over. I leapt to my feet, rattling the low table with several of the pel mugs resting upon it.
“Enough … Ma’am,” I practically shouted, only just remembering to include her form of address. “You know nothing of me and yet you impugn my character. I shall leave now. You may tell your son that he and his cronies may find his meal elsewhere this evening. I shall be on the road somewhere between here and the South Slip. Now good day.” I turned to stride to the door.
“Sit down, Mistress!” came an icy command. “Allow me to finish, I would recommend.” This last also contained some ice, but not as much as the prior command.
Her tones cut through my red mists sufficiently that I looked around and saw the shocked faces of everyone else in that room. But yet, somehow, it seemed that there were only Her Majesty and I present. Our eyes locked. After just a little while, she allowed some warmth into hers and said more softly, almost encouragingly: “Sit, Mistress Julina! I have only just commenced my story.”
I found myself shaking my head as I sank once more down to the support under my bottom. My legs too were shaking. And my hands. I still had a strange (and, I now recognised, dangerous) mood upon me. It threatened to flare once more as I realised they had all been discussing me behind my back, all investigating me, all making plans for me without actually involving me. I swallowed deeply, closed my eyes and breathed equally deeply.
Calm, girl. Calm, Calm. And do NOT look daggers at any of them. Calm. Calm.
I found myself opening my eyes as I groped for something and finally found it. I gripped Prevet’s hand so hard she winced. An action that did not go unremarked by Her Majesty. Nor by one of the Duchesses. As we found out later.
In an unconsciously arrogant manner, I waved my hand at Queen Terys, as if I was allowing, maybe even commanding, her to continue. Prevet hissed her breath in and SHE glared daggers at ME, and I suddenly realised what I had done. I coloured up immediately, but thought I detected a hint of a grin on Her Majesty’s face.
“So, of course, I set out to find out what I could of this woman. I found that she had captured other’s hearts too. Count Terinar was another upon whose lips her name was mentioned far more frequently than circumstance normally dictates.” She glanced at Duchess Vivenne who nodded her agreement.
“But our dear Merizel also affirmed the virtues of this woman, as did word from Prince Torulf and several others of the party recently returned. And also along with several semaphores from Captain Bleskin. ’Twas in fact one of his reports that put me on the way to my next discoveries. Which afforded me some surprise! You have a number, a large number I would call it, of Exclusivity Licences, Mistress. And I hear that you, rather than Count Trosanar who claimed to have done so, invented the wender system and the bacs that have so recently arrived in our city. And from which you appear to derive a not inconsiderable income - not that I have complete details, of course.”
There was a pause as it took me some while to get over what she had revealed. I thought swiftly as to how I should word my reply. “More than adequate, is how I would describe the income as being, if truth were told. And ’tis something that shall continue as opposed to the sudden riches I have gained from the Exclusivity Licences and my stipend, which shall all fall out when the Licences run out.”
“Stipend, Mistress?”
“Indeed, Ma’am. My father and the Blackstone Glasssmith, Glasswright, Glassmaker or whatever they are actually called, anyway Master Pocular is his name, they both pay me a stipend and also several bonuses each year.” I decided not to mention the gift of the Market Place Mansion. Why complicate things unnecessarily?
“Why should those men do that?”
“Well, as it happens I invented something else, somethings else to be accurate, but at the time I was but a minor. So the Exclusivity Licences for those are in their name, which means that they recompense me in several other ways.”
“You invented other things?” Her Majesty asked, with the slightest of slight notes of shock in her equally slightly fainter voice.
Which note puffed up my pride. ’Twas only afterwards, as I recalled this meeting whilst preparing the dinner, that I realised just how clever she had been. That pride-puffing helped remove most of my latent anger very effectively.
“Indeed so, Ma’am.”
“May I enquire as to what?”
My head was held high as I answered: “The hand-held glass mirrors that every woman now wants.”
“Those mirrors are YOURS?” asked a shocked Duchess Shenna.
I could not help myself. I needed to add some more, in an attempt to elevate myself even more in their esteem. “And the Beam Lanterns.”
“The Beam Lanterns too?” And this time the faintness in Her Majesty’s voice was palpable. And a couple of other jaws had dropped. Which told me that all of them were not just simple figureheads, that they were aware of several practicalities in everyday life.
Everyone was looking at me then, and this time I found I did not mind it so very much. I suspected I detected some elements of respect emanating from them.
“Just so, Ma’am, Miladies, er ... sorry … Your Graces.”
There was a small pause again, before Duchess Sindenna asked: “And do you have anything else in your experienced and already expansive portfolio?”
“Oh indeed, Your Grace. I own and run several inns and hotels, a waggoning company and its offshoot which works, quite successfully as it happens, on the railroad development. I have an interest in the Blackstone Brewery currently being built and also in the Barging company that shall soon operate ’twixt Tranidor and the Palar south of there and Bezlet. I have set up an enterprise dealing with zeers, a simple device that helps keep things cool which elongates the usable life of foodstuffs. And I wanted to set up the Consociation of Caterers after I discovered that there is a demand for learning better cooking techniques and better food serving techniques. I thought that perhaps travellers could then learn to look for recommendations from the Consociation if they are looking for better food.”
My mood darkened then, once again. Which her face told me the Queen was quick to pick up on. “Then Prince Keren tried to persuade me to set up my Consociation downvalley from Blackstone, saying that it should be a national institute rather than confined just to the area we now term Blackstone County. He was aware, he said, that I was a talented teacher and so he wanted to comb...”
I rapidly hauled myself in at that point, for I was oathbound not to mention anything to anyone outside of the ones that had been present.
I thought rapidly: “… combine my teaching and cooking abilities.” Phew!
“I felt under great pressure even though he granted me much time to make up my mind. ’Twas fear of the unknown that made me hesitate. Then I realised that Senidet had made the switch from Blackstone to here, so I determined to ask her advice. So those were the reasons we made our mad dash down to Dekarran - simply so that I could discuss all these unknown matters with her. I had hoped to intercept the Royal Party a long while before we reached Dekarran!”
I trailed off at that point, thinking furiously, not wanting to get near the oath business.
But I couldn’t help adding, somewhat bitterly: “And then circumstances brought us all the way to Palarand where I discover I have been talked about, investigated and indeed manipulated, all behind my back. I must say, if ’tis not already obvious, that I find I resent that. It is as if I am but a plaything for your family to move about as they wish. I am, I consider, nought but a simple country cook and, a while ago, I used to be a part-time mother. I deem I would much prefer to go back to those older, simpler ways.”
I noticed a great look of understanding then, on the faces of both Her Majesty and Duchess Vivenne. I did not manage to tear my eyes away from them to observe the others reactions.
Again there was a silence.
“You used to be a part-time mother?” came the question from Duchess Shenna.
And so I told them about my mother’s death and my earlier life.
“I begin to understand more and more now. But yet I know you are hiding some of your story. Those bret things for instance. You were dashing down here, you claim, and yet still found time to file an Exclusivity Licence application for them, which, I note to your credit, you made open.”
I must have looked shocked (And I was, deeply so – which of Epp or Pachet had done that on my behalf?) since Her Majesty asked: “Did you think I could ignore your latest application when I have discovered your others?”
“Er … no … Ma’am.” I said, still reeling.
“And Merizel tells me you taught people in Blackstone their letters and numbers? And even interviewed the men who became employed as teachers there? And have had a string of ideas for improvements up there?”
I started blushing then. “Er … I believe some might see things like that, Ma’am!”
“Perhaps it is that that added to my son’s determination to get you downvalley.”
Her eyes narrowed as my face must have shown my returning wariness.
“There IS something else, isn’t there? What else has the Prince offered you as an inducement to decamp down here.”
And now I was stuck. Even to mention that there was something else was, in a minor way, a breaking of my oath.
I had a sudden burst of inspiration so I tried to change the subject onto another tack: “I believe that the Prince simply recognised some of my achievements and wished to make use of me, Ma’am. A bit like that Questor we met in the corridor, Master Rindal. Or are they still questors? I am having difficulties enough with the Guilds being abolished and yet retaining, in some instances, the old titles. Guildmasters, Craftmasters, engineers, I don’t know from one minute to the next what terms we should use.” I struggled to keep from babbling as I gushed that lot forward.
I was momentarily pleased that she picked up on one of the little facts I had left dangling.
“The Questor made use of you? That seems strange. In what way did that come about?”
I breathed in relief as I launched into the story of the Haw King, starting with a small correction: “Well not exactly made use of, mayhap those words were inaccurate. You see what happened was that, one day, I went down to our hawbriars to see ...”
There were a few gasps and sighs at the appropriate points as I related that story and I thought, for a fleeting instant, that I had got away with it.
But Her Majesty was (is) made of sterner stuff.
I didn’t appreciate that she was returning to the subject that I was oathsworn not to reveal when she said: “You used the word ‘minutes’. Am I to infer that you understand Earth time measurements?”
“Indeed so, Ma’am. Senidet was busy up in Blackstone installing many of the two-faced clocks that I saw on the wall of your breakfasting room.”
“So you already know this? And you know something about the railroads, and about other transport methods. Is that anything to do with the added inducement my son made that you are so reluctant to tell us about? Or was it about town planning or town agriculture that you also seem to know about?”
I partially gave up my struggle then. “Ma’am, I must beg of you not to take this any farther. I am oathbound to say nothing.”
“Oathbound? To whom? And surely I as your Queen am a trustworthy soul. As is Duchess Vivenne, your liege lady. Surely ALL here can be trusted.”
I shook my head, rather than say anything for my nervousness was increasing.
“And if I or Vivenne ordered you to do so?”
I was aware then that there was a lot riding on this question. There was an intensity in her voice and posture that had not been there before.
I must confess here and now that it was tempting for a moment or two to give in, but then I remembered that Milsy was here too, and SHE wasn’t included in the oath and could not give me orders. That helped firm up my backbone and thusly my decision.
“I’m sorry Ma’am, Your Graces. Even if I was imprisoned for insubordination or insolence or whatever, I would not break that oath.”
I had said this as firmly as I could, but I was still aware that some of my irritation was noticeable in my voice. I clamped down internally once more, my jaw tightly knotted. And I deem the Queen found something to be pleased about in this awkward situation. They all recognised that I really meant what I said.
Which put a restriction on the conversation then.
The awkward pause was broken by Duchess Vivenne once more. A smiling Duchess this time, with a genuine smile, not one of those oily, slithery ones that some people use.
“Well young Mistress,” she began with a light and teasing tone, “I for one want you as far away from Dekarran and my husband as I can persuade you to go!”
I wanted to get annoyed but by the way she said it, I knew there was a light-hearted meaning to her words.
“Duke Gilbanar tasted your wares yesterday and had previously oft repeated that he wishes to travel north just to sample your ‘Salon’ as I believe you term it. He is already far too much in love with you and your meals. It would cost another fortune to reclothe him if your culinary delights were to be too close at hand.”
The tension in the room was mostly released at her words and ’twas with a far lighter mood that that thread was seized upon and expanded by the others. Milsy and I sat there with our mouths shut as they speculated.
“I agree that Blackstone is far too far for people to travel to, at least until the railroad connections are made, and that is still a hand and more of years away.”
“For you, Mistress Julina, the handiest location would be Dekarran, I concur. And yet that is awkward in its own way, for the soon-to-be Federation shall probably also wish to take advantage of your amenities, should you decide to set it all up.”
“And Dekarran can be sometimes difficult to access in inclement weather conditions.”
“Which argument also applies to any of the towns up the Palar river. Hmmmm.”
“But Dekarran is definitely a better choice than Blackstone, I deem.”
“That is true!”
“Palarand?”
“’Tis a possibility surely?”
“We are already getting far more crowded here than ever we were. Did you not see the throngs yesterday?”
“Indeed. Extremely large crowds! Almost frightening, I found them.”
“Surely there is the University that Garia caused to be set up?”
“Yes, Shenna! This Consociation would also, in a way, come under the heading of ‘Places of Education’?”
“True. Maybe there ...”
That Duchess was interrupted by the sudden opening of the connecting door. My anxiety levels leaped skywards once again as the King himself led the way in, trailed by four others – the three Palarandi Dukes and Prince Keren. I struggled to my feet so that I could curtsey properly.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Graces,” I murmured as I did so. Again, four pairs of eyes bored into mine, five if you count the less intent look that came from the Prince.
“Robanar dear, allow me to introduce Mistress Julina who has arrived in this our capital all the way from Blackstone,” said the Queen. “She is a woman of honour as I have discovered. I, nay we, tried hard to induce her to break an oath, and yet she refused so to do and maintains her refusal.”
At that, my eyes darted to Prince Keren and he looked a little puzzled at first but then his face cleared as he realised the oath his mother was talking about. He urgently turned to the King and said: “Father, I deem that we should indeed implement the decision we just came to in the room behind us. Already. As in now.”
The King looked around the room at us all, plainly thinking.
He made up his mind, grunted slightly and nodded in agreement with his son before turning to his wife: “Terys, my dear, there appears to be little space left in this room. Could we take up the example given us by Garia and just have one or two maids herein?”
A suggestion from a King is far more than just a suggestion; ’tis tantamount to an order.
So the Queen sent all of the maids out except for her own; and except for Prevet, saying: “I deem, dear, that Mistress Julina is feeling nervous and alone here. Her maid Prevet should stay to provide some small degree of comfort.”
“Very well. And you, yes you, the last maid there, please arrange for Tenant Maralin to attend here as soon as possible, if not earlier. What we are about to discuss shall concern him too. But only him, none of his three companions.”
The nervous maid bobbed a curtsey and closed the door behind her.
King Robanar then said: “As usual, whenever we are discussing matters with or about Princess Garia or any of her developments, it is a requirement to take oaths that these discussions shall not be reported to anyone outside of this room at any time until I or Prince Keren give permission. I shall demand such oaths from each and every one of you outside of my immediate family before we start. All Dukes, all Duchesses, you again Milsy and you two, Mistress Julina and Prevet.”
My again rising irritation and anger had been overwhelmed by curiosity, which itself was heightened by the surprise on all the other faces.
Nevertheless, the oaths were all taken and witnessed before the King even considered launching into his explanation. It was no surprise that every eye in the room was upon him.
And he met every eye before breaking the silence: “We all know that Garia has departed on what we have called a ‘mission’ after she herself suggested that word. And ’tis one I find most appropriate. For the complete success of that mission, we must needs put in place various things during her absence. We must proceed as if it is certain she shall return, but we simply know not when, know not the exact date of her return.
“We all here know, hmmmm, mayhap not yourself Mistress Julina and, by extension, Prevet, that Garia came here from a distant planet, called Earth. We do not know the method employed but we DO have incontrovertible evidence that indeed she did.
“None of us wished to believe it at first. However the evidence was and remains irrefutable.
“As my deputies here in Palarand, then it is time that you knew another fact, lest anything happen to me and Keren.”
He paused then but I doubt it was a theatrical pause, rather one that required his gathering of several threads of thought.
“There is no need for us to go into the how of the way the following events happened, suffice it to say however that Prince Keren discovered another person here in the Great Valley that also came from Earth. That person shall be revealed to you when and only when I have his express permission. Incidentally, I do not believe that identifying him as a man shall be sufficient of a giveaway for any of your incurably inquisitive minds,” he added with a distinct twinkle.
This time there had been several gasps. And much thinking was going on, the faces told us.
“The person is sworn to another land and so we cannot treat him just as a Palarandi citizen. But I shall return to that in a short while. For now, I must return to Garia and her mission.
“I can now reveal to you here gathered together that she has gone to amass what materials she can from her home world! Yes, she has returned from whence she came. And will then have once more to return here.
“Her decision to agree to do this exceeding dangerous task was one of the bravest I have ever witnessed, particularly as the opportunity to achieve this arose so shortly after she married the love of her life. Her selflessness is a lesson to us all, as is the suffering that Prince Keren has had to bear.
“She has, as I indicated, returned to her world to gather together into some easily portable form whatever
material she can. Material that she deems will be helpful to the development of ourselves and all Anmar.
“And it was the Prince who thought this through most thoroughly, far more so than any of the rest of us.
“For there is one enormous difficulty with Garia’s plan that we had all overlooked.
“Consider what is to happen upon Garia’s return! She shall have to supervise the ongoing implementations of her current ideas as well as come up with other new ideas. At the same time as being seen by the citizenry as the wife of the heir to the Throne. She is a very capable woman, very capable indeed, but not even she would be able to read her material and pass it on for everyone else to use whilst still doing all her many, many other duties.
“Because we had overlooked the fact that she shall bring the material and it will NOT BE IN THE PALARANDI TONGUE.”
A chorus of gasps rang out, with murmurs of things like: ‘Of course’ and ‘What shall we then do?’
“Keren, you all know, was recently in Blackstone and whilst there he met a remarkable young woman who has demonstrated clearly her many-faceted abilities. She has some knowledge of the technicalities of the developments that are already happening, she has proven herself capable of adapting her thinking sufficiently, she is a talented teacher, and she demonstrated an ability to learn enough to try to converse with others from distant lands. And she wanted to set up a sort of Cookery School.
“Keren was awoken in the middle of one night by a sudden realisation. This woman could be employed to teach many of our Questors and the like the language of Garia so that they can access Garia’s material directly.
“But first she would have to learn that language herself. That would take a certain amount of time. And, only after that, could the lessons for the Questors begin. Which too would take time. Maybe it can be said that time for this project was in fact already running out!
“Keren tried a few phrases that he had picked up from Garia. Mistress Julina likewise picked them up and used them herself. So he was sure that he had found someone he deemed to be an ideal candidate.
“And then he realised that this task would not be one that could be done all day, every day. It would take many weeks for someone to become fully proficient.”
He looked over at the Prince then, who took up the conversation: “So if I could persuade Mistress Julina to come downvalley and open her Consociation somewhere down here, the Questors could have a few hours or days off to go somewhere close by without TOO much disturbance to their other duties.
“If it were in Blackstone, then the disruption involved would be enormous. Just taking the two weeks to travel there and back would ruin many work plans and so on, let alone the time required for the lessons. It was therefore obvious to me that it was imperative that this language training be far closer to the centre of Palarand.
“And Mistress Julina could also gain some coin from her own academy of excellence, which she could operate on days not devoted to language lessons. It seemed to me that it fit all the requirements almost perfectly.”
He grinned wryly, then. “But I nearly made it all go wrong, for I did not approach Mistress Julina in the right way – a lesson I have taken to heart and hope to do better should there be a next time.”
The Queen reassured him: “A good way for you to learn, Keren. We must remember you are yet young, despite the extra knowledge so recently gained which makes you seem so much wiser. On the negative side though, I fear it has turned Mistress Julina against our family somewhat.” She cast a shrewd gaze in my direction. “She feels she is being manipulated to do things by all of our actions taken behind her back.”
The King raised his eyebrows at that: “Then we must make amends in some way. We shall think about that. But to continue. The difficulty was … Ah!” he broke off as a slightly dishevelled and out of breath Tenant was ushered in.
“Thank you for coming so swiftly, Tenant. May I present the three Dukes of Palarand and their wives, some of whom you have already met. The rest I deem you have already met at some time.”
There was the usual murmurs of making acquaintance after which the King continued: “We were just discussing Mistress Julina’s proposed school for cooking excellence and all the rest and I knew you were involved with cookery before.”
I raised my eyebrows at the others who raised their own eyebrows at the apparent change of subject matter, and the slight prevarication.
“I regret,” the King continued, “the sudden demand for your attendance but we have much more to do this morn, and are pressed for time. Would you be agreeable to my revealing your background with regard to this matter? The usual oaths have been taken from all here, I assure you.”
The Tenant paused for thought, looked around at all those present, before finally nodding what was obviously a reluctant agreement.
“It must come out at some time, and these are the highest nobles in your land. Very well, then. But I must say, I thought I would manage to maintain a lower profile until after the rains!”
All eyes swivelled then to the King.
“And so, all of you, I can finally present to you the other person I mentioned as coming from Earth. Tenant Maralin...”
He continued as we all, myself included I am ashamed to admit, studied this suddenly exotic creature standing before us.
“… Just like on Anmar, Earth has many differing languages. Tenant Maralin, fortunately, is fluent in Garia’s language. In fact they come from different cities in the same country! The Tenant has been approached and has agreed to help out as he can.
“Remember also that if Mistress Julina declines, then we still need to find someone else to work with the Tenant. That will impact on the number of people who shall be adequately trained when Garia returns. Quite possibly inducing a considerable delay into many projects.”
A great dawning of awareness struck all in the room at that moment. And I suddenly remembered the strange intensity the Tenant had used in our meeting yesterday as he spelled out his name for our brets.
Milsy forcefully breathed out in a sudden but deep understanding of why she had been included here. If I chose to insist the Consociation was to be in Blackstone or in Palarand, then she would be closely involved in some aspect or another of getting it up and running. If I chose to decline, then she would most likely be tasked with finding another candidate.
His Majesty then continued: “Maralin can teach Mistress Julina the Earth tongue, called, I seem to remember, Ingrish ...”
“English, actually, Sire. The leading letter though is an ‘E’ and not the ‘I’ that the sound implies.”
I realised with a sudden shock that Tenant Maralin had just given me my first lesson!
“English then. He can teach her both the language and can perhaps teach her some of his cooking skills too.”
There was pause as we all started to take all this in.
One of the Duchesses started the clapping that broke the quiet.
Another simply said: “An elegant solution.”
“This, Mother, was the oath that Julina took and refused to break.”
He turned to me: “Again I must apologise to you, Mistress, for handling the initial steps so … so ... so … callowly. I hope now that you understand the very importance of my scheme to the future of Palarand and also even Anmar?
“And I have been thinking further along the matter.
“You will of necessity need to spend time with Tenant Maralin and two solutions occur to me, the second of which I shall confess from the outset is my favoured one.
“Firstly, you would travel some more, this time to Joth where you can spend as much time as required with the Tenant and he can have the least disturbance of his life there. But you would need to leave as soon as you may for the rains shall soon be here and travel there shall shortly become impossible. There we would have no influence over the set-up and maintenance of your Consociation, and the benefits of that organisation would be barely felt here in Palarand.
“Secondly, with the Duke and Duchess’ permission, you set up your Consociation somewhere in Brikant. This is still a part of Palarand but is a day and more’s journey nearer to Joth, thus easing the Tenant’s necessary journeys. HE will, of course, have much to say on this subject.”
Maralin was deep in thought, his brain obviously whirring at high speed. Everyone waited for him. And I really do mean everyone.
"Sire, I expect that I shall have to come to Palarand reasonably often for both Federation business
as well as the special Council meetings that shall occur. If we could mostly co-ordinate those tasks,
then I think it will be better for Mistress Julina to be based here in Palarand. However, I know there
shall be times I need to see her, or she needs me to visit, outside of the timings of the meetings I
shall need attend here. Thus I consider the Brikant solution to be the best.”
Duke Visselen then said slowly: “There is that old crumbling brick-built mill by the east lake, the one left when the Sirrel cut across and left it isolated. We could refurbish that I suppose. The now-abandoned village that grew up around the mill could also be refreshed, I should imagine.”
He glanced first at his wife. She briefly considered and then nodded. So he continued: “Mistress Julina, I declare that we could indeed accommodate you and your wishes. If you do in fact decide to do this, you should send us at the soonest opportunity the specifications of what shall be required.”
A further silence descended.
And there it was.
The moment of my HUGE decision.
All my questions had been answered as best as they ever would be. I would gain no more knowledge.
And still I hesitated.
Once again everyone in the room awaited a response. But this time ’twas I who was the focus of their attention.
“Your Majesties, Your Highness, Your Graces. I do not really wish to keep this hanging on, but feel I need to discuss this with my companions. I shall keep to the Consociation as my subject matter, of course, but as to where it should be and as to whether I should try to do this English thing, that causes me some indecision still.”
I realised then that I was being unfair and extremely mean to all, not just those present in this room. Everyone who would be involved needed a response as soon as I might.
I held up a hand whilst I re-examined all the questions, all the answers, all the factors. They started murmuring to each other after a while.
Finally, I said: “I shall do it all then and would prefer the Brikant option, now I have more knowledge of other factors.”
Prince Keren let out a little victorious sort of ‘Whoop’ and their Majesties wore broad smiles.
And then all sorts of strange things started to happen.
One began with Duchess Vivenne asking me: “What, Mistress Julina, are then your immediate plans?”
“I shall have to cook for those the Prince has invited this evening. We have determined it shall be a five-course dinner so I must get started as soon as I may. Then in the morning we shall depart to get to Dekarran as soon as we might. We shall there visit your castle once more and reclaim our frayen before starting out on our journey northwards, back up home. The rains are far more bearable up there for they are not as intense as I have been told they are further down the valley. This I suspect is because we are sometimes above the level of the clouds.
“After the rains are over, during which time I shall have set all my businesses in order, I shall return to Dekarran and from there to Brikant to start up this new venture. I know not at this moment just who shall accompany me, but that is the general plan.”
Then the surprises started up more obviously. For the Duchess continued: “Prevet, you have been assigned temporarily to Mistress Julina. Shall you like to continue with her, or shall you prefer to return to Dekarran Castle? You have no family, I deem, at the castle and this way you might satisfy some of that long-declared wanderlust.”
“Your Grace, I would be delighted to continue with her, for I have learnt so very much in even these past few days. Her plans I find excite me, and I would be happy to continue as her maid.”
The sheer delight and happiness she radiated at this unexpected opportunity was very sobering to me.
“Mistress Julina,” the Duchess now turned her attentions once more to me, “I would be prepared to release Prevet into your care, if you swear to me to look after her as best you are able. Should you like to have her as your servant?”
I looked at Prevet and was moved by the enormous hope I could see shining in her eyes. “Despite my obvious temper, and despite the enormous amount of travelling you shall be required to do?”
“Oh yes, Mistress,” came the firm reply.
“But I do not know how to behave with and to a maid. ’Tis not something to which I have been trained.”
“You are doing just fine, I deem” said Her Majesty. “And Prevet is oathsworn as to the secrets of today. It shall be a relief to you both to be able to talk about some of these events with one another when in private.”
And so, with various further oaths and ‘heard and witnessed’s, Prevet became my maid, released from the ties to Dekarran castle.
The surprises continued as I learnt that of all those present, only the King and Queen and the Dekarran family were not going to be attending my meal later.
I dared risk a small joke with Duchess Vivenne: “You shall not then have to control your husband this e’en? I am relieved. For you did warn me that his appetite is prodigious. I have only a finite amount I can prepare!”
I was surprised at the great roar of laughter Duke Gilbanar himself gave out and the little punch the Duchess gave him.
Then I was surprised at the congratulations heaped upon me by Their Majesties and the Prince and the obvious delight that I had given the Dukes and Duchesses.
Duke Gilbanar cornered me for a small private chat which Duchess Vivenne scooted over quickly to hear. They both had a twinkle or two in their eyes when he told me: “Count Terinar sends his compliments and looks forward to seeing you again on the day after tomorrow. He has been put in charge of getting our little convoy of carriages and wagons together while we wait here for all this talking to calm down! He apologises for not being able to take his leave personally.”
… … …
Leave. The appropriate word for this moment.
All I wanted to do was to leave and get back to Blackstone, tell everyone there and in Bezlet – oh, and in Tranidor – what I was going to do. I was working in automatic mode as my mind mulled over what I would have to do now the project was confirmed and commissioned.
There was a cry of “Ouch” from behind me and the clatter of a metal dish dropping to the stone floor, accompanied by a splash and a muttered “Balth!”. I whirled round and saw that a pot of sauce had been dropped.
My mind refocussed on the task in hand, that of the meal, again. “Never mind, ’twill just cost us a little time, that’s all.” I swiftly scooped the pan off the floor, gave it to the nearest hand to wash whilst I cleaned the floor. Spills on a stone kitchen floor can be dangerous to people rushing about concentrating on their cooking.
Then I had an idea. “Heliga, can you please come and make another pan of this sauce for us?”
I told her the ingredients and the amounts and then turned back to do another task. I shocked her by not giving her any instructions. Secretly I knew that I could always make up another pan at the last moment should it become necessary. But I wanted to give her confidence. After a nervous gulp or two, she started out on her task and I breathed a sigh of relief. Once she conquered her nerves, the task went ahead. It was a delight to see her body posture straighten as the confidence flowed into her.
Yes, there were other minor accidents but thankfully no great disasters.
I will gloss over the congratulations we all received at the end of the dinner, basically all on the central theme of ‘Well Done’, and shall mention only the guest list.
The Prince was there, of course, as were the two Dukes and Duchesses, and The Twins were of course with one of those pairs. Then came, somewhat surprisingly, Tenant Maralin and his three henchmen, led by a man called Varran it seemed to me. There was another couple who seemed out of sorts to be there, just overdressed somehow and strangely nervous. Maralin and his merry men did well to ease their discomfort throughout the evening. Milsy and Tarvan were also present as was Senidet, Tedenis being on duty. Finally there were the Commander and Jenet and Gullbrand, of course.
That made nineteen who all sat down before the final couple had arrived. We had been told in advance that there would be twenty one of them, so we catered for twenty five diners just in case any plates were dropped or any extra diners turned up. There were always more plates available for we cooks to eat from even though we had been nibbling all day. And there were more for the Blackstone House guards, the maids and the families too, although these were not served quite as elegantly as Waxerwet insisted happen in the Dining Room.
She was eye-openingly magnificent and I was relieved I wasn’t called to the Dining Room once during the whole evening.
This having a relative abundance of ‘leftovers’ was quite useful as it happened. The final pair turned up accompanied by a squad of guards.
Yes, I, we, cooked for the King and Queen that night. That had been kept a secret from us so as not to worry us too much in the kitchens.
Which cheered Davvy up somewhat for she could now say she had met them both. Which we did when we were all called into the Dining Room at the end of the repast.
(It was only many weeks later that Maralin told me the odd couple weren’t actually a couple as such. He was the Palace Head Cook and she was one of the Kitchen Supervisors. Apparently they were very impressed and indeed, later in the year, we had more than a few of the Palace kitchen staff come to Brikant for a week for training with little notes on areas upon which to concentrate.)
There were also compliments about the decoration of the dining room, for which I praised Mistress Gythy fulsomely, as did Gullbrand, Milsy and Tarvan. That was something else that got some pleasing ‘Well Done’s.
The diners all departed relatively early, their Majesties being the first to do so.
Duke Visselen, Duchess Sindenna and The Twins all took me to one side promising me they would get started on the allocations I would require in Brikant after I told them what I would need. I gave them a short list there and then, to which Maralin added a couple of things. The Duchess promised that I could stay with them whilst the building work was happening, should I have returned from Blackstone by then.
I then learnt that they would leave in the forenoon tomorrow after a quick meeting called by King Robanar. And that Maralin and his cohorts would accompany them. They left us all in a bunch, chatting together as they went.
Finally the last of the non-domestic diners had departed.
And then we residents sat down to relax, once the younger ones, still excited at the unusual events of the evening, had been sent off to their beds with my special thanks ringing in their ears.
At least that was my intention. Just sit and unwind with a glass of wine and probably a few sorrowful good-byes to those we would not see in the morning.
But it didn’t happen that way. For I was then the recipient of a number of shocks.
Gyth and Waxerwet informed me that they would not be coming back to Blackstone with me on the morrow! Gyth had apparently landed a commission to redesign Lady Something-or-other’s town residence. The Lady in question had visited whilst I was with the Queen in the Palace and had been delighted with the alterations. Upon finding out that Gyth had been responsible, she issued a commission there and then.
Thus Gyth had decided that she would stay down here until the job was done. Waxerwet would not let her daughter stay alone, so she would stay too. I was to look after their house up at home for them, maybe rent it out for a while, there were always plenty of newcomers arriving and needing somewhere to stay whilst they found their way about. I swear I saw a contented grin flit across Gullbrand’s face when the elder woman made her announcement. Waxerwet’s assumed a more mask-like attribute.
The next shock came when I learnt that Toria had sent messages to Dekarran, requesting leave to stay with Waxerwet and Gyth. She too wanted to ‘do a Prevet’ as she put it.
So there would just be three of us leaving on the morrow. Myself, Davvy and Prevet.
Then I started telling them all more about Blackstone itself, its history (as far as I knew it) and its hopes (as far as I knew them.)
My mind was full of things I would need to do upon our return.
I slept but fitfully that night.
… … ...
We roused, bathed, Tai Chied, breakfasted and loaded the coach that Milsy had arranged to take us to the stagecoach stop in the city centre.
Insects are funny creatures, basically annoying and some of them even bite or sting. I try to ignore them usually.
But this one I watched for some reason. It flew in a seemingly random pattern as it crossed the courtyard.
Quite why it should have chosen to fly up one nostril of one of the pair of frayen is beyond me. But it did.
Which made the frayen whinny as he jerked and stomped around a bit.
Which made its paired beast do likewise.
Which made the coach jostle.
Which made Davvy fall as she was just then at the most vulnerable moment as she climbed into the conveyance.
Which she didn’t. She fell rather than climbed.
Which meant she stretched her one good arm out to cushion her fall.
Which meant she snapped her wrist. With a loud and sickening crack.
The visitors settle into a sort of routine after the recent shocks and disasters
The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended.
This story is copyright © 2018 - 2020 Julia Phillips. All rights reserved.
It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2020 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
*Before
Insects are funny creatures, basically annoying and some of them even bite or sting. I try to ignore them usually.
But this one I watched for some reason. It flew in a seemingly random pattern as it crossed the courtyard.
Quite why it should have chosen to fly up one nostril of one of the pair of frayen is beyond me. But it did.
Which made the frayen whinny as he jerked and stomped around a bit.
Which made its paired beast do likewise.
Which made the coach jostle.
Which made Davvy fall as she was just then at the most vulnerable moment as she climbed into the conveyance.
Which she didn’t. She fell rather than climbed.
Which meant she stretched her one good arm out to cushion her fall.
Which meant she snapped her wrist. With a loud and sickening crack.
*And now
Which meant that she howled in despair and pain.
Which meant the frayen began to panic.
Which meant that action was needed to calm everyone and every animal down.
And then the coach had to be unloaded once more whilst the two healers who had been summoned did what they could for poor Davvy. The twenty minutes or so it took for them to arrive seemed ten times as long to those of us awaiting them.
Between us, and with much confusion at first, Davvy had been carried – well, more supported actually – into a small room just inside the main doorway. Her pitiful moans and wails helped stretch all our nerves tighter still.
The healers took a quick initial look at the arm and then just looked at each other before nodding at the same moment. Their treatment of her consisted at first of a few drops of some dark purple liquid, dripped grudgingly from a small gourd which the one from whose belt it had been produced guarded most carefully. The drips fell upon a small chunk of bread which they fed to her despite her protests that she would just throw it up again as the pain she was suffering was so great.
One of the healers turned to Waxerwet almost as if she was dismissing the rest of us as being just frivolous and irresponsible girls. She said: “Mistress, these drops are most powerful. Watch now.”
The other healer held Davvy's head which she was twisting and turning as she tried to deny the pain yet fight it at the same time. Suddenly her head fell to one side as unconsciousness hit. The two healers worked swiftly in harmony and laid her out on the daybed in the room into which we were all crowded.
Even as the two women scurried about their tasks, the first one kept up some sort of explanation to Waxerwet: “Should Shiret or myself not be available and another healer calls, then you must tell her that she has already had seven drops. If she has any more within a week, she could die! Seven is the maximum I dare deal out given her size and age. Now you there ...” she pointed at me “... I need you to hold her elbow firmly in the place it is in. You must not waver whatever you hear or see. Is that clear, girl?”
This was not the time to try to correct her impressions of me and I simply nodded my head in acceptance. I placed my hands on Davvy's one good arm where this woman directed me. She, the woman not Davvy, grunted in what I took to be approval.
“Shiret?” she continued, looking now at her partner.
“I am ready, Dilvia.”
“On three then. On. Two. ThrEEE.” This last was between a grunt and a hiss, somehow.
Even in her unconsciousness, Davvy groaned. I winced but could not tear my eyes away from the injured wrist, so I could not see the others' reactions. The one healer stretched her arm making me grunt with the effort of keeping her elbow where they wanted it. The other gripped her forearm nearer my hand than the other’s, twisting in an obviously practiced way, and I heard – actually heard – bones grating and clicking. Dilvia and I broke out in a sweat and I wondered how much more there would be to this when there was a final click, really loud when compared to any that had gone before.
Dilvia gave a puff of what sounded like relief. She gripped Davvy's hand and kept a degree of pulling, far less though than before, the force of which I naturally countered. Her eyes flickered to mine as she said: “We, you and I, must keep this tension while Shiret feels to see how many shards of bones might still be out of position. Can you do it?”
“I can,” I grunted in reply, through teeth that had somehow gritted themselves.
Shiret was not gentle as she squeezed the swollen arm parts, but, on the positive side, she was swift and sure. “’Tis clean, Dilvia, I deem.” Both healers puffed out their cheeks in obvious relief.
“We can relax our grips now, Missy, but slowly if you please – gradually ease off, each at the same time. Take your clues from me. That’s right. Well done.”
Shiret sent Gyth off for a pail of water and asked her to also bring another, one that was preferably old, pail that would, in all probability, be thrown away afterwards. Once she returned, the healers used that second pail to mix a big bag of some greyish powder with most of the water that Gyth had fetched.
They laid six stiff rods along Davvy’s arm and tied them firmly in place with a series of strips of what looked to me to be ribbon. Then they wrapped bandages around the lengths of the rods so Davvy was encased from the middle of her forearm to the base of her fingers. Then they slathered the already setting plaster they had made along the entire length of bandaging.
Davvy started moaning and muttering before they were finished, obviously regaining consciousness. The healers hurried to complete their task before Davvy involuntarily started trying to move her poor wrist. They managed to do that and then, after much scrubbing of their hands to rid themselves of any plaster residue, they fashioned a large triangular piece of cloth into what they called a ‘sling’. They showed Waxerwet how to fold and tie the cloth into the requisite shape, but made sure the rest of our party could also see how they did it. So Prevet, Toria, Gyth and I were introduced to the simple task – simple once we were shown how. They finished it off by tucking the loose corner in (to make it all sit most neatly) and then used a simple pin to hold that corner in place.
Then ’twas time for some pel as we waited for Davvy to come fully back to us. The healers deflected our many questions, saying simply: “We should prefer to say things only the once.”
Once Davvy was aware again, and we had allayed her fears as best we could, for she was still understandably panicking about having no usable arms, Dilvia launched her explanations and instructions.
“Mistress Davabet, normally I would try to calm my patient down and get them relaxed, for being relaxed enables the healing process to progress most swiftly. But in your case, I deem I should start with a dire warning. If you do NOT do as we say, then you COULD be without a usable arm for the rest of your life, so you MUST pay attention and you MUST do as we tell you.”
She paused significantly at that point, to allow the import of her words to settle in and take root. It stretched to the verge of discomfort before she continued: “The choice lies within you. A week or two of what is in effect no more than discomfort, or a lifetime of being a cripple.”
That got Davvy’s fully focussed attention, and the wide-eyed girl swallowed her fears and actually listened. A reaction of hers which I must confess caused me to be filled with admiration for her spirit.
“This first week is going to be the hardest. You will have to quench your habits accumulated over a lifetime. Your immediate reaction upon regaining sense was to sweep your hair back, but your arm MUST NOT be used for a whole week. A jog, a slight bash, even having the weight dangle at the wrong angle could simply rebreak your bones there. The cast we have fashioned on your forearm is still in the process of drying so particular care must be taken for the next bell not to put any undue strain upon it.
“During this first week, you are going to have several problems, not the least of which is itching. There shall be a fierce itching beneath the plaster for it shall be blocking any normal air getting to your skin. DO NOT poke anything under it to try to scratch yourself, for you may break the skin and then the wound will in all probability fester since it cannot be treated. You are going to have to be particularly strong in your mind, for, unlike most, you have only the one really usable arm and you are going to be highly frustrated at being so incapacitated.
“Throughout the recovery period your sisters here, and your mother there will have to do anything for you that you would usually use your arm for. You will have to be fed, and you will have to be wiped, both from normal wastage and from your call, whenever that occurs. If we are lucky, then you will suffer that indignity just the once, but maybe it shall happen twice. You will be able to use your arm again in six or seven weeks, maybe eight if you misbehave at all during that intervening time.”
“Sisters? Mother?”
I broke in then. “Mistress Dilvia. Perhaps now is a good time to tell you about the actual and complicated relationships here...”
… … …
The comical look on their faces would have made me burst out in laughter at any other time, but on that day, at that moment, it was all so seriously important that any and all other considerations were dashed from our minds.
I waved aside their inevitable apologies which merely delayed them from imparting all their opinions and instructions.
And so, finally, the full extent of the disaster was revealed to us.
Dilvia and Shiret explained the exercises she was going to have to do, and the further stages of attention they would give, like changing the bandaging and the cast and so on.
And I had known immediately that I would not be in Blackstone for the rains.
I could never leave Davvy alone, with so few friends around her whilst in pain. So I sighed deeply as I said to Prevet: “Well that has stopped any chance of us travelling away in time. I shall have to speak with Milsy about where we can live during these wretched rains. And now I also have a great many semaphores to write and send. What else? Oh yes....” my voice trailed off as my brain got busy.
… … ...
Those next few days were not exactly fun. Waxerwet and Gyth helped me with tending our damaged colleague.
However the task was far greater than we had first imagined it to be.
The healers were right all along the way. Davvy was naturally worried, concerned and very self-centred. And she became an, at times, harshly demanding taskmistress.
I frequently had to remind her of Dilvia’s admonishments, particularly the scratching-beneath the plaster one.
Looking back, we settled into a routine remarkably quickly. Gyth, Waxerwet and Toria had to be away most of each day which left Prevet and I with the patient. On that first day, I had to go and deal with all the semaphores I needed to get away to a host of recipients way up the Palar/Bray valley. The more I prepared, the longer the list grew. And then I realised that this was going to strain my supply of ready coin.
So I realised that I would have to discuss even more matters with Milsy.
So that first full day, after the rest of her injury day had passed and we had all had an uncomfortable night, I sought to distract Davvy by getting her help in wording those messages. It worked to a slightly deeper extent too; she added a couple of names to my list.
But that was the next morning. As I said, the morning after a most uncomfortable night.
The evening meal was awkward as everyone searched for their levels. How do we react? How do we help? Will this change our routines? And so on and so forth.
Milsy was magnificent. She thought of many things, including the shortly-to-be-required rain protection clothes. She promised to send for a Master Levanar, the local banker, first thing the following morning and she led the enthusiastic encouragement of all the others for our party of six all to stay in the Blackstone establishments whilst we were in Palarand City. So I felt a little better as some of the fundamentals were set up, easing a few of my worries.
Mistress Jenet was also most helpful, understanding some of the problems that would arise when I had to carry out my errands on the morrow. Of course, I would need to take Prevet with me and that would leave poor Davvy alone. Or I could take another female of the household with me leaving Prevet to attend to Davvy.
And so on.
We had an enormous disagreement when Milsy and Jenet tried to insist that we would not be required to pay so very much for staying there. They insisted that the Princess herself had insisted. They also insisted we remain in the Hotel in order to keep it occupied at least a little rather than we move into the already crowded House, even though the rains would dampen our travels between the two. Despite the seriousness of our situation and the need for rapid reassessment and replanning, I felt just then, triggered by those words, the start of an idea in the back of my head. An idea I knew immediately would need to sit there for a little while.
Then, after we had all retired for the night, and poor Davvy had succumbed to the severe shocks she had had and taken to her bed early (she was asleep almost before her head the pillow), the others discussed with me what we could do as far as paying something, anything, for our accommodation. We decided that we would help by taking on some of the chores.
It was indeed a late night / early morning when my racing brain relaxed enough to let me sleep.
… … …
“It is an honour to meet you Mistress Julina. Master Moshan of Tranidor has sent me a most impressive tale of your accomplishments as has Master Schild up in Blackstone itself, not that I have yet met the latter!”
I studied the man in front of me. He was about seven or so years my senior, conservatively and yet stylishly dressed with just a hint in his chosen colours of a certain defiance of tradition. Milsy had told me that he was garnering a good reputation in Palarand City since he had started up with Master Moshan’s of Tranidor ideas. He had proven himself to be a discreet and reliable practitioner of the arts of which Masters Moshan, in Tranidor, and Schild, up in Blackstone, had already granted me some experience. His very body posture told of his confidence and his ease at his chosen subject. I found myself almost grinning at the partially hidden twinkle in his eyes. Did my pulse suddenly quicken slightly? This caused me to frown, albeit briefly.
A fact he immediately noticed: “Have I said something to upset you, Mistress?”
“No not at all! You er … just reminded me of something, is all, something I had hitherto forgotten, but must now attend to.” I attempted to draw the conversation back to where it should be, as I felt a mild blush climb into my cheeks. “You too have met Master Moshan? Does he travel here often, Master Levanar?”
“Oh no, Mistress. He has never come here to my knowledge; maybe BEFORE he took up Her Highness’, Princess Garia’s that is, suggestion but he has become so busy up in your home lands, he claims not to have time to even breathe. I travelled north to Tranidor just after the Equinox earlier this year. I deem that Master Schild departed Tranidor for Blackstone the day before I arrived, I travelled to Tranidor to discuss with Master Moshan what was then to me a most intriguing new concept. One which he saw fit to allow me to start down here in the capital. A set of similar operations to his, with me operating on his behalf down here in the capital.”
His words made me cast my mind back to those days. My breath caught as I remembered clearly the day that Master Schild had arrived in Blackstone, and the ensuing Assembly Meeting.
And Konna getting arrested.
Tears sprang once more to my eyes as I remembered Jaffy’s death on the same day. And the consequent surprise of his bequests.
My word! How much has happened since then? That is only … I figured quickly … around one hundred days ago. Why I didn’t even know Davvy then. And then...
“Mistress? Are you alright?”
I dragged myself back from my thoughts. I unwittingly wiped away the tears dripping from my nose as Prevet handed me a cloth. I raised my eyes to those of Master Levanar and was startled by the concern and worry shining therefrom. It knocked me back into some sort of sense.
“I must apologise, Master. Your words again triggered some memories, startling ones this time. ’Twas then, at the Vernal Equinox, that a good friend of mine died. He left me somethings which have since formed the basis of a few of my sources of income. I was tugged back by your words into all that happened on that day and has happened since then.” I smiled in what I hoped was an engaging fashion. “There were some good memories, too.”
I frowned again. This has all been so FAST! And then I had another thought. Just how much control in all this have I ACTUALLY had? I shook my head, trying to clear away any negative thoughts. He again noticed my involuntary frown.
“Mistress? Perchance we should discuss why I am here this morn? I will try not to cause any more distress.”
I flashed him a smile of genuine gratitude, and decided to tease him – just a little. “Far too late, Master, to pretend to be all business-like. I saw your eyes and you were kind enough to be concerned for me!”
My respect for him increased with his reaction to that. Hmmm. Just respect, Julina? I shook my head in a vain attempt to clear it of these strange thoughts that intruded upon my others.
“Guilty, as charged, Mistress,” he laughed. “Now, I shall ignore all that and get … what shall I say? … more … more ... efficient. I gather you shall be here for the rains at least and that you shall require coin. Should I send a large amount to you, that you can hide away in here somewhere? Or should I send just a smaller amount say weekly, or monthly? Or should I send it to a Blackstone ledger that you might come to some arrangement with those that operate here?”
“Master Levanar, you should be aware that I have companions too, who are here and relying upon my coin. And the four of us that came down from Blackstone now have two maids looking after us. So I am providing for six of us, not just myself and Prevet here.”
His eyebrows shot up at that. “Mistress! I confess that I am now astonished.”
I suppressed a grin as the rest of his face rapidly caught up with conveying expressions as eloquently as had done his eyebrows; so I had no doubt that his last statement was completely accurate. I glanced at the room’s only other occupant, Prevet, and saw that she too was amazed and also amused in equal measure. Her speculative glance at me made me realise that she had not until then fully understood many of the details of our situation.
But I also realised that this man seated opposite me must be of great good character, for Master Moshan himself had appointed him. “And how come you were selected to travel to meet Master Moshan?”
“By great good fortune, as it happens, Mistress. I spent the latter years of my youth in the civilian offices of the Guard at Dekarran and there I befriended a young man. He was – is – a young cousin of Master Moshan and he mentioned my … skills, if you like, to the Master at one of their family gatherings. The Master then sent me an invitation to attend upon him in Tranidor to discuss some mystery plan he had and was looking for bright young men to help expand this idea. I myself investigated in various ways – the semaphore really is a valuable tool, is it not? And what I learnt about Master Moshan was all very positive. I was curious enough about this mystery to take passage to Tranidor to adjudge for myself whether this scheme was indeed of such great interest and as widely important as he had advertised. He and I seemed to like each other. And so, here I am.”
“I see. And yet, despite never having met him, you seem to be on good terms with Master Schild too?”
“He performs the same tasks up in Blackstone as I do here. When you told him of your intention to travel down to Dekarran, he sent a semaphore to my equivalent there. I was informed of your pending arrival here in the City by the said Dekarran man, he having been told to do so by Countess Merizel.”
I gasped as I realised all those messages had sailed over our heads with us being none the wiser.
And then I had to explain my gasp.
… … …
“Well! That was all very, very interesting, Mistress! May I take this opportunity to ask some questions privately? There would appear now to be far more to your good self than I had up to now gleaned – or imagined!”
We were returning from the courtyard after taking our farewells from Master Levanar. I checked behind the door as we re-entered the building. There were two of the staff cleaning the hallway and I heard footsteps descending the stairs. I put my finger to my lips and led Prevet back to the room we had so recently vacated.
“Of course, Prevet. I have been aware for some time that you require to be given some more knowledge but, somehow, the time and the opportunities for doing so have squirted away like a slippery chunk of soap in the bath. However, once again, we must hurry for poor Davvy has been alone for the best part of an hour already. ’Twould be unfair to keep her waiting very much longer.”
“Indeed so, Mistress.”
“Well, then. I suggest you start with your questions!”
“Just how rich ARE you? And how came that about?”
“Well, it was like this ...”
… … …
“Where have you been? You knew I was here and helpless!” she whined.
“Now Davvy, I explained this to you before and you have been alone for scarce more than a bell,” I paused just a little. “Now we need to establish somethings from the start. I will NOT allow you to get querulous, mean-spirited and whiny. We have all agreed that we shall help you, but we cannot ignore our other responsibilities totally. This is the first full day of your … recovery from the unfortunate accident. Matters need to be arranged and routines need to be established. So today will naturally be a sort of settling-in day.”
Speaking to her in mother-mode seemed to work quite well, but Prevet was surprised yet again. She later told me that the greatest surprise was the effortless way in which I just slipped into another apparent persona. (And, at that moment in time, I hadn’t actually told her of my being a mother, to the limited extent with which I had enacted that role.)
“Now Waxerwet and Gythy have landed a contract for some work, so they will be absent during most of the days,” I continued. “Therefore, during the days, you will have to rely upon Prevet here and myself. We shall all have to be here for the duration of the rains so my first priority to all five of you in my ‘party’ was to ensure we all had adequate funding. That is where I have been this morn.”
Davvy blushed and apologised as the facts were made apparent to her.
“However, later today I have to go and send some semaphores. All in Tranidor, Bezlet and Blackstone, maybe also Brayview MUST be informed as soon as possible, for them to lay their own plans before the rains. I was hoping you might help me word these messages and also compile a list of recipients. You may be temporarily incapacitated in the use of your arms, but that keen brain of yours need not sit idly by.”
And so the Great Semaphore Meeting commenced, and Prevet was introduced to other aspects of my life and times. She also told me afterwards that she was astounded at how well the discussions removed some of Davvy’s concerns for a little while.
In the end, we decided that Prevet would stay with Davvy and ply her with questions about me and my life whilst I took one of the ‘house’ girls with me to the semaphore office.
So it was that Salia, the middle one of Sulinet’s daughters, accompanied me to the nearest semaphore station. As we went along, I discovered that Heliga was Sulinet’s adopted daughter, amongst a great deal of other information about the life and workings going on in Blackstone House.
Some of which surprised me greatly. But not as greatly as the surprise that awaited me at the semaphore station itself.
Just before we got there though, Salia started giggling for no apparent reason. I looked at her queryingly.
“Don’t stare, but that young couple over there, she in the green dress with brown hair cut in the Princess style, he in the red tunic.”
I gazed around at the nearby buildings, letting my glance casually drift across the pair.
“What about them?” I half whispered.
“He is in for it when they get home! I can tell from her eyes and her body posture. And the way he is nervously dancing around her. She is FURIOUS but is keeping up appearances. I don’t know what it’s all about, but he won’t enjoy the atmosphere when they get home. I suspect that he is only half aware of the tempest about to descend.”
I altered our course slightly, as if to avoid another clump of pedestrians, and we got near enough to them to be able to overhear some of their conversation. I was forced to agree with Salia. The way the woman insisted that everything was alright even when it was patently not so, the way her eyes flashed, the way she folded her arms across her chest. I had a Molly Moment then as words flashed across my mind even as we drifted unhurriedly past them and on our way. Clouds are her anger and tears are the rains.
Salia nodded as I whispered the words to her. “Very clever,” she said, in a normal tone, which the young couple heard and they both glanced at us sharply. But we by then were already beginning to look elsewhere so they couldn’t be sure we had intruded into their private world of grief.
And then we arrived at the semaphore office where I caused several grumbles from those customers behind me. Davvy and I had come up with seven different messages, the one main one being sent to no less than 23 recipients. The operator of course took some time taking down all the details which was the cause of the discontent for the line of customers waiting outside, which only became apparent after we left the privacy of our Message Room.
But before we left such privacy, I had a great shock. I had brought with me a heavy purse to pay for all those messages, but as soon as the Operator heard my address here in the City, he told me: “Oh! In that case, Mistress, there is no charge. All messages from Blackstone House are sent free of charge, as a thank you to Her Highness for inventing this system we operate.”
After a little more of heated discussions, Salia and I left the room.
Only to be confronted by an angry man.
“How dare you waste our time, young girl? We have far better things to do than wait for just a young girl’s light chatter to block the relays of the semaphore.”
Oh dear.
Salia told me later that I started to resemble that young woman in the green dress and she feared for the pending storm about to break. But she added that she admired the way I eventually kept my cool.
I had turned my attention to the nervous-looking woman next to him: “Are you with this blustery blowhard?”
His face turned purple and he took a deep breath as she nodded to me nervously.
I got in my next comment before he could: “Poor you! I’d seek a better life elsewhere if I were you!”
“How dare you?” he stormed.
I looked at him, from his toes slowly working my way up to the top of his head.
I then turned to the man standing behind him: “This self-important person ...” I sneered just a little on that last word, “… is moaning about not being served quickly enough, and yet he himself is delaying his own business by moaning about someone else’s legitimate and complicated business.”
The man behind grinned at first and then burst out laughing as the private Message Room door opened and the Operator stuck his head round the frame: “What’s the delay here then? We are busy. Please react promptly.”
The rest of those who had observed the verbal ruckus all laughed too. My bad-tempered opponent’s face went even more purple and he raised his hand as if to strike me.
“You touch me in any way and I shall ensure that you are reduced to a pauper before the week’s out.”
The man behind him said sharply: “Men protect women, sir, not strike them!” His hand clasped the first man’s wrist and held it firm.
The Operator said simply: “Have a care, man. Or I shall have a Watchman arrest you. Either come now to conduct your business or leave.”
Then Salia of all people put an end to it, by lying as it happens: “Indeed, Master, have a care. This young woman is conducting business on behalf of Her Royal Highness, Princess Garia and her husband, Crown Prince Keren. You strike her, you strike them. Do so at your own peril.”
The timid woman with him plucked at his sleeve. He wrenched his arm away from the man behind him and turned to march into the Message Room, studiously avoiding my ferocious gaze. I believe that had he kept on for just another sentence, I might have done something I would have later regretted.
I retreated into myself as Salia and I started out on our return walk to Blackstone House in silence. ’Twas, I hasten to stress, a reasonably companionable silence, but nevertheless a silence, which I soon realised would make the young girl feel awkward, so I gathered my wits about me before trying to ease the pending burden upon her. Thus it was that we passed the remaining twenty or so minutes in such a way that my own mood improved dramatically.
But ’twas not improved sufficiently to disappear entirely, since Davvy’s first words upon seeing me were: “Oh oh! Who is going to regret their actions soon?”
My explanations, coupled with embellishments and clarifications from Salia, were sufficient to distract Prevet from her duties and Davvy from her woes for the next half an hour. Heliga was also in Davvy’s room when we returned, so she learnt of my latest … encounter at first hand.
“What a … a … a … miklimunnr!”
My head shot round to her. I recognised that Norse word – it means ‘big mouth’ or ‘loud mouth’ according to Djerk, as it was a word he used, amongst others, when referring to some of the Blackstone citizens – and I was surprised that such a young Palarandi girl would use it. Heliga put her hand to her mouth, blushed brightly and looked guilty. A number of facts suddenly coalesced in my head.
“You are actually from Einnland, are you not, Heliga?”
Looking like a frightened dooclor, she nodded silently.
“How came you here, then?”
“I’m not supposed to say” she whispered, a hint of tears springing to her eyes.
“Come girl, we are but five of us here, One is your sister so she knows already, the other three are myself and two in MY retinue, so I personally speak for us all when I say we promise the tale will never go further than these walls. Prevet here already knows much that she must still her tongue over several matters and has already shown she can do that. Davvy is my best friend and companion and I KNOW she is the most loyal and trustworthy friend anyone could have. Please, I beg of you, explain in the full confidence that we shall never breathe a word about it outside these walls. If you wish, we can all swear binding oaths not to repeat any of this.”
She waved her hand to indicate that wouldn’t be necessary. Then she sighed, let fall two or three tears before starting with wavering voice: “I needed to escape from Einnland. My father...”
And so we learnt the tale of little Alrik, the Visund’s young wicktrimmer, and the rigours of the journey they had undertaken. I knew some of this of course from Djerk, but Heliga’s harrowing (but also in some places happy) tale added colour and substance to the laconic tale Djerk had related to me.
Even as she was speaking, an idea sprang into my head. One that would help me look after Davvy in that ’twould give her something else to concentrate upon. So when Heliga’s tale wound gently to its end, and after we had all had a sniffly group hug, I said: “Heliga, Davvy and I shall have little to do of a day whilst we are stuck here in the Hotel when the rains come. Why don’t you come to us for a bell or two each day and teach us the Norse tongue?”
… … …
As I mentioned, we settled fairly quickly into some sort of routine. In outline, Prevet and I were with Davvy during the day and Gyth and Waxerwet spent a couple of hours with her of an evening, allowing Prevet and I some time to be away from the intense need to distract Davvy from her injury. I deem we were largely successful. Of course, there were little changes to it all every day, but that routine was the overriding one.
One of the irregular yet regular breaks was arranged by Milsy and Mistress Jenet. The latter took groups of us, the residents of Blackstone House as well as us in the Hotel, to the Palace Wardrobe to be issued with reasonably well fitted wet weather gear.
We four Blackstonians were amazed and disbelieving at the amount they gave us. Surely, this is far more than just overkill? Are people down here so much less hardy?
Long-held prejudices surfaced once again: ‘The effete ruling classes who live downvalley wouldn’t survive for a bell up in OUR harsher environment.’ I confess that, once we had all been taken there (for we went on different days), we four had a few sly giggles at the pathetic downvalleyers.
However, all was not sweetness and light when dealing with Davvy, she was cranky, short-tempered and very self-centred. But we all realised that that was inevitable. It cannot be fun relying on someone else to wipe you clean in ALL parts of your body.
But the Heliga idea was a great boon and Davvy, Prevet and I made meaningful strides in learning the basics of the Norse language.
I also instilled a routine during which Davvy, Prevet and I discussed all the matters which I needed to keep up, in regard to my many business affairs. So I also needed to go again to the semaphore station a few times.
’Twas on the last of these visits that I stopped on our way back. Heliga was with me this time.
I sniffed and then breathed in deeply. “Is it me, or has the very air changed in some way?”
“Mistress Julina, ’tis indeed a change. I am told that the air gets heavier somehow, almost wetter if you can believe it. I had not myself credited it, but I declare you and ‘they’ are right. Today it does seem heavier and wetter.”
“Yes. That description indeed seems apposite.”
“Apposite? What means that?”
“Ah! Forgive me! It means simply that it seems accurate.”
… … …
“Why are they setting off gunpowder explosions? ’Tis not yet dawn.”
It was indeed still dark outside, but I knew not the precise time. I threw back the curtains and gasped in surprise. From this vantage point on the upper floor of Blackstone Hotel a spectacular thunder storm was visible, off towards Vardenale. The looming bulk of the massive Palace, and its towers cut off the view towards Plif but the lightning flashes showed the storm was over there too.
I was surprised that I was struck by the eerie beauty of the display so much that I did not notice the rapid advances being made as the storm swept in.
Until I squealed when a bolt of lightning struck the tower of the Palace and a huge BOOM rattled everyone and everything.
All of a sudden, with a great roar, all distant views blinked out. Rain was pouring down in torrents. It was like one of the waterfalls we had seen on our recent journey.
Suddenly I realised that the wet weather wear with which we had been issued might not be sufficient after all. I felt humbled at my, our, previous arrogant thoughts about downvalleyers. This rain made the rains we experienced up at the head of the valley seem like a gentle spring shower.
I know both Davvy’s and my mouths had dropped open in shock.
And awe.
And, I admit it, fear.