The Forest and the Farm

by Vance Huxley

  Though there were very few recent stories of the Wild taking dramatic action even though there had to be minor transgressions all the time. The Wild certainly raided the Farm and either got away with it or paid. A raiding pack might lose one member, not all, so maybe some reaction counted as enough, as long as it included punishment? If that really had happened, it once again showed too much awareness for comfort.

  Wondering about the Great Hunter and the Wild kept Billi going throughout the day and while he made camp. He stayed awake for a long time watching the stars and listening to the gentle, soothing song from Rabbit, slept restlessly, and rose early to hunt. After eating Billi set off again, and once again his mind turned over the meeting with the Great Hunter which kept the thought of Edan at bay part of the time. Rabbit had no such problem, his song sounded quietly content. As darkness fell Billi recognised the landmarks and he’d come too near to stop, especially since he wouldn’t sleep.

  * * *

  Even in the darkness the valley and the hut really felt like home this time, or maybe a refuge. Billi lit the stove and cooked a bit of the deer he’d hunted. He drank a beaker of the leaf brew he had started to actually like as a change from weak beer or water, after drinking it to be polite a few times. Billi took a second mug to sit by the lake with Rabbit and go over it again as the night sky wheeled slowly above him.

  Rabbit seemed to be home as well. The Hound’s song lifted as they came past the dam, and he’d had a mad few minutes scaring fish while Billi opened up and dumped his pack. Now Rabbit came to scrounge scraps and lean against Billi for a stroke, and happy contentment joined the song. Rabbit enjoyed being stroked, and Billi always found stroking him soothing as well which he needed just now.

  Billi went over it all again and again and again for the next three days and he still couldn’t see a way round it. He couldn’t have run because he couldn’t move fast enough and anyway the dogs would track him. Billi definitely couldn’t lead Edan’s group here and destroy everyone’s dreams of new landclaims. Then when Edan went to kill Rabbit only an arrow could stop him. That made Billi a murderer. He’d killed a man who wasn’t actually threatening to kill him, not right then. Though Billi couldn’t have let the man kill Rabbit. Then Billi’s mind went off round the whole circle again.

  * * *

  On the sixth morning, following another restless night attempting to find a way out of the mental maze, a zing in the song woke Billi. Enthusiastic tail wagging by Rabbit, then a cheery hail, told him Hektor had arrived with the dawn. Billi threw on a coat and trews and came out, heading for the entrance to the valley and wondering why Hektor hadn’t come straight in. Then he stopped, mouth opened to greet the young Hunter. Hektor stood there, but with Cynel, Mikkel and Canitre! Edan’s Da? Billi braced, because this wouldn’t be good. “Welcome. Come in, please.” Billi gestured to the valley. As the four came over rise beside the dam and walked nearer Canitre stepped ahead.

  “‘Tis time to come back Billi. For Arikk and for Kelli’s wake if nothing else. Arikk has accepted she’s gone and it would be better if you were there. After all,” Canitre managed a faint smile but it took an effort, “you’d be missed from the dancing.”

  “Look, Canitre, I’m sorry, I really am but…”

  The Hunter raised his hand to stop Billi. “But there was no other way. I’ve run it around myself and I’ve heard everything everyone’s got to say and if anyone’s to blame it’s me.” Canitre looked round at the disagreements from the other three Hunters. “I should have slapped him down harder after the Wood Hunt, and maybe before to take some of the arrogance out of him. But that just seemed a part of him, that belief that he could do anything, and seemed to be just overconfidence.” Canitre shrugged. “That’s not unusual in a youth. Then Edan just couldn’t accept he didn’t get a Hound, and now maybe we know why he didn’t. It could be something in him, or what he said out in the Forest, or both, but it wasn’t you.” Canitre sighed. “After all, who suggested Hektor for the spear?”

  “Mandy. I asked for the steadiest and she said Hektor. Then he really was steady. I kept checking and he was always looking back, always watching with the spear ready.” Billi shrugged. “That’s why he got the chance.”

  “And you not wanting to show your stump with everyone there. We all know Billi. I’ve asked Mandy and others, at the time and now again.” Canitre sighed. “But you’ve said it, Hektor earned his chance.”

  Mikkel slapped the Hektor on the back. “Wish I’d seen that.” Billi opened his mouth but Canitre raised a hand again. Edan’s Da had something to get off his chest so Billi held his peace.

  “Let me finish now. His Ma encouraged the foolishness and I let her, and you seemed to have settled the business about your stock and gates well enough. I set him up in the stockyard so Edan would be occupied but didn’t have to work in the fields. He was out with the Hounds on guard and might still have got one. Then he didn’t and he found friends who would sit with him over a few ales so I let his Ma slip him the silver for the ale, and for the dogs and the horses after Hektor gave him a beating.”

  Canitre looked back. “Sorry about that Hektor; please tell your lass, Bliss. I should’ve done it but I just couldn’t believe he’d said some of those things.” Hektor waved him off and the Hunter turned back. “Then there was all the trouble with those men and your store, but it wasn’t actually Edan and you seemed to have sorted that out. I thought Edan had settled, and ‘twas his friends causing the trouble. Right up to the Harvestfest and from what he said then, well it was obvious he’d been a lot worse than I’d thought he could be. You did well, Billi, and so did Rabbit, there was a brawl coming and you stopped it. So I did what I should have done before.” The man looked stricken. This was tearing him up but he was determined to get it out.

  “Even after the shunning his Ma slipped Edan silver but not where I’d catch her and for a bit he seemed to be quiet, even if he had daft ideas about the dogs and horses. Those kept him occupied after the maids turned away. That hit him hard, the maids, they’d always liked him before.” Canitre sighed, a long, sad sound. He looked around the valley. “I’d no idea he’d been plotting this nonsense about setting up without a Hunter but ‘twas planned for a while, maybe since the first talk of the lakes. Those fools really did intend to start up a place without Hunters because the dogs would protect it. Edan should have known better.”

  “He planned to bring all those folk into the Wild?” Billi spoke without thought, because that horrified him. To risk so many lives!

  “No, not so many. From what they’ve said, Edan just took the chance when it came along, to get rid of you and take over. Edan persuaded Arikk you’d took his maid and enough came along to support the poor man.” The Hunter sighed. “Enough to give them a strong party, though Edan and Aescon didn’t mention the killing or village.”

  “But to come without a Hunter?” Billi couldn’t get past that bit.

  Canitre scowled. “Edan’s friends really believed that those dogs and all the bows were enough. Rabbit came as a terrible shock to them.” The Hunter put his hand down to stroke the strong back leaning against him in a show of support. “We always forget that part, how strong and fierce they are, because they are our friends, but some of those men will never go near a Hound again.”

  Billi scowled. “They didn’t before, but caused plenty of trouble. I don’t reckon that Aescon has learned much.”

  “More than ye think, maybe. Edan’s cronies were badly shaken and we had it all out of them afore they recovered. My littlun or not, my kin or not, if Edan had threatened to kill me and then drawn his bow on Autumn I might have done the same. So I might avoid ye a bit, because of the memory, but it’s not blame.” Canitre put out his arm and they clasped arms briefly, then he turned and went back out of the valley. Billi started after him but Cynel caught his arm.

  “He needs the Forest, Billi. ‘Tis a hard thing to face and harder to admit and he’ll need to walk a bit.” Well that’s what Billi came
here for, so he could understand that well enough.

  “I hope Canitre has better luck sorting it out.” Billi really meant that because he still didn’t feel right about killing.

  “Ellibeth said that.” Billi stared at Hektor. “She said you’d be sat by the water or on the hillside, staring into the sky or the lake and going round and round it all. You’d be trying to find a way out of it and there wasn’t one, Billi. The Eldest and the elders agree.” Hektor’s voice had some grim satisfaction in it. “It don’t matter if Aescon learned any lessons, since the six of them are banished. They’re sat waiting for a caravan since none have a Hound.”

  Mikkel spoke up. “Canitre didn’t give you the rest. Those fools, especially Aescon, believed that you and Rabbit were cripples and useless. If the Wild could accept you two out here then big dogs and a lot of bows were better, especially out here at the end of the Forest. They were sure the dogs could take Rabbit, and what he did has seriously frightened some of them.” Mikkel also had some satisfaction in his voice at that. “Edan simply couldn’t stand you having a Hound, even what he considered to be a crippled, useless one. Not when he didn’t get one. It ate him up and so he used every chance to cause you trouble.”

  Hektor gestured around him. “Then you had a whole new valley, and were going to be an Elder, and the idiots thought they’d just take the lot.” He sighed. “Those with Arikk did just follow a last hope for Kelli because Edan did some fast talking. Arikk and his friends were tricked, very deliberately. Some of Arikk’s kin might kill another of that bunch if they get the chance for feeding Arikk’s hopes and bringing him out here.” Hektor gestured at the crutch. “One of them, Edan they claim, used a branch to make crutch marks off into the forest from the tree.”

  “Good job they’d never really looked at the end you’ve got now. Edan and probably Aescon persuaded Arikk you’d taken Kelli alive.” Cynel’s lip lifted in scorn. “They’re a sorry bunch now, sat in the hall because the elders have warned them. If they go out into the Village they might not come back.”

  Hektor shrugged. “I suppose we’ll stick them in a shed for the wake if they haven’t left.” The young man’s face cleared, and he smiled. “Anyway, I’m here under threat because my lass has word from her Sis. Ellibeth is going to dance round the post in the hall at the wake and there’ll be trouble if there isn’t a bearr to catch her.” He laughed at the expression on Billi’s face.

  Then Billi felt himself blush, and Cynel laughed as well. “Don’t blame Hektor, he’s not alone. I’ve been told twice since we decided to come that I’d better bring a bear back for the dance. You’d better practice running ssrrong bearr, because word of this place is spreading and it wasn’t the same maid telling me each time.”

  “Three maids told me, which is embarrassing since I’m not caught myself and apparently not a suitable dancing bearr.” Mikkel didn’t seem upset, not from his grin.

  “But I killed a man.” Billi began to hope, but a killing was a big thing, bigger than bear dancing.

  “His own Da just said he might have done the same. Don’t make him go through that for no reason, Billi. You won’t forget, but nobody’s going to lie awake worrying you’ll murder them in their beds. We had a dozen volunteers to come and get you. A few villagers might look a bit sideways but nary a Hunter will.” Cynel shrugged his shoulders. “Ye can’t threaten a Hound or the Hunter will step in, ye can’t threaten a Hunter or the Hound will. If ye threaten both? The Hounds are content, the Wild is content, the Hunters are content, the Eldest is content.” Cynel slapped Billi on the back. “Let it lie.”

  “Anyway, if we hurry back by tomorrow night there’ll be fresh bread and steak and kidney pie, I’ve heard.” Hektor grinned. “I was told if you wavered, to mention it.” Billi heaved a big sigh of relief. They all meant it.

  “I’d best get my pack then, unless you want breakfast?” Because Billi didn’t think they’d make it by then, despite that pie sounding very tempting.

  Hektor shook his head. “Oh no, if you ever catch a maid you’ll know it’s best to do what you’re told, and I’ve been told by tomorrow night.” Cynel agreed, once a maid became a lass she also became a tyrant but neither seemed sorry to be under the heel.

  Billi smiled a little in spite of himself. He went in to get his pack and the cold meat left from the previous night, and Hektor waved eight fresh fish as he came out. “For later, to save time, come on!”

  They did indeed make good time because the three Hunters made sure Billi didn’t need to stop, except briefly to eat. They hunted in turns to feed the Hounds and the group, and divided the contents of Billi’s pack between them for speed. As darkness came on Mikkel pushed ahead and by the time Billi and the other two arrived had a cheerful fire blazing away and supper cooked.

  The faintest of streaks showed that dawn might be breaking soon when Hektor and a cheerful Rabbit’s song rousted Billi out of his furs. He set off still eating breakfast. The Hunters chivvied Billi on by pointing out that he needed to toughen up for the wake since the bear had a lot of very lively maids to catch. If he kept one he’d need even more strength. That kept Billi’s mind occupied and also kept him embarrassed. Hektor in particular seemed to find the chasing and catching jokes very funny.

  The sky had turned black with a hint of red and the sun barely showed on the horizon as the group left the trees and Billi had just made the fastest trip ever, for him. His leg and the shoulder using the crutch were feeling it despite carrying little in his pack but Billi found a bit more energy at the sight of the smoke from his hut, twin lines.

  “Here, apparently Rubyn will be disappointed if you forget.” Mikkel and Cynel laughed when Hektor handed over a selection of blooms and feathers. “I have to bring some back now, or get my ears frayed.” The three Hunters bid Billi goodnight, claimed they had to report in to avoid a scolding, and set off down the lane laughing. Spots barked, Rabbit replied and when the door opened there stood Ellibeth, with pie and bread as promised according to the lovely smells.

  She helped him off with his coat and jacket, then as he turned from hanging them she said “Welcome home Billi,” and hugged him. Billi hugged back because he really was pleased to be home and Ellibeth gave a little yelp, and looked up with a smile. “Oh no, I’ve been caught.” Before Billi could reply there were soft lips on his and he tightened his arms and bussed her very firmly.

  Definitely for a bit longer than might be proper. Then Ellibeth stepped back with two spots of colour in her cheeks and a smile, and tapped Billi on the chest. “Naughty bear. Playing on a maid’s sympathy to catch her for a bussing. Naughty, crafty bear.” She turned and headed for the fire. “Now sit down before I bring your cider or I might not dare come near.” But Billi could hear the laughter in her voice.

  So Billi sat and as he did the door burst open and Rubyn flew in from the bedroom. “I’ve put them all away Ma. Now can I talk to Billi?”

  Between listening to a blow by blow of Rubyn’s life Billi ate a big portion of pie and a slice of warm bread and butter with some cheese. ‘Twas the first of Rubyn’s cheese but not with his special cloth. He was making a proper one with that, bigger because the cloth was bigger and it would take time. When it was done the cheese would be firm and delicious, his Ma said so.

  Ma watched with mischief in her eyes since she had to have given him exactly that description, and Billi tried hard not to laugh. Then Rubyn pounced on the flowers and feathers, and for the first time Billi realised Ellibeth steered him a little when choosing what blooms would stay here in the hut and which would go to Viktor’s. Full darkness had fallen by the time he walked them to Viktor’s door and bid them goodnight. Going back home Billi felt much more at peace than at any time since losing that arrow. Though now he felt bit of a mess really since he had two homes and they both pulled hard. Billi still worried about the reaction of the villagers, but would deal with it tomorrow.

  * * *

  The Eldest had her talk with Billi the following morni
ng and the elders made much of it happening between the lakes and the Village. Kina shrugged. “That means the whole affair might be your problem to deal with anyway. We assumed you didn’t want those six out there?”

  Billi didn’t hesitate. “No I do not. I did wonder about trying to take the whole group that way to keep everyone safe. I debated if we might get there quicker than back here, but I don’t want them six to even see the valley.”

  Kina spread her hands. “That’s it then. Banished from the lakes and banished from Trail’s End means the Wild or a caravan. They’ve no Hound so they’d best take the first caravan out.”

  Guthra smirked. “Some have suggested the Wild without an option, and they can take those two dogs to keep them safe.” Billi stared and Guthra shrugged. “Those suggesting it were mostly kin of Arikk.”

  Kina spoke up again. “Though you’ve a decision to make about Edan, Billi.”

  “Edan? How?” After all, Billi had killed him which seemed final enough.

  “You might want to put this in your Laws of the Farm as well. Since Edan committed a banishing crime, ‘tis up to you if Edan’s skull is allowed on Skull Rock.” Kina sighed. “Banishment can be applied after death, and then the skull is smashed and scattered in the Forest instead of going with the rest.”

  Billi thought of Canitre’s face out at the valley, and couldn’t do that to the distraught Hunter. “No, I’d not ask for that. Because of Canitre, not Edan.”

  “That’s it done then. Now you’d best get that valley sorted out, and a name would be handy. Big Black Beast? Bearr’s Den?” Billi left before the elders really started.