Witan Jewell

by Russ L. Howard

  As they embraced, and kissed, he pulled her down on top of him to cushion the impact into the soft furs then rolled on top of her and said, “As the heavens roll down and the sun rises, so I take you as my eternal bride through night and day and through day and night again, throughout all the revolutions of time, through all internity, and eternity, forevermore.”

  His skin was bronze from his friendship with the sun, her eyes focused on the painted black hieroglyph of the Thorn of Life on his forehead. As he gazed at her beautiful copper skin, the color of her friendship with the Ea-Urth, his passion mounted. He was the sun warming the furrows of fresh turned red earth waiting for the seed to be sown. Her love sprouted and grew beneath him and he knew it would blossom and fruit in the days ahead as he rained his love down upon her like a shower of golden pollen.

  The lark was now on the wing and the dawn was alive with every songbird of the bush joining melodiously together into morning song. It was the greatest moment of eternity and internity Sur Sceaf had ever known. Their love melded them as one flesh and one spirit, as they bathed in the heavenly fire of the moment. It was, Sur Sceaf knew, the point at which both outer and inner worlds intersected and joined in eclipsing resplendent joy. It was their portal to a new world together.

  Chapter 17 : A Witch Hunt

  After Elijah arrived in Witan Jewell from the training in seamanship at Port Urford, he greeted and kissed his wife in their white canvas tent, “Did everything go well whilst I was gone?”

  “In our camp, all went smoothly enough,” Miriam said, “But there was an incident with Fromer thou shouldst look into. It appeareth he was smote on the chin and knocked out. Most say, by his worming into Hartmut’s private business. Hartmut told me, he hath taken to courting one of the Sharaka women and Fromer went sticking his nose where it wast not wanted. Fromer claimeth he was only trying to protect Hartmut from pagan whoredoms and abominations.”

  “Honestly, Miriam, don’t we have enough problems with the migration and the Pitter attacks. Fromer is like having a bee in my hat all the time. If I smack him he doth sting. Better to wait for him to fly out. Doth he not have enough work to do that he findeth the time to look for mole hills and call them mountains?”

  “Husband,” Miriam said, “we’re glad to have thee back anyway. Habraham knoweth the matter with Fromer. He hath told him not to meddle in others’ affairs again and sayeth Fromer doth take too much power unto himself once again.”

  “It is like trying to plow a straight line with a cross-eyed ox.” Elijah kissed his dear wife. “I shall make my rounds and get a feel for the brethren. Then I’ll return for dinner with thee, Mother.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  Elijah made a circuit throughout the Quailor camp, greeting old friends and relatives, looking for Habraham to get his report on the status of the community when he heard voices coming out of the Meeting Tent. As he approached the door of the large snot green tent, where no one should have been, he drew up beside the tent where he perceived serpentine whispering going on like the chatter of rats in a wall. Opening the tent door swiftly he was greeted by the surprised faces of Fromer and several other dycons sitting behind a table.

  Shocked that there was an unscheduled meeting, which was highly forbidden in Quailor society under what they called sunshine meetings, Elijah exclaimed coldly, “When was it the policy to allow Quailor to hold secret or unscheduled meetings? Is not everything to be done in the light of day that we might have transparency for all to participate in?”

  “It was an emergency meeting,” Fromer said with a pinched face and a furtive look that Elijah had always found difficult to endure.

  “Then why isn’t the High Priest Habraham presiding over it, as required?”

  “That is precisely the question I was asking,” Walter Wetzel spoke up.

  “He’s been too busy dealing with the Heathen in their councils,” Fromer said, then pointing straight at him. “When are you going to open your eyes to the fact that you’ve brought us into a flesh pot little different from that of Sodom and Gomorrah?”

  “I only chust got home. What dost thou speak of? I got no letters referencing any problems.”

  “Well, for one, let’s chust start with the fact that I caught Hartmut half-naked on a blanket with a Sharaka harlot. When I confronted her, she came at me hissing and clawing like a wildcat.”

  “Naked? Harlotry? These are serious charges. Hast thou taken this to Habraham? And what dost thou mean she attacked thee?”

  “The fact that this woman hit me with her fist and knocked me out is proof enough she’s a she-devil. How else could a woman have done it?” Fromer said, looking to Linney, who nodded.

  “I saw it with my own eyes.” Linney declared heatedly. “She was clearly possessed, babbling something about rats and mice that I could make little or no sense of.”

  Fromer scowled, “Because I tried to save Hartmut, the savage knocked me out cold. Then there’s that business of the Herewardi profaning the Sabbath. What they call the Fifth Sabbath, going on right now. All through these three nights we heard the drums and flutes sounding off in the woodlands, heard the laughter and merriment, and we’ve heard tales of what goes on in those groves. Devilry and witchery, I tell thee. Cutting May blossoms and dancing about a large May pole. Even now Sur Sceaf lieth in a black tent with one of those savages doing Gott only knows what, but we’ve heard it’s a bloody ritual filled with all sorts of licentious bedevilment. Why, I would not be surprised if he doesn’t walk out of that black tent with cloven hooves and horns.”

  Elijah decided he was going to play along with Fromer. Let him fall under his own weight rather than reasoning with him which never worked in the past. “These are serious charges. If true we would have to re-think our alliance and that would be a drastic step. Brother Fromer, I am sure thou wouldst not make these accusations lightly. We will form a committee to investigate this matter consisting of three dycons and three high priests. I will pick three dycons, and thou canst pick three high priests to investigate.”

  Walter nodded his head. “That sounds very reasonable, Fromer.”

  Elijah looked around the room at some of the dycons who showed signs of being ashamed of secretly meeting. He noticed they were clustered with Walter Wetzel, whom he knew to be a good brother. Then some of Fromer’s usual henchmen gathered in closer to him, looking like children caught with their hand in a cookie jar.

  Linney started to speak and Fromer twitched his face and shook his head rapidly as he held up a finger for silence.

  “I’ll start the investigation tomorrow,” Elijah said. “We’ll have a meeting in a fortnight to address these issues and I’ll investigate these peculiar rites of the Herewardi thou hast spoken of, but we shall do it in a public meeting with all the dycons, seventies, and high priests in attendance. Hartmut will be held accountable for any infractions, if any.”

  Fromer grinned deviously. He bowed his head and nodded his approval with a look of false humility.

  Elijah continued, “And while we have the Seventy organized for disciplinary action we can officially mark warnings against each of your transgressions; namely, commanding Retrenchers to remain in Salem to die, leading women outside the boundaries of fyrd protection to die, organizing clandestine meetings in secret, and bearing false witness against a righteous brother.”

  Fromer’s jaw went slack. He had the look of a whipped mule, stunned.

  “No. No need for all that Brother Elijah. Me thinketh all this shall work itself out. If thou wouldst only talk to Hartmut privately, I think that should be enough.”

  “That’s what I thought as well. Now excuse me brethren, there are pressing matters to attend to.”

  * * *

  When Sur Sceaf lifted the daleth tent flap, he and Taneshewa were greeted by the golden rays of a setting sun. The clouds were arranged in fluffy steps which appeared to stretch up into the sky like a stairway to Heaven. The long rays of sunlight lit his wedding robe with a halo of radiance and e
verywhere sunlight glistened on the white and fragrant blossoms of the May trees.

  Sur Sceaf took her hand. “It is symbolic that I bring you out of death to life, from being separate, to being included. It is an ancient custom.”

  Taneshewa, with a radiant smile for him, placed her hand in his and together they walked into the sunlight. Her graceful movements were accentuated by the shining white wedding dress she had made.

  Sur Sceaf took a fresh breath of the May-scented air as he drew his new bride into his arms and kissed her tenderly, “Now, we will go share our joy with our family.”

  In the back of his mind the haunting prospect of leaving Ahy in one moonth for the sea made him hate his duty. He would only be able to enjoy her company exclusively for this one week, then he must go to each wife according to their lot. It was their custom, and he was bound by it. He also reflected on how it was one moonth before the day the seamen would depart from Ur Ford for the Whale Road. The excitement of the coming launch over the bend of the deep thrilled him at another level.

  Suffused with joy as he had found Taneshewa to be everything he had expected and more, he prayed: Oh Freya, hear the prayer of my heart. I am so grateful for this jewel of jewels. Bless us that the memory of this Sabbath shall attend us throughout our lives. May we live long and die fast.

  As soon as the green beetles saw the bridal couple exit the daleth tent, they ran to announce their approach with hunter’s horns.

  Hand in hand they followed the path to Sur Sceaf’s manor house. As they entered the great hall, the twelve-year-old daughter, Prisca, yelled out, “Here they come. Get ready!”

  Sur Sceaf’s children and the Sharaka children began sprinkling hawthorn blossoms before their feet and throwing sprigs of mistletwig before them. The hall was well lit by chandeliers and sconces. Boughs of magnolia, oak, hawthorn, and holly decorated the great hall with garlands of ivy running up the posts. Musicians played the mandolins and flutes while tables of food lay spread out before them. Dancers were performing artful pieces to puckish lyrics and boys ran through the hall dressed in green, playing flutes, and playing Robin Goodfellow. This was always a crazy time, a joyous time, the High Holy Times of the Herewardi Year which began with fertility rites and ended with the burning of the yule and the death of the Winter King.

  Prisca came up to them and said, “I must crown you the May Queen, Mother Ahy.” Taneshewa leaned down and a wreath of hawthorn was gently placed on her head.

  Arundel approached with some antlers in his hand, “Father, permit me to crown you as the lord of the forest.”

  Sur Sceaf knelt down on one knee while Arundel fastened the antlers to his head, tying the headdress beneath the chin.

  Paloma then announced, “Our lord has returned and with him the great lady, our newest bride-sister, Ahyyyokah Taneshewa. She along with Ethelflaeda shall be our May queens this Sabbath.”

  “All hail!” the revelers shouted in unison and broke into joyous May song.

  The hall was filled with merrymakers and most of the guests were already standing at their tables eager to take part in the festive board. At the center of the head table Ilkchild and Ethelflaeda smiled at him. Like him Ilkchild wore a headdress of antlers and Ethelflaeda bore a similar May queen’s crown.

  “Please,” Paloma said, “everyone take your places at the table. Our lord and new bride-sister, will sit at the head with our matriarch, the lady Redith and Chief Onamingo along with his honored wife, Dancing Rabbit. Likewise, Ilkchild and his new wife will sit with Swan Ray and Ethelflaeda’s parents, Olf and Edith of Mount Skell.”

  Sur Sceaf escorted Ahy over to his table and shook hands with his father. He hugged his mother and the lady Redith.

  After seating Ahy, Sur Sceaf, as was custom, addressed the guests. “On this holy day in the great hall I wish to give thanks first off for my lovely new bride and express my gratitude for all my beloved wives, for their patience while I’ve been gone. They have rendered their priestly service unto us in the holy tent. To you, my friends and family here gathered, we thank the gods, the elves, the undergods, and the woodland spirits for our peace and the plenty spread before us this day. Let the Good Fellows pipe throughout the woods tonight, chasing down their woodland nymphs, and let everyone be filled with the merriment of the May Queen tonight.”

  The host of revelers cheered and clapped.

  “Taneshewa and I are not the only ones here who were wed. Please let’s congratulate Ilkchild and Ethelflaeda on their wedding.” Cheers and applause, pipes and whistles rang out. “And in just three more days he will take Godgifu to be his second wife.”

  Again a round of applause and cheers followed.

  Ilkchild stood up next, looking very pleased with himself. “I wish to introduce my first wife whom I married today, the faery-queen, Ethelflaeda.” Everyone clapped and cheered. “And as Surrey said, in three days time I will take Godgifu to be my lovely second wife.” Again there was a round of applause. “I know it is unusual to marry so rapidly in succession,--not that I mind of course--, but circumstances have dictated it.” Laughter circulated throughout the hall. Raising his krug Ilkchild said, “I drink to Sur Sceaf and Taneshewa.” Everyone toasted, smacked their lips, wiped the froth from their mustaches and upper lips and slammed their krugs on the tables.

  Godgifu rose and grinned. “Don’t burn him out, Ethelflaeda, save some for me.” Roaring laughter rocked the hall.

  As they feasted on lamb, goose, rabbit, and brazed pigeon, Paloma stood up once again. “This is our Fifth Sabbath Feast. We use it to celebrate our marriages as well as to honor Mo Mo Redith as our matriarch, and take it as a time to meet with our family and friends. After much feasting and merriment, we will do as is our custom and have the interpretation of dreams. Redith will be our interpreter this evening. So if anyone has a particularly profound dream, don’t let this opportunity pass. When you are finished eating and enjoying the entertainment, we’ll gather to the round table for those who seek the wisdom of the seeress.”

  The Lady Paloma glanced down the table at Dancing Rabbit and said, “But right now as a mother, I would very much enjoy hearing from the mother of the bride.”

  “O ye! O ye! Hear, hear!” echoed in the hall.

  “Dancing Rabbit, would you give us a brief telling of your dear daughter?” Paloma asked.

  Dancing Rabbit appeared shy as she rose, not being the one that liked to speak to crowds. “In truth, Taneshewa was the child from hell the first eight years of her life. Her father and I even thought we might have to leave her out in the wilderness and hope she wouldn’t find her way back home.” Laughter filled the hall. “But when she turned eight, all of that changed. We actually thought maybe the Thunder Beings had exchanged another child for ours. Because she became the sweetest, most helpful child we had ever known. When she hit her maiden years of fifteen winters it was apparent that the gods had given her a double portion of beauty and soon there were wolves of all sorts prowling outside our tipi door.” Everyone laughed again. “Even a couple coyotes and skunks.” They laughed again. “In those days my husband carried an extra tomahawk every time he heard a suitor come to our door. Finally, she met Sur Sceaf, a man we have come to love and respect as a son. I have never seen my daughter this happy in all her life.” She paused. “And...” she broke down in tears...“and it makes me so happy to see this.”

  Sagwi stood up with krug in hand and tears streaming down her chubby cheeks. “I ain’t neber had any chillun of my own, though I was fixin to all my life, but I done always reckoned Taneshewa and Mendaho was as good as my own daughters, and dhat Surrey was my boy. Dhey bof and Surrey done giv me all da lovin a motha could ever hope for and tonight I pray to dhem gods, Mendaho finds her a man. It does me right good to see dhese girls so happy and I’s wishin you three da best of blessings dhem gods has.”

  Everyone drank and slammed their krugs to the table as the Stewards leaped to refill the krugs and the minstrels sang their merry tunes of May Time. In th
e wooded background drums, fifes, and whistles sounded off.

  * * *

  “Chust listen to those Heathen out there in the woods,” Fromer said as he sat with Linney Knighton and Markus Rohm in the dark council of his tent. “The longer we stay here the more we shall be like unto them. If we abide any longer in Witan Jewell, it’ll be chust like the Holy Schrift says, the sons of Gott came down and found the daughters of men pleasing. Mark my words, it won’t be long before they start leading our sons and daughters into their abominibal merriments.”

  Linney nodded vigorously, “We even caught Hartmut in the very act of fraternizing with the Heathen. Except for his hat, he looked chust like one of them, half naked and stretched out on the sand.” He shook his arms frantically. “I chust hate how they make merry, dance around their idols, and go half naked. It’s a damnable abomination.”

  “Brethren the abominations are already seducing our youth.” Markus reported, “Bruna got pregnant down at one of those river parties, had to marry Silas Halterman as soon as she started to swell.”

  “I’ll have that damned apostate, Hartmut Hagele, excommunicated.” Fromer swore. “That shall set the example for all. Problem is, Elijah and those high priests have done crossed me up and out numbered me.” Fromer stroked his jaw line in contemplation. “What else can we do?”

  “I’ve got an idea I’ve been hatching out lately.” Markus offered.

  “Well, what is it. Spew it out,” Fromer demanded.

  “Thou knowest how they’ve been planning on this whaling venture, and shall surely be going to the deep to hunt whales, like it’s the most important thing that happeneth under the sun.”

  “Yes, go on! Get thee to the point.”

  “Elijah and Hartmut shall be on boats filled with very rowdy men,” Markus said, “and thou art chust bound to catch them praying and mixing inappropriately with those Heathen. Keep a record and when thou hast collected sufficient evidence, we’ll call for their excommunications.”