Shortly after the behooding, Paloma left for Godeselle to meet with the Council of Women and prepare for the Day of Accounting.
Sur Sceaf thoroughly delighted in his time at the manor as a change from his consuming activities of building and traveling. Up until Taneshewa was due, she had been the one wife that insisted on staying at his side during all his labors. The other bride-sisters elected for the comfort afforded by the manor and having a much larger households to attend to, were happy Taneshewa volunteered Sur Sceaf the comfort of companionship while he was away from home.
Up until she was ready for delivery when he slept at the site of a project she slept with him. When he inspected the quarries, she would ride out with him. When he drilled the fyrd, she rode with him. Sur Sceaf had to laugh as he reminisced on how some of the men teased her by calling her Sur Shadow.
His reverie broke as his horse snorted at the guards before the south gate of Godeselle. They saluted and a groom ran up to take his horse. He walked to the great stone hall and noted that most of the leaders and stewards had already signed the roll book as present. After adding his own name, he walked up stairs to the council chamber where the leaders and stewards of the kingdom of Syr Folk were already seated at the long walnut table. After taking his place at the head of the table, the steward handed Sur Sceaf his long swan and he rapped it three times on the stone pavement. All stood.
Lady Paloma came forward and offered the opening prayer.
After the prayer, Sur Sceaf announced the official beginning of The Day of Accounting. Once again he rapped his long swan, giving permission for the attendees to be seated.
Sur Sceaf said, “Friends and citizens of the Kingdom of Syr Folk, it is the Day of Accounting in the year 585 HSO. As for myself I have supervised all the labors of the city, its fortification, the quarries, and the building of settlements. I have met every goal of the Roufytrof and delivered them my personal accounting. I will now hear your reports over your stewardships and likewise render them over to the Roufytrof.” Looking over to the Quailor contingency Sur Sceaf said, “I will yield the floor to Habraham, acting chief high priest of the Quailor, chief steward over allotments, and acting chief scribe, for his report.”
Habraham laid down his quill, stood up, took off his hat, then ran his hand over his long grey hair and started fumbling with his words. “As chief steward, I, I, I have attempted to place the various folk in the areas they are particularly suited for. Herewardi have been sent to the hills and oaken savannahs, Sharaka to the woodlands, and Quailor out on the open meadows and downs. I would have allotted the Pitters their graves, but none could be found.”
The leaders at the council table laughed.
Muryh shouted out, “We’ll offer them the flames rather than our soil soon enough.”
Relaxing a bit, Habraham continued, “I have personally laid out townships throughout the lands and had them settled by handpicked colonists from the main land, those who have served the most on their indentures thus far in Ur Ford and Maiden’s Head. Inter-tribal quarreling hath been kept to a minimum by allowing each tribe its autonomy and sovereignty, but all have also recognized the will of the Council of Three Tribes. All acknowledge thee, Sur Sceaf, as the over lord of the whole isle. So far, to our knowledge, no one hath come to this isle without a bill of citizenship granted either by a representative of Sur Spear or the Rabbi Amschel.
“The census takers have returned the census arrows to me and I have ascertained that the following towns have a population of forty thousand settlers or more. They are, in the Herewardi sector, Brave Water, Wool Folk, Drake Water, Elf Wood, Eweward, Peep Stone, Shakespeare, Bacon, and Folk Stone. The Sharaka villages with populations above ten thousand are Raven’s Wood, Buck Wood, and Buffalo. Although I have word from Mendaka that he will be drawing heavily upon these villages to settle the newly founded Isle of Isle and the fortress he is building to be named Fort Veil.
“Now the Quailor settlements exceeding ten thousand are She Oak, Beef Wood, Sheep Downs, Crop Downs, Heilbronn, and Ullrstammen. Additionally, I have overseen the Hickoryan and Colomban settlements. There are four of which exceed ten thousand. They are Dank Wood, Dixie, and Hickory, with Hockney-in-the-Hole far to the south near the Dragon’s Back just starting to develop. As per thy suggestion, my lord, all of these settlements have been enclosed. The smaller settlements are not included due to their perpetual fluctuations in numbers.”
Habraham cleared his throat, combed his beard with his fingers, then finished by saying, “Once one settlement was firm, established, and self-sustaining, all the resources that could be mustered were then focused on the next settlement, fortress, and stronghold, etc. I suspect by this Spring Equinox there will be considerably more settlements above forty thousand. It hath become even as thou hast decreed, my lord, self-perpetuating.”
Habraham saluted Sur Sceaf twice then returned to his seat and took up his quill to write again.
Against all protocol, Fromer walked out on the floor and weakly saluted Sur Sceaf. The mousey man took off his black felt hat revealing a bald head and poorly groomed hair matted around the ears. “Thou didst say,” he pointed a boney finger directly at Sur Sceaf, in an accusing manner, “we would have our sovereignty once the isle was established. So I can’t understand why the dycon’s cannot branch out and build their own settlement here.”
By this time Sur Sceaf felt only contempt for Fromer not only for his breach of protocol, and his disrespect, but for a question he had already been given the answer to on numerous occassions. “Fromer, if you remember, I also said your Quailor leadership would determine where they would settle by consulting with Habraham. Habraham determined that the dycons will have to wait before they can split off from any main body of Quailor and they no longer think it a good idea to live separated given your track record. Also, I have given him the perimeters of where to build so that we can build with nature and do no harm to our stewardship over our ancient forests. In addition, Chief Onamingo, as Chief Judge has reviewed your petition and determined that your settlement has two extra years of indentures to serve by reason of your double violation of settling on unalloted land and for the crime of cutting down non-designated old growth agathis trees. Should you feel so disposed as to disrupt this meeting one more time, I’ll see to it you are jailed. You know the channels by which you may speak. I charge you to use them from here on.”
* * *
Habraham’s Log:
After I finished rendering my three stewardships to the high lord, Muryh gave a full accounting of his many building projects, including the Ram’s Head Fortress, the palace, and the arduous interior work being laid for the temple.
The accounting went on throughout the evening, with Jon Dee Lee, the Hickoryan, reporting on the numerous road building projects, those that had been completed, those in progress, and those to be completed in the coming year. Zrael accounted for the goat and sheep herds, all of which have increased a hundred and fifty percent and the percentage would have been much higher were it not for predation. Both the Quailor horse master, Peter, and Aelfheah, son of Sur Sceaf rendered an account on the horse studs and the breeding of many horses for a mobile army. Jon Dee Lee also introduced a horse stud of Hanoverian horses in hopes of developing a Hickoryan Calvary unit down at Hockney-in-the-Hole and the construction of a safe door built at the Dragon’s Back, called Fall Gate. Even small accountings were given. The Rabbi requested his grandsons, Bnimin and Sunchild, be granted permanent status in a wolf pack of El Yid’s Fyrd in hopes of someday raising up a Jywdic Navy which Sur Sceaf readily granted.
Raven’s Tongue gave an accounting of Pyrsyrus’ naval exploits, as Admiral Pyrsyrus is still absent and out on raids to the Kalifornias. He said he had obtained report that the Pyringean pirating ventures have been successful and profitable, and that so far, the blockade hath only been breached twice, both times by the same vessel, owned by one Juan Carlos de Bavar y Sajones, an ex-torreador from Rosarita. The Raven reported tha
t Shug Moss and El Yid have proven to be splendid commanders, who seesaw in outdoing each other with their conquests and pirating victories.
Finally, Raven rendered a thorough accounting of the whaling receipts as given by Rabbi Amschel, the raids of the rangers on the main land, and the exploits of the fyrds. Raven’s Tongue accounted for the much wealth and plunder which hath been gleaned from their attacks on the Pitter holdings in the Mexus lands and Kalifornias and ended with announcing they had just completed the twentieth shipment of rare woods from the main land for the completion of the temple interior.
Sur Sceaf delivered the final speech which I include here:
“The Herewardi have a Law of Consecration which requires our people to consecrate their time, labor, talents and resources to the building of new settlements in a perpetual sequential order. We have begun to institute the same law among the Syr Folk, and we have heard here tonight how well the confederated kingdom advances because of it. It is a joy to be a part of this great work.
“Processing camps have been built in Ur Ford where Rabbi Amschel is testing the freed slaves and captives rescued from the Pitters to see if they are good citizen material. If they are, they may come here with a bill of citizenship to settle. I know you think the city is over crowded, but I assure you I have weighed the overcrowding against the plans for expansion, and decided that the faster we build and fortify, the more we may spread out and get some elbow room.
“I have here a message that Turtle Duck has left from the sun door, over which I have placed Mendaka to preside as lord of the Suff Door. He has also obtained the permission of the two new races of men in the south lands to settle, develop plantations, open trade, and build fortification . These races are called the Chartreusean and Cerulean peoples. I am pleased to report that the expedition to the south lands has been very fruitful. Turtle Duck arrives in a few days and Long Swan will then render us his full report.
“Of side interest to us all and on a personal note, great news comes that my brother, Long Swan, long time confirmed bachelor, shall be returning with a bride on his arm. I wish all to receive him in a wedding feast here at the great hall and for those who wish to join him when he takes her as wife again under the rite of the veil, which I am sure will likely take place shortly after the elven fair.”
The hall erupted in cheers.
Sur Sceaf then continued. “Men and brethren, ladies and sistern, look about you and behold the beauties of the unity of our three tribes and our allied fellows. It is not long now when many standing here today shall live to see the fall of the Pitter Empire. Almost, we must make ready to pull it down, for the day is fast approaching and the foundation is practically laid.”
The assemblage answered: “So mote it be!”
Thus I end the Accounting and Census for another year.
* * *
From the top of the Os Keep came a trumpeting sound signaling the arrival of Turtle Duck’s ship, the Overo, docking at Troll Landing in the shark-wyrm Bay of Godeselle.
It was early morning, and Sur Sceaf sent out musicians and dancers to welcome home the expedition and to greet his son, the Lord Prince Arundel, whom he loved with all his heart, and on whom he had placed much favor, and also upon whom he deemed his successorship rested according to the will of the gods. The families of those who had gone on the expedition to the south were gathered in anxious waiting at the great hall. During their absence Sur Sceaf had eagerly anticipated hearing the accounts of the south lands and was eagerly looking forward to examining Xelph’s specimens and hearing about the descriptions of the strange plants, animals, and peoples that inhabited the lands south of the Dragon’s Back. And even more he was curious to meet the representatives of Chartruesea and Cerulea that Mendaka had persuaded to visit Godeselle so as to render first hand reports to their leaders and people.
Along the crenelated walls of the Ram’s Head Fortress, the trumpeters blasted the second time, marking the arrival of the explorers at the Gorse Gate. From the top of each of the Os Keep towers, a flag with the green Eye of Howrus blew in the sea breeze, beckoning the explorers to sanctuary.
It pleased him to no end that the banner had come to be known in the surrounding tribes as the standard of freedom. As Sur Sceaf studied the banner, he thought, I am Howrus. He lives in me and I live in him! And I swear by my balls and the balls of All Father Woon, Alfred, and Hereward, we will soon bring all our might to bear upon the evil Pitter Empire until there is not a Pitter left to stand against a wall.
Sur Sceaf had arranged for the reception to be an impressive and warm greeting ceremony for the arriving Chartreuseans and Ceruleans. According to Mendaka, enlisting them as allies would mean far more numbers for the cause. He hoped they would appreciate the music, and sounds, and be impressed with the might of the stonework, as well as the beautiful horses, dancers, and banners that lined their way in. It was his goal to graft them into the Syr Folk tree and he had learned that a little pageantry always went a long way.
As Sur Sceaf rode White Fire up to the Gorse Gate, he heard the voices of the Syr Folk lining both sides of the road, raised in the welcome home song of the Herewardi. “When Ev’Rhett comes marching home again, hooray, hoorah!” Emotion welled up in his chest. The explorers were just beginning to come through the Gorse Gate, so he dismounted and gave White Fire to a groom.
One-by-one he welcomed home and embraced the explorers.
“Elf Beard, my old friend, it is so good to see you again.”
“Some mighty fine hunting in those parts, my lord. We’ll talk over a krug of ale when we have time.”
As he released his old friend, Sur Sceaf turned and hugged Xelph, “Well done, Xelph! Well done!”
Xelph smiled big, “How could I have ever failed with a crew like I had?”
Sur Sceaf then moved to Crooked Jack. “How fair you my old comrade in arms?”
“I’m fit as a fiddle and filled with enough tales to tell for five generations. Damned good land that Suff Door is.”
“Perhaps you can start over a krug of ale this evening.”
“It’ll be my pleasure,” Crooked Jack said in his usual gruff voice. “And I want you to know, that firstborn boy of yours has a damned good head on his shoulders. I think he’s even deeper than you, my lord, if I might say so without offense.”
“You might say that, indeed, and now I shall greet him,” Sur Sceaf said as he pressed through the crowd to get to Ary.
“Fa,” Arundel called out and the two embraced. “Os Frith, so good to see you again, I can’t wait to tell you of the Suff Lands. I’ve never had more of an education in my entire life. Both people of the Suff Lands are marvelous. I spent most of my time among the Chartreuseans and you would not believe the wyrt cunning and crops they have in their possession and the way they can turn barren land into deep tilth and fertility.”
“Well, I hope between you, Xelph, and Long Swan, we will receive a proper accounting, but for now you better get youself to the Stone Hall before your mother and fiancées collapse with anticipation. I don’t need to tell you how Brekka has sung your praise everyday since you’ve been gone. We couldn’t have forgotten you if we had wanted.”
They both laughed. Then Sur Sceaf moved to Long Swan and the green-skinned lady on his arm. “My dear brother, welcome home. And who is this lovely lady so fondly attached to your arm?”
Long Swan looked peacock proud. “Sur Sceaf, may I present to you my beloved wife, the Lady Ysys of Charteusea, daughter of Eyf, Chief of Arym Gael.”
Sur Sceaf reached forth his hand and knelt on one knee while taking Ysys’ hand and placing it to his forehead, “Greetings lady Ysys. I do not have to tell you that you have married one of the most exalted spirits of my acquaintance and as I can see, he has found himself a lovely lady beyond compare.” Sur Sceaf rose to his feet. “I must tell you that all of my wives have prepared a feast in your honor this evening, lady Ysys, and have already begun preparing for your marriage in the marriage tent. I am sure Long
Swan has explained our strange customs to you.”
“That he has, my lord. I am looking forward to being married to him again under his law. He has not ceased to tell me how much esteem he holds his brother in and all the trials and tribulations you had to pass through. Yet when I look about me, here, at the magnificence of this great stone city, I am led to believe that the Ele-Anorean gods must indeed favor you.”
Sur Sceaf found himself doubly entranced by the musical quality of her voice and if it were possible for flowers to speak, he had just heard one. “Lady Ysys, you are most welcome here.” He turned to Long Swan “Please escort our lovely lady to the table of my wives in the Stone Hall and introduce them to her.”
“Before I go brother,” Long Swan said and turned backwards, “permit me to introduce our other guests.”
“Of course, I look forward to meeting them.”
Long Swan escorted him to the spot where the guests were looking up at the stone walls and at the banners whipping in the breeze. They turned at their approach. “My lord, Sur Sceaf, allow me to present the honorable high priest of the Iluloika of Ele-Anor-Ness, the distinguished Mack-Ka.”
Sur Sceaf bowed at the neck and put forth his hand. “Os-Frith, Mack-Ka. It is an honor to meet you.” As he shook Mack-Ka’s hand, he noted the high-backed chartreuse robe with its periwinkle interior. He couldn’t help but observe the piercing green eyes set beneath a prominent forehead adorned with Royal Braid.
“The honor is mine, Lord Sur Sceaf. My queen, Zschamillah, has chosen me to assess your motives and to elaborate to her the strength and intent of your kingdom. For it is by your intentions we hope to judge whether we will permit your armies and forts in the center of Ele-Anorean lands.”
The Bok of Syr Folk Page 35