The Rise of Yarifel

By Jayeljay

The Rise of Yarifel takes the reader on a journey. A young girl grows to become a decisive woman in a man's world where she embarks upon a sharp curve in her learning. Taught and led by men, she is suddenly plunged into the real world and huge responsibilities fall upon her. Now she must use all her skills and learning to lead those who had

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Media Reviews
• Release date: Jul 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958091425

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The Rise of Yarifel

Book Two

In the Egrenon Series

Jayeljay

Copyright © 2022 Jayeljay.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author and publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN: 978-1-958091-43-2 (PB)

ISBN: 978-1-958091-44-9 (HB)

ISBN: 978-1-958091-42-5 (E-book)

Some characters and events in this book are fictitious and products of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Book Ordering Information

The Media Reviews

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Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Glossary

Chapter 1: Reunions

Chapter 2: The Learning Years

Chapter 3: The Secrets of Sonsham

Chapter 4: The Call to Defend Egrenon

Chapter 5: By Hook or by Crook

Chapter 6: ‘I Have an Idea Sire’

Chapter 7: The East Coast

Chapter 8: Grorbbin the Assassin

Chapter 9: The Invasion Begins

Chapter 10: Hardships and Tragedies in The Southmonts

Chapter 11: Yorrmidon’s Journey

Chapter 12: The Northmonts

Chapter 13: The Race for the Interior

Chapter 14: The Crarns Close In

Chapter 15: Yarifel Adopts the Mantle

Chapter 16: The Final Ordeal for The Crarns

Chapter 17: The Route to Freedom

Chapter 18: Yarifel The Accused

Chapter 19: Unexpected Requests

Chapter 20: Revelation and Resolution

Glossary

Blitte: (Pronounced Blight). Meaning ‘Wonder’ Tribes, peoples who are land dwellers in Egrenon.

Argblitte: Fearless hunters.

Carsblitte: Foresters, carpenters, and guardians of the secret trees.

Rocsblitte: Miners, smiths, and farriers.

Sansblitte: Plainsmen, herders, and ranchers.

Sonsblitte: The Ancient Ones, advisors to the villages and renowned for their learning and wisdom.

Whetblitte: Agricultural farmers, millers, and brewers.

Wolblitte: Weavers and clothiers.

Wonsblitte: Seafarers, mariners, and glass makers.

Mirsur: Flying race of people.

Wonsur: Underwater race, ocean dwellers.

Jagsurl: Leopard-like cat.

Pansurl: Black panther.

Sansurl: Llama-like animals farmed for their wool, milk, and meat for special occasions.

Glo: Suffix denoting an important event.

Bartsglo: Market.

Lingsglo: Birth ritual.

Matesglo: Mating ritual.

Mirsglo Eclipse, occurring every 5 years.

Sonsglo: Funeral rite.

Leem: Suffix that denotes produce.

Hagleem: A mineral fertiliser.

Modleem: Mineral used for waterproofing when mixed with resin.

Pocleem: Mineral salt.

Sansleem: Meat from the sansurl.

Luna: The moon.

Mir: The sun.

Monts: Mountains.

Wonsfall: Heavy, monsoon-like rains.

Sans: The steppes, vast grassy plains.

Day: 30 hours

Year: 20 months

Lings: Children, young ones.

Wil: Village head-man, chosen by the elders of the tribe.

Torr: Deputy to the Wil.

Orkswing: Messenger bird of the Crarns.

Crarns: Mercenaries.

Chapter 1

Reunions

The miners of Rocsham had long expected that Yarifel would someday return to her birth home. Now in her 16th year, she harboured a yearning to revisit and reconnect with her village, her beloved grandparents, and her friends after long years away from them.

The young girl had evolved into a stunningly beautiful teenager, which would be no surprise to the miners of Rocsham; her mother Garlinalet, was quite a beauty herself.

*     *     *

Yarifel dismounted from her white mare like a born Sansblitte rider. The sun had bleached her long dark hair with pale strands during her years on the steppes, and her tread was now as light as the Argblitte hunters with whom she had spent some years during her absence from her family.

Her constant and loyal companion was Munti, a rescued wild jagsurl kitten who had now grown to become a most magnificent creature. Yarifel rarely went anywhere without her, and the jagsurl had no wish to leave Yarifel, not even for a mate.

The large cat padded alongside her owner to her grandfather’s house, both treading soundlessly upon the path strewn with fallen twigs and the colourful leaves of autumn.

*     *     *

‘Yarifel! My angel! But my, my, just look at you then. Hey! What have you done with that little bundle of fun who was my granddaughter?’ exclaimed the aged grandfather.

The girl hugged Nonny lovingly and so tightly after such a long time apart.

‘Help, you are crushing me,’ spluttered Nonny, ‘goodness! you have become so strong, my angel, stronger than me and that is no lie! Now, come and sit here beside me. Dearest!’ He called out, ‘Grammy! Grammy come quickly! It is our lost baby come to comfort us in our dotage—’

A scream sounded from the backyard, ‘Yarifel! Tell me it is she, darling, for I have not seen her in so many years … I forget now just how long it has been—’

The grandmother had aged so much since the last time Yarifel had lain eyes upon her. The aging woman ran into the room with arms outspread.

‘Oh Grammy, my dearest Grammy, I just had to come, I have missed you both and your tender ways—’

‘But Yarifel! My darling angel, we are always here, you know how to find us, and inopportune moments do not exist for you my sweet angel.’

Over Yarifel’s shoulder, the aging grandmother caught sight of the jagsurl sitting quietly in the doorway.

‘Surely, that cannot be Munti!’ she exclaimed, letting loose her hug of the girl. ‘Darling, come in and join us; I know what I shall do, I shall prepare a snack and some brew, and you can tell us of your adventures my angel.’

Grammy left the room to attend to the food; Munti remained at the open front door.

‘Nonny, is Grammy well? Now be honest with me, please,’ Yarifel asked in a serious tone.

‘You would not have asked if you had not noticed—’ Her grandfather poked at the embers and put another log on the fire. ‘—you see, Angel, she misses you and Garlinalet so much … I did not wish to bring this up dear child, but you have the knack of pulling my tongue. It has been so many years now since you both went to live at Sansham. Do not misunderstand me, we have no wish to reproach you for the choices your mother and you made, but it has been hard for us both, for your grandmother more so. After we lost our dear son Raléfin it was difficult to carry on as normal … it has been impossible, Angel. If our son had died in the mines like so many of our kind, it would have reason and might have been easier to deal with … But murder! Yarifel! Murder! My stars, how a man could willingly and purposely take away the life of another is what we cannot understand nor deal with … our son died a needless death and that is what cuts us with wounds so deep … and then you and your mother went away to Sansham, and we felt so alone. Grammy does not speak of her losses my angel, for to her that is what it has become, she misses you both so much … the last time we saw your mother was at the last Mirsglo—’

‘—Now, look what I bring,’ interrupted the aging woman excitedly as she laid plates upon the table containing bread, cold meats, and pastries.

*     *     *

Yarifel felt such deep guilt and sadness as she left her grandparent’s house with their voices ringing in her ears whilst crossing the central square to look for the Rocswil.

Come back soon, Angel! Those sad, plaintive words echoed repeatedly in her head.

She had promised her grandfather that she would talk to her mother and try to persuade her to visit, but she could promise no more than that. The death of Raléfin still hurt her mother deeply, even after all this time, and a return to Rocsham with its lasting memories would be so very upsetting for Garlinalet.

It seemed to Yarifel, that she alone in her family had in some way come to terms with her father’s untimely demise. But she understood that she had enjoyed the advantages of youth, new experiences, and the learning of new ways had left her little time to dwell upon those things she was powerless to change.

*     *     *

The Rocswil saw her from his position atop the water chute to the turbine. ‘Can I help you, Miss, is there something we can supply for you?’ he called down to her.

‘Rocswil! Manticel, it is I, Yarifel, daughter of—’

‘I jest with you, Yarifel, though you are almost beyond recognition now.’ He leapt nimbly across the chute, slid, and jumped his way down to the ground. ‘My word, you have changed so much Yarifel, and not for the worse either—’

‘Enough of that Rocswil, I do not seek a partner, but I am flattered by your comment,’ she said, turning her rebuke into friendly jest. ‘I had a fancy to visit my family and friends after such a long absence. You were so good to us after Papa died, and I do not forget such kindness,’ Yarifel told him.

The two chatted for a while, and then she recognised two youths of her age.

— Ah, I see my friends there, and they also have grown, my stars how they have grown! Please do not think me rude, but I wish to reunite with my siblings.’

*     *     *

She spent some time chatting with the two youths who had the same birth year as she, the only three Rocsblitte new-borns from that Lingsglo 16 years earlier. To her, they were brothers; to them, she would be such a prize as a partner, but they also knew much to their sorrow, that as a Rocsblitte-born female she could not partner a Rocsblitte male. This Yarifel, this daughter of the Rocsblitte was a wondrous colourful butterfly so far beyond their grasp.

The three chatted and recalled their youthful mischiefs, the games they played amongst the heaps of slag and waste behind the foundries. The day one of the boys fell into the deep pool and the struggle to get him out without their parents knowing. Another time, they had climbed to the top of the rocks where the water from a lake comes down to supply the chute and which was so scary for them all, as they remembered it.

All the while, Munti lay beside her master, occasionally washing herself with slow, lingering licks of her long pink tongue and ignoring the chatter and laughter, but ever alert to the sounds beyond the range of their hearing. Sometimes she stopped mid-lick to find the origins of a sound, and then resumed her grooming upon recognition of it. Yarifel stroked her from time to time, just to let her know that she loved and appreciated her, the purring sounded far across the square.

*     *     *

Later, Yarifel walked towards Alba accompanied by her friends and Munti.

‘How can you ride that horse, Yarifel?’ a friend asked.

‘It is easy,’ she said, as she swung up into the saddle and the mare reared up onto her hind legs, she danced in a spin on her hind legs, this way and that, she backed up several paces and then the girl dismounted with a bound. ‘You have a go!’ she said excitedly to the boys.

‘No way, Yarifel! you must think us as mad as you—’

She laughed aloud at their reticence as she brushed her mare with her gentle comforting strokes. ‘I am a soft and tender girl, and I can do it, are you men of rocks or are you not, do you have mice blood, or is it just mountain water that flows in your veins, my friends?’

‘Yarifel, it is said your father before you rode a horse, and you were both trained by experts—’

‘No matter my friends,’ she said, relieving them of their lack of adventure, ‘I must be away to Sansham now, for I have not seen my family there in more than five years.’

‘What?’ the boys said in alarm, never in their lives had they left their parents for even one night.

Yarifel laughed heartily as she rode the gleaming and beautiful white mare out of her hometown and towards her heart’s home of Sansham.

*     *     *

Crouched low in the saddle as she rode, the wind wrestled with the tendency for her hair to curl. And later that day she set up her tent to camp for the night, but not before she attended to Munti and Alba, prepared a hot meal and some brew before resting.

The following morning, she breakfasted early and resumed her journey. She did not stop for food, just the occasional halt to rest her mare.

It would be dark soon, and Yarifel wanted to reach home before then, she spurred Alba on with a whisper into her ear and the mare responded as she gave a kick and raced towards Sansham. Skidding at times on the damp track, Alba surged on, her purpose was to please Yarifel, and to keep the racing jagsurl from her heels.

Munti leapt with great strides, keeping up with the horse at full gallop, only Yarifel and her teacher, the Argwil, had witnessed Munti at full speed during her training on Argblitte lands, and it was something wondrous to behold.

Yarifel had spent many years in all manner of terrains and with every kind of tribe, person and animal, but for Yarifel, Munti was something no other person nor beast could compete with.

*     *     *

As she rode, Yarifel thought about her early days at Sansham, the kindness and affections of the Sanswil and his parents which she still enjoyed, the special considerations from the Sonsmaster, her mother’s despair at the cruel loss of her given-one, Yarifel’s father Raléfin, slain by the outcast Mirsur called Morin. She thought also of the aid the Mirsur had afforded her during the ensuing years. For the Mirsur, they could never repair the damage nor compensate fully for her great loss; they had admired and respected her father as a Blitte unique amongst his kind, and this was the unique daughter of such a great man.

When she thought of her father, she would often touch the small stone in a soft pouch hung around her neck. A colourful stone he had found in a valley full of stones, and he gave it to her saying, ‘This is a special stone from a special place and well suited for a special girl, a girl named Yarifel.’

She heard the lingering echo of prairie winds whisper to her father, ‘you are of the rocks and mines, why do you intrude upon the lands of winds and grasses?’

‘I am on an adventure, Wild Winds! Friends invite me to these foreign lands to aid where they and fellow Blittes need my skills,’ she heard her father reply in his jovial manner.

Such thoughts of her father imbued her with his strength and spirit when she felt down; his logic calmed her when excitable, and his mischief and laughter lightened her mood when all seemed dark and serious. To Yarifel, her father was always close by no matter what, he had never left her, and she saw him as the very embodiment of the ideals of this great land of Egrenon, at the touch of the special stone, he was there.

*     *     *

The giant cat now ran alongside the mare as if challenging for a race— ‘Munti, stay back!’ Yarifel’s command was merely a whisper, but it sent the jagsurl directly behind Alba and the mare could feel the warm breath of the jagsurl upon her hind legs.

*     *     *

The Sanswil’s parents welcomed Yarifel with warm embraces and ushered her into the house—

Garlinalet began, ‘Where have you been my child? you had me worried that you had met with—’

‘Mama dear, the Mirsur brought Alba to me at Argsham which is how you knew of my return, I am sorry for causing you concern, but I just had to visit Grammy and Nonny, and oh how they miss you so much Mama. I have concerns about Grammy, she has aged so much and is a little confused at times, she spoke to Munti as though she were talking to me. I can see how much they both miss you and I shall take you to them myself.’

‘Angel, I have only sad memories in Rocsham, Grammy and Nonny serve to remind me of my loss,’ the widow replied.

‘Then I shall bring them here to us, Mama, it is not our way for families to be apart for so long. I know what I say, Mama, which is why I had such an urge to visit them.’

Mirdesan’s parents prepared some food and a brew and sat with the ‘wild girl’ and her mother.

‘Come my angel, relate to me the wonderful adventures that have turned you from a ling into a young woman,’ said Garlinalet.

‘Well—’ Yarifel paused, searching for a starting point, ‘—you may recall that day, just before my tenth year when the Argwil came to call upon us. He and Mirdesans talked, and from our room I heard most of what they said. I shall relate what happened so long since although it has been some years, I recall every detail of that night, Mama.’

Garlinalet and the Sanswil’s parents listened transfixed to the account as Yarifel began her story:

‘Sanswil, how goes the life with you my friend, it has been long since last we talked?’ the Argwil said.

‘We had concerns with the condition of the sheep, Argwil; they had a serious infection that we have managed to curtail, thanks to the wisdom of the Sonsblitte. But I thought we might lose a whole flock. Thank the stars that we keep flocks separately and only one was infected … If I may, my friend, I would ask a favour of you. Let me put this into context first,’ the Sanswil said with some deep feeling and a serious note in his tone.

‘Yarifel is but a child and yet she is the best rider I have, she would beat me in a race if not for Raven, it is she who has taught my sons, my dear boys, and I thank her for that—’

‘Shall you get to the point soon, Mirdesans, or are you under the spell of the Talkswil?’

‘Forgive me Argwil if I do not make my meaning clear, for it is not clear to me nor is it easy for me to say. What I am about to ask of you hurts me so deeply—’

‘I heard the Sanswil talking about me and naturally I was intrigued and listened at the door. I saw the Sanswil pour another mug of brew for each of them and then he continued,’ Yarifel added.

‘I have never met anyone like this girl in all my years, Argwil. She has such spirit and energy, an enduring passion for life that no other has who I have known, except for her father … To be frank with you Argwil, she scares the life from me. There is nothing I can offer her to calm her spirit. She has a wild restlessness about her that could only come from the mother of creation, and yet she is so tender and caring with everyone. My favour Argwil, the thing I ask of you relates to my days and close friendship with your predecessor. Take her with you Argwil, please take her and teach her the meaning of patience, the benefits of being calm and quiet, the importance of the stealth you employ, the listening to every sound that could mean success or failure, life, or death. However! let no harm befall her, please, for I would die from guilt and shame, do this for me Argwil, and I shall forever be in your debt.’

‘Sanswil my dear friend. My role model with whom you shared adventures, spoke so highly of you and your determination in the face of the adversities you faced on that famed journey many years since. It was his great privilege to aid your passage through the Great North Ridge and the Jagsurl infested woodlands. He spoke fondly of your part in the adventure, and with great admiration I must add. I shall do as you ask, Sanswil, but I cannot guarantee the outcome, after all, the ling is neither Sansblitte nor Argblitte.’ The Argwil stayed the night at Sansham and the next morning he ran home to Argsham with me following and Munti beside me.’

‘Come now, you must be able to run faster than that,’ he goaded me with a large grin.

‘And how fast shall we run, Argwil?’ I asked, stepping up the pace and passing him.

‘Run Yarifel! Run for Argsham and await me when you arrive … You shall find that you cannot keep that fast pace for long, you need to learn how to conserve your energy in case you require a burst of it later.’

‘I slowed my pace to match his and asked, if you run all the time, surely you tire at some point. The endurance and speed of the Argblitte are renowned, even in our small Rocsblitte world, hidden in the Northmonts.’

‘Stay with me dear child and I shall teach you much, things you cannot imagine, such as stroking a young deer fawn until he falls asleep, scooping a handful of shellfish from a pool to sustain you, drinking the drops of dew from a leaf in the early morning. You are about to exceed your respected father in the greatest adventure of your young life, my girl—’

‘I embrace it, Sir, and look forward to the challenges ahead as would my dear Papa,’ I said in response.’

‘Yarifel,’ the Argwil said very seriously, ‘your life is about to change and for the better, I hope. There is so much I can teach you, but you must be willing, dedicated, and obedient to benefit from it, are you ready to face such an enormous challenge for one not born to this Argblitte life?’

‘I am! Show to me the challenges you speak of, and I shall face and match them if I can,’ I answered.

‘Well, Mama, we spent weeks just for me to learn how to tread in different modes, I never thought before that there were diverse ways of walking. Then I learned how to throw a spear and when the Argwil was satisfied with my ability, he gave me a bow and I had such difficulty with the contraption; it twisted in my hands and cut my fingers when I let loose the arrow, it took a month before I could hit a target ten times in a row, another month before they all centred. He seemed to be amazed by my progress, but I felt I had taken so long to rise to his expectations of me. Anyway Mama: he took me to the wildest parts of Argblitte lands, just us two. He showed me how to survive without any supplies because we carried nothing with us except a knife each. He taught me how to make weapons, a shelter, a fire in the rain … just so many things I learned, and we lived only upon such things around us which could sustain life. We spent a year surviving upon what I alone could find, kill, or trap, and he did nothing to contribute to the meal, the rest stop for the night, or even water for the day ahead. Each thing I forgot had consequences for us both, and I love him dearly for not treating me like a ling, Mama, he is a superb teacher, guide, and mentor, and now a great friend … a father, as is our Sanswil. There is a bond between us that time itself cannot erase.’

Garlinalet put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders as she listened intently to this unique story in the life of a young Egrenon girl.

The daughter continued her account: ‘The Argwil took me to spend some time with the Wonswil who took us out to sea, Mama, if you could have seen the Argwil’s face,’ she laughed at the recollection, ‘Mama, he had a green about him I have never seen in the thousand greens of nature. Well, to continue, I learned how to fish the seas and to make glass from the sands of the beach. I scrambled over sharp rocks to aid with the harvest of mussels and barnacles. I spent time with the weavers at Wolsham, and Mama, you have no idea of how to create that blouse you wear, or the coat that protects you from the cold. To cut an exceedingly long story short, I have spent all this time in education, education such as no other Blitte has known, and my gratitude must go to the Sanswil, and I suspect that the Sonsmaster has something to do with it.

‘Yarifel my darling angel, you are all I have in this world—’ Garlinalet began to weep as she spoke, ‘you have your father’s spirit for adventure and I lost him because of it, please do not follow his path, for it would be the death of me—’

‘Mama, his spirit did not kill him! Would you have had Papa deny a request for his help and his skills? I am sure you would not. Morin was the perpetrator, the one who killed Papa, and he met his end at the command of his own kind. The late Argwil also met his death at Morin’s hands, would that have been because of his spirit or his zest for life? No Mama, he was so different to Papa, but he was taking Morin to the Sonsblitte for them to judge, doing just what he was born to do, protecting, helping, and serving others. It sometimes happens Mama that we think some pay too high a price for services given, but consider the sansurl, sheep, the hogs and such, they meet their end to serve us. The horse that breaks a leg in a fast gallop is also serving us at huge cost. Come now, Mama, give me one of your famous hugs for I have sorely missed them.’

‘And from where did you learn such intense wisdom my angel?’ Garlinalet said, hugging her daughter as though it may be her last opportunity.

‘From my fathers, all of them! Mama, for I have one and many. None are as fortunate as me in this land, and someday you shall recall the words I speak now. It is like a journey of mystery I embark upon. I cannot explain it nor understand it. Mama, I welcome and fear it equally. I am blind, in the dark and floundering as I struggle to understand the direction of my life ... But I also feel a sense of immense power given to me by those who teach and guide me, at times I feel so powerful I do not know how I can contain it—’

‘You are my life, Angel, never desert me for adventures—’ Garlinalet began.

‘How can I deny what builds so strongly within me? How could I waste those valuable years of learning that not even the Wils nor the elders of Egrenon have experienced … destiny shapes my life, and I must respond by following the path it creates and places before me.

*     *     *

The morning shrouded with autumn mists, saw Yarifel call at the door of her beloved Sanswil.

‘Yarifel! My dear, dear girl… but my! Just look at you then,’ he said admiring the young girl he remembered, now as a young woman. ‘Well! You are something to behold I should say—’

‘Oh, give me a hug Papa.’ She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the side of his head several times. ‘Mirdesans, if ever anyone could step into my father’s place it is you, I love you as I loved him, and this person you see before you now, you created as much as my dear Papa, I love you both to the end of my days.’

‘Do tell me of your years so far from our reach … but wait a moment, my sons wish to greet you,’ Mirdesans said, pointing towards the stables.

‘Yarifel!’ The twins shouted with excitement as they ran to her, ‘it is Yarifel come back to us.’

She hugged them in turn and together.

‘I have missed you scamps so very much; did you miss me too?

The boys jumped and ran around excitedly and said alternately, ‘We thought you were never coming back—’ said Mird’or.

‘—And now here you are at last, come and play with us please … please,’ Sond’sans added as the boys insisted.

‘Just for a while, for there are other things I need to attend to urgently,’ Yarifel replied with a huge smile.

*     *     *

Yarifel brushed down her dear friend Alba, the horse gifted to her by the Sanswil years earlier.

‘Alba you are a treasure; a gift no other could compete with. Now lift that leg and let me see … Oh! my dear, you need new shoes, another trip to Rocsham for you, and perhaps this time we can persuade Mama to accompany us.’

The mare whinnied in agreement with Yarifel, as it seemed to those close by her in the stables.

The twin boys helped Yarifel with the mucking out, laughing and chattering constantly. Those sounds were something she had missed during her long time away, especially in the long silences of the Carsblitte Great Forest, and out on the wild Argblitte lands.

*     *     *

The Argwil had skilfully taught her the art of silence, listening for the crack of a twig or a slight rustle of the grasses or shrubs. He taught her to use all her senses, and more importantly, how to interpret what she learned. She compared his depth of knowledge and his methods of teaching with the Sanswil; they both had such inexhaustible patience with her no matter how often she got things wrong. With much determination and persistence, she had mastered every task.

*     *     *

‘Come now, boys; let us see what your father is doing in the paddocks,’ said Yarifel.

As they walked along the stone path created by her father, everyone greeted her and looked her up and down, the change in her was obvious, but she also had an air of calm confidence about her that was so much more enhanced than before her long absence.

The boys held each of her hands, still chatting and asking her innumerable questions about her time away.

‘—and did you go into the river then, Yarifel, to catch fish?’ asked one

‘And were you not afraid of drowning, Yarifel?’ asked the other.

‘A little afraid the first time, but after I learned to swim, the waters held no fears for me.’

‘Wow! How do you swim, Yarifel?’ asked the wide-eyed Sond’sans.

‘Is that because you fell out of the boat?’ added Mird’or, equally surprised.

‘Yes, I did fall out of the boat my darlings,’ she said with a smile, ‘I lost my balance and fell into the river, which is when the Whetwil suggested I should learn to swim.’

‘Do they swim a lot then, Yarifel, the farmers?’ Mird’or asked with interest.

‘Enough questions for now, boys, go now, run to your father,’ she said, patting them on the shoulders.

‘Papa! Yarifel can swim!’ she heard them shout to the Sanswil,

‘—and she fell out of a boat!’ they added excitedly.

*     *     *

Mirdesans stopped what he was doing and looked up at the boys careering towards him; he scooped them up in his arms and spun them around, gently lowering them as Yarifel arrived.

‘I thought you may need a hand, so I brought with me these energetic lings I found in the stables, Sir,’ Yarifel said with her enchanting smile.

‘I have all but finished here, you can gather up those weeds and grasses over there, and put them into the handcart for me,’ the Sanswil said to his sons.

The boys dashed to the fence and began lifting armfuls of long grass, their antics had Yarifel and Mirdesans in fits of laughter, the boys had lifted such bunches they could not see their way to the handcart and fell head over heels when they bumped into each other.

‘Oh, Mirdesans I have not laughed so since I broke the Argwil’s bow, his face was a picture … Anyway, you said earlier that you wished to talk to me about something, I got the impression that it may be important?’

‘Yes, I did Yarifel. Angel—’ Mirdesans began.

‘Oh, this does sound profoundly serious, Papa,’ interrupted Yarifel.

‘Angel, I am requested to send you to Sonsham at the bidding of Gabilotian himself—’

‘What is it about?’ she interrupted.

‘I was not told, and I have no place to question the Sonsmaster. You are to have some time with your family and friends and some rest from your travels. Next week is the gathering of elders at the Great Hall and you are to join them, which is all that I know.’

‘I wonder what the Sonsmaster could possibly want with me?’ Yarifel pondered.

‘Yarifel, has it not occurred to you that you have been singled out for special treatment?’ said the Sanswil.

‘Well, I have wondered—’ Yarifel began.

‘No Blitte has ever had the vast extent of learning that you have been given; each Blitte learns to master what he was born to. For unknown reasons, you were to learn from all the tribes in Egrenon and from what I hear, you excel at everything—’

The young woman interrupted the Sanswil, ‘I take it then that my learning was directed upon the word of the Sonsmaster?’

‘Yes Yarifel, I knew you would eventually discern his involvement, although all the Wils and elders were instructed to say nothing of it. You must recall that day at the Mirsglo when the Sonsmaster spoke of the jagsurl and their future. His concern was how to do what he must without causing you upset or distress. To separate the cats would be so difficult for you to deal with even though your chosen cat is Munti … He decided that you should leave Sansham because you had such attachments to the jagsurl, and he could not manage their separation whilst you controlled them. He let you take Munti with you whilst we split the males and females to prevent inbreeding, and now I am as intrigued as you are to know his reasons for your attendance at Sonsham, and at the meeting next week it may become known. You tend to speak candidly, Yarifel, which is admirable in many situations, however, I recommend some circumspect behaviour in his presence. Whatever he wishes to discuss with you, consider well before you comment, that is, if asked to comment, are my words clear, Yarifel?’

‘Your meaning is clear to me, Papa, I shall be respectful and listen as I have been taught, not just to the sound, but the meaning also.’

‘I am so immensely proud of you, Yarifel, you have learned much and learned well, and now it is time to eat methinks,’ he said, picking grasses from his sons’ heads.

*     *     *

Yarifel went to her mother to relate what the Sanswil had told her about the forthcoming meeting with the Sonsmaster.

‘What could it be about, Yarifel, or perhaps I should not ask?’

‘We are as much in the dark as you are, but I must attend regardless. Before that, I have great need to return to Rocsham to get Alba shod, she shall not make the journey to Sonsham and back on those worn shoes. Please come with me Mama, come to see dear Grammy and Nonny at least. The Sanswil is to come with me, and the twins also; Mirdesans needs posts, straining wire and staples, new hinges for the gates. He said his shears were his grandfather’s and have seen better days, he cannot sharpen them anymore—’

‘—Very well, Angel, I shall go with you. You could wear the hide from a bear with your tongue sometimes.’

‘Oh, thank you, thank you Mama, Grammy and Nonny shall be so delighted to see you again.’

*     *     *

A few days later, Yarifel made her preparations for the visit to Rocsham, and then she went to the Sanswil’s house to see if she could help Troevitan as she had also decided to join the group.

‘Oh, be a dear and pack the blankets for the boys, I know it is not cold now, but it could turn in the night … Slow down now boys! You are getting overexcited, and an accident awaits you, and then we shall have to stay at home and that would not suit you, would it? Thank you, Yarifel, I sometimes think we are born without enough arms and hands … Boys! shall I tell you again not to run in the house?’

‘Shall I take the boys to play outside, Troevitan, and let them burn up some energy?’ suggested Yarifel.

‘That would be an immense help, Yarifel, I shall join you as soon as I tie up these loose ends … Now where did I put those trousers?’

‘On the chest by the window, two pairs each of shorts, shirts, vests, and socks,’ Yarifel said, as she led the boys outside.

*     *     *

The next morning, Sanswil brought the wagon up to the door, Yarifel stowed the bags and the boys climbed into the back as Munti watched them.

‘Now listen my boys, you must behave, my mother is to ride with you on the wagon and you must not tire her, do you give me your promise, please?’ Yarifel asked.

‘Yes, we promise, Yarifel,’ they said seriously: she winked at her mother as she gave her a hand up onto the front seat of the wagon with Troevitan beside her.

‘Now, have we forgotten anything?’ asked Yarifel,

‘Papa—’

‘—and Alba,’ replied the boys alternately.

‘Of course, silly me,’ she grinned, and winked at her mother and Troevitan.

Mirdesans arrived with Raven and Alba, ‘so! are we ready then?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ the boys chorused, ‘we were waiting for you Papa—’

‘And Yarifel nearly left without you,’ the boys chuckled.

‘Now that would be a silly thing to do, especially as she is supposed to get Alba reshod,’ Mirdesans said with a smile.

They all chuckled as they drove off towards Rocsham.

*     *     *

‘Are you comfortable?’ the driver asked, ‘there are more cushions if you need them.’

‘We are fine at present, and thank you for your concern,’ said Garlinalet.

Sanswil and Yarifel rode ahead of the wagon, checking for holes or obstructions on the trail. He leaned towards Yarifel and said, ‘the farrier is coming to Sansham next week, but you knew that—’

‘I did, but I also had to try and get Mama to visit Grammy and Nonny as I promised them, and besides, I do not know what the Sonsmaster has in mind for me nor when I shall return. I shall ride there with Alba, and I shall be gone before the farrier arrives; now is the best opportunity for Mama to visit Grammy and Nonny.’

She thought for a while and then said, ‘If I am to be away for any length of time, the Sonsmaster would let you and Mama know I suppose?’

‘He would send us word; you have something on your mind, Yarifel?’

‘How well you know me Mirdesans, yes! I wanted to ask if you could arrange for Mama to attend the bartsglo, but discretely … say … to accompany Troevitan and the lings, something like that?’

‘To what purpose, Yarifel?’ Mirdesans asked, his curiosity clear.

‘I shall try to persuade Grammy and Nonny to attend the bartsglo also, at least that way they only need to cover half the distance. It shall be less tiring for the older ones, Mirdesans, and they can keep in touch with Mama more often.’

She shifted around in the saddle and smiled at the occupants of the wagon, they gave a wave back to say, ‘we are fine, do not worry.’

‘I think we can accommodate your wishes Yarifel because Troevitan could often use some help with the boys at the bartsglo, leave it to me, Angel,’ he said.

*     *     *

The family had travelled for a full day and camped for the night. Now, as they neared the fork leading right for Wolsham and left for Rocsham, they saw wagons headed towards them. Their own journey took them left, the direction one wagon took, whilst the other two wagons passed them.

‘They are the wagons I sent out for the Sonsblitte teachers, four days since,’ said the Sanswil.

He waved to the occupants as they continued towards Carsham, then south to Sansham and then east to Argsham and Whetsham.

‘It is a sure sign that the cold season is almost upon us, the last one came early and caught us out, this time I have planned ahead. It should give the Sonsblitte time to settle into the lodges and to rest before they begin the school lessons. My two little ones shall join them this year, and the house shall be so quiet without them.’

The troupe rode on in silent contemplation for a while until Mirdesans said, ‘What are we to do with the jagsurl if you are away for long?’

‘Just as before Sanswil, I shall have Munti with me and the others you take for the round-ups, why do you ask?’

‘Oh, it’s just that I had a feeling that they may figure in Gabilotian’s plans somehow. They have always been of personal interest to him, and he is sure to ask you of their progress.’

‘The other jagsurl made such a fuss of us upon our return, they and Munti played like kittens again, they must miss her when we are away,’ said Yarifel.

‘They did lose their appetite for games, about three days it lasted— Oh, and when they came into heat we had major problems with them, it took ten of us to separate the males. We cleared out the old hog pens and shut them in there until it was safe to let them out, the Sonsblitte sent us something