The Forest and the Farm

by Vance Huxley

  “Bliss and Hektor say you’re to be there. They say this is your fault.” Perry mock-shuddered. “If you want Bliss and Ellibeth to come and drag you over, I’m getting out of the way.” By now one of the men nearby had picked up Billi’s crutch and another had a hand under his arm to help him up, so Billi shook his head and gave in.

  He knew Barimar, Hektor’s Da, and Viktor and Perry of course. Timath wasn’t old enough to be here by rights but allowed to see his Sis bonded, though he’d leave before the dancing. Billi got to meet Barimar’s lass and all Hektor’s sibs, and Ellibeth. She complimented him on his jacket as had several others, then Billi went back to sit down as the floor cleared ready for the dancing.

  Billi sat among the older men who had their fun laughing at the youths, criticised their dancing, and speculated on who was chasing who under cover of the general merriment. Billi soon found out that the older men were just as keen spotting potential scandal as the youths and maids. The older men also discussed crops and the hunting this year; this had been a good year and larders were stuffed which made for a really cheerful Harvestfest. As the men included him in the conversation and jokes, and asked his opinion on this and that, Billi began to relax. This new social life had turned out better than expected.

  Better still, Edan stood there laughing with a group of others without a single glare at Billi. He even flirted and danced with a couple of maids so maybe he’d finally got over it all. Having those dogs might be helping. Billi hoped so, because the happy couple dancing in the middle included his usual hut guard.

  A Different Sort of Landclaim

  Bliss clung to Hektor, torn between happiness and a little bit of embarrassment. “I’m sorry Billi. I should have been looking after your hut a bit longer, but, well.” She looked up at Hektor and “but” and “well” didn’t really need explaining. Those who’d bet on six days were in for a payday.

  “Don’t worry. It’ll give me a chance to get ahead of the pies before I’m buried in them.” Bliss had been baking every day, and being buried in pies looked a definite possibility.

  “Thank you Billi. I’m sure Perry or Timath will look after the hut for you.” They all laughed because both youths were waiting about twenty paces down the track to make their bid.

  “Get you gone then. You’ll need to get settled in quickly else there’ll be no pie for Hektor’s tea.” Billi smiled and shook his head as the pair headed off down the track with Dapple. Pie wasn’t really on either of their minds. A voice soon interrupted his musing.

  “Ho Billi.” Perry wore a bright hopeful smile. “We noticed there was nobody looking after your hut, and Da said we should ask if you needed someone?”

  Since Billi had already cleared this with Viktor, the Tanner might have put it like that. “If you’d like Bliss’ job you can take it in turns, though you’ll have to check with your Da about Timath staying nights.” Billi tried to frown and look serious. “I’ll expect more work on the land, since I’m told your bread and pies are terrible so you’ll not be cooking.”

  Both broke out laughing which spoiled Billi’s attempt at being stern. “Da says the only reason he’d let us cook is to scare the rats away.” Not that there were many rats since Viktor’s house had an older, wiser ratter than Spots, and that feisty tomcat next door. “When would you like someone?”

  “Tomorrow for a couple of days, please. The pair of you had better come in and find out where everything is.”

  * * *

  Billi went hunting three times in the next eight-day, including two overnights, and now knew that dusting and polishing weren’t very high on the priorities of either youth. They swept the floor and the place wasn’t dirty, but Bliss had left a hard example to live up to. The place still looked no worse than how Billi kept it before his hut had been Blissed, so he didn’t mind too much. Warned about the youths’ cooking, Billi arranged for fresh bread now and then from the Village and cooked his own meals. He supplied flour, meat, hide, or horns to a villager and a warm, plump loaf arrived in return.

  Fellip the Thatcher arrived on the doorstep soon after Billi’s latest trip. “Young Timath said ye were back Billi. I wondered if we might look into taking that reed now, before the snow really starts?” There had been a proper dusting on the fields that morning, more than heavy frost.

  “That’ll suit me. When did you want to go?” When didn’t matter to Billi.

  “If you’ll leave it another four days, then I can take my bit of reed from near the river and make sure everything is left tidy at home. I’ll need to get any jobs finished since it’ll take four or five days I reckon though not all of that will be reed cutting. Some will be clearing the place for next year.” Fellip smiled. “I’ll need at least one of the days to arrange borrowing the boats. The elders will want to know everything and I won’t tell them else they’ll gossip.” The three boats were held for the Village to use, either for Hunters to cross the river to hunt to save wading across further downstream, or for the fish run.

  “In four days’ time? That’s fine. Do you still want Timath and Perry? Oh.” Billi realised his problem.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “Not really Fellip. I’ll just have to sort out another hut sitter so the four days might be handy.” Billi wasn’t sure who to ask. He’d check with Viktor since the Tanner knew everyone in the Village, and would know who would be reliable.

  * * *

  Billi went the next day, and Viktor thought a while. “That’s a bit awkward, Billi, since I wouldn’t want to take advantage.”

  “In what way, Viktor?”

  “Well, I know a maid who would probably take the job, and do a good job, but it’s my Ellibeth.” Viktor shrugged. “You’ve already been very generous and both the younguns will be earning on the trip, so I don’t want to look greedy.”

  “Reliable is reliable, Viktor. I’ve no problem with Ellibeth coming while the other two are busy with the reed.” Billi smiled. “With a bit of luck I’ll get some fresh bread without coming into the Village.”

  “Ha, yes, I’m sure you will. Oh, there might be another problem. Can she bring her littlun, Rubyn?” Viktor gave a little smile. “He’s lively but well enough behaved.”

  “As long as he don’t let the chickens out or anything like that?” Some of the littluns in the Village were a bit careless like that.

  “No, he leaves ours alone and Ellibeth won’t stand for that sort of nonsense. He’ll be too busy running about getting the kinks out anyway.” Viktor turned to the back of the workshop. “I’ll get her in here so you can ask, since she’s another with a mind of her own.” He raised his voice a bit. “Ellibeth, have ye a minute please.”

  The maid didn’t take long. “Yes Da. Oh, hello Billi.”

  “Hello Ellibeth. I’ll be taking Timath and Perry out all day for probably a five-day. I wondered if ye could care for the hut, same as Bliss did? I’ll be back each night.” Billi glanced from Ellibeth to Viktor and back. “The pay would be waterfowl since we’ll be by the river.”

  “Do you still need someone, Billi? I thought Edan had stopped all his nonsense?”

  “Maybe Ellibeth, but he’s still talking in the alehouse, and some are still listening.” Billi had heard an anonymous ‘cripple’ from behind him on the way here, but didn’t even bother to look back. That would just encourage whoever ‘twas and they’d be hidden or looking innocent anyway. “I’d rather be safe than sorry if you don’t mind?” Billi also liked coming home to a lit fire, the chickens being fed, the eggs gathered, and the goats milked. He might be getting soft but a note in the song said so was Rabbit, and he liked the idea of a warm fire waiting.

  “As long as Rubyn can come? I’ll keep him in hand.” Ellibeth glanced at her Da. “You did tell Billi.”

  “He doesn’t mind, Ellibeth.”

  “Then yes, Billi. Let one of my sibs or Da know when you want me. Rubyn will enjoy running about in the fresh air even if it’s cold.” She went back inside the house.

&n
bsp; “That will be odd. I can’t remember the house being empty.” Viktor smiled at Billi’s look. “No, I don’t mind. Thinking about it I’ve never known the house empty. I bonded before my Ma and Pa went to the rock and then there were littles. I’ll find out how you live.”

  “Not really. I’ve always got Rabbit, and sometimes One-shut.”

  “Of course, and since Mouse will be here I’ll not be alone either.” Viktor laughed at Billi’s look. “He’s a dog and a ratter, but caught his first mouse young enough for it to be his name.”

  On the way home Billi thought about that, being alone. Since that day, nine summers since, he always had Rabbit and his song. Rabbit kept him informed of how the Hound felt, what he thought of what Billi was doing, if sound or scent suggested danger, and if he’d gone off chasing a flutterbye. A whole conversation in a song with no words, running through Billi’s head every waking moment. Billi felt lot better off than most, despite his leg.

  * * *

  Ellibeth turned up with a little parcel of food because with Rubyn along there were two to feed, a replay of Bliss turning up so Billi just showed her where everything was. Then he explained not bringing food and showed her the cold room. Her eyes widened when Ellibeth saw the buried store, much better filled this year, so Bliss hadn’t been telling anyone tales. They came back up and Perry let Rubyn, kept by the gate until his Ma had done with business, come to greet Billi.

  Although Ellibeth seemed quite young, Rubyn really was eight summers of barely suppressed energy. Excited and curious, and obviously struggling to obey instructions to be good, he almost bounced up and down while being introduced and his eyes were devouring everything. Then he met Rabbit and Rubyn went very quiet.

  “That has quietened him for once, and me a little bit as well. We see Hounds round the Village and they are always so well behaved but I never realised just how big a Hound is until now, in among ordinary furniture.” Ellibeth sounded awed and Rubyn had been struck speechless, probably because even at a tall eight summers Rubyn still only stood eye to eye with Rabbit. Billi got out before the littlun exploded again. He could hear Rubyn’s excited voice before he made it out of the gate.

  * * *

  When he arrived at the river there were three youths, Perry, Timath and a stranger. Fellip called the youth over. “This is Gordi. I thought about those reeds, and the state of them, and we’ll need the extra hand this time because a bit of digging to keep the water flow right will stop the edges drying out.” Fellip smiled. “He’s one of my nephews so he’ll keep his mouth shut, sort of keep it in the family.”

  Billi opened his mouth to say Perry and Timath weren’t family, but Bliss and Viktor had both treated him as a sort of family. Instead he nodded towards the boats. “Another youth means we don’t have to spell them pulling a boat.” There were two, and each held big coils of rope and a selection of tools. “Will two boats be enough?”

  “Now I know ‘tis upstream we only need the boats to carry the tools, and us on the way back. We’ll make reed rafts and use the boats to control them while float home.” Fellip rubbed his hands together. “Right, let’s get moving. Will the snow bother you?”

  “No, not a little bit like this. I could do with a foot on the end of the peg when it gets deeper, and on this thing.” Billi waved his crutch. “But ‘twould be clumsy any other time.” He struck off upstream along the bank. “The boats will be handy to get across without going downstream and wading. The other side of the river is soft here but easier going further up.” Billi concentrated on picking a good path. Behind him he could hear the three youths chattering and commenting on the new scenery, and taking turns to have a break since one could tow each boat. Fellip soon started asking questions about the birds and the plants which weren’t really very different from those on the Farm, though the birds were a bit bolder.

  Villagers didn’t travel along the riverbanks. Although clear, the banks definitely weren’t Farm, but weren’t really Forest either. The Wild used them to travel, or where the banks were low enough to drink or cross over. Billi pointed out the marks of deer and boar, of fox and badger and rabbits, of three wolves where they crossed, and once a big cat had come down to drink. Fellip looked entranced, which once again reminded Billi that most villagers never went anywhere new. The boats did make crossing over much easier, and the better footing on the other bank meant they made good time over the second part of the journey. “It isn’t just snow you need a foot for, Billi. The swampy sections on the other side slowed you up on our first trip.”

  “True, but once again I only need that now and then. I can hardly pack another crutch and peg leg along just in case.” Billi glanced back. “Those three should be pleased we crossed over.”

  “Oh yes. They would have sunk up to their knees in that mud with the strain of pulling the boats.” Fellip smiled. “Even so, they’re saving their breath now for pulling instead of nattering. Though we’re close now, aren’t we?”

  “We are, another bend and we’ll see it. I hope it didn’t catch fire. All that dry reed would only need one thunderbolt.” Billi had only just thought of that.

  “No, it’ll be there. If it had burned we’d have seen the smoke from the Village. Not only that, but low reed beds next to the river won’t attract the thunderbolts. Ye know yourself, it’s the tallest trees.” Fellip eyed up Billi. “You’d best not stand in a field when there’s thunder, Billi.”

  Billi held up his crutch. “I wouldn’t want to get my branch scorched. We can see the beginning of the reed now so it would be best if you all wait here a while. I’ll just sneak along the edge of the trees and deal with dinner and pay, though I won’t get out of sight.” Billi took off his pack and only took his bow and a dozen thin arrows. “Does anyone care if it’s duck or goose?”

  Nobody did, they were all more impressed by Billi’s sheer confidence that there would be one or the other, and that he’d get one. A Hunter wouldn’t be impressed because a reed bed kept the Hunter and Hound concealed from wildfowl, and such a place always had plenty of such feathered diners. Billi moved along the edge of the trees, slowly and quietly, and soon had four ducks. The fifth duck flapped and made a racket, but Billi had an arrow in the bow fast enough to take a goose as it rose, alarmed.

  “Come ahead now.” At the call the youths heaved on the boat and Timath, not currently pulling, came running up to see what Billi had caught. Rabbit splashed into the shallows and came back with the goose, carried carefully to preserve the arrow. Then he went after the ducks.

  Fellip stood, hands on hips, and had a good look at the reeds. “Just in time Billi. A few more years and there would have been proper saplings along this edge as it dried out, and bushes among the reed further in. Not now. We can clear seedlings and creeping weed without breaking any Law.” The boats were tethered and a selection of different shaped blades, forks and spades came out of them. The three youths were soon pulling and cutting as instructed.

  * * *

  By evening there wasn’t much reed bundled despite the amount of work. “We’ve cut enough to make a couple of rafts, but most of today has been weeding and clearing. I’ve had a better look now, and this really will be a good bed when its sorted out.” Fellip chuckled. “Another year we can sell some to the Traders. That’ll be a shock for them when they produce their rubbish and tell me how good it is.” Billi got the impression that showing the Traders up might be at least as important to Fellip as selling the reed. The Thatcher produced a small scroll and made notations. “Usually the cost of the labour is added to the price of the reed. Since you’ve paid them, I’ll owe you that.”

  Billi looked at the selection of ducks and two geese laid on one of the two big reed rafts. “I didn’t even think about that. I usually pay my way like that, with whatever comes in front of my bow and here it will be waterfowl. I could find some fish as a change?”

  Fellip pulled a face. “Not really, not so soon after the fish run. Even us villagers have had enough at the moment. Gordi i
s really pleased with a brace of ducks and says his Ma will want the feathers so there’ll be no waste.” Fellip nodded towards Perry and Timath. “Viktor will get a new pillow if you do that on the other days.”

  “Are you sure one is enough for you?”

  “I’m the employer so I shouldn’t be paid Billi, but yes, the duck is very welcome and plenty for me and my lass. Being in business with a Hunter is definitely different. Now climb into the boat and relax, Billi, the Wild can’t reach us so you can have a little snooze on the way back.” Fellip waved to the other boat. “Cast off, let’s get home.” Rabbit jumped into the boat before Billi.

  * * *

  The ride back definitely felt restful. Billi took his two geese home and as he came through the gate breathed in the smell of fresh bread. The warm hut had been polished to within an inch of its life and all the spiders were homeless again. Billi smiled quietly, as he could see a definite hint of Bliss in the way Ellibeth bustled about. Their Ma had taught her maids well before she went to the rock. Ellibeth had a hot pie waiting in the oven and warmed ale in a mug, another Bliss-like touch.

  Rubyn still looked wary when Rabbit came in. “Come and say hello, Rubyn. He won’t bite. In fact, if you sit there, where there’s a fur on the floor, he’ll come and lie next to you.” Rubyn looked at the big fur and the Hound. “That’s his bed.”

  “Go on Rubyn. If Billi says it’s all right, it will be. Bliss says the Hounds are very gentle.” Rubyn looked at Rabbit, and his Ma, and she gestured towards the fur.

  Billi offered a piece of pie crust with gravy on it. “Here, give Rabbit that once he’s laid. He’ll have a bit more later.” Billi offered another piece. “One for Spots, or he’ll be jealous.”

  “I kept the scraps from cutting the meat. One-shut had some and Bliss said the rest and a bit of gravy are usually saved for Rabbit.” Ellibeth pointed at a pot with a lid. “In there.”

  Bliss seemed to have made a list of what Billi expected or Bliss had taught him to expect, which came as a pleasant surprise. “That’s right. Rabbit eats out in the Forest, but always has a bit of mine as well.”