The Forest and the Farm

by Vance Huxley

  * * *

  Billi wasn’t roused by the shout of “Billi!” when Rubyn found out that he’d sneaked in without waking the littlun or his Ma. Billi was up and dressed, because Ellibeth had made a good bit of noise getting up and given him plenty of time. Rubyn would never know Billi had slept here all night. Rubyn called back into the bedroom. “Ma, it’s Billi and Rabbit. They’re back!” Then he gave Billi a quick hug and sat by Rabbit, in front of the low fire.

  “Good. Though in that case I’d best get myself respectable before coming out there. You go outside and get some wood from the shed to build up the fire, Rubyn. You can tell Billi all about the chickens over breakfast.” When Ellibeth came out they ran through a little scene for Rubyn. Billi explained he’d only just arrived and Ellibeth sounded surprised Spots hadn’t roused them, and mock-scolded the dog. Very mock, since her tone of voice said ‘well done’ so Spots never knew it was a scolding. Spots wagged his tail and Billi and Ellibeth smiled at each other throughout.

  Rabbit received more Rubyn hugs and fuss and Billi ate breakfast while receiving his detailed report of Rubyn’s visit. This time how many eggs, how many rats One-shut caught and let Spots have, how the hard and tangy cheese making had progressed, that the firm and delicious was ready and needed trying, as did the cream cheese for Harvestfest, and about the catches in the traps. It made quite a list.

  Then Rubyn wanted to be off to tell Ganda he had more pelts so the littlun threw on his coat. Billi helped Ellibeth into hers and stole a quick hug. He gave her a parcel of frozen meat and then took a deep breath as Rubyn ran off down the path to the gate. “I brought you something special. Something special I want you to have.” He gave her the little bit of fur and Ellibeth unwrapped it, puzzled. She tipped the bag into her hand and the two beautiful sparkuls gleamed in the morning light. Ellibeth went very still and Billi waited for the exclamation of delight and then hopefully understanding.

  When Ellibeth looked up she shocked Billi; her shoulders went back and stiffened, her face set stern with a hint of grief, and her eyes were hard and flat. “Tinkerer sparkuls. For the beguiling? Should I get tattoos as well? Then I can wear the sparkuls so everyone knows I’m your Tinkerer maid!” The two stones flashed as they tumbled to the floor and Ellibeth dropped the meat as well, spun on her heel and marched down the path leaving Billi at the door.

  He still had his hand outstretched to stop her as she slammed through his gate and down the lane faster than Billi ever could. “Rabbit.” The Hound headed off to make sure no harm came to her or Rubyn, since Billi could never catch up. Billi stood there until the room chilled and Rabbit came back and pushed against him. Then he shut the door and threw a log onto the fire.

  He was stunned. How did that happen? Was it the joking about the beguiling? Did Ellibeth think he meant that, and the stones were payment? Even Tinkerer maids weren’t paid in sparkuls! Billi realised that Ellibeth wouldn’t know that, since all Tinkerer maids wore them. They were paid in roughs, not sparkuls of any size, but Ellibeth wouldn’t know that either.

  So how did a maid know they had been given a chasing gift? Billi cursed the rules, those unwritten ones he could never get straight. Then it occurred to him why Ellibeth had got the why all wrong, because chasing gifts weren’t given to a maid after a night in the same bed! Billi banged his hand on his head, then the chair arm, and debated standing to go and beat his head on the wall. Well he wasn’t waiting for her Da or Bros to turn up, nor was he running off into the green, to the valley. Not this time, he’d go and explain. He’d tell Ellibeth he wanted to keep her, for always.

  * * *

  Billi threw his big coat on while he still had the courage, carefully wrapped the two not-so-little sparks that were such a big problem, and picked up the meat. Her Da would want that for the pot at least. He stumped into the Village with Rabbit bouncing alongside and the song had a curious note. What’s the problem? “Nothing you can help with this time, Rabbit. I wish it was that easy. Now if she’ll just speak to me.” Billi sighed and kept going as fast as possible.

  Ellibeth wouldn’t talk, couldn’t talk, and Billi didn’t get past the front door because her Da blocked it. Viktor looked angry, but tried to stay polite. “She’s gone to her Sis to cry her eyes out, and ye’d best not follow.”

  Billi tried to explain. “But I only gave her a gift.”

  He saw Viktor pull the surge of anger back under control. “She told me why. My maid isn’t some Tinkerer beguiler.”

  Billi wanted to stamp or kick something, but he couldn’t. “No! They were supposed to be a chasing gift!”

  “Ha, you just happened to have some Tinkerer sparkuls handy more like, no doubt intending to do a bit of beguiling? Not likely, now go.” Viktor pointed to his gate.

  “No! I brought them from the valley, to ask. I don’t keep sparkuls here since Edan or the Trader tried my door and someone else still does. Anyway, Tinkerer maids don’t get sparkuls, they get roughs.” Billi shook his head, because that wasn’t the right thing to say! He ploughed on. “I looked through them all, all my sparkuls, before I came back. I thought those would please her.” Billi looked Viktor in the eyes, willing the man to believe him. “So I didn’t have to let Ellibeth go if I caught her again. So I didn’t have to dance with the other maids.” He proffered the little parcel. “So everyone would know,” he finished miserably.

  At least he’d made Viktor curious about just what had upset his maid. He tipped the sparkuls into his hand and when the fire flashed in the sun, Viktor made a strangled noise. When he looked up he still looked upset, maybe angry, but the heat had gone. “You sat in the valley and sorted these out? For my Ellibeth? Before she came home and, well, before?”

  “Yes, I had them in my pocket when I came in and well. Er.” How do you say dragged your maid into bed to her Da? Even if it wasn’t dragging?

  “She’s been married, and well, it’s not like a young maid, and you made her happy.” Viktor knew! “Of course, I didn’t know that until this morning, young man.” Oh damn.

  “She said sometimes was enough, but I wanted more. I wanted always.” Billi willed the man to understand, to let him talk to her. “She said my leg didn’t matter. Maybe she really did only mean sometimes. I’m sorry.”

  Viktor looked at the flashing stones. “I’ve never seen these on anyone but a Tinkerer maid, and not many have sparkuls like these. How many more have you got? No, not how many but why, for Tinkerer beguiling?”

  “I’ve got nine now and a dozen little ones and a good few tiny ones. But not all in gold settings and one is green and another two are red, and not worth as much. For my old age and now for building the village, for stoves and farm gear and the Carpenter. For all the things Two Lakes will need.” He sighed. “Tinkerer maids beguile for the roughs.” Then Billi gave a short laugh. “I spent ages choosing and got it wrong.”

  “Did you explain any of this?” Viktor didn’t seem angry now, he seemed bemused.

  “I just said I’d brought something special for her. I thought she’d understand; why else would I give her those?” Billi gestured at the two sparkuls.

  Viktor snorted. “To buy a farm? There’s probably enough for a tidy landclaim. What’s wrong with a claw necklace? It’s enough for most.”

  “I’ve got a box full of claws and teeth. They mean nothing and I’ve given plenty to Rubyn just because he likes them.” Viktor nodded, so he’d no doubt seen those. “I wanted something special. I did think of the two spotted pelts?”

  “I’ve heard about those.” Viktor seemed perplexed now instead of angry. “Where did you get your ideas on gifts, Billi?”

  “Well they all say something special.” Billi gestured to the sparkuls and shrugged. “I’ve tried, but I can’t get my head round all these unwritten rules.”

  “A pair of spotted pelts, or proper Tinkerer sparkuls? By special they mean a prize fang or a trophy horn. A pretty pebble on a silver chain, maybe on a gold chain for the rich.” Viktor waved his free h
and at the stones.

  “I haven’t got any pebbles or silver chains, and I’ve pouches full of gold. It’s just found goods.”

  Viktor laughed suddenly, and he sounded relieved. “Billi, nobody but you has two spotted pelts waiting for the right maid, or Tinkerer sparkuls, enough so you have a problem choosing.” He sobered. “By Forest and Farm you must never tell anyone you have. One loose mouth and there’ll be those who’ll come for them, probably not from this Village but there are Hunters elsewhere who’ll be bought.”

  Viktor closed his hand over the two sparkuls. “I’ll talk to Ellibeth, and explain the why, what you just said. She may still say no, but it’ll not be because ye don’t know what to give a maid or when. I’ll not mention the rest so if she says yes, it won’t be for pelts and gold and stones.” Viktor sighed. “You need to know that if Ellibeth says yes she’s not been bought. There’s plenty of maids who will say yes for those if you end up stuck.”

  “I only want Ellibeth. It’s a bit picky when I should be glad to get a maid, but that’s how it is. If she says no, tell her I’ll stay away from the valley as much as possible and in my hut when I’m home. She’s to keep the landclaim for Rubyn.” Billi felt that spark of hope again, but daren’t let it grow.

  Viktor chuckled at that. “Oh, Rubyn will make sure she takes that. The littlun’s blossomed and can’t wait to try out all his new skills up on the moors.“ Viktor glanced up at Billi. “He’ll not let you be.”

  “I don’t mind that but I’ll stay clear of Ellibeth. Those are a gift and I’ll not take them back. She can sell them in her old age or to the next Trader but I don’t want them, not now.” Billi realised he’d still got the parcel under his arm. “Here, it’s her meat, she earned it. Er, cleaning and cooking.”

  Viktor took the meat, smiling now. “Not the two spotted pelts? That’s a relief. Now if I talk to Ellibeth, and she wants to talk to you, I don’t expect to hear she’s had to trek out to the lakes.”

  “Ah, um, well.” Billi wished he had two feet to shuffle, because he’d been going there. To wait a bit and let Ellibeth think about it all.

  “Yes, you go there if there’s trouble. I know and so does half the Farm I wouldn’t wonder. This time ye stay put, Billi. If you really want to know.” Billi couldn’t hear any give in Viktor’s voice.

  He took a deep breath. “I’ll wait. But the day before Harvestfest, if Ellibeth’s not come, I’m leaving. There’ll be no dancing bear this time, Viktor. I couldn’t.” Not ever again if Ellibeth said no.

  “Someone else will play the bear because the youths and maids won’t let that stop now. I’ll tell Ellibeth, and she’ll make up her own mind. If she says no there’s no bad feeling, Billi.” Viktor sighed. “You’ve been a good friend to my family, right back to the Wood Hunt and Bliss’s share of the boar.” A note of humour leaked into the Tanner’s voice now. “I know Bliss and Hektor are grateful. Now go home, and I’ll find Ellibeth.” Billi got out of there. No bad feeling was better than nothing, but not much better.

  * * *

  When he came home Billi looked at the marks where someone had tried his door again and simply didn’t care. Whoever it was could steal sparkuls and furs if they liked, because they couldn’t take what he really wanted. On the way home Billi had realised how bleak his life would seem without Ellibeth there after a hunt with warm bread and a warm smile. How did that happen? When? Billi beat it around and couldn’t decide. Ellibeth made his hut tidy again and then baked bread and then one day she became more important than the bread or the tidy hut. He couldn’t even work out when one started to be the other.

  That kept Billi’s brain going around while he sorted out the hearth because it was full of ash where he’d just chucked logs on top of embers. Billi checked over and oiled his bow and exchanged the bowstring for a new one. The old one would be good enough for practice until it broke. A new one went into the spares in the pack, and Billi put a bit of an edge on his spear and nicked his finger. He’d been listening for the gate and not paying proper attention. Billi decided against sharpening knives or cutting up meat or he’d lose fingers.

  There were plenty of chores such as new bedding for the goats, but that turned out to be done already. Billi went to tend the chickens and Rabbit ate the two rats One-shut had laid outside. The big tom must already be full so the cold spell had brought them in from the fields. The chickens already had plenty of straw and still enough feed and water. Billi wasn’t really necessary here and couldn’t leave. He could lay some traps, but that would also cost fingers. Billi fussed and fidgeted, and moved things that he moved back again.

  When the gate went and Rabbit whined and wagged, Billi knew a friend had arrived and carefully didn’t assume Spots with Ellibeth. After all, it was dusk, so too late for being out without a Hound. Sure enough Hektor called out and Billi told him to come in. Dapple said hello to Rabbit, then Spots bounced in to do the same and Bliss, Ellibeth and Rubyn followed; Billi stood there a bit nonplussed.

  They all looked at each other a moment and Ellibeth waved at the door. “Rubyn, please show Unk Hektor the chickens. You too Sis, and take Spots since it’s dark out there.” Bliss opened her mouth, no doubt to point out she’d seen chickens, and shut it again as Ellibeth continued. “I’ve got something to discuss with Billi. Just between us.”

  She made shooing motions, face serene and voice level but a spot of red showed on her cheek and Billi couldn’t see her eyes. Discuss? Was that good or bad? They all left and Ellibeth stood there, in her coat just as she’d left except she’d turned a bit so Billi still couldn’t see her eyes. They waited long moments as the excited chatter went down the path. “When did you wrap up the sparkuls for me, Billi?”

  “Before I left Two Lakes, you see…” Billi stopped at the raised hand.

  “Why?”

  “To give you a gift, a proper one.” Ellibeth stayed silent. “A chasing gift.” Ellibeth sighed and turned towards him. The coat slipped off her shoulders again and two points of fire blazed just below her throat.

  Her smile broke and her eyes were dancing. “I’m not running, you silly man.” Billi might have made one clumsy step. Ellibeth made the rest and then the crutch hit the floor as he needed both arms and neither could speak.

  Not even when footsteps pattered, the door opened and a voice said, “Ma, One-shut got a rat and Spots is eating... oh.” Billi started to draw back but Ellibeth’s hand tightened on the back of his head and he didn’t actually want to stop. Bliss’s quiet voice explained, with some amusement, that Ma and Billi were discussing something.

  The door closed on a littlun’s voice explaining “but he’s bussing her” in the right tone of voice for discussing gargling with pond scum. Rubyn wasn’t a fan of maids and all that nonsense, not yet. Billi quite liked Ellibeth trying to giggle and buss so he kept right on doing it.

  When they did stop, both decidedly breathless, Ellibeth giggled again. “He thinks bussing is disgusting.”

  Billi grinned. “Well I like it.”

  “I think I could be persuaded to try again.” So they did.

  Billi chuckled at the next pause for breath. “Well you can’t say no. You’re caught now because after all there are witnesses.”

  “Ha, I can keep those pair quiet, or I can deal with Bliss and she’ll deal with Hektor.” Ellibeth’s arms were round Billi so she tapped him on the back. “You can’t though so you, Ssrrong Bearr, are the one who’s caught.”

  “But I’m not running.” Billi laughed. “My crutch is on the floor so I’m even slower than normal. I might make the gate by morning?”

  “I’ll hunt you down.”

  “Rabbit would help.”

  “What?” Ellibeth glanced at Rabbit, startled.

  “He is very, very happy. It’s in his song.” Billi felt well beyond pleased about that. He didn’t know what happened if the Hound disliked the maid, or objected to the bonding, or if they ever did. The surge of pure joy in Rabbit’s song had been a relief an
d a blessing.

  “The mystery of Hounds. Will you tell me all about it? Not now, on a cold winter night.” Ellibeth hugged a bit tighter.

  “Tucked up warm.” Billi hugged a bit harder as well.

  “With strong arms.”

  “And soft ones.” The silence left them both breathless again and Ellibeth pointed out they’d better let that lot in, they’d be imagining all sorts. Then she looked at the bed and wiggled her eyebrows. They were both still giggling when the dogs and folk were back inside. Billi sat in his chair and Ellibeth sat on his knee with an arm round his neck, while Bliss tried to look scandalised and then looked closer.

  “What are they?” She looked again and gasped. “Those are Tinkerer sparkuls!” She looked at Billi and then back to her Sis. “You said a Tinkerer maid’s beguiling gift. I thought you meant stones, you know, from a stream!”

  Ellibeth wore a huge smile. “It’s his idea of a chasing present.”

  Hektor choked briefly and got his breath back. “I don’t know which is funniest. His idea of a chasing gift or the idea that Billi thought he was chasing.” Billi looked at the three adults, all grinning now.

  “You mean?”

  Ellibeth leaned in to whisper in his ear. “For a long time, but very, very slowly so I knew you’d been caught on purpose, that you’d let me catch you. Then I thought you’d got it all wrong.”

  Billi wasn’t whispering, though he kept his answer quiet. “Do you know how many hours I spent wondering if I dare try to chase you, if you really liked me?”

  Ellibeth giggled. “I just said. Very, very slowly.”

  Bliss and Hektor had collapsed into each other’s arms and Hektor got out, in a bad imitation of Ellibeth. “That’s safe with my Da here, but don’t be taking any more liberties.”

  “Since then?” Hektor nodded since he couldn’t talk and Billi remembered how often the young man had done the same, collapsed laughing for no apparent reason. He started to smile because it didn’t matter, in fact that meant Ellibeth liked him before fancy hats and bear dancing and the stones. Ellibeth really didn’t care about his leg! “So I suppose you’ll be running through the Village telling everyone?”