Eyf smiled warmly. “No, I do not, nor can I think of any reason I should. He and his people have done nothing to harm me and my people.”
Mendaka turned to Pita. “Chief Blufre of the Blues do you bear any animosity or anger towards Chief Eyf of the Chartreuseans?”
Pita looked at the Chartreuseans in the same way a mongoose would view a snake. “I ain’t believin the Old Ones woulda parted from the Greens wifout good reason. They be monster makers. How can I not have a bitter taste for them?”
Mendaka sighed. “Perhaps--”
Eyf interjected. “If I may, please, Mendaka, Blufree is right. My ancestors did horrible things. It is true we were once monster makers and I’m here to tell you we paid dearly for the deeds of our grandsires. They left us a heritage of ill-hap. For at the time of the earth changes those monsters broke loose and fed on us until we could eventually subdue them and that was no easy matter.”
“And us too,” Pita shouted. “And my name is Blufre, not Blufree.”
“I’m sorry, Blufre,” Eyf said apologetically. “It took us many generations before we once again could live safely and defend ourselves from the very creatures we had made. Unlike yours, our beaucerons died early on from some strange malady. Finally, after we were safe from all the beasts, we swore an oath among us that we would never allow ourselves to do this kind of evil in the earth again. So that’s why we turned toward the plant kingdom and from studying it sought to bless mankind with new foods and medicines.”
Pita looked as if he was taken aback by Eyf’s honesty. Finally, he looked over at his wife. “What say you Edie? Think we be trusting these Chartreuseans?”
Edie smiled. “Blufre, my heart be burnin in me when the man spoke. He speaks truth. I believe, right truly, he be a man of peace.”
Kletus looked conflicted. “But the Old Ones be sayin, we best never be drawin nigh unto them or their evil deeds, but must shun them like they’s rattlesnakes.”
Blufre laid his staff to the side and said, “Kletus, I’m a thinkin them Old Ones knew a different people. Y’all know my Edie, the way she has of know’n truth from lies. Now she’s sayin the man, Eyf, he be speakin the truth and that’s all I need’s to know in my heart. Now if’n you and the fellows be in the mind to stand against me on this, I ain’t goina fight ja. But I tell ya true, I’s goina go with what Edie declares to be truth.”
Elmer spoke emphatically. “Pita, you know I’ll be followin you, no matter what.”
“Me, too,” Koot said.
Kletus declared, “I ain’t of any mind to go agin you Pita. I’ll do what ju do.”
Relieved and pleased, Mendaka smiled, “Seeing you bear each other no ill will, I propose we make a pact this day, a pact to honor and meet with one another as friends from here on. It will be a pact between our three tribes, the Syr Folk, the Chartreuseans, and the Ceruleans. We will do this by erecting a large monolith in this place on this Isle of Isles as a land mark and testimony to all coming generations that we were all three peoples, here this day joined in peace as one. Long Swan will record it so.”
* * *
At twilight three days after the meeting with Blufre and Eyf on the Isle of Isles, all the Chartreusean sages and the sisters, and Cerulean Fellows met together again with Mendaka. A large column of bluestone the size of a man was found in the middle of the isle and was transported to the site of the meeting. With the representatives of all three tribes, it was erected near the ashes of the wood-fire as a token of friendship and solidarity from then on. All present assembled in front of it, while Mendaka started the fire and Blufre tossed a large log onto the campfire, sending its sparks skyward into the darkening sky.
Mendaka raised his arms for attention. “I wish to expound on why we all need to unite as one people. But first off, it is the custom of my people to smoke a peace pipe and pass it around as token of our spirits uniting through our breath. For it is out of the mouth that evil comes. The smoke purifies the breath of the mouth and we may all breathe peace afterwards.”
Blufre had a puzzled look on his face as he said, “Awhile back, I’m remembering I offered you to drink my tobback and you would have no parts of it and now you want me to smoke yourn.”
“That is very true. Just remember what I explained to you then. In my tribe, we only smoke to mark great events. At other times it is forbidden for us to smoke for our own pleasure.”
Shark-Moon came out with a rabbit pelt and handed it to Mendaka. Then with great reverence, Mendaka unwrapped the bundle and removed the sacred implement which was both a peace pipe and a battle axe. After handing the pelt back to Shark-Moon, he reached into his pouch for the tobacco and stuffed the pipe with sacred tobacco, before lighting it with a fagot from the campfire. After taking a ceremonial puff, he passed it to Pita, who drew deeply and then passed it over to Eyf, who did likewise. At the end of the ceremony Mendaka knocked the ashes over the monolith they had raised. “This acts as a testimony to all ancestral spirits that their children will now live in peace together. The three tribes of the Syr Folk are joined as one, although we are three very distinct people with very different customs. We have joined together against one common enemy, the Pitters, or the children of Ish as they are also known to us. On behalf of the High Lord Sur Sceaf of the Syr Folk, I wish to take this opportunity to invite the Chartreuseans and the Ceruleans to be one with us by joining our confederation.”
Instead of answering Pita examined the ash on the monolith.
Eyf responded in a neutral tone. “We will have to consult with our people and see if it is their voice to join with you before I can say yay or nay.”
Pita nodded, “Now me, I’m a wonderin, what this here joining would mean to me and my folk?”
“A fair question,” Mendaka replied. “It would mean we could all come and go within each other’s lands, trade our produce and livestock, and benefit from what we could teach and give to one another.”
Pita thought that over. “If’n Turtle Duck would be pleased to teach me how to make such a ship as hisn and if that giant, Herman, and Govannon would show me how to make the singing rock into swords and spears then I’s for the joining.”
Kletus waved his hand. “Me too, I damn well want one of them elf blades. Dress a hog in no time flat.”
Edie smiled. “It seems to me this here joinin is much like we do in Monagahela with Atala and Apalala. We gets their hogs, they gets our chickens, and we give one another beans and corn durin the hard times.”
Yr said, “I can see the benefits of trading, but why do we need to be joined as one? We live near the Eng-Nessians and the Ele-Anoreans, but we have never joined as one, since we all think and live so differently. It doesn’t make much sense to me.”
Xelph explained. “The three tribes that now make up the Syr Folk used to live as individual tribes and dealt alone against a formidable enemy. It soon became evident we had to join or be destroyed for none of us could stand against the Pitters alone. It is because we all have a common enemy whom you have not yet met, that we united.”
Eyf looked puzzled, “But I have never seen this enemy you speak of and know not how he should be our enemy too.”
Mendaka let out a long sigh. “This enemy does even worse things than your ancestors, the monster makers. Imagine drillenas in the form of humans and not just a pack or two, but as many as compose an ant hill. These Pitters want to take your land away from you and force you to serve them the way your chickens serve you. You would be required to lay eggs for them and in the end, they will eat you.”
There was a tense silence. Eyf and Blufre exchanged horrified looks. Finally, Elmer spoke up. “But you says they’s far away over the great deep. Ain’t no use getting our feathers all ruffled over that when it ain’t likely they’d be a comin here.”
Mendaka placed his hand on the stone monolith and explained. “For a long time my people thought the same way as you. We lived high in the mountains, far away from these Pitters, separated by miles upon miles of
deserts. For a long time we were safe because the Pitter numbers were small. But then, first a trickle and then their numbers grew larger and larger until they began to occupy areas around us, and the peoples of those areas fled to us with their tales of horror just like the tales of horror of your ancestors and the things they did. I myself have witnessed their brutality. Even the high lord was tortured nigh unto death by their hand. Had I, myself, not been sent by the great spirit, then the high lord would even this day be dead to us. I tell you, neither the Blues nor Greens can comprehend the terror these people called Pitters will release on you. And I assure you they will be here before you can prepare.”
Xelph interjected. “Mendaka is right. Chief Eyf, even your son’s, Yorel and Siwell have seen the Pitter Ships crash on the shores of your west coast. They’re not just coming. They have arrived and are at the door with driping fangs and slashing claws.”
Mendaka watched as Edie gave Pita a troubled look.
“Ain’t no one can stand drillenas,” Pita Blufre declared. “It troubles my heart to hear of such an evil enemy like you done described to us. To think their hands will one day reach across the deep after us. I won’t be havin it.”
Chief Eyf countered. “It is hard for me to believe anyone capable of the atrocities Mendaka speaks of.” He purported, “There must be ways to make peace with the Pitters. It’s not unlike us making peace tonight after more than six thousand Moons of enmity with the Blues. Maybe you should smoke the peace pipe with these Pitters as we have done here.”
Mendaka squeezed the pipe so tight his hand went white. “Then I shall not spare your ears any longer, gentle Eyf. Other peoples have talked as you now talk only to be wholly absorbed by the Pitters. Their identity erased. What Ashim did to your daughter is mild compared to how they abuse women. The Pitters would look upon you with more disgust than you viewed Ychstein and Ashim.”
“Perhaps, but I am just looking for a peaceful solution. I want peace in our time.”
“There are races and religions of people wholly stamped out of the earth forever because they trusted in a peaceful solution. They committed suicide. The Pitters speak of equality, but to this date we know of no people who have ever been placed on an equal footing in the Pitter Empire with their ruling elite. They take the best of all unto themselves and leave their subject people to subsist on what is left until they grind even the poor into dust, too weak to resist.”
Pita asked, “Well, why don’t they defend themselves?”
“Because, the Pitters are more numerous than the midges in your marshes. It would be fruitless for even the most powerful of peoples to resist them. The only reason we have been able to resist them, is first, because we remain beyond their reach, which secondly, gave us time to build very defensible strongholds that they, so far, have not been able to breach. One of the reasons we have been exploring this isle is to find another place for such a stronghold here in the south that the enemy will have no easy ingress into your lands.”
Eyf scratched his head. “I still don’t understand why you think they are coming here. We have never even seen one before.”
Xelph let out an audible sigh of frustration. “For Woon’s sake, man, have you not been listening? Because our spies know their movements and know they are planning an attack on this island in an effort to root us out and thwart our launching an offensive. Since we have made our fortress city Godeselle, their only way into us is through your lands here in the south.”
Pita waved for the floor. “I gotcha that they be fixin to come. We’ll be ready and waitin when they come. But why trouble ourselves with building forts?”
“Because there will be a hundred times as many of them as all of us combined. But if we are behind the bulkhead of a fort they cannot get at us.”
Still, Eyf shook his head. “I cannot see my people fighting. They lack the skill and the heart for killing such as you. So it would be pointless for us to build a fort, but if this enemy is as evil as you say then we will allow you to settle in our lands so they will not attack us. That way you can be our strength. However, I shall have to speak with the rest of the sages and get the other village chiefs to agree to forts, but I don’t think they will be convinced we need to defend ourselves from the wrath of the Pitters, whom we don’t even know.”
Mendaka was disappointed that Pita was not fully invested in building a fort either. Pita stood up with his staff clenched tightly in hand and said, “I don’t know as if we need to be buildin a fort if y’all are goina build one. After all we have our dogs and we be good fighters. Ain’t no good fighter needs be standin behind a wall. It would shrink our manhood.” Before Mendaka could respond, Pita held up his hand. “But seein how strong y’all be believin we need protection, we’s be happy to invite you and your kin to settle in our lands. Provided that you be givin us metal knives.”
Coot was nodding his head vigorously. “The blufre be right. We’s gots lots of land that ain’t got nothin on it save kudzu and briar. You be needin a trip of goats or a husk of hares to clear the land. Be better for us all. The way I done see’d it, the more settlers the less dangers.”
Mendaka realized this was as much a concession as he would ever get from either tribe. The Chartreuseans reminded him so much of the Quailor. Good people, but steeped in vulnerable ideologies rooted outside of reality. The warrior spirit had just been bred out of them. The Blues, on the other hand had the spirit, but their hubris blinded them to the might and style of the enemy. “Then I shall see to it we start right away and I’ll send a requisition to Godeselle for swords and weaponry, so help me Gods.”
The fellows all smiled as Blufre drew the blade Mendaka had gifted him and passed it around for Kletus and Coot to handle it once again.
Yr said, “Eyf, we really should be getting some of those weapons too.”
Eyf frowned. “Perhaps. We will consider it. But I think it best if we leave the fighting to the fighters.”
“In that case,” Mendaka said, “I shall have Govannon and Herman erect a forge in Apalala first and teach the arts of weapon making, smelting, and smithing, while my crew and I begin the fortress on the Isle of Isles. After Apalala’s forge is up and running the two of them can start demonstrating smithing to the Chartreuseans. When Turtle Duck returns, he will bring the Syr Folk planters and settlers with their mules and steel plows to show you how to plant up more land and increase your harvest a hundred fold. And Kleetus we’ll have more than a trip of goats to clear out that kudzu.”
Eyf declared, “I happen to know for a fact, through the Ele-Anorean Ambassador, Mack-Ka, that the Queen of the Ness is very disturbed about inviting fighters into her domains. Her ambassadors heard us speak of this matter before and she is very much opposed to this steel plow that Long Swan explains would cut the back of mother earth. She will be opposing our plans to grant you this much leeway in our lands.”
Mendaka thought to himself, We could so easily commandeer these lands. Only my great respect for these people holds me back. But if it comes down to a choice between saving my people and allowing them their individual liberty, I shall be forced to save my people. “In that case, for the present, we shall concentrate our farming and weapon making to the Cerulean side, and only employ agricultural techniques on the Chartreusean side.”
Blufre looked very proud. “When do you think Govannon and Herman can get started?”
“Tomorrow,” Mendaka said. “Now, I want to get this straight so that Long Swan can write our words down and read them back and have Eyf and Pita put their marks on it so that we know that all have agreed that the Syr Folk have permission to build forts and smithies in both lands, supply weapons, and bring many thousands of Syr Folk Settlers to live here along side you.”
“That be my will,” Pita said.
Eyf thought for a moment. “I want to see these metal plows you told me of, and see how the mules can pull them. We will have it so, even as we three here agree.”
Chapter 20 : Developments in Godesell
e
Habraham’s Log:
It was the twenty-second day of the Haelige Moonth, just after the Equinox when the High Lord, Sur Sceaf, called for an accounting of the Kingdom of Syr Folk. It was the time when every citizen and officer in the land rendered an accounting and inventory of their stewardship. During the past moonth Sur Sceaf has been occupied with organizing the repeated waves of colonists coming from the main land of Panygyrus. In the original master plan, it was decided that each of these new groups was to spend two years as indentured servants to assist in road building, quarrying, and public works before they were granted titles on their allotted inheritances out in the vast lands south of Godeselle. However, it was recently decided that Godeselle was becoming too crowded. So subsequently many were released as soon as they arrived to go to a permanent settlement and to return every other week to assist in fulfilling their indentures in increments.
After all the settlements and city-states were accounted for the tally came up to more than five million and a half Syr Folk inhabiting the isle. Thus tipping the balance so that more Syr Folk were now on the isle than in six remaining kingdoms on the main land and still many remain due to arrive anyday now.
The twenty-second day of the Haelige Moonth was used for accounting and census taking and was set up so that all government was transparent and would involve an accounting up to the leaders in hierarchal order and an accounting back down to the citizens. A detailed accounting was then promulgated at the great hall for the perusal of any citizen who desired to examine the record.
* * *
Sur Sceaf had just left his manor at Neorxnwang to return to the city. He had rejoiced much in the presence of his wives and children and was present at the birth of Taneshewa’s first child, whom he named Il-Alim. He had prophesied during the blessing and behooding that the child would become as the Ram of God, teaching his people how to overcome the enemy and how to set the enemy fleeing before them. Now, Ahy had born a second child called Here-Ygg, and Sur Sceaf prophesied this child would live during the era of the restoration of the father lands of Heredom.
The Bok of Syr Folk Page 34
