The Bok of Syr Folk

by Russ L. Howard

  Sur Sceaf appreciated the honest pronouncement and knew it was genuine. “I hope you will find us both hospitable and self-disclosing, for we should very much enjoy forming an alliance with your queen and hope to allay all her concerns. Perhaps, in your stay here, you will come to an understanding of the great Pitter peril that shadows this isle. What you see before you is all in preparation for the coming invasion.”

  Long Swan nudged Mack-Ka. “I hope you are impressed by these fortifications, my friend. No one would dare build so mightily without proper cause.”

  Mack-Ka nodded. “How could I be otherwise than impressed with your mighty ship, your horsemen, the sheer height and strength of these walls and then the beauty of this city of stone. I am overwhelmed.”

  “Well, permit me to escort you to the Stone Hall.” Long Swan told him. “You will see our history on the tapestries that line the walls.”

  As Long Swan escorted Ysys and Mack-Ka away, Xelph and Ary returned accompanied by green-skinned and blue-skinned people. “Father, we would like you to meet Chief Eyf and Perle-Ka of Arym Gael and Pita Blufre and his wife Edie along with his friend, Chief Elmer and his wife, Lulu, of Monongahela.”

  Sur Sceaf greeted each of them in the traditional manner. “We look forward to getting to know all of you much better and extend to you a guest’s welcome to Godeselle.”

  Chapter 21 : Retaliation Against Herewardi Allies

  Long Swan’s Log: It is the twenty-ninth day of the Haelige Moonth in the Year 585 HSO a time of giving and receiving, a time of unification between tribes and peoples, between man and the gods. It is a holiday when we eat taffy-on-a-goose-biscuits and pray to the god Heimdal that he will order our society and send us his 432,000 chosen warriors to assist us in slaying our enemy, Hryre Seath and the Pitter Empire.

  On the morning after the arrival of the Chartreusean and Cerulean Ambassadors, Sur Sceaf received a messenger pigeon from Witan Jewell that Pitter activities are on the rise and are now being directed at all Herewardi Allies. Sur Spear has sent bands of rangers, bush masters, and soldiers of fortune to harass the Pitters in the Kalifornia lands which stirred up Pitter anger by reason of all the booty the dragoons and rangers have been successful in seizing from them. We are sure that the stealing of the hackney horses of Citriodora before the legions has set the Skull Worm’s teeth on edge. The Pitters chose to strike back by hitting the Herewardi allies, thus further weakening the Pitter defenses of their holdings and giving the sea stallion dragoons even easier booty to acquire, while at the same time increasing resistance among the scattered Rogue Tribes.

  Reports came that many of the slaves, in the labor camps, whom the Herewardi rangers and fyrds have freed, have elected to join with the Syr Folk, seeing the opportunity to match the Pitters’ strength and resist the imposition of involuntary servitude. Many of these freed people, after being vetted by Rabbi Amschel, have been sent to the Isle of Ilkchild to ply their trades and skills. A number of those freed were young virgins captured for trade to the Growlings, a race of people from the poisoned lands, who have united themselves to the Pitters.

  Four of the captives were Black people, which excited Sur Sceaf’s hopes that the Black Nation might be reborn, though the Pitters sought to eliminate them. Included among those rescued is an eighty-five year old blind man named Albert, his twin granddaughters, Letesha and Kaya around thirty winters, and a married couple, Amanuel and his white wife named, Tita. It is said that Albert possesses much verbal knowledge of his people and it is hoped he will work with Khem to impart some of this knowledge.

  Upon their arrival, Sur Sceaf entertained them in his chamber in order to assess their natures, skills, and dispositions. He found Albert is very keen of mind, and possesses great knowledge of his people that he hadn’t ever heard before. Sur Sceaf ordered me to meet with Albert to put that knowledge to pen. Amanuel is a large strong man, as dark-skinned as coal and of a very cheerful disposition. To meet him is to like him. Upon being set free, these five sought to join up with the Syr Folk for they believed they were the only Black people in the west. When Sur Sceaf told them there were at least three more on the Isle of Ilkchild, they were overjoyed.

  Amanuel confirmed what Margo already explained, that the Pitters do not allow blacks to marry blacks anymore as it does not fit with ‘The Program of Homogenization’which the young emperor, Hryre Seath, has instituted. Sur Sceaf explained to him that among the Syr Folk, people marry according to their personal choices, even though some choices have been pre-arranged.

  * * *

  Three days after the Cerulean and Chartreusean Ambassadors had settled into the palace at Godeselle, the courtyard before the great Stone Hall had become like a fair in anticipation of the return of the Lord Pyrsyrus and his mighty bands of Pyringian pirates. Morning sun splashed over the merchants bulging wagons, the teaming customers and the abundant produce of the open market glowing in colors of yellow, red, orange, and green. Chickens, pigeons, and turkeys strutted in their viminal cages. Harlequin-colored jesters with their flutes, rebecs, and lyres led processions of dancing people weaving in and around the booths.

  Trumpets blasted from the turrets announcing Pyrsyrus’ arrival at the Gorse Gate which was followed by the droning of the lurs. Crowds grew thicker and pushed for positions along the cobblestoned courtyard and alleyways to get a glimpse at the pirate king. While skilled horsemen channeled the herds of hackney horses around the city to their new studs.

  Sur Sceaf anxiously watched from the balustrade of the upper floor of the Stone Hall with his wives and Pyrsyrus’ wives. He’d also invited the ambassadors of the Suff Lands, along with his usual cortege of Arundel, Brekka, Xelph, Long Swan, and company. Having anticipated that Pyrsyrus would be clad in his black raven robes, he dressed in his finest white silken robes with golden swan wings and Wake Knots as trim. Shining Moon had drawn the day’s stick and stood closest to him. She too had dressed in her finest in honor of the day.

  Edie, Perle, and Lulu had gotten very close to Sur Sceaf’s wives and stood with them. Paloma and the wives were discussing the allotments of the released hostages with each other, and the dispersal of the revenues from the bootle for their upkeep until they could be shaped into productive citizens and sent out to make their own fortunes. Perle-Ka was particularly interested in learning as much about Syr Folk culture as she could. Sur Sceaf hoped to show the Chartreuseans and Ceruleans that they were not barbarians, and indeed were capable of high culture. He was pleased that he could always count on Paloma to present the Herewardi in the best possible light. Just so, he could always count on her to know how to allocate the resources in the highest and best interest of the commonwealth. He knew, should anything ever happen to him, that she would be more than capable of running the kingdom until one of his children could ascend to the Swan Throne.

  As though reading Sur Sceaf’s thoughts, Paloma left her sister wives and walked to Elmer and Shining Moon. “I was just chatting with Pyrsyrus’ wives and your wives. We’ve decided to have an intimate get together with just our two families and you Suff Landers after the formal dinner. That way you will get to know us on a far more personal level.”

  Elmer declared, “Well, if Lulu has already decided, I ain’t gonna say no. Besides I’d walk the length and breadth of this here island just to get another cup of that Govannon’s ale.”

  Blufre spoke up. “That Govannon is some may’an. He not only makes singing rocks into knives, that ol boy done makes the best Ga’durn mead that ever tickled my innards.”

  Mack-Ka smiled. “I would relish the opportunity to immerse myself further in your culture. After all, the queen has ordered me to garner as much information as possible about your strange ways. The queen considers your people a paradox. On one hand she hears of your great feats, your generosity, and your attempts to make peace. She’s also interested in your treatment of women and other tribes. On the other hand, you are a warring and expansive people. You are an anomaly to us.”

  Pal
oma said, “I believe your queen and I have much in common, for I too am intrigued by you Suff Folk. Your plant knowledge excels ours and your ability to have remained in peace for over four hundred years has much to do with what we hope to achieve. My new sister-in-law, Ysys, has spoken most lovingly of your queen and in fact all of the Ele-Anoreans. We have much to learn from each other.”

  Eyf, who had remained aloof, smiled. “You may trust anything that my daughter tells you. For like her mother, she has a way of looking into the heart of a person that most of us lack.”

  “In our culture,”Paloma said, “We have a saying, ‘deep calls to deep.’ I have never known anyone deeper of spirit than Long Swan and it is apparent he found the perfect complement in Ysys.”

  Eyf was clearly pleased by what she had said. “This is the first I’ve seen my daughter this happy, so relaxed, and my mind has never been stretched as far as when I speak with Long Swan. It does me honor to have him as a son-in-law. I will be most pleased to join your private company tonight.”

  Paloma turned to wink at Sur Sceaf and he smiled, as always when gazing into the sapphire-blue eyes of the daughter of the great wizard, Malcolm. He was aware Paloma flowed with the same wisdom of that wizard as well as the great beauty of her Rabenfae of Elves Island. Had he ventured far and wide, he could have never found a better faery-queen.

  The trumpets blared again, drawing everyones’ attention to the streets below. The official martial band attired in resplendent gold clothing with red trim, paraded through the streets playing their instruments to a triumphal march with trumpets, lurs, flutes, drums, and pipes.

  Sur Sceaf immediately spotted Pyrsyrus, as he was always the tallest man in any group. As he had anticipated, Pyr had dressed in his jet black robe. Behind him marched a caravan of pirates in their distinctive black uniforms, with their black masks still covering their faces. The only distinction being the mark of their individual tribes embossed on their foreheads, the Eye of Howrus for the Herewardi, the golden Hebrew letter of Shayn for the Jywds, and the golden dove for the Columbas. A wide mix of refugees numbering approximately seven hundred men, women and children followed, all rescued from Pitter Concentration Camps. Bringing up the rear were dozens of wagons, piled with booty. Asses were braying, chickens squawking, and wagon wheels beat out a steady rumble over the cobblestones of the great courtyard.

  When the procession reached the great hall, and passed under the balustrade, the pages led Pyrsyrus and his officers away from the procession and up the stairs, clanging their hand-sized cymbals for the crowd to part. As soon as Pyrsyrus reached the landing, Sur Sceaf went forth to greet him. Raising his arms to the swan square, he said, “Hale and hearty, I greet thee, brother, thou king of pirates.”

  Pyrsyrus’s face lit up with a big smile, “Hail and well met again, Sur Sceaf. Os Frith! I am returned from the plundering raids into the Kalifornias with much bootle, the hackney horses of Citriodora, and many freed captives numbering seven hundred and sixty six, who wish to join us and become citizens of Syrdom.”

  Sur Sceaf pulled up the deep sleeves of his robe and tendered a royal embrace with his brother. “Well done! I am pleased to see you whole and well. Paloma has anticipated the arrival of the captives and committed to see to their needs. These new settlers can take up their places in the quarries and plantations as have the previous settlers, who will be glad to move out into their own frithspottoms. The Quailor horse master, Zuchthengst Garben will stable the hackneys.”

  “Many of these refugees, particularly adult males are in pretty bad shape and will need at least three weeks to recuperate.”

  “We’ll surely see to their needs, but that can wait til tomorrow. In the meantime, there are some very anxious ladies, eager to welcome you home. Let us meet and discuss this matter in detail in one hour at the king’s chamber.”

  * * *

  Pyrsyrus was still wearing his black robes when the steward showed him into the king’s chamber.

  Sur Sceaf waved him to a chair and poured some bee-ur for him before topping off his own krug. “Here’s to a successful voyage.” He offered holding up his krug.

  “And here’s to the success of your expeditions into the Suff Lands.” They clinked mugs and drank. “Congratulate me, my last evening ashore I spent with Faewylf and she tells me she is now with child.”

  “I lost count a long time ago. How many will that make?”

  “This will be number fifty-two. I still count Donya’s two children by Ilker as mine.”

  Sur Sceaf grinned, “Though I have only thirty-seven, I suspect Faechild and Swan Hilde may be expecting. Faechild always shows more creativity when expecting and Swan Hilde works later into evenings anytime she’s carrying. Soon I’ll probably get the announcement.”

  Pyrsyrus said, “As much as I love taking boodle out of the Pitter hands, I hate being away from my wives so much. That’s why I’ve commissioned the shipbuilders in Ur Ford to construct me a sea palace that can comfortably provide all the amenities for my entire families and from which I can direct my navy while out to sea. I believe it will greatly enhance our successes.”

  Sur Sceaf smiled, “An excellent idea. Paloma is beginning to campaign for two dormitories to accommodate the older kids. She has been required to hire new servants from the most recent arrival of refugee orphan girls that Queen Va-Eyra’s fyrds intercepted. Girls, so many girls and what can the poisoned lands be wanting with all of them?”

  “The guesses to that question range from sex slaves to vampyrism. Take your pick.”

  “I suspect the former. But what can you tell me about the status of the Kalifornian city-states?”

  Pyrsyrus declared, “They will not stand much longer. The Pitters that were in their concentration camps were easy picking. They did not expect us to strike from the sea. They were braced for a land attack and were busy building roads, the one Pitter specialty I can commend them for. I suspect they believed the movement of Herewardi and Hickoryans into Ur Ford was in preparation for a great land offensive. So the Dominikers, were left in charge of the labor camps and were easy targets, which would not have been the case had the camps been manned by seasoned Pitter troops. The captives were only too eager to escape the emperor’s claw, and many of them joined in on the fighting alongside us against their Dominiker slavers. Once we secured a victory, fully a third of the Dominikers defected to our side. We left the defectors in Va-Geburah for processing and ascertaining their sincerity.”

  “You said, a third, but how many does that translate into?”

  “At least three thousand.”

  “Even if only two thousand are deemed worthy of citizenship, clearly we are going to need new frithspottoms to place them in.”

  Pyrsyrus nodded. “I have been noticing a steady stream of ships crossing from Ur Ford to the isle. So how many enclosed frithspottoms, do you have here in the nor lands?”

  “Hockney-in-the-Hole constitutes the last of four hundred and eighty-eight settlements so far. Sur Spear has drained over eighty per cent of the populations of the Herewardi cities and settlements on the main land and sent them all here. You’re correct about the ships. They have been coming non-stop for the past six moonths. During the past Moonth, fa began emptying the far off cities, as well as drawing on the fleeing Hickoryans for more settlers. He intends this isle to be the stronghold of freedom.”

  Pyrsyrus shifted positions in order to stretch out his long legs. “But, my brother, methinks we grow too fast. It seems to me father is gorging us with too many settlers at once. And isn’t Hockney-in-the-Hole located in the Suff Lands?”

  “Yes, but just over the Dragon’s Back where no one claims it. I placed Jon Lee and his Hickoryans there as it is in the core of the land. It seemed only logical to Muryh and me that since he will be building our road systems criss-crossing the isle that they should start the roads from the core out. Although Muryh is mistrustful of placing only Hickoryans in the core of the land and on both sides of the river, I think they a
re fully trustworthy.”

  Pyrsyrus said, “Who isn’t Muryh suspicious of?” He drained his krug and held it out for a refill. “What will he think of the Dominiker defectors?

  Sur Sceaf complied with a nod before adding, “What do you think of this bee-ur, it was made by Arundel.”

  “The best I’ve ever had. Your son constantly amazes me with the range of his talents.”

  “I could say the same about Herewose, the boy is another Long Swan.”

  Pyrsyrus took a sip. “Your pages informed me you wish me to attend a council fire with the new ambassadors from the Suff Lands.”

  “Yes, and I wish you and your wives to join us in the moot so that the Ceruleans and Chartreuseans can get first hand accounts of the plight of other tribes on the main land of Panygyrus. Play it up. They need to know the true nature of Pitters.”

  Pyrsyrus nodded. “How bloody and horrific do you want these stories to be? Because I can tell you it ain’t pretty even if I don’t play it up.”

  “Just be brutally honest. So far we have been unable to convince them of the enormity of the dangers to them.”

  “Then it is good I brought the two spies, Fenwylf and Ehrenstein who will talk on additional threats coming our way. Our guests need to know what to expect from the Pitters, and their allies.

  * * *

  Sur Sceaf tasked Paloma, Faewylf, and Redith to plan the welcome home gala which had to be incorporated into a council fire. He arranged to meet with Pyrsyrus and the two spies, old friends from younger days, before the start of the evening’s festive board. After the usual pleasantries he made arrangements to meet later with the spies over secret knowledge. He filled the spies in on what he would like them to report publicly. Together, he, the spies, and Pyrsyrus walked into the Stone Hall. Sur Sceaf was overwhelmingly impressed with the arrangements of flowers on the tables, large vases of colored oak leaves and the burning censors of oak leaves that permeated the hall. Paloma had also artistically displayed many of the fruits, vegetables, plants, and flowers that Xelph had brought back. The sconces burned with whale oil and gave a golden hue to the air. Fat wood fed the large fireplace with its licking and snapping flames.