Book One: Chapter Four
It was a cold night and the sound of a woman grunting was lost among the loud cracking of thunder outside. She laid on a hay mattress on the dirt floor of a small room with stone walls and a thatched roof. Her long curly black hair framed her beautiful round face as she squeezed her pale blue eyes closed and furrowed her brow. She cried out suddenly in pain.
Adala’s light blue eyes shot open. She sat up from her pillow and looked at her sleeping sister next to her on the bed. It was still dark outside. She looked on her other side, to Sartie, also sleeping. She lay back down. A minute later, there was a single knock sound against the balcony door. Adala sat up. There was the sound again and Alora opened her eyes.
“What was that?” Alora asked, sitting up and looking at the wooden door with her sister.
“Maybe it’s your admirer,” Adala smiled.
“What?!” Alora retorted.
“Shhh!” she whispered. “You might wake Sartie.”
The twins got up off the bed. They both wore a formless short sleeve white chemise that revealed their collarbone and only reached their knees. They went to the large closet and put on their night robes, still hearing the knocking of rocks, before they went to the door and opened it.
Below, Deikuneist held up a rock.
“My beautiful lady,” he said with ardor.
Adala held her hand in front of her forehead, fearing another hit, then looked at her sister for a response.
She was quiet, looking down at the young man smiling near a tree below. Then he gave a wet cough.
“It is late. Why did you come back son of the tailor?” Adala asked.
He looked back up at the twins.
“Often did my feelings dwell upon you yestereve… and I could barely sleep for constant was my mind on you. Your beauty and that of your sister… have been like a spell on me. It is your kindness and eyes like... the sky that have won me over. I wish that you would give me the honor of holding your hand.”
Adala smiled.
“That’s sweet,” Adala said to her sister.
“But I’m gonna be married soon,” she whispered.
“Certainly, but what he said was so beautiful.”
“Should I let him hold my hand?”
“It is your hand,” she said. "Your choice."
“What would you do?” she asked.
“It is just holding hands, not a proposal.”
“Alright, but only if he insists,” Alora conceded with a smile. She looked back down. "I'm not certain," she told him.
“Please fair noble woman, might I gaze closer into the eyes of that which is so fair?”
“I… yes. I- mean, thou mayest ascend,” Alora stuttered.
“I humbly thank you,” he said with a bow.
“Go—” Deikuneist began and then coughed. “Oh, I…” Deikuneist face became red as he held onto the trellis that guided green vines up to the balcony at the twins’ room. He climbed slowly and when he reached the top Adala smiled and Alora looked out with trepidation.
“Might I kiss your hand?” he asked.
“A kiss?” Alora asked, blushing. “Does not Fareik forbid such contact between those not of the same family? Or those that wedded to each other?”
“Please?” Deikuneist asked.
“Tis only your hand,” Adala said.
Alora slowly extended her hand.
Deikuneist took hold of her slender palm softly and lowered his lips towards the back of her hand.
Alora blushed and Adala looked on intently.
Then there was a creak at the door and Alora whipped her body around pulling her hand from the young man’s grasp. He faltered, trying to hold on to something, but he fell down into the bushes with a crash. Adala looked down in shock.
“Adala, Alora?” the head maidservant Denda said.
Adala turned from the edge.
“Why are you outside?” she asked. "It is a cold night."
“Oh.. we uh..” Adala began.
She came closer nearing the balcony.
“I thought I heard a bird,” Adala said.
“A bird?”
“Yes it sounded like it was hurt.”
Alora looked confused.
“What?” Denda asked.
“I thought maybe it needed help or something,” Adala said.
"A bird at night?"
"A… an owl I believe?"
The maidservant looked down from the balcony along with the twins. Nothing was there. She turned back and frowned.
“I came up here to change your chamber pot,” she said, going to the side of the bed and from underneath, pulling up a bowl-shaped container by the handle, “but I heard whispers.”
The young girl Sartie stirred.
"What is it?" she asked sleepily.
"Oh nothing mistress, please lay your head back down."
Sartie turned away from them, onto her side.
Alora looked over the balcony and saw Deikuneist get up from the bush. She held her finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.
“We were just concerned about the bird,” Adala said with feigned empathy.
“Well it’s probably alright mistress,” she said with a confused smile. She went to the balcony and poured the chamber pot out.
"Ah," came a cry.
"What was that?" Denda said.
"Oh um that was me, I thought I saw a mouse," Adala said.
"No, I heard it from outside."
"No it was me."
"I must be tired," Denda said, placing the pot back beneath the bed with a shake of her head.
"Good night," Adala said.
“Good night,” Denda replied with a small bow.
When the maidservant left and closed the door, the twins rushed back to the balcony.
“Deiky?” Alora asked. “Are you hurt?” she asked with concern.
“Just a bump,” he said. "And covered in… in chamber… mess." He was wet over his hair and clothes.
"I am sorry."
“But well worth it to get the chance,” he replied. “Would you allow me to try yet again?” he asked.
"You would risk the fall again?"
"Always."
“Then climb,” Alora said with a wan grin.
Deikuneist ascended the trellis and wiped his hand on the vining plant before he took hers and kissed the back of it. She blushed profusely.
“I thank you Alora,” he said. “Might I come inside?” he asked.
“Oh –I,” she fumbled. “I don’t.. I mean I can’t..”
“You should not,” Adala said. “You might wake our cousin, and the maid might come back and get us in trouble,” she warned. "And besides… you smell of urine and offal," she said covering her nose.
“I see. Thank you,” he said again. “Alora... may I... may I say goodbye by kissing your hand again before I leave?” he asked.
Alora blushed and put her hand out. He pressed his lips to her hand longingly and then he looked up at her face. She looked down at him and then closed her eyes, her face flush. He finally let go of her hand.
“Farewell,” he said. “I do wish to see you again.” And then he descended the trellis.
They watched him go to his horse. He looked up and waved for them to go inside, but they continued to watch. He walked slowly away down the road, looking back at them until he went behind the trees. They went inside and closed the balcony door behind.
Alora sighed.
"Do you think he'll be alright traveling in the night?"
"I hope so, I think it would be rather dangerous. If they lock the town gates at night then he'll be sleeping outside."
"Shouldn't we let him stay then? I couldn't bare it if he were to be attacked by bandits or mongrae."
“Then you do care for him?” Adala asked.
“No!” she said laying in bed. Sartie stirred.
“Shhh,” Adala whispered, then she pulled up the covers.
“No I don’t,” she replied. "I just don't want him to get hurt on my account."
“It's alright, I will not judge you,” she said.
Alora turned from her sister and frowned.
"He'll be alright. We haven't heard sight of a mongrae in months."
Adala looked at Alora with concern, but said no more. She lay down, closing her eyes. After five minutes or so, Alora sat up and peered over her sister. Adala's eyes were closed, her breathing steady. Alora lay back down and pressed her hand to her lips where Deikuneist had. She did several times, her eyes closing as she kissed. She smiled and fell asleep.
The next day the twins, Sartie, Viscountess Farnei, and Viscount Deinmag left the manor as the sun was rising. The twin sisters wore dark blue intricate designs across the bottom hem of their long dresses, with white sleeves and a green hooded cloak. Their hair was braided across their crown and down their back in a tail with small bows. Their mother wore a yellow dress with a matching hood that had a red rimmed collar and was buttoned onto the dress along the shoulders. Her head wasn’t covered with the hood, but with a white veil and wimple. Sartie wore her hair in a bun in the back and covered with a veil, a yellow ribbon tying it to her forehead. Her dress was simple, but beautiful, a pastel green with the common small swirling Deiru designs around the hem and along the cuff of her long sleeves. The Viscount wore a bright red vest with a high collar that reached mid-thigh with a repeating pattern of yellow suns across it. Beneath he wore a long sleeved white linen tunic. He had a long leather belt beneath his paunch and hanging from it an alms purse and a short sword in a leather scabbard. Atop his head was a short red felt in hat with a pearled rim across the crown. He wore dark red breeches, and brown leg wraps. They all wore short leather shoes tied around the ankle with wooden pattens beneath to elevate their shoes nearly two inches from the ground.
They walked out from their manor house, across the dirt road to a square stone building nearly as tall as the manor. The building was set apart from the peasant houses that made up the small village of twelve homes. It had windows tall and thin above a wide open doorway. The wooden doors were folded back, inlaid with the symbol of Fareik in the center of each, a large sun design, taking up most of the door, and a simple house symbol in the center. Each sun was nearly the circumference of a man with his arms and legs outstretched from the tip of the sun’s rays on opposite sides.
A few serfs, the women in dresses, the men in long tunics and breeches, of clean brown and gray entered the building before them. The twins and their family entered the building slowly. There were dark wooden pews that led up to a dais at the end of the large sanctuary and a short wooden railing separating the half of the pews closest to the entrance from the half of the pews closest to the dais with an opening for people to pass through the aisle. Along the left, right and back walls were wide yellow banners with the symbol of Fareik. The sun’s light shone into the room through the tall windows and against the far wall above a stone dais onto the yellow banner. The pews were becoming full, as serfs filtered in from the village.
A rotund man in yellow robes sat on a chair beside a small table with a clay vase filled with thin branches covered in bright gold colored blossoms. A symbol of Fareik in a honey shade of thread, was sewed into the chest area of the man's gown. His eyes were closed.
As the Viscount and Viscountess passed the serfs, the peasants nodded their heads slightly. The women walked up to the wooden railing, but did not pass through it. They sat in a pew on the left that was empty. Only men went through the wooden railing to the other side. This included the Viscount. He went to the front pew nearest the dais and sat. The priest opened his small cerulean eyes, stood up from his chair on the dais and walked up to a wooden lectern. It was a few minutes with no other people entering and nearly seventy people inside, when the priest cleared his throat and held up his hand.
“Fareik bless you,” he said, pressing his hand to a tome on the lectern and then up to his head. Those in the sanctuary held their hands in front of themselves and then pressed it to their own forehead.
“Welcome all to our mortenbedun, on this blessed Lutsundie.”
The priest spoke long about the meaning of Lutsundie within Fareikrut. As the longest day of the year, it was usually very hot from the warmth of the sun that Fareik blesses them with. Their very lives are dependent on the light to grow their farms and keep them warm throughout the day. Through the light of Fareik it is not only the plants that grow, but the people are also able to grow and prosper. This day, Lutsundie, should be a day when Fareik is venerated above all else as the ultimate light upon the world.
It was nearly an hour long sermon in which the priest told of the first Lutsundie and how Fareik had instructed them how to celebrate. When the service ended, the men left first and then the women were dismissed next. Lady Farnei and the twins walked out to the dirt road where they met their father, the Viscount.
“I can’t wait for this afternoon,” Alora said softly.
“I know, the sun tarts, bread, all the food,” Sartie said.
The girls giggled and smiled.
“Ringwerf is what I want to do if… there will be any games?” Adala asked, turning toward her father.
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “Now quiet girls.” Adala bowed her head.
They walked silently back to the manor house, and then went to their room where the girls talked about dancing, playing hoodman’s blind and the food they would eat at the celebration in the afternoon. Lady Farnei came to their room and scolded them for idle chatter, so they cleaned their room again, organized their closet, fixed their hair, and other small things, until their mother appeared in the doorway to their room again.
“It’s time ladies,” she smiled.
“For the celebration?”
“Yes, the Viscount has asked we all meet downstairs immediately.”
The girls went downstairs following the Viscountess downstairs until they met their father in the main hall.
“Let us go.”
They walked out towards the church, Farnei slightly behind Deinmag and to his left. The girls’ hands were held together as they smiled and walked towards the village. Between the Chapel and the village there was a large village square of trampled flat dirt, at the center of which was a stone platform about four feet high and ten by ten feet. Along the rim of the platform were yellow banners similar to in the chapel, but smaller. On the platform was a large table with several chairs, bread, meat, fruits, and wine.
Near the platform in the square was a large awning covered table. On top were four large baskets each filled with something different: large yellowish bread loafs with raisins, golden fruits, nut and raisin clusters, and flaky pastries. In a small open tent was set up what appeared to be kids' games. In a large open cart was a pile of over twenty crowns made of leaves, vines, and yellow flowers. Next to that pile was a wooden crate filled with yellow flowers. Nearby leaning against the stage was a young man with a thick beard who was tuning a lute. He had a yellow flower pinned to his leather pointed cap.
The serfs from the village had gathered around the center stage platform, the women putting on the flower crowns and the men pinning flowers to their hats or tunics. The man Powel, the plain looking manor servant with thin lips walked up to the Viscount. The lord nodded and Powel ascended the steps to the edge of the stage.
“All please welcome Viscount Deinmag to our Lutsundie celebration.”
There was applause from the full crowd as the Viscount ascended the stairs and Powel stepped to the side as the lord took center stage.
“Thank you all for your diligence this summer, we’ve had a good season so far. I’d like to celebrate this Lutsundie and thank you for all your hard work. I’d also like to thank Preisa Weitet for the service today.” The priest from church, from within the audience, bowed his head and Deinmag nodded to him. “We have food to celebrate the occasion, games for the children, and music. Please dance and be merry!” he said.
There was another applause and some cries of appreciation. The lutist began playing a jovial tune as some of the men and women began dancing. They only danced with their own gender, except for the small children who danced with everyone. Villagers began taking food and eating, the children went up to the tent where a man sat organizing the games.
The Viscount and Viscountess sat on the table up on the platform, eating and watching the merriment around them. At times a villager would approach from the steps and offer a gift, either some food or a trinket. The Viscount would thank them and wish them well before they left the stage.
The twins first went to get food. They ate the sweets quickly before running off to the games. There they played a ring toss game that none of them seemed especially good at and then a game of tossing stones onto a checkerboard pattern. There were four different colors of stones, one for each of the players. Adala won that game with much excitement. There were no prizes, but she was joyful all the same. Afterwards, they joined a game of Hoodman's Blind. They tied a blindfold around Sartie and called out and tickled her with branches, getting her to go wrong directions while she laughed, trying to touch someone desperately so they would be the next hoodman. Lastly they danced with the other women from the village.
It was nearly four hours of celebration when the Viscount stood and caught the attention of Powel. The young man walked up the stage and stood. He announced the Viscount again. Deinmag concluded the festivities and people began to clean up and disperse.
Sartie, the twins, and their parents began walking back to the manor.
"I feel so cold," Alora said.
"Nonsense, it's blazing hot," Deinmag said.
"Adala when we get home, fetch Denga," Farnei said. “I have a feeling your sister isn’t well.”
"Yes mother."
“Oh Denda I feel awful, can’t I go lie down?”
“What’s wrong milady?”
“I think Alora has the fever,” Farnei explained.
“Oh dear, let me see.” She placed her hand on the maiden’s forehead. “Yes you are quite warm. I’ll need to make some nightmint extract.”
“Your head is hot,” Farnei said.
“But I feel so cold,” Alora replied.
“How many sun fruit did you eat today?” Farnei said.
"Only two...”
“Don’t lie."
"I promise."
"Too many sweets. Denda, prepare some fresh mint water for her. She needs to stay in bed until the fever is gone. Go upstairs.”
“Should I join her?” Adala asked.
“Yes watch her. We can’t risk your sister getting any hotter. She might die,” she explained. “And no dinner for her,” Farnei said. The food will only fuel her heat. “Cold water with wine only.”
“Yes mother,” Alora replied.
“Denda go gather the nightmint quickly.”
“Yes my lady.”
Adala walked with her sister into the tower and up the stairs to their room. Alora got up on the bed and Adala helped remove her shoes. Alora lay back, while Adala watched over her. Alora’s cheeks looked rosy, and her eyes weak. As Alora closed her eyes, Adala also felt tired from the celebration, so she fell asleep next to her sister. She was awoken by Denda a bit later shaking her shoulder. She was holding a metal flagon. Denda gently shook Alora awake as well.
“Mother?” she said.
“It’s only Denda mistress. Here have this to drink.” She drank it all down.
“I’m so hungry”
“Sorry nothing to eat yet until that fever goes down. Let me see how warm you are again.” She put her hand to her forehead. “Burning up. No food yet. Adala please go downstairs to eat, I’ll watch Alora.”
Adala nodded and left the room. She went down the stairs of the tower and into the main hall where a roast duck and porridge was prepared. After eating quickly (her mother kept asking her to slow down) she came upstairs.
“Very hungry.” She frowned. “Do you believe letting that boy kiss my hand may have made me hot?” she asked. “My heart was beating so fast and it felt all warm inside.”
“That was yesterday, maybe it was the sunfruit like mother said?
"But you didst eat them too."
"I know, and I'm starting to feel achy. I wonder if I'm going to be sick."
Her sister shrugged
“You seemed to enjoy his company?” Adala asked.
Alora smiled weakly.
“What about Lord Geint?” Adala asked.
“Well… that’s… that’s what Mother and Father want. I’ve been thinking...”
“But you always want what Mother and Father want for us,” Adala replied.
“I know, but… I think I do care for him more than I let on.”
Adala smiled, and Alora smiled back.
“Do you want to get married to Deiky?” Adala asked
“No… marriage is about duty isn’t it? I guess he is just...”
“Maybe you should rest,” Adala said.
“Alright,” she agreed.
Adala lay next to her sister and stared at the tiled wall. About half an hour later, Denga came in with a tray. She had a clay bowl filled with a greenish fluid, some strips of fabric, and a thick undyed folded sheet. She woke Alora, removed all the bows from her hair and folded her ponytail back into a bun. Then she removed the pillow from the bed and put the undyed sheet folded where the pillow had been. She placed the strips of cloth into the green fluid and she asked the young woman to stand. Then she took a single strip at a time and wrapped it across her head. She kept wrapping, being careful to leave a gap for her eyes, nostrils and mouth. Then Alora was instructed to lay down.
"Watch over her dear," Denda told Adala. "Come get me if she feels any worse."
"I will."
Alora lay down and closed her eyes asleep.
Nearly a half hour later Alora was gently pushed awake.
“Alora, Alora, wake up. How are you?”
She opened her eyes to see a short young woman looking at her with small dark blue eyes and full blush covered cheeks. She was nearly the same height, but not as petite as the twins. Her hair was in large buns at the side of her head and wrapped in white cloth. She wore a long red dress with a black belt and a red and yellow cape.
“Suete,” Alora smiled.
“Are you feeling better?” the woman asked.
“I am at that, why are you here?”
“Can I not visit my cousins to wish them a happy Lutsundie?” she said. “And my husband came to talk to your father about the harvest,” she explained. “My brother came also,” she smiled.
“Hello Alora,” said a tall young man. He had hair that went down a few inches below his shoulders, with a wide brimmed dark brown hat that was flat on the top. He wore a long tunic that was split patterned, with one side being striped red and white while the other side was yellow with small repeating red sun pattern. From his long brown belt hung a rapier in a scabbard and a coin purse.
“Thank you for coming Aldageir,” Alora replied.
He smiled, as Suete sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I heard about the giant bird that stole you away a few days ago.”
“It was frightening,” Alora coughed.
“Oh Adala, thank Fareik you were not taken too,” Aldageir said, laying his hand on her shoulder and smiling. Adala returned his smile.
“Brother, might I speak to the twins alone?” she said.
“Why?”
“Unless you wouldst like to hear talk of blumfealvoach and other womanly things?”
“No I suppose not,” he said with a shudder. “I’ll leave you to catch up.”
They waited until Aldageir left. He gave a glance back with a wan grin before he shut the heavy wooden door.
Suete waited until she heard footsteps down stone stairs.
“Alora, who’s this young man who visited you the other day?”
“What?” Alora said with embarrassment. If she wasn’t so pale from sickness she probably would have turned a little red.
“The boy that followed you from Kirsgar,” she replied.
“Adala did you tell?”
“I told her that he may be the reason for your sickness. At least you did believe so.”
“Don’t worry, she told me before Aldageir came up. What’s his name?” Suete asked.
“Deiky,” she said softly.
“His name is Deiky?” she laughed.
“Well no it's... Deikuneist,” she replied.
“So is he… winsome?” she said with a smile.
“He’s… kind,” she said.
“So not winsome then?” she laughed
“He has a strong nose,” Adala said. "But otherwise normal,” she said in defense.
“He’s not ugly,” Alora said.
“Do you enjoy his company?”
“I like him,” Alora said with a cough. “He’s thoughtful.”
“Did you tell him about your betrothal?”
“Yes, but he does pursue me still.”
“Ahh,” she smiled. “So, do you believe he just wants to…” she twirled her hand in the air.
The twins looked perplexed.
“Get quite close to you? Have a night alone?”
“A night alone?” Alora replied with a laugh. “What for?”
"Just to spend time together?" Adala asked dubiously.
Suete laughed at the twins innocence, but did not explain it to them. She smiled. To be that young again...
Preface B1.C01 B1.C02 B1.C03 B1.C04 B1.C05 B1.C06 B1.C07 B1.C08 B1.C09
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