Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 3

The world was a much different place in the day. Near the cliffs of Midelay were orchards. Lanore, Tesh, and Keila gathered fruits as they departed, just enough to fill their bags. They had also been given seeds, each of a different fruit bearing tree, and as they walked, they planted. With each seed, they sang a prayer. The path from Midelay to Easterly Harbor could be dated by the growth of fruit trees defined the path. The oldest trees were likely planted by Lanore herself. She didn’t claim any as hers. They were all beautiful to behold. She wondered if she would live long enough to see the entire path from Midelay to Easterly one long orchard.

It was well after noon when they arrived back to Easterly. The outskirt of their small village had the clear defined orchard with a variety of fruit bearing trees, incorporating Elder Trees that had been intentionally left standing. The rows of trees came off the Elder trees in concentric circles, clearly planned, but also an attempt to mimic nature. Two of the oldest Elders were Evergreen, and ground around them were brownish red with needles. Pinecones were a commodity that was sent back to Midelay, and from there dispersed out. The largest Elder Tree was considered a ‘Sleeper’ tree. It was a strange looking thing, like lightening shooting up into the sky and branching out. It was rare to find such a large Sleeper so far from a Sleeper Forest, but it was more than ideal. It was the first Omen that cemented Lanore on making this space hers. Ten of the trees they had planted on first settling were now bearing enough fruit they had a surplus.

Easterly Harbor was a series of step cliffs that went down to the beach, enfolding around a serene bay of blues and green, tapering off to the darker blue and black of the ocean beyond the land. The steps going down were cultivated gardens. The Eternal Flame of Easterly was at the highest peak, providing a beacon to any ocean travelers, but also a visible connection back to Midelay.

It was six seasons after Easterly Harbors Lighting before the first ship came. Ships were still sparse. Ocean life was much harsher than land. There were rumors of city ships that had gone years without sight of shore. Rumors and stories were great commodities; someone who could pen it down, providing names, and sources, and witnesses could make a good living.

Lanore had a good living. It was too good, and it was a struggle not to grow too fast. As it was, Elders beyond Midelay were speaking of her impending doom, that she was too arrogant, too successful for her age. But the sea provided food. Their gardens took. There were fruits and rabbits and squirrels enough to keep even the poorest beggar alive, with minimal efforts. How could one not thrive in such a paradise?

“Every Paradise has its snakes,” Elders warned.

Lanore could not argue this, and she was wise enough not to, though there was a want. If God made Paradise, and placed all the creatures in that space, then weren’t snakes also a necessary part? Could one learn to be an adult without facing adversity, or confronting snakes? If a snake got the best of you, and you learned from the experience, then were you not wiser? Was there a snake handler ever that was never burned? The one never burned is the one who becomes complacent.

Candace came running down the path to greet Lanore, crying “L’Ma, L’Ma,” breaking her out of her fruitless philosophizing. She chided herself: fruitless only if not shared. Pen your thoughts, allow others to test your thesis.

Lanore was met by Candace with hugs. Others gathered as well, as Lanore approached a circle of stone just outside the gates going into the village. Men lingered in the back ground, but didn’t approach.

“Are you well, L’Ma?” Candace asked.

“I am, thank you,” Lanore said.

“I missed you. And we have visitors from the west. Dark people, Darker than the ocean people that came. They came in after the rain, and C’Ma has been caring for them. And Larc burnt the breakfast this morning, and C’Ma has been very cross,” Candace said.

“Really? Why is Larc cooking the breakfast and not Ginder?”

“Ginder isn’t feeling well,” Candace said.

“Poor old fellow,” Lanore said. “I guess we’ll just have to make him better, won’t we?”

Ceolla arrived at the gates, catching just enough of the conversation to make conclusion. She was accompanied by an elderly woman. She, too, made assumptions. “I say we put ‘im out of his misery.”

“Mother, I won’t have you talking about father like that.”

“He isn’t worth a single ferret. Between his old age, and Larc’s incompetence, it’s a wonder we don’t starve,” G’Ma complained.

“We don’t worry about the hunt anymore,” Lanore said, putting her daughter down. Lanore took off her back pack and pulled out a two kits. “Candace, it is time for you to start training.”

Candace screamed and swept up the two kits. G’Ma came over to examine the two frail little animals. They looked around timidly, as Candace held them both up.

“It’ll be months before they can even catch their weight in rabbits, much less a full grown one,” Ceolla complained.

“That’s what this one is for?” Lanore said, pulling one last ferret out of her pack. “This one will hunt, and should offer us a few more kits by spring.”

“I think you over estimate Ratchet,” G’Ma said, and disappeared into the house.

“Candace, take Menace here and put her in the cage. And, be careful not to squeeze her, cause she nips.”

“‘Kay,” Candace said, putting the two kits in her pockets. “And can I keep the kits in my room?”

“Yes. Have Larc fetch the small cage out of storage,” Lanore said. “Run along.”

Tesh had been growing inpatient and now that Candace was out, she went direct to business. “Tell us about the strangers you’re harboring.”

“They knew the ritual,” Ceolla said. “Three women, one man. They came just after dawn, yesterday. It was a fierce storm.”

“From where?”

“They say they’re from the south,” Ceolla said.

“There is only ocean south,” Keila said.

“They came along the shore,” Ceolla said.

“No one comes from way of the sleeping forest,” Tesh said.

“Are they Walking Bears?” Lanore asked.

“They denied knowing anything about Bears,” Ceolla said. “One of them is definitely a snake charmer.”

“You saw her with snakes?” Tesh asked.

“The burn pattern on her arm suggest snakes,” Ceolla said.

“I suppose I should meet these strangers,” Lanore said. “We’ve treated them generously?”

“They know the ritual. They carry lights,” Ceolla said.

Lanore nodded and proceeded towards the dome that would most likely be commandeered to accommodate guests: the inner men’s barrack. It would have a central room with a hearth, and three private rooms, and one small water closet. There was a gas lamp on the outer wall were the dome was cut to allow entrance. Passing through revealed the stone wall to be just over 40 cm thick. The inner wall was textured as if painted by sack cloth. The three women were having breakfast at a table. The man was having his meal on the floor. The three women stood.

Lanore greeted with a sign. One of the three women stepped forwards, mirroring the heart gesture, bringing up a hand that blossomed into an open palm. She was a Master. A coil of burn mark scared her arm.

“Welcome to our home,” Lanore said.