Family Matters
© 2022 by M. Mitch Marmel

Thumbnail art by  RockBaker

Part Thirty-one



Tessie:

I could see someone coming, from the general direction of Mt. Humbert. I drew Sun-and-Moon from my Elfintory, and waited.

And tried not to be nervous.

Since Sixth and Una hadn’t come back yet, I had started exercising in areas where I thought it was likely I’d see them.
We had to talk, and I preferred that we talk away from the Master, or the [First-of-Eldest].

After a while I saw a large, woolly feral ram come into view, with a roe-doe wearing green riding up front and a roebuck wearing a slightly lighter shade of green riding behind her. I struck a pose and waited as Una brought the ram to a slower run, then to a trot, and then a walk, finally coming to a stop about ten paces from me.

“[Attend! Know that I, Tessie Ring, now known by the title of the Queen-of-Raccoons, demand to have converse with you, by name of Una Sawyer, regarding the matter of The Sixth of His Name,]” I said. I’ve gotten fairly good at Elfhamian.

Una rested her forearms on the ram’s horns. “[And is it so, Queen-of-Raccoons, that you thus interpose yourself between me and the sweet Vale of Elfhame? For thus it is I have returned, with my mate behind me, as it is said in the Tongue of the Skunks, [riding bitch].]” She gave me a glare, which I gave right back. “[What is your interest in the matter of the Sixth of His Name, who is now my mate under the Stars?]”

“[Know that my claim lies sleeping in my womb, for the Sixth of His Name did have venery with me, and it is his fawn I carry, in the Sight of the Lady, and the [First-of-Eldest] with the tongue of her mouth did say that the Sixth of His Name would acknowledge the fawn, and it would be his child as well as mine.]”

By the Lady, Tessie, keep yourself under control. Your voice almost broke.

But, dammit, I was prepared to fight for my rights.

Una frowned and looked back at Sixth.

The buck smiled and nodded, and the doe rolled her eyes.

She dismounted from the ram and walked up to me. “[Do you put your weapon away, sister,]” she said, “[and we shall converse, both in the tongue of the sweet Vale and in the mind-speech of the Fair Folk, and before the Stars and the Lady we may come to a meeting of minds, rather than a butting of heads, as roebucks and feral sheep may.]”

This was a good suggestion, so I put Sun-and-Moon away and the two of us sat down on the soft grass.

Sixth asked “[And is it so that I may join in your conversation, conducted in the smooth tongue of our small and sweet Vale?]”

Una and I both frowned at him. “[Keep the tongue of yourself in the head of yourself,]” Una said tartly, “[for what troubles the bucks of the Vale may bring, it is for the does to resolve.]”

And with that, we started to talk.


***


Ooo-er:

Things had appeared to settle down after all the commotion of the Challenges for whoever was going to wed the Master’s buck-fawn. Tali was living in her wagon, although she welcomed me, Aedith and Missy in for meals every now and then.

And, sometimes, just me and Missy, for after-dinner fun.

I decided to do something that I’d been putting off for far too long, and I started teaching Missy and Aedith [Dryspeak]. It’s the easiest for a dryfooter to learn, and I’d heard that a few of the Elves along the coast from the Glittering Isle knew it.

[Wetspeak]? Well, it’s almost impossible for a dryfooter to learn, and although I’ve been close enough long enough to Missy to help her transmogrify into an otter, that’d be unfair to Aedith. I’d have to wait until she was older, if you know what I mean.

[Note appended to manuscript: “I didn’t wish to know that.”]

[Note appended to manuscript: “That’s what you get for reading over my shoulder. Now run away quickly.”]

[Note appended to manuscript: “Or?”]

[Note appended to manuscript: Small burns where electrical sparks struck the paper.]

It was a rare sunny day for the time of the year, and I was walking around the meadows between the Travelers’ settlement and their ant-pastures, collecting wildflowers, when I heard a whooping cry and saw a small white-furred mel, an ermine, running after a feral ewe.

There were – metal cans? – clattering where he’d strapped them to his back.

“Ah, he’s at it again,” and I turned to see one of the Traveler wolves. The mel was with his wife and daughter, and he nodded to me.

“Who’s he?” I asked.

“The Master’s new cook,” the mel’s wife said. “He heard that we’re making sheep’s-milk cheese, so he’s been trying to collect more milk.”

The daughter giggled. “He’s fun to watch.”

“He’s certainly fast – ouch,” I said, wincing as the ermine tackled the ewe down and started milking her. “Skillful, too.”

“That he is,” and the mel pulled a lute from his Elfintory and began to sing, with his wife and daughter joining in for the chorus.

“You could hear his pawpads pound
As he raced along the ground
And the patter of his feet
As over stiles he'd bound

He galloped into Greytor town
He knew he could not fail
His name was Ernest
And he was
The fastest milkfur in the Vale!

His name was Ernest! (Ernest!)
And he was the fastest milkfur in the Vale!”

I laughed along with them, and went about my business as Ernest pinned the protesting ewe to the ground a second time.


***


Winterbough:

I was feeling quite a lot better after a good night’s sleep and some tender loving care by Anastasia (I think she felt it was partly her fault I was so knackered, as she gave me permission to have venery with Windimere), so I decided to start a project.

Said project being something I was calling the New Annexe, which would house my buck-fawn and his mate. Oh, and Tessie, I suppose. One growing family, right from the start.

So I went down to the [Sheaf] and had converse with a few of the roebucks, and with a few of the Wolves, and shortly I was leading a group of roebucks and ex-Prisoners who were toting a variety of tools and measuring sticks. I had selected a pond where a number of Giant Elfhamian Frogs lived, and suggested that the house surround the pond on three sides.

Well, a few of the roebucks puffed on their pipes and swiveled their ears, allowing that this corner should be set here and this wall there, and very shortly there was the sound of small stakes being pounded into the turf. One of the ex-Prisoners had a Talent for dowsing, and he was pointing out where a well and the privy were to be dug, as it just wouldn’t do to foul either the well or the pond.

Things were going fairly well until about lunchtime, when I saw Una come riding up with Sixth riding behind her, and . . . Tessie – er, the Raccoon Queen - jogging along beside them?

I had a feeling that something had happened.

And I almost didn’t want to know.

Sixth and Una dismounted and I could sense a short exchange of Elf-Mind going on between them and Tessie before my buck-fawn led the roe-doe to the edge of the pond.

I guessed, correctly as it turned out, that Sixth was introducing Una to the frogs, an impression that was reinforced when a mass of frogs came to the surface of their home, and croaked a greeting in unison. For her part, Una didn’t flinch or bat an eye at this, and the meeting seemed to go quite well. I suspect it was because the doe was dressed in green, and in the minds of the frogs that meant she was sympathetic to them.

The ram, Triumph, was a lot more wary. It was evidently going to take some time before feral Elfhamian ram and feral Elfhamian frogs were going to live in complete harmony.

While all this was going on Tessie walked over to me and said, “[In day’s adulthood, greetings, Master.]”

I congratulated her on how well (and quickly) she had learned Elfhamian, and the raccoon replied, “[Sweet and pure truth it is, Master, that Goodwife Fletcher is a fine teacher, whether it be of the sweet tongue of the Vale or in the care and keeping of a proper home.]” She glanced back at Sixth and Una before adding, “[Una Sawyer and my own self have had converse, and in the manner of the does have reached a meeting of minds regarding the Sixth of His Name, and the same we shall relate to the First-of-Eldest once the aforesaid Sixth of His Name has concluded making introductions.]”

My ears swiveled at that. My onetime maid was a sow of many strongly held opinions, and I got the same impression from Una over the course of the Challenges.

I found myself thinking that I should be Elsewhere when Anastasia has her interview with her daughters(?)-in-law.


***


Roland:

After my meeting with Colonel Mason, I took the two proposals we had discussed to my royal brother, where they were discussed with my nephew and his wife.

My brother Adler lifted a paw and stroked his chin. “Of the two, I prefer the second, Roland. Apporting over great distances involves a high degree of risk.” He glanced at my nephew the Crown Prince, who appeared pained. “Gawain? Are you all right, my son?”

Gawain blinked and nodded. “Yes, Father, I am well. Just a headache; I will see the Herbalist Extraordinary after we are done here.” His expression softened as my niece-by-marriage Persephone rested her paw on his. “And I couldn’t have a better nurse.”

“Well said, my son, well said. Roland, we should contact the Colonel and begin making arrangements.”

“Yes, my brother,” I said, making a mental note to have Commodore the Lord Aderyn join me for tea. The flamingo needed to be briefed.




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