Under a Starless Sky

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.”

you over estimate Ratchet,” G’Ma said,

“Candace, take Menace here and put her in the cage. And, be

kits in her pockets. “And can I

small cage out of storage,”

been growing inpatient and now that Candace was out, she went direct to business.

one man. They came just after

“From where?”

they’re from the

only ocean south,” Keila

“They came along the shore,”

comes from way of the

they Walking

denied knowing anything about Bears,” Ceolla said. “One of them is

her with snakes?”

pattern on her

I should meet these strangers,”

“They know the ritual. They carry lights,”

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

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

our home,” Lanore

in men’s

her into submission.

The Master brought up her other hand, revealing empty palms. “We are grateful for the respite, and the food,” she said. “I am Tell. These are my apprentices Sheen and Abeth. Forgive Sheen. She is not happy I brought

provide herself soup. She frowned at the taste. She looked at Ceolla. Ceolla bit her lip. “I’m sorry about breakfast. If you stay, I

continue my journey along

“I will share what

Easterly. There is only water forever that way, Sleeping Forests above and below us, and Midelay West.

correct her, the way the guest had her apprentice.

“I am…”

Lanore raised one finger slightly. Tesh fell

“I detect sarcasm,” Lanore

but not your

raised, but she is a sister,” Lanore said. “She speaks truth. The flavor could be seasoned. I have brought a light here. I will share my map. I am worried, seasoned traveler, you will find it inadequate

grow as slow as the trees,”

were here before us. They will be here when we are

of vast stretches where there are no

place could sustain civilization. She forced herself to accept it, remembering stories of