THE SHERIFF OF HNUT / CH. 7: WINTER-BORN

Cultural note: Cargo tariffs

When a trader is only providing transport rather than acting as a travelling merchant, then goods are transported at three possible (distance-related) tariffs: light cart, fixed price, and heavy cart. A fixed price tariff is negotiated before transit, normally when there is a regular agreement between the trader and the owner of the goods or a middle-man. Normally a fixed-price contract will not be offered for a load that would fill the cart, as this would be to the disadvantage of the trader compared to a heavy-cart tariff; however a multi-year contract that ensures regular income may allow a certain number of full loads. When a fixed price tariff is not negotiated, cargo is carried 'at tariff'. If the cart is very light — below the weight that keeps the spiky hauling at good speed — then any cargo is better than none, and so light cart tariffs with their attractive rates are offered. However, as the tariff is always calculated for the separate legs of the journey, a cart may be at light tariff from a village to the town, but on reaching the town the trader will do his utmost to increase the weight of the cargo into the heavy-cart tariff. In this situation he may well offer a fixed price tariff to a certain extra cargo, or accept a regular contract from a middle-man so that he knows to only load his cart to a certain level, safe in the knowledge that the light-cart rate will not last long. Once on heavy cart tariff, then all goods carried 'at tariff' are charged three or four times the light cart tariff for the following leg. The weight of goods in a cart are thus carefully documented by tariff officers, so that the trader has documentation for what he charges his customers. Needless to say, customers in remote villages frequently feel cheated when their goods sent to the city are loaded at light-cart tariff, and then charged at heavy-cart tariff after the trader reaches the next town.

Customers near the big cities, however, look enviously at the light-cart and fixed-price tariffs, as carts to and from the city are always (nearly) fully laden.

Especially bulky goods are often charged an additional fee, as they would prevent the carrying of another cargo.

Middle-men, or trading agents, are often based in towns and present themselves as a way for remote villagers to get their goods to market without paying the heavy-cart tariff, however their reliable source of goods to transport is often the very reason that the villagers end up paying heavy cart tariff, as a trader will not want to keep his cart stationary for hours. Thus, making use of a trading agent is seen as a betrayal of one's fellow villagers, and a trading agent is not seen as a respectable career choice.

----------------------------------------

EARTHDAY AFTERNOON, 44TH OF AUTUMN

“Welcome to my home,” Dirak greeted the council, who had arrived without any thunderclaps, but with a large hand-cart.

“Sheriff Dirak,” Thuna said. “I understand that the villagers now have to register any discovery of a growth of straight angar. Such searching ought to come with some kind of reward, therefore we gift the village with these rods of crystal. I leave the exact distribution to the village council, but expect that distributing them as some kind of finder's fee might be appropriate.”

“I thank the council on behalf of the village. Is this a one-off donation?”

“Not at all, just that's all we could fit in the cart.”

“Just... it had occurred to me that it would be much easier to prevent the use of new glue-wood bean poles if no one had any old ones. But that's a lot of crystal rods.”

“And a lot of straight angar. We'll discuss it. Brm said there is a source of bluestone nearby.”

“I'm told that there is, yes.”

“Useful, but dangerous. And sulphur, and copper nuggets.”

“Yes, all in the area of the upper fields, towards the sulphur springs.”

“But people actually grow stuff there?”

“Not if they listen to the doctor.”

“We'll listen to the good doctor, and not allow any students to go up there. So, tell us Dirak, where were you thinking of putting the school?”

“I've been in discussion with the mayor and other council members this morning. Would you like to come and see a map?”

“Certainly, but where's Lenepoli?”

“I suggested that the school room might be a better place to discuss things than the jail, so she's probably still tidying up. The village hall is a bit of a mess at the moment, the juniors are preparing something for Longnight.”

“Lenepoli is the only teacher?”

“She teaches the older ones.”

“Well, were you going to lead the way?”

“I'm just thinking about that cart.”

“Oh, good reminder, Steev, can you bring Lenepoli's staff? And then turn on the forcefield? We don't want anyone wondering how it can fly with their knife, do we?”

A little girl came up and looked at Thuna. “Are you a wizardess?”

“Yes.”

“And all these people are wizardesses too?”

“We call the boys wizards,” Thuna said.

“Wow. And you can fly places?” the girl asked.

“I put a little thing I'd made in this piece of wood, and that lets me fly, yes.”

“And you can put a thing round people to stop them getting hit?”

“Yes, I could.”

The little girl nodded seriously. “But you don't.”

“I've never had to, no. Sheriff Dirak has.”

“And that's why you stopped him being a wizard.”

“It is, but we think that was a mistake which God used. I think Dirak is quite happy to live here.”

“He's going to marry Lenepoli. She's very pretty.”

“And very clever,” Thuna said, “And I'm going to teach her almost as much as I taught Dirak.”

“Only almost?”

“There's some things that Dirak's going to teach her, I expect. He's taught her some things already.”

“I don't want to be a wizardess. I want to help people.”

“Why don't you become the sort of wizardess who helps people, like Lenepoli wants to?” Dirak suggested.

“Won't they stop her if she helps people?”

“No. Like Thuna said, they made a mistake. People do that sometimes, but then they say sorry to God and he forgives them.”

“Did you say sorry to God?” she asked Thuna.

“Yes, we all did. Well, except that man there, who's called Ranth, but that's because he doesn't believe in God.”

“Why not?”

“I don't know, he won't tell me.”

“It's rude not to believe in the person who keeps him alive,” the girl said.

“Yes, I know. Will you pray that God will help Ranth to stop thinking God's not real?”

“Can't I pray that God zaps him for being rude?” she asked.

“Which one does God want to do?”

“I don't know.”

“Well in scripture God says 'Turn to me and don't die.'”

“Oh. You need to turn round, Mr Ranth, and say sorry to God. He doesn't want to zap you. It's going to snow tonight or tomorrow.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, I asked God, because it's my hatchday tomorrow, and I like snow.”

“Oh. But what about people who don't like snow?” Thuna asked.

“They've had their turn. And there won't be much. I didn't ask God for lots of snow, that would be greedy.”

“Oh, OK.”

“Mister wizard Ranth, I'm going to pray that you really do turn round like you need to, and your mummy didn't die, she went to be with Him so it wouldn't hurt any more. That's different.” With that, she turned and skipped away, leaving the adults looking stunned. “Well, that conversation ended differently to how I expected,” Thuna said. “Do you know who who that young girl was?”

“No. I'm afraid I'm not an expert at telling them apart at that age.” Dirak said. “I imagine there aren't many with a hatchday tomorrow,” Steev said, “Well, Ranth, would you consider our young evangelist a thought-hearer, or a prophetess?”

“I have never been convinced of the existence of either.”

“We'll have to see if it snows tomorrow, then,” Steev said.

“I was going to say that I was thinking of my mother's end.”

“Inconclusive,” Durrun said, “Either are possible. Quite the one for making you think though. 'I don't want to be a wizardess, I want to help people.' Lovely village you've got here, Dirak. Nice people.”

“Shame about the poisons lying around.” Magz said, “Come on, Dirak, let"s move before we get snowed on.”

“This way,” Dirak led them on towards the school.

“Snow at this time of year? It's not even winter!” Ranth mocked.

“Maybe God will have mercy on your shrivelled soul and hear the other prayer of his bold little prophetess, too,” Keldi, the eldest wizardesses on the council except Thuna said, “But I expect at least a few flakes of snow tomorrow. I think she deserves that at least for saying what she did to a bunch of wizards. Dirak, I'm planning on adding an agenda item to try to make sure that young one and her family get well looked after, and kept away from the poisons, just in case she is a thought hearer.”

“Welcome to Lenepoli's domain,” he said, opening the door. “I'll certainly be talking to her parents just as soon as I find out who they are,” Dirak said.

“Whose parents?” Lenepoli asked.

“She's about this tall, has a patch of orange-yellow fluff on top of her head, and is very certain that God's going to let her have some snow tomorrow because it's her hatchday, and everyone who doesn't like snow has had their turn. Oh, and she doesn't want to be a wizardess because she wants to help people.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"My suggestion that she be the sort of wizardess who helps people, like you'll be didn't get much movement on the career front, but it did turn into a discussion on why Ruath should believe in God, because not doing so was rude.”

“That sounds like Yalinth. Did she suggest that God would zap him if he didn't?”

“Thuna turned that very well, I thought; she pointed out that God wants people to turn and be saved. She's going to pray that he does.”

“And then she either heard some of Ranth's thoughts or God's comment on his thoughts, and corrected them for him.” Keldi said, “Therefore I am going to intervene if the family are in any sort of trouble, because in all my years I've only heard of one possible thought-hearer, and he was helping his dad with a grumpy thlunk and got a tail-club in his head before I could talk to him. That was twenty years ago.”

“Keldi,” Thuna said, “would you like to go and talk to her now? We're going to be spending the next half an hour or so talking to Lenepoli about how the council works and recent decisions and things anyway.”

“I'd be delighted, overjoyed, and... and.... and extremely happy,”

“OK, now, where do we need to go?” Dirak asked.

“Her parents are Kalb and Yagel, three houses down from Girt and Yagah's new home.”

“Yagel is Yagah's big sister?” Dirak asked.

“Yes.”

“OK, I've seen them, but we've never talked.”

“Then I suggest you take mum or dad to make the introductions. It's more polite.”

“Ah, OK.”

“Do they have any other children?” Keldi asked.

“Not as far as I know. Oh, they might have a hatchling.”

“Do you know the mother's family?” Keldi asked.

“Yes. I think I saw them going to town today, but her grandma, Yanepoli, is still alive and there's a high chance you'll find her there too.”

“Then we'll certainly want to be properly polite and on our best behaviour,” Keldi said. “I'm assuming that all the females are deep red?”

“Yes.”

“And there was some opposition to the marriage with Kalb?”

“How did you know that? Yes.”

“Names, Lenepoli. Names and attitudes. I'm sure that Kalb's crest turns orange for his wife, with a Zerker name like that, and I strongly expect young Yalinth is going to turn into a gorgeous yellow.”

“Oh!” Lenepoli said. “And her great-grandma will remember ancient laws.”

“Exactly. Yes, we'll definitely have to be formally introduced.”

----------------------------------------

“Hello, pastor Ruath!” Yalinth said.

“Hello, Yalinth, are your mummy and daddy at home?”

“Yes. And great grandma. Have you come to arrest great grandma, sheriff?”

“I don't think so.” Dirak said. “Do you think I should?”

“No, probably not.”

“Yalinth! Who are you talking to?” An elderly voice asked from inside.

“Pastor Ruath's come, great-grandma, to introduce Sheriff Dirak and Wizardess Keldith..Keldithanapoli who wants to talk to me.”

“I certainly do. Very well done, Yalinth.”

“I feel a little redundant after that,” Ruath said, “but may we enter?”

“Come in pastor, Sheriff. And Wizardess Keldithanapoli, eh?”

“Most know me simply as Keldi, and I certainly don't use another title, Lady Yanepoli.”

“My granddaughter's humble house is honoured. More than she knows, I expect.”

“Times pass, your ladyship, and laws keep on changing. Not many of us remember what names mean.”

“Hmph. No duels at all now, I hear. Back when I was young it was a point of pride to have some would-be suitors to mourn over.”

“And what did that do to our gene-pool, your ladyship? My ancestress saw where constant duelling was going.”

“She did. But do we need so many changes? Look at this one!”

“I have looked at her, your ladyship, and heard her saying my name, too, when Dirak introduced me to pastor Ruath as plain Keldi. A yellow, and not just a yellow but that greatest rarity, a winter-born yellow. There is no shame for what your grand-daughter has done, your ladyship. She should be honoured and praised.”

“It will mean trouble for her all her life.'

“There will be a school of wizardry on her doorstep. The door will always be open to her, I promise.”

“What good will that do, if no one's going to lift a finger?”

“You think Zerker-Wizard Dirak will not lift a finger? And Zerkess-Wizardess Lenepoli, once she's learned? The high council of wizardry now includes Lenepoli as a member, as well as myself. And while we will not intervene in politics, we have repented of not following the law of God. We will protect the innocent, and certainly we will intervene to protect this one, and any other winter-born siblings I can persuade her parents to clutch. The planet needs their legacy. Twenty years have passed since the last winter-born I heard of was killed by a thlunk in a stupid accident. Even he wasn't from pure stock. Twenty years I have looked. If my name has any meaning in this house I charge you, your ladyship, to protect this little one from all insult that might make her ashamed of her gift, with your life if need be, and to teach your granddaughter all about the great heritage she has the power to bring into this world, and yes, to encourage her to do so.”

“I hear and obey, Keldithanapoli.” the old woman said “I hear and obey, but one does not make a lineage.”

“I will of course seek for others, because Yalinth and her brothers and sisters cannot, as you say, preserve that heritage on their own.

"But I urge you to point out to me others of pure blood you know of, for there might not be many generations more where the blood-lines are pure enough.”

“Yagah has married Girt son of Rangar. There will be at least one more generation of noble blood.” Yanepoli said.

“But something Girt does is poisoning him with copper from these hills every year, even though he's never had the summer crazies.” Dirak said.

“The summer crazies is from copper?” Kalb asked, finally speaking up.

“So I believe, Kalb.” Dirak said, “I don't know where it's coming from, but I know that bluestone eaten, drunk, or breathed in can be deadlier than sulphur.”

“And it kills eggs, sterilises mothers.” Keldi said.

“Rangar washes his thunks in bluestone before they go to market.” Kalb said, “It kills any lice.”

“And then Girt breaths in the dust as he takes the thlunks to market, I expect,” Dirak said.

“Rangar tells him to wear a cloth over his face. Girt doesn't like to,” Kalb said.

“I'm a great believer in the power of a wife to persuade her husband of anything.” Keldi said, “And of a male to place his grandchildren above profit. I will speak to Rangar about the cost of breeding. Dirak, you and Lenepoli should plan to have some sons, to marry Girt and Yagah's daughters.”

“You don't think Brm and Saneth's lads will do?”

“With all respect to Brm, his grandmother was orange, and I don't know if his sons will ever know the Zerk.”

“Queen Keldi?” Yalinth asked.

“Shhh, we don't have queens any more, Yalinth, not really. Just call me Keldi.”

“Great-grandma wants to know if you've got any sons or daughters and so do I.”

“Dirak might remember my son. He was killed in a duel. And I wrote to parliament, saying 'The only son of the heir of queen Poli who formed this parliament to stop duels has just been killed in a duel. Stop tinkering at the edges and do your job.' And they have finally banned duels. Praise be to God, I have a daughter too, who is sixteen, and who dyes her plumage purple, because it helps her fit in. So I look for pure blooded noble families for two reasons. So that there might be some boys who started off yellow and girls with lovely yellow plumage like I'm sure yours will be, Yalinth, and even some who can hear people think which is a wonderful gift, and also that my daughter can find a suitable husband. I knew that there were those of Zerker blood up here, I did not expect to find nobility too.”

“This village has always been a God-fearing community, Wizardess,” Ruath said “We were formed by five noble families, four Zerker families, and a few familiesnwho were of normal stock. We have... tended not to intermarry, but to seek husbands and wives outside the village. There are similar communities in Tnut and in Gorp, and some other places. Our famous neighbour Qnut is a mining village with a very different legacy, though an above average amount of Zerker ancestry; and of course Uttown has been a market town for centuries, full of good honest farmers and not-so-honest tradesmen.”

“Ah! I should have paid more attention to histories. I did ask about Qnut and Uttown, and never thought... now that's good, very good. Now, Yalinth, do you know why wizards think its very important that there be people who can hear thoughts?”

Yalinth laughed. “You just thought it!”

“I did, didn't I? But do you understand what I thought?”

“No.”

“A long time ago, but after Queen Polithanapoli, our planet had some visitors.

"One of them was a female who God had chosen to give a wonderful gift to. A bit like the gift God has given you because of who your mummy and daddy are, and when you were born, but the real amazing God-blessed version. And while you could think messages to someone near you, they can think to people from their home all the way to here. The one who came was called Maggie, after a famous grandmother or aunt or something like that, and people called her Magz, and if you meet anyone here called Magz, they they are named after her. Now, her people grow up slower and live longer than most of us, and the people she had met died but there were more people she could talk to. And after Maggie died, someone called Tim talked to the people Maggie had talked to. And then most of those people got old. And eventually Tim passed the task on to Jim, who only had one person here to talk to, who was called Mira. And Mira told the wizards, that Jim said there wasn't anyone else he could call, on the whole planet, but every few years he'd have a look, and see if there was anyone.”

“But there wasn't?”

“There was. Eventually there was one, who was very grumpy about hearing thoughts all the time, and didn't like talking in her head to strange people she couldn't see. And then she died too. But there hasn't been one for a hundred years.”

“So is Jim dead too?”

“I expect so, He was quite old before she died and a hundred years is a long time. I think he'd be eighty years old by their years, which is a hundred and sixty of ours.”

“I'm six.”

“Yes, I thought you might be. But if you hear anyone who doesn't live on our planet, then can you tell Dirak or Lenepoli?”

“OK. Not you?”

“You can tell me if I'm around, certainly, Or any of the other wizards or wizardesses.”

“Even wizard Ranth?”

“Ranth might not believe in God, but he can pass on a message.”

“To you?”

“To Thuna, would be best.”

“Thuna's not a mummy.”

“No.”

“She should be. She's nice.”

“When my mummy and daddy died, she looked after me,” Dirak said, “So in some ways I think of her a bit like my mummy.”

“Her mummy was yellow,”

“Really? I didn't know that.”

“She thought of it when she saw me. When am I going to have lovely long feathers like you?”

“When you're a little bit older, you'll have little feathers, and when you're almost ready to get married you'll grow long feathers to help boys notice you.”

“And that'll be when her troubles really start,” muttered her great-grandmother.

“Not if Yalinth keeps close to God in her heart,” Keldi said, firmly. “She might have more or less would-be suitors than others, depending how things turn out, but she's not a fool yet, and as long as her loved ones keep their thoughts under control she's not likely to turn into one.”

“Keldi needs to visit auntie Yasinth.” Yalinth said.

“Yes, probably.” Ruath agreed, “And Rangar and Nathlin, Girt and Yagah, and lots of people.”

“Perhaps another visit, with your family?” Dirak said. “And let Lanthi see what sort of reaction purple feathers get around here.”

“Good idea, Dirak.”

“Why would anyone want to dye their feathers purple?” Kalb asked, “And does it wash out, or is she stuck like that for the next year?”

“I insisted she use something that washes out.”

“You're a good mother,” Yagel said. “I'd be ever so tempted to let a daughter of mine use permanent dye and make her pluck herself when she works out what a stupid idea if was.”

“The 'ennaat veelicausity of the female of the species' is alive and well, I see.” Dirak commented.

“Yes,” Keldi agreed with a sigh, “Some things never change.”

“Sheriff Dirak, are you referring to On the state of knowledge?” Yanepoli asked.

“Yes, lady Yanepoli,” Dirak said. “I got Lenepoli to read it a few days ago.”

“And she got to the end?”

“I didn't make her read all the study questions,” Dirak said.

“You have the study edition? Amazing! Yagel, you must borrow that book.”

“As long as the fire is well and truly out,” Keldi added. “No few copies in the college have singed pages. If Yalinth might join us, it would be better if she doesn't know how it ends; we ask people to read it.”

“It won't work on Yalinth, Keldi.” Dirak said, “Look how she's sniggering already.”

“Yes, I remember reading about that problem,” Keldi said, “Oh well.”

“Do you by any chance have a copy of On the role of government?” Yanepoli asked.

“I do, yes,” Dirak said.

“Really?” Keldi was surprised.

“A modern edition is required reading for the police, but I found an unrevised copy.”

“How unrevised?” Yanepoli asked.

“Third printing.”

“Ranth's earliest copy is tenth.”

“I noticed that.”

“I heard you had quite a library, young man, I didn't realise...”

“You may of course come and make yourself reacquainted with old friends, lady Yanepoli, not to mention old enemies.”

“Old enemies?”

“I doubt your education would have skipped Justice or control, but I assume you would not name it a friend,”

“Certainly not!” Yanepoli exclaimed.

“Where on the planet did you find a copy of that?” Keldi asked.

“There's a little book-binder's shop on the corner of Skew street, near the bakers. Lepnew introduced me to the owner; he's got a huge attic of old classics. He sells duplicate copies. I almost certainly got it from him. He'll only sell you one book, assuming you come with the right recommendations, and you need to talk to him intelligently about it before he'll ever sell you another one.”

“A lover of books who only sells to lovers of books,” Keldi said, with a smile. “Lanthi might have a new occupation. An old bachelor, I presume?”

“A widower, but I met his son and daughter-in-law — they sometimes help binding books — and I remember thinking she could have been your twin, Keldi, so I suggest you go and make introductions, pass on my greetings, and maybe give Lanthi's full name.”

“What are you implying?”

“I'm guessing that without you being there, they're not going to believe Lanthi if she tells them her full name with purple plumage. I can't remember how old their son is, so it might be totally wasted on that front.”

“You think they are of noble blood?”

“Who else would treasure such a stock?”

“You would.”

“My library is small, very small. And perhaps they are not nobles, but are only descended from the royal archivists or something.”

“Who were noble. This attic is in Skew street?”

“No, that's the shop. The attic is above the family home on Archive road.”

“You're not telling me someone's selling the royal archives, are you?”

“No. I'm telling you that the attic of the royal archives holds an eclectic private collection, which the owner fills from auctions and home clearances and then sells duplicate copies.”

“And Lepnew knew this?”

“Yes. He told me about it soon after my parents had died, when I was moping around the college library looking for something I hadn't read yet, and wasn't too advanced for me.”

“I'd throttle him if he wasn't dead. But then I guess he never met Lanthi after she became a book-worm. I don't know if I should show her your library or this treasure trove first.”

“Mine to occupy a seat in, the treasure-trove to dream about,” Dirak said.

“If he is archivist-royal, Keldithanapoli, He may be trying to preserve the royal archives.” Yanepoli said.

“That is very very true.” Keldi agreed. “And I should certainly thank him for his faithfulness.”