Journey of the Messenger Cycle 1 Part 5d
The Treppon homestead consisted of three core families, Mother Treppon was the oldest, she also had more orcish traits than the other blooded family members, yet not all of the blooded were of her line. Of her children, three still lived on the homestead, as did five of her grandchildren. She had a score, plus one, great grandchildren, the oldest was one of the pregnant women and soon a fifth generation would be born.
The two other branches had no one remaining from Mother Treppon’s generation. The Loam and Ferndoc lines combined were slightly larger than the Treppon brood and there were a few marriages between the three families. Combined they were linked by marriage to around thirty other families throughout the Madden Hills and a half dozen others from places beyond. Nearly half of them lived in the heart of the homestead, the rest were dispersed between six other, much smaller, dwellings across the property.
If the need arose, they could in short order put three score people under arms. Given an eight-day that number doubled, given a month they could field a small army, or so they boasted. In her travels, Ijah had passed through freeholds where the lords thereof would have been hard pressed to raise such a force.
Ijah was honoured and curious when one of the great granddaughters informed her that Mother Treppon wished to speak with her. She was lead to an old orchard, where along the southeastern edge were sitting areas, work spaces and a couple of small buildings. Further into the orchard she saw what she suspected was a ritual circle. There were half a dozen people in the general area, engaged in various tasks. Mother Treppon sat under an old apple tree in a chair that had been carved from a single chunk of wood, she sat at the edge of her seat, leaning forward on a carved walking stick. She watched Ijah’s approach, he eyes were bright, aware and full of wisdom.
The great granddaughter took Ijah up to the old woman and then departed. Mother Treppon gazed up at Ijah, appraising her.
Ijah bowed her head and placed a hand over her heart, “Mother of Mothers, I am honoured by your summons.”
The old crone smiled, “Sit, please sit. I can’t be looking up at you like this, hard enough to find a comfortable position these days.”
Ijah sat in a fluid motion, crossed her legs and set aside her sword. She waited.
“That’s better.” The old woman shifted a bit, leaning heavily on the walking stick, “Much better.” She cleared her throat, “Twice before women of the Kereshi have come to our homestead. The first time was a bit less than seven years ago. A pair of women, about the age you are now, came down from the north, by way of the Kaffern Hills, from across the plains and from down along the edge of the great elven forest. They had fled the northern duchy of Elquin, there had been three of them until one succumbed to the infection from the bite of a goblin. They had been poorly received in that northern duchy and the duke had ordered their execution. Their kin had either been captured and executed or died in the fight that had allowed the three of them to escape. Their intent, after leaving us, was to make their way to the city of West Port, where they expected to find others of your kind.
“A little over three years ago another Kereshi came to us. She and her family had been assigned to the capital of Elquin. I’d say that you and her were of the same age. The prince of the fairest of nations, imprisoned your people shortly after they had arrived at the capital, he felt that the Kereshi were subverting the women of the court and planned on replacing him with one of his daughters. That woman had escaped the dungeons of the Elquin royal palace, swam to the mainland, evaded hunting parties and crossed the Sudakkar Wasteland before finding solace here. Though she was heading south from here, it seemed less likely she would seek out your people in West Port, there was a deep bitterness in her heart. She spoke of the foolhardy nature of the Great Plan…”
Ijah had been aware that some of her people had likely been here or some of the women of Treppon Homestead had met Kereshi elsewhere. The men had been polite to her, some even friendly, but none had propositioned her nor had they even been particularly offensive. By her standards. More telling, when she had joined the dancing the night previous, some of the woman had obviously been instructed in the basics of Kereshi dance. No one had mistaken her for being Tannican.
Mother Treppon watched her intently, Ijah was unsure what was expected of her, but it seemed the old lady wanted her to say something. “I am happy to hear this news, though saddened by their tribulations. If you would share their names and any other details you can remember, I would be in your debt.”
The old woman smiled, nodded and coughed. After a moment she continued, “Such a debt would likely never be repaid. Not that I distrust your word, but to the point, my time here is numbered in seasons, not years. If I do not die this winter, then it will be the following.”
She paused, cleared her throat and continued, “Instead, I will tell you everything that I know of these three women. In exchange I ask you to stay for a few days, teach my daughters the wisdom and skills of your people. Share your knowledge and tell me of this Great Plan. When you leave here we will give you the supplies you need to reach the republic and more besides. You would also be welcome to return or call on us for some future need. There would be no debt between us.”
“I can spare no more than an eight-day, and in such time there is only so much I could teach your daughters.”
“Of course. It will be more than we knew before. Will you do it?”
“Yes, Mother of Mothers. I will do this.”
So Ijah was told a more detailed accounting of the events and happenings of the three Kereshi that had been here before her. She was told dates, and names. Their expected routes of travel and of some of the places they may have gone to between here and there.
After she had the story from Mother Treppon, she told the old woman what she could about the Great Plan and of her own family’s experiences in the Swampdon area. Then she was given time to write down what she had learned, she included this information in the messengers satchel she carried.
She found her companions and told them that they would be staying for an eight-day. Both Odeena and Berri were amicable to the delay, while Osran had been very happy upon hearing they would be staying for a while.
Around mid-afternoon she began her first lesson. Mostly her students were the older female children and the younger adult women, just shy of forty people. A few of the men were also curious and lurked at the periphery of the group, though most of them were encouraged to occupy themselves elsewhere.
Ijah taught them about the goddess and that all of the goddesses and women were of the female divine. She told them the story of the exodus, of how the great families of Tannica had warred with each other and why five of those families had left their homes on the Tannican subcontinent. How those families had sailed far to the south and established a new home for themselves.
As the day neared its end she told them what she intended to teach them and the schedule of her lessons. In the morning, with the rising sun, there would be stretches, exercise and meditation, everyone was expected. Since she knew many of them would still have chores and families to deal with she broke the day into three, with combat and warfare after the morning meditation. In the early afternoon she would teach them about their bodies, cycles and babies. During the later part of the afternoon she would share the lore of the goddess, geography and history. In the early evenings, while there was still light she would teach dance and after the evening meal they would dance for the joy of it. She made sure they knew that their participation was not obligatory, past the morning exercises.
Ijah recruited Berri to assist her. Though she was far from being adept, the girl did know the basics and could help the other women. She also talked to Odeena about music, Ijah was not a musician and only played simple hand held percussion instruments but the minstrel did know a few Tannican pieces and they were able to work out the style of music Ijah was looking for.
She took some time to meditate on the task she had committed herself to, it would be a gruelling week and she would be teaching a number of subjects outside of her expertise. Still she felt confident that she would be leaving these women with a better education and a broader outlook on the world. She certainly felt the effort was worth the information she had received.
When she felt composed, she rejoined the others, who had already eaten and she soon had them dancing. Their enthusiasm and laughter was heartwarming, their adoration a bit disconcerting.
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