Spin Offs, Alfi A

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Alfi had been very busy since the Battle of Lekas, spending most mornings at the new hall.

For now, it served as a refuge for the older orphans, as well as a workshop and storage area for the Lekas Militia. It had also become the temporary home for the priestesses and would be so until they had their own facilities on the newly designated temple grounds. Alfi often sat in on the lessons of the day, a couple of the initiates were teaching the children to read and that was a skill she would need for her future ambitions. Then there was council business to attend to, meetings mostly. It was her least favourite part of being on the council, but it was an important part. She preferred it when there were issues to deal with, disputes to settle. Problems that needed a solution.

Alfi stretched, enjoying the heat from the newly risen sun. She looked over at Lef, still sound asleep beside her. Not everyone thought their relationship was healthy. There had been more than one young lad who had tried to convince her that they offered a better proposition and the older gossips seemed to think she had taken advantage of Lef. She did not overly care what other folks thought, the two of them had come together in their shared grief, solace against loss and sadness.

She had been dreaming of Thern again, as always seemed to be the case. Her twin had died, though she had rarely felt he was truly gone. He came to her nearly every night in her dreams, providing comfort and advice as he had when he was among the living. In the waking world she was still sometimes caught off guard when she realized he was not by her side, he had been a constant companion all her life until a few eight-days ago.

Alfi quietly slid out of bed, not wanting to disturb Lef. He had been suffering nightmares since the battle, the loss of Milla, his lover, and Andisal who had been a longtime friend, still haunted him. She tended to let him sleep when he could. After dressing in the main room she had some leftovers from last night meal and made her way to NewHall.

Prodd greeted her at the main doors, he was her most promising protege.

There were a couple of the other older children who would make good hunters or scouts with a bit more training and practice. She gathered the children out on the green and they did some exercises, after which they went off to various households in the village to help with chores. While they were doing that she spent some time making and repairing arrows for the lightweight bows she was training them on. Then it was time to sit in on the reading lessons. Archery and grappling followed, which most of the children preferred over chores and words. As usual she was late for the council meeting, most days the children were sad to see her go. The younger ones often swarmed her for hugs and she typically had something for the older ones to work on. There was always something that needed doing in the village.

When she arrived at Andisal’s Keep the rest of the council was already there, she took her seat beside Lef. Del was going through the list of tools and material that were needed for various projects. “Teller, did you have anything else to say about the trade mission?” Del asked.

“No, I think we’ve said it all before. I’m ready to head out the day after tomorrow, eight others are coming with me. If all goes well we’ll be back by mid autumn.”

Del looked to Alfi, “Was there anything you wanted to say about the trip to GreensBridge?”

“Well, assuming wood for arrows and bows are on the list, I don’t have anything to add.”

“Yes, wood is definitely on the list, for the bows, arrows and everything else we need it for. Okay. The next order of business is stone for the building projects. Both the priestesses and the dwarves have agreed to use the stone available at Kaymere. There will be additional stone coming from the Grvdrk-olkankan’s quarries and the High Temple will be sending more wood next spring, as we know. We are having an issue getting all the labourers we’re going to need. Locally, meaning here and for Kaymere, we are going to need an additional one hundred labourers, this year, mostly as part of the road improvement efforts and transport back and forth from Kaymere. The dwarves still insist that they will select and cut the stone themselves.”

Lef raised a hand, “One hundred people, for this year? How are we going to feed them, assuming we can even raise that many? What are the requirements for the following years?”

Del smiled, “I was just going to get into some of that. To the last part, we’ll need to expand the work force by one hundred each year, for the next two or three years. Though that should be an easier goal than you may think.

“Between the messages going to GreensBridge and the ones Alfi will deliver to the outlying communities, word will spread, people will come. Finding a hundred people this year is going to be more difficult… We cannot demand more from our people. We can ask and we have the resources to pay.” She paused, looking around at the council members, “What I was thinking was to send messages to Willik’s Hold and what used to be Sharlok’s. I’m hoping we can come to some sort of understanding with them.”

Del fell silent, watching how the rest of them responded. Teller, after a couple of moments of consideration, brought up what was on everyone’s mind, “How smart is it going to be to invite folks from Sharlok’s Hold to come here? There will be bad blood on both sides.”

“Sure, but there is the simple fact they have the population that we need. From what we’ve heard, it seems unlikely the entirety of the old holding will be maintained. They also have a considerable number of people who have experience building roads, which is what most of this year’s work is going to involve.

“Teller will be taking word in that direction on her way to GreensBridge.”

Lef reiterated, “What about food?”

Del looked to Alfi, “I was hoping you might be able to deal with that issue?”

Alfi looked at Del, she almost told her it could not be done. However, Alfi really wanted their plans to move forward, so instead she said, “There are a number of homesteads to the north that see themselves through the winter mostly by hunting bleek deer. They use pit traps and drive the herds towards them. If I could get a dozen or so adults to join me, take the dozen oldest orphans and, if you provide me with ten of so of the horses, then I’ll get you meat for the winter. We’ll need a lot of salt from the Grvdrk-olkankan and Aramy.”

Del gave a nod and looked around at the rest of the council, “Any other suggestion for getting more food?”

For a moment no one said anything, then Teller suggested, “While I’m in GreensBridge I could check with the Roburns Trading Company. From what I understand the Maldorn folk have new ways of preserving food.”

Del gave an enthusiastic nod, “Worth checking into at the very least. We’ll add that to the trade mission. Was there anything else we needed to talk about?”

Lef looked around at everyone, an eyebrow raised with an expression of perplexed curiosity, “I hope there’s something else everyone wants to discuss?”

Del slapped the table in front of her, “The Solstice Festival! Of course. Yes, where are we with that?”

“I completely forgot, what with everything else.” Teller admitted.

Lef cleared his throat, “Well, there are three marriages, two youth coming of age, the games and the feast. Some want horse racing added to the events. Things are more or less in order. We’re a bit shy of drink and there’s not a lot of extra food. Prizes will mostly come from the excess material leftover from the battle. I wasn’t sure who would officiate among the priestesses?”

Del’s brow briefly furrowed. She had been having difficulties with some of the priestesses, much of it having to do with convincing the women from GreensBridge to work with the dwarves. Alfi suspected there were other things being dealt with as well. Del forced a smile, “I’ll have to check with the Cira-di. Anything else?”

No one spoke up. They adjourned, leaving Del to her notes.

As they left the keep, Teller asked, “Did you two wish to come over this evening? The family and a few others are getting together for a send-off feast.”

Lef, always happy to play music for people, said, “I’d love to. Do you need me to bring anything?”

“Just yourself and your music, old man.” The two of them turned to Alfi.

Alfi glanced towards the sun, “I think I’ll have to pass. I’m going to gather some of the children and help with the earthworks. There’s enough light left, we can almost get a days work in before sunset.”

Teller gave her a quick hug and suggested, “You work too much.”

“Me. How about yourself?”

Teller shrugged, “There’s always something that needs doing.”

Alfi chuckled, “Just so. Safe travels.”

“I’ll see you in the autumn.”

Alfi gave Lef a quick kiss on the cheek, “I’ll see you tonight.”

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