Hello Everyone! I hope you are all well and staying safe. We have been in the grip of some brutal humidity, but that is just an excuse to use the pool more 😆. Hard to believe it is August already, and the Halloween candy is already in stores? I can’t even… Let’s get back to exploring Rosewood, shall we?
We left off with Elahna finishing her climb up the redwood that took her to the top of Rosewood Manor. She emerged into the sunshine, and… (this is one of my favorite parts, I remember it so vividly!)~
Remember this view?*
I sucked in a sharp breath and dropped to my knees, terrified now that I was the tallest point on the tree. My head swooned and spun, my breakfast threatening to reappear.
That would be way too much of a shame, it had been wonderful going down, I had no desire to ruin the memory.
I crouched within the tips of the branches, stilling my mind and heart, breathing deeply for several moments. Slowly, I lifted my eyes from the floor. My fear had paralyzed me so that I hadn’t noticed the size of the open room around me.
A circular floor, complete with a knee wall, balanced on the tree top like a newsboy hat. Three clusters of plum-colored rattan chairs and side tables and two chaises were arranged haphazardly, colorful pillows tossed here and there. Beyond the furniture all I could see was sky.
The unease that danced beneath my ribs in lurching, fluttering steps sucked in all of my attention, inhibiting me from lifting my hands off the comforting floor. Maybe this was a bad idea. How long would it be before Rosewood alerted Aymur, or worse, Daphne that I was incapacitated up here?
I hung my head lower, about to give in to defeat when a slight tingling flowed up my arms, as if urging me to rise. Soft rustling began to my right and I glanced back to see branches flowing toward me. Their soft, lime green fronds caressed my bare arms, while the woody parts snaked around my waist and legs. The tree was providing me with a safety harness!
Once I was firmly, but gently wrapped in live webbing, I noticed the warm cedar-like fragrance of redwood filling the open air. My mind began to still and I inhaled deeply, using the serene scent to quiet my stomach and nerves.
The tree nudged me again.
I leaned back onto bent knees and raised my eyes to the limitless ceiling of the deck. Ever so slowly I stood up, the living harness adjusting with me, always providing reassuring pressure to my torso and legs. The Seat wanted me to see its grandest view and was providing comforting support, I had to oblige.
The vista of a verdant countryside cut through by a platinum ribbon rolled to the horizon.
Venrood Forest stretched below, vast but short in stature now. A few barges topped with golden stacks of planks emerged slowly from the trees and were hitched to what must be draft horses, but looked like ponies, to be guided into the mill pond. I turned, intending to look down on Cragbend itself, and made my way around the furnishings to the opposite side. My harness loosened and shifted with me, giving me confidence with every step.
Cragbend was a bucolic hamlet at ground level, from the air it resembled a Thomas Kinkade painting.
The river narrowed after the mill pond and continued to wind through the town, bisecting it neatly. People moving on the main road resembled ants, some driving carts to an open air market on the upper side. Smoke curled from chimneys and water wheels sploshed. I glanced at the sun, it still had a way to go until high noon, (what did Daphne say that hour was called, mezzanar, I think?), I still had time to wander once I was done up here.
Past the market, the road ran out of town again, lined with shops and smaller farmsteads just like on the forest side coming in. I wondered where it led to, deciding to ask Aymur for a map later.
As I stepped away from the edge, the wall receded to knee height again. I approached the stairs leading down, and the harness twigs slid silently away.
The redwood scent lingered, however, even to this day I can recall it when I need an extra bit of courage or peace.
I placed my hands on the deck as I passed through the floor and whispered, “Thank you, that was truly amazing. I couldn’t have seen that view without your help.”
Rustling like maracas answered me, along with a warm pulse under my hands. I smiled and ducked below the platform once again.
This time fiery garnets glowed when I reached the circular juncture, directing me down through an immense beech tree that deposited me at the end of the hallway my room was on.
How cool it would be to grow up in a tree! One thing I knew for sure—acrophobia was not part of an Arborean’s makeup!
Yes, how cool would it be to grow up in a tree? You see now why I remember that morning so vividly. I was paralyzed with fear, yet able to witness that grand sight. It was breathtaking. Would you have been able to stand up on top of the tree without help? I won’t forget that sight, nor several others that we will get to later on. Next episode, we will head into Cragbend for a taste of everyday Eflarian life!~
Curious for more information about Ereth, Huphaea, and its inhabitants? Join the Nightingales by subscribing to Collata⚡, the Collection of Huphaea’s newsletter! I send out one email a month with extra bits from my time in Huphaea, things I can’t fit into the episodes. Come along, join the troupe, we are a merry band! Subscribe below!
Hello Everyone! Here we are at episode 10, I’ve made it to double digits! I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep on schedule, and figured that ten would be a good round figure to judge by, but here it is, and I’m enjoying it a lot, so I’ll keep going. I hope you are enjoying my recounting too. And it is almost August—whoa, how did that happen? Make the most of your last month of summer (for those in the Northern hemisphere, that is). I am slated to return to playing soccer next week, and I just purchased a lovely hammock for backyard reading time with the dogs. It’s been hot here, but so much more comfortable reading in a hammock. I hope you make some time for your favorite activity this week!
Last episode we had a delicious breakfast with Lady Daphne Arborea, and got some indication that going home may not be so easy. Elahna also fell prey to some mischevious tree dryads. She was on her way back into the manor to do some exploring…
**This episode has a lot of descriptive elements that I can’t find pictures of, or draw that would do what I saw justice. My hope is that I can describe it well enough that it comes alive in your mind too. Not so many pics this time, is what I mean. Let your imagination do the illustration, that’s my hope.~
Rosewood Manor’s unique and ever-changing floor
Back in the main foyer, I examined the floor scene again. I blinked my eyes several times because I would have bet my last dollar (if I had any!) that the water in the stream was flowing lazily. Gemstones glittered up at me, daring me to follow them to the reaches of the manor. When I looked up, having made my decision, Aymur was approaching me, a bemused smile on his face.
“What catches your fancy, may I ask?”
“The water in the floor scene, I swear it flows over the rocks. Is it real?”
His smile broadened some, “No, it’s an illusion created by the vitae of the house. Quite realistic, isn’t it? We are never sure what will appear when the seasons change, it’s always different. One autumn it was a giant pile of sugar maple leaves. Try finding the red, orange, and yellow markers in that. We were all cross-eyed for anos!”
“Am I really allowed to go anywhere in the Manor? I mean, I don’t want to end up in someone’s bedroom, but I am dying to go up the stairs.”
“Of course, be my guest. Rosewood will redirect you from private quarters anyway, so don’t worry about being nosy. My personal recommendations would be the tiger-eye and aquamarine paths, though.” He stepped aside and gestured toward the stairs.
“Funny, I had just decided on the tiger-eyes. Thanks!” I headed for the stairs, but then stopped and turned back when I heard Aymur speaking. His back was to me, but no one else was there.
Oh, possibly. I’m sure Aymur did have his own dryads. But I think he was talking to the Manor. His hushed tone was that of scolding a small child, like he was telling Rosewood not to mess with me too much. I remember laughing to myself at that moment, cause here talking to ‘yourself’ with no device in your ear or person present is likely to get you strange looks, but there? Nope, it was totally normal. I was kinda bummed that I couldn’t see the fae spirits, or talk to the houses. But I got used to others doing it around me. It was just one of those things.
My impression the previous night had been that the giant staircase formed the back of the main hall. As I walked, I realized that it occupied the center of the ground level. The forest floor scene continued on past the stairs for a distance equal to the front half and ended in a wall of four sets of leaf-outlined double doors. Arches indicated two more hallways off either side, leading away into yet deeper parts of the manse.
The immense, forked-trunk staircase was so large it exuded a presence. It began as one, split to encircle a third, arrow-straight leader, and rejoined at the landing. The treads were smoothly carved into the heartwood, and revealed captivating streaks of red, orange, brown, and gray. The outer edges retained the craggy bark of an ancient oak. Branchlets wove together to form a balustrade on the balcony and stairway, dotted here and there with the guiding gemstones.
The tiger-eyes took me up the right flight, then right again and along a limbway that included short sets of steps. It ended as a sitting area that faced that arm of Venrood Forest I had seen from the road.
The room was open to the air, with a short knee-wall of leafy branches all the way around, and an increased density of slender twigs as a ceiling. The tawny wicker furniture held pillows in various shades of yellow and pale pink and sat around a woven, goldenrod hued rug. It was breathtaking. I wondered if the sun set, or rose in this direction.
I approached the edge, as close as I dared to go, (being horribly afraid of heights), to get an idea of how high in the canopy I was. The knee-wall rustled and stretched in height, getting taller the closer I got.
Wow! What an ingenious feature!
Of course! There were small children in the Seat, so responsive walls would allow them to be anywhere, no matter their age or curiosity level. I appreciated it as well. The queasiness in my gut lessened and I leaned on the now-chest-level wall, looking some fifty feet or more down. Above me, twice that remained, the leaves shimmering in the late morning sun. Acrophobia be damned, I was going to the top.
Back out in the limbway, the aquamarine markers glowed brighter than any other. I was being baited like a mouse with cheese, but I didn’t care.
Up and up I climbed, the stairs getting shorter and the halls smaller, but clearly ending in rooms or suites. I was still within the branches of the colossal oak, though I knew this particular one would not take me to the very top, it wasn’t tall enough. As if in answer to my musings, the sun-dappled corridor shrank notably in width and the limb ended against a circular, deck-like structure.
The decking grew out of the giant redwood trunk it encircled, the silvery inner wood heavily lined and shining like polished granite. Natural colored nets woven of multi stranded string formed the walls of the radial juncture.
It was like walking inside a pair of fishnet stockings, though I was sure this particular weave would lift an elephant if necessary. With no knee wall here, I fought the sickening urge to look down and kept my eyes on the gems in the center of the floor.
Several other hallways extended off of the platform in various directions. Redwood trees have a much more radial structure than that of the rambling oak, and because of it, I would not get to glimpse any suites that may be nestled in the giant evergreen.
The markers led me partway around the trunk and then onto an external staircase that spiraled up. I thanked the tree for the hand-sized banister and continued to climb, my stomach in my throat. Three more platforms fell away below me before the branches became smaller and more dense. My legs were aching and my hands shook with the phobia, but I swallowed it down and pushed through the foliage into warm sunlight.
I’ll stop here for this time, cause I remember the feeling I had at the top of that immense tree, and it still wipes me out! It needs its own post, for sure. See you soon! ~
Rosewood Manor is quite the place, right? I suppose it could be a bit creepy sometimes, but it always seemed more helpful than anything. I sure appreciated those responsive walls. I never saw Rosewood in autumn or winter so I’m not sure how it looked when the leaves were off the deciduous trees that made up the manse. Maybe they didn’t fall, but just turned color. It was such a cool place to live, made me wonder about the other Seats, what they were like. Would you want to live in a place like Rosewood Manor? Leave a comment below and let me know!~
Would you like more info bits about Huphaea and places like Rosewood Manor? Then subscribe to Collata ⚡, The Collection of Huphaea newsletter! Nightingales look forward to one email a month that goes a little deeper into this new world, giving some insight or explanation beyond the episodes. Hit the subscribe button below to join the mailing list and become a Nightingale!
Hello Everyone! Greetings, and I hope you are all well. It’s been a very warm, humid week, but since we are in mid-summer here, it’s to be expected. Good news is that the pool warmed up quick 👍🏼🏊🏼♀️. Things here continue to open up from lockdown, thought it appears I will have to wait to play soccer again. I’m hoping for the fall, (please…).
In other news, my incubator has been working overtime, chickens and turkeys have been hatching like crazy! Here’s a dose of fuzzy cuteness…
all of these guys hatched yesterday!
How is your summer (or winter, for my Down Under friends) going? I won’t keep you from it, so let’s continue with the story. Catch you soon!~
When we left Elahna, she was on her way to have breakfast with Daphne Arborea, matron of Scion Arborea. I think it has already been mentioned, but they are kinswomen of the Queen of Eflary, Halesia. We’ll return to following that spectacular floor, shall we?
The red circles led me off the main foyer to the left, out a side door of glass embedded with autumn leaves. It swung wide as I approached, revealing an immaculate arbor of wisteria in full bloom.
wisteria arbor*
The heady fragrance of the flowers and the drone of thousands of giant, yellow and orange bumblebees accompanied me down the lane to a high-walled rose garden.
A rectangle of perfectly manicured boxwood enclosed hundreds of roses, some sprawling artfully over rocks or benches, others blanketing their arbors in a rainbow of monochromes.
I’m pretty sure I even saw blue roses. Like delphinium blue roses.😮
In the center, an oval stretch of turf held a bright red sofa and a few tea tables with chairs.
A woman, with silvery-blond hair twisted into a long braid that hung over her shoulder, sat at one of the tables. Her sleeveless tunic and leggings were a calm shade of lavender, and her gauzy wrap matched my shirt. She raised her eyes from the scroll in front of her and smiled, but did not stand. I approached the table slowly, wondering if I should bow, but she interrupted my thoughts.
“Ah, hello Elahna. Forgive me for not rising to greet you. I stumbled out in the forest with one of the children and my ankle is painful. Not an opportune time for the Orderly to be out of town. I’m Daphne Arborea. Elements be.” She raised her left palm in greeting as I was becoming accustomed to.
“Elements be. Thank you for allowing me to stay in your wonderful house and helping me to get home.”
“I wish I did have some help to offer you. My niece the queen is asking the Scholars currently in Irillo to provide you with what they know, but alas, I must say that previous Passers have never found a way back. They assimilated into our world and continued living their lives. I apologize for the abrupt news, but it is something you should ponder on your way to Irillo.”
“But please, sit with me. I haven’t eaten yet either and it is mid-morn already. Would you prefer coffee or tea?”
“Tea, please.”
Yes, that was upsetting news, and not what I expected to hear. It was very discouraging to think of not ever going home, but then again, part of me was all for it. I wasn’t in the best of places in my life at home, maybe a completely new start would be refreshing. But unnerving too, because I didn’t know any societal norms, or customs of this land. At least when you travel to other countries here on Earth, you can Google it and get ideas of what to expect or look for. I had nothing. NOTHING. Well, I had learned a proper greeting with the palm out thing, and a different word or two, but that was about it. Yeah, I was pretty concerned.
Breakfast was served, and though I saw no servant take note of the beverage preference, two cups for tea and a larger pot accompanied the meal.
*
“How did you do that, I mean, how did they know I wanted tea? You asked me, but no one came after that until the food did.”
“Oh, you must have so many questions!” Daphne laughed a clear, knowing chuckle. “I have a couple of tree dryads who carry messages for me. I can tell you don’t see them, since one is almost sitting on your head right now.”
tree dryad, possibly*
At that, I looked up and around, and perhaps I felt a faint flutter of a tiny breeze on my forehead, but I couldn’t be sure. There were things around me that I couldn’t see… uneasiness rose again.
“Come now, you little mischief-makers. That’s not fair, she can’t see you. Go along and help the bees gather nectar for the hives. You can carry three times as much as they can.” She made a slight shooing motion with her hand, and resumed her attention on our meal and conversation. “How was your night, did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you, I did. Though I did have an odd encounter with a young boy that has made me nervous.”
“Oh?”
“Last night on the way to my room after the performance, there was a young boy and a woman in the hall in front of me. The boy looked absolutely terrified of me and cried to his mother something about me taking her with me when I went home. The woman hushed him and hurried him away, but then I found this in my room this morning with the fresh clothes. I suspect the boy must have left it, cause it says the same thing he did last night.” I took the child’s note out of my pocket and held it out to her.
As she read it, I continued, “It made me wonder what a Passer is, and what they may have done to be feared so. If I’m to be blackballed and I have to live here from now on, I need to know what sentiments I may face.”
Her brows pinched slightly and she pocketed the note. “I am very sorry Lignan had an outburst like that in front of you. He is so much more volatile than most Arboreans, because of his Spark blood. You will travel with his matris, my grandautris Ivy, to Irillo in the morn. Lignan is her older child and he is very attached to her, despite being almost of age to declare a House. Rosewood has already chosen him, however, and it will fall to me to direct his attention to his abilities and their applications. I’ll be the villain in that play for sure.”
A contemplative look crossed her fine features and I surmised young Lignan was the source of consternation for the Scion matriarch.
I dug into the gloriously fluffy vegetable omelet on my plate, closing my eyes and savoring the depth of flavor that exploded in my mouth. Vegetables here delivered tastes far beyond the best organics at home, and herbs somehow added layers of flavor to the dishes that made them whole-mouth experiences. I had yet to dislike anything I had consumed, and I know some things I wouldn’t have touched normally had crossed my palate, like mushrooms.
*
I didn’t care, it was all heavenly.
The mini corn muffin was light like a spongecake, and the butter full of rich cream. The orange juice would have been termed a smoothie on Earth, it was so thick, and the color was a true orange, not a watery yellow. It was worth staying here for the food alone!
I opened my eyes to find Daphne watching me with a small, quirked smile, but she didn’t embarrass me by commenting on my reverie.
“To answer your question, Passer is the term we give to people who pass through the ways unknowingly, like you. No one knows how or why it happens, but as I said, none in our history have been able to return from whence they came. Perhaps the Scholars know more, but I would start considering how you can sustain yourself here in our land.”
Well, it appeared that my landscaping and horticulture talents would be useless, if there was a whole family with actual plant magic. It would certainly take some thought.
“What other kinds of magic are there? Or rather, what would someone without magic be able to do?”
Daphne clearly pondered that thought as she buttered her corn muffin.
“There are many people who do not have magic here. The vitae can only be drawn on by those with Elemental blood. However, we are charged with maintaining the Balance, so we work with and aid the Ungifted. I’m sure you can find a place in a trade, perhaps even in Maarran.”
“What is Maarran?”
“I do suppose you haven’t had time for geography, have you?” I nodded to that, as my mouth was full. “This continent of Huphaea is divided into two countries, Eflary originated as the elven land, and Maarran as the human land. Each still has rulers of the Elemental Families native to that country, but they are by no means purebloods. We all coexist and cohabitate freely and for the good of the Balance.”
“I see. How do you know where someone is from?”
“Does that matter? Well, yes, sometimes it might, I suppose,” she answered her own question and continued on.
“House and Scion names indicate lineage in Elementals, but Ungifted usually identify by the lands they live in. For example, we are in Gaiist territory, as my overarching Family, but Cragbend is the Seat of the Scion Arborea lands, which are within House Florian lands. An Ungifted would be as specific as they needed to be. Someone from Cragbend would say they were from Arborea lands. Someone from Sagebridge, though, would say Florian.”
“That does make sense. It would make more sense if I had a map, though.”
“There is a wondrous map in Irillo, in the Scholar’s Seat. Make sure Halesia takes you to see it.”
I nodded. She took this as leave to continue her explanation.
“There are two other Houses and eight other Scions within the Gaiist Family. And then two more Families within Eflary– the Flamels and the Aeros. The same number is true for Maarran, but they have a Family with water magic instead of our fire Family for Balance.”
“Oh, hopefully I will just pick up some of it as I go. But I get the point. I remember Fife questioned me with a bunch of names when I told him mine, I had no idea what he meant.”
“What is your second name?”
“Starr.”
“Oh, certainly. That could suggest several Houses and Scions. I’m sure you will acclimate as you go. I should ask, how well do you ride?”
“As in a horse?” She nodded. “Fairly well, though it has been quite a while. Horses are only for pleasure riding on Earth, mostly.” I grimaced a bit, recalling how sore I would be after a day in the saddle. “How long is the ride to… er– Irillo, is it?”
“A day and a half usually, but not less than a day. Depends on the pace. You should visit the stables so my horse master can select you an appropriate mount. In the meantime, please explore Rosewood and the lands, and even town if you like. Dinner will be at octdecca erdur.”
“Oh! Yes! I have been meaning to ask about time here, how many errr-durrs are there in a day?”
Daphne sat back in her chair with her cup of tea in two hands. “There are septduary erdurs in an anar. It’s half octa now.”
“Ok, thank you. And thank you for this lovely meal and conversation.” She smiled and watched me leave, I could feel her gaze on my back. More than that, I had an idea that her dryads decided I was fair game again. Minute tugs on my hair and silver ear hoops rattled my composure. I hurried back through the buzzing arbor.
Which would you rather have- black flies or mischievous dryads you couldn’t see? I quickly learned the fae spirits were extremely devoted to their chosen Elemental, but that they delighted in tormenting Ungifted. Some people here think living with ghosts or cockroaches is bad? Try living with things that you can’t see, but can hide all of your clothes overnight! Makes putting out bug bait not seem so bad…
nuisance flies or dryads?*
I’ll leave it there for this week, that was a long segment, but Daphne gave me a lot of information to process. And next time we will explore Rosewood— now that’s a real treat!~
Wow, Elahna just found out that she may not be able to get back to Earth. How would you feel about that? Would you be dying to get home, or content to start fresh, if it came to that? Drop a comment below about how you would react to the news that Elahna heard from Daphne. What would you do?
If you want an extra peek into Huphaea and Elahna’s journey, subscribe to Collata ⚡, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter. Once, maybe twice a month, Nightingales get an exclusive snippet from my memory of my time away. Click the button below to join the Nightingales, I’m looking forward to welcoming you!
Hello Everyone! I hope you all are well and staying safe and healthy. Summer is in full swing here, since the last post I have finished opening the pool and am back to swimming laps in preparation for soccer starting back up. How is the re-opening progressing where you are? Are you thinking of travelling this summer at all? I’m doing the mind travelling route, taking off for other worlds in my head as I write these CoH chronicles and the subsequent novel(s). I’ve also taken up firm residence in Victorian London, thanks to the historical fiction audiobooks I escape with when I’m weeding and walking the dogs. Sherry Thomas’ The Lady Sherlock Series has been fabulous to listen to, if you are a fan of that genre, I strongly recommend it!
When we last saw Elahna, she had been left at the spectacular Rosewood Manor by the Bluebirds and she knew she would be heading to the capital city of Irillo sometime soon. There had been another performance, and then an awkward encounter with a boy. Elahna was pretty nervous about this ‘Passer’ thing. Let’s see how she is in the morning…~
a sunlight alarm*
Warm sunshine streaming through leafy shutters brought me awake. At some point I had crawled under the covers and nestled into the cloud-like pillows. Branches woven together formed an intricate canopy in russet and olive hues above me. Leaves framed the edges where scrollwork would normally appear, and gauzy light blue material filled the gaps mimicking the sky. I hadn’t taken the opportunity to appreciate my accommodations last night, my unrest had been too immediate and I had even fallen asleep in my clothes. I rubbed crusty sleep from my eyes and scanned the room then, examining the contents.
Every piece of furniture appeared to grow out of the floor, walls, or ceiling, depending on what it was. Bright dyed cushions in blues, soft yellows and russets decorated the chairs. The bed dressings mirrored the color choices in summer weight blanket and linens.
Time. What time was it? I hadn’t had a chance to figure out how many erdurs were in the days here yet.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t even seen the moon in this land yet. Was there one? At that thought, so many other questions flooded my mind that I had to get up and move around to dispel them.
That was when I found the water system in the bathroom—you had asked about water earlier.
The sink emerged from the wall as a curved basin of lighter colored wood.
Two curved hollow branchlets hung over the sink. I touched one and cool water started flowing, and was immediately absorbed when it hit the basin.
not quite right, but on this idea…*
It was mesmerizing to watch. I touched the other, and warm water flowed. These trees would certainly consume huge amounts of water to support all of these leaves and structures; a built-in recycling system, created out of the tree itself, made perfect sense. The lighter-colored wood of the basin must be the tree’s xylem, its water conductive tissue. Ingenious.
On the opposite wall, a shower area was designated. The shower head faced down from the ceiling in the center of a lattice work not unlike the bed canopy. The walls were constructed of layers of leaves, which funneled the water to the same light-colored xylem floor. I was grateful for the warm water after fighting battles for two nights during the Bluebird’s performances.
When I emerged, wrapped in a thick fluffy robe that resembled cotton (though not any cotton known here), I found a new set of clothes on the chair aside the purple door. A folded note sat atop them. My new name on the front and the message inside were written in fine script:
~Please follow the red circles from the main foyer to my garden to break your fast. I look forward to meeting you.~
– Daphne Arborea
Hmmm, was this a summons? I didn’t enjoy the idea of being summoned, but I was a guest in her house. Maybe I could ask more questions about this house. Maybe she would explain what a Passer is and how they are viewed.
Honestly, at that point, I wasn’t sure what ‘Passer’ meant. I assumed it meant something about how I had come here, but then that also meant there had to be more people who had come here from Earth. Had that gone badly in the past and now Passers were feared? I didn’t get that feeling among the Bluebirds, but once we were here in Cragbend, the sentiment was different. And certainly that boy last night had been scared.
Speaking of that boy, along with Daphne’s note, there was also a thrice-folded piece of paper, obviously torn from something else, with a note written in a childish hand on the inside:
Please don’t take my Mamam with you when you go back to your home. I would miss her a lot, I love her so much. Please just go back home yourself and leave her with me. Thank you, Lignan Arborea
I knew it was the innocent plea of a scared child, but it was the stories that fueled the fear behind it that made me uneasy. I decided to take it to Daphne and ask what was going on.
The new garments were similar to my borrowed ones, but with dark green leaf patterns embroidered into the light green linen. Being a tree-oriented family, I wasn’t surprised. My stomach rumbled and I proceeded out the door to meet Daphne Arborea.
Now that I was looking for them, I discovered a entire crayon box of colored shapes and circles on the floor, all going in separate directions, like breadcrumb trails of cereal winding down the halls and up the stairs. Upon closer inspection, the colorful bits were actually gemstones, gold, and crystals set into the wood floor as part of the nature scenes beneath my feet.
gemstone markers with gold nuggets in Rosewood’s floors
In the vast main foyer, where the original house remained, the floors were of the same patterns, the only difference being the noise my sandals made as I walked.
The effect the scenes created was like walking on an iced-over stream with gems set in the streambed, or a rocky forest path with colored trail markers lining the edge. It was so realistic I kept waiting for wet feet, or pebbles between my toes. I remembered what Raga said about Rosewood Manor always changing and wondered if the floor scenes did too.
I should stop here, so that next time we will meet with Daphne Arborea, matriarch of House Arborea. Stay tuned and don’t miss episode #9!
So, a floor inlaid with gemstones and gold nuggets as markers? What kind of place is this, right? I’ll let you in on something, gemstones are pretty commonplace in Huphaea. There are four Houses concerned with obtaining and working with them, so you can imagine what they produce. We will meet them later on, I promise!
How about the Manor itself, and what do you think Daphne Arborea will be like? Let me know in the comments below, don’t worry, you’ll find out soon!
If you want an extra peek into Huphaea and Elahna’s journey, subscribe to Collata, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter. Once, maybe twice a month, Nightingales get an exclusive snippet from my memory of my time away. Click the button below to join the Nightingales, I’m looking forward to welcoming you!
Hi Everyone! Hope you are all well as we pass the midpoint of June. Wow, time does fly. One fun fact about Ereth and Huphaea is that we share the same sun. The day length, therefore, is still the same for Elahna, but it is divided up into more ‘erdurs’ than twenty-four. How many more? Stay tuned for that, she will find out in an upcoming episode (which I need to write! Gah! Time!).
When we left Elahna last week, she was still with the Bluebirds, but they were heading to Rosewood Manor for a performance that evening. Shall we find out what happens next?
Rosewood Manor loomed in front of me, grown over and through by enormous trees that denied the sun once you entered under their canopy. Inside, the walls, arches, and columns of the cavernous corridor were a mixture of gray and tan stone embedded in trunks and limbs. Staircases were hewn from multiple leaders and branches wound into railings. Complex lattices of leaves and branchlets formed doors and window shutters. The Seat pulsed with energy and felt warm and alive to the touch.
Because of course, it was.
It was the most amazing structure I had ever seen. I gaped. I couldn’t help myself.
I wish I could draw it for you. Yes, there were lights and hot water, but I don’t think they were electric. Probably vitae powered. It was such an incredible place, especially for a plant lover like me.
Aymur Arborea greeted us in the grand main foyer. He reminded me of a smaller version of Paul Bunyan. But not clad in plaid. The backs of his hands were rough and lined like beech bark and his eyes were a brilliant green.
“So this is the Passer?” That word again. “Elahna, is it?”
“Yes, sir. Pleased to meet you. Elements be.” I raised my hand, palm out, as I had seen others do.
“Elements be, well met. Fife has told me your story as he knows it. I admit, I am intrigued. I sent a bird to my kinswoman, the Queen, for advice on the matter. She replied to send you on to Irillo and perhaps the Scholars can help get you home. For tonight, though, be our welcome guest at my mother Daphne’s request and enjoy the Bluebird show. In the morning we will discuss travel.”
“Thank you, sir.” I nodded in respect.
Fife clapped a strong arm around my shoulders. “Ah, you’re in good hands now, fla, Madame Daphne’s a fine hostess. I wish you luck in getting home, and if you don’t, perhaps we’ll meet again.” He winked and raised his palm. “Elements be.”
“Thank you so much, Fife. For everything. Elements be.”
And just like that, I was an outsider again. I did want to see Fife and the Bluebirds again. I felt indebted to them for their acceptance and help. I could only hope if there was a next time, I would be in a position to repay them somehow. I had a feeling debts were part of the currency in Huphaea, or at least in Eflary.
The Arboreans made me welcome in every way possible, but they couldn’t hide the furtive glances. ‘Passer’ was tossed around behind hands or whispered into pointed ears. The unwanted attention increased through the meal, and I was glad to see the show start.
No, the people weren’t nasty or anything, but it was like being the new kid in school. Uncomfortable.
Oh yes, the show was magnificent. I was just as exhausted as the night before. My brain spun with new legends and song impressions. Haha! I only wish I could tell you some, I mostly remember images and sensations. I wouldn’t do them justice.
The hall emptied, Bluebirds heading back to their camp, and Seat residents seeking their quarters. I wandered down the corridor I had been shown when I passed a woman and a young boy. The boy shrank back from me, clutching his mother’s leg and hand as though I might steal him. “What if she tries to take you back to her home with her?” he wailed. “No, Mamam, you can’t go!”
“Hush, Lignan! Don’t be silly! Passers don’t steal people. I’ve been called to Forelore and so has she, it only makes sense that we travel together. It’s time for your visit with your pater anyway. He’ll be here tomorrow to get you. Stop your whining, you are too old to cry about such things.” She flicked a quick glance at me and marched him away.
I quickened my pace, counting the doors on the right to the fifth one. It was deep purple. I yanked it open and then closed in one motion. Locating the bed through my teary eyes, I flopped face down and let out my fear until I fell asleep.
It wasn’t my finest moment, for sure. I was just glad to be out of the whispers and didn’t want to think about what that boy meant. This is a good place to stop, and I promise the next day is much more upbeat!
Can you imagine how Elahna felt after hearing the boy’s outburst? She has had an amazing two days though! Leave a comment below and let me know what you’d be thinking at this point- would you want to go home, or stay?
Remember to subscribe to Collata, The Collection of Huphaea’s official newsletter! The next issue is coming out very soon, so keep an eye on your inbox if you are already a Nightingale. If not, hit the subscribe button below and join Eleanorah’s troupe!
Hello Everyone! It’s a steamy, tropical day here, perfect for sitting with my words (as long as the computer doesn’t frazzle out with humidity) and reminiscing. There is so much about Huphaea I wish I could share with you in reality, though I hope our story sessions do inspire happy emotions and active imaginations 😊. Stories are intrinsic to us as humans and provide a little refuge when it all gets ‘a bit crazy out there.’ I hope you are all well and safe 💛. Nightingales, look for a new issue of Collata in your inbox soon!
When we last left Elahna, she had just had her world rocked by the Madrigal Bluebird troup’s mind-blowing performances and some tavern ale… let’s see how she is feeling the next day…~
Town of Cragbend, Seat of Scion Arborea, House Gaiist
Morning found me wrapped in a soft blanket in a pavilion. The sounds of an active camp and smells of sausage and eggs floated around me. I sat up and felt the dull pound I expected in my head. Ugh. This was gonna suck. The tavern ale had hit like good-natured boxer—hard, but with a jolly laugh. I remembered laughing a lot, and oh, jeeeyyyz my body felt battered, I just hoped I hadn’t acted too much a fool. Right then, Raga stuck his head in the door and grinned.
Bluebird camp*
“Ah! You live! I’ll call Poet in, I can imagine you need her services.”
What did that mean? “Oh, ah, I’m good, thanks,” but my attempt to stand up betrayed me. He chuckled again.
Poet ducked inside and knelt beside me. “Here, let’s see if I can help some.” She put one hand on the front of my head and one on the back and started to hum in a low tone. When she stopped after a minute or so, the pounding had subsided into a tolerable ache.
I gazed at her in wonder. “How did you do that? Are you a healer too?”
Vitae works wonders…*
“No, not as such, it’s just another aspect of my singing ability. I use my voice to create, but I can also draw away with it. The bits I can’t fix some food will. Come on. We saved some for you.”
As we walked through camp, I noticed many of the others watching us overtly. I caught the word ‘Passer’ several times in whispered tones and my self-consciousness came rushing back. I didn’t belong here. I had to find a way home.
“There’s the Passer. Is she staying here?”*
Did I want to go home? Well, that was the REAL question. Kinda yes, and kinda no. I definitely wanted to know more about this land of Huphaea, its amazing people, the magic, dragons(!), but would I be welcome to?
Fife greeted me heartily and Tango hugged my legs. “Well, fla, unfortunately the Orderly isn’t here at the moment, though I’ll say your head seemed fine last night, if a bit ale-addled. You sure have some stories to tell and some strange words. Hopefully Raga let you sleep once you were tucked away in the pavilion, eh?” He waggled his eyebrows and winked at me.
I felt my face burn crimson. Oh god, I had no memory of even walking back to camp—and Raga wasn’t there to save me. Oh no, what did I do? Would Poet hate me? She didn’t seem to, but that could be a front until later. Ugh.
I passed the day helping where I could to be useful, to keep my mind off what might have happened that I didn’t remember.
The cartwrights had indeed set up a mobile workshop of sorts out by the wagons and were busy fitting new wheels, replacing axle shafts, applying grease to hubs, repairing cracks in the walls and floors, and there was even a painter. The last two individuals held my attention for a while. They were absorbed in their work, but the lack of tools and jars normally seen with menders and painters was glaring to me.
The mender was a bearded man in a red vest. He ran his long fingers over every inch of the wagon box to my left. When he detected some unseen anomaly, he stopped and placed his opposite hand into the bucket he carried with him. Something would flow, seemingly from the fingers of his first hand, onto the wood. When he was satisfied, he removed the hand from the bucket and continued pressing and smoothing the spot. It made me think of applying caulking or glue to a crack. When he moved away, a bright spot of new wood shone. The more I watched, the more it became obvious that he was drawing on the contents of the bucket to fill the cracks—but through his hands and body? I didn’t want to stare too long, but I was mesmerized. At that moment, the painter approached the wagon to my right.
“Elements be. Did you paint these coaches? They are astoundingly beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
“Elements be. Oh, I did not paint them originally, but I have worked on them several times when the Bluebirds are in Cragbend. They are lovely pieces. All of the Madrigal caravans are stunning.” The woman was young, with shorter, straight black hair woven into rows of braids that were pulled back from her face. Her highly pointed ears poked out between the rows and corralled numerous paint brushes. She carried a flat palette with a large dollop of white paint on it. Her smile was small, perhaps shy, but her lavender eyes radiated confidence and warmth. She wore a white sleeveless shirt and not a spot of color marred it.
“Forgive me for asking, but can you tell me what he is doing? It looks like he is repairing cracks, but I can’t see how.”
She grinned now, it was lopsided but full of openness. “He is repairing cracks, yes. See how he finds the weaknesses with one hand by touch, and then applies the sawdust in the bucket to it. His talent is transformative. The sawdust becomes a form he can work into the anomalies to re-strengthen them. They appear as new wood, then I come along and color them to match. I’m guessing you are the Passer everyone is talking about.”
“Oh, um, yes I am.” My eyes slid to the side, a bit embarrassed. Just then, she plucked a brush from an ear, dipped it into the white paint and touched up the design where the new wood gleamed. The paint brushed on in the exact colors necessary! My mouth fell open a bit and I drew a tiny sharp breath. She glanced back at me with that grin again.
white brushes leave color?*
“Creating color is my gift,” she said, before I could even splutter a question.
“But, how? How did you make something white into all those shades of blue just there? I don’t see any dyes or pigments on your board.”
“My talent is transformative, too. There is plenty of pigment all around us, in the form of light. It’s filled with color.”
“You use light? Like channeling it into the paint or something?” I didn’t care that I sounded like an idiot.
“Yes, very much like that! I see light and colors very differently when I invoke my talent. It allows me to see color in its parts so I can draw the light I need to create the exact colors.” She kept painting as she spoke, the strokes leaving color that blended perfectly with the surroundings.
“That’s amazing. Do others have that ability too?”
“Some, sure. There are others who are Herballs who have like ability, but they do work with the actual dyes and pigments in plants. Their work is best for garments and fabrics, candles, more softer materials. The coaches are always outside, so light-based color makes the most sense for their artwork. It’s constantly being refreshed that way.”
“Wow, I’m,… thank you. I don’t know what to say, there is nothing like that where I’m from. And this type of color makes so much more sense to me! Thank you for indulging my curiosity. I should get back and be useful. Enjoy your day! Elements be!” I raised my left palm and smiled as I turned away.
“Elements be, you’re welcome. Enjoy your stay.” She tipped her palette to me in goodbye and went back to embellishing wood with light.
I caught up with Fife next as I crossed the camp. He said he had spoken with Aymur Arborea last night about finding me some help to get home. I tried not to look too disappointed. He had been so generous, I didn’t want to be ungrateful, and I knew I couldn’t stay with the troupe as I had no talent to offer. I was going to miss them though.
The Bluebirds had been such a help to me over the past day—it was hard to believe I had only been in Huphaea for a day!
What was that? Oh, no, I never did get an answer that day from Raga about the night before. I lived with that question for quite a while, mind you. And Poet never said a word 🤷🏼♀️.
We’ll leave it here for today, the next post will take us to Rosewood Manor and the delights that await there!
What did you think about the mender’s and painter’s abilities? Amazing, right? Would you want to go home if you were in Elahna’s shoes? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Remember to subscribe to Collata, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter. The second issue will be out soon with some more exclusive content, from a youngster this time 😃. Hit the subscribe button below and become a Nightingale!
Hello everyone! All the wishes to your health and sanity as we continue to cope with pandemic issues—stay strong! Can you believe we are about to enter June? We have had a taste of summer where I live, the sticky humid part of summer, after a looooonnnnng, very cool spring. It’s been quite a shock to the system, like Elahna going from insulated boots to summer sandals in one day. A hint of times to come, for sure.
So, when we last spoke, Elahna was just digesting the fact that there are dragons in this land. Raga, Poet, and Fife had a bit of a chuckle at her expense and she learned you do not have a dragon, ever. Dragons impart knowledge, but you should have a consarned good reason for speaking with one. Let’s continue on to Cragbend with the troupe, shall we?
closer to Cragbend…*
The homesteads on the nearer approach to Cragbend got a little smaller, but no less affluent.
*
Many had painted or carved wooden signs hanging by the road with various items depicted- chairs, bowls, cabinets, casks, wagons.
*
Vegetables grew in meticulous gardens and conical hay stacks populated shorn fields.
*
My nervousness returned as we entered the rustic town, but was forgotten in the activity of making camp in the field beside the Cleft Barrel. I was assigned to the horse lines with a young musician named Tenor. He pounded stakes for pickets while I secured the horses and doled out the feed.
By the time we finished, a fire roared in a central, stacked stone pit. Children’s laughter gamboled through the air as they peeled vegetables for stew and hurled the scraps at each other or the chickens.
cooking in the Bluebirds’ camp…*
Numerous brightly colored tents and pavilions now dotted the field.
Troupe members scurried around like ants, each with their own tasks to attend to in the familiar dance of pitching camp. The hulking shapes of the wagons formed an arc on the right side, nearer the road, like protective sphinxes crouched on their haunches. Tenor explained how, in towns where there wasn’t a Seat or large pub to perform in, they could fasten the wagons together by a series of collapsible panels to form a large stage.
Several times I caught myself studying the exquisite workmanship of the conveyances. Each wagon had a domed, retractable bonnet dyed mostly in shades of blue with other colors dancing through the swirls of ocean and sky. Ornate carvings of bluebirds perching on branches, clinging to rushes, and singing streams of notes adorned the sidewalls and rear panels. The skillful use of fire had fashioned the bas relief murals, which were painted to life in greens, browns, gold, and myriad blues. The heavy wooden wheels and fluted running gear paired seamlessly. Thick metal pins secured the junctures, but also meant the wheels could be taken off with ease for repairs or stage construction. They were rolling works of marvelous, versatile art.
“Not only are they beautiful, but they are multi-functional? And I’ve never seen so many shades of blue.”
Tenor’s shy smile acknowledged the compliment before he spoke.
“They are all made here. In the morning, you’ll see a few men wandering around checking them over. They get maintained every time we are in Cragbend. Many of the other troupes get their coaches here too.” Tenor’s voice was rich and easy to listen to, I wondered why he played the lap harp instead of singing.
“How many other troupes are there?”
“Five others, each bearing a different color. Hence the predominance of blue with us, like Fife’s donjar torc.”
“Where is your home town? How long have you been on tour?”
“We are always home.” He waved at the wagons. “Our life is on tour. We may stay in one place for a bit if there is a festival, or bad weather, but only until a weather-worker restores the skies.”
I let out a deep breath, rolling my eyes to myself. Drinking was certainly in order tonight.
Of course, being from New England, the idea of a weather-worker was just too good to be true. People could control the weather? I’d have to see that to believe it, for sure. I had now lost count of all the crazy things that were commonplace here.
like the Cleft Barrel*
The Cleft Barrel was a large, two-story pub at the forkroad in the center of Cragbend. The first floor was large and comfortable for eating and social activity; the second floor held lodgings, judging by the many doors I glimpsed. This night, the center of the main floor had been cleared for the Bluebirds’ performance. The townsfolk filled tables and benches against the walls and children crowded the balcony that ringed the upper floor.
“Looks like they knew you were coming.”
“Of course. We sent a bird ahead when we left Irillo, to let the cartwrights know we would be here for maintenance for a couple days. They undoubtedly passed the word. It’s an event when the Madrigal troupes are in town,” Poet replied, putting Tango’s hand in mine. “Follow the young ones upstairs, you’ll have the best view from there.” She spun around and made for the convening Bluebirds before I could protest. Tango grinned up at me then pulled my arm out straight as he followed the rest of the troupe kids to the stairs.
They were right. We could see everything from our vantage, but the show included SO much more than visuals. I will never forget any of the Madrigal performances I saw.
I figured out quickly that Madrigals all have magical abilities according to their roles. The two storytellers began the night with a tale for the children akin to Jack and the Beanstalk.
ladybugs!*
Before I knew what was happening, I was high in the air, clinging onto a giant vine. A breeze blew through my hair with the scent of honeysuckle. The giant ladybugs pursuing me were far too close for comfort, I could see their beady red eyes and hear their scuttling legs. I turned around to continue climbing when an enormous black and yellow spider bearing the hero of the story on its back stepped over me. The prickly hairs on its legs brushed my back. The crowd cheered and the children around me whooped and yelled as the ladybugs were vanquished.
*
Then I was back on the balcony with Tango dancing in my lap.
Yeah, it was astounding. I still don’t really have words to describe it. The shows were always mind-blowing.
Some of that night I spent in bloody battles fighting vampire armies (yup, they exist here too), courtesy of Fife, and endured captivity in a lone tower until the shape-shifting farm boy rescued me. The singers caroled a tour of the continent, highlighting the abilities of the Elemental Families. Poet’s lilting voice wove color and sensation into my drone-like flight above a life-size map. Sometimes a Family would be cheered by members in the crowd, others garnered faint gibes or snickers. All I could think was that the virtual reality games I knew were a joke.
No, God no. Movies don’t even remotely come close. Even 3D motion rides can’t compare to the power of Madrigal magic. It’s beyond this world.
Players, like Raga, turned amazing acrobatic routines, juggled far too many and dangerous objects (even people!) effortlessly, and took mime to a new level. Puppeteer Calliope enlivened her hand-crafted minions from afar, no strings necessary. Poet provided the vocals for the Punch-and-Judyesque shorts, her bawdy banter had the ale-stoked crowd’s full attention and eager participation.
The Madrigals created playgrounds for ALL the senses and satisfied everyone, 100% of the time.
By the end of the evening, I was exhausted. I could barely carry a sleeping Tango downstairs to join the troupe. Fife took one look at my face and laughed until he cried, thrusting a tankard of something at me. “Here you go, Fla, that’ll fix you. Did you enjoy the show?”
I nodded, smiling wearily, and sampled the drink. I had read about tavern ale so much in fantasy books that I wasn’t surprised, but it was STRONG. Like the strongest craft beer on steroids. Between the ale and the interactive show, I was gonna pay tomorrow…
books don’t do tavern ale justice…*
Oh, and don’t you know I certainly did! We can leave off here for this episode, stay safe and I’ll see you next time!~
The Madrigal shows sound amazing, don’t they? Like virtual reality without the silly glasses. I bet she never looks at ladybugs or garden spiders the same! Would you enjoy a performance like that? Drop a comment below and let me know!
Collata, the Collection of Huphaea newsletter has had it’s first issue! If you want to get in on exclusive anecdotes, out-takes, and graphics from Eleanorah’s journey once or twice a month, hit the subscribe button below. Become a Nightingale!
Hello all, Elements be! Hard to believe it’s been two weeks since I was here last, I hope the situations in your corner of the world are improving. Or that you are managing it as best you can 🙂. Let’s head back to Huphaea now, continue the adventure and forget about restrictions and pandemics for a bit. Ready?
We left off with the Bluebird troupe making their way toward Cragbend, and Elahna discovering she was in the company of Elves! They wanted to take her to an Orderly, and she wasn’t so sure about that…
leaving Venrood Forest behind…*
I spent the rest of the ride to Cragbend observing my new companions and surroundings. The Bluebird troupe numbered twenty and included four musicians, a bard (Fife), three singers (including Poet), two storytellers, a puppeteer, three players (Raga), and six children. They were not family per se, though some were related. My desire to know begged to ask a thousand questions, but I restrained them to whatever the topic at hand was.
Fife returned with a loose linen shirt in bright kelly green and gray leggings obviously made of a plant fiber, but as durable as doeskin. I was thrilled to discard my hot, waterproof hikers for soft but sturdy leather sandals adorned with colored metal rivets and hoops.
Winter to summer, boots to sandals all in one day?—if you know me, you know I was in heaven!
After the wardrobe change, I found it much easier to unwind. Just feeling like I was part of, instead of an outsider, even if it was only temporary, quelled my anxiety for a time. Raga explained that when we arrived at the Cleft Barrel, the troupe would see to the horses, arrange the wagons, and erect the sleeping pavilions first, before going in.
“I’d be happy to help wherever I can.”
“My thanks. We’ll work you in. Ah, there’s the town, there in the valley. Another erdur or so til we arrive.”
“Did you say ‘erdur’? Do you mean hour?”
“Oww-horr. What is that to you?”
The way he rolled the word ‘hour’ made me laugh and then stop, afraid of being rude, but he was laughing as well.
“It’s a unit of time, a larger unit. It’s made up of sixty smaller units.” Would he even know what sixty was?
“Yes, I think an erdur would be like an oww-horr.”
We continued our discussion about time, and even numbers, which thankfully we did share, but not the names of them. With the help of Tango, who was learning his numbers too, Raga and I established that decca equaled ten, so I could go from there in a Latin-esque fashion. Phew.
*
The caravan left the forest behind during that exchange and we traveled through long, sedate hills of farmsteads.
farmsteads on the way to Cragbend*
Well off to the left, a long arm of the forest curled around and ended in a massive stand of trees. Those trees stood tens of feet above any others; they reminded me of the faux cellphone tower trees along the highways. But I was pretty sure these were not artificial. Smoke trails puffed from the stand in three dark ribbons.
“Is that forest on fire?” I pointed, getting a bit nervous.
“What? Oh, no. That’s Rosewood, the Arborea Seat. See how the trees are so much larger? The Arborea scion has tree magic, and their Seat shows their capabilities. It’s one of my favorite Seats to visit in all of Huphaea. Wait til you see it!” Raga’s enthusiasm was palpable, and Tango started clapping again. Poet joined us on the bench.
“I’ll be glad to get out of this wagon, for sure.” she said. “I agree. Rosewood is spectacular. They say the building was built long ago like any other, but Arboreans have infused the wood and the trees with so much of their vitae over the generations that the two are indistinguishable. They live IN the trees. And it’s always changing. It’s never the same as when we were here last.”
“What do you mean by vitae? I mean, I know a word like that, but what does it mean here?”
My heart started beating a bit faster- portals, elves and now magic tree houses?
vitae streams*
“Vitae is the energy that flows through Huphaea, and in the Elemental Families, it gives them their abilities. Well, and us Madrigals, too.”
“And the dragons and the other First Ones.” Raga added.
I know my face fell—he did just say dragons. Both Poet and Raga laughed, and Tango joined in. “Dragons? Like how big? Dragons?” I stammered.
Fife reined back at all the noise, reaching for Tango as he drew alongside. “What’s all the crac about back here? Are they havin’ a go at you, fla?” Tango stood on the saddle swell, encircled in one of Fife’s huge arms, grinning like he owned the world.
“They just said there are dragons here. Is that true?”
“Ha Ha! Of course it is! We don’t generally see them up close, unless you go seek one out, and you’d better have a consarned good reason to do that. But there’re plenty here. You don’t have dragons, I’m guessing?” His amusement was only a bit less restrained than the other two.
“Only in books. They’re a really popular subject. A lot of people think it would be cool to have one.”
“Have one? Oh, fla, you don’t HAVE a dragon. Dragons have Riders, they are about the only ones the Great Ones allow around them. You can seek them for a piece of knowledge, if you’re desperate, or for the Scholar’s Final Telling, but they are best left to themselves. They find us when the Balance needs us.”
“Oh. I see.” I had to let that sink in. Dragons.
Yeah, dragons! You can imagine my mind was pretty much on overload at this point. I just sat back and watched the landscape pass for a while. Cragbend was visible up ahead and I still had a night to get through. What else would I encounter in this day?
I’ll leave off here for now, before we make it into Cragbend. That will be next time. See you then!~
What would you be thinking now if you were in Elahna’s place? Drop a comment below for Eleanorah, let us know!~
If you’d like exclusive snips from Eleanorah’s story, subscribe to Collata, The Collection of Huphaea newsletter. The current issue will have an introduction to the Known Trees of Huphaea. Don’t miss it! Become a Nightingale!~
Hi Folks, welcome back! I hope you are all staying safe and making the best of the twists and turns the world is throwing at us. I’m glad you came by here briefly to hear the story about my time in Huphaea. I’m happy to help bring a little smile to your day 😊, I hope.
When we last left Elahna, she had just met a group of travelers in a forest, on the way to a town called Cragbend…
the road through Venrood Forest…
“Cragbend?”
“Sure, the town’s up ahead, that’s where we’re headed. You’re in the Venrood Forest, where did you think you were?”
“I have no idea. I’m not from here.” (Oh shit, probably shouldn’t have said that). “I mean, I just don’t know where I am.”
He was peering at me more closely now, no doubt noticing my strange clothing. “As you said. Well, hey— Raga! Hold a moment! We’ll take this one into town with us. She’s had a long go of it, by the looks.” One of the wagons slowed at his call and the driver turned in his seat. “I’m Fife, donjar of the Bluebird troupe you see here. We can at least get you to town, so you can start finding your folk.” He smiled and waved toward the stopped wagon. “Just hop up there aside Raga, he won’t bite, though Poet might! Ha ha!”
Fife’s easy jocularity put me at ease, and Raga was no different. I climbed up onto the driving seat, stuffing my bundle of long underwear and coat underneath.
Raga raised his left hand, palm out, and said “Elements be, well met. I’m Raga, as you know. Poet is in back there with her and my son Tango. Did someone leave you out here?” I noted the humor in Raga’s tone, perhaps this was a common occurrence.
“Ah, no. I just…”
Fife reined in alongside the wagon as we started to move again, clearly interested in what I had to say. Being eye level now, I got a better look at him. His pleasant broad face reflected curiosity, but his marbled blue and green eyes were intent and observant. Long, dark hair was bound at his neck and a leather thong held a large, cerulean blue, teardrop-shaped pendant just below his throat.
“It’s gonna sound really stupid, but I arrived here somehow. I don’t know how. Please, what state are we in, or what country?”
“Hmmm, well now, I’m not sure what a ‘state’ is, but the country is Eflary. These are House Gaiist lands, and we are headed to Cragbend, the Seat of the Arborea scion. What’s your name, Fla?”
I didn’t know what ‘Fla’ was, but Fife made it sound nice, and not threatening.
“Elahna. Elahna Starr.” I made a last second decision to shorten my first name. If I was in a new place, why not have a new name? I had always wanted a nickname, and Elahna was easier to say. They all seemed to have short names, so it made sense in that moment. I didn’t regret the choice.
“Oh, Starr! Are you from Astros, Solarelle or Lunad lands, then?” Fife leaned forward a bit to look at the side of my head, at my ear, maybe? ”Or maybe Zenidd or Fairmoon is a better guess?”
That was when I noticed his ears formed a graceful point at the top. Woah! No way, an elf?
I know my eyes widened, though I tried to keep them steady.
He recoiled a bit, thinking I was offended, and held up his palm, “I’m sorry, Helican, then? Though Starr would certainly have one think Fairmoon, but you see all kinds.” He chuckled trying to recover. “Do you know what lands you hail from, at least?”
I took a quick look at Raga, and there too! Poking out from his wavy russet hair, his ears were pointed, though not as sharply as Fife’s. His eyes were an ochre brown and his face was finer in structure, but still smiling. He quirked the side of his mouth a bit more at me, and I turned away, embarrassed. This was getting crazy, now I was in the company of elves?
“It’s fine, Fla, you don’t need to tell us if you don’t want to. Do you have the coin to get yourself back home, though? The Zenidd lands are several days ride from here, at least.” Fife’s voice held some concern, while my angst continued to grow.
“No, I, –I only have my clothes and this bundle of heavier clothes. I, –what am I gonna do when we get to town? I fell through some kind of portal and ended up in a stone chamber back there in the woods. I tried to go back through, but nothing happened. So I have no way to pay for anything… and nowhere to go.” The words tumbled out in a flood and I noticed the din of conversation around us had died, most likely in response to the rising pitch of my voice. Reality settled around me like a cloak.
But still, was this real?
A firm, but gentle hand rested on my forearm. I turned and was met by a stunning, heart-shaped face framed by white-blonde hair. The intermittent lavender braids made her blue and green eyes stand out all the more. They were the same eyes as Fife’s.
“Don’t worry, Fla. You can stay among us for the night, and tomorrow we can figure out what to do. We have most of the day before we are due at Rosewood to perform in the evening.” She smiled, but I was entranced by her melodic voice. Poet. That was the only word for her.
“I’m Poet. Fife won’t leave you berift, will you, Donjar? You can see our show tonight at the Cleft Barrel. The food is excellent and it’s always a right show.” She squeezed my arm a bit, and the small, ruddy-cheeked boy in her lap clapped his hands and laughed. He had hair more coppery than Raga but with the same rounder face, finely pointed ears that almost curled back into themselves at the tips, and dark blue eyes marbled with amber instead. He grinned at me, never taking his eyes from my face. This child was NOT shy.
“Of course you will stay with us.” Fife’s deep voice broke my wordless exchange with Tango. “We have plenty of room, no one will know you aren’t part of the troupe. Well, except for those clothes… Let me see if some of the other girls have extras you can borrow ’til tomorrow. There’s more to you than Poet. Maybe we can find an Orderly as well, sort you out straight.” He touched his horse’s neck and they moved on ahead toward the other members of the troupe.
I sat a bit more upright. An Orderly? That didn’t sound so good to me, though he spoke as if it was nothing. “What’s an Orderly?”
But I didn’t get an answer.
God, yes! My mind WAS freaking out. But all of the troupe members were so unconcerned and jovial, I couldn’t help but relax also. It’s hard to be uptight when everyone around you is laughing and talking.
This is a great place to break for today, next time we will make it into Cragbend, and see if Elahna meets an Orderly… Thank you for stopping by, I will see you soon!
Don’t forget to leave a comment about the story so far, how would you feel being in a strange land?
Remember to subscribe to Collata, Eleanorah Starr’s newsletter about The Collection of Huphaea. You will get exclusive outtakes and info about the adventure, become a Nightingale!
When we left off, Eleanorah had just stepped into the ancient monolith on that early spring day in Vermont. Check out episode #1 if you want to refresh your memory…
But then there was a tiny, framed window opposite me with the sun streaming in.
Wait, what? I turned a quick circle and saw lush, green moss covering the rocks in the doorway. There hadn’t been any moss by the door, it was too early for moss to be green in Vermont. And why is the doorway round now…
I stood frozen to the spot, only my eyes moved around the space I was in. This wasn’t the same chamber I had stepped into.
I dropped into a protective crouch, looking about wildly. Thankfully, I was alone in the tiny room. Then I started becoming aware of the environment. It smelled green and moist, like moss and deep leaf litter. The air was quite warm, far warmer than March in Vermont, and the colors I could see outside the door were more vibrant than I was used to, even in high summer. I heard a rushing noise also, perhaps water of some sort. My curiosity began to grow, but if I moved, would I be able to get back here?
I stood up and stepped one foot in a circle around the spot I had landed on, trying to trigger a return trip, but nothing worked.
Omg, where was I?
With that thought, curiosity won and I left the chamber. Greens in shades out of a painter’s color book assaulted my eyes and they started to burn with the intensity. I wished I had brought my sunglasses, yes, it was that vivid.
A fallen tree that had succumbed to the moss carpet pointed in the direction of the water noise, so I headed that way. The stream I found rambled through a rocky bed. I couldn’t resist touching the water, it was so crystal clear. Each time I dipped my hands in, for suddenly I was quite thirsty, I got pricked, as if by a thorn or a needle, though I couldn’t see anything there to touch. It was very strange. But the water was cool and sweet, so I had my fill and crossed the stream on a few rocks and headed down a hill.
I wondered what direction I was heading in and reached for my phone for the compass app.
But there was no phone. No Fitbit on my wrist either.
It was starting to feel like some of the fantasy stories I love to read. Portals to another land, technology can’t make the trip.
What was going to be next? Elves? Forest spirits? Dragons? (Actually, I did learn later it was water sprites who had pricked me in the stream, I must have offended them somehow, but how was I to know? I couldn’t see them.)
I kept walking through the forest since it was the only thing I could do. Most of the tree species looked familiar, but at one point I entered a clearing with a huge, silvery-white barked tree in the center. It was magnificent, taller and with a canopy broader than any of the grand beech trees I knew. The trunk width rivaled a redwood (and yes, I have seen the giant redwoods). The canopy traced a perfect circle and the rest of the forest began just at its edge, almost forming an enclosed, round room.
I could only imagine it was some kind of sacred tree and place, so I didn’t linger long. Scenarios of being killed for treading on sacred ground started playing in my mind and I decided it was best to go.
Eventually I came to a road, a wide dirt road, that is. I decided to go left. The road was well-used with evidence of horses everywhere. The colors of the land still astounded me-rich, multi-layered browns, stark grays, and those vibrant greens. Everything thrummed with energy and vitality, even the air. And I was still under cover of the forest, I hadn’t seen the actual sun yet, though I could feel it.
I don’t know how long I walked for, but by the time the end of the forest came into view, it appeared evening was falling. I thought it best to make some sort of camp not far from the road, and was scouting for something shelter-like when I heard hoofbeats and wooden wagon wheels approaching from behind me. A group of riders trotted past, followed by several large wagons with brightly colored canvas tops.
I had stopped and moved off the road a bit, but I kind of wanted to be seen to try to determine where I was. Would I even be able to communicate with people here?
“Woaaah there, Strider. Hallo.” A man in a deep blue shirt slowed his horse and drifted toward me. “Are you here alone?”
Oh thank God, he spoke English! “Um, yes. Where is here, exactly?”
“You don’t know where you are? Oh, that must have been a consarned good night then!” He slapped his thigh as he laughed at me. “Well how did you get here? It’s a good distance to Cragbend, should have sobered you up just walkin’, never mind whatever else you did!”
“Cragbend?”
Who are these strangers, and what awaits in Cragbend? Stay tuned for the next post to find out! Let me know what you think happens next in the comments below. Elements be ! ✋~
If you would like to follow the tale of Eleanorah’s adventure as soon as it comes out, and get some bonus content about Ereth and Huphaea, subscribe to Collata, The Collection of Huphaea Newsletter here:
The Sun, a Book, and a Dog 