Speculative Fiction
(Fic)
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Set in a future world evolving (again) after apocalypse. Friends who grew up together are expected to settle together in the village, until one meets someone else. A tale of spreading sophistication and the creeping corruption that shadows it. "Sounds interesting!"
The old world had been here before. It had survived annihilations and apocalypses, each time moving on to rest and regenerate. Its inhabitants had been less fortunate. Each civilisation’s prophets and scientists had foretold a variety of endings for their world, depending on the information available at the time (and sometimes on their funding). Predictions included alien invasion, meteor collision, solar cooling, global warming, exhaustion, pollution, fire, flood, famine, war, pestilence…<...
Jay Here I was again, counting the hours till tomorrow and keeping my fingers busy (I still had ten in those days). As I breathed in the smell of cooling charcoal, my thoughts were already on the road. Dust motes drifted in the late sunbeams that filtered through the windows of the forge and lit up the bangles I’d been polishing ready for Wenn Fair. Earrings were tied together ready for packing, and my silver charms were bagged, to be threaded onto plaited cords w...
Robin Walking down School Lane to the forge, I fought the urge to limp, although no one was watching. It had been a long afternoon. The class was restless and the older ones who would soon be leaving had tried my patience. I’d been there before. It happened every year; I could deal with it. But now I was tired. The tarlings must have noticed I was flagging. Two of them helped tidy up without me asking, and closed the window shutters while I locked away the knife I’d used to ...
Jay Between Ira and a sore back, Robin was in a mood and now was sore with me too. The clear notes of a flute sounded out in the yard, followed by pipe and fiddle. A few squeaks and squeals later, they got each other’s measure and fell into a rhythm. Robin brightened; music always did that. “I’m going outside. Are you coming?” I said, “You go on. I’ll fetch my lute.” Then I spotted a chance to earn myself some credit. “I’...
Robin Jay told me I should join the dancing. “Don’t worry about other people. Nobody’s watching.” People who say that know damn well everyone’s watching them when they dance. Jay was an amazing dancer, stepping out confidently even when the steps were wrong. It was a delight and a torment to watch as dancers took their turn in the middle of the set. I coveted those hips. The music lifted my spirits. I sensed Jay’s relief and realised the shie...
Robin School was closed for the morning, but I decided to go in anyway, to escape the muttering at home. I wore my new silver sunray earring and planned to walk directly to the market square after preparing for the afternoon lessons. It would calm me to keep busy. The door to the schoolroom was unlocked. I was sure I locked up properly yesterday. Perhaps Ty had come in early too. I called, but nobody answered. The box felt light as I lifted it. The lock had been forced. My knife was gon...
After our first night out, we were up with the lark. Only, it wasn’t a lark, according to Mikki, when they came to find out what was keeping me. The bird singing its heart out from the roof of the Copper Kettle’s stables was too tiny for the glorious song that filled the stableyard. I had to watch its beak to make sure I had the right warbler. We were still harnessed up and on our way long before Rob would be opening up at school. A shadow overhung the thought of Rob, but I rememb...
All night I listened for a footstep but heard only the cries of hunting animals. My chest was a void where trapped birds fluttered. I swung between one worry and another. Ira had been gone all night and was old. Jess had Jay’s knife and a malicious imagination. Jess was quick to pounce on the knife yesterday, sniffing at the stain like a bloodhound, and then nodding with satisfaction. But Ira was with me when Jay left Fendle. Someone else must have left the knife at our cott...
Jay We reached High Wenn later than we’d planned. The rain slowed us, and each day’s journey stretched longer to compensate. As we crossed the bridge by the Green Man, the heavens relented, and the rain held off long enough for us to stable the horses and make camp. Then the clouds tipped again. The Llann and Seagen had already arrived, so the best pitches were taken. We settled for a spot that was nearer to the tavern and the river than we’d have liked; but...
Jay At last, the rain had stopped. The apprentices, Danni and Kyl, helped me rig two sturdy shelters that would keep off the rain when it returned and withstand the wind, which was moderate by Tarn standards. The Green Man stood beside a river, which provided our water, and the site was sheltered, in a valley with trees along one side of the field. Wenn fairs had changed over the years. Now most of the bidding was for goods to be delivered direct to the buyer’s vi...
10 Day Six, The Green Man
The sky cleared, although the sun had barely time to warm the air before it sank behind the treetops. Mikki joined the locals and the older traders crowded inside the Green Man tavern. The rest of us sat around campfires set outside. “I hear you’ve met our Storm, then.” “Almost.” I turned at the familiar voice and looked up into Samphire’s keen seafarer’s eyes. Spare and ageless, Sam was a Marin from the coast nearest to Tarn and was beautiful, but fi...
Robin The morning after Eden Thatcher roused me from my apathy, Cris came with Kip before school to tell me about Brook’s interrogation yesterday afternoon while Kip was at work. “Brook said Eden knows a lot about us already: about the bad feeling between Jay and Ira, and about us owing money, and the rumours, and you not following Ira’s craft.” “Is that meant to be something we argued about? Ira’s never cared if I prepared potions or...
Robin Kip stopped by on the way to school to report that Cris left for Wendale that morning. I said I ought to go back to work, but I must have sounded as uncertain as I felt. Kip suggested I take another day, and we agreed to go in together tomorrow and see how things went from there. Around lunchtime, Eden Thatcher arrived on my doorstep. I managed a civil greeting, but inside I quailed. I scanned the floor for puppy mess before inviting the Administrator in. I offere...
Robin I had eavesdropped on stronger feelings than I had believed Jay capable of… passion, yearning for someone – who wasn’t me – and, worst of all, anticipation. The shock was almost physical. My mind backed away, and I folded onto a chair, physically curling around the pain. I spent another sleepless night between hoping it was just another infatuation, and telling myself it didn’t matter; hadn’t I decided to move on? By morning I had acknowl...
14 Day One, School Cottage
Fern had barked at the youngster climbing through the window, but she was used to tarlings coming to admire her litter; and had no expectation of harm. Her nest smelled of milk and warm puppies. She watched closely as first one and then another were lifted for inspection. She had seen this tarling before – roly-poly, like her pups. The youngster spoke to the puppies while comparing their features. Fern understood a lot of the words: “hide” meant a game. “…later … s...
WOW! Birds were celebrating overhead, and I opened my eyes on sunlight dappling the ground. The air in the copse blew morning fresh, but we were cosy under my cover with Storm curved snug against my back. As I touched the arm lying across me, it tightened, and Storm’s nose nuzzled my neck. I turned, and we regarded each other before kissing gently. Now I was awake, my thoughts tumbled over each other. I shared them with Storm. “If I’m going to disappear for two days, I...
Kip went back into school for me, and I spent the morning at Cutler’s Forge. Ira’s body lay in the room that used to be our room. It would lay there now until its burning. They found Ira among reeds at the river’s edge, lying face-up, but with head and shoulders under water. After eight days, I could do little to conceal the damage, but I dressed the body in clothes I brought with me, veiling what was left of Ira’s face. When I secured that dilapidated hat, the body be...
Jay For two days we had only our evenings together. But I would know if Storm was on the fair’s ground or out riding the countryside, just as I knew without turning when the blue eyes were watching me. If our hands couldn’t touch, our spirits could. On the morning we left the fair we were up at early light. Danni was stirring and Hawk padded from Mikki’s cart to see us off. No sound came from inside the wagon. We passed Kyl trailing through the morning mist ...
Shamed by our lazy lakeside day, we resolved to spend the next exploring. After a leisurely breakfast we were thinking of moving when a regular beat from downriver resolved into the high-pitched overhead whoosh of swans in flight. The pair landed neatly on our lake and floated serenely as their lofty gaze swept every ripple and verge. Storm said, “That’s all the view needed to make it perfect.” “Do you think they’ll be here when we get back?” “Y...
I was a dandelion seed freed from its stem. Fern picked up my mood and skipped around my feet as I hummed at the sink. The day passed lightly with no expectation of Ira to weigh it down or Jay to distract me, and the tarlings responded well to my buoyancy. After feeding Fern and her brood, I walked to Cutler’s Forge with barely a hitch in my step. Brook was cleaning mixing bowls when I breezed into the kitchen. “Can we bury Ira’s ashes tomorrow afternoon? I’ll need to ...
Jay I woke early and alone. I scrambled to my feet and must have looked as devastated as I felt, because Storm, who was already dressed, stopped saddling Blaze and hurried to where I stood drooping like yesterday’s daisy-chain. “Of course, I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.” Storm hugged me, but I pushed away, seeking eye contact and an explanation. “I won’t come back to the fair with you, Jay. I’ll head for the moun...
Jay Our destination was the inn called the World’s End, on Wendale’s border at the foot of the Llannoc mountains. We didn’t plan to stay at the inn itself but to rest out of sight for a day or two and wait for the Seagen convoy. There was no cover for us in the pass if we tried to travel through it alone. We looked forward to that rest. I wasn’t used to riding so far, and Storm was worn from the strain of watching behind us. My thoughts were hazy...
Jay The next two days were a blur of pain, and road, and trees, and sky, and more pain. I’d used my undershirt to fashion a sling for travelling and hoped the weather wouldn’t turn colder. When a stumble jogged my hand, the pain that shot to my shoulder made me gasp, and the arm throbbed afterwards for ages. Sometimes the fingers tried to flex in automatic response to a movement, and that was a new agony. We planned to camp near the inn called the World&rsqu...
After a full day’s rest, I felt better, and made sure to say so. The throbbing in my hand had receded to a background ache, so long as I didn’t try to move it. No rider had turned up looking for us. The wagons from the fair hadn’t arrived yet, and by now they would have made camp for the night, somewhere else. I prepared to honour our last evening together. I spent my remaining funds on the strongest ale and cider the Blasted Oak could provide. It was delivered to our room w...
It was Funday: the week’s end after six days of work. In the past, teaching hadn’t felt so much like work. I had spent too long at home. Eden arrived dressed for the occasion in deep sapphire with matching blue stone ear-studs. We had puppy-time in hand before we were due at the forge to walk together to the settling party. When I opened the door, Eden’s eyes went to the newly trimmed fringe and blinked. I sensed a quickly shielded reaction. Until then I hadn’t thought...
Jay My head hurt. My eyes wouldn’t open. Well, they might if I tried harder, but I didn’t want to risk it. I had drunk too much strong cider and barley wine. (Storm tasted of barley wine.) My heart hurt. A hollow ache, as if my chest were bruised from inside. After I left the inn, Storm had nudged at my thoughts, but I closed my mind and drunk more cider to dull the pain. Later in the night, I recalled Storm trying to rouse me, but I’d curled away with my ar...
Jay I’d meant to leave a note and slip away early, but I slept for most of the day into the evening and still had to be shaken awake. Cris wanted to change my dressing. The discharge oozing from my broken nails smelled of hung meat. We cleaned the mess and left it un-dressed overnight, but by morning it hadn’t dried over and the stench lingered. Cris said we should leave in the morning for High Wenn and find a healer there. The innkeeper nodded to Cris as we...
I wasn’t surprised to see Kip on my doorstep next morning, long before I was ready to leave for work. Not that I was unready. I was washed, dressed, fed – sort of – the table was clear, and I sat gazing at the opposite wall, registering nothing. My body was ready; my mind was a mess. The door creaked, and when I turned, Kip was peering around it. “All right if I come in?” “Of course you can.” “I’ve come to check if you still want to ...
Jay I surfaced unwillingly, leaving behind both Storm and Robin in my dream. For the past day, I’d been drifting in and out of consciousness. At High Wenn, a healer said three fingers must come off now, if I wasn’t to lose more than fingers. The knife cut quick and clean, but the potion used to numb the pain left me barely conscious. Now, as I awoke, I tried to return to my dream, but the images blurred and faded, the way dreams do. I hadn’t the ...
On the last night of our journey, I settled myself for sleep and Storm found me. Our thoughts met, and I hadn’t the energy to block Storm’s regret. Having registered I was still alive, if unresponsive, Storm left me alone. This left an aching emptiness where Rob should be. Surely, I could find Robin this close to Fendle if I searched hard enough and long enough. My body knew better. But when I woke, Robin still didn’t answer to my searching. It was lonely in my head on...
Robin The Assembly was housed in an old manor house built of stone around an open square. Before the Great Sickness, the manor had housed the Chief’s family, but disease has no respect for rank, and this one had taken the family. Two pairs of gates faced each other from opposite sides of the courtyard. Neither had been closed since reopening after the Sickness, and now nobody dared try in case they fell apart. Offices and courts of the U...
Jay When I returned to the shores of consciousness and found myself in my own bed, the throbbing had reduced to a dull ache and my remaining fingers didn’t hurt so much. They didn’t move much either. Thumb and forefinger met as they should, but the claw had no power to clasp metal firmly for striking. I’d be little use in the forge, other than sweeping up. Kip returned my knife to me, polished to a shine. I declined the rings from my right hand that Cr...
Robin Rowan stayed with me now whenever Eden was called away for a day or two. This meant that Ro missed school less often, but it also meant Eden’s parents saw less of their grandchild. We visited the Thatchers for the midwinter holiday. Jarith Thatcher was all Tarn, sparrow-brown, unassuming and reserved, like Eden. Spen welcomed me cordially but seemed to be reserving judgement. I had not known that Eden was part-Marin, but it explained the pale eyes and hair. ...
Robin I never yearned to travel, as Jay did. People are the same everywhere, and Fendle was challenge enough. Scenery is earth and sky. But I enjoyed Tarfen’s busyness and different-ness. Nobody knew me. With so many people living in close proximity, I wasn’t the only non-standard shape, and nobody cared. I felt taller. Normal. Tarfen’s shops and stalls sold goods we never saw in Fendle, and I loved to wander the market. I met Mikki there one Funday, b...
Robin Eden said, ‘You and Jay will want to go and catch up. Perhaps we’ll see you tomorrow.’ Tomorrow? I thought. Surely, you’ll see me tonight? I held the office door open as Ash said, “Nice meeting you, Jay,” and the maimed hand saluted in return. Brook’s letter had described the damage, but it was still a shock. Crossing the square, Jay asked after Fern and my new job. I asked after everyone a...
Jay I had walked to the Assembly buildings from the Mucky Duck. It was further than I’d realised, but the walk back seemed longer still. I told myself I had taken Rob by surprise, but I found little in our meeting to build hope on. I should have taken things more slowly. Robin appeared to be happy here, without me. But Rob was the other half of me. We’d grown into each other, like trees that seeded together. I’d wanted to spr...
Jay The sky outside lightened, and I despaired; it was tomorrow already. The other rooms were at last silent, but the chance of sleep had passed. My throat was dry, and my head ached. Although I didn’t think I’d drunk so much the night before. I needed water, but my body didn’t want to move. My drift back towards sleep took me to water and a memory of the lake. As Storm waded from the water, arms reaching for me, the flesh thickene...
Robin Eden had been quiet after work yesterday, even offhand. Ro seemed puzzled by the silence, so I made reassuring noises about work being busy. Eden was still uneasy at the thought of accusing an Administrator, but our Fendle informant alerted the team to an unscheduled visit. They were all out watching the Duck this morning, so I had keys to let myself into the office. On the way in, I left a bottle of damson wine at the messengers’ post addressed to Administr...
Jay We settled the bill and left the tavern together. Outside, I stopped and checked the fastening on my pack. “Um… my family doesn’t know everything… about the breakup with Storm. I’d sooner you didn’t tell anyone. I’m trying to forget about it.” “Of course.” I gave the strap one last tug. “Worst day of my life.” “You’ve led a sheltered life then.”...
Jay In my room, I found garments that would fit Fin, and we changed out of our travelling clothes. The stray dog followed me whenever I emerged into the yard. By the time he’d followed us to School Lodge, he’d decided Fin wasn’t a threat, but he didn’t come inside when Pickle barked at our approach. It was getting dark by then. Inside, I bent to rub Pickle’s ears, and Fin joined me, gingerly stroking the back of h...
Jay I lay in bed and surveyed my room. For tonight, it was still my room. The mutt lay curled at the end of the bed on a heap of my clothes. How did he get in? Fin had turned up at the forge last night but was already up and gone, having first picked through my shirts for a clean one. I started to fold them again. As I moved yesterday’s cast-offs out of the way, a slender coin-shape fell to the floor, threaded with a plaited leather neck...
Robin No regrets. It’s good to be back in Tarfen. In Fendle, I appreciated being the one to set the pace for a change, while Jay floundered. Now I have made that mental break from my fixation on a future with Jay, I can stand back and see things more clearly. I was so desperate to belong. Jay came with a proper family – a cocoon of Cutlers to keep me safe. The forge insulated me from the stares and the whispers and Ira. I will always be fond of J...
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