Part IX:A Pleasant Surprise
“Pss-pss- pss, come here kitty!”, Ubbul said to the kitten, making it follow him. They had bought several new cats from the autumn caravan, and, like cats tend to do when unchecked, they had bred. Rapidly. Somebody in charge had completely forgotten that.
So, now it was Ubbul's duty to geld the males, though he wasn't so keen on it. He had come to like cats for their aloofness during his life in Waterlures. And now there weren't as many as there used to -- most of them had died of old age. But, at least his assignment gave him some company, since he had been feeling a bit lonely lately.
“You know what, cat? Merriment is worthless,” he told the small feline as they trudged through the cold, wet spring sleet and rain. “It is utterly disgusting. How can they make merry when there is strife in the world? You tell me that, cat.”
The cat looked curiously at the rotund rodent leading the way. It didn't understand what he said, but surely there was a meal waiting wherever he was heading! Why, how else could the capybara be so plump!
Little did it know what awaited it at the farmer's workshop...
Well, who would have known? 'Zultan' was content as he put on the suprior steel mail shirt.
Kumil accepted me into the Fenced Princes! He was picking up the equipment 'Avo' had forged for him, even though it was a month and a half until his training would begin on the first day of Hematite.
“I put on an exceptional item. It pleases me,” 'Zultan' said to 'Avo' as he passed the plump helmet man smith on his way out, brimming with newfound energy.
'Avo' stopped, nodded, and watched as the capybara stepped into the rain.
It's best to slow down and just relax, he thought, taking a short breather from hauling the bituminous coal to the smelter. He had finally recovered from his wounds and didn't need crutches anymore -- only a dent in his leg remained, but he felt like not pushing too hard yet.
And there really wasn't any rush, anyway.
Summer was just around the corner as Tekkud headed off to Edu's Fishery to clean some yellow bullheads. He put the fish on the counter, grabbed a knife and began scaling it. “The best way to get what you want our of life is to work for it,” Tekkud said aloud with a smile as Kudpa trudged past him, busy at work hauling cleaned fish to the warehouse.
Now, what was that supposed to mean? Kudpa furrowed her brow. Was the astronomer implying that
she didn't work hard enough? She had been working hard for the whole spring, much harder than Tekkud (at least in her opinion). And what good did it do? The stocks were filling once again with barrels crammed full of fish, waiting to be sold to the caravans. For what? Some 'nice, colorful stones' for a 'grand project' of the astronomer, the dwarf buffoon and self-proclaimed baroness? Had anyone even seen the plans of it? No. It was to be kept 'secret'.
“Pfft, what nonsense!” Kudpa exclaimed as she made her way out of the fishery. “Why, the fancy stones will probably go into furnishing the personal quarters of the high muckety-mucks!”
She was fuming with loathing as she stomped towards the warehouse.
Finally it was Hematite. And Hematite meant not only that summer had begun, but that the Fenced Princes would train. Contrary to previous training months, this time each and every one in the squad (still bearing the name Zas had given in the early years of Waterlures) was supposed to attend. The reason being two new squad members: Edu Sandtick and Vucar 'Zultan' Scorchlancers.
'Zultan' was interested after Kumil had taught him some tricks on how to punch the enemy. Without guidance he would not have ever learned such things! Yet, despite the excitement of the training, his thoughts wandered to the truly decadent dish he had eaten before coming to the sparring hall.
He was still quite full and really, really hoped the food wouldn't come up -- especially if a sparring partner managed to land a blow in the guts.
It was not only 'Zultan' and Edu who were to train that year.
'Baroness' Kasat, after discussions with Kumil and Cañar, had come to the conclusion that it was for the best if everyone (who so wished) in the community needed some practice in self-defense. The close-call with the giant leech was much to thank (or blame, depending on one's point of view) for her change of mind. And not only that: most of the community members had grown fat for the lack of excercise.
Rin was satisfied with this, for he was the first to teach the 'Maroon Salves' -- one of the two wrestling clubs -- some tricks and combat moves. His frustration for no brawls or fisticuffs was greatly eased.
And what was even better, he had finally, finally, had the time to pray to Githu before heading for the training session!
An oddity in the local flora was noticed when yound trees were assigned for culling: a fungiwood tree grew under the canopy of an old walnut tree!
'Brewer Bob' thought it fascinating, and explained to the others that obviously the thick shade of the walnut tree's foliage had created some kind of microclimate under it which was similar to that found in the deeps of the earth. And since they had carried unknowingly spores of underground plantlife with them when they moved here (as can be witnessed by the cave moss growing in the dirt of the cellars, he had said), there must have been some fungiwood spores, too!
Yawo, of course, thought such a theory laughable. What nonsense! It was,
naturally, because of the fantastical magical forces permeating the Lakes of Saturnity and immediate surroundings!
'Microclimate' -- who ever has heard of such a thing! Yawo was amused and chuckled patronizingly at the silly
mason chronicler.
Maybe Yawo was not so far from the truth? The Lakes of Saturnity had some kind of magic to it, like that unnatural storm that scattered all the books, and pixie swarms seen now and then fluttering about -- no doubt on their way to cause some mischief!
On the last day of Sandstone -- the 28th to be precise -- Såkzul Agebronze, the bookkeeper, gave birth to a boy. Her and Zuglar's prayers to Ôsed were answered: they once more had a little one in their life!
But it was not only Såkzul and Zuglar who had babies...
...For only a day later Ilral the spinner (and wife of 'Zultan') gave birth to a boy!
They named the wee baby -- who even on his day of birth was muscular (and fat, like his parents) -- Atír Archsinged.
And, again, a day later Kib gave birth to a girl. She and Edu now had two children.
Ubelievably, there was one more birth not but a week later.
Baroness Kasat gave birth to a boy, making her and her husband Cusal very happy parents indeed!
This winter would certainly have some grand festivities, for the population of Waterlures was finally growing. The capybaras truly were blessed by the Divine Rabbit!
Praise Ôsed!
And indeed, when winter arrived, everyone headed to the Fruit of Letters to have a good ol' time.
...Well, except the outpost liaison and the human guild representative with his bodyguards.
=====
So, yeah. That was quite unexpected.
I was maybe hoping for one new kid, but four? Well, ain't complaining. Maybe things'll start to pick up from here?
There's really nothing much happening in the fort, so I've been looking quite randomly through the thoughts of the capies and tried to interpret them into...something? The personalities in my writing probably don't match exactly the descriptions, but at least most of it should.
Hope it hasn't been too boring.
I think I'll be finishing tomorrow.
(Unless if I get started on the observatory that I dismantled -- it's been taking time cuz I've been ordering stone for it from the caravans and still don't have enough for the plans. But even if I'd begin the constuction, I'll have to take a break next week and do other stuff.)
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Topic: Waterlures - A Capybara Man Fortress & Adventure [DF 0.47.05] (Read 83780 times)