[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13.80 -- Ancestors

[JMR20190506: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/05/we-0-13-80-ancestors.html
(originally from https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html)
Original of this scene written February to May 2019.
]

Previous: Debriefing

Table of Contents

---

Earth Prince looks at the sun through the trees, then frowns and pulls out his hand-held terminal to check the time. "Now I've only got a half an hour before I have to head in to the shop to open up. Let's start copying."

As the four get their notepads out of their packs, Water Princess's father says, "Speaking of your shop, I need a secure connection today. Can I drop by later?"

"Sure."

Water Princess's mother suggests, "We can just kind of get an idea of what's here today in the remaining time, and we can come back again when Ceri and Morris and maybe some of the other members of the ward can come with us."

"Good idea." Earth Prince laughs. "We need to try to dispel the rumors about the odd things that happen here."

By unspoken agreement, the four of them spread out, checking a stone here and there and taking quick notes.

"Shouldn't we just all go to your shop?" Water Princess asks.

"I'm not sure I can work with your dad immediately. There'll be a bit of work opening up. But if you're willing to wait, why not?"

"While we're waiting, we can do some shopping at nearby stores."

"Good idea, Mom. I saw a divers' supply shop that looks interesting."

"Divers' supply?"

"Have to use the ordinary means when they're available, right, Dad? But just looking this time."

A snuffling sound is heard, and they all look around. At the sight of a tusked, furry head poking into the clearing, Water Princess squats down and holds out her hand and snuffles in return, saying her thanks. The members of the sounder wander into the clearing and join them, and the four Xhilrans exchange snuffles, grunts and squeals with the members of the sounder.

One older sow brings a litter with her to introduce them, and then urges Water Princess over to a specific monument.

"Dad, look at this name. It looks familiar."

Her father stands up and goes over to take a look, followed by her mom and Earth Prince. "That looks like the missing youngest son of your great-grandfather."

"Agnes and I are cousins."

"Probably so."

---

Table of Contents

Next: Beryl

---

[JMR2019: Backed up here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/05/bk-we-0-13-80-ancestors.html
Expanded from here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/04/bk-we-0-13-70-debriefing.html
Original back up here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/03/bk-we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html
]

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13.70 -- Debriefing

[JMR20190506: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/04/we-0-13-70-debriefing.html
(originally from https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html)
Original of this scene written February to April 2019.
]

Previous: To the Third  and Fourth Generation

Table of Contents

---

From within the forest, four wild boars watch the group of students and their teacher leave. As the group disappears around a bend, the amber gilt nuzzles the ebony barrow's neck, and he nuzzles back. After a few nuzzles and nips, they back away, grunting, then turn to the other pair, who hesitate, then approach and join in nuzzling.

Shortly, four Xhilrans stand in the shade of the forest.

Earth Prince grins. "Nuzzling is fun."

Water Princess smiles shyly, looking down at the grass. "But staying in that form would be dangerous. I'm not sure I'd be able to control my, uhm, natural instincts."

"We changed back too soon?"

"Mom!"

"Animals have different rules." She pauses. "Sorry."

"Yeah. Much as I like your mom's ideas, I do agree with you, Dŵr. No" Earth Prince chuckles, and the four join in. He continues, "Just as well it's not yet rutting season."

"I shouldn't tease, honey. But I do like your new prince."

Earth Prince clears his throat. Water Princess squeezes his hand while reaching out to give her mother a hug.

"Maybe we should go see what we can copy from the markers," Water Princess's father suggests.

Earth Prince looks at the position of the sun. "I've still got an hour."

The four head back into the woods, retracing their steps.

"Well, I think we did a good job."

"Thanks Mom. We need to thank the real boars, too, if we can find their sounder."

Earth Prince holds branches out of the way as the others pass. "Yeah. I was a bit worried about the methods, but this avoided the appearance of magic. Magic would have caused problems."

Water Princess's father holds branches in turn. "I think at least two of their group are thinking there was magic involved."

The two men stop and nod to each other, then move on.

"Professor Parry." Earth Prince's expression turns a bit pensive. "She was one of my favorite teachers when I started the upper forms. She reached out to the students who didn't fit in."

Water Princess nods. "That must be disappointing. But I don't think she's a bad person, so much as confused."

"Yeah. But I think I need to visit her."

観 -- That is correct.

"She needs some kind of support. I'll go with you."

"If you need, we can too," Water Princess's mother suggests.

"Thanks. I'm not sure a crowd's a good idea, though."

使 -- It will likely require more than one visit.

"Should I go alone the first time?"

助 -- Water Princess can help you.

"It's a date."

They break through, into the gravesite clearing.

"There's Professor Parry's dagger."  Water Princess's father walks over and picks it up. He frowns as he examines it. "Can't leave it just lying around."

助 -- We can take care of that.

He thoughtfully hands the dagger, handle first, to the messenger. The messenger accepts it, removes her pack, pulls a long cravat from it, and proceeds to wrap the dagger. Once the blade is protected, she stores it in her pack.

助 -- When necessary, the blade can be returned to any of you four.

観 -- Water Princess, what are your opinions of the work you have just done?

"If I had been more prepared, I think I'd have just asked the boars."

観 -- Do you think you could have been sufficiently prepared?

"Good question. I was just following the ideas in my heart."

使 -- Could you have done better?

Water Princess and Earth Prince look at each other. Earth Prince shakes his head slowly.

"It's always possible to do better." Water Princess purses her lips thoughtfully.

"Until the job is done. It was sufficient," Earth Prince says with a wry smile.

使 -- Earth Prince is right. 

"And follow-up is always necessary, anyway." Water Princess nods in acceptance of her own words as she speaks.

助 -- To what object, the follow-up?

Water and Earth look at each other and nod, then speak in unison -- "To confirm Agnes's decision, and to try to help Professor Parry believe that magic is not the path she seeks."

助 -- Correct. You may now proceed with the business of the day.

Earth Prince looks at the sun through the trees, then frowns and pulls out his hand-held terminal to check the time. "Now I've only got a half an hour before I have to head in to the shop to open up. Let's start copying."

As the four spread get their notepads out of their packs, Water Princess's father says, "Speaking of your shop, I need a secure connection today. Can I drop by later?"

"Sure."

Water Princess's mother suggests, "Let's all head back, over to your shop, in half an hour. We can come back again when Ceri and Morris and maybe some of the other members of the ward can come with us."

"Good idea." Earth Prince laughs. "We need to dispel the rumors about the odd things that happen here."

A snuffling sound is heard, and Water Princess looks around. At the sight of a tusked, furry head, she holds out her hand and snuffles in return. The members of the sounder wander into the clearing, and the four Xhilrans snuffle their thanks them for help given, then turn to their note taking while the boars dig in the grass and around the stones for grubs.

---

Table of Contents

Next: Beryl

---

[JMR2019: Backed up here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/03/bk-we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html
]

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13.60 -- To the Third and Fourth Generation

[JMR20190506: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/04/we-0-13-60-to-3rd-and-4th-generation.html
(originally from https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html)
Original of this scene written February to May 2019.
]

Previous: Wild Boars

Table of Contents

---

Now fully clothed, carrying the implements of their interrupted experiments, a sobered group of youths and one adult begins the hike out of the overgrown graveyard as the morning sun breaks into the clearing they are leaving behind.

"So, Nest, you saw stuff? Uhm, visions?" one of the girls asks the erstwhile sacrificial victim while pushing through the vines and undergrowth.

"Yeah, Enid. First it was the scary stuff you always see."

"Scary stuff?"

Wild boars can be very stealthy when they aren't announcing their presence. Four boars, whom we know, silently track the group.

"I guess that's all they're good at -- making scary faces and noises, flying around, talking about dying or --"

"Or?" Enid prompts.

Nesta stares at the ground. "Stupid stuff. Like rape. Except what they say doesn't make sense. Or pretending to be my ancestors."

"Pretending to be?" the adult is puzzled. "Why do you say pretending?"

"My real great grandfather came and shooed all the fake ghosts away."

"Your great grandfather is dead," one of the boys points out as he holds tree limbs back so the rest can pass more easily.

"Of course, Alwyn. But there was a ghost pretending to be him, and a bunch of others pretending to be others. But I didn't really believe it. It didn't feel right. Then when my real great grandfather came, I just knew."

"Knew him? How?" Alwyn is curious.

"I could tell. He wasn't trying to scare me." Nesta pauses and thinks. "Or get me excited. There was something different."

"So you had a vision," another girl interjects. "I'm jealous!"

The whole group stops for a moment, looking expectantly at Nesta.

Nesta shakes her head. "It's not what you think, Efa."

We can see various expressions of puzzlement in their faces.

"We've been looking for magic. My grandfather told me we have all the magic we need inside ourselves."

The adult has stopped beside her. "All?"

"So how come I can't fly?"

"Why do you want to fly, Enid?"

"So I can fly at the window when maths get's boring."

Snickers circulate.

"What good would flying out the window do?"

"Be more interesting."

Murmurs of agreement.

"How about flying in your imagination?"

Murmurs of complaint.

The adult changes the subject. "You said I shouldn't let people define me. Why did you say that?"

Nesta turns to face her. "Professor Parry, my great grandfather showed me what he did to my grandmother. He said he had convinced himself he was trying to help her, but he was lying to himself. Then he showed me how she did much the same to my father, but worse, and then my father did it to me. Then he showed me some of what my mother and your mother did to you when you were a child."

Professor gasps, almost inaudibly, mumbling something.

"He said he was sorry. Said he really thought he was trying to help, but he messed up. And he said four generations repeating the same mistakes was four too many."

"You saw everything?"

"No, but I saw that they told you that you were to blame. That you were evil, so you didn't have any right to object. That you should like it because you were bad. You're not really a bad person, Professor Parry."

Professor Parry looks down, then starts moving forward. The  rest of the group starts moving again.

"But it's too hard, being good," she complains in a low voice.

The students stop again, and Professor Parry proceeds a few more steps, then stops, holding a tree branch out of the way over her head as she  turns to face the students. "I don't think I want to be good."

Nesta and Professor Parry look into each other's eyes, each querying the other.

助 -- Maybe she is misunderstanding what good is?

"What is good?" Nesta asks.

One of the boys offers, "You've told us yourself a lot of the hard rules society makes are hard to follow because they aren't good."

"Llewellyn, did I really say that?"

"You told me I had to learn which rules were good for me, and how. And you said you were still trying to figure the rules out for yourself. That's why we came here today isn't it? We wanted to know whether magic is good or bad."

"So now we know it's not something to play with, I guess." Professor Parry turns around again and the group proceeds on their way through the thinning underbrush. "I did say that."

One of the girls adds, "We're trying to figure things out as we go along. And that means we're gonna make mistakes. It's what you say. That's what you tell us. Mistakes that don't kill aren't fatal."

"Bryn, you have no idea how hard it is to believe my own advice right now. My plan failed. And I could be disqualified from teaching, if people know what we've been doing."

Nesta shakes her head. "You didn't force any of us. Not really. And we learned something from it. I don't think it's a failure. Experiment with negative results, isn't it?"

Another boy volunteers, "And thanks to a bunch of wild boars, hey, nothing really happened today beyond a little drama practice. That's what I'm going to say it was, and it's pretty close to the truth. Right, Nest?"

Nods and murmurs of assent are exchanged as the group breaks through the trees onto a small path.

Nesta shrugs. "Yeah, Dylan, the boars were very helpful. I'm going to offer a quick prayer to whatever deity were watching out for us, in my heart. If you guys want to do that you can too. And then I'm getting back to real world."

The group pauses for a short minute or two of contemplation before heading in silent agreement down the path.

(Short minutes — roughly twenty of your seconds. Sixteen hours to the day, sixteen long minutes to the hour, sixteen short minutes to the long minute. It is a coincidence that the Xhilran day is rather close to the same length as the day of your world, comparing entropic rates.)

---

Table of Contents

Next: Debriefing

---

[JMR2019: Backed up here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/03/bk-we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html
]

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13.55 -- Wild Boars

[JMR20190506: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-55-wild-boars.html
(originally from https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html)
Original of this scene written February to May 2019.
]

Previous: Pink Unicorns  Or Purple?

Table of Contents

---

Entering the clearing, we begin our examinations.

You haven't been here before, so this will be somewhat new to you. There are a number of headstones and a few larger monuments spread around this clearing.

It is the family grave site of a once prominent family, now fallen from grace, the subject of stories told in whispers.

Lying in an open space between monuments, the ceremonial victim's chest rises and falls almost too slowly to notice. Now her body shivers, and she moans quietly as we approach. On examination, we find vital signs within safe ranges.

使 -- You'll keep an eye on things while we talk with this girl, won't you? Hold her hand, will you, to give her some comfort. 

An adult woman dressed in long, open vestments emphasizing as much as hiding her lack of dress beneath, slips into the clearing from the opposite side from which we entered. She comes to the victim and draws a ceremonial dagger from within the vestments. Holding it horizontally over the victim's mouth, she checks for telltale fog of exhaled breath. Finding fog on the blade, she checks the vines, adjusting two for purposes that are not obvious. Apparently satisfied, she lightly tracing the veins in one of the victim's arms with the tip of the dagger, raising it quickly to a safe  when the arm twitches.

Suddenly, there is a commotion in the undergrowth, and a boy and girl back cautiously into the clearing. Both appear barely a hexadecade in age, if that, and are dressed more or less the same as the victim.

"Easy, easy, we're not threatening anyone's babies," the girl says in an unsteady voice.

"What are you doing here? It's not time yet. And who are you talking to?"

The boy replies, "There're wild boars out there."

"Where?" The woman rises and goes over to them to check, as a commotion breaks out on the other side of the clearing and a boy and girl of similar age and dress to the first pair break into the clearing.

"Boars!"

"Run!"

"Impossible. No boars in this mountain in this season." The woman turns, just as another pair bursts excitedly into the clearing, both panting heavily.

The newest girl looks around wildly.

The boy looks at the woman, then the other pairs. "You guys, too?" he asks. "How many are there?"

Yet another pair crashes into the clearing, falling more than running through the trees. The boy stumbles to his feet, then helps the girl up.

"Whatever you do, don't fight them," she says.

From each point of the compass, tusked bovine we know enter the clearing —followed by true denizens of the forest — snorting and pawing the ground. Each of the boar is heavier than any three of the humans — Xhilrans — in the clearing.

The victim stirs, waking, mumbling. Then her voice comes clear. "We should not be here."

The woman jerks around to stare. "How can you be awake?"

助 -- Thank you for helping stabilize her. Holding her hand has helped draw the poisons from her blood. 

"I've seen dreams. We are on sacred ground, but what we do is a different kind of separate." She rises. "What we were doing. I'm getting dressed."

The woman seems about to object, but the wild boars begin hollering and squealing, rooting among the stones and grass, moving towards the children and their leader, urging them away from the spot on the ground that had been their alter towards one side of the clearing, where they had piled their clothes haphazardly, pulling back as the children reach their clothing.

Seeing the boars pull back, the youths pick up their clothes and begin dressing, shedding the ceremonial loincloths and scarves to do so. The woman lags behind.

With sudden determination, she whirls around, screeching and howling, brandishing her ceremonial dagger, attempting to surprise and scare the boars nearest her, but they only respond by standing on their hind-hoofs, snuffling and grunting, dropping again to the ground, and pressing her with more urgency.

"Give it up!" One of the boys calls.

"You're the leader!" She turns toward the ebony-furred barrow, slashing out with her ceremonial blade, only to find herself immediately bowled over and lying on the ground, the tusks of the amber furred gilt mere inches away from her nose, breath fierce and hot in her face.

Now shes squirms backwards, abandons her dagger and rolls and runs for the group of children, collapsing on the ground near them.

As the children regain their state of dress, the boars melt back into the woods.

"Don't they say these woods are haunted?"

"I've heard it's safe for people who are are not thinking impure thoughts."

"Pure thoughts. I'm busy thinking pure thoughts for the rest of the day, today."

"We should go back in a group, just in case."

The woman remains in her robes, in a heap on the ground.

"Aren't you coming?"

"No. Run away if you're scared. I'm staying."

The erstwhile victim comes over to stand by the woman. "Yr Athro, I am not staying. And I'm not going through with any more of this game we've been playing. Maybe they were hallucinations, but I've seen enough."

"Hallucinations?" the adult looks suddenly incredulous. "What did you see?"

The girl turns to the other children. "Some of you think you are stuck in an evil state, damned for things you haven't done and condemned forever for thing you have. It isn't so. There is hope for us as long as we live."

The woman howls, standing and reaching out to attack the girl, but suddenly two boars are behind her, snuffling and grunting again. Instead of attacking, she hides behind the girl.

The girl reaches out to the boars, who nuzzle her hands.

"Nothing to be afraid of, if we think pure thoughts."

"What is a pure thought?" the woman snarls. "I suppose you think you know. You are just a slut."

"That is definitely an impure thought, Yr Athro. I can't let people who did bad things to me in the past define who I am now. Nor should you."

"What makes you think —?"

The amber boar ambles over to the woman and grunts, nuzzling her leg. The woman suddenly crumbles back to the ground, reaching out and hugging the amber boar, sobbing. The ebony boar joins them, snuffling gently beside them. For a long minute or two (five or ten of your minutes) the woman remains as it were in the boars' embrace, the intensity of her sobs slowly ebbing away. Finally, she dries her tears and regains her feet, shedding her robes. One of the boys hands her clothes to her, and she proceeds to dress in a trance.

---

Table of Contents

Next: To the Third and Fourth Generation

---

[JMR2019: Backed up here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/03/bk-we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html
]

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13.50 -- Pink Unicorns Or Purple?

[JMR20190506: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-50-pink-unicorns-or-purple.html
(originally from https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html)
Original of this scene written February to May 2019.
]

Previous: Gwen

Table of Contents

---

Glad to see you here. We can definitely use an additional pair of eyes this morning. This is a difficult assignment, requiring the assistance of two of our charges. Water Princess's parents will be here to help, as well.

As you can see through the early morning mists, the forest here is thick, with ever-violet trees spreading their needled branches tall and closer together than is usual, the native deciduous white-bush fighting to catch what sunlight filters through with their translucent leaves of a color you would place in the ultraviolet part of your physically visible spectrum, and indigo vines draped thick from tree to bush making progress difficult off the few, irregularly traveled paths.

Are the unfamiliar colors of this world interesting? How is it, you ask, that you can register them all?

Now there's a good question.

"Not what I'd call a tourist attraction." Earth Prince's voice comes low through the trees.

"We aren't here to be tourists. We're here to research our family history." As we see them approach between the trees, avoiding the needles, Water Princess's hair glows amber in the deep gloom, catching what little light there is and re-radiating it.

"I can't imagine you'd have any ancestors there."

"As my dad sometimes says, no stone unturned." She half-giggles.

"I'm not sure that's an appropriate joke for this place. Say, where are they?"

"My parents?" Both stop and turn around.

"We're coming." Her father's voice comes through the gloom. "You two go ahead. We'll come at our own pace. No need to wait for us."

"Trying to give us time to be alone together again?" Water Princess mutters with a wry smile.

Earth Prince shakes his head, ever so slightly, and replies in a low voice. "This graveyard is definitely not a place for games, although some of my school friends would go there to make out on dares."

"Make out?"

"Heavy kissing, hands where they shouldn't, etc."

"I know what it means. Dangerous play. On dares?"

"Thrill seekers."

"What usually happens?"

"They usually come back saying it was too scary to do anything bad."

"And they want to be bad, I guess."

Both laugh quiet, wry laughs.

Her parents come into view, holding hands and smiling. "Did you wait?"

"Better to stay together, even if it's just to keep from getting lost." Earth Prince smiles, but his voice has something of an edge, and he reaches out to take Water Princess's hand.

The four proceed ahead of us, Earth Prince and Water Princess leading the way along a path that is becoming less of a path than a thinning of undergrowth, which they push out of their way to proceed.

"You'd think you believed in ghosts." Water Princess's father is still jocular.

"You disbelieve in the spirit that animates the body?" Earth Prince's voice turns sardonic.

"Touché. But, as you should know, I do not yield power to rebellious spirits who refused to be born, or any that refuse to move on from here when it is time."

"But even the scriptures advise against testing evil." Earth Prince pauses, scanning the forest ahead of them. "What did the bishop say when you asked him about coming to this particular site to record names?"

"He laughed." Water Princess's mother laughs as well, "Said it was work someone needed to be brave enough to do."

"Oh, for —"

Earth Prince drops Water Princess's hand, raising his arm in front of her to hold her back, trying to cover her eyes.

But she has already seen and pushes his hand down. "She looks younger than me," she says, quietly, sadly.

Her parents come up behind and draw quick breaths.

They have come to a clearing, and this is where our unusual business for the morning lies, in the form of another young charge of ours, on her back in the clearing in a space between monument stones, uncovered, except for a loincloth and bolero improvised from a scarf, and long strands of a yellow-green vine draped across her body to form an eight-point star on the ground around her. The vine's indigo leaves and white berries rest against her bare skin, and she shows no signs of consciousness.

"What?" Water Princess's mother quietly asks of no one in particular. "Is she alive?"

"Can't tell from here." Earth Prince turns to talk. "I did mention other rumors, didn't I? If she's there I think there will be priests of some sort around. This could get dangerous."

観 -- Priests? Eight initiates — four males, four females — one older priestess, to be exact. Dangerous, perhaps.

"Well, you guys showed up. You might actually be useful for something after all." Even in a whisper, Water Princess's voice is tinged with sarcasm.

"Br-- Dywysoges!" Her mother's voice is quiet but sharp.

"Mom, ..."

助 -- She should say what she thinks.

"Where are they?" Water Princess's father asks, quietly.

観 -- In the woods around here, preparing, as they consider it, to partake of the sacrifice.

"I wonder if they know we are here." His voice drops yet further.

観 -- You saw the vines?

"Hallucinogens." Earth Prince's voice is low, but the heat is audible. "If they are also wrapped in those, maybe they won't hear us, but they will be even less likely to behave reasonably." He motions and turns out, away from what remains of the path, and the others follow him a few paces into the thicker area, disappearing from the view from the path. We follow.

"So, I suppose, since I am here, I should become the part." Water Princess's voice now reveals resignation.

観 -- It is your choice. You may even choose to leave."

"I doubt we'll ever see that happen." Her father shakes his head soberly.

"What is our assignment, other than to rescue as many as possible?" she asks.

使 -- That's all. No force. No violence. As little intimidation as possible. As natural as possible.

"Can't let it be easy, I guess." Earth Prince expresses his dissatisfaction. "What else, pink unicorns?"

"That might not be a bad idea." Water Princess looks thoughtful.

助 -- That would not be natural. There are none of the equestrian unicorns in this area. And the bovine unicorn unicorn would not exactly be in it's natural habit here, either.

"How about wild boars?" Earth Prince suggests without thinking. "Plenty of those around here. Wait, what am I saying?"

This world of Xhilr also has animals you would recognize as horses and rhinoceroses — and tusked wild boars ... and, yes, equestrian unicorns.

"Great idea." Water Princess takes his hand and reaches out for her father's.

"Maybe I'd prefer pink unicorns. Or even purple."

"Just relax." Water Princess's mother takes his other hand and reaches for her husband's free hand. Water Princess's father shrugs and joins the circle.

使 -- We'll be in the graveyard, keeping an eye on the sacrificial victim.

"We'll call if we need help." Already, Earth Prince's clothes are changing to ebony fur streaked with purple and pink. Water Princess's clothes change to amber fur, also streaked with pink and purple. Her parents' fur is a more sedate black, with streaks of sand and teak.

As we move to the clearing, four wild boars begin snuffling through the forest undergrowth.

---

Table of Contents

Next: Wild Boars

---

[JMR2019: Backed up here:
https://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2019/03/bk-we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html
]

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13.5 -- Wild Boars

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-50-pink-unicorns-or-purple.html
and https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-55-wild-boars.html
(originally https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-0-13-5-wild-boars.html)
Original of this scene written February to March 2019.
]

Previous: Gwen

Table of Contents

---

You're here with us today? Good. We appreciate it.

We can definitely use an additional pair of eyes this morning. This is a difficult assignment, also requiring the assistance of our two friends and Water Princess's parents.

As you see, the forest is thick here, with needled ever-violets growing tall and close together in the early morning mists, deciduous white-bushes with translucent leaves of a color you place in the ultraviolet part of your physically visible spectrum, and indigo vines draping from tree to bush making progress difficult off the few, irregularly traveled paths.

Are the unfamiliar colors of this world interesting? How is it, you ask, that you see them?

Now, there's a good question.

"Not what I'd call a tourist attraction." Earth Prince's voice comes low through the trees.

"We aren't here to be tourists. We're here to do family history research." As they appear between the trees, Water Princess's hair glows amber in the deep gloom, catching what little light there is and re-radiating it.

"I can't imagine you'd have any ancestors there."

"As my dad sometimes says, no stone unturned." She giggles.

"I'm not sure that's an appropriate joke this time. Say where are they?"

"My parents?" Both stop and turn around.

"We're coming." Her father's voice comes through the gloom. "You two go ahead. We'll come at our own pace. No need to wait for us."

"Trying to give us time to be alone together again?" Water Princess mutters with a wry smile.

Earth Prince shakes his head, ever so slightly, and replies in a low voice. "This graveyard is definitely not a place for games, although some of my friends go there to make out on dares."

"Make out?"

"Heavy kissing, hands where they shouldn't, etc."

"I know what it means. Dangerous play. On dares?"

"Thrill seekers."

"What usually happens?"

"They usually come back saying it was too scary to do anything bad."

"And they want to be bad, I guess."

Both laugh quiet, wry laughs.

Her parents come into view, holding hands, smiling. "Did you wait?"

"Better to stay together, even if it's just to keep from getting lost." Earth Prince smiles, but his voice has something of an edge, and he reaches out to take Water Princess's hand.

The four proceed ahead of us, Earth Prince and Water Princess leading the way along a path that is becoming less of a path than a thinning of undergrowth, which they must push out of their way to proceed.

"You'd think you believed in ghosts." Water Princess's father is still jocular.

"You disbelieve in the spirit that animates the body?" Earth Prince's voice turns sardonic.

"Touché. But, as you should know, I do not give power to rebellious spirits who refuse to move on."

"But even the scriptures advise against testing evil. What did the bishop say when you asked him about coming to this particular site to record names?"

"He laughed." Water Princess's mother also laughs. "Said it was work someone needed to be brave enough to do."

"Oh, for —"

Earth Prince stops, dropping Water Princess's hand and raising his arm in front of her to hold her back, trying to cover her eyes.

But she has already seen and pushes his hand down. "She looks younger than me," she says, quietly, sadly.

Her parents come up behind and draw quick breaths.

They have come to a clearing, and this is where our unusual business for the morning lies, in the form of a young charge of ours, on her back in the clearing in a space between monument stones, uncovered, except for a loincloth, a scarf draped over her torso, and long strands of a yellow-green vine stretched over her body to form an eight-point star. The vine's white berries rest against her skin, and she shows no signs of consciousness.

"What?" Water Princess's mother quietly asks of no one in particular. "Is she alive?"

"Can't tell from here." Earth Prince turns. "I did mention other rumors, didn't I? I think there will be priests around. This could get dangerous."

観 -- Priests? Eight initiates — four males, four females — one older priestess, to be exact. Dangerous, perhaps.

"Well, you guys might actually be useful for something after all." Even in a whisper, Water Princess's voice has a tinge of sarcasm.

"Br-- Dywysoges!" Her mother's voice is quiet but sharp.

"Mom, ..."

助 -- She should say what she thinks.

"Where are they?" Water Princess's father asks, quietly.

観 -- In the woods around here, preparing, as they consider it, for the sacrifice.

"I wonder if they know we are here." His voice drops yet further.

観 -- You saw the vines?

"Hallucinogens." Earth Prince's voice is low, but the heat is audible. "Even less likely to behave reasonably." He motions and turns out, away from what remains of the path, and the others follow him a few paces in.

"So, I suppose, since I am here, I should become the part." Water Princess's voice now shows resignation.

観 -- It is your choice. You may even choose to leave."

"I doubt we'll ever see that happen." Her father shakes his head soberly.

"What is our assignment, other than to rescue as many as possible?" she asks.

使 -- That's all. No force. No violence. As little intimidation as possible. As natural as possible.

"Can't let it be easy, I guess." Earth Prince expresses his dissatisfaction. "What else, pink unicorns?"

"That might not be a bad idea." Water Princess looks thoughtful.

助 -- That would not be natural. None of the equestrian unicorns in this area. And the bovine unicorn is not exactly in it's natural habit here, either.

"Wild boars," Earth Prince suggests without thinking. "Plenty of those around here. Wait, what am I saying?"

This world of Xhilr also has horses and rhinoceroses and tusked wild boars ... and, yes, equestrian unicorns.

"Great idea." Water Princess takes his hand and reaches out for her father's.

"Maybe I'd prefer pink unicorns. Or even purple."

"Just relax." Water Princess's mother takes his other hand and reaches for her husband's free hand. Water Princess's father just shrugs and joins the circle.

使 -- We'll be in the graveyard, keeping an eye on the sacrificial victim.

"We'll call if we need help." Already, Earth Prince's clothes are changing to ebony fur streaked with purple and pink. Water Princess's clothes change to amber fur, also streaked with pink and purple. Her parents' fur is a more sedate black, with streaks of sand and teak.

As we move to the clearing, four wild boars begin snuffling through the forest undergrowth.

Entering the clearing, we begin our examinations. This will all be new to you, but we have been here before. There are a large number of grave marker stones, including several monuments. This is the grave site of a once prominent family, now fallen from grace, and the subject of whispered stories.

The ceremonial victim's chest rises and falls slowly. Now her body shivers, and she moans quietly.

An adult woman dressed in long robes slips into the clearing from the opposite side from which we entered. She goes to the victim, checking checking her breath with her hand, then checking the vines. She draws a ceremonial dagger from her robes, lightly tracing the veins in one of the victim's arms with its tip.

Suddenly, there is a commotion in the undergrowth, and a boy and girl, both barely a hexadecade in age, dressed only in loincloth and tied scarf, back into the clearing.

"Easy, easy, we're not threatening anyone's babies," the girl says in an unsteady voice.

"What are you doing here? It's not time yet. Who are you talking to?"

The boy replies, "There's a pair of wild boars out there."

"Where?" The woman goes over to check, as a commotion breaks out on the other side of the clearing and a boy and girl of similar age and dress to the first pair break into the clearing.

"Boars!"

"Run!"

"Impossible. No boars come into these mountains." The woman turns, just as another pair bursts into the clearing, panting heavily.

The girl looks around wildly.

The boy looks at the woman, then the other pairs. "You guys, too?" he asks. "How many are there?"

Another pair crashes into the clearing, falling, more than running. The boy stumbles to his feet, then helps the girl up.

"Whatever you do, don't fight them," she says.

From four directions, our friends enter the clearing, followed by true denizens of the forest, four from each side, each heavier than any two humans in the clearing, snorting and pawing the ground.

The victim stirs, waking, mumbling. Her voice becomes clear. "We should not be here."

The woman's head jerks around. "How can you be awake?"

"I've seen dreams. We are on sacred ground, but what we do is a different kind of separate." She sits, holding the scarf over her breasts. "I'm getting dressed." The woman seems about to object, but the wild boars begin hollering and squealing, rooting around the stones, urging the group away from the spot that had been their alter ground.

At one side of the clearing, where clothing has been piled up haphazardly, the youths begin putting their clothes back on, shedding the ceremonial loincloths and other paraphernalia. The woman lags behind.

With sudden determination, she whirls around, screeching and howling, brandishing her ceremonial dagger, attempting to surprise and scare the boars, but the boars respond by standing on their hind-paws, snuffling and grunting, dropping again to the ground, pressing her with more urgency.

"Give it up!" One of the boys calls.

"You're the leader!" She slashes at the ebony furred male, only to find herself bowled over and lying on the ground, the tusks of the amber furred female inches from her face, breath fierce and hot in her face.

Now shes squirms backwards, then rolls and runs for the group of children, abandoning her ceremonial dagger.

As the children regain their state of dress, the boars melt back into the woods.

"Don't they say these woods are haunted?"

"I've heard it's safe for people who are are not thinking impure thoughts."

"Pure thoughts. I'm busy thinking pure thoughts for the rest of the day, today."

"We should go back in a group, just in case."

The woman remains in her robes, sitting in a heap on the ground.

"Aren't you coming?"

"No. Run away if you're scared. I'm staying."

The erstwhile victim comes over to stand by the woman. "Yr Athro, I am not staying. And I'm not going through with it at all. The things I have seen."

She turns to the other children. "Some of you think you are stuck. Damned for things you have done. It isn't so. There is hope as long as we are alive."

The woman howls, reaching out to attack the girl, but suddenly two boars are behind her, snuffling and grunting again. Instead of attacking, she hides behind the girl.

The girl reaches out to the boars, who nuzzle her hands.

"Nothing to be afraid of, if we think pure thoughts."

"What is a pure thought?" the woman snarls. "I suppose you think you know. You are just a slut."

"That is definitely an impure thought, Yr Athro. You can't let people who did bad things to you in the past define who you are now."

The amber boar ambles over to the woman and grunts, nuzzling her arm. The woman suddenly crumbles, reaching out and hugging the boar, sobbing. The ebony boar joins them, snuffling gently beside them. For a long minute or two, five or ten minutes, as you experience time, the woman remains as it were in the boars' embrace, and then she dries her tears and stands, shedding her robes. One of the boys hands her her clothes and she proceeds to dress.

The group soberly begins the hike out as the morning sun breaks into the clearing.

Four boars silently track the group on their way back to the roads and fields of civilization, then, stopping at the edge of the forests, watch them separate and go on their ways.

"I've got to get back to the shop." Earth Prince, back in Xhilran form, turns to Water Princess and her parents. "Are you going back in today?"

"I think I need to ask you to help me check my hand-held." Water Princess's father nods his head.

"We have some more transcriptions," her mother says.

"Maybe we need to save this place for when Ceri and Morris can come with us, and maybe some of the members of the church."

"Good idea. That place sure has it's share of odd things happen."

---

Table of Contents

Next: Beryl

---

[JMR2019: Backed up here:
]

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 15 -- Hefin

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-15-hefin.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: Beryl

Table of Contents

---

Five good friends, all charges of ours, are gathered with Beryl's parents' in the Kendrick's living room. They are playing a game of random bidding with cards, similar to a game you might know as Pit.

"Two! Two! Two!"

"Three! Three!"

"One! One!"

"Two!" Dai and Water Princess trade.

"One?"

"Three!" Earth Prince and Dilwen trade.

"Three! Three!" Earth Prince puts the cards he just received back up.

"Two! Two!"

"One?" Beryl is frustrated. "Okay, eight!"

Silence.

Water Princess giggles. "Try this?" and hands Beryl a single card, taking Beryl's single in trade.

"Thanks, but nope."

As trading continues, Hefin silently slips a card into Beryl's hand, and she looks it him, then gives him the card Water Princess gave her. Counting together to three and turning the cards over, they look quickly at the cards, then at each other again, grinning, and call, "Corner!" in unison.

Silence again, then laughter.

Earth Prince counts the points. "Beryl broke 500, so she wins."

"Brig and I need to do some research in the library." Dilwen stands.

"We do?" Brigham looks up at her, and she speaks to him with her eyes. "Oh. We do."

"Can we help?" Earth Prince stands.

"Completely unnecessary." Brigham also stands to leave. "If you need anything just holler." And he follows his wife out of the room.

"More Pit?"

"How about something that allows us to talk?" Dai suggests. "You've got the Scripture Dungeons set, don't you, Beryl?"

"Right here on the shelf. You guys can set it up. Dŵr, can you help me mix some more juice in the kitchen?" Beryl picks up the empty pitcher.

"Hey, we can help."

"You're not invited."

Water Princess follows Beryl into the kitchen. "Hundred percent fruit juices."

"Uh huh. Natural sugars are better for you, if you don't drink too much. Has K-- woops, there I go again."

Water Princess grins apologetically. "Sorry. Still need to keep that distance."

Beryl opens the freezer. "What do you suggest?"

"You have cherry and mango? Let's try a mix."

They open cans and scoop frozen concentrate into the pitcher.

"Has Ddaear explained about how he is with refined sugars?"

"Does funny things to his body. Ties his miscles in knots, kills his immunity system, makes it hard to focus on hard stuff."

"I've seen what it can do to him."

They re-seal the cans and pour water into the pitcher, mixing it with the concentrate.

"Can you tell me?"

"It can make him turn inside himself. Not just his muscles, not just catching colds. He can hurt himself. Stress alone can turn him inside out a bit, but sugar makes it worse. Sometimes he has no defense against himself."

"Is that what scares you?"

"Yeah. I'd have bad dreams every time we started getting really close."

"Bad how?"

"I'd see him in my dreams coming home stressed out from something, needing my attention, and he couldn't let me get close to him. It would be too dangerous for me."

"He is rather strong."

"You can see it, too? But you're strong."

"Yeah, I can see it. I think I'll be able to let him be close enough. If ..."

"If ...?"

"If we start out right. That's why we both need the time to get used to being on our own without each other before we start courting for real. Neither of us has really been on our own yet."

Beryl washes the long spoon and puts it away.

"I'd never thought of that. But even after he lost his parents, he had Ceri, and then us. The mission was pretty close to being on his own, but he always had a companion. He really hasn't been on his own like he'll be at the Hyde."

"Right."

"This is what Hef needs to know. He was mad at you for stealing Ddaear from me, and now he's mad at you for making Ddaear wait for you. But he's not thinking of what the woman who has to live with him forever needs."

"Do you think he'll talk about it?"

"Let's go see."

Water Princess picks up the pitcher and they return to the other room. Setting it down, she asks, "Who's going to be dungeon master?"

Dai suggests, "Beryl's mom and dad might. We could call them back."

Beryl looks at Water Princess, who looks at Earth Prince. He raises an eyebrow and Water Princess tilts her head slightly towards Hefin. He nods yes.

"I'll go call them." Beryl leaves the room. We hear her call through the hall. "Mom, Dad, are you two too busy to be dungeon masters?"

Hefin collects and shuffles the cards and places them in several stacks on the table. When Beryl returns with her parents, he hands Brigham the playbook.

Brigham rolls a die and checks the book, then intones, "You are in a small clearing in a woods you have never seen before. In the clearing is a small cabin with one door, and a piece of parchment on the door. What do you do?"

Beryl says, "Read the notice," and all agree.

Hefin draws a card. "Seek, and you shall find."

Water Princess identifies the scripture, and Dai says, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." All agree.

Earth Prince says, "Knock knock."

Dilwen intones. "The door opens with a low creaking noise."

Water Princess giggles and says, "Now we run around the cabin five times and yell, 'Boo!' "

"No disagreements?" Brigham scratches his head, reading the playbook.

There are chuckles, but no disagreements.

"Okay, here it is. There is a loud thunderclap and the cabin disappears in a puff of smoke. In its place is a hole in the ground, with the top of a ladder poking out. As you watch, scaled hands grasp the top rung and a lizard-like man climbs out. He addresses your group and asks: 'Who is your leader?'"

With some consultation, Beryl is chosen. A scripture riddle is posed which they answer successfully, and the story proceeds down the hole.

Some half an hour later, as you would experience the time, they have made their way down to the third level, answering questions and fighting various creatures with rolls of the dice and scripture quotes.

"You have come to a four-way branch in the tunnel. On the floor of the tunnel you find a small metal ball. On the surface of the ball is a writing."

Dai says, "We read the writing." All agree.

Hefin draws another card. "You shall not suffer a witch to rebel forever. A witch who will use xer special talents in rebellion against God has not the word of life, and thus is in a state of spiritual death. You shall not promise xem either salvation or eternal life while xe remains in xer rebellion."

(Genderless pronoun: xe, xem, xer, xers, xemself.)

Again, Water Princess identifies the scripture.

Hefin looks at her accusingly.

"Hef." Dai's voice mixes warning with concern.

Hefin looks down.

"So I bewitched Tywysog, and now I'm bewitching all of you?" Water Princess smiles wryly.

"It was a lot simpler before you came."

Beryl turns to him. "Hef, there's something I haven't told you."

Hefin sets both hands flat on the table and leans on it, standing up. "You've told us that you both got 'No,' in reply, and I don't believe it."

"Hef," Dilwen puts her hand on Hefin's hand. "Beryl took it hard. I was here and we cried together. It was real."

Beryl takes his other hand. "I never told anyone about the dreams I've had except ... Ddaear until tonight. Whenever we started talking about marrying, I had dreams. I was warned. I can't give him the help he needs. The dreams made it clear. And this was before Dŵr ever came."

Hefin looks at the floor and shakes his head.

"Hef, how strong is K-- Ddaear?

"Why can't we say his name? See how she bewitches us?"

Brigham looks at Earth Prince.

Earth Prince nods.

"There's another thing that hasn't been told, but answer Beryl's question, Hef."

"Okay, he's stronger than anybody I know. So?"

"I'm not strong enough to help him. That's what I saw in the dreams, very plainly."

Hefin refuses to look at anyone. "You could be."

"But it's not what God wants. He won't help us. Not if we rebel."

Hefin is silent for some few moments. Then, somewhat grudgingly, he speaks. "Okay, I'll grant that Dŵr is stronger than any of us except Ddaear. But, in that case, why the code names? Why the talk of them not being able to marry for four years? Why can't they get engaged and then marry when Dŵr turns eighteen? Why can't her parents let them marry now, if they are so meant for each other?"

No one asks why he cares so much.

"I have been told I can match his strength, but only if we start things right."

"What, you've seen those messengers Ddaear told us about, too?"

Water Princess looks at Earth Prince questioningly.

"I did try to tell them once about the messengers, when I first met them."

"Oh."

"What? Then it's those messengers that have you all confused."

"The messengers have not told us to get married, but I have met them."

Dai leans forward. "This is interesting."

"That kind of thing doesn't happen now." Hef becomes adamant. "We have the scriptures and we have the Church. We don't need messengers."

Dilwen squeezes his hand. "Hefin, has the time come for miracles to cease?"

"Hefin, please. Before we met K-- Ddaear, it was you and me and Dai. Before we met Dai, it was just you and me."

"We were only seven. Your parents took me in to get me away from that foster home for a couple of years. And then they sent me to live with Dai."

"So we could stay close, Hef."

"We're brother and sister."

"But we aren't really."

"But you and ... Ddaear love each other."

"And I love you and Dai, too. I'm getting to like Dŵr pretty well, too."

Earth Prince speaks up. "And I have no small affection for everyone in this room. Ceri explained it to me like this when I was twelve and had a terrible crush on her. There are crushes, and there is love, but marriage is a contract to make babies. You can't marry everyone you love."

Brigham laughed. "That's what she said?"

"It was a good explanation at the time."

Dilwen shakes her head with a chuckle. "Your sister always surprises me with her wisdom. I think she was the biggest factor in my joining the Church."

Hefin's chuckle becomes audible. "Blast it K-- Ddaear, you know how to take the romance out of everything."

Dai deadpans, "What's unromantic about any of this?"

Soft laughter fills the room.

Hefin becomes serious again. "So, if those messengers aren't the ones telling you to get married, what are they telling you?"

Water Princess answers, "Things about our future. Not requirements, possibilities."

"Thus, Earth Prince, Water Princess?"

Earth Prince nods. "But they -- we -- are not required to marry."

And Water Princess adds, "It does seem to be convenient to marry, but we have to choose whether to accept the mantle."

"And whether to do so married to each other or married to others."

"We have to understand what we are being asked to do as something separate from whether we marry. That's why we have to be completely separate from each other for a year. Uhm, plus or minus a little." Water Princess reaches out and takes Earth Prince's hand, and he squeezes it."

"It's scary, but we have to do it."

Hefin smiles a tight, but sincere smile. "Okay, now I think I can see."

Brigham points out, "Things have been said here that must not leave this room."

And all agree.

Hefin finally looks relieved but he has one question left. "So, Beryl, should you and Dai get married, then?"

Beryl drops her head into her hands and doesn't say anything.

"Hef, mate, you and I need to follow Ddaear and Beryl's examples and go on missions."

"Thank you, Dai," comes Beryl's muffled reply.

But Hef's face again shows signs of fretting.

---

Table of Contents

Next: N

---

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 14 -- Beryl

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-14-beryl.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: Gwen

Table of Contents

---

"Dŵr, hi!"

"Huh? Oh, hi! uhm, Beryl, right?"

Beryl smiles quietly. "Yeah."

"Do you come to this store often?"

"Yeah, uhm, no, not really. Sometimes. Your parents said you'd be here."

"I needed to get some seals for my swimming goggles, or get some new ones."

"You're looking at scuba gear."

"Just dreaming. So, ... you came to talk to me or something."

"Is it okay?"

"I guess. What about?"

"Well, about," she bites her lip, "Ddaear."

"Ddaear?" Water Princess puts the breathing regulator back on the shelf and gives Beryl her attention.

"We've been mates for a long time. Dai and Hefin and, uhm, Ddaear and I."

"He told me a little about you. You helped him overcome his shyness, he said."

"He was really shy when we first met him. Dancing was not cool, and he took a lot of teasing for it. Bullying, really. Somehow, he kept from being badly hurt, but we always worried."

"I have to say, I would have been as worried for the bullies."

Beryl laughs softly. "It took me a while to see that he was holding back. He had to defend himself just once, and that pretty much put a stop to the bullying, but then everyone was afraid of him."

"Did the other guy survive?"

"The four of us went to hospital to visit them. They're friends, now."

"They."

"He's strong. He took three rugby players down and then made the others help get them safely in the ambulance."

"That sounds like something he would do."

"You're not afraid of him."

"He's a good person."

Beryl suddenly wraps her arms around Water Princess and hugs her tightly. "Keep him safe, okay?"

Embarrassed, Water Princess stiffens, then relaxes and returns the hug.

"Thanks. But it's not like we're getting married or anything."

"I know." They step back and look at each other, non-verbal understanding flowing between them.

"I've asked K-- uhm, Ddaear about things and he's explained. But I can see it between you. I'm a little jealous."

"Oh?"

"I have a huge crush on him. Had it for a long time. No, I'm hugely jealous. But I'd be scared to actually marry him."

"He told me about how you supported each other on your missions, and how you both got noes when you prayed about marrying. I feel like an outsider -- an intruder."

"You're not. Just from church and hearing about you, I can tell you'll be good for him. And I can tell I'll like you as a best mate-in-law."

They hug again.

"I'm putting pressure on you."

"No, you're actually answering some of my questions. I hope we can be friends. You do water ballet, too, right?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Want to practice with me?"

"I'd love to. I'll bet you could teach me a lot."

"We could teach each other. Can I have your mail address, too?"

"You have a hand-held?"

"Back home. Didn't want to carry it through customs. Dad has one."

"Tell me his." Beryl gets her hand-held communication terminal out.

---

Table of Contents

Next: Hefin

---

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 13 -- Gwen

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-13-gwen.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: Talent

Table of Contents

---

"I know you didn't want me to, but I explained to the Sunday School teacher that you're a little shy with me and want to go by code names."

"Oh, I don't know. It seems like it would be such a bother to everyone.

"I've talked with Beryl about it. Dai and Hefin know anyway, from basketball, and they've mentioned it to most of the rest, just in case you run into someone in town."

Water Princess actually pouts.

"It is so tempting to kiss that pout."

She laughs. "Okay, since you all went to the trouble, I'll come to your Sunday School this week. And maybe next."

As they approach a graveyard they have not yet examined, they see a young girl there ahead of them.

"Gwen!"

"You're up early."

"So are you two."

Water Princess smiles. "Did you come to meet us?"

"Mom said she heard you would be reading the stones here today. A lot of our people are here."

"And you thought you'd help. Cool." Earth Prince grins.

Water Princess's parents join them shortly, and for several hours they search the field for head stones and other markers together and record the information in their notebooks.

Earth Prince straightens up. "I don't see any more."

Water Princess asks, "Should we ask if we are done?"

Gwen looks puzzled. "Ask who?"

Water Princess smiles. "Who is in charge?"

"Oh. You mean ask God."

"Would you?"

"Sure." And Gwen says a simple prayer, asking if they are done.

Gwen looks serious as they wait for a moment. Then she smiles. "It feels like we're done."

Earth Prince and Water Princess and her parents nod in agreement.

"Should we go, then?" Water Princess's mother asks.

"Are you going to swim today?" Gwen looks hopeful.

Water Princess and Earth Prince look at each other and then check with Water Princess's parents, who shrug.

"I think so."

Water Princess nods agreement. "Do you want to swim with us?"

"Can you teach me?"

Earth Prince laughs. "You know how to swim."

"Not like you two."

Again, the prince and princess look at each other. Earth Prince raises his eyebrows questioningly.

Water Princess nods. "We should ask your parents."

"Mom said I should learn to swim like you two."

"But she hasn't told us we can teach you." Water Princess pats her on the back. "Let's go ask." She looks at her parents.

Her dad grins. "You three go have fun."

As they set off, Gwen has another question. "So are you two really the Water Princess and Earth Prince from the old stories?"

Water Princess snorts. "Who told you that?"

"It's what you call each other. And everyone says maybe you are them."

"Everyone?"

"Some of my friends. And my mom. But Dad laughs at her."

Earth Prince chuckles. "If we were, would we tell everyone?"

"It's a masquerade. We wanted to get to know each other, and I thought our names would get in the way."

"Why?"

"It's hard to explain. I'll tell you when I figure it out myself." Water Princess smiles.

"What do you think, uhm, Ddaear? It's so weird to call you that."

"When a princess speaks, it's hard to disagree with her." Earth Prince winks at Gwen before giving Water Princess a knowing look behind her back as he continues. "I'm pretty sure we'll have a chance to tell you all about it some day."

Water Princess raises her eyebrows.

---

Table of Contents

Next: Beryl

---

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 12 -- Talent

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-12-talent.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: Anonymity

Table of Contents

---

"Can you help me with this stretch?"

"Sure." Earth Prince stops waving his arms around and goes to Water Princess's side.

(We aren't quite sure whether he was working on expressive dance or defensive combinations. Not that it matters, we are here to observe, not critique.)

She extends her left leg gracefully forward in developpe, and he puts his hands under her ankle and knee for support as she reaches full extension at waist level.

"So how did you get started dancing?" She puts the weight of her leg in his hands.

"Watching Ceri. Thought it looked fun."

"Oh?" Using his support, she rotates her body right, letting the muscles stretch.

"More fun than cricket or track."

"Really?"

"I was totally uncoordinated and just an all around wimp."

She reaches arabesque and extends her arms like a ballerina for a moment and chuckles. "I can't imagine you as a wimp." Then she begins rotating back, still amused.

"Couldn't understand having to swing a bat the way the coach said when I could as easily be swinging my arms wherever I wanted."

She nods. "I could see that." Back in devant, she lifts her leg out of his hands and lowers it. "So how'd you get interested in basketball?"

"Dancing helped me get me coordinated, and teachers pushed me to join a ball club. I wanted to play football. Not rugby or old world football, the football you guys play Stateside."

She lifts her right leg and he supports her as she rotates to the left. "Why so?"

"It's choreography."

"So's soccer."

"Not the same. Not nearly as much."

"Soccer's a lot like basketball."

"I understand old world football now, but basketball uses more visible upper body dance."

"True." She pauses in arabesque before reversing. "So, when and how did you learn to fly?"

Earth Prince starts, but does not drop her leg. His face loses the grin that has been a fixture of his expression the entire morning. As she returns to extension devant, he quietly nods.

"You noticed."

"Anyone who was watching would have been impressed with that dive."

"I had to move fast to keep her from being pulled beneath the vines. Those currents can be impossible to fight beyond certain points, and she could easily have filled her lungs with lake water trying to fight clear."

"That dive was not natural."

"Your influence on Gwen could be thought natural, but not on the vines, or the water flow. The undertow seriously weakened when you ascended. Just coincidence?"

The two stand, staring at each other, Water Princess with her right leg in Earth Prince's hands. Then she remembers what she is doing and lifts her leg out of his hands, lowering it absently to stand in first position.

"Your turn?"

"Sure." Earth Prince raises his right leg, almost as gracefully as Water Princess raised hers.

"So tell me about flying."

"I'm not sure when I realized that my grand jeté was exceeding the range of my momentum. It was before I had started playing basketball seriously. But one morning I teased my modern dance coach by floating an extra meter or two in the leap."

"What did she do?"

"She scolded me."

"Oh? Why?"

"Exceeding my training and technique. Afterwards, when I came down to the lake for a swim, I was not allowed to enter the water."

"Not allowed?"

Earth Prince trades legs.

"I put my foot in the water and felt an awful fear. I kept calling myself silly and trying to wade in, but the fear just got so bad I couldn't even stand to look at the water. That was when I met them for the first time."

"In the water?"

"On the shore. Two men and a woman that time. They told me what happens to people who play childish games with their special talents."

"What did they tell you?"

"You know, people get scared and try to kill the monster. And if you use it for money, fame, greed, entertainment, power, or basically anything but serving God's children quietly, you quickly lose the right to be guided to use it safely. And then you just lose everything important."

"And what did you do?"

Earth Prince finishes stretching his other leg and lowers it. "I learned it's not good to fight God. Eventually I learned to trust Him."

"Okay. You've learned the same lessons I've learned. I guess I can trust this. Sometime, when you think it's okay, I'd like to hear more about your lessons, and I can talk about mine."

See, days, not years.

Water Princess looks up. "Oh. You're here."

Earth Prince turns to face the messengers. "No, she was right. Years."

But she knows who we are now, and she begins to understand what she is being called to do.

"But she must serve a regular mission first, much as it will try my patience."

A mission is one of the courses you've completed. But there are many kinds of missions. Is not a calling of service a mission? Is not raising a family a calling of service?

"And both of us seem to need to prove our interest in each other, before ..., or, whether we should marry. The Prince will have a lot of attention from cheerleaders."

"Not that the Princess will lack attention from her fans."

That is correct.

More courses to complete for both of you.

You will both return in four years, then.

"It might not require a full four years, I suppose, but, yes, no more than four years."

Is Water Princess equivocating?

"No."

It was wise to not reveal your names to each other yet.

"Of course, we have Ceri and Morris and my parents if something comes up." Oddly, it is Water Princess who makes this suggestion.

"If something comes up before her senior year is over." And it is Earth Prince, now, showing patience.

That is also correct.

---

Table of Contents

Next: Gwen

---

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 11 -- Anonymity

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-11-anonymity.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: The Team

Table of Contents

---

We are back at the church on a Sabbath afternoon. Morris and the young man we know as Earth Prince administer the sacred emblems. The young woman we know as Water Princess sits in the congregation with her parents and Ceridwen. When the sacred service is complete and the lay sermons begin, Morris and the young man join the four on their pew.

Between short sermons, Water Princess whispers something to Earth Prince. He looks disappointed, but nods. After the services, Water Princess leaves with her parents and Earth Prince stays behind for his meetings.

As they leave the chapel her mother reaches out and takes her by the shoulder, drawing her close. "I don't understand why you insist on not knowing each other's real names, Honey. And wouldn't it be nice to meet his friends?"

"I don't want to break the spell, Mom."

Her parents exchange a meaningful look, but her father shakes his head. "Our princess needs to do this her way, I think."

---

Table of Contents

Next: Talent

---

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 10 -- The Team

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-10-the-team.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: Roundball, One-on-one

Table of Contents

---

In the evening a few days later, we find a basketball game wrapping up in the outdoor court. When we look closer, we see that Water Princess and Earth Prince are on one team, his sister and brother-in-law on the other. The other six players are men, and the play has been intense. All ten are sweating.

"How many baskets have we traded with no one getting two ahead?" one of the men asks, breathing heavily as he recovers the ball after a hard fought basket.

"Twenty."

"I think we call it a draw."

In the chorus of Ayes, there is only one Nay.

Earth Prince chuckles. "Dywysoges, I think the rest of us're done."

Water Princess laughs. "Sorry, just being contrary. I'm beat, too."

Now there is a chorus of laughter.

"Mogue, why is it you and, uhm, Ceri's brother are so lucky?"

Earth Prince's brother-in-law, Morris, raises an eyebrow and mugs. "Luck has nothing to do with it."

There are scattered chuckles and complaints, and Ceridwen gives Morris an eye and an "Oh, really?", but Water Princess looks a little embarrassed.

"Hey, Ceri's Brother! Trying to remember not to use your real name cost us at least four points."

Earth Prince laughs.

Water Princess ducks her head. "Sorry, guys. But thanks for putting up with me."

"No, no!"

"Our pleasure."

"Glad to play a little hoop with ya, Ffynhonnau Dŵr."

"And calling Ceri's brother 'Daear' is something we don't get to do every day, too."

Earth Prince smirks at his best mate, grabs the ball, and plants it in his gut.

"Oof."

More laughter as the two young men chase each other around the court.

Quickly, the game of tag ends, and friends take their leave. Water Princess leaves with Ceridwen and Morris, but three good mates remain on the court, tossing the ball around and talking.

"This new princess of yours is a real beaut, but, I tell you -- Beryl is not taking this well." Hefin tosses the ball to Earth Prince.

"She is not my new princess, and Beryl and I are not going steady or anything." Earth Prince passes it to Dai.

"You're over-reacting, Hefin." Dai passes the ball to Hefin again.

"I thought you'd be on my side, Dai." Hefin holds the ball.

"Hef, can't you see that the way is clear for you?" Earth Prince signals for the ball.

"That's not what this is all about." Hefin one-hands the ball against the ground, and it bounces away as he shakes his fist at Earth Prince.

Dai chases it down.

"It is. Beryl and I have talked this to death. Before we left on our missions. Letters while we were out. Four times since I got back we've been through it. We're mates. Best mates. We like each other -- a lot. But we both know it would not be right."

"Hefin, if you aren't going to step up, I will." Dai passes the ball back to Hefin.

Earth Prince chuckles. "Dai, your true feelings come out."

Dai smirks.

"This is not a laughing matter." Hefin heaves the ball hard at Earth Prince.

He takes it in the chest with a grunt and passes it on to Dai. "Ask Beryl."

"I couldn't."

Dai holds the ball. "Hefin, I tell you, if you aren't willing to make Beryl happy, I'm not going to just stand by." And he passes the ball back to Earth Prince.

"I think the three of you need to talk this out. I've got some homework." Earth Prince holds the ball.

"You're not ditchin' us."

"Okay." He puts it down and dribbles. "You guys are mad at me for going to the Hyde for school."

"No. We're settled on that. You're goin' pro in the States and then you're comin' back to coach our kids. But you should be taking Beryl with you."

"Maybe we should all four talk. Dai?"

"I'm in."

"Let's go, Hef."

---

Table of Contents

Next: Anonymity

---

[Backup] Water and Earth, Prologue, scene 9 -- Roundball, One-on-one

[JMR20190312: Backing up Water and Earth:
https://joelrees-novels.blogspot.com/2018/08/we-0-09-roundball-one-on-one.html

Originally written between November 2017 and January 2018.
]

Previous: Swimming

Table of Contents

---

Maybe it is by intent that we are working near an outdoor basketball court this midmorning. Our charges having been playing one-on-one for more than half an hour as you measure time.

(Yes, this world has a game you would only call basketball -- and some other games you'll find familiar, too.)

Water Princess checks the ball to Earth Prince and then turns and puts it down, her back to him, dribbling as she backs up. He reaches under her arm in an attempt to steal the ball, and she deflects it between his legs, whirling around him to pick it up behind him before he gets to it, and drives to the basket with him practically glued to her back. Approaching the basket, she feints a straight-on lay up, bumping the ball to her right hand to lay it up from the weak side as his hands close on air to her left.

Momentum carries him forward and he rolls, laughing, as the ball hits the backboard and drops through the hoop.

"You're pretty good at this." He leans back on the ground, taking a breather, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"You're holding back." She retrieves the ball and brushes perspiration from her eyes before reaching out to give him a hand.

"Not much." He grins and takes the hand, letting her give him leverage up.

"Three brothers, and all of them played on the team in high school." She grins, too. "Are you going to give me my hand back?"

He mugs an evil grin. "Here I was planning on teaching you some easy stuff like how to use your wrist to shoot, and how to take aim on the basket."

"Oh. You didn't think I'd let you get that close to me, now, did you?" She puts the ball in his chest and lets go, causing him to drop her hand to catch it. While his hands are occupied, she suddenly grabs his face with both hands and pulls him close, planting a quick kiss on his lips.

They both recoil in shock and stare at each other.

(Intervention does not seem necessary, however.)

Grinning and shifting the ball to his left hand, he slips his right hand around her waist and draws her close. "Foul. I call foul."

The moment stretches out, not quite to eternity. Water Princess shakes her head and draws back, looking down. "Sorry. I, uh, got kind of carried away."

"I'm not complaining. Do I get a free shot?" Earth Prince keeps his arm around her.

"Huh?"

"Another kiss, I mean."

"I shouldn't."

"Uhm, maybe go for a walk?"

"It's just too unreal."

"What do you need to convince you it's real?"

"Time. And other people around. I've got your attention now, but what happens when you're at the Hyde, and I'm still in high school, and I have to compete with all the girls there?"

"I don't think there'll be any competition."

She turns away and elbows him in the side, but does not break away. Another long moment passes.

"Do you have a boyfriend at home?"

"Hardly ever been on a date. I go to the dances at church, and I have to drag the guys out on the dance floor."

"Hard to believe. Are the guys at church blind, there?"

She laughs and gives him a sideways hug. "They're shy about dancing. I could take a walk. Are you okay after that roll?"

"Couldn't be better. I'll take another if you'll give me another kiss."

She rolls her eyes and reaches up to tousle his hair.

"Darn." He sets the ball down and they walk arm-in-arm off the outdoor court and up into the mountain paths.

(We appreciate your staying to finish things here while we go to keep an eye on our charges.)

---

Table of Contents

Next: The Team

---