Tribune Today January 4th 2039

Arriving at the home of Lord Loxley was an experience I had not expected. His Wife, Lady Runestone Sapphire was surprisingly charming and very down to earth, I am not sure really what I had expected to encounter, but I was made to feel very welcome and relaxed. In today’s final article of my days in Loxley I will continue where I left off yesterday with my host.

Day Five: December 21^st 2038.

My conversation with Runestone had shown me a more human side to the Specialists, and also highlighted the point that there were many other members of the woodland forces facing danger every day. I finished my hot beverage, and Runestone insisted she show me around her home, which gave me a chance to expand my own personal curiosity. We walked down the room and passed the stairs into the corridor between what I knew was the kitchen and a hidden room. We passed one small door that she mentioned was the basement, and walked down to another door on the left. The floor is very heavily polished and shone like a mirror, the whole house be it floors, ceilings or walls, are all the same highly polished wood. Runestone opened the door and showed me in, and I was very surprised to find it was her workroom. Before me stood a large loom, which was strung with hundreds of fine threads of a dark burgundy. To the right at the end of what was a considerably long room were four tables each containing peddle driven sewing machines, behind which was the familiar figure of Lady Stephanie Lane, who was busy sewing the last sections of a thick cotton blue shirt. She looked up and smiled. “Good day, I see you made it safely?”
I felt a little embarrassed, as I suddenly realise that Stephanie may have shared our conversation about the Violet Witch with Runestone. I give a greeting as Runestone takes my arm and shows me round. Between the loom and the row of machines, there was also two long cutting tables, on one of which was a large pile of green garments neatly stacked and ready for sewing. The second table currently had small wooden boxes on it, and as I moved closer with my guest, I notice the small and delicately made small straw figures. Runestone lifted a small finely woven horse out of the box and handed it to me, I was amazed at the craftsmanship of such a neatly woven object. “We have been making these since we were children, Jade and myself spent hours as children weaving them for Yule.”
There was a hint of happiness and nostalgia in her tone and I smiled. It is a very beautifully made decoration, they all are. I looked at the tiny stars, baubles and trees made from straw and all woven with exceptional skill. You have quite a remarkable talent, I handed the horse back, but she pushed my hand away.
“Keep it, I know you do not recognise the Yule festival, but maybe you would honour me by making it a part of your celebration of Christmas.”
I have to admit I was delighted, Thankyou My Lady, I will treasure it, and I will certainly hang it onto my tree at home, I note her smile as I carefully slip it into my pocket.
“I matters not what we believe or celebrate, be it Yule or your Christmas, this is a time of thankfulness, and we should all band together and celebrate our families and friends, in hope of a brighter future.”
Runestone continued to show me round the room explaining her life, which was divided into three parts, her work and the running of the shop with her mother, her duties as the wife of Lord Loxley, and also that of her role as wife and mother to be. I found it all very complex, and I admired the way in which she seemed to be able to juggle all of it successfully. It is easy to forget you are talking to the wife of the lord who leads the woodland rebellion against the Knox Empire; I found her to be gracious and very homely, not at all what I expected. Runestone appears to have a great affinity with the world around her, the house on the Mere is very stylish, and I must say luxurious, and yet to her it is home, a place she loves very deeply, something I noticed as we walked round the house by the way her hand drifts and touches the wood panels or doors. I found her company to be restful almost enchanting and thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so that passed as we wandered round the place.
The last room we visited was destined to be the nursery, it was a large room to the side of the house, and it was clear that preparations had begun, as two small cribs sat waiting. I was touched by her excitement, and liked the way she would touch her stomach as she spoke of her pregnancy, although at this moment it is hard to tell she is even expecting. I asked her if she was worried about being pregnant at such a time of uncertainty? I could see in her eyes there was some concern as she spoke quietly.
“I can only hope for the best, Robbie has a lot of responsibility and a war to fight, all I can do is make sure the children are healthy and hope my Green Lord will protect him.”
I feel the chill run down my spine, as once again I am reminded that at heart she is a wife, and has all the worry and fear for the safety of her husband, at a time where the fear of a large war is looming. It may not come to all out war, I respond in hope, but she gives me a faint smile and shakes her head.
“It will, this will only end when either Loxley is burned to the floor, or the whole Knox line is wiped out. I am afraid they are not open to dialogue, these are people who want it all, and will not rest until they have it, we saw that in Scotland.”
I momentarily had forgotten that Runestone was a part of the conflict up in the north earlier in the year, and so I try to gain a little more information about the event. What was it you saw up there to give you that impression. She turns from the door and links my arm as we head back towards the top of the stairs.
“It is no secret that Mason landed in Scotland long before he made advances into England. When we visited the area it was clear that his industries have been very busy, large areas are lost to us behind high stone walls, and from what we saw at Dunnottar, he has built up a very superior force that he will move south when the time comes. We saw hundreds of soldiers being moved south, no I am afraid to say that no matter what people say, war will come and it will test everything we have prepared, no one will be able to avoid it, and everyone will have to chose at some point.”
It’s a chilling thought, especially coming from someone who probably knows more about it than any, I am acutely aware that Runestone is very involved with her husband in the planning of the defence of this realm. We arrive downstairs to others who have arrived, and there is the distinct sound of laughter from the kitchen. I am introduced to two of Runestone’s aunts, Madeleine and Una, both of whom have arrived to join the baking and cooking in preparation for the celebrations. I ask who will be attending the celebration?
The atmosphere is suddenly changed as Runestone gives a bright and warm smile. “Everyone, the whole family, as I said it is Yule, and so a time for family, and I have a surprisingly large one.” Runestone goes on to explain what is going to happen. “The boys will arrive from duty and clean up as we prepare. We will then head to the stones to hold the vigil, and then we will return and decorate the house and lay out the big tables for the feast, We have plenty of room, but I just hope we have enough space, what with the Loxley’s and my family, and then all the Specialists and their partners etc, its going to be quite a day.”
I am quickly drawn into the fray, it appears that everyone is helping out, and so with Steven and his wife Jane we join the rest of the group in the kitchen. I find the whole experience very rewarding as the room is filled with Runestone's relatives all attending to vegetables, or baking. I am surrounded by laughter and talk of the coming day, I get handed a knife by Jade and pushed in front of a huge sack of potatoes. How many do we need?
“All of em.”
“What?
“Well we do have to feed the whole family.”
But how? I mean I know you have a bigger than normal stove, but you would need ten to cook this lot. From under her fringe I can see her eyes looking at me as if I am an idiot.
“We steam em outside, doesn’t everyone?”
To be honest I have no idea, my mother and sister tend to share the kitchen duties at home. Jade gives a chuckle. “Look come here I will show you.”
She takes my arm and leads me through the back door into what is the woodland; there is no garden to speak of. Between the trees is a wide clearing in which is built the biggest fire pit I have ever seen. To the right of the pit is a large chimney stone built outdoor oven, and on the other side of the pit is something I have never seen before, it looks rather like a huge metal tank stood on a brick foundation. The tank has doors in it, which I assume is where the food is cooked. Jade takes great pleasure in showing it off.
“This is real special this is. Me an Harry made it, it’s for steaming food. See?” She opens one of the large doors and I see the several fine wire shelves, below which is a polished steel floor filled with holes. Jade opens another door below and I see what looks like a water reservoir. She explains in more detail. “You fill it with water, then set the fires in those openings in the brickwork, the water boils to steam and it comes up through the floor and the food on these shelves gets cooked.”
I am greatly impressed, and I can see she is. “As I said me an Harry made it, well he helped me design it, and I did all the steel work, he can’t weld for s..t he ends up burning the place down he does, but we did it, and it works really well, we have used it for a few big do’s.”
You weld a lot? I enquire. She gives a shrug.
“I make mainly jewellery and stuff, but yeah, if I need to I am pretty good at it, I got lessons off John.” Looking at her belt filled with silver daggers I need no more convincing. You are married to Rowan of Loxley and live through the woodland close to the wall do you not?
“Yeah we got married in June, and Rob and Rune built us the house as a gift, why?” She appears to be a little suspicious of me, although in all fairness I am only creating small talk, but it felt like an opportune moment, so while I had her attention I asked a few questions. I believe in York recently there was an attempt of Lord Loxley’s life, from what I heard it was Rowan who saved him; they say he is very close to his lord? Jade gave a chuckle.
“They are brothers, of course they are close, as for trying to kill Robbie, it was just a Captain paid by Knox, and it was Rowan, Jett, Rafe and me what got him.” She gives another chuckle. “Scared the hell out of us and we all fired at the same time, put four arrows in him we did.”
Four arrows…what for just one man?
“Well it was kind of an instinctive moment you know?”
Well to be honest no I don’t.
“Yeah figures… Look we all saw the guy go for his dagger, so we just kinda loaded and fired, its not like we sat around chatting to decide who got the shot is it now, I mean hell he wanted to kill Robbie so I fixed him. It just so happened that so did all the others, its like that you know? I mean I bet the scariest thing that has ever happened to you is you got stabbed by accident from your quill, out there it aint no quill, it’s a spear or an arrow you gotta watch for, and if you see anyone even looking like they are gonna have a pop at you, well there is no time for thinking, you go straight for the kill, that’s how it is, and we didn’t write the rules, its just like that.”
It sounds terrifying. She gives a sniff and wipes her nose on her sleeve.
“Not really, you get use to it after a bit, I don’t mind dealing with the living, I can handle them, its those dead buggers that worry me, I mean how the hell do you kill something that is already dead,? They freak the crap out of Harry, there is no way he will hang around if they show up.”
There is a loud shout from somewhere inside. “Jade what the hell are you doing, I thought you were going to prepare the buck?” Jade gives a sheepish smile at me, “Oops!” she pulls a long silver dagger out of her belt and spins it in her hand. “Sorry gotta go.” And with that she leaves, while my mind spins with confusion. Hang on a moment what dead?
But she has gone before I can get an answer, and I am left out in the cold empty woodland that lies silent beneath the blanket of snow, I feel a sudden creepy sense wash over me and turn to head quickly inside, where the kitchen is full of even more people. The men have arrived home, and there is no sign of Runestone, although a very tall and quite stocky woodsman who is caked in mud eyes me suspiciously. His chiselled features and long black straight hair fit the description of Rowan of Loxley. His glance turns as Jade leaps up into his arms, and before I get a chance to talk, he is gone through the door carrying his wife. I look round the room at the others who are all hard at work, and my eyes meet with Una’s. Her eyes are the purists violet and feel warm and kind, she stares at me for a moment as if enquiring and then asks. “Are you alright, Jade didn’t scare you did she?”
I feel uncertain as to what to say, so I just blurt it out. The Knox family don’t raise the dead do they? The whole room stops and they all start to laugh, someone at the back says something along the lines of “I think we found a mate for Harry here.” They all find that highly amusing, and laugh for much longer. Una comes round the table and takes my arm.
“Come with me.”
I am lead back into the main living room, which is empty and sat down on one of the long seats near the fireplace, Una sits beside me and smiles. “There are many things in this world with no explanation, and so in order to confront and deal with the Knox Empire you must keep an open mind.” Somehow I feel I am not going to enjoy this particular interview, there have been some strange rumours, of which I have never really wanted clarification, but at the moment I think I am going to get some never the less. Una looks serious, which I feel does not bode well.
“Look in order to understand everything you have to see the bigger picture.”
Well no offence but I have been trying since I got here, but there are so many secrets and rumours, it is a little hard to see the wood for the trees if you understand me?
“Precisely, OK well let me put it this way, in order to understand, you have to look back to the very ancient ways of our people, back to a time where mankind was more in tune with the world and its contents.”
You mean the dark ages with witchcraft and devil worship and the bloody slaughter of the masses. She gives a shrug.
“Not quite where I was going but it is a good start. I am talking about a time when man was more in tune with nature and the cycle of things, like understanding the origins of our life and rebirth into death through the Green Circle of the Whitelines.”
Earth Faith you mean and witchcraft?
“Ok lets just get this straight, I understand you are not of our beliefs, but lets just say we respect each others and let it lie at that. Witch is not a word you should round here, because that is term used by Christianity not us, we do not appreciate it and much prefer it is not used. Even you must realise there is far more to the world than what we simply see, and there are things that defy explanation, after all if we could explain everything then what would be our purpose. What I will simply say is that there are some who have unexplained gifts, from whatever source, be it your god or our circles, and within those gifts there are some who have dark gifts, I am telling you seriously that the Mother of Mason Knox is one of them, its why we call her the Dark One.”
So it is true, she is a w… gifted person?
“Indeed. And she has revelled in things that even we feel should be left alone, such as reanimation.”
I have no idea what to think, or whether or not I should scream or laugh. The idea of someone having a power to reanimate the dead is simply unbelievable, and I am at a complete loss for reasonable thought. Una who appears to feel this all going very well continues. “When we visited Dunnottar and at Scarborough, we saw what she has done, and she has been able to find a way to motivate the dead. But you must be aware that these are not the enemy many of the woodland fighters will face, as I am sure you have already heard, this is something the Specialists deal with.”
I nod unable to fully comprehend how Una can be so relaxed at this revelation of what is complete madness. I look into her eyes and can only ask the obvious. You have seen this, you have actually seen walking dead bodies? There is a sudden crash, which almost gives me a heart attack, and as I jump and turn to look at the open door, all I see is two broken wine bottles on the floor. Una gives a long sigh.
“Great ! He will be gone for hours now.”
Who will?
“Harry, he must have overheard you, he is a little delicate when it comes to matters of the dead.”
I am not surprised; I am having somewhat of a hard time taking all of this as it is. She pats my leg and stands up.
“That’s good, when you get home read about your history of the Fellowship, I am sure there will be things there that will explain it more. OK I have to go and see if I can get Harry back, you talk to Rune she will fill you in more.”

I can safely say it was not a conversation I had, Lord Loxley was indisposed for most of the day, and as the day moved on and everyone got prepared for the celebrations of Yule, I took a walk round the tranquil beauty of Robbie’s Mere to calm down and reflect on my day. By the time everyone was ready, it was time to leave, as they would all be holding the vigil at the old stone circle, and so I returned to my accommodation to write up my notes and reflect on my five days in Loxley.

The people here are incredibly welcoming, and they are very kind and generous to a fault. The place itself is without doubt truly beautiful, especially in the snow. Robert Lox and his family have been very accommodating in the questions they have allowed me to ask, although there are things I cannot print, not out of censorship, but more to protect the many soldiers based here who are on active duties. I am sorry I could not have spent more time talking to Lord Loxley, as I would indeed love to find out his side of the story. It is clear in my mind that a war is coming and I fear many lives will be taken, Loxley is working tirelessly to protect the Woodland World, and I am more convinced than ever that they should be given every support possible. I think I can safely say that there is indeed a great deal of truth to all of the rumours about the Specialists, they have a loyalty to their lord that I admire and respect, and from the few I met, I think they really do give their all in protection of all of us. And do deserve the praise they get for it.

I left Loxley just before dawn on December 22^nd, and hurried home to share my festivities with my family, I watched the sun rise as I rode across the moor, and I felt the wonder in it, maybe there is some benefit of embracing our world a little tighter as those of the Earth Faith do. I have to smile as I sit here at home writing this, because as I left Loxley I was delighted to see that the lights at number six burned brightly, but alas the curtains were drawn tight. I will not forget my first visit, and hope there will be many more, and I shall never forget meeting Runestone Sapphire the wife of the lord and first Lady of Loxley. She is a remarkable person, and I feel in awe of her, for it was through my conversation with her that I truly understood the sacrifices most of Loxley is making in the efforts to protect its people. I feel she is very courageous and her inspiration has given me hope that Loxley will endure, and as for the dead? I have spoken to my church friends who are disbelievers, and I have had several lengthy conversation with those of the woodlands who are complete believers, and I find that strangely enough, I am somewhere in the middle. I hope you have enjoyed the notes of my trip this past week, and shall return to you with more updates on the world around us when I receive them, so until that time please take care and protect yourselves, stay safe warm and healthy through the darkness of winter, and enjoy the coming of spring.