Tribune Today Dec 28th 2038

My first day had indeed lived up to the expectation I had built up; I lay awake for a long time last night, as I processed the images of the day in my mind. I was starting to get a rough idea of what Loxley as a base and a town were all about, but more importantly I was beginning to understand why so many people had looked to Loxley for inspiration and leadership. The place does feel very different from anywhere I have ever been, and so my task for today was to work out why.

Day Two December 18^th 2038

I woke very early, which considering the amount of sleep I had was a bit surprising, by the time I had dressed and was downstairs, my guide had already left as he had reports to file before returning for me. The house was warm and snug as the fires roared in the hearth, but after eating a small amount of fresh gammon, I decided not to waste the day and headed out for a walk to get a few of the sites in before attending to my appointments.
My accommodation is in a row of five cottages set on what use to be one of the main roads out of Loxley. It is set slightly west of the main farm, and backs onto the cattle pasture, I decided to walk down the road mainly for two reasons, the first being that the road I knew from the crude map I had been given lead to the west wall, and secondly and more importantly, because the road was one of only a few that was still in the same condition as it had been during the times of Modern Man, it was a tar road. Something stirred in the back of my mind from my childhood, and a time when all roads looked like this one, and they were smooth and dark grey with stonewalls built up either side. It felt a little like stepping back in time as I wandered at a slow pace taking in the view.
Loxley is cold and at times quite bleak, but I felt like there was a raw beauty to it, the fields were partially frozen and white, but there was a lushness to the green grass and a vibrancy to the few remaining wild flowers that tried to shelter in the cracks of the walls, pulling in their heads to save them from what has been a long period of frosts. Most of the cattle were in the pasture, and as walked past the two cottages, which sat on the opposite side of the road, I watched as the cattlemen herded the cattle out of the sheds and tossed large bales of fresh straw across the floor for their breakfast.
I was starting to think that life is the most important aspect of this area, as across the way the fields were still green, sown with mustard cress, which would be ploughed in the New Year to fill the soil with good nutrient rich green fertilizer. Everywhere you look there are fields filled with plants or being prepared, it feels like there is never any respite from the endless task of growing the foods that feed everything in the area.
Far ahead of me slightly shrouded in the mist, I see the dull shape of the long high wall that marks the end of the safe zone and the start of the moorland, which is hostile when it is not filled with soldiers. Its funny how no matter in which direction you look, you see the shape of hooded cloaks in green and brown, for there is a constant vigil watching everything that moves on the landscape, and I begin to understand just how many soldiers have been brought into Loxley to ensure its survival, and it feels like a very daunting task to manage, but manage it they do, and from the little I have seen so far, I think they it do very efficiently.
There is rain in the air, or maybe snow, but I feel the tiny fragments like sharp shards of glass tapping the skin of my face, and although I would like to investigate further, I turn and head back to the warmth of the house to await my guide and my scheduled trip to meet the postal workers.
It is two hours before I can begin again, although feeling warmer and having had more to eat, I feel my pulse begin to race as we head on out of the house, and walk back towards the large imposing old farm that is the beating heart of the Lox Farm Estate. Luckily for me, it also where the small wooden cabin has been built for all the workers and riders of the postal service, one of those riders and the Postal Mistress of Loxley is a good friend, so I am really looking forward to seeing her again. Michelle (No one has ever learned her last name) is known better in these parts as Rags, I have many fond memories of the small excited and very scruffy young women, who would race into my stable, cram a whole pie into her face, and then jump back on her horse, and charge like lightening off again, with a smile and a cheeky grin. She has been in charge here since May, so it will be nice to see her again and find out what has been happening with her.
Before that I come along the wall in front of the main house to the farm, there are actually two houses side by side with a large gap of about thirty feet between them, the second house is a converted stone barn, built they say somewhere around 1790. The main house which is the home of Robert Lox senior, is a little older having been built around 17 26. John Lox lives in the old barn and both the brothers live and work on site. There is a third barn, which I see as I turn at the wide white gate and walk between the two large houses, it is directly in front and has two chimneys on the roof from which a steady stream of smoke wafts upwards, that is the forge area where John has several apprentice’s working with him in the manufacture of all things metal. There is a large red door on the front, which is slightly open, and I can see the red glow from within as the smelt roars and heats the metal for weapons, tools railing and also minting the local coins. To the left as I draw up to what is regarded as the back of the houses, I see a wide stone yard that ends in a set of steps that rise up about four feet, and at the top, set back across a path are two of the biggest greenhouses I have ever seen.
This is the domain of Robert’s wife Jessica, already inside I can see a mass of activity through the slightly foggy windows, as there are several women working on the plants dressed in dark green pants with rolled up sleeves on their shirts, it is obviously a great deal warmer in there than out here. Steven guides me slightly to the left and we move in front of John’s house, and walk in a diagonal across what is a very wide tar surfaced yard. I see the postal office across the yard, which is a very finely crafted timber and log cabin, with a covered porch and decking across the front where a battered old rocking chair creaks in the breeze. The cabin has small windows and I have to smile as I see small flowered curtains hanging neatly on either side, not at all what I would have expected of Rags.
I barely make it half way across the yard, and I am busy looking at the northern end of it, where a thin road exits and heads up a long lane past a stable and some small cottages, when I hear the scream of excitement and the small figure of Rags comes rushing out to greet me. It has been many months and for some time I had been very worried about her, but our hug is a long one between friends, and I cannot help but feel great relief and happiness for her, she looks so different and even has neatly brushed hair which frankly was very surprising indeed.
The office is also her home, a nice touch I thought and again another act of kindness on behalf of the Lox family. I am very impressed at the counter and front office filled with pigeon holes, I am not sure why, because it has been the one thing that has impressed me the most since my arrival, the attention to detail is of the highest standard. I am led through the front shop, into a small parlour type living room at the rear of the cabin, I see two small doors which are the rest rooms, and there is a small sink and a large stone chimney in which an ample fire burns and has the grates for cooking on, it really is the perfect set up, and I am invited to sit, as Steve takes his leave to report back and I talk with Rags. Our catch up conversation is slow at first, as a tiny bell rings often and she has to excuse herself to attend to those who are bringing mail to be delivered, but eventually her younger sister returns from delivering the village mail, and the two of us have more time to talk. Rags looks so much healthier, and I feel a great easing inside me knowing she has found a place to settle at last, her home since the age of twelve has been on the back of her horse, and as she fills me in on her life at Loxley, I can only smile and silently thank the Lox family for helping her so much.
We drink hot cocoa, a favourite of hers but not easily found, and finally I get a chance to ask a few of my own questions. Rags has commented a great deal on Lord Loxley, who she is on first name terms with, I ask knowing full well that Rags more than any will be frank and honest. You have a close relationship with Lord Loxley and his wife, what is like being part of that inner circle? She gives a loud giggle.
“You aint scared of im are you? I mean he is a right pussy cat. Honestly you see im with Rune, I tell you they have it all them two, proper deep love an I knows cause I see em all the time.” She gives another laugh and shakes her head. “Lord Loxley, its obvious you aint met im, he is so different from any of the others, I tell you he is really down to earth and just a normal guy, but he does have a strange kind of magic to im and that’s for sure.”
How do you mean magic, do you think he has supernatural powers. I feel a bit of fool as Rags shrieks with laughter, and it does take a few minutes to calm down, finally she leans forward in the chair and looks straight at me with a serious face.
“Robbie is just this really cool and kind guy, I am not sure how to say it, but he does not come across at first like a proper lord if you get me? He takes on huge responsibility and even though he is a young’un compared to his dad, you just know there is years of Lox in there helping him out, and he will do the right thing for all of us, and that’s not just Loxley, I mean that’s everywhere right.” It is strange to see this side of Rags, I have never seen her speak with such passion before, it comes across as being very sincere and so I take the moment to push a little harder. Lord Loxley challenged Mason Knox for the crown, he is rumoured to have talked of a new king, someone who comes from a true line to the great kings of the past, he says he has papers to prove it, do you know if any of that is true?
“Well he stopped Knox that’s for sure, I know that because I was there.” For a second I am dumbfounded, in our recent correspondence Rags has not mentioned any of this and I feel momentarily wrong footed. You were actually there in the Cathedral?
“Yeah, an it was bloody hairy I can tell you, but he did it, he jumped up on that rail and he challenged Knox in front of everyone, I reckon he would have killed him too if all them Bishops and frocked men had not got in the way, it was a hell of a fight, but he got us all out safe like as well. That’s what I mean about him, he has us with him and we all trust each other, and we know he will fight to the death to save everyone with him, that is why he is so cool as a lord.” I must admit I have heard all the tales, but up until now I did take a lot of them with a pinch of salt. Loxley is quite remote, and I know well how rumours get started, but this is the first time I have spoken with anyone who was actually present at the event, I feel my hands shaking and I am not sure why, I look at Rags who is sat relaxed and smiling. So all the stories we hear about his Specialists are true, they really are as good as people say?
“Ask Meg there, she is one of em like me, Meg joined us just after the big scrap at the Black City. I got rounds to do, but talk to Meg, she is pretty new, but she saw a lot in the city.”
I look through the door to see a young woman talking to the small girl. Meg as Rags refers to her is clad in green and brown, but it is not the traditional uniform of one of the woodsmen. She carries a long bow and has a sword and several knives on her belt, I notice the wolves head crest that marks her as Loxley, but apart from that she looks to be just an ordinary girl with black hair and dark green eyes, I would not think of her as a specialist type of fighter. Rags goes through to the front of the shop as I stand, and Megan is brought through to meet me, she appears a little shy as I introduce myself and I offer her a seat and get straight down to it wondering if she will bolt at the first chance. I note the old bow as she slips off her quiver of arrows and places them both on the floor at the side of the chair before sitting. Rags has just informed me that you are one of Lord Loxley’s Specialists, but you are quite new to the ranks? She looks down a little and gives a faint smile as she nods at me.
“I am, I came out of the city at Scarborough with them, at first I only wanted to travel back with Lee, but they asked me to stay on… I am living at the big house with Ruby at the moment.” I have to think back for a moment. Lee… Do you mean Lee Sherman, the woodsman who was a friend to Jake Loxley, and died last month fighting with Lord Loxley? She gives another nod.
“Yes… He was a real hero to all of us, I was working with him in the city leading the rebellion against Mac and the soldiers, I was with him when he died.”
I have heard several accounts of the death of Lee Sherman, all of them a little sketchy, and although I have no wish to upset my guest, I have to pry a little deeper to gain the real version of events. Meg if it is all right could you give me some more detail of how he died, there are a lot of confusing stories out there? I feel the tension in the air and I am convinced that she will not tell me, but to my surprise after a gentle nod and a few moments of thought she gives me the facts.
“Mac issued a proclamation.” You mean Mac who deserted Loxley, I have heard of his betrayal?
“Yes… He was the head of the soldiers in the city, he had the soldiers round up everyone on the market, and he threatened to kill all of them if they did not hand over the Hooded Man. Lee and myself had been doing midnight raids creating havoc and doing as much damage as we could. Each night Jade and Blades with Todd would sneak into the city and supply us. My dad was training up fighters for the streets, but Lee and me, we used the rooftops to move quickly and quietly to attack.”
I have to admit I had not expected to hear anything like that from such a quiet and timid looking girl. Wow I must admit Meg, there is obviously more to you than meets the eye. So what happened when Mac demanded Lord Loxley?
“Well he was here at the time, and we needed more time to get the message to him, we held on for as long as we could, but Mac was becoming more and more annoyed, and so finally Lee decided to buy more time by posing as the Hooded Man.” Her eyes began to fill with tears. “I asked him not to, I wanted him to wait, but time was running out so he ran off without me and stood on the roof of the tallest building and confronted Mac.”
I feel a little guilty as I did not want to upset her, but her story was so different from the version I had heard, it was difficult not to want to go on. Meg dried her eyes, it was obvious that she was very close to the old man, and still felt the grief of his loss, I paused to give her a moment and she continued on.
“Arrows came from everywhere, Lee shot at Mac and just missed him killing a general, but Lee was hit with several arrows and fell just as Robbie and the rest of the team arrived. It was Robbie who killed Mac, and then went to Lee, but he died in Robbie’s arms.”
To hear the stories from Loxley leaning on a fence talking to a traveller is inspirational, but when you hear them straight from the mouth of a participant, who is also one of the elite Specialist group of Lord Loxley, is spine chilling. I had not been at all prepared for this encounter, but I feel my place is to provide the truth for all of you to read, and so I must stop here for today and gather my notes for the next instalment, but will continue with the rest of my day, and a little more from Meg tomorrow. Until then spread the word and continue to resist the forces that wish to enslave us all, and stay true the world around you.