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anti-refugee-protests-2.txt

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+The summons to arms caught Kral by surprise, but he leapt out of his room and found himself in the midst of a dozen other yaks doing the same thing.
+
+―Kral, here! he heard Hermann call.
+
+―Yes, sir.
+
+Kral pushed past and joined Lieutenant Hermann.
+
+―Captain said to bring you as well.
+
+They passed over to the next hallway.
+
+―Oy! Ward, Trevor. This way! Hermann called again.
+
+The other sergeants followed, and Hermann led the three of them to Adrienne's office.
+
+―All of you, at ease.
+	We've got some orders here, and not much time to think about them.
+	There's a riot brewing over at the Barns, and we are escorting the President there, then we're there as crowd control and peacekeeping.
+
+―What about the Garrison? Hermann asked.
+
+―They're just letting it play out, you know Darius.
+	Couldn't give a shit about doing his job if a-
+	Well, if he had to give a shit about doing his job.
+	That's not all though.
+	President is asking us to do this out of uniform.
+
+―As in, what? Kral asked.
+	So people don't think the guards guarding the President as he walks in are the President's Guard?
+
+Captain Adrienne looked grimly at him.
+
+―Exactly, Sergeant.
+	This way we look a bit more like Garrison reserves coming in to support them.
+	As I said, we're joining the President on his way there, and they're readying a tram in minutes.
+	Havenmount says that they're bringing in torches, and fire service is on standby.
+	Trevor, your men and I are going to go with the President.
+	As a Guard, so your guys in uniform.
+	Got it?
+
+He nodded.
+
+―Ma'am, is this, um, legal? Sergeant Ward chipped in.
+
+―Honestly, not sure.
+	But we have orders from the President, in writing, so that really starts to look like his problem.
+	And when it comes down to it, stopping violence is our job.
+	If you want to hang back though, Sergeant, I can ask your squad how they'd feel about going without you?
+
+Ward shook his head.
+
+―Good, get your squads in gear.
+	Apart from the uniform bits.
+	Shields and truncheons, not spears.
+	Fire service is on the way, 
+	Dismissed.
+
+The four of them left, and Kral explained the situation to his squad.
+Luckily, they took it well enough.
+
+There were two trams being readied on the platform.
+Kral and his squad followed Hermann onto the first tram, with Ward close behind.
+Kral kept his eye out the window, and saw President Calvin, followed by Darius and Vaughan, heading to the second tram.
+
+Their tram started moving immediately.
+
+―Want to talk strategy? Kral asked Hermann, who was looking at a map of the area.
+
+―Yeah, they're up a few blocks into the Barns near the gate to Northhaven.
+	I'm thinking funnel them south and west, through the gate if need be?
+
+―Not a great idea, that puts them too close to Havenstreasure.
+
+―So?
+
+―It looks closed off on maps, but we won't actually be able to cordon that off.
+	When you're actually there it's confusing alleys and odd fences, and even if protestors try to disperse they'll end up turned around.
+	Impossible to close off.
+
+―What's your suggestion?
+
+―We can push them north.
+	It's a few blocks up, then with a squad there by the market it'll let them leave out the next gate.
+	Further away, but the market's got wide streets.
+
+―Right, makes sense.
+	Should have asked you earlier.
+	I know you know the area well.
+
+Kral shook his head.
+
+―No problem.
+
+―Right, everyone, listen up. Hermann announced to the tram.
+	Here's where we're getting off the tram, he said, pointing at the map.
+	We'll assemble here, then arrive at the protests in formation.
+	Got it?
+
+There was a murmur of assent.
+
+―At least for now, first priority is separating the Hierarchy folks from the counterprotest.
+	Come in with a wedge formation.
+	Ward, I'm not sure how quickly we can have the fire service there, but I want your squad with them.
+	Kral, your squad will be with me in the line.
+	Try to keep a few guys mobile if you can.
+	We'll look to get the Meadowlarkers to disperse north, and if we want an echelon to push them to the gate, that'll be your squad most likely.
+
+―Sounds good, sir, Ward answered.
+
+Kral agreed as well.
+The tram had passed Mindemoya a few minutes ago, and was making its way swiftly into the Barns.
+Kral held his shield and truncheon ready.
+President Calvin only rarely actually came to the Barns, so the Guard never really had to work there.
+Kral felt odd about it.
+Seeing armed guards near his home gnawed at him, even if he was one of them.
+
+The tram arrived.
+Hermann threw the door open.
+
+―Go, go.
+	Form up, and we're going to move.
+
+The Guard was well practiced, and they formed their squads sharply.
+Once the tram was empty, the driver took it off the main tramway into a parking bay, and the Guard began to move in turn.
+
+―President's coming in close, Kari murmured to Kral.
+
+He glanced back.
+She was right, their tram was visible as well, although not immediately behind.
+
+―You alright, Sarge? she asked.
+
+He nodded.
+
+―Yeah, I will be.
+
+―Good.
+
+They reached the protest itself, approaching the line between the protest and counterprotest from the side.
+
+There weren't as many Meadowlarkers as Kral had feared, but they still outnumbered the guards.
+Many were holding improvised weapons, sticks or torches.
+At the back, a few Hierarchy officials were shouting to the crowd.
+Chants of awful slurs against farm animals echoed down the streets.
+Kral felt his blood boiling, and Kari gave him a stare.
+
+―Steady on, Kral.
+
+The counterprotest was small, only a handful of cattle, a pair each of donkeys and pigs.
+A sheep as well, just to highlight the hypocrisy of the Hierarchy.
+No point in honouring the Elder Species in one breath if you were denying them a place to live in the other.
+His parents weren't there, which was a small mercy.
+They were forming a tight line across the street, and the Meadowlarkers had formed an aggressive arc in front of them, with the front shouting.
+Clods of dirt and rocks flew across the line, occasionally hitting the farm animals.
+
+The fire service was waiting behind them, cut off from the action, which was good.
+The Barns' fire service was already stationed nearby, near the Heavenstreasure complex, which was good. 
+They looked equipped already, ready to deal with the torches.
+
+Kral looked for the Garrison.
+There were a few scattered around, on the other side of the street, across from the crowd.
+They weren't organised in any way.
+
+They stopped, close to the protests.
+Hermann tapped his loudhailer, and began to address the crowd.
+
+―Commander Darius has ordered this protest to disperse.
+	This assembly is now unlawful, and if you remain, you will be arrested.
+	I repeat, the City Garrison is ordering you to disperse.
+	This assembly is now unlawful.
+
+Hermann gestured, and the Guard began to slowly, deliberately push left, forming a wedge shape, Kral's squad, and Wade's squad on the end, facing the protestors, Hermann's facing the counterprotestors.
+The Garrison members on the other side of the crowd looked caught out, and almost seemed to form a wedge of their own out of reflex.
+To Kral's left, the counterprotesters were moving back, but the Meadowlarkers pushed back, shouting.
+
+As they pushed through, meeting the Garrison, Kral felt the weight of the Meadowlarkers pushing at him.
+A rock hit him in the head, and he snarled at the crowd.
+
+―Get back, all of you!
+
+A yak shoved against his shield, and Kral pushed back.
+With surprising ease, the yak was left stumbling backwards into the crowd.
+Some of the crowd seemed to back off a bit more, and a tense quiet seemed to come over the area.
+Hermann kept up the chant, instructing the crowd to disperse, but no one actually seemed to move for a moment.
+Kral had his eyes firmly on the crowd, but a glance to the left showed that the line had reached the Garrison officers.
+
+Hermann called for them to advance, and slowly, the Guard began to push their line toward the crowd.
+The Meadowlarkers began to turn and retreat slowly, although Kral saw many were trying to stay put, only encouraged back by others in the crowd.
+As that was happening, Kral heard some rumbling discussion in the crowd, and saw people pointing behind him, to the side street they'd come from.
+President Calvin was arriving with Darius and Adrienne, surrounded by Trevor's squad.
+
+A moment of confused quiet passed, and then, as if coordinated by some secret signal, the crowd erupted in anger.
+The protestors surged towards the Guard, and their weight pressing against him pushed Kral back against Hermann's men behind him.
+On his right, Kari was pushing against a yak with her shield, and she lost her balance.
+The protestor's horns scraped her shoulder, and Kral instinctively lashed out at him with his truncheon, scoring a blow between the eyes.
+Immediately, the yak seemed to lose balance and sway, and started to fall.
+A few protestors behind him backed up, and Kari used the opportunity to make some room, so she and Kral could pull the yak behind their line.
+The second line dragged the yak back, hopefully to receive any necessary attention from the fire service medics.
+
+―I'm okay, I'm okay, she shouted, preempting his question.
+
+Kral nodded.
+He had to trust her judgement on that, despite the bloody spot on her fur by her shoulder.
+Similar scenes were repeating across the line, Kral saw, and their straight formation had immediately been left ragged.
+But Kral pushed his attention back at the crowd.
+One in front of him was swinging a big stick wildly, and Kral slammed his shield into him, forcing him to drop the stick and try to flee.
+
+Smoke began to fill the air.
+Kral looked around for the source, and to the left a building had started to burn.
+Two yaks on Hermann's squad were restraining someone, presumably the culprit.
+Kral couldn't quite see whether the fire service was able to reach it, but the crowd was pushing forward, trying to stop the arrest.
+Some guards and protesters had bloody injuries.
+
+Something stirred inside Kral, anger that these bigots were hurting good people.
+He broke formation slightly, pushing forward, using his shield to force his way forward.
+Roaring, he swung his truncheon, hitting one of the yaks shouting obscenities.
+One yak charged at him, head first, and they locked horns briefly, until Kral effortlessly pushed him down, pushing his head through until the yak fell to the ground.
+Some of the crowd started to back away from him, and the momentum of the small victory pushed further forward.
+He stamped the ground, and swing his horns in a wide arc, driving back the protesters close to him.
+
+―Kral, back! he heard Kari calling.
+
+He stepped back, closer to the formation, and looked around.
+The protestors had broken the line in a few places, and especially by the Garrison on the left, were preventing the fire service from being able to reach the now multiple fires.
+Adrienne was with a few guards, near the medics tending to some of Wade's injured squad.
+Calvin was nowhere to be seen, presumably escorted away by Trevor.
+The situation was clearly worse than Kral had expected.
+
+Perhaps buoyed by Kral stepping back, the gap he'd cleared quickly filled again, and the tightly packed ground slammed into Kral and the other guards like a wave.
+Kral gritted his teeth and dug his hooves into the ground, pushing with his shield as hard as he could, trying to reduce the pressure on the guards around him.
+As he held his ground, Kari started to get pushed back, and as with earlier, he felt some fire within him roar back into life, and with a surge of effort pushed forward.
+This time, a large section of the protesters in front of him were pushed to the ground.
+
+―How did you do that? Kari murmured, only half a question.
+
+―We need to figure out how to help out the other side, Kral said.
+
+―Looks like the Garrison are showing their true colours here, Jason said.
+
+Kral looked again.
+The Garrison officers on the left had retreated back to the cover of the buildings nearby.
+The firefighters had reached a couple of the buildings, but the first one lit was burning stronger than ever, and protesters had taken control of that side of the street.
+
+Around Kral, the protesters had started to keep their distance, giving them a bit more space.
+
+―Kari, take over here, I'll go help on the left, Kral said.
+
+―No, Kral. Bad idea.
+	Medics behind us.
+
+Kral began to feel a bit disheartened.
+
+―Do we need talk about how to disengage here, sir? Jason asked him.
+
+―Not yet, Kral said, a little hesitantly.
+	Let's push back here if we can, try to at least divide the group up.
+
+Kral called out a slow advance, and the yaks around him were able to step the line forward, with the crowd wary around him.
+However, by both ends, especially on the left by Hermann and the Garrison, the protesters were engaging far more aggressively.
+Even in front of Kral, they weren't dispersing or dividing so much as just making a small amount of space.
+There were too many to actually threaten them.
+
+Suddenly, the pressure seemed to lift from Kral's side.
+He heard some shouting from the back end of the crowd, and Kral had to use all of his height to see over the crowd.
+A group of yaks with black caps and masks, some armed with wooden sticks and metal rods, were running at the protest from the north, surrounding them.
+
+―Who the fuck are they? Kari shouted.
+
+―No idea, but this is as good a chance as any.
+	We're charging.
+	Kari, I want you and Jason to make arrests as we go.
+	Dom and Bryce, he called to his squad.
+	You too, another arrest team.
+	Restrain 'em and pass 'em to Wade's squad.
+	Sound good? he shouted over to Sergeant Wade.
+	
+―Alright with me, Kral, Wade responded.
+
+Kral signalled, and they charged forward at the now-surrounded protesters.
+With the same strength that Kral had suddenly found, he easily pushed through, and the yaks in front of him tried to flee, but were caught by the black-capped group on the other side.
+
+―Let them get out, let them go! Kral shouted, but they didn't be able to hear him from the other side of the crowd.
+
+On the other side of the line, the guards got the idea of what Kral was doing, and pushed forward as well.
+Suddenly, the tide had clearly turned, and the protesters were now losing ground.
+Hermann was echoing Kral's call to the black-capped group to let the Meadowlarkers leave over the loudhailer, and they did leave a few gaps for them to run away.
+
+Kral caught up to some of the protesters he'd seen throwing rocks and held them down until Dom and Bryce came over to arrest them.
+The fire service was finally able to reach the biggest fire, and seemed to be controlling it well.
+Kral saw that there were more and more restrained yaks being held and escorted away, including many wearing masks and black caps.
+
+As the crowd remaining started to thin, one of the masked yaks holding a metal pipe came over.
+
+―Ho, Sergeant!
+
+―Sepp?
+	What's going on?
+
+Sepp pulled down his mask.
+
+―This is the group I was telling you about.
+	They're tired of the Hierarchy twisting the true Meadowlark into something evil.
+	Pretty good, huh?
+
+―Sepp, you can't be here like this.
+	Showing up armed, masked.
+	This isn't okay.
+
+―Kral, this was a riot.
+	I'm happy to get arrested if it was for a good reason.
+
+Kral nodded and sighed.
+
+―I guess I'm not happy.
+
+―Sepp? Kral heard Kari ask as she approached.
+
+Sepp looked at her blankly, until recognition hit.
+
+―Kari! I haven't seen you since what, Kral's promotion celebration?
+
+―Yeah.
+	Kral, what's your friend doing here?
+
+―Unfortunately, it seems like he's part of this group.
+	Sepp, if you're okay with coming with us and giving a statement, we probably don't need to formally detain you.
+	At least avoid the physical restraints.
+
+Sepp smiled.
+―Sure, I just want to help fight the Hierarchy.
+
+Kari waved over a Guard, who took Sepp away to the group of mostly restrained yaks being held.
+
+―Careful Kral, I know you're close, but this isn't about fighting the Hierarchy with your pals.
+	You know that, right?
+
+―I do, Kari.
+	Thanks.
+
+―No problem, sir.
+
+Kari left, leaving Kral with his thoughts.

anti-refugee-protests-3.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,413 @@
+Calvin fumed as Adrienne gave him her briefing.
+Three yaks dead, including a guard.
+Dozens more injured.
+Fortunately, no one from the Barns had been badly injured, but at least one family had had to flee their burning house.
+
+―Old Imperial is slammed, they're saying, Vaughan said.
+	They were in trouble with the malacusis stuff even before this.
+	Grove has some capacity, but transport's going to be a problem.
+	We should commandeer the tramways again.
+
+Calvin nodded.
+
+―Done.
+	I'll have Adam make the call to get the Tramway Office running.
+	And we can open up some emergency aid funds as needed.
+	Captain, are there any Guards who weren't at the riot who can be allocated there?
+	We're going to have trouble getting staff at the Tramway Office this late, so some extra hands to help clear streets will be helpful.
+
+Captain Adrienne nodded.
+
+―We can do that.
+	Lieutenant Trebly will be on the next shift quite soon, so I will have him also at Grove to coordinate receiving patients as well.
+
+―Good.
+	Thank you Captain.
+	Anything else?
+
+―Well, yes, sir.
+	Lieutenant Hermann says that once the Garrison officers realised we were from the Guard, they turned and incited the crowd.
+	Accused us of being secret police, suppressing them.
+	It, boiled over from there.
+	It's a shambles, sir.
+
+―Where's Hermann now? Nikki asked.
+
+―Over at the Garrison, with a few Guards.
+	We've commandeered some of their holding cells, and we're hoping they don't give us any trouble.
+	Especially because I don't think they can be trusted to guard any of their own members who are under arrest.
+	Sir, I think that their failure to maintain order led to one of my men getting killed.
+	Charging them with misconduct is going to be a nightmare, and I'd really like to make sure we have your support on that.
+
+Calvin nodded.
+
+―Adrienne, you're dismissed for now.
+	You have our full support in going after the Garrison officers who failed to uphold their duty.
+
+Adrienne nodded, turned and left.
+Calvin sent Adam notes on what orders needed to send out, got back and sat down with a massive sigh.
+
+―If only we could take down the whole lot of them, Vaughan said.
+
+―Actually, I may be able to help on that front, Nikki said.
+	At the very least go after Darius.
+
+All eyes landed on her.
+Calvin leaned forward.
+
+―You were certainly busy during all of this.
+
+―I have a collection of memos and letters from Darius's office at Justice.
+	Still going through them, but they include assurances to Hierarchy officials that the Garrison would respect any Flocks that wished to protest.
+	Some memos too, ways to downplay any violence from Meadowlarkers to reduce arrests.
+
+―Is that enough to charge Darius with anything? Vaughan asked.
+
+―Not quite, Calvin said.
+	Right, Nikki?
+
+―Yep, Nikki nodded in agreement.
+	Nothing directly from Darius, and we can't use it in court.
+
+Calvin nodded.
+Of course, Nikki finding a less than legal solution to a problem was nothing new.
+It did still bother him.
+Without her, he wouldn't have this to use, but with her he couldn't use it.
+At least, he couldn't use it and feel good about himself.
+
+―I'm not comfortable blackmailing him, Nikki, Calvin said.
+
+―I figured, Cal.
+	Just being prepared, in case we need it.
+
+Calvin nodded, then sighed and rubbed his face.
+No good decisions happened at this time of night.
+
+―You have a statement ready? he asked Nikki.
+
+―Yeah, want me to read it?
+
+―Is it a good one?
+
+―Not my best, not my worst, she said.
+	Seven out of ten, I'd say.
+
+―That's fine, I don't need to see it then.
+	Any word on that group that showed up?
+	Is that another headache we need to pay attention to.
+
+―I don't think so, sir, Vaughan said.
+	As Adrienne said, they were there to try to help the Guard out.
+	The New Meadowlark, because they want to separate the Meadowlark from the Hierarchy.
+	Basically a new Flock, separate from all the other Flocks.
+
+Calvin didn't quite understand what that meant.
+The Meadowlark was what the Hierarchy taught, not something on its own.
+
+―Cal, I disagree.
+	They showed up en masse, armed.
+	How did they organise and respond so quickly?
+	Especially since we've never heard of them.
+	The Guard only barely beat them there.
+
+―Like the Captain said, the ones that broke laws were arrested.
+	We have bigger problems than a single Flock showing up and helping us.
+	And why would they even be on our radar at all?
+	We don't monitor every new Flock.
+	We couldn't even if we wanted to.
+
+Calvin felt a low simmer in his veins.
+On the one hand, he knew this group was potentially trouble.
+But on the other, he didn't entirely disagree with Vaughan.
+Before he could respond either way, Adam knocked.
+
+Vaughan opened the door for him, and Adam walked in.
+
+―Sir, the Hierarch wants to talk to you.
+	He says he wants to head over immediately.
+	Is that okay?
+
+Calvin felt a slight preemptive headache at the prospect of dealing with Auroklos now.
+
+―Did he give you any more information?
+
+―No, just that it's important.
+
+―Adam, this is the goddamn President's office, Nikki said.
+	Everything here is important.
+
+―Nikki, I promise, I told him exactly that.
+
+Calvin didn't want to deal with the two of them sniping at each other, and interjected immediately.
+
+―Fine, Adam, tell him to come here.
+
+Vaughan gave him a surprised look, so Calvin explained.
+
+―Look, we have to talk to him about the riot anyway.
+	Either we see a condemnation of everyone involved, directly from the Hierarchy, or we're tearing the whole thing down.
+
+Nikki started to open her mouth to explain why that was impossible, so Calvin interrupted her.
+
+―I know, I know.
+	Voters will turn.
+	But Auroklos is our guy, he knows the drill.
+	This is worth threatening their budget over.
+	The Council know they're on shaky ground already, right? # Council is made up of 9 Ennearchs, along with Councillors
+
+Nikki shrugged.
+
+―Again, Cal, everyone knows that Auroklos is willing to play ball with us.
+	Not saying it's a bad thing for him to make a statement, just, it's not going to actually fix anything.
+	Won't stop extremist Flocks at all.
+
+―There were some Hierarchy folks at the protest, right? Vaughan asked.
+	Are any of them in custody?
+	Or were they at least IDed?
+
+―I saw them, Calvin answered.
+	Were wearing what looked like practicant robes.
+
+―They might pay more attention to Auroklos, Nikki said, but they'll also have a better sense of what's being coerced out of him.
+	And again, Cal, if we need extra leverage...
+
+―Do the letters you have implicate Auroklos in the violence at all?
+
+―No, not directly.
+	But we can make the implication.
+
+Calvin nodded, although he felt uneasy.
+
+-------------
+
+It wasn't long until Auroklos arrived, wearing the full regalia of the Hierarch.
+He came alone, as he usually did.
+
+―President Calvin, thank you for indulging me at this hour.
+	I have a matter of grave concern I would discuss with you in private.
+
+He indicated Nikki and Vaughan.
+
+―Welcome, Hierarch.
+	These are trusted members of my office, I can assure you.
+
+Auroklos looked overly hesitant, as though to put on a show of accommodating the request.
+Calvin's forehead started to feel stretched, the beginnings of a headache spreading down to his temples.
+
+―Well, Calvin, if you insist, my hands are tied.
+	I bring you bleak news, a rather unhappy development from the sorry events earlier today.
+
+―Hierarch, if you mean the riots caused by the Flocks, stoked by Hierarchy Practicants, there are many unhappy developments.
+	I think it would be best if the Hierarchy could punish those within the Order who are responsible, and denounce the vile garbage spewed to the farm animals they wronged.
+
+Auroklos looked annoyed, and waved the statement away.
+
+―That is unimportant.
+	Calvin―
+
+―It's President Calvin.
+	Or Your Excellency.
+	Hierarch Auroklos, I have respected your office, and while you stand here, you should respect mine.
+
+Some glimmer of life and resistance came into the Hierarch's eyes.
+
+―Respect my office by threatening to attack the Order, to replace me in my role?
+
+―I am making no threats, Hierarch.
+	Merely asking for courtesy.
+
+―A veiled dagger is no less sharp for being hidden, your Excellency.
+	Fine, I have no desire to support the attacks on the poor wretches trying to force the way into our city.
+	In the end, we lost people as well, for nothing.
+	If you identify those Practicants responsible, the Hierarchy will not stop you from pursuing justice against them.
+	Another issue, one far more pressing, brings me here, however.
+	You are familiar with the epidemic spreading through Northhaven, correct?
+
+Calvin nodded, intrigued.
+
+―Well, I think it is not unreasonable to say that it has had an unusually large effect on the Flocks in Northhaven.
+	Those kept awake for days on end, or kept from working, or simply driven mad by the effects of it.
+	They're the ones who are pushing the Flocks to violence.
+	But, a message from Yakaterina has brought me even greater turmoil, your Excellency.
+	You see, the source of the problem is not a simple parasite or worm, or indeed any other mundane medical malady.
+	Instead, something more insidious is at play.
+	I believe it to be the work of a Voiced being.
+	One who has managed to attack the city.
+	More than that, I believe it to be related to the New Meadowlark.
+
+―You think the New Meadowlark, the group that showed up to fight your supporters, is secretly responsible for an epidemic?
+	Isn't that a bit too convenient, Hierarch?
+
+―Indeed, President Calvin, I would.
+	I will merely add this.
+	My predecessor Yakaterina bids me to pass on a message directly to you, in reply to your inquiries.
+
+Calvin saw the look that Nikki flashed him.
+One of slight disgust and surprise, welded together with disappointment.
+
+―Go ahead, tell me the message.
+
+―Simply put, I must discuss this malacusis problem.
+	I trust you are aware of it?
+
+―Of course we are.
+	We're putting as many resources into it as we can.
+
+―That is quite a shame, Your Excellency.
+	The cases that have reached the hospitals are the worst of the worst.
+	But even the mildly affected are in turmoil.
+	And with so many Flocks in Northhaven, the Hierarchy has seen Flock after Flock seeking aid.
+	What succour can we offer these poor souls, when the mighty Republic itself cannot offer them relief? he said drily.
+	Young yaks, left unable to sleep because of these cursed whispers, a strange disease spread by these mongrel farm animals―
+
+Vaughan began to chirp out a sound of alarm at the word, but Calvin jumped in before he could say anything that would offend Auroklos too badly.
+
+―Hierarch, please!
+	Mind your words.
+
+―Yes, of course, but you see Calvin, this is how they speak, these Flocks.
+	What will they know of the plight of the Barns when their friends and family are sick and dying, voices whispering evil thoughts to them?
+	They see the sheer number of refugees coming to Galvarelli, and make the connection themselves.
+	It is hardly the interest of the Hierarchy to spread this nonsense when it is patently untrue.
+	Don't forget, I am no fool.
+	The Barns are not falling as badly ill, nor is Mindemoya, nor the South Shore.
+	Indeed, the Meadowlark is not only the province of yaks.
+	The Elders of course are closest to it, and yet most of the Elders here are refugees as well.
+	All of our cousins are welcome to the Hierarchy, even if poor Flocks cannot see it in the midst of their struggles.
+
+―You should include this in your statement about the riots, Hierarch.
+
+―I will, President Calvin.
+	But in exchange, keep this in mind.
+	The Flocks that attacked the Barns, yes, attacked.
+	I can admit that much.
+	The Flocks that attacked the Barns are sick, tormented by a horrible disease you have failed to truly address.
+	Not merely one that they attribute to the refugees―mistakenly attribute, yes, he added upon seeing Calvin open his mouth―, but also one that prevents them from sleeping, causes them great terror and paranoia, attacks the faculty so fiercely as to render the most meagre coherent thought an impossibility.
+	How can they be held entirely responsible for the violence committed in the throes of such an ailment?
+	They cannot, you see.
+
+―Is this the official position of the Hierarchy?
+	That the riot, along with all preceding violent rhetoric, was merely the effect of the stress of the malacusis epidemic?
+
+―President Calvin, you seem to regard the Hierarchy as a personal enemy.
+	Yet you have worked so hard to put a puppet at its head.
+	Let us be honest a moment.
+	After all your efforts, the threats and offerings, you still do not wish to hear me out?
+	I have agreed to your terms for today, and ask merely that you hear the Heresiarch's message out.
+
+―Fine, Heresiarch.
+
+―Thank you.
+	And of course it is not our official position.
+	For whatever it matters, if you wish there to be one, it is that some extremist Flocks have done violent things, which the Ennearchs will review and punish according to our principles.
+	And if you wish my personal opinion, it is that the malacusis problem is hardly a problem at all.
+	I only discuss it because Yakaterina thinks it of the highest importance, and is asking me to ask you this.
+	President Calvin, will you visit her in person?
+
+―Visit her?
+	Hierarch Auroklos, she is an enemy of the Republic.
+	By rights, she should have faced execution.
+	I can't visit her.
+	Nor would I want to.
+
+―Your Excellency, I have just one more thing to add.
+	She told me exactly this:
+		― Tell the President that if I was right about the malacusis, then it cannot be cured without her advice.
+			Galvarelli will be overrun and destroyed.
+
+No one spoke for a moment.
+
+―I have passed along my message, President Calvin, Auroklos said.
+	I will preach what you wish me to preach.
+	Your daggers can stay veiled, I trust.
+
+He hesitated a moment.
+
+―The Heresiarch is a dangerous woman.
+	She is in prison for good reason.
+	But she is also powerful, one of the most powerful Anendytes the Meadowlark has seen since the Suppression.
+	The Telaugurs could touch parts of fate itself, and she was not far from them at the height of her power.
+	I cannot say whether to trust her or not, merely that you should be careful.
+
+On that ominous note, Auroklos turned and left.
+Calvin's sense of impending headache seemed to have been correct.
+Although with Auroklos, it was safe to assume every interaction would lead to a headache.
+
+―Nikki, did we get a response from Old Imperial?
+
+―Yes, they sent over a brief report.
+	Let me find it.
+
+She rummaged through her bag until she pulled out the folder with the message.
+
+―They basically say that your idea worked.
+	Trimming the hair around the ears reduced the severity of symptoms.
+	Trying to record the sound directly from the hairs blocked the symptoms.
+	What does that mean?
+	The voices they're hearing are coming from their hair?
+
+Calvin wore a grim expression on his face.
+
+―Yes, it seems that way.
+
+―What is it you were asking Yakaterina?
+
+―She sent me a message shortly after our election.
+	Saying that there would be trouble during this government.
+	I didn't really think much of it until a couple months ago, when she sent me another one.
+	Basically that I should investigate the hair.
+	I didn't know what it meant until that meeting.
+
+―Why didn't you tell us about it?
+	Cal, secret messages to a terrorist?
+	If it had gone public, I'd have had no idea how to fight for you.
+
+―She'd asked me not to tell anyone, Nikki.
+	Believe me, I have no love for her.
+	She's vile scum, with yak blood on her horns.
+	I will never forget it. 
+	But Auroklos was right about one thing:
+	When it comes to the Meadowlark, all the magical shit, she knows more than anyone else.
+
+Nikki seemed contented with that explanation.
+
+―So, will you meet her? Vaughan asked.
+
+―I think I have to.
+
+―I'll make the arrangements, Nikki said.
+	I'm sure the prison will be excited to accommodate your security.
+
+―Calvin, Vaughan started to say, a bit hesitantly.
+	You know that Auroklos was full of shit, right?
+	Even if the malacusis is affecting the Northsiders, it doesn't absolve them of anything.
+
+―I know, Vaughan.
+	Believe me, I do.
+	And I don't know how honest Auroklos is really being about the farm animals.
+	If he's telling the truth, then it's Yakaterina pushing that.
+	I wish we knew how she could get messages out at all.
+	She really shouldn't have access to the Meadowlark for communication, right?
+
+Nikki shook her head.
+
+―No, that's what June said.
+	We really have no idea.
+	How did her messages to you arrive?
+
+―Letters from Auroklos's office.
+	He wouldn't tell me how he got the message.
+
+―You're sure they're actually from her at all?
+
+―Yeah, I replied to her first one in a letter directly to her cell, and her second message responded to that.
+	Auroklos wouldn't have been able to do that, I think.
+
+―Unless he's far more competent than we thought, as unlikely as that seems.
+
+―Right, unless he's actually competent.
+	Anyway, Vaughan, you're right.
+	I won't forget the Barns when I talk to her.
+	Anyway, you two have had a long night.
+	Get some sleep.
+	God knows we're going to have a fun time tomorrow.

anti-refugee-protests.txt

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-―Nikki, follow me, emergency!, Vaughan yelled as he passed Nikki's office without stopping.
+―Nikki, follow me, emergency, Vaughan yelled as he passed Nikki's office without stopping.
 She sighed, and jogged to catch up with him.
 
 ―What's up?
@@ -17,33 +17,131 @@ Adam was going through some files, and protested as Nikki and Vaughan walked by
 
 Nikki stopped, and gave Adam a firm glare until he dropped eye contact and retreated to his busy work, leaving Nikki and Vaughan to walk into Calvin's office.
 
-Calvin started when they walked in, and set down the book he had been reading.
+Calvin started when they walked in, and set down the small black book he had been reading.
 
 ― I thought I'd asked Adam to minimise interruptions, Calvin said.
 
 He sighed after a moment and gestured for them to sit down.
 
 ―Sorry for the interruption Calvin, Vaughan said, it's the Meadowlarkers protesting by the East Side.
-	They're lining up with torches, and there are some refugees making a counter demonstration.
+	There's a group coming in with torches, and there are some refugees making a counter demonstration at the line.
 	It's looking like it could get violent.
 
-―Where's the City Guard? Nikki asked. This seems like a local issue, not something that needs the President.
+―Where's the City Garrison? Nikki asked. This seems like a local issue, not something that needs the President.
 
 Vaughan hesitated, in what Nikki thought was a particularly despondent way.
+Nikki also noticed Calvin slowly putting the book in his shoulder bag.
 
 ―There's some guards there, but they've basically stepped aside.
-	I think the protesters have avoided doing anything too drastic while they're there, but half the City Guard is part of the Meadowlark flocks.
+	I think the protesters have avoided doing anything too drastic while they're there, you know the Garrison, half of them are part of the Flocks.
 
-―For fuck's sake! Nikki yelled. You didn't think to lead with that? 
+―For fuck's sake! Nikki yelled.
 
-Nikki opened her mouth to continue to yell at Vaughan, but Calvin raised a hand and she stopped and tooko a deep breath.
-
-―Sorry Vaughan, she forced herself to say.
-
-He nodded in acceptance.
+There was a moment of silence while the gravity of the news sank in.
+Nikki knew the Garrison was sympathetic to the Meadowlark, but openly refusing to step in was a step too far, even for Darius.
 
+Vaughan leaned forward, and looked at Calvin.
 ―We need to send in the Presidential Guard to clear the protest, as soon as possible. Show that we're serious about protecting the Barns.
 
-Nikki groaned again.
+―Absolutely not, Nikki said immediately. Vaughan, just picture it. Presidential guards coming in to stamp out the Meadowlarkers? We'd be voted out, if they hadn't murdered us by then.
 
-―Absolutely not! 
+—Nikki—
+
+—They've been waiting for years to play the victim card, Nikki interrupted, and if they see Calvin's personal troops doing anything close to stopping them free expression of religion, we're scoring an own goal, Vaughan. It's crazy, we can't do it.
+
+—Nikki, this is life or death.
+	We can get Auroklos to make a statement denouncing violence, and then it's not a religious issue.
+
+—Auroklos is a spineless fool, and the farm animals don't vote.
+	The Flocks do, and we need to keep them happy.
+	Losing our small hold Northhaven will trash any part of our agenda.
+	Worst case, we'll have every town outside the Haven coming in here asking for Calvin's resignation.
+
+Vaughan threw his hands up and scoffed.
+
+—Calvin, weigh in. Now or never, we'll need to move soon.
+
+Nikki felt a sense of calm come down.
+
+—Wait, both of you.
+
+—We don't have long, Vaughan said.
+
+—Dammit, wait, give me a second to think.
+
+The Presidential Guard was too closely tied to the old governments when the Flocks were suppressed, and the City Garrison was free of that stain.
+
+—I think there's only one course of action here.
+	We give the Garrison an out, and bring the Presidential Guard with us out of uniform.
+	That way we can say we're bringing them as support, and the Garrison can pretend their inaction was out of caution, not apathy.
+	The protesters will see it as Presidential support of the Garrison, not us undermining them.
+
+—We can't sit down and condone the Garrison for this.
+	Everyone who would have watched the Barns burn need to lose their jobs.
+
+—No, Calvin said.
+
+He stood slowly, and began to walk to the door.
+
+—Nikki's right, Vaughan.
+
+Calvin's tone was tense, and Nikki could feel his reluctance at admitting it.
+He reached the door, and passed on instructions to Adam, who left the room quickly.
+Calvin began to follow them and gestured for Vaughan and Nikki to join with him.
+
+—We'll still ask Auroklos to make a statement, and maybe come to the protest to speak.
+	I'll need to be there, along with Darius.
+	He'll still have to agree to help us, and we'll owe him a favour.
+
+—Calvin, it's going to look like we're supporting the protests.
+	We'll lose any credibility on refugees.
+
+—Vaughan, our credibility isn't worth anything if we're not in power to actually use it, Nikki said.
+
+Calvin nodded slowly.
+
+—Nikki, stay behind, run the office.
+	And see if there's any answer from Old Imperial about my malacusis question.
+	Vaughan, you'll be with me.
+
+Nikki watched them leave the office, then headed back to her office.
+Letting the Garrison go unpunished stung, although there wasn't another way to get them to help cover up their failure.
+Unless there was.
+Nikki stopped in the hallway, stopped in an empty office nearby, and wrote a brief note.
+Then she started back to the bullpen.
+She found her target in a cube near the far end of the office, a young yak who yelped when Nikki stopped in front of her.
+
+—Your brother still works at Justice, right?, Nikki asked.
+
+—Sorry ma'am, what?
+
+Nikki tried to remember when the young yak had been hired.
+Less than a year, she thought.
+Probably hadn't dealt directly with Nikki much.
+
+—You're Annie, if I remember correctly? You're not in trouble, don't worry. Your brother, he's an administrator in Justice?
+
+Annie looked slightly less panicked.
+
+—Yes, ma'am, he's still in Justice. How'd you remember?
+
+—He had that issue with getting a transfer there, he asked for help from us or something.
+	I remember Adam mentioning something like that, how's he finding it there?
+
+—He's doing okay, ma'am.
+	You know Justice.
+	It's tough, but he's happy to be there.
+	Why do you ask?
+
+—Just curious how he was doing, was reminded by a conversation with Adam.
+	Do me a favour, can you call him up and pass on a message?
+
+―Yes, of course.
+
+―Perfect, Nikki said as she handed Annie the note.
+
+—I'll call him now, ma'am. Anything else?
+
+—No, feel free to return to your work now.
+
+Nikki pivoted away, and started back to her office.

bgci-kral-says-hes-coming.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Adam burst into Nikki's office, Adrienne behind him.
+
+―We have a problem, ma'am, Adrienne said.
+
+―What is it? Nikki said.

bovril-tells-kral-about-leaving-ottawa.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+Kral was, like nearly everyone else in the country, asleep when his father entered his room almost offensively early in the morning, travelling bag on his shoulder.
+
+―Kralvin, come with me.
+ 	I want to show you something.
+
+Kral groaned.
+
+―Can't it wait until morning?
+
+―No, we should go now
+
+Kral quickly got himself to some approximation of ready.
+They left home and headed to the west end of the Barns, towards the Towers.
+
+―Wait, Dad, where are we going?
+
+Bovril's eyes twinkled as he smiled.
+
+―You're not going to tell your mother, right?
+
+Kral shook his head.
+
+The Towers at the Havenstreasure Silo Complex were the tallest buildings in the Haven, possibly in all of Galvarelli.
+His yak friends had complained about the sounds of the engines that powered the elevator, and the metal construction that they saw as an eyesore, but Kral couldn't help but love them.
+Even in Galvarelli's least desirable land, the Towers represented stability, safety.
+Food enough for years even if the grass stopped growing, ensuring the Barns would always be fed.
+
+The maintenance stairs around the outside primary silage Tower were always attractive for kids, but Kral had always been wary of climbing them.
+Even if he didn't mind the rickety construction and their almost complete lack of use, with an alternative motorised elevator for actual maintenance, Kral and his friends at the Barns feared the wrath of their cautious mothers far more.
+Better to plummet to his death than worry Rowena, Kral thought.
+But Bovril was heading straight to the stairs, and excitement built in Kral's gut.
+
+Right from the bottom, the staircase seemed to shake at his weight as they began to climb.
+The iron stairs were probably Ottawan made, Kral thought.
+Traded, not made here.
+At the very least, they'd have been imported from North Galvarelli where more metal manufacturing took place, although it would have been more expensive.
+Apparently, large parts of the Towers had to be kept far more fireproof than normal.
+The costs were another reason the Complex had been an unpopular investment decades ago, at a time when the Hierarchy was less able to agitate against its construction.
+
+The tight spiral upwards quickly began to make Kral dizzy, although he swallowed it and kept going.
+Bovril was moving quite adeptly, and Kral had to push himself a bit to keep pace.
+
+The railing had broken in sections, and the non-slip rubber had peeled off many steps.
+Kral tried his best to avoid thinking about the almost certainly fatal fall that would await him if his hooves slipped out from under him.
+In the dark, Kral couldn't see much, apart from the odd lights visible from the Barns or Northhaven.
+
+Eventually, they reached the top, where they came through a hatch to a somewhat narrow platform that encircled the Tower.
+Thankfully, the platform's railing around it had no visible damage around it.
+Kral had to sit for a moment to let the dizziness go away, and to catch his breath.
+Bovril was standing, leaning on the railing, terrifyingly enough.
+He didn't seem to be at all winded by the climb.
+
+―I don't understand how you do it, Kral said.
+
+―I'm not as big as you, son.
+	This isn't my first time up here either.
+
+Kral nodded, and stood.
+Bovril walked him around to the north side of the platform. They had a clear view of Monsimeli Island, where he could see the Presidential Residence at Havenmount.
+The tall building's lower floors were garlanded with electric lights, and periodic lights along the top showed off Havenmount's tiered structure.
+
+To the East, Kral could see across the Barns, all the way to Manitou Lake.
+
+―Great view, Kral said.
+
+Bovril pulled two bottles of malt beer from his bag, offering Kral one.
+
+―Figure we should celebrate, Kral.
+	You're going to be in the Guard pretty soon.
+
+―I haven't applied yet, Dad.
+	I'm not sure I'll be accepted.
+
+―I am.
+
+Kral nodded.
+He felt some knot of emotion in his chest, and tried to push it down as he took the beer.
+
+―Cheers, dad.
+
+They sat for a while, as a few hints of the sun started to creep into the sky from the east.
+
+―You know, Kral, you're not my first son.
+
+Kral found himself a bit shocked.
+He knew his dad had left the Ottawans, but his dad had always hated talking about it.
+
+―I was a dairy cow, you know.
+	They just cared about your body, not who you were, and so they just cared that I was a cow.
+	There was a girl on the farm, Clara.
+	I liked her.
+	She was nice.
+	Clara liked to stay with us.
+	Young for a human, she just wanted to play, show us her dolls and toys.
+	And pet us, of course.
+
+Kral was shocked.
+
+―Pet you?
+	You were okay with that?
+
+―Kral, I'll let you in on a secret.
+	We hate admitting it here in the Republic, but it's hugely comforting on a farm having someone willing to hold you in a friendly way.
+	Doesn't take away from our freedoms at all, just a purely affectionate gesture.
+
+―I guess, Kral said, although he felt unconvinced.
+	Doesn't it feel too...
+
+Kral couldn't find the right word.
+
+―The loss of autonomy?
+	Kral, when you're on a farm, every part of you is controlled by the humans.
+	Being pet is nothing in comparison.
+	Dairy cows have to calve on schedule, you know.
+	We don't talk about it in the barns, but they don't even let it happen naturally.
+	Imagine a human sticking his arm in you, then a metal device filled with, well you know.
+	It's awful.
+
+Kral's jaw was fully dropped.
+He'd never really had to think about what Bovril had gone through.
+
+―Anyway, Clara watched when I gave birth for the first time.
+	Beautiful calf, pale brown.
+	Skinny thing, on stilts for legs.
+	Fell over trying to stand up.
+	And Clara wanted to name him right away.
+	But that's the thing.
+	Him.
+	Not much room for dairy calves born male.
+
+Kral shuddered.
+
+―What happened?
+
+―Nothing at first, they let him spend a few hours with me.
+	But I think the farmers had told the girl, because she was upset.
+	Cried a lot, she didn't really understand why.
+	I mean it's the economics of it, why would you keep an unproductive calf around, you know?
+	But the humans weren't really able to explain that to a kid.
+	And me, I was, well.
+	Hard to explain.
+	I'd known that I should mentally prepare for it, but it's different when the kid's in front of you, and his name's running around your head.
+	Your body does things to you, tells you that this kid's the most important thing in the world.
+	There's no real way to tell your body that you shouldn't be a parent.
+	And this boy, so playful, right away.
+	Just wanted to explore, and see what Clara was doing.
+	Nuzzle up.
+	They had a gorgeous herding dog on the farm, who just wanted to play with this new calf.
+	I think the dog wasn't the smartest, probably thought that it was just an oddly shaped dog.
+	Anyway, after a few hours, they took my son away.
+	Veal.
+
+Kral felt a wave of nausea rise up within him.
+He'd heard of veal, but didn't actually realise the rumours were true.
+The Ottawans eating children.
+
+―Is that when you decided to leave?
+
+―No, that wasn't the moment.
+	It was a little while later, when Clara grew up a bit, and stopped talking to me about it.
+	A few other cows there calved, and a few of them were taken away too.
+	I could see that Clara, she was a good kid you know, Clara got a bit less emotional each time.
+	She wanted to be a good farmer.
+	That's the thing Kral, these were good people.
+	They'd proudly show off their cows to other humans.
+	Lots of room, plenty of space for everyone.
+	They cared for the sick, cried over the ones they couldn't afford to keep alive.
+	But even the good farmers, they had to worry about their business.
+	And that meant Clara never could really be a friend.
+	She cried over my first boy.
+	She wouldn't cry over any of the others.
+	That's what made me leave.
+
+Kral felt the knot in his chest tighten.
+He brushed tears off of his face, but they were flowing freely by now.
+A few tears even trickled down Bovril's face.
+
+―I'd heard of the Hidden Lands.
+	They're only a legend, there, rumours we'd tell each other when things were tough.
+	They say once you get to the wild to follow the part of you that doesn't point in any direction of the compass, the pure grass that grows unrestrained.
+	Not sure if that actually helped, but I found some other refugees on the way, and eventually we got here.
+	Anyway, Kral.
+	That's what the Barns are for.
+	That's why I wanted you to see this.
+
+The sun was beginning to rise in earnest.
+Reds and yellows painted across the sky, clouds a rich pink.
+The Barns had never looked quite so beautiful.
+
+―What was your son's name, Dad?
+
+Bovril hesitated for a moment, the name only coming to his mouth reluctantly.
+
+―Butternut.
+	Clara named him Butternut.
+	She'd named me too.
+	I was Marigold.
+	I couldn't keep the name.
+	Bovril's a type of meat extract some humans eat.
+	Concentrated stock, all the toughest parts of the cow retained, amplified.
+	That's why I took my name.
+	No matter what the humans did to me, I wanted to be stronger for it.
+	Sinew and bone and grit.
+	I didn't want any kids after I got here.
+	When your mom and I got together though, she was adamant.
+	Said I was strong enough to try it again, and when I saw you as a baby yak, waiting for someone to take care of you, I just melted.
+	So we fought for the right to adopt you.
+	Every time I felt scared of being a dad, of having to tell people that we could actually raise a yak in the Barns, I just thought back to seeing you for the first time.
+	And now, when I see the man you're going to be.
+	The man that you already are.
+	Kral it was worth it.
+	I'm just so proud of you.
+
+Kral leaned against his dad, holding the pose a moment.
+―Thanks Dad.
+	For all of it.
+
+They sat for a while and watched the day break.

calvin-is-rescued.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+Chief joined Jod and Omig at Rowena's table.
+The night's sleep had been helpful, at least to Chief, but waking up this early was less pleasant.
+
+―How are both of you?
+
+Jod grumbled a bit, which found oddly reassuring.
+Omig just stared ahead vacantly.
+
+―Yeah, me too.
+
+Rowena brought them some tea, and sat down as well.
+
+―Are we waiting for Brother Kab? Jod asked.
+
+―No, I think it's best we let him rest longer.
+
+Jod nodded, oddly sympathetically.
+
+―Rowena, I cannot thank you enough for your help, Chief continued.
+	But you should go back to bed.
+	We'll be gone soon, and you can have your home back.
+
+―My son did this, Chief.
+	If he's not going to fix this, I'll have to do it.
+	Besides, I owe it to President Calvin.
+
+―What do you mean?
+
+―When I'd just gotten married, and Bov and I were looking to adopt, it wasn't possible for non-yaks to adopt a yak.
+	They said that because we didn't have the stone hooves, we couldn't be good parents.
+	We weren't good enough to raise one of the yaks.
+	And I'd already met little Kral as a calf, sweetest eyes.
+	Calvin was young then, just rising up in local government.
+	When he heard about us he put himself on the line to fight for our right to adopt a yak.
+	It wasn't popular, even among the city yaks here in the Haven.
+	But Calvin didn't care, he risked the poor polling.
+	If there's a chance he's still alive, somehow...
+	Raising Kral is the best thing that's happened to me, and even with all of this, I still want to thank the man that made it possible.
+
+―And does your husband know you're coming with us?
+	He's okay with you taking the risk?
+
+Rowena smiled.
+
+―It's nothing compared to the risks he's taking.
+	He's going to try to talk to Kral at Havenmount.
+	Sorry he didn't tell you, he wanted to leave as soon as you fell asleep last night.
+
+―Damn.
+	We should move quickly then.
+
+―Brother Jod, you and I can work on the Chart.
+	Omig, are you okay?
+
+Omig looked over, still blank, and only seemed to half respond.
+
+―I'll be ready Chief.
+	It's just a lot.
+	
+―I know, Sister Omig.
+	I'm sorry that you have to be in this position.
+	Go back and get a bit more rest, if you need it.
+	I suspect we'll need you to be as ready as possible.

calvin-meet-yakaterina.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+Yakaterina sat at her dining table in her kitchen, and poured two cups of tea.
+The Heresiarch's hair was long, and he marked the long curls around her ears.
+Traitor to the republic, and her prison cell was still nicer than many could afford.
+Calvin stood stiffly at the entrance to the kitchen until she gestured for him to sit down.
+He slowly lowered himself on the chair and gave her a stony stare, but she only sipped at her cup and gave him a polite smile back.
+The tea's vibrant, grassy aroma seemed to curl around his nose, and he had begun to reach for his own cup before catching himself.
+He couldn't let himself fall into the trap of falling for the façade of normalcy she wanted this meeting to have.
+
+―You're stuck in this cell for a reason, he said.
+
+―Of course, Your Excellency. The Suppression of our Flocks by your predecessors, she said, smile unchanged.
+
+Calvin stood suddenly.
+
+―It was a mistake coming here.
+
+She'd been right about the voices coming from the hair, though.
+And as far as he knew, she'd been right about the book, infuriatingly enough.
+He sat back down.
+
+―Fine, I'll accept your help.
+
+She raised an eyebrow, and if anything her smile widened.
+
+―Your Excellency, simply ask and I'd be happy to oblige.
+
+―Heresiarch Yakaterina, I need your help. We need your help. You were right about the hair.
+
+She dropped her smile and set the mug down.
+
+―Well of course I was, I don't make a habit of being wrong.
+	Nor will I make a habit of replying to people who can't address me properly.
+
+Calvin groaned internally.
+
+―Could you tell me what you know?
+	We think whatever's happening is spreading.
+	Old Imperial is struggling to do anything besides sedating the people who can't sleep, and it's clear that it's related to the Meadowlark in some way.
+
+―Nonsense, it's not related to the Meadowlark at all. 
+
+―It's talking hair, of course it's related to some sort of magic.
+
+Annoyance flitted across her face.
+
+―Calvin, the Meadowlark isn't some non-existent magic.
+	You've seen what the Hierarchy can do.
+
+―Fine, but the hair isn't just ordinary hair, right?
+	Is it at least related to why the Flocks have been growing more violent?
+	Or is that your doing again, trying to attack the Republic?
+
+She stared icily at him.
+
+―I believe, President Calvin, that you were asking me for help.
+	Nasty slurs like that won't get you anything.
+	
+	It's not the Meadowlark itself, but something else is attacking the Meadowlark.
+	It doesn't feel like something from Dwarves, or even other Beasts.
+	The Aery might be able to do something like this, but if the Aery wanted to attack us it wouldn't be this subtle.
+
+She closed her eyes and hummed, pensive.
+
+―As you can see, she said, opening her eyes again, I've kept my hair long, listening out for the New Voice.
+	I think it's clever enough to avoid coming to me at all.
+	The trick with the notebook worked, right?
+
+Calvin nodded.
+
+―That means whatever's causing it has to be close enough to maintain enough control to choose who hears it.
+	And they have to have enough control to react to the notebook, otherwise they'd have targeted the government.
+
+―Will I be safe to leave the notebook, then?
+
+―No Calvin, you have no skill with the Meadowlark.
+	Although, hm.
+
+She sat for a moment, before reaching for a notebook on the kitchen counter behind her, writing something down and tearing the page out.
+
+―Take this to Auroklos, and he'll give you a book.
+	You should at least get familiar with the Meadowlark, if you'll be any help at all in saving it.
+
+―Why would I want to save it?
+
+―Whatever's attacking us is here to attack all yaks, so if you care about your little Republic, you should focus your attention on this.
+
+Calvin folded the page in four, and tucked it in his bag.
+
+―Should I get more notebooks for the rest of my staff?
+
+―One or two at most, but if you do too many, you'll risk drawing them out to do something more drastic.
+
+―At least then we'll be able to fight whatever it is.
+
+Yakaterina leaned forward on the table.
+
+―Our enemy is attacking the Meadowlark itself, one of the Great Voices.
+	Again, we have to assume they won't be strong enough to do it over a great distance, meaning they're nearby.
+	If they're strong enough to control this attack like this from afar, we have no hope.
+	But even otherwise, someone very powerful is in our midst, probably even in the city, and are strong enough to attack on the scale of cities.
+	For someone to be able to try to subvert one of the Voices, it's not a single strong connection to the Meadowlark, it's not even a group.
+	Even all the Telaugurs at their peak, working in unison, couldn't affect hair like this.
+
+Calvin felt a shiver run down his spine.
+
+―Is this related to the farm animals at all, then?
+
+Yakaterina chuckled, and her solemn posture relaxed.
+
+―Of course not, they're Unvoiced.
+	Is that the sort of trash that gets peddled by Auroklos without me there to correct him?
+	Or no, he'd be too weak to say no if you told him to stop preaching against them.
+
+―You're right, he had too much decency to continue that sort of horrible talk, Calvin said, slightly snarling.
+
+Yakaterina gave Calvin a particularly ugly smile.
+
+―Well Calvin, don't let me stop you from falling in love with those Ottawan pets.
+	But no, they have no influence on the Voices.
+	The Hidden Lands only respond to those who belong here, and they can only visit.
+	Whatever is going on with the Flocks, it's likely just sleeplessness from the New Voice, and poverty and pain from what your government has done to them.
+
+―Then is our only option to look for whatever entity is causing it? Assuming they're in the Haven, I mean.
+
+―No, you wouldn't do so subtly enough.
+	I suggest you guard yourself from other dangers.
+	The paper mentioned a group of citizens stepping in during the riots.
+	What do you know of them?
+
+―It's some sort of new Flock, calling themselves the New Meadowlark.
+	They seem to be practicing the Meadowlark without the hatred of the farm animals.
+	They helped keep the peace when the City Garrison shirked their responsibility.
+
+The Heresiarch's eyes narrowed, and questions seemed to come out of her mouth all at once.
+―They practice the Meadowlark in what way?
+	Do they hear the New Voice?
+	Can they understand it?
+
+―That's all unclear to me.
+	They haven't seemed like any kind of threat as far as I know.
+	All we know is what they told us after the riot, from the few that were arrested.
+
+―Dammit Calvin, that's the point.
+	How did your intelligence miss a Flock that could organise this quickly, respond to a riot this quickly?
+
+―I'm not my predecessors.
+	We don't suppress or monitor the Meadowlark Flocks.
+
+―Well, I hope you feel comfortable with that decision.
+	Don't worry about the real Flocks, they are harmless.
+	You need to understand this new group, and figure out what they're doing.
+	Figure out what it means when they say they're practicing the Meadowlark.
+
+―Yakaterina, I can't ignore the Flocks.
+	They're threatening the Barns, they're threatening my Guard.
+
+―Calvin, the New Voice is an existential threat.
+	Either the New Meadowlark is related, or it isn't, but we simply cannot take any chances.
+	You can't worry about some local issue with the Unvoiced.
+
+Calvin tried his best to regain his scowling advantage over her.
+She rolled her eyes and scribbled another message in her notebook, which she tore out and handed to him.
+
+―Give this to Auroklos, he'll know it's a message from me and will try to enforce it from within.
+	Maybe he'll be able to help out with your little City Garrison issue.
+	And maybe you should try to take it as a sign to focus on the Voiced in the future.
+	We're the ones with the stone hooves, who shaped the mountains and flattened the plains.
+
+This kind of nonsense marked the end of Calvin's interest in this meeting.
+He stood, and started to leave the kitchen.
+After a moment, he paused, and asked
+
+―If you hate the Republic so much, why have you tried to help me?
+	In the past, you barely blinked an eye at inciting violence.
+
+She looked at Calvin, and he was forced to notice how steady her eyes were.
+
+―It's simple, Your Excellency.
+	I wish to scrap the government that attacked the Flocks, and put the Hierarchy back above all Galvarelli.
+	I can't do that if someone's destroyed both the Hierarchy and all of Galvarelli while I'm rotting here in this prison.
+
+Calvin nodded, and left.
+
+Outside, he told the prison guards to resume their post outside the door, and headed to the chamber where Nikki was waiting.
+They began to walk towards Havenmount.
+
+―Anything useful?, she asked.
+
+―Yes, we'll need to arrange a meeting with Auroklos.
+	She seems to think he can be convinced to do more to end the rioting.
+
+―That was it? Nikki asked.
+
+Nikki seemed almost hopeful, Calvin thought.
+Unsurprising, given that she possibly thought less of the old Heresiarch than Calvin did.
+
+―No. She suggested a deeper investigation into the New Meadowlark.
+
+―Should I send that over to the Justice Secretary?
+
+―June's competent enough, but she'll need to keep it contained.
+	Either have her do it herself, or tell her to pass the orders directly onto whoever's doing the work.
+	I don't know whether we should worry about leaving a paper trail either.
+
+―Great, well she hates transparency anyway.
+
+Calvin stopped walking.
+
+―One more thing, Nikki.
+	This might sound odd, but you'll need to grab a blank notebook and keep it with you at all times.
+	If you hear whatever the Voice is coming from your hair, you need to drop everything you're doing, and write down what it says, as it says.
+	I know it's strange, but I think it's important.
+	Can you do that?
+
+Nikki stared blankly for a moment, but realisation seemed to break across her face.
+
+―That's what that notebook you've been carrying around was? I've been wondering.
+
+―Yakaterina wrote me a letter a few months ago, predicting this.
+	She said it's possible that people will forget what they hear, and by writing down what it says we'll be able to better track what it's actually trying to do.
+	And even better, it seems like it doesn't want to be tracked, and has avoided me entirely.
+
+―That seems to suggest it's trying to do something?
+	Is this something intelligent?
+	I assumed just, some contagious parasite or something.
+
+―Yakaterina is scared, very scared.
+	And that means we should be too. 

calvin-meets-elder-in-temple.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+Calvin followed the staircase the Zuuri had pointed out, and per his instructions, followed the path to the inner sanctum.
+He knocked on the door, and waited.
+Eventually, it opened, revealing a mountain goat, slightly bent over with age, using a walking stick.
+
+He knelt.
+―Hello, Elder.
+	Please, grant me the honour of a few moments of your time.
+
+She annoyedly hit his head lightly with the stick.
+
+―You better get up, Calvin.
+	We have things to talk about.
+	Come in, sit down.
+
+—Thank you, Elder Caprina, Calvin replied, standing and following her in.
+
+The room was odd, with a mix of wood and stone floor and walls, and an open back with a glass window.
+If anything, it seemed not quite to fit with the temple underneath it, and if Calvin had his inner map correct, this room would sit on the side of the Mountain.
+Through the window, Calvin thought it might be supported on a little promontory of its own.
+
+―I know we gave very little notice, but I believe it's a matter of grave importance for Galvarelli, and any help will be significant.
+
+—Oh, don't worry about that, Calvin.
+	Do you mind terribly if I call you Calvin?
+	I always get a bit flustered trying to figure out whatever other titles people want to be called.
+
+Calvin nodded.
+
+—Wonderful.
+	Call my Caprina too, there's no need for any of that Elder nonsense.
+	You're worried because of Yakaterina's warning, right?
+
+—How did you know?
+
+—Calvin, it's my duty here at the Temple to know these things.
+	Anyway, Yakaterina wrote often before her arrest.
+	She studied here, you know.
+	Probably more diligent than any other Hierarch, until she decided to test the freedoms your predecessor gave her.
+	I felt her death, through the Meadowlark.
+	I shall miss her passing, although I regret her ambition.
+	Anyway, the New Voice.
+
+	I felt it myself.
+	A gentle whisper, at first.
+	But it grew, and I felt it attacking my mind.
+	I assumed it was a mistake, and tried to follow the source back to whoever created the attack.
+
+	However, as I did, I found only hatred and malice at its source.
+	I was only just able to escape back to myself.
+	Only fragments of information came to me, the most important of which being the great distance that separated me from the attacker.
+	But it was too far for me to travel, and I felt it was not my fight to win.
+	I resolved myself to remain here, helping any who were being afflicted by the terrible insanity the New Voice inflicted upon them.
+
+—Is that something you could help me teach others?
+	To fight the Voice's hold on the mind?
+
+—I'm afraid not, Calvin.
+	Not unless we could go to each person, one at a time, giving them centuries of training.
+	But there's more.
+	Calvin, do you know about the creation of our kinds?
+
+Calvin shook his head, lightly.
+Whatever he did know would be embarrassingly small in front of an Elder.
+
+—It goes back, all the way back.
+	To the legacy of the Fourth and Fifth Races, Man and Beast.
+	The Ancestral Voices, which became known as the Great Voices, helped them commune with the powers of the Sentries of old.
+	But they were not alone.
+	The Aery was founded and grew, a seed around which the Birds became a society.
+	The Voice of the Birds had always been hard to hear, but the Birds acting at one gave it great power.
+	And then, it became obvious that balance was needed.
+	The Hidden Lands were created, for the Voiced Beasts, Voiced Birds and the Voiced Men, who became the Dwarrowfolk, alone.
+
+	The Unvoiced you enjoy so much were kept alone for their own safety, although as you know they thrived.
+	And the Hidden Lands were divided in Three.
+	But between those borders, space unclaimed remained.
+	There, the powers of the Voices Ancestral lost some of their structure and mingled.
+	But that is not all, as far as I can tell.
+	Some other force, a power primeval, cast its lot with the people between the Thredings.
+	These people, corrupted power unbound by nation or species, are known as the Witches.
+
+—Witches?
+
+—Indeed.
+	And when I followed the corruption of the Meadowlark back to its source, I found a horrible power looking back at me.
+	I suspect that it was a powerful Witch.
+	Calvin, if Galvarelli has made an enemy this powerful, you will need to learn how to use the applied Meadowlark.
+	The Witches' power is subtle, and unique.
+
+—Yakaterina said the same thing, had me pick up an old manual.
+	And my moments of experimentation were not promising.
+	Respectfully, Elder Caprina, I don't believe that course is for me.
+	The Hierarchy has long stood in opposition to the Republic and our values.
+	I know that we must tolerate them, but that does not mean I feel comfortable embracing their ways.
+
+—Calvin, the Hierarchy guards the Meadowlark as a trust for all Beasts.
+	Their rules, their traditions, it's all not just for tradition's sake.
+	They engender a power in those who follow them, aiding them in their path towards the higher aspects of the Meadowlark.
+	But anyway, there are other paths to the Meadowlark.
+	The Hierarchy is a yak invention, a remnant of Emperor Yakob.
+	Don't let your prejudice against them colour your future, Calvin.
+	Tell me of your experimentation.
+
+Calvin told her of turning the stone table into live soil.
+
+—Caprina, even if I were to start practicing, learning how to use the Meadowlark, how much would I really learn?
+	I doubt a novice is going to gain any real power, or any real control.
+
+—There are a few members of the Hierarchy with skill, and control.
+	But not many.
+
+She looked thoughtful.
+
+―You yourself said that you don't trust the Hierarchy.
+	Even if you don't gain strength, you'll gain knowledge.
+	You can't hope to fight something that lies completely out of your experience.
+	But even still, I think you will find some strength.
+	So quickly turning so large into soil speaks to some power.
+
+	You see, Calvin, you need to understand where the actual power of the Meadowlark comes from.
+	Beasts are meant to be free.
+	Our fates are unbound, our futures unchained.
+	That is what it means to be unyoked.
+	Calvin, you are still yoked.
+	Yoked to your title, yoked to your republic.
+	You may be free from the humans, but that does not mean that you are yet free.
+	But you would not be here if you wanted to stay bound.
+	The fact that you are here, Calvin, the fact that you are in this position.
+	When you let yourself find your freedom, you will see what the Voice of Beasts can do in your ears.
+
+Calvin couldn't help but think to his time before ascending to the Presidency.
+He and Nikki had planned their course with passion.
+Ambitions to build Galvarelli into a nation that would rival the Ottawans, stymied by prosaic political expedience.
+
+—Elder, even if I wanted to, what use is the power of the Meadowlark if I get voted out?
+	Havenites wouldn't support a mystic for President.
+	I'd be seen as a hypocrite.
+
+—What use is remaining electable if you fail, Calvin?
+	What use is their support if the nation you want to lead no longer exists?
+	But if you doubt me, make the pilgrimage to the Rock.
+	See what Fate holds for you!
+
+―In all honestly, Elder, I have actually begun to read from the manual on the Meadowlark that Yakaterina meant me to
+
+―Do you think the pilgrimage to the Rock would truly help, Elder?
+	I must confess, I do not know a terrible amount about the Rock itself.
+
+―Ah Calvin, I suppose we Beasts have not embraced that which is truly ours.
+	The Rock is where the Lord of the Mountain carved the first Elders from the stone of mountains, forms half remembered from memories of the Fifth Race.
+	Thus, the Rock should be right be the birthright of Beasts, where we first found our Voice.
+	And it may surprise you to know, Calvin, that this is the site of the First Compact.
+
+Calvin shivered.
+
+―This Temple?
+
+―Not just the Temple.
+	This very room, this inner sanctum, is holy because it was the very room in which the First Compact was agreed.
+	It was only a small hut then, a hasty meeting room for the Dwarrowfolk and the yaks, who spoke for the Beasts.
+	This is the first room where the Dwarrowfolk found their Voice, and where the hooves of the Voiced Beasts became stone.
+
+Calvin was silent a moment.
+
+―I must confess, Elder, that this is entirely unexpected.
+	I find myself somewhat overawed by this room.
+	Why is it that we don't speak more often of this?
+
+She shrugged.
+
+―It's not as holy for us as it is for the Dwarrowfolk.
+	For us, it marks the occasion where we took root in the plains and valleys, when our Threding was given to us.
+	But that's ancient history now.
+	Even the Second Compact is too old for us to really remember or care about it, outside of occasional stories.
+	For the Dwarrowfolk too, it is not as a historical monument that the Rock is of critical importance.
+	You see, the Rock is no ordinary mountain.
+	The Lord of the Mountain only graced this one with his steps because the summit stretches through more than just space.
+	For most mountains, as you climb it, you gain a much farther view in space.
+	With the right conditions, you can see a much greater distance from atop a mountain than from the ground, simply because of its higher vantage point.
+	The Rock is similar, but with time.
+	People make ascents to the top hoping to gain some glance over their future or past.
+
+Calvin found it hard to react.
+There were rumours of coming to the Temple of the Rock for visions, although it was rarely heard of in practice for yaks of Galvarelli.
+But the ability to see things that hadn't yet happened seemed far too important to be so long ignored.
+
+―Ah Calvin, your mind is now turning, I can see.
+	Don't think that the Rock is any sort of tool to predict all that will come.
+	What is actually seen is not under our control, any more than we can move a mountain closer to things we wish to see better.
+	The Dwarrowfolk make the claim more than yaks do, but it is still rarely done.
+	Few actually find it useful, or enlightening.
+	You should make the pilgrimage, I did not speak falsely.
+	But unfortunately, to truly find it useful, you will need to know the Meadowlark.
+
+―I need to learn the Meadowlark to be able to take advantage of a trip to the Rock, which will tell me I need to learn the Meadowlark?
+
+Caprina smiled.
+
+―The choice is yours.
+
+―Now then, before I send you away, do you wish to ask me anything else?
+
+Calvin thought for a moment.
+His conversation with Kral replayed in his mind.
+He had had no choice but to pay attention to his electability, right?
+That didn't make it hurt any less to have let Kral down.
+Already he had jeopardised his re-election by making this trip.
+Nikki would have pointed out that if he abandoned the trip's goals, he'd lose some of the enthusiastic support of his base anyway.
+
+―No, I don't think I have any questions for you, Elder.
+	I just need to decide what to do.
+
+Calvin took his leave, and headed back to the other yaks.
+When he reached the landing, he saw a few guard members talking to Kab.
+Vaughan was waiting in the foyer, and on seeing Calvin descending the stairs, walked over to meet him.
+
+―How did it go?
+
+―It went well, I'll fill you in more in private.
+	I take it you've all found rooms?
+
+―Yes, I'll take you there now.
+	Chief was here as well, he was going to make arrangements with the Temple for lunch.
+	Jod and Omig are resting, and Cruimo is mercifully absent.
+
+―Maybe he realises that we're not any kind of opportunity for him, and will leave.
+
+Calvin wasn't entirely hopeful, but it was a nice thought to imagine.
+They soon reached the room, with Calvin's set tucked in to an odd corner close to the foyer wall.
+
+―Wow Vaughan, how on earth were you able to find it?
+
+―Kral did, basically split up and searched.
+	This whole hallway is rooms we can use.
+
+Calvin felt the guilt gnawing at his gut come a bit alive on hearing Kral's name.
+Once in Calvin's room, he summarised to Vaughan what the Elder had said.
+
+―So when should we start to head to the summit?
+
+―Well, I'm not sure, Vaughan.
+	Are you sure it's a wise decision?
+	You saw what happened last time.
+	And if anything happened to me, or if I was in some way influenced by the Witch's attack, well.
+
+―We could always hide it, as much as possible.
+	No one needs to know about it back home.
+	And if we could use that power to help us get a useful vision of the future, to fight the Witch.
+	It would be worth it.
+
+―I don't know if that's an option.
+	Some guards would have seen what happened, right?
+
+―We could do something to keep their silence?
+
+Vaughan looked as if he regretted saying it right away.
+
+―No Vaughan, I doubt you'd want to coerce them into silence.
+	We might ask for it nicely, to buy us time, but it won't be permanent.
+	At the end of the day, it will only grow.
+	I don't think I could use the Meadowlark to fight a Witch entirely in secret, anyway.
+	Caprina seems to think that using the applied Meadowlark doesn't mean endorsing the Hierarchy, but it's not as though there are ways to train that aren't steeped in Hierarchy thought.

calvin-stuck-at-cave-2.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+Calvin wasn't sure how much time he'd spent in the cave.
+Days at least.
+The rock underneath him was peppered with spots of soil underneath the areas he'd sat as he'd practiced using the Meadowlark.
+He'd even managed to create a few patches of grass, although never entirely intentionally.
+
+Somehow he'd avoided running out of air, possibly because he'd occasionally touch that same vein of life and let it restore him.
+Hopefully whatever supplied it wouldn't run out.
+
+The Hierarchy's Practicants could use the Meadowlark to communicate remotely, at least as Calvin understood it.
+Here, however, he heard nothing, not even the whisper of the herds of old.
+And, even more surprisingly, not even the New Voice from the Witch.
+
+The exercises in Yakaterina's book were simple, mostly breathing exercises.
+It didn't seem to quite make sense how they were helping him use the Meadowlark at all, but Calvin supposed that was how this sort of esoteric knowledge went.
+As long as it kept him alive, he'd have no problem with pushing forward.
+
+The practice had certainly made a difference.
+Each time, focussing on the smell of some grass or leaf and diving into his own breathing until he connected with the Meadowlark.
+He could now control the warm energy that flowed from him, pushing it into the stone to try to weather it into soil.
+And when he grew tired or felt the lack of food more acutely, he could pull warmth back from the soil again, turning it back into stone.
+It still took a long time, but each time, it went slightly faster.
+
+The training manual was all he had to help him.
+The manual was growing less immediately useful, however.
+Occasionally pages had images or diagrams, with instructions to study them, but none really seemed to relate to anything of immediate interest.
+Pages on climate models and the structure of dirt. #http://www.froup.com/tr/tr.pl?1594
+The dew/seed/bulk trichotomy of grass. #http://www.froup.com/tr/tr.pl?1593
+These seemingly theoretical sections took more and more time to understand, and were little more than 
+
+Calvin read the book in short flashes, trying to stretch the torch's battery as long as possible.
+Otherwise, he left the room pitch black.
+The manual mentioned other books as sources of techniques of creating specific effects, and he assumed that one of those books would have a method of creating light.
+But those books weren't with him, so Calvin just kept pushing on, trying to memorise the complicated diagrams in the brief flashes of light he allowed himself.

calvin-stuck-at-cave.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+Calvin woke to a complete darkness.
+His mind seemed thick, and his head pounded.
+The blow to his head came back to his mind.
+Betrayed, by a guard he'd trusted.
+Somehow brainwashed by the New Meadowlark, or something like that.
+
+Calvin stamped his hoof against the ground, and listened to the echo off the walls.
+It sounded like he was in a large chamber, which Calvin hoped would be good as far as air was concerned.
+But he didn't know how long he'd been unconscious, and wasn't sure what the signs of lack of air would be.
+
+He touched his head.
+The helm had been stolen, and he assumed the sword had gone with it.
+He still had his pack, which had a bit of food and water.
+And, Calvin remembered, an electric torch.
+
+After the initial shock to his eyes, the light revealed that he was in a relatively smooth room, around twenty feet one way and thirty feet in the other.
+The ceiling was quite tall, and Calvin couldn't quite make out how far above the chamber went.
+
+Calvin walked to one end and walked around the walls of his chamber, feeling the stone.
+It was smooth all the way around.
+The lack of doors made sense if they'd had the Pathbreaker seal him in, which meant he was probably completely sealed in.
+Calvin reflexively kicked back in anger, and hit the wall behind him.
+A sharp pain bounced up his leg, and when he turned to look, the wall was unchanged.
+Even that was ineffective.
+He turned off the torch to preserve the battery, sank to the ground and began to sob.
+
+Calvin once again woke to a complete darkness.
+Apparently, he'd managed to cry himself into sleep.
+No obvious improvement to his situation presented itself, which meant he needed to find a way to do it himself.
+He thought about the Meadowlark manual, and started the breathing exercise again.
+
+His breath stilled, he pictured the smell of a grassy hill, the flow of water and the tight grip of roots.
+He felt himself being pulled in by a wave of yaks spreading across a plain, and he pictured the Haven as their destination.
+
+He held on to that image, and tried to avoid focussing on the pain that his head was insistently pounding out.
+He felt his hooves tingling as they sank into the stone below him, and he felt the sinews of his legs vibrate as he stood tall.
+The stone under him revealed a hidden warmth underneath, a vein of life or power or something good, and he tried to reach out to touch it, but found it out of grip.
+
+Straining, he pulled at it, pawing at it wildly, desperately.
+Unsuccessful, he changed his plan, and tried to push more warmth into the stone.
+He felt it sneaking out of him like a thread.
+The thread of power reached for the deeper well below, until wrapping itself around the vein.
+Calvin pulled on it, and after a small initial resistance, it came flooding back into him.
+
+Calvin opened his eyes, and turned on the flashlight.
+He was standing where he remembered, and he didn't feel anything.
+A few taps on the ground again felt like nothing unusual.
+Although, nothing unusual _was_ unusual, right?
+
+His rear leg no longer hurt, and his head felt clear, and pain-free.
+In fact, Calvin felt better than he'd felt in a long time.
+Somehow he'd managed to pull some sort of life from somewhere beyond the stone, and it had healed him.
+
+Calvin flipped through the manual again, and started to look at the next exercise.

calvin-waits-at-westgate.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+Calvin sat in front of the table in his room.
+He hoped Vaughan wouldn't mind spending time alone with their dwarrow attendant, but Calvin wanted the time alone.
+
+He kept his notebook ready to record the enemy Voice, and pulled out the slim book Yakaterina had recommended.
+The first exercise in the book was simple; breathing in and out.
+With closed eyes, he pictured a grassy hill, and inhaled deeply, trying to imagine its smell.
+He imagined the flow of water across the surface of the hill, and the roots of the grass holding the soil fast.
+
+He tried to picture a stampede through a mountain valley, the rumbling of fellow yaks on either side.
+The imagined valley seemed to grow deeper and deeper, as though the stampede were descending into the earth itself, and Calvin found himself buried in the dirt.
+He tried to move his legs, but felt stuck.
+He looked up: the view of the stampede had dissolved; he had no legs left either.
+Effort, struggle, pulling at the ground, and suddenly his mind snapped.
+His body hadn't sunk into the ground.
+His legs _were_ the soil, when he pulled and pushed he could feel the grass rooted with in him moving gently in response, whispering lightly.
+
+Then another presence, not soil, not grass.
+Somehow false, a shovel being thrust in his soil body.
+But he could feel that although the soil moved, it was left unharmed, and he swatted the intrusion away like a minor fly, and he felt it retreat.
+
+The smell of grass was stronger now, vivid timothy, somehow taken life beyond the false smell he'd tried to imagine.
+A solid stone block seemed to come to his view.
+He grasped it and perceived it as he'd never perceived stone.
+He felt the minerals within, which somehow seemed to have more meaning to him than he'd ever had before.
+The stone was too compact, though, it hoarded its treasure too greedily.
+Following some instinct he couldn't explain, he focussed on the stone more deeply.
+He could somehow feel the weight of its millions of years of age, and could taste something unusual, not unpleasant, but unfamiliar.
+Processed, he somehow intuited.
+
+Looking even deeper in the stone, he could feel some minor energy, some spark that could be kindled.
+He gently prodded at it, pushing some warmth into it.
+Now, the smell of grass was overwhelming, .
+Not just timothy, but a handful of flowers, and alfalfa.
+
+The spark within the stone was now burning brightly, too brightly.
+It started to push back at him, singeing the edges of his senses.
+Then, the presence from earlier returned, cutting not at his soil body but whatever body he had here, holding the stone block.
+He lost his focus and lost control, the fire was now roaring, and a voice came in his head.
+_Calvin, you can help the people you are supposed to serve_
+
+Calvin felt alert.
+This was danger, it must be the new voice.
+Calvin tried to reach for his pen, but his body didn't respond immediately.
+He tried to pull on the soil, or grass, or whatever he'd done earlier but he had lost any control he had had.
+The others might not be safe, Vaughan needed to do something, Calvin thought.
+
+Immediately the Voice disappeared.
+The fire he felt had gone as well.
+His eyes were open.
+
+He was lying on his bed, Vaughan standing next to him.
+
+―Sir, are you okay?
+
+Vaughan was holding a tall glass of water, which Calvin happily took.
+His back hurt, and he could only remember the vague outlines of what had happened.
+
+―What happened?
+
+―I'd ask you the same thing.
+	I thought I heard you calling for help, was just next door.
+	When we came in, you were lying on the ground, and, well.
+	Whatever this is.
+
+He was gesturing over to the table.
+Or, as Calvin saw when he propped himself up, gesturing to where the table had been.
+In its place now was a large pile of soil, a faint comforting fertile smell coming from it.
+
+―Did you ask them to remove the table?
+	What happened Calvin?
+
+Calvin shook his head.
+
+―Not sure, Vaughan.
+	I was reading Yakaterina's manual on the applied Meadowlark, trying out an exercise, but I must have just done too much.
+
+―Do you feel okay?
+
+―Just drained, exhausted.
+	I might need to rest here for a bit until dinner.
+	How'd I get in the bed?
+
+Vaughan looked a bit chagrined.
+
+―I went next door for help, Jason and Kari helped lift you up into bed.
+	I sent them out right away.
+	That's okay, right?
+
+Calvin waved his hand dismissively.
+―Yeah, of course.
+	Thank you Vaughan, I owe you.
+
+―Sir, Vaughan started hesitantly. You might need to be careful with that.
+	We don't know what Yakaterina wanted, and she could have been trying to trick you.
+	Or somehow convert you over to the Hierarchy.
+
+―I know, Vaughan.
+
+Calvin sighed.
+―If I want to use this, I'll have to learn how to control it.
+	Clearly it's a powerful tool, but I'm not really sure what happened.
+	I think I felt the stone table and helped it become soil, somehow?
+	The manual just talked about a breathing exercise, not actually doing anything.
+
+Calvin stood.
+He felt okay on his feet.
+The two books were lying on top of the pile of dirt, and looked unchanged.
+He opened up the notebook, and saw he'd written down what the Voice had said to him.
+
+―Vaughan, I think it was the Voice somehow.
+	I wrote down that it said I could help my people, but why?
+	Am I doing something wrong by wanting to help them?
+
+―Do you remember anything about what you were thinking when it happened?
+
+―Not really.
+	It was fuzzy, images of soil and grass.
+
+Vaughan gave Calvin a worried look.
+
+―Calvin, are you sure we should be here?
+	If we're back home, we could talk to some scholars, or if you trust what Yakaterina told you, maybe Auroklos would know more?
+	But we're out of our depth, right?
+	It's not just politics anymore, this is all of us yaks, and it might be irresponsible to do it alone.
+
+―Auroklos was pretty clear that Mountberg was our only hope.
+	Maybe the voice was trying to get me to go home to help the people there?
+	Unless it wanted me to go to Mountberg?
+	Argh!
+
+―Sir, we're not going to figure this out right now.
+	You need to rest a minute, and we'll have to figure out what our options even are.
+	We'll talk to the chief and see how far away Mountberg will be, and make a decision then.
+	Sound good?
+
+―Yeah, thanks Vaughan.
+	Sounds good to me.
+
+―I'll make sure you get some privacy, get some rest and I'll see you soon.
+	And please don't try anything else from that book.
+
+Vaughan left the room, and Calvin tried his best to quiet his troubled thoughts as he drifted into a light nap.

debate-darius-dead.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+Havenmount was a flurry of activity. # change name to havensmount c'mon it's way better
+Nikki wasn't quite able to find June, and the Guard presence was giving her shit about actually figuring out where the hell she was.
+
+―Ma'am, I can't let you leave your office.
+	It's a security threat.
+	We're still trying to figure out what the hell is happening, Lieutenant Ward said.
+
+Which Nikki found a bit much.
+She was, if anything, one of the people actually doing that figuring out, and the surly lieutenant was actively hindering her ability to do so.
+
+
+Tammy walked over, phone in hand. # named after the tamaraw or mindoro dwarf buffalo # also are there phones in this universe?
+―I got Justice on the phone.
+
+Nikki nodded, and gestured to continue.
+
+―Undersecretary Carrob, Tammy said, I'm putting you on speaker. # Carabo. I'm on a philippines kick naming wise apparently.
+	We have the Chief Executive on the phone.
+
+She clicked the button.
+
+―This is Nikki.
+	Carrob, what's going on?
+	They have us locked down here.
+
+―What's going on, Nikki, is that everything's fucked.
+	The New Meadowlark are attacking the Garrison.
+	There was fighting on the East Bridge, but it's moving fast.
+	They're in the Garrison building itself.
+
+―Where's Darius?
+	And June?
+
+―No word on him, he'd have been in the Garrison.
+	June was in an Assembly committee meeting, and is presumably stuck without a phone at the moment.
+
+The Undersecretary from Justice had little else to add, and Nikki was forced to sit for a few minutes before a Guard came to tell the lieutenant that Nikki was no longer stuck in a completely safe office with the situation clear.
+Nikki resisted the urge to sprint down the hall on her way to Calvin's office for a few seconds before taking off and immediately running into him anyway.
+
+―Nikki, I was on the way.
+
+# delete all this. Nikki heard it first from a messenger yak sent from the east side. # this is actually a garbage beginning but fix it later
+Another emergency conference with Calvin and Vaughan, which was now becoming an unfortunately common occurrence of late.
+She sent the message to pull him out of whatever he was doing.
+
+The messenger, Bryn, was wearing a New Meadowlark black cap, and fidgeted with a nervous energy.
+Captain Adrienne had personally escorted her in.
+Calvin entered the conference room, having cut short a meeting with the Health Secretary Hadard. # stupid name.
+
+―Nikki, what's going on?
+
+―This is Bryn, from the New Meadowlark.
+	It's related to the 

dinneratwestgate.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+Chief had two tables set, one smaller where he could sit with Calvin and Brother Kab, and a longer one for Calvin's yaks, along with a few dwarrows Chief trusted.
+And Brother Jod, who Chief didn't trust with diplomacy.
+His chefs had managed to accommodate their odd guests, with some well-preserved silage they had found stored in a larder, supplemented by some fresh clover, thin shavings of a well-mineraled salt crystal (which Chief felt a pang of regret sharing) and some raw sugar beets (which Chief felt a pang of regret leaving raw, rather than in a delicious soup).
+Chief hoped the language barrier wouldn't be too bad.
+There were a few others who spoke the Open Tongue.
+
+Calvin and his yaks entered in, led by Kab.
+The President looked wore formal coat, and Chief wished he had a better outfit than his nice jacket and clean boots.
+Instead of the Helm, Calvin wore a simple circlet, made of a dark wood inlaid with a delicate gold pattern.
+
+―Welcome, dear guests. Please, President Calvin, join me here.
+
+Calvin and one of the other yaks came to join Chief, along with Kab.
+
+―Chief, this is Vaughan, one of my most trusted advisors.
+	I thank you again for your hospitality.
+	Kab has been very helpful.
+
+―No problem, Your Presidentness.
+
+―Please, just call me Calvin.
+
+―Of course, that's no problem.
+	We don't usually find ourselves hosting foreign leaders here.
+	We seldom see other Border dwarrows, either.
+
+Calvin nodded, and spoke between slow bites.
+
+―Chief, I'm here because the Meadowlark is under threat.
+	We think that Mountberg might be able to help us.
+	Unfortunately, we ran into a problem at the Sea-Gate.
+	As we sighted the entrance, we saw a Hawk approach overhead, and the sight may have spooked the guards at the gate.
+	The barrier was raised before we could come close, and our shouts were either unheard or ignored.
+
+―Why is it you think Mountberg would help?
+
+―Whatever is attacking the Meadowlark will be capable of attacking the Voice of Dwarrows.
+	I know that Galvarelli and Mountberg have been isolated from each other, but I hope to convince them that we have a common enemy.
+	So again, I hope you will be able to help us reach them.
+
+―What do you mean by an attack on the Meadowlark?
+
+Kab gave Chief a quizzical look.
+―The Meadowlark is what the Beasts call their Great Voice, he explained to Kab in Border.
+
+―It started as a minor curiosity, a couple months ago, Calvin said.
+	Yaks hearing indistinct whispers through the night, yaks with no history of hallucinations.
+	But our hospitals saw more and more cases, of people unable to sleep.
+	We isolated the source of the voices to the hair, not like the actual voice of the Meadowlark.
+	Consultation with experts in the Meadowlark said it seemed to be no normal disease.
+
+―I wish you luck, Calvin, but I fear that help from Mountberg is unlikely.
+	You see, Mountberg has largely closed itself off from the rest of the world, even from Border dwarrows like us.
+	Other Border towns would likely be happy to help, but apart from a handful of Pathbreakers there's not a lot we can actually do.
+	I do think we can offer you another form of help, however.
+	As I mentioned earlier, Westgate is close to the Temple of the Rock.
+	There's a mountain goat there, who I believe is considered quite knowledgeable by your people.
+	Along with some of the more learned dwarrows in the area.
+	Between them, I'm sure they'll be able to offer you something more.
+
+Calvin kept his eyes low, thinking for a moment before answering.
+
+―Speaking to an Elder would likely help.
+	At least as long as there's no chance of our dealing with Mountberg, we have nothing to lose.
+	I don't know whether we have a lot of time available to us.
+	Is the journey far?
+
+―Normally, we have a Path to the temple open at all times.
+	Recently though, we've been closing them more often when they're not in use.
+	But opening it again would not take long.
+	You might actually be one of the rare yaks to witness a Pathbreaking.
+	Going through the Path would be quick.
+	We could have you at the Temple tomorrow morning if we started immediately after a quick breakfast.
+
+―Would they be willing to grant us an audience with such short notice?
+
+―Ah, of course.
+	Calvin, the Elder is a mountain goat stuck indoors and the dwarrow templars will have nothing better to do.
+	There's more as well.
+	This Elder has been warning us about a Curse of some kind.
+	She was sick for a little while, couldn't say how, but recovered.
+	Sent a message to the Border towns that if any sick Beasts came through, to send them to her for healing.
+	Not sure if it's related, but it was a couple months ago.
+	Timing lines up.
+	Anyway, I'm sure he'll have more to say.
+	Eat up, and we can get to work after.
+
+
+The remainder of the dinner went smoothly, with Brother Kab there to chat to Chief about travel plans in Border.
+Calvin, meanwhile, seemed to withdraw into himself a bit.
+Chief looked at the other table.
+Brother Jod looked uncomfortable, but Sister Omig seemed captivated by the yak guards.
+Particularly the very tall one Chief had kept his eye on.
+
+Chief excused himself from his table and pulled Jod and Omig aside.
+―Both of you, he said in Border.
+	We'll be heading out to the Temple after an early breakfast tomorrow.
+	Will you both be ready for that?
+
+Omig nodded enthusiastically.
+Jod looked more skeptical.
+―Chief, are you absolutely sure we want to help them?
+	I know, the Helm is a symbol of the Compact, whatever.
+	But seriously, we have no idea who they are.
+	We don't even know if they are who they claim.
+	He could have stolen the Helm and learned some Dwarrowtongue.
+	God knows whether their kind even lock up their treasures, or just put it out in some field.
+
+―Jod! I can't have you disrespecting our guests like that.
+	We should honour the Compact, but more than that, we should help them because they're asking for help.
+	Besides, between you and Omig their warriors shouldn't be too much trouble if it comes to it, right?
+
+Jod nodded.
+The poor bastard would always fall for flattery.

heading-to-the-rock.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+Chief was excited.
+He'd rarely had an excuse to actually see the Rock.
+And with Sister Omig and Brother Jod here, they could get some hugely valuable information here.
+It was still a couple hours before dawn, which made it easier to be in the entrance hall where the air was open.
+The wide open space was less daunting when it was covered by darkness.
+
+Brother Kab and Paias were there as well, a handful of other temple officials standing a few yards away.
+Cruimo was trying to avoid acknowledging Jod and Omig's presence in anyway.
+
+―Okay, Chief, Kab said.
+	I think we'll have everything in order.
+	The Stoneshod will be ready shortly.
+
+―Brother Kab, something else on my mind.
+	You remember what Tejid said as we were leaving?
+
+―Yeah, so the yaks have a Voiced Beast with them?
+
+―Well, if they're powerful enough, they'll be able to influence the visions of the Rock.
+	It could be very handy.
+
+―Hm, they haven't acknowledged having a Voiced at all.
+	That must be for a reason, right?
+	Either they're hiding it, or not one with any skill.
+
+―I thought about that, but it takes a very strong Meadowlarker to weather and humify that amount of stone, right?
+	Not like we have any idea what yaks are capable of.
+	The other thing is, it could be a spy in the Hierarchy.
+	Or they could be lying about something to us.
+	But maybe, just maybe, they're on our side and would want to help out.
+
+―Sure Chief, but I doubt we can take the risk, right?
+
+Chief nodded, and took his leave to go talk to Jod and Omig.
+Cruimo made a point of looking like he wasn't trying to eavesdrop, while very obviously eavesdropping.
+
+―Are both of you ready for this?
+	Rested enough?
+
+Jod nodded.
+
+―Yes Chief, we're good.
+	I asked Paias for some of his charts, so we'll have a good lay of what Paths are available.
+	It's actually pretty wide open, not many long-term Paths at all up there.
+
+―Great, thanks Jod.
+
+As Chief walked away from them, Cruimo began to follow him.
+The Stoneshod had begun to walk in as well.
+Chief started to walk over, as Kab and Paias did the same thing, all reaching President Calvin at the same time.
+
+―Morning, all, Calvin began.
+	As I've been explained so far, someone from the Temple will come with us to the shrine.
+	Is that right?
+
+―Yes it is, Chief answered.
+	I believe that will be Paias Zuuri.
+
+Paias looked a bit confused.
+
+―Oh, no, not at all.
+	There will be another priest going, not me.
+
+―Well hang on, Paias.
+	These two here, Chief said indicating Calvin and Cruimo, they're honoured guests.
+	You shouldn't pawn them off on some low-ranked priest.
+
+As Chief reached the end of his sentence, however, a slight hush came over the entrance hall.
+The mountain goat Caprina, Caprina Zeuit, Paias had said, had just walked out from the channel coming from the yak rooms.
+She walked over to Chief and Paias.
+
+―I am ready to go, Zuuri.
+
+# They begin to head out.
+# They make it to the shrine without too much incident, though Cruimo seems particularly quiet.
+# The night before, there was more conversation between Cruimo and Kral.
+# The silk cloths are blessed by Caprina, given to Cruimo and Chief.
+# Head to the Rock from above the shrine.
+# A Vulture stops them, and says that they're in search of a Bird fugitive.
+# They say they're unaware, and the bird attacks them.
+# Kral fights back, using the Witchfen Meadowlark powers?
+# The Vulture stops short of killing him.
+# Reveals that Kral is corrupted by Witch.
+# Cruimo springs into action, Calvin disappears through a crack in the ground 
+# Vaughan is stabbed by Kral, who orders obedience from the guards.
+# 

intercepted-on-way-to-rock.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+Kral approached Calvin and Vaughan as they began their trek from the shrine.
+
+―Sir, could I have a moment?
+
+Calvin gave him a skeptical look, but then nodded.
+
+―I'd like to apologise.
+	I was angry about everything, and the rioting, and I let it compromise my judgement.
+	Going outside of my place, even if I was just trying to help out, it was a mistake.
+	And I shouldn't have raised my voice at you.
+
+Kral had to wait as Calvin seemed to think for a moment.
+
+―I understand, Sergeant.
+	I talked to Hermann as well, and he told me more about what actually happened.
+	Obviously, you couldn't know that Mountberg was not the help we hoped it would be.
+	Hopefully it doesn't happen again? he added, expectantly.
+
+Kral nodded.
+This was true, at least.
+
+―And about our conversation, believe me, son.
+	I understand what it's like to hate the filth the Hierarchy has peddled.
+	Consider it forgiven.
+	Just be careful in the future.
+
+Kral nodded, and a wave of dismissal from Calvin, took his leave and rejoined the formation behind Hermann.
+_He lies..._, the Meadowlark told him.
+But as he heard it, he immediately felt Calvin's sincerity, and the Meadowlark seemed to agree.
+_Not lies, but, misguided_.
+Kral knew this much was true # remove Spandau Ballet reference? what does it even add?
+That made it worse though, right?
+If this was the best that the Republic could offer, the most sincere defender of the rights of farm animals, what right did he have to stay in power.
+His mom and dad loved Calvin, but they could be wrong.
+
+The air began to grow a bit thinner.
+The dwarves with them were definitely moving a bit slower, although Kral felt fine.
+Better than fine, in fact.
+He could feel an energy rushing around within him, a sense of rightness.
+_The Meadowlark sustains you_
+
+# This section should be moved
+
+He thought back to what Omig had told him during dinner, and as he walked, tried to feel the connection to the voice, to the things around him.
+From everyone around him, he felt like he could feel a vibration, a pull and push, an ebb and flow.
+The shape was faint around most, but around Calvin it had a different shape.
+A connection of his own to the Meadowlark?
+But as far as Kral new, Calvin didn't support the New Meadowlark either, which meant it was the Hierarchy that had taught him.
+That would explain his unwillingness to clamp down, would explain how they had leverage over him.
+Around Omig and Cruimo, the sensation was a different shape again, which would mean that he was able to distinguish the dwarf magic from the Meadowlark.
+No such feeling from himself, which Kral thought made sense.
+
+Kral felt out at the Meadowlark again, letting his self fall into it.
+He felt the same connections again, feeling Calvin's connection to the Meadowlark, weaker now.
+Omig and Cruimo as well, both immensely strong.
+
+Something felt off.
+Kral tried to relax more, to strengthen the connection, and the feeling worsened.
+As though something Voiced was approaching, but neither Dwarf nor Beast.
+It couldn't be, unless...
+
+―Everyone, down! he shouted
+
+―Guards, position up! Hermann echoed.
+	Kral's squad, front.
+	My squad, back.
+
+They got into position quickly, surrounding the leaders and the dwarves.
+Omig had her eyes closed, Kral noted as he looked back.
+Readying her magic as well.
+Apparently it wasn't just useful for travelling.
+Hopefully she'd tell him more sometime.
+
+―Kral, what's going on?
+
+―There's something coming, Kral started to say.
+
+But before he could say more, Jason pointed over to a nearby mountain, where a bird was moving towards them quickly.
+Kral felt the same pulses as he did for the others, but in addition to a different shape, the pulses felt massive, almost pounding in his head.
+
+―Don't attack unless we know it's a threat, Calvin was saying.
+
+―Indeed, Kab said.
+	Birds are known to fly here, even if they avoid the rest of the Hidden Lands.
+	Although usually far overhead, never this speed.
+
+It was now quite visible, a great vulture, wings at least twelve feet wide, and it soared effortlessly towards them.
+As it approached, it gracefully settled on the path slightly ahead of Kral.
+It was mostly black, with some white stripes on its wings, with a thick white collar around its neck.w
+Tall, lean, with a hunger and intelligence in its red eyes.
+
+For a moment, no one spoke.
+Kral held his spear pointed at it, holding his stance, and with his squad formed a formation, as they'd drilled.
+The bird surveyed them, slowly looking at each one of them in turn.
+Kral reluctantly loosened his connection with the Meadowlark, no longer trying to sense the Voices around him.
+There was no point in feeling how strong this bird was if it just demoralised him.
+
+―What do you want, Bird? Cruimo eventually shouted, in the Open Tongue.
+
+It looked at him without blinking.
+Unsettling, Kral thought.
+
+―The Aery has business here.
+
+Kral hated the way it talked, its mouth not seeming to move in the right way as the sounds came out.
+It didn't bother elaborating.
+
+―Does that business involve stopping us from our pilgrimage?
+
+―It does, Chartkeeper Cruimo.
+
+Kral looked at Cruimo, and saw he bristled at hearing his name.
+
+―They Who Watch have spoken, and by Their word and Their glory, this path must be barred to you carry corruption.
+
+―Corrupted? Calvin asked.
+
+The bird stood firm, without responding.
+
+―Will you fight us if we insist? Chief now added.
+	By rights, this Threding is ours, and keeping us from our own holy land seems like a declaration of war.
+
+―The Aery has little interest in such a war, nor in fighting you, Chief Aoeuoie.
+
+―How do you know our names? Kab called out.
+
+The damn bird ignored him as well.
+
+―Stand down, Bird! Kral found himself shouting.
+	Advance, he said to the squad.
+
+Kral half hesitated to move to his own command, wondering if there would be any objection from Calvin or Chief, or even Cruimo, but none came, and his squad advanced in formation.
+Unsurprisingly, the bird stayed completely still, not moving at all.
+They closed the gap, until the bird was within the distance of a spear thrust.
+
+A compulsion seemed to build, energy rushed through his body and Kral thrust his spear at the bird, as powerfully as he could.
+He hit nothing but the air, stumbling forward for a moment until he caught his balance.
+Kral shook his head and blinked.
+The bird was still standing in front of him, but it was though he'd missed entirely.
+
+The tickle of the Voice touched Kral's mind, although it didn't say anything.
+Kral pushed himself deeper into the Meadowlark, and again felt at the huge spring of energy coming from the vulture.
+_Pull at it, take its power away_, he heard.
+He tried, grabbing hold of whatever connection tied him to the bird, and tensed in the direction that seemed closest to pulling.
+Something resisted, and Kral held it, and tried to relax further into the connection and hold tension against the force.
+A moment passed and something seemed to snap.
+
+Kral felt himself suddenly pulled out of the Meadowlark, dizzy with effort, but at the same time, the vulture made some squawk of protest and opened its wings wide, staring at him.
+It stepped backwards, wings spread, as Kral felt himself drop to his knees
+
+―O Calvin, see your guard's plight!
+	You have torn at his soul, left him robed in ignorance and confusion.
+
+The vulture folded its wings and stepped close to Kral, craning its neck towards him, inspecting him.
+
+―Little one, we have no wish to fight you, it said quietly.
+	They Who Watch have only compassion in their heart.
+	Turn back, for the true Summit would destroy you before your appointed time.
+
+The vulture hopped back, and raised its voice.
+
+―I will tell you of the Emperor Yakob before you turn back.
+
+### insert parable of yakob on the rock ###
+
+―And so, would-be pilgrims, even Yakob was denied this pilgrimage.
+	They Who Watch have seen your struggles, seen your failings.
+	This power must be denied you.
+	Turn back, and remember, no matter the depths of your goodness and compassion, your capacity to truly do good is bounded by your ignorance.
+

kral-argues-with-parents.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+Kral carried the paper with him on his way to the Barns on the east side, ignoring the odd stares his uniform attracted, until he reached his childhood home.
+He let himself in, and stepped inside.
+
+―Hello? he heard his mom, Rowena, call out.
+
+―Hey mom, it's me, Kral said.
+
+―Oh how lovely, I'm in the kitchen, come in come in.
+
+When he came to the kitchen, he found her finely cutting broccoli and potatoes.
+
+―Sorry I didn't come to the door, was just finishing this up.
+	Going to cook some a little bit for me, leave it raw for your father, mix in some alfalfa and clover.
+	Human food, but I hope it will cheer him up a bit, you know?
+
+Kral nodded.
+
+―Are you staying for dinner?
+
+―No, sorry mom.
+	Gotta go back soon, will have a guard shift tonight.
+	Just wanted to see dad, see if he's alright.
+	How's he doing?
+
+―Well, you know your dad. He doesn't want to make any sort of fuss.
+	But honestly, I think his company's going to run into trouble if they lose clients.
+	He said even a couple projects downtown are getting a bit skittish.
+	Not that they mind farm animals, but they're worried about getting targeted.
+
+Kral nodded.
+The Hierarchy could be vicious, even to other yaks.
+
+―Don't let it get you down, okay hon?
+	We've been here a while.
+	My grandpa, Grandpa Pete's dad, told me when he came to Galvarelli they wouldn't even let farm animals work for pay.
+	We've come a long way.
+	This is just nasty politics.
+
+―I know, mom.
+	I'm just a bit worried.
+	You know, I don't really get to see what goes on that much at work, but it always seems like there's Hierarchy people coming and going, talking to the President.
+
+Rowena smiled.
+―Kral, President Calvin is the reason we got to adopt you.
+	He's been campaigning for us since he was still a kid himself.
+
+―I know, I know.
+	Still.
+
+―Be patient.
+	Change takes time.
+	Government is always hard, and the fact that we won the election is a good sign for us, okay?
+
+Rowena finished with her dicing, and washed her hands before coming over to give Kral a hug.
+She wasn't particularly tall for a sow, and Kral was particularly tall for a yak, so her hugs barely reached above his waist.
+But especially when Kral was worried, they felt like they enveloped him in warmth.
+Her prep done, Rowena sat by the dining table, and waited for Kral to join.
+
+―So what else is going on at work.
+	Still a Sergeant?
+	What happened to Lieutenant?
+
+Kral flushed with mild embarrassment and shame.
+
+―I told you mom, there really isn't a Lieutenant vacancy open.
+
+―What about Hermann?
+	He got promoted, right?
+
+―Yeah, but there was an open spot then.
+
+―Adrienne trusted him over you?
+	You know her mom works at the hospital with me, right?
+	Want me to talk to her?
+
+The mild embarrassment grew a bit stronger.
+
+―No mom, I promise.
+	Hermann deserved it, and I'll be next up.
+	But I'm doing good, Captain Adrienne likes me.
+	And my squad does too.
+	We just recruited someone else under me, so the Guard's still growing.
+	It's all going great.
+
+While he was talking, Rowena had started to pull some documents out of her work bag.
+She started to look at whatever work she'd brought home.
+
+―You tell Hermann how you feel about him yet?
+
+Embarrassment was no longer strong enough to describe what that question made him feel.
+
+―No mom, it's not like that.
+	We work together, and anyway, he's just a good friend.
+
+Rowena looked up from her papers long enough to give Kral an infuriatingly knowing look.
+
+They sat in silence for a bit, while Rowena worked.
+
+―Dad's home late, right?
+	Should I go out and look for him.
+
+―No, I think it's just this project.
+	And especially now I think it's just keeping him there a bit longer.
+
+Kral nodded, but it didn't entirely reassure him.
+
+―What are you working on?
+
+―Well, not totally sure yet.
+	There's been a bit of a spike in costs recently in a couple departments, which is why accounting is involved, but a few of us think it could be a latent epidemic. # i think a spike in cases won't just lead to higher costs.
+	Grim, I know, she said in response to Kral's wince.
+	It's minor for now, hopefully.
+	We're just trying to do the statistics on it to see what's going on.
+
+―What kind of epidemic?
+
+―It's basically a low-level insomnia, with some auditory hallucinations.
+	They've been calling it malacusis so far.
+	But it's been hitting the Northside so far, which is why we think Old Imperial noticed first.
+
+―Makes sense. Not a lot of Hierarchy types going down to Grove.
+
+―Right. 
+
+Another short silence, until eventually Bovril finally came in.
+He looked rough, with patches of dirt and a tiredness Kral hadn't seen in him much.
+For the first time, Kral had a real sense of how old his father was.
+
+He nodded at Kral once he noticed Kral there.
+
+―Kral.
+
+He gave Rowena a hug, holding her while she sat.
+
+―Hey, darling, he said.
+
+―Hi, she said back, giving him a huge smile, along with a quick kiss.
+
+―How are you doing, dad? Kral asked.
+
+―You heard all the protests?
+
+―Yeah, we had a security briefing about it.
+	And it was in the papers, he said, pointing at the newspaper he'd brought with him.
+
+―Well, I'm doing alright, kid.
+	These protestors have a problem, their right to express it.
+
+―Dad you look like hell, what actually happened.
+
+―Kid, we're building buildings.
+	It's tough, dirty work.
+	I'm going to come home a bit worse for wear sometimes.
+
+Kral stared at him, trying his best to copy his mom's knowing look.
+
+―Okay, okay.
+	Some of the protestors tried to break the line and rough our crew up a bit.
+	But seriously, it's nothing.
+	Most of this is just dirt they tried to throw.
+	Which doesn't really make sense.
+	Again, we just get dirty while working anyway.
+	I think it was just what they had.
+	But the Garrison had some guys there, trust me, it's all okay.
+	Now let's talk about dinner.
+	Broccoli?
+
+―Yep, and potato, Rowena replied.
+	Let me know when you're ready, I'll cook my part in about five minutes.
+
+―Dad, I wanted to talk a bit more, Kral said.
+	I was talking to some of the guys in my squad.
+	You know Kari, right?
+	Met her once, I think.
+	She said she knows a few Guards looking to do private security stuff on their free days.
+	We could get them to work security for your crew―
+
+―Absolutely not, Bovril interrupted.
+
+―Let me finish at least.
+
+―No, Kralvin, I told you before.
+	Drop it, I'm not interested.
+
+―Seriously, just hear me out.
+	I'm not talking about any kind of force.
+	We could just join counter-protests as they happened.
+	Those already happen, and you're fine with it.
+	Kari and I, a couple other Guards in my squad, we'd be able to cover the full week.
+	And she has some other friends outside the Guards.
+	Even Hermann said he was supportive.
+
+Bovril shook his head.
+―Anything else?
+
+―No, that's it.
+	Seriously, it'd be easy.
+	And everyone will volunteer, won't cost anyone anything.
+
+―Still a no, son.
+
+―Dad, c'mon! Kral found himself yelling.
+	I just want to make sure you stay safe.
+
+―Kralvin, I'm telling you, I don't need it.
+	Even those hateful Hierarchy bastards have the right to protest without armed guards trying to come down to stop them.
+	And I don't want to you to risk your job or anything, got it?
+
+―It's fine, we checked that it'd be okay with the Captain.
+	And besides, dad, it's our job to protect people.
+
+―No, your job is to protect the President.
+	Not to show up at protests at construction sites.
+
+―Why are you fighting this?
+	People have security, it's fine.
+	And I asked around if anyone was there to hear what they were chanting.
+	They're talking about driving everyone out of the Barns.
+	It's scary.
+
+―Kralvin, I told you, drop it.
+	I didn't come here because I wanted to have to hide behind people with weapons, got it?
+
+―Is that what it's about?
+	What, you're ashamed of me?
+	Ashamed of my job?
+
+―Kralvin! Rowena barked.
+
+She was glaring at him from her seat.
+Kral felt how angry he was, and how close to tears he'd found himself.
+And then he felt ashamed of letting his emotions come out so strongly.
+
+―Son, I love you.
+	But I'm disappointed that you think that people can't protest without bringing weapons and violence into it.
+
+―Bov, Rowena interjected.
+
+Kral's chest buzzed with anger.
+He stormed out of the house, and walked down the street a ways, then headed back and sat on his old chair on the porch.
+
+After stewing a few moments, when he'd started to calm himself down, his mom walked out with some water for him.
+He drank it gratefully.
+
+―Are you okay, Krally?
+
+Kral nodded.
+
+―Don't mind what he said, okay?
+	There's been a lot of stress recently.
+
+―Am I wrong, mom?
+	I'm just trying to help him out.
+	I want to make sure he stays safe.
+
+―Kral, your father's lived a tough life.
+	He's about as brave and strong as they come, but he's got pride too.
+	I think he just wants to get through these protests his own way.
+
+―That's what I'm worried about though.
+	What if they don't ease up anytime soon, or if they get worse?
+
+―Then we'll deal with it as it happens.
+	But don't forget to let people surprise you, okay?
+	As I said, we've been here a while, even your dad.
+	Sometimes, people don't understand us.
+	Or they're angry at us.
+	But overall, we've been accepted more and more.
+	And by the way Kral, I'm scared too, okay?
+	I worry about him every day, every time I hear about anything going on, every time someone at the hospital mentions a cow.
+	And same with you.
+	But I have to trust you, and you have to trust your dad.
+	Now gone on home, you have to work, right?
+
+Kral nodded.
+Rowena gestured for a hug, and Kral nuzzled against her back.
+
+―Bye Kral, have a good day at work.
+	Love you.
+
+―Bye Mom, love you too.

kral-calls-mountberg.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+The dwarf caves were cramped, and smelled old, as though the air had grown stale from years of disuse.
+There were plenty of rooms, enough for each guard to have space for themselves.
+Which was good, because Kral doubted two yaks would fit in each room.
+Kral felt like if he stood up his straight his horns would scrape against the ceiling, forcing him into a constant crouch.
+Furnished with little more than a too-small bed and a bare slab of rock that Kral supposed counted as a dwarf table, the rooms felt like a prison.
+The electric light overhead was a pleasing warm colour, but was far too dim to see by.
+
+Kab, the little dwarf that had led them to their rooms had said they'd be summoned again for dinner.
+Which knowing these people would likely be more rocks.
+
+Kral shook his head.
+Kab had been perfectly civil.
+And the other one that had insisted on guarding them was just doing what Kral would have done if the situation was reversed.
+The dwarf had definitely insulted the yaks, but Kral had in fairness insulted him in turn.
+No, the real reason for his annoyance was with the President.
+
+Vaughan wouldn't have lied about wanting to stop the New Meadowlark.
+But Kral had always thought Vaughan was one of the more progressive members of the government.
+Was that just a ruse, hiding Vaughan's loyalty to the Hierarchy?
+Or was Calvin the real loyalist?
+
+Kral shook his head again, and stood up.
+Unless he went to Vaughan with force, demanding he explain himself, he wouldn't find out whether it was just corrupt politics or a deeper evil.
+Either way, he wouldn't get an answer sitting around.
+At least a walk through the cave would get him out of the tiny room.
+
+The corridor that linked the yaks' rooms led back to the entrance hall somehow, in a way Kral felt he was unlikely to be able to replicate.
+He went the other way, the direction that seemed deeper in the caves.
+There weren't any dwarves around as guards, which Kral found odd.
+If he'd been in charge, he'd want someone near his armed guests.
+
+The hallway ended at a round stone door, featureless.
+Kral pushed it, and it swung inwards effortlessly, no hint of resistance.
+It led through to another long hallway of chambers at each side.
+The rooms with open doors looked similar to his own, small with a bed and table.
+Kral sniffed the air, and smelled something sweet.
+Coming from a closed room further ahead, with a tart note to it?
+Kral knocked, and it opened.
+
+―Hermann?
+
+Kral was confused. Hermann had gotten one of the first rooms of the group.
+
+―Ho Kral, what's up?
+	I figured you'd want to rest a bit, maybe get groomed.
+
+―I'd decided to go for a little walk. Why did you move rooms?
+
+―Not sure what you mean, Kral, I've been here since the dwarf dropped us off.
+
+―Stay here, I need to try something.
+	Keep an eye out of your room.
+
+Kral started running down the hallway, continuing the direction he'd been going.
+Passing through he saw other yaks' rooms as he passed, and what was definitely his room, with his pack on the bed.
+He sped up, until he reached another door, exactly like the one he'd opened a few minutes ago.
+As before, it swung open easily, and he sprinted through.
+And as before, he found himself at Hermann's room.
+
+―Ah Kral, back again?
+	Did you just go in a circle?
+
+Kral's voice couldn't quite keep up with what he was thinking.
+
+―No, I just went―
+	Well yes, I suppose it ended up being a circle, but just straight lines.
+	I think we're trapped here.
+	This hallway, just the other end leads back to itself.
+
+―Are you okay, Kral?
+	Take a little nap or something, that might help.
+	I'm sure we're not trapped, just maybe the dwarf architecture is a bit off to us.
+
+Kral shook his head.
+
+―Maybe, I'll go take that rest then.
+
+Kral left, and left Hermann's room.
+However, instead of turning left, toward his room, he turned right, towards the door he'd come out of.
+The round door still swung easily on its hinges, the other way this time.
+And once again, as he walked through he found himself in the same hallway, on the other side.
+
+
+―It's a nice trick right? a voice behind him said.
+
+Kral turned and dropped into a low defensive crouch.
+
+―Woah there, sailor. Not here to hurt you.
+
+The voice was coming from a dwarf who was standing in the doorway.
+It had a different quality from the other dwarves they'd met so far.
+More musical somehow, as if each word was being spoken by a high and low voice simultaneously.
+He had a longer beard than Kab, black hair plaited into two thick braids.
+His hair was also far longer than the others, in a single braid that hung at his waist.
+Although as Kral looked at the dwarf's waist and hips,
+
+―You're a woman! Kral said.
+
+The dwarf gave Kral a strange look.
+
+―Yes? I'm aware.
+
+―I didn't know that women dwarves still had beards.
+	I've seen pictures of Ottawans and they don't do that.
+
+―Well, the dwarrowfolk aren't the same as the jan Kanata.
+	Er, the Ottowans, whatever you call them.
+
+She emphasised the word "dwarrowfolk" in a way that made Kral feel a sudden sense of guilt.
+
+―Sorry, no offensive meant.
+	It's just, in Galvarelli we don't get many of the, uh, dwarrowfolk, so, just not used to...
+
+Kral let his voice trail off.
+She rolled her eyes at him.
+
+―Sorry, he stammered. Anyway, you were saying something?
+	How did you show up behind me?
+
+She sighed.
+
+―I was just saying, you figured out that little trick.
+	The hallway that's connected to itself.
+	Pretty cool, right?
+
+Kral nodded slowly.
+She stepped forward and let the door close.
+Then, she turned around and touched her finger to the door.
+For a moment, she held her pose, and it seemed nothing had happened.
+Then, prompted by nothing Kral could see, she pushed the door open and stepped through.
+
+Somehow, what should have been the hallway was back in Kral's room.
+
+―C'mon in, she said. I won't bite.
+
+Kral stepped through.
+
+―Is this dwarf magic?
+	I mean, dwarrow magic?
+
+―Of a sort, yes.
+	Anyway, I'm here to ask if you would be willing to stop going back and forth through the door.
+	I did a bit of a sloppy job throwing it together, and I don't want to risk any damage to space.
+	If you want out, just hang tight and we'll get Chief to take you on a tour or something.
+	Or just let your leaders know.
+	There's an attendant hanging out with them who can take you wherever you'd like.
+
+―Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any trouble for you, I was just exploring.
+
+―No problem, honestly I just didn't want Kab finding out how sloppy I was setting the guest area up.
+	Was napping, and I was still pretty tired.
+	Not a good state to create a loop in.
+	So if you don't mind, don't tell Kab or Chief about that, please?
+
+She gave Kral a hopeful smile here.
+When he nodded back, she seemed to relax.
+
+―Sweet, thanks.
+	What was your name, by the way?
+	I'm Omig.
+
+Kral snapped to attention.
+―Sergeant Kralvin of the Galvarelli Presidential Guard.
+
+―Good to meet you, Kral.
+	Anyway, I'm off.
+	Let me know if you need anything else.
+
+Kral felt an odd pulling sensation.
+The Meadowlark seemed to be willing him onwards, pointing out an opportunity.
+
+―Actually, if you don't mind, I did have one question.
+	I was trying to talk more with the guard at the entrance, but he didn't seem to speak the Open Tongue much.
+
+―Yeah, that's Jod. Not big on languages.
+
+―So, we're here because of issues with the Hierarchy.
+	We wanted to ask Mountberg for help.
+	Do you know what your leader would say about that?
+
+―Well, Mountberg haven't been very responsive lately.
+	Probably something Chief should be here to talk about.
+	But to be honest, Chief would be asking me to send them a message anyway.
+	Want me to just go ahead and send them a quick request for an audience?
+
+―Yes, if you'd like.
+	And if it wouldn't get you in trouble.
+	I figure hopefully Chief wouldn't mind you saving him the trouble.
+
+Omig nodded.
+
+―I like you, Sergeant Kralvin of the Galvarelli Presidential Guard.
+	If you weren't twenty feet tall...
+	And remember, try not to go to the door at the end of the hall too much.
+
+Omig left through the door in Kral's room.
+Kral waited a moment, and poked his head out the door.
+It was the same corridor that he would have originally expected.

kral-recruit-attempt.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+Kral hadn't spent a lot of time by the South Shore, and he didn't enjoy it.
+The houses towered over him in a way the dense housing in the Barns didn't, wide and ornate as if to deliberately waste space.
+_Notice the smell_, he heard the Meadowlark say.
+Kral took a deep breath in.
+There was a sweet, green smell, delicious but very faint.
+Walled off.
+They would have small greens inside, but the footprints of the large buildings cut off how much land they could actually use for cultivation.
+
+Kral heard Sepp before he saw him down the street, stone hooves tapping against the hardened earth under the tramway.
+
+—Ho, Kral! Sepp called. I see you got my message!
+
+—I did indeed. All well? How'd you get the Garrison to release you?
+
+—We were on the right side, Kral.
+	They saw that soon enough.
+	But don't worry about it, the Garrison's not important.
+	I'm glad you're here.
+
+—Just here to give thanks for the help, I still believe in the Guard.
+
+—Of course, of course.
+	But that shouldn't stop you from following your beliefs outside that.
+	You're allowed to join a Flock, right?
+	Anyway, just meet them, let them give you the pitch.
+
+Sepp led him into a tall house, where an older yak welcomed the pair in.
+He seemed very well groomed, wearing a long, elegant dressing gown, smoking from a pipe.
+Once the welcomes gave way to a conversation between Sepp and their host, who introduced himself as Bromley, Kral took in the house around him.
+The entrance was brightly lit, an electric chandelier overhead.
+Electric lights were still rare in the Barns, and Kral felt his stomach sinking.
+_Their wealth and power does not mean their message is insincere_, Kral felt the Meadowlark say to him.
+
+—Come now, both of you.
+	Kral, I've heard quite a bit about you.
+	All good, very good, your friend speaks very highly of you.
+	I saw you yesterday with the Guard.
+	Such a shame to see what the President was doing, condoning the Old Meadowlark like that.
+	He ordered you to stay out of uniform, right?
+
+Kral felt his stomach squirm at Bromley's expectation for an answer.
+
+—Well, that is, I can't really say—
+
+—Ah yes, yes, you are loyal to the Guard.
+	I won't tell, I won't tell.
+	But confirmation then that Calvin is scared to oppose the Hierarch, no matter how much he preaches about the poor refugees in the Barns.
+
+He turned away and continued further into the house and told them to follow.
+
+—Now Sepp, you have met me of course, and a few others in this little group.
+	But I don't believe you have met the crow yet, correct?
+
+Kral tried to hide his shock.
+Non-yaks were rare in general in Galvarelli, outside of the Barns at least.
+You'd come across the odd dwarf in the Haven.
+But as far as he knew, he'd only ever heard of a handful of Birds leaving the Aery at all in the past few decades.
+Unless it was one of the Ottawan birds from outside the Hidden Lands, but Kral assumed that the Aery took them in the same way Galvarelli took in the farm animals.
+
+—No, sir, Sepp said, although I'd heard he would be visiting soon.
+	Actually, I feel bad admitting it, but it's one of the reasons I wanted to make sure Kral came now.
+
+—He is one of us, Sepp, not a trophy to be paraded around.
+	Remember that all animals are free to touch the Meadowlark equally, and do not judge him for the separation his kind have sought.
+
+—Of course, I'm sorry, sir.
+
+—No matter, don't let it trouble you.
+	Your friend is here because he sees we are serious about our commitment to justice, and to reach higher forms of the Meadowlark, I trust?
+
+—Yes, sir.
+	I'd unwisely hoped to impress him, but I hadn't told him.
+
+—Wonderful, well there is no crime in appreciating that it is an unusual position to find oneself by a crow here, I'm sure.
+
+The hallways they passed through dripped with expensive ornamentation.
+Whoever Bromley was, he must have had old money.
+Maybe someone on the Assembly, or part of some older administration?
+
+They arrived at a library, near what Kral assumed must have been the far side of the house.
+Inside, a handful of yaks were engaged in muted discussions in a few groups.
+Kral swept his eyes across the room twice before he saw the crow, far smaller than he expected, perched on one of the tables by a group of a couple yaks.
+
+—Ah Bromley, these are the newer recruits then?, one of the yaks called.
+
+At this, the crow looked up, and flitted over to a table near Bromley.
+
+—This one is, this one soon will be, I hope, Bromley called back, chuckling, indicating Sepp and Kral in turn.
+
+— Boys, this is Martin, Bromley said to the pair in a softer voice, in whose excellent company I will leave you.
+
+Bromley walked over to the yak who had called out to him.
+Martin tilted his head quizzically at Sepp, before turning to Kral.
+
+—Welcome, both of you, he said, in a lower voice than Kral expected.
+	Thank you for coming here.
+	I am Martin, as our gracious benefactor said.
+
+Sepp and Kral introduced themselves as well.
+
+—Sepp, I'm very glad you were willing to see the importance of our mission, and I'd love to talk to you later.
+	But for the moment, do you mind if I have a moment alone with Kral?
+
+—No problem at all, Sepp said, with what Kral felt was a tinge of disappointment.
+	Kral, if I don't see you before you head out, we'll meet again soon, yeah?
+
+Kral nodded, and Sepp went to follow Bromley.
+
+Martin gestured to the hallway.
+
+—Let's find a quieter room.
+
+Kral opened the door, and Martin fluttered through, reaching a small, vacant sitting room further down the hallway.
+
+Martin took a perch on the table.
+Kral felt far more comfortable with Martin alone.
+His feathers seemed slightly ruffled, and Bromley's fine grooming and clothing were uncomfortable.
+At least the crow would be more likely to empathise with the people in the Barns.
+
+—Kral, perhaps you have heard of us from your friend before, but I hope you will not be offended if I retell my story from the start?
+	That way any distortions through retelling might be reduced.
+	
+—No problem, I'm happy to hear more.
+
+—I am not of the Aery, as you might be wondering.
+	My brood is of a line that never followed the Aery, living in small nests near Mountberg.
+	We've been a bit lost, as I'm sure you can imagine.
+
+Kral could imagine.
+The Partition of the Hidden Land extended far deeper than the politics that moved normal borders.
+With the Aery gone, only the Beast and Dwarf Threding remained.
+Even the independent yak-towns outside Galvarelli still lay in the Beast Threding.
+There might be places to leave among the Beasts or Dwarves, but Kral started to wonder if his parents hadn't found Galvarelli at all.
+
+—We Birds can see far, and I felt the Meadowlark calling me even from our nest far from the yaks.
+	Not the Hierarchy, you understand, or even any specific Flock.
+	Just the Voice itself, the true Meadowlark.
+	I felt it calling me, because the Birds have always been closer to the Beasts than to the Dwarves.
+	They are cousins of Men, the Ottawans as you call them.
+
+Kral nodded.
+Bovril had talked about living in Ottawa, where it was common for Men to keep chickens or other birds alongside farm animals.
+
+—The Meadowlark was calling me here to help.
+	The Hierarchy, the Flocks, they obscure it, hide the Meadowlark.
+	But the Voice is meant for all yaks.
+	Meant to keep you free, unyoked.
+	Do you understand?
+
+—Yes, I do.
+	But I thought the Voice of Birds was different from the Voice of Beasts?
+
+Kral felt himself regretting learning so little from his lessons about the Flock growing up.
+
+—The Voice of Birds may be different, but I still was called by the Voice of Beasts.
+	I cannot say why, maybe because it can sometimes take an outside force to spark a change.
+	But in any case, I am no Herder.
+	Bromley has founded this New Meadowlark, and I merely support him in it.
+	You may still be sceptical, I sense.
+
+—I have never loved any Flock, with all due respect.
+	I don't mean any offense, and of course I'm grateful for everyone's help in the Barns, but I don't want to get pulled away from the Guard.
+
+—Indeed, Kral, I don't actually wish you to join us at this stage!
+	You can hear the Voice quite clearly, can you not?
+
+Kral thought about lying, but he could feel the truth slipping out
+—Yes, nearly every day, with very little effort.
+
+—Well that settles it, you must not join us today.
+	We wish to help those who cannot hear the Voice hear, and you do not need our help.
+	The Ancestral Voice speaks directly, and those who would seek to intervene deserve no respect.
+	Listen to it, let it guide you.
+	You will join us soon, but you will know when you are ready.
+
+Martin turned away, and hopped back and forth on his feet.
+
+—Feel free to leave, Kral.
+	I will let Sepp know that you're alright.
+	And Bromley as well, he will be delighted you are here.
+	I'd caution you to beware the Hierarchy, however.
+	They are dangerous, and have people throughout government.
+	If they knew you could hear the Voice without them, that you subverted their authority, they would come after you.
+	Do not tell anyone you work with about us, for our own safety.
+
+—Of course, Kral replied.
+
+—Thank you, Martin said, before taking off and heading out of the room.
+
+Kral found his way out of the house, somewhat confused.
+Bromley seemed like he meant well, but someone that wealthy had to be clueless about actual help.
+Martin, though, was odder.
+Some sort of psychological trick, making them seem more normal by not trying to recruit him?
+Kral let those thoughts carry him back home.

lore/blacksheep.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+Baa baa, black sheep,
+Have you any wool?
+Yes, sir. yes, sir,
+Three bags full;
+One for the master,
+And one for the dame,
+And one for the little boy
+Who lives down the lane.
+
+Two for my master,
+One for my dame,
+None for the little boy
+That cries in the lane.
+
+This rhyme was carried through to our time by the Ottawans, or Humans as they call themselves.
+Doubtless their scholars have their own history and interpretation of it, but any learned yak must admit that it is clearly a composition of a scion of the Fifth Race.
+To begin, we recognise the struggle of Beasts in the Unvoiced World in its form.
+Elders kept in (I beg my esteemed reader to permit this obscenity) _mutton_ farms were denied from writing.
+Moreover, many farmers would treat (and mis-treat) their crops and earth with various Ottawan technologies, in the process destroying most means of recording information in soils through the applied Meadowlark.
+Rhymes such as these were developed to ease the memorisation of sacred or otherwise important texts, and could by very skilled Elders be transmitted to Ottawan children.
+In this way, texts were seeded into Ottawan minds, and cultivated by Elders, so that after centuries Beasts would hear Ottawans singing the same songs. 
+
+The Meadowlark provides, dear reader.
+At times the Hierarchy can be slow, and only focus on keeping pastures green so we may feed.
+But the pasture of ideas is just as important, and through these techniques Beasts survived Ottawan rule.
+
+What of the contents of the rhyme, you may be wondering.
+A recent essay by my learned colleagues in the employ of the Ennearch of Wisdom have posited that the wool here represents the unyielding Meadowlark of stalk and bone.
+Their argument rests on two pillars (stalks?): first, the correlation of shapes of hair fibres and stalks and second, the unyielding, well-established strength of yak hair.
+Neither stands up to scrutiny.
+The wool grown by Elders is of course quite different to that grown by yaks, and in Ottawan industry it is Elder (specifically sheep) wool that is preferred for textiles.
+It is explicitly a black sheep in the rhyme, and sheep hair, as is evident after even brief observation, is curly, rather unlike stalk or bone, and so the shape argument is meritless.
+And the strength of hair is hardly relevant to the actual content of the unyielding Meadowlark, which governs the growth of pastures and the health of soil.
+Simply put, hair is strong, but hardly unyielding, and all the better for it!
+How hard it would be to walk with hair that was truly unyielding.
+
+I propose an alternate reading.
+The wool represents the celestial Meadowlark, of sky and skin.
+Most commonly, hair covers, and does not support structures.
+It is this obvious meaning that whichever captive Elder first penned this rhyme would have expected his uneducated audience to understand.
+We should be loath to let our own education blind us to the obvious!
+And equally important, the wool itself is not the Meadowlark.
+The Meadowlark is the skin that produces the wool, so the bag of wool represents the effects and gift of the celestial Meadowlark.
+Consider the Ottawan: Elders gift their wool so the Ottawan may stay warm and clothe itself from the cold wind, but they do not have the power to make this wool without us.
+
+The three bags are similarly obvious.
+It goes without saying that three signifies the Tripartition of the Hidden Lands.
+We must then understand the correspondence between the three parties of the Voice, Beast, Dwarf and Bird, and the three parties in the rhyme: Master, Dame and Little Boy.
+One might object here, for the Meadowlark itself belongs to the Beasts alone, so it cannot be that a portion of the celestial Meadowlark belongs to Bird or Dwarf.
+But we cannot be too haughty.
+Even among the most capable Practicants in the Hierarchy, the celestial Meadowlark is entirely inaccessible.
+But we still live with its wool, its effects, in the form of the shapes of the hills and farmland.
+For the Emperor Yakob used the celestial Meadowlark to carve the Temple of the Rock, and shaped the waters around the Haven.
+
+And if this is an allegorical history of the Emperor, the remainder of the correspondence falls into place.
+The Emperor talked of his people as his great love, so his Dame must be the Beasts.
+When the Emperor was finally convinced to abandon his quest to unite the Hidden Lands, he surrendered twice to the dwarves, first the Border Dwarves who had initially followed him, secondly to the Dwarves of Mountberg who ran from his army.
+Much land was conceded back to the Dwarves, including the Temple, and to this day the Temple lies within the Dwarf Threding, leaving them the Master of the Emperor's pride.
+And finally, the Aery, small as they are in relation to Beasts, must be the Little Boy.
+Even in the old days, the Aery remained far removed from the affairs of Beast or Dwarf, and thus, they "lived down the lane".
+
+So what does it mean to have given them wool, and does this rhyme simply mourn the Emperor's final defeat?
+Hardly, dear reader.
+This rhyme is a reminder to persist after defeat.
+The Elder who wrote it did so to ensure a message of hope persisted among the captive Beasts living in Ottawa.
+The "Master"―the Dwarves―still relied on the celestial Meadowlark.
+They could not have carved the Temple alone.
+Even the mountains in the Dwarf Threding were carved by yaks, as told in the tale of the First Compact.
+The Lord of the Mountain, who had all Three Voices, used the celestial Meadowlark to make Mountberg and the rest of the Dwarf rock habitable.
+The close relationship between the Dwarves and the Ottawans must not be forgotten here:
+The Dwarves are their cousins, cousins of the Fourth Race.
+
+So this rhyme finds its interpretation.
+It is a history of the Emperor's fall.
+The Empire was shattered, and given to Dwarven masters.
+But the gift given by the Emperor, using the celestial Meadowlark to shape the Earth that made up this Empire, persists.
+Dwarves who would gloat over taking control of the Temple must instead live in a reminder of the Emperor's power.
+Even the Birds have benefited from the celestial Meadowlark, and no matter how much they flee, are still bound to us by their debt.
+And the Beasts who remain in Ottawa, upon hearing this rhyme should remember the old stories, should know that the power of the Meadowlark remains theirs.

lore/hierarchy-structure.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Ranks in the actual Hierarchy as well, Hierarch, the 9 Ennearchs.
+# The Councillors can actually be of any Meadowlark rank, but theoretical minimum is Renunciate.
+# 
+# Above the Practicants are the Master Practicants and the 
+
+The Hierarchy is structured along two axes: Meadowlark and Political power.
+
+Simplest is the Hierarch, who sits atop both theoretically.
+The next, who usually handle the actual administration of the Hierarchy and actually serve on the Council, are the 9 Ennearchs.
+Both the Hierarch and the Ennearchs have complementary powers.
+It is the Hierarch who speaks for the entire Hierarchy proper, which is why the political interference from the Republic was aimed directly at the top.
+The Hierarch can nominally appoint Ennearchs.
+The Ennearchs are essentially the 9 seniormost members of the Council, in typical times.
+When an Ennearch dies, the Flocks who have sworn to him or her nominate a replacement, and it would be a shock and surprise for the Hierarch to not accept that nomination.
+A Flock swears to an Ennearch in particular.
+Each Ennearch has a virtue they espouse, and a Flock can be arranged around any one of them.
+(Theoretically, a Flock could claim to embody all virtues, and swear to the Hierarch, but it would be seen as a wildly arrogant move).
+
+The Ennearch must officially accept the charter of a Flock.
+This is usually very simple, and is typically a prerequisite for actual FLock formation ceremonies.
+The Ennearch is expected then to represent the Flocks they bring to the Meadowlark.
+In actuality, they are typically not particularly representative of anything at all.
+
+The Ennearchs all sit on the Council.
+The Council appoints a Hierarch at an appointed time when necessary, which is usually done by a small committee of powerful Councillors, potentially but not always including some or all of the Ennearchs.
+
+The Council also handles the day-to-day administration of the Hierarchy, usually by delegating roles elsewhere.
+The Hierarch does not typically sit on the Council.
+The Council numbers about 20-30 typically, including the Ennearchs.
+Fewer Master Practicants than expected are on it; Master Practicants have lots of skill, but not necessarily the power to even control their own schedules, because they are valuable resources in the eyes of the Council.
+A Master Practicant is, at least to some, just a tool for turning Adepts into Renunciates and actually adding bodies to the Hierarchy.
+Being a Practicant on the Council is a far higher position in the Hierarchy in practical terms than being an Anendyte off of the Council.
+
+The Meadowlark structure is as follows, from lowest to highest:
+
+Initiate - anyone who has joined the Hierarchy proper (typically it's not uncommon for Flock members to spend time as an Initiate, before leaving the Hierarchy)
+Adept - any Initiate who has shown actual capability with the Meadowlark, being able to hear or use it at all (Again, not entirely uncommon, but significantly filtered from the total Initiate pool)
+Renunciate - An Adept who swears oaths, relinquishes the right to own property (although the Republic will eventually have to reckon with the legality of that), and binds themself to the Hierarchy.
+	No special skill is needed. You could, theoretically, on the same day show up as an Initiate, show some skill and be declared an Adept (without much fuss or ceremony) and then swear your oaths and become a Renunciate.
+	Such haste would likely be rejected by whichever Master Practicant was actually petitioned to witness the vows.
+
+Practicant - In some sense a Practicant represents a trained Renunciate.
+	A Master Practicant must declare the Renunciate's training over (and almost always the Master Practicant teaching the Renunciate).
+	At this stage, the Practicant is no longer bound to a particular Anendyte, and is given far more freedom within the Hierarchy.
+	Someone who can be trusted to use the Applied Meadowlark in public (although the Republic is not entirely kind to this interpretation).
+	Traditionally this would require reaching the higher levels of the Meadowlark, even the unyielding meadowlark, but nowadays Practicants are basically able to just about create soil from rock, slowly.
+	Typically, unless someone has a particular interest in scholarship or in pedagogy, or just interest in the actual applied meadowlark, this is where people stop in their Meadowlark training.
+	Auroklos is a Practicant, although one of moderate skill.
+	Sarla is a very, very skilled Practicant, and is on the cusp of being a very young Anendyte.
+
+Anendyte / Master Practicant - Capable of / allowed to teach the Meadowlark to Adepts, and necessary to witness vows for Adepts to become Renunciates.
+	The Ennearchs will bring the petition of a skilled Practicant to the Hierarch for evaluation, with the Hierarch's approval, a Practicant becomes an Anendyte.
+	Often this requires great skill, along with a long experience.
+	In practice, a Practicant will already have begun aiding Renunciates, even if not formally teaching them.
+	In the current times, the skill required will almost certainly involve being able to grow plants with some ease.
+	There are not many Anendytes, only usually 15-20 in the whole Hierarchy.
+
+Telaugur - Very rare, requires reaching the highest Meadowlarks at least on occasion.
+	If you can command insects, and the wind and the rain, then you are a Telaugur.
+	There is no formal process for attaining this rank.
+	The last Telaugurs were imprisoned and killed during the Suppression three Presidents ago.
+	Caprina has the knowledge and skill to be a Telaugur, but not the will to teach or any desire to be part of the Hierarchy.
+	Elders often have an advantage in reaching higher meadowlarks, because of their closer connection to the Fifth Race.

meeting-with-old-imperial-hospital.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+From what Adam had said, the Chancellor of Old Imperial Hospital seemed to be a yak of little patience, a pun Nikki hoped would never come up in conversation. # fix actual text later.
+The Chancellor, Teri, introduced her companions, the yak a nursing superintendent named Amy and a pig named Rowena, a data analyst.
+
+―I'm Nikki, Chief Executive of the Republic.
+	Adam tells me you were very persistent in setting this meeting up.
+
+―Yes, well it's critical that we get heard out.
+	As I told Adam, Old Imperial is in crisis, Nikki.
+
+―Start from the beginning.
+
+―Well, we're not sure when it started.
+	A little while ago we noticed a few patients coming in with insomnia, which is not too uncommon.
+	Treatment worked, and that was that.
+	But we started to get more and more cases, above the normal rate.
+
+―I think the earliest we can see an abnormal bump in case rates might be somewhere between two and three weeks ago, as far as I can tell from our numbers, Rowena added in.
+	But the base rate's already low, so it's hard to tell when our first cases were.
+
+―Yes, especially with how innocuous it is, Amy added.
+	Not everyone actually brings in their complaints, or they might use sleep aids that don't need the hospital.
+
+Nikki nodded.
+
+―Makes sense, it's not like we're strangers to a lack of sleep here in government.
+
+Teri seemed slightly annoyed at the interruption.
+
+―Yes, well the reason this is a crisis is the subsequent growth, she said.
+	We've seen staff developing symptoms, so we believe it's communicable.
+
+―Communicable insomnia and hallucinations? Nikki asked.
+	Is that a thing?
+
+―Some sort of parasite? Amy answered.
+	It's not out of the realm of possibility.
+
+―Whatever causes it, and we still don't know, we're seeing more and more patients, taking up beds without any clear long-term plan.
+	We can't just send everyone home full of sedatives, but for the 

nikki-preps-for-kral-return.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+Nikki watched as the bridges to downtown fell into Mindemoya, with a sense of regret.
+They were now trapped on Monsimeli island.
+No way out.
+Nikki shivered. 
+
+―Captain Adrienne, let's head back.
+
+Adrienne called the remaining members of the Presidential Guard to order, and with Auroklos and his followers, boarded the tram up to Havenmount.
+
+Nikki left Adrienne and Auroklos to coordinate their defences, while she went to see how the office was handling things.
+Adam was dashing about holding a stack of folders, and he didn't notice Nikki walking in.
+He'd gotten the office workers to coordinate putting their documents into lockboxes.
+
+―Adam, what are you doing with all the files?
+
+Adam looked up sharply, and Nikki could see a sense of panic in his eyes.
+
+―Sorry ma'am, I was thinking, you know.
+	If we lose the island, we could sink everything in the lake?
+	Make it as hard as possible for anyone to take over.
+
+―Nice idea. Thanks for taking the initiative on that.
+
+This seemed to relax him.
+He was still apparently more scared of Nikki than the threat of a coup.
+This oddly filled Nikki with a sense of pride and calm.
+
+She stood tall and raised her voice.
+―Everyone, listen up.
+	No matter what happens here, I want you to remember that the Republic of Galvarelli is going to survive.
+	We're yaks, we endure the thin mountain air, and the bitter winter cold, and even if we're not great with warm temperatures we, uh.
+	We find a way to deal with it.
+
+Nikki regretted starting to speak without planning an ending first.
+
+―Ah, hell.
+	I'll do everything in my power to keep yaks safe.
+	Thank you for your service to this nation.
+
+A mild cheer burbled around the office.
+But the mood seemed slightly lighter, which Nikki counted as a win.
+
+Nikki entered Calvin's office.
+Or, as she sadly remembered, her office.
+She remembered the first time she'd seen him, defending an expansion to the Barns.
+
+―Look at what the Ottawans have built, he'd said.
+	No Great Voices to help them, and they've still conquered their world.
+	It's our cousin the cows that named the moon, yet we let the humans walk on the moon first.
+	We can outrun them easily, but they build vehicles.
+	We can overpower them, but they build weapons.
+	It's the power of their philosophy.
+	Those values that help them grow, openness and acceptance, all come from a desire to do more than just survive.
+	We've let ourselves be yoked by our traditions, and I say no longer!
+
+Nikki felt the tears start to fall.
+Dammit Cal, she thought.
+Why'd you have to leave?
+
+A knock on the door.
+She wiped off her eyes.
+
+―Come in.
+
+Adrienne opened the door.
+
+―Ma'am, I got a report saying they've been spotted, coming from the east.
+	They're entering the city within the hour.
+	Auroklos says his yaks are in place to watch the Havenmount entrances from the upper floors
+	The Guard that's left here are all in place on the ground floor, but I can have a couple of my yaks with you personally if you need.
+	I still think you should be with the Assembly in the saferooms.
+
+―No, Adrienne.
+	I want to be up by the waterfront.
+	I want to see the fuckers attacking us.
+	
+―That's an extraordinarily bad idea, ma'am.
+	We don't know what they can do, and we need to keep you safe.
+
+―Captain, there's no point in worrying about me.
+	If they kill me, it's not going to make a difference.
+	I'd rather be there to bargain for people's safety.
+
+―If they bargain at all.
+	They might just kill you immediately, and move on to everyone else.
+
+―I have to try.
+	There's no outcome here where I'm going to put my own life over anyone else's.
+	It's what Calvin would have done.
+
+Adrienne nodded.
+
+―Try to talk to them.
+	We'll keep a tram ready to go, and have everyone there retreat immediately if they try to attack you.
+	If we need to, we'll make our last stand here at Havenmount.
+	Anything other than that is pointless, okay ma'am?
+	
+Nikki nodded.
+
+―Get ready then, I'll try to scrounge up some decent protective gear for you.
+	We'll head to the East Bridge in fifteen minutes.

nikki-watches-kral-return.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+Nikki waited by the East Bridge again, shivering in anticipation.
+Scouts on the roofs of the tallest buildings across the water waited, binoculars in hand, ready to signal that they'd sighted the incoming militia.
+She hoped the messages had gone out in time.
+Some sirens were still blaring, by the Barns, and, when caught by the wind, the sound of yaks dispatched to alert people to stay inside caught her ears.
+
+Adrienne had found her a thick coat, which might stop a stray projectile.
+She'd also brought a helmet, which Nikki hated on the feel of.
+It clanked against her horns whenever she moved her head, and given that they had no idea what to expect, Nikki worried it would do nothing to actually protect her.
+
+The tram was waiting.
+All the switches had been locked in place for a direct ride back to Havenmount, and they'd gotten explosives in place to destroy the elevated lift into the upper floors of Havenmount behind them.
+Adrienne and another guard, Trevor or something, was with her, along with one of Auroklos's Meadowlarkers, a youngish yak named Sarla.
+
+Nikki tried to see all of the scouts ahead, but they were quite far, and admittedly trying to hide.
+She wished she knew exactly where they were, if only to just have something to look at.
+Some had been part of a Flock, especially those that had come from the Garrison, letting them send Adrienne and Sarla messages.
+Apparently there were advantages to the Hierarchy.
+No, Nikki told herself.
+The Ottawans can do better with no Meadowlark to carry their messages.
+And they'd avoid keeping it locked up, even figure out how to use the Meadowlark more efficiently.
+
+She felt her stomach drop.
+It was hard to think about, but they were mostly quite young, not those holding weapons.
+
+―How long do you think? she asked Adrienne.
+
+―I haven't heard anything yet, ma'am.
+	If it's alright, I think it's best we maintain silence.
+	It'd make it easiest for me to hear the messages over the Meadowlark.
+
+―Right, sorry Adrienne.
+
+Nikki waited what seemed like another eternity, but she knew must be less than ten minutes.
+A flicker of hope started to find its way into her mind.
+Maybe they'd been stopped on the way, and they wouldn't be here.
+Before she could indulge in the fantasy, Adrienne suddenly seemed to grow alert.
+
+―There's a crow, ma'am, flying here quickly.
+	Probably going ahead, over the city now.
+	Do we try to attack it?
+
+―No, Captain, we don't want to provoke them to attack civilians.
+	Any movement from the Garrison?
+
+―Not yet.
+	Still holding Northhaven, no movement into the Barns or anything.
+
+Nikki nodded.
+
+―There, Trevor said, pointing across the water.
+
+Initially, Nikki didn't see what he meant, but after a moment she saw a bird heading towards them.
+Trevor gripped his spear tightly, and stood in some sort of battle stance.
+Nikki couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes.
+Spearing a crow through wasn't exactly what the Guard was known for.
+
+Adrienne seemed to be getting another message.
+
+―They're in the city, she whispered.
+	Handful of dwarves with them, too.
+	Armored up.
+	Looks like Kral's heading it up, wearing Calvin's helm.
+	If I get my hands on that little brat, I'm going to stab him with his own horns.
+	Cutting straight through from the east side.
+	Seems like some of them are waiting behind.
+	Ma'am, this―
+
+Adrienne hesitated, then let her jaw set back in some attempt at composure.
+―Ma'am, we don't know what dwarves are capable of.
+	There hasn't been a dwarf-war since the Compact.
+
+A shiver wrapped its way up from Adrienne's hooves, ending at the tips of her horns.
+
+The crow was now close, and Nikki tracked it as it descended.
+It alit on a tree near by, and stared at them.
+
+―You're with Kral? Nikki asked.
+
+The bird ignored her, and tilted its head quizzically.
+It turned to Adrienne.
+
+―There are yaks on the other side of the water using the Meadowlark to communicate.
+	If they want to be spared, tell them to cease any contact, and not to touch the Meadowlark at all.
+	They will put down any weapons and will come with us quietly.
+	We will destroy any who resist, understood?
+
+Adrienne looked at Nikki, who nodded.
+Adrienne closed her eyes, passing the message on.
+
+―I've let them know, she said.
+
+―None should be armed, Nikki added.
+	They're young, and pose no threat to you.
+
+The crow ignored her, and waited.
+
+Nikki felt her face and chest grow warm with anger.
+
+―I have other things to negotiate with you, crow.	
+
+The bird didn't uttered nothing further, staying completely still, fluttering not a single feather.
+
+After a moment, Nikki heard a dull clamour from across the water.
+Kral and the Witchfen Meadowlark, and as the scouts had reported, dwarves, were approaching the other end of the felled East Bridge.
+
+Suddenly, the tree that the crow was standing on seemed to change, in a way that Nikki's eyes couldn't quite follow.
+It folded in on itself, branches curling into the trunk, which seemed to curl and narrow until it was only as tall as Nikki, thin as her horns, with a small brush of branches near the top, where the crow remained.
+At the same time, it seemed that _something_ was unfolding from the trunk.
+The air itself, somehow.
+And then, suddenly, an Ottawan woman somehow, stood, holding the tree as a staff.
+Not actually an Ottawan, she realised, but a Witch.
+
+The witch ignored the yaks, and turned to look at the water.
+She seemed to flick her staff, and where the old bridge was, the water turned to glass.
+The Witchfen Meadowlark began to cross the glass bridge.
+
+While her back was turned, Trevor lunged forward with his long spear, but the crow cawed and he suddenly fell, convulsing in pain.
+
+―Ma'am, now! Adrienne said, grabbing Sarla and Nikki and pulling them back towards the tram.
+
+Sarla pulled back, and closed her eyes.
+Adrienne screamed, until she suddenly stoped.
+Nikki looked down, and threw up.
+Somehow, Adrienne's torso and legs had turned to soil.
+As Nikki watched, grass, and after a moment, lavender sprouted and grew from the guard-captain's corpse.
+Her lifeless eyes looked pained.
+
+―Sorry Nikki, Sarla said. It's for the best.
+
+Nikki felt herself fall to the ground.
+Trevor behind her was still, no longer moving.
+She vomited again, and words of anger were tumbling from her mouth.
+
+Kral and the other yaks were moving quickly, and were already across the bridge.
+
+Nikki felt chains around her, but felt like she couldn't move.
+She was being carried, thrown onto the tram.
+The witch next to her, along with yaks, spears held to her throat.
+She was pathetic, couldn't even struggle against the restraints.
+
+The tram began to move, delivering the traitor and his Witch master directly to the heart of Havenmount.

on-the-way-to-the-temple-2.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+Kral lined up with the rest of the Guard, waiting to head to the Temple, skin burning with anger.
+Calvin's milquetoast attitude to his parents, and to all the animals like them.
+Self-congratulatory, masturbatory speeches, seemingly every day, about helping refugees come to Galvarelli.
+But at the end of the day, political expedience would always win against actual progress.
+He didn't get anything for his people by calling Mountberg, but at least he'd seen Calvin for what he was.
+
+Omig and Jod were working near the end of their hall in their language.
+The door at the end of the hall that the loop had been in was covered in some red paste, and Jod was drawing intricate symbols on it.
+The Mountberg dwarf was watching intently, while Chief and Kab watched him in turn.
+Kral had hoped to try to catch Omig's eye, but she was either too busy to notice or was actively trying to avoid making eye contact.
+Another dwarf, one of the attendants who'd stayed with them in the guest quarters, walked over to Chief and had a short conversation with him, before leaving.
+
+After a while, Jod seemed to complete his drawing.
+Omig walked up to the door, and touched it for a moment, like she had done earlier.
+She furrowed her brow, and seemed to grit her teeth.
+As with earlier, she responded to some invisible trigger, pulling back her finger.
+
+Jod opened the door, and immediately air rushed out.
+On the other side seemed to be some particularly dark and dingy cave.
+Chief and Kab lit flame torches, Chief passing his back to Hermann for the yaks.
+
+The fire seemed unreliable, Kral thought.
+The yaks had equipped emergency electric torches as part of their travel kit, and Kral hoped the dwarves had something similar.
+Calvin asked something about their path, and Kab answered with some description of a transitional zone, but Kral couldn't quite catch the details.
+
+The group filed through the door, Chief and Kab first, followed by Omig, Jod and the Mountberg dwarf.
+After that, Calvin was followed by Hermann, who led the Guard through as well.
+
+Kral passed through into the cavern, and was struck by how severe the sense of staleness was in the air.
+He fell into the routine of their march, and let himself start to drop the anger he felt at Calvin.
+The flame-lit cavern, with its unadorned walls, seemed to flicker around Kral's consciousness, as if it challenged his notion of reality itself.
+
+Sooner than Kral expected, they came to the end of the passage.
+A vast door stood before them, stone and iron, intricately carved with dwarf imagery that Kral didn't recognise, with a large central panel left smooth.
+The Mountberg dwarf was talking to Jod, animatedly but in hushed tones.
+Jod wore an annoyed expression on his face, and Chief stepped in to intervene, joining Jod's side by the looks of it.
+But eventually the Mountberg dwarf threw up his arms, seemingly conceding whatever argument they had.
+
+Jod began smearing the red paste across the uncarved, flat portion of the door, which Kral now thought could be some sort of clay, across the door.
+As earlier, he began to draw some sort of glyphs into it, and Omig touched the door to use her dwarf magic.
+
+They opened the door, and as they did the air rushed out of the chamber, outwards.
+Chief led them forward, and Kral felt an immediate refreshing cool, fresh air.
+
+―The Temple is higher altitude, Omig said idly, to the group.
+
+That explained how much better it felt, Kral thought.
+They emerged in a massive room, at least forty feet high, and very long.
+The walls were lined with massive stone columns, the rest open, showing that the hall was surprisingly above ground.
+And, as Omig said, Kral could see that they were surrounded by mountains, almost gleaming in the bright late-morning light.
+They faced out, the mountain they were currently on largely behind them.
+Jod looked very uncomfortable, casting glances at the open air to the left and right.
+The Mountberg dwarf was, if anything, affected even worse, trying to crouch down to feel as enclosed as possible, Kral thought.
+
+A dwarf dressed in dark red and green, almost the colours of deep rubies and emerald was waiting for them a bit further ahead.
+Kral could only assume they were some kind of ceremonial robes, from the way they were studded through with stones.
+Which now made him wonder if the robes also had actual rubies and emeralds.
+
+―Welcome, all.
+	Chartkeeper Cruimo of Mountberg, Chief Aoeuoie of Westgate, the Temple welcomes you and your people.
+	Please come inside, where you might be more comfortable.
+
+Kral caught Vaughan mouthing "Aoeuoie?" to Calvin.
+Rubydwarf began to walk back towards the door they'd emerged from, where a handful of channels had been cut into the mountain.
+The Mountberg dwarf, Cruimo apparently, began to follow, along with Calvin and the rest of the group.
+However, Rubydwarf stopped the yaks.
+―Wait here, a moment.
+	This is merely a place to help acclimate the Dwarrowfolk to the Temple.
+	I shall return shortly.
+The dwarves left, entering the largest central channel, leaving the Guard with Calvin and Vaughan.
+Calvin walked over to open air, to look out over the mountains.
+
+Hermann walked over to Kral, and pulled him aside.
+―Vaughan filled me on what happened.
+	I'm sure you don't need me to tell you it was a mistake, right?
+
+Kral felt the anger that had built up inside him start to melt into shame.
+
+―No, I don't.
+	I don't, sir, he corrected hastily. It was still tough to treat Hermann as anything but a friend.
+
+―Summarise your conversation with the dwarf woman, if you could.
+	I want to at least hear what you actually said.
+
+Kral told him about her surprising him by the door, and their conversation.
+
+―For what it's worth Kral, I don't think we can say it was your fault that she offered to send the message.
+	Not your fault either that the Mountberg dwarf that did show up is a potential problem.
+	If it had turned out to help us, I'm sure we'd have ignored the indiscretion.
+	Just keep in mind, we're hear as guards for the President, not to go rogue.
+	Got it?
+
+Kral felt his face and chest flush with shame at being dressed down.
+By Hermann of all people, too.
+
+―Yeah, I got it. Sir.
+
+―I think you've probably been punished enough, with Calvin already talking to you.
+	I probably can't do nothing, but I'm happy enough just giving you the midnight watch if we end up sleeping here.
+	Cool?
+
+Kral nodded.
+It was probably to be expected that some punishment would come, and staying up late doing nothing was hardly arduous.
+
+―Good, good.
+	And again, sorry to have to do this.
+	I know you meant well, it's just that Vaughan said Calvin didn't enjoy it.
+
+Kral returned to the group, which had largely fallen out of a strict formation.
+A few were sitting on the floor, so he followed suit.
+
+Hermann was probably actually sorry about chewing him out, Kral thought.
+That was particularly annoying.
+Hermann had gotten his promotion first, but that wasn't because he was better than Kral.
+He actually pitied Kral.
+Kral wanted to scream at him that it had been no mistake, that he wanted to watch the Hierarchy burn, but he caught himself.
+No point in actually seeking out punishment he didn't deserve.
+
+After running through the conversation alternatingly angry and shameful, Rubydwarf returned, alone.
+
+―Ah, I thought you might still be here!
+	Well, let's find out where you should go.
+
+Kral bristled.
+The little dwarf had been the one to tell them to stay here, right?
+Rubydwarf walked over to Calvin by the side of the room, and started to talk quietly.
+He didn't seem to mind the open air or the elevation, oddly enough.
+Although, as Kral thought, it wouldn't be particularly good to have an attendant at this Temple if he couldn't stand this entrance room.
+
+Only a couple moments later, Rubydwarf was returning, with Calvin behind them.
+
+―Come now, we will go to Caprina Zeuit at once so you may discuss your case with her.
+	Don't dawdle, she hates to be kept waiting.
+
+―Is she expecting us? Vaughan asked.
+
+―We are all of us just waiting for the next things in our life to come our way, no?
+	She'll be waiting for something, and it's not really any of our concerns to wonder what that something is.
+
+The dwarf was already walking in the same passageway he'd taken the other dwarves, but he immediately turned to a cramped staircase.
+Cramped for Kral, at least.
+Rubydwarf had no problems with it.
+
+―What is your name, if I may ask? Calvin asked.
+
+―Oh I am called so many things.
+	I am a Zuuri here at this Temple, high priest, so that is what most call me.
+	But Caprina Zeuit calls me Speaker.
+	I suppose my parents were the first to call me anything, and they called me Paias.
+
+Kral wanted to throw Rubydwarf down the stairs they'd climbed.
+
+After a mercifully silent remainder of the long climb, they reached the top of the staircase, followed a small channel back out of the mountain, where they reached a somewhat smaller room.
+This seemed to be a foyer of sorts, with hallways branching off, lined with rooms.
+A small staircase led to a second floor above, which Rubydwarf was pointing out to Calvin in a quiet, hushed conversation.
+
+―All of you, we will let your leader talk to Caprina Zeuit alone.
+	He says you all wish to stay here tonight.
+	There are many rooms here, suitable for yaks I assume.
+	Help yourself.
+
+Rubydwarf left down the way they'd come, leaving the rest of the yaks to fend for themselves.
+Hermann and Vaughan went down two of the hallways, and Kral started down a third, the one furthest to the left.
+The first door Kral opened was very cramped, dark and bare, similar to the dwarf rooms they'd stayed in.
+The next few seemed like dwarf rooms as well, but eventually he came to a slightly differently shaped door on the left, which led to another hallway hidden behind the dwarf rooms.
+This hallway, which should have run all the back to the foyer, were it not for the inconveniently placed wall, had doors along the left side.
+The rooms there were large, easily large enough for a yak to stay comfortably, and, surprisingly, had a slightly sloped grassy section that would make for a very comfortable sleeping spot.
+On the far side, the top half of the wall was entirely open, offering a gorgeous view over the mountains.
+The next few doors on either side were similar, and the hallway seemed very long.
+Kral walked back to the main group, where Vaughan had returned, although a few other guards had seemingly gone on searches of their own.
+
+―I think I've found some yak rooms here.
+
+―Thank goodness, Vaughan said.
+	Hermann had said he'd found a couple that could work, but not many.
+	And I found rooms that seemed built for Birds.
+	Which does make me wonder if they're ever actually used.
+
+―The ones here are very comfortable, I would think, Kral said, starting to show Vaughan and some of the other guards the rooms he'd found.
+
+―My word, no wonder we were having trouble, Vaughan said, on seeing the door that hid the entrance to the hallway.
+	Hidden hallway, not even connected where it should be.
+
+―I suppose the door closest to this entrance should probably be Hermann's.
+	If you'd like, I can take one next to it.
+	The ones tucked in towards the foyer won't have any other open entrances, so you and Calvin could likely take them.
+
+Vaughan nodded, and asked some of the other guards to follow the far end of the hallway.
+That left one more, who Vaughan asked to go and tell Hermann and the others where they were.

on-the-way-to-the-temple.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+In the morning, after a quick breakfast, the yaks returned to their rooms to collect their things.
+Chief had insisted that he come to the Temple alongside them, to ensure that the Temple would offer the yaks boarding for the next night if needed.
+The flurry of activity of yaks repacking everything they'd unpacked yesterday masked a new arrival.
+A dwarrow in fine, blue robes had entered the hall.
+Border dwarrows didn't dress like that, Calvin thought.
+
+Almost immediately after Calvin noticed, a shout rang through, and Kab sprinted past to talk to the new dwarrow.
+The conversation that ensued was largely in very fast Dwarrowspeak, and Calvin understood little outside of the general welcoming sentiment and tone of subservience.
+The humming tones that bounced off the wall beat at his ears, which Calvin had always found the hardest part of Dwarrowspeak.
+
+Calvin approached the dwarves.
+
+—This is the Stoneshod, then? the newcomer said to Kab.
+
+—I am indeed the Stoneshod, Calvin said, straining at the limits of his Dwarrowspeak.
+	I am the leader of the yaks.
+	We wish to ask for aid.
+	Aid from Mountberg.
+
+The newcomer ignored Calvin, and spoke instead to Kab.
+—They have had problems with the Hierarchy?
+	You should have brought this to Mountberg, Kab, we might have helped you.
+	Where is your Chief?
+
+Calvin couldn't quite understand the beginning of Kab's response, but he interrupted all the same.
+
+—Friend dwarrow, I am asking for aid, not Kab.
+	You may speak to me if you wish.
+
+The dwarrow gave Calvin a withering glance, and said in the Open Tongue, with barely any trace of an accent.
+
+—I will talk to you in a moment, yak.
+	This is a matter for this town and I, and when your time comes, I will let you know.
+
+Calvin growled, but turned away and went to find Chief.
+He eventually did, and found Chief in a room with the Jod and the woman who had been sitting by Kralvin at dinner.
+
+—Chief, can we talk a moment?
+
+—I'd be happy to, Calvin, but I'll need a moment.
+	Some bastard from Mountberg decided to show up.
+	He's taken Kab hostage with conversation at the moment, and I want to understand why he's here.
+
+—That's why I'm here as well.
+	I thought you had said that Mountberg wouldn't respond?
+	That's the reason we were going to the Temple.
+
+—Calvin, I promise you, Mountberg has been utterly uninterested in any messages we've sent.
+	We've had rumours of infighting and instability.
+	The one who's here, Cruimo, he's not good news.
+	Nasty bastard.
+	He's a Chartkeeper, which, it's hard to explain, but it's a powerful position.
+
+The woman seemed to pale at this.
+
+—Um, Chief.
+	I, uh.
+	I might know why he's here.
+
+Chief gave her a look that chilled Calvin's bones.
+
+—Do tell, Sister Omig.
+
+—Well, you see, it was before dinner.
+	I'd set up the loop on the guest rooms a bit sloppily, and anyway.
+	One of the guards, he said that they were here to talk to Mountberg, so I sent the message.
+	I thought it would be okay, I just wanted to save some time.
+
+Chief sighed.
+
+—Well, I suppose that's alright, Omig.
+	Just tell me next time.
+	I don't want to be caught by surprise.
+	What specifically did you tell them?
+
+—I had said that the Stoneshod were here because of a dispute with the Hierarchy.
+	That's right, isn't it?
+
+—Is that what my guard told you? Calvin said.
+
+Omig looked even less thrilled with Calvin's interjection than she had with Chief's questions.
+
+—Yes, Your Presidenticy, sir.
+
+—Which guard?
+	Kralvin, the tall one you were talking to during dinner?
+
+Omig nodded.
+
+—Chief, what are the rumours about Mountberg?
+	Why would they be interested in fighting the Hierarchy?
+	The Republic has always been at odds with them.
+	Does Mountberg want to help Galvarelli?
+
+Chief looked thoughtful.
+He talked for a moment with Jod in Border, translating the question.
+
+—Well, Calvin, Jod says it's not quite so positive.
+	There's been news recently that Mountberg has been trying to consolidate power.
+	Hence the instability for a while.
+	If they want to strike a blow at the Hierarchy, it's because they think it will make Galvarelli weaker.
+	The Hierarchy are the Voiced ones, right?
+	Neutralising that, it's a great opportunity for Mountberg.
+	Especially because you've mentioned the Meadowlark being under attack.
+
+Chief looked at the ground sullenly.
+
+—I'm very sorry about this Calvin.
+	I didn't really expect Mountberg would ever want to help you.
+	But again, I really didn't think they would have even responded.
+
+Calvin flicked his tail thoughtfully.
+
+—I should talk to Kralvin.
+	Excuse me.
+
+Calvin opened the door.
+Kab was waiting outside, with Cruimo.
+
+—Now Kab, the yak has left.
+	Will your precious Chief be free now?
+
+Without waiting for an answer, Cruimo entered the room, and Jod and Omig left quickly.
+
+—I'm sorry for Cruimo's rude manner, Your Excellency, Kab said.
+	I'd have spoken up, but I was trying to keep him far away from Chief.
+
+—No need for apologies, Kab, you did fine.
+	You deserve a medal for talking to him.
+
+—He refuses to speak Border, you see.
+	He understands it perfectly, but thinks that the Dwarrowfolk have no need for languages besides Dwarrowspeak.
+	And sadly, I'm the only one here who speaks Dwarrowspeak.
+	Along with yourself, I suppose.
+
+—You know, I practiced languages as I was rising in government, and I was caught by surprise that you didn't all speak it.
+	Glad to have that corrected.
+	Anyway, pardon me, Kab.
+	I need to find and kill one of my men, apparently.
+
+Almost as soon as Calvin reached the throng of yaks in action, Calvin found Vaughan talking to Hermann.
+—Vaughan, get Sergeant Kralvin, right now.
+	I'll be in my room.
+
+Calvin found his now re-emptied room and sat on the bed.
+Kralvin entered after a few minutes.
+
+—Sir, you wanted me?
+
+—Kralvin, you may have doomed Galvarelli.
+	Was that your intention?
+	Or did you have any goddamn idea what you were doing?
+
+—Sir, what do you mean?
+
+—You went around me, you asked one of the dwarrows to go around their Chief.
+	You told a potential enemy that they had a chance to attack the Hierarchy?
+	What were you thinking?
+
+Kralvin seemed to let a look of remorse break across face for a moment, and then it suddenly set into a grim, determined expression.
+
+—President Calvin, we're here to protect the people that need protection, right?
+	We're here because there has been rioting and violence.
+	Against people like my parents.
+	If Mountberg can help us protect them, I'm not sorry for asking them to.
+
+—You're one of my guards.
+	You've overstepped your mark.
+
+—And so what if I have! Kralvin seemed to bristle in anger.
+	I'm not ashamed to fight for what I believe in, _sir_, letting the sir fall from his mouth like a particularly rotten fruit.
+
+Calvin felt his stomach roaring with flame at the insubordination, but he forced himself to take some deep breaths until it mellowed to a low simmer.
+
+—Sergeant Kralvin, you don't think I remember you?
+	That I don't remember your parents?
+	I do fight for what I believe in.
+	I fight for the people who the Republic should be fighting for.
+	And if you have a problem with the way I do so, it is your right as a citizen of Galvarelli to tell me that you have that problem.
+	However, at the same time, I have expectations for you as member of my Guard.
+	This will be the last time something like this happens, understood?
+
+Kralvin stared at him, unmoving.
+
+—President Calvin, you were too ashamed to help my parents to let me do it in uniform.
+
+Calvin felt like he'd been punched in the gut.
+
+—Son, I understand.
+	I really do.
+	There are compromises we make.
+	But that's not what this is about.
+	If you're angry with me about that, then fine, tell me so.
+	Anyway, we were here to ask for Mountberg's help, and they're here now.
+	There will be a way to figure this out.
+	You're dismissed.
+	Send Vaughan in.
+
+Kralvin turned on his hooves and left.
+
+Calvin thought about the New Voice he'd heard a few hours ago.
+Supporting those he was meant to serve.
+If the New Voice was pushing him to support the farm animals, that might mean that helping the farm animals would indeed be bad for the Meadowlark.
+Exactly, as the Hierarchy rhetoric claimed.
+Calvin smashed a hoof into the ground.
+If Yakaterina knew the New Voice would say that, she could have just planted the idea of opposing the New Voice to force Calvin into supporting her bigotry.
+
+Vaughan entered the room.
+—Vaughan, are we doing the right thing here?
+	Should we be doing more to support the farm animals, instead of coming out here to fix some mystical problem?
+
+Vaughan hesitated a moment.
+—Calvin, I'm not sure.
+	I don't trust the New Meadowlark, I have to say.
+	And if it's true what they say, that the voice is real, well, I don't know.
+	But I don't think it has to be a choice, you know?
+	We can do two good things at once.
+
+—If Nikki were here, she'd point out that we can't.
+	Your constituency is just progressive Havenites, but if I try to do too much to fight the Hierarchy I'll be left powerless.
+	That's valid.
+	Right?
+
+—Are you asking me, or telling me?
+	Calvin, I joined the party because of you.
+	I trust your judgement.
+	You and Nikki, as much as I disagree with her.
+
+Calvin told Vaughan about Kralvin.
+Vaughan nodded.
+
+—I see why you're thinking about it.
+	Well yes.
+	I still think we should have just gone in right away.
+	I trust Nikki's judgement in general, but that doesn't mean I agree every time.
+	Anyway, want me to report this to Lieutenant Hermann?
+
+Calvin nodded.
+
+—Thanks Vaughan.
+	And thank you again for being here.
+	I know your duties are extensive, but—
+
+Vaughan interrupted,
+—Don't mention it.
+	Spending any time with the Assembly gives me a profound headache anyway.
+	You and I both know that Chair of the Assembly isn't a real job.
+
+Vaughan left, presumably to find Hermann, and Kab entered immediately.
+
+—Sorry, Your Excellency.
+	I hope you don't mind the intrusion?
+
+—No Kab, what do you need?
+
+—So, I think that Cruimo and Chief have reached an understanding.
+	Well, sort of the opposite of an understanding.
+	They're just each talking at each other, Chief in Border and Cruimo in Dwarrowspeak, refusing to acknowledge each other.
+	But anyway, I think we're going to be heading out soon, if that's okay?
+
+—Heading out to the Temple?
+	Cruimo won't try to stop us
+
+—No, although he does wish to come as a representative of Mountberg.
+
+—Will he cause any problems?
+	For you or Chief?
+
+—No, I just think he doesn't like feeling misled into coming here.
+	Speaking honestly, sir, I think he thinks less of you for your guard's actions.
+	I did try to ask him whether he could offer aid to Galvarelli.
+	He said that it was no concern of his, that it was purely an internal matter for yaks.
+	Sorry, sir.
+	I hope you understand that the Dwarrowfolk are not defined by Mountberg.
+
+—Kab, I assure you, it is your village's hospitality I shall remember.
+
+—Thank you.
+	Jod is making our chart for the Path, so we should look to leave soon.
+	I've let Vaughan know as well.

scripts/wordcount.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env bash
+wc -w {**,.}/*.txt | awk '{if ($2 == "total") print $1;}'

stoneshodtravelers.txt

@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
-Travelers to the Temple of the Rock were, while not common, at least heard of.
+Travelers to the Rock were, while not common, at least heard of.
 Even Stoneshod travelers occasionally made the pilgrimage.
-Unheard of in Chief's village, however, was eight great Stoneshod warriors, one wearing dwarrow treasure, seemingly unaware of the Temple at all.
+Unheard of in Chief's village, however, was eight great Stoneshod warriors, one wearing dwarrow treasure, seemingly unaware of the Rock entirely.
 Brother Kab stubbornly insisted that this was indeed the situation waiting in the village entrance hall, so Chief reluctantly made his way up to meet them.
 
-―I believe believe the leader is called kala pini, or something like it, Kab said as they walked. I don't speak the Open Tongue well enough to understand him.
+―I believe the leader is called kala pini, or something like it, Kab said as they walked. Jod doesn't speak the Open Tongue well enough to understand them.
+	I'd have stayed with them, but he insisted.
+	Said he needed to keep an eye on them.
 
-― The one who speaks Border?
+―Kab, you need to assert yourself more.
+	Anyway, so Jod was able to talk to their a bit in Border?
+	That's an odd language for one of the Stoneshod.
 
-― No, that's the thing. Proper Dwarrowspeak, too pure for me to follow. None of them speak Border though, which is why none of us have gotten through to them.
+― No, that's the thing. Proper Dwarrowspeak, too pure for Jod to follow. None of them speak Border though, which is why none of us have gotten through to them.
 
 ― And the dwarrow treasure?
 
@@ -26,27 +30,79 @@ Truesilver worked this finely, each thread no thicker than each hair of the Ston
 
 Chief shook himself out of his admiration of the circlet.
 
-― Welcome, friends, Chief said in the Open Tongue. Kab says you're not seeking the Temple of the Rock?
+― Welcome to the town of Westgate, friends, Chief said in the Open Tongue. Kab says you're not making a pilgrimage to the Rock?
 
 At this, the tall one with the spear grunted and said to their leader
 
 ― What else would you expect, talking to a dwarf?
 
-― Coming from a one of the Herd, no less! Brother Jod shouted, starting to reach for his spear, but before Chief could process the sudden flurry the tall Stoneshod had raised his spearpoint to Jod's throat.
+― Rich, coming from one of the Herd! Brother Jod shouted, starting to reach for his spear, but before Chief could process the sudden flurry the tall Stoneshod had raised his spearpoint to Jod's throat.
 
 ― Stop! rumbled their leader. His voice echoed painfully loudly in the hall, deep as thunder, and the warrior with the spear seemed to shrink back.
 
 Hell, Chief thought, I'd flinch at that voice too even if it weren't from someone twice my size.
-Their leader glared at the tall one a moment, turned to Chief and said, in proper Dwarrowspeak,
+Their leader glared at the tall one a moment, turned to Chief and said,
 
 ― I beg forgiveness twice, once for my guard's insult to your people with his word, and once for his insult to your hospitality with his spear.
 
+Then, in proper Dwarrowspeak, he said
+— We are here to ask for your aid.
+	The nearness of your heart bring us comfort.
+
 Jod looked shocked to hear the holy language in the great Stoneshod's mouth, which Chief made a note to relish later.
 
-― Well met friend, and I hope this hall provides you shelter, Chief said in reply in the little Dwarrowspeak he could manage. Switching to the Open Tongue, he continued:
+― Well met friend, and I hope this hall provides you shelter, Chief said in reply in the stock Dwarrowspeak phrases he could manage. Switching to the Open Tongue, he continued:
 
 ― Your guard is forgiven, Chief said. At this the guard bristled slightly, and Chief noted that their leader gave the guard a pointed glance.
 
-― You speak our tongue beautifully, better than anyone in this village, I would say. Chief caught a glimpse of shame in Jod's eye, so this day was improving rapidly. I'm the Chief of this village, and you can go ahead and call me Chief. We're used to travelers passing this village for the Temple, so it's surprising to see Stoneshod headed anywhere else.
+― You speak our tongue beautifully, better than anyone in this village, I would say.
 
-― I have studied Dwarrowspeak, yet I find myself embarrassed not to know the languages here. As I tried to tell your man there, the Stoneshod said, gesturing at Kab, I am President Calvin of Galvarelli. I seek passage to Mountberg, and aid from the dwarrowfolk to find an end to the Witchfen Meadowlark.
+Chief caught a glimpse of shame in Jod's eye, so this day was improving rapidly.
+―I'm the Chief of this village, so you go ahead and call me Chief.
+	We're used to pilgrims here, so it's surprising to see visitors going anywhere else.
+	Although, I must admit, it's surprising to see yaks here at all.
+
+―As I tried to tell your man there, the Stoneshod said, gesturing at Kab, I am President Calvin of Galvarelli.
+	I seek passage to Mountberg, and aid from the dwarrowfolk.
+	It's a matter of the utmost importance.
+
+―Well, we'll want to spend some time to discuss it.
+	In the meantime, you must have been travelling far?
+	Would you care to stay here until tomorrow?
+
+―If it would be no burden, it would be a great gift.
+	We ran into unexpected trouble at the Sea-Gate, and the rest would be appreciated.
+
+―I think we would be happy to accommodate all of you.
+	Kab, please escort His Presidency to the guest quarters.
+	We'll send someone over to call you later on, perhaps to dine with me.
+
+Kab led the yaks into the hallway deeper into the village.
+Jod looked grumpy.
+
+―Chief, what are we doing?
+	Mountberg isn't going to let us open a Path anywhere.
+
+Chief sighed.
+
+―I know.
+	And it's not just any yak, either.
+	Do Presidents just show up at random towns?
+	You knew what he was wearing, right?
+	That's the Helm of the Second Compact.
+
+Jod's look of shock was worth the terrible situation.
+
+―Chief, if he's wearing it...
+
+Chief hummed to himself, and nodded.
+
+―Jod, I think you should plan to wake Sister Omig up.
+	And get your charts ready.
+	Whatever's coming, the two of you should be ready.
+	Maybe see if we can send them to the Temple.
+	Even if they're not making the pilgrimage, the Elder Beast there might know more about yak problems.
+
+Jod nodded, and left.
+Damn yaks, Chief thought.
+He started for the kitchens, hoping they had any sort of idea what yaks ate.

witch-confronts-caprina.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+Caprina noticed a disturbance in the air around her, and slowly set her tea back on the table.
+She slowly rose from her armchair, leaning against her walking stick.
+
+A woman stood on a seam between wood and stone flooring, and Caprina could not have said whether she had just arrived or whether she had been there for hours, so natural did she look.
+The woman was either no taller than Caprina, or towered over her, and her dress seemed to be made of the floor and walls itself.
+Caprina didn't know for sure whether she was the Witch, but given how confusing it was to look at her, it seemed a reasonable assumption.
+
+―So, you've finally come.
+
+The Witch said nothing, and stood completely still.
+Caprina gestured to another chair across her own.
+
+―Feel free to sit.
+	I'm assuming you'd like to chat.
+
+The unexpected visitor gave no reply to Caprina's invitation, which seemed rude.
+Caprina turned her back on the Witch, and walked to the window, looking out off the side of the mountain down to the river which ran through the valley below.
+
+―The Emperor carved this temple, or so it's said.
+	After he repented his sins on his ascent to the summit, he climbed back down and decided that this was where he would spend the rest of his life.
+	They say that with a single breath he carved the main hall, and the sound of that breath echoed back from the valley, each echo carving a smaller room in turn.
+
+The Witch looked thoughtful for a moment, before finally moving to open her damn mouth.
+
+―Is that true? the Witch asked.
+
+―Beats me, I wasn't there at the time.
+	Sounds made up, but there are crazier stories about the Emperor that are true.
+	Also, if you don't want to take the chair, this old goat is going to sit herself back down anyway.
+	Rest my bones.
+
+Caprina slowly walked back to her comfy chair, and picked up her comfy tea.
+If she had to engage in a staring match with a taciturn Witch, she'd do so comfortably.
+At her age, it was worth spending her remaining time keeping her bones from aching.
+
+―Witch, I suppose you're here for a reason.
+	You better spit it out before I die of old age and save you the pleasure of killing me.
+
+―Very well, Caprina Zeuit.
+	I want you to formally appoint me your successor and abdicate.
+
+―Oh, and why would I do that?
+
+―Because it would be easier than the alternative.
+
+―That's not a particularly attractive choice, Witch.
+
+―It should be, Caprina.
+	I ask only for the authority of the Temple to be given willingly, rather than taken later by force.
+	It is no burden for me to wait, and we will both be better for avoiding spilling blood here.
+
+―I don't know what you want, or even who you really are.
+	It took a while to work out that a Witch was involved at all, from the signature of your attack.
+	Partaking of the power left over after the division into the three voices.
+	Right?
+	It was confusing sensing something new.
+
+―It's perhaps more accurate to say that I am that leftover power.
+	I have partaken of all of it.
+	I'm not a Witch.
+	I'm the Witch.
+	And Caprina, I hope you realise that I have no desire to explain my goals or desires to you.
+	There's no need.
+
+Caprina sighed.
+She thought of Paias dead, Calvin killed, the young pilgrims to the Temple suffering.
+All for her stubbornness.
+
+―If it helps, Zeuit, know that if you acquiesce now, I will spare everyone in the Temple, everyone I can.
+	Anyone who refrains from active attacks against me, I will leave unharmed.
+	Their deaths gain me nothing.
+
+Something in the Witch's offer pricked at Caprina's instincts.
+Whatever existed in the Temple libraries on Witches, Caprina had studied, and none of it had helped.
+Witches were defined by the power they held, but without knowing where they came from, or who was holding the power behind it, it was impossible to tell what this Witch intended on doing.
+Especially if she held all of the Unclaimed Power, not just a portion of it.
+
+Caprina's mind suddenly snapped back in focus.
+―You say you will spare everyone in the Temple.
+	People outside the Temple?
+
+―I don't think you are in any position to negotiate on their behalf, Caprina.
+
+That was obvious, Caprina thought.
+That couldn't have been what caught her attention.
+The Unclaimed Power lacked definition, lacked assignment.
+Neither Bird nor Beast nor Dwarrow had any claim to it.
+But it was still the leftover power from the creation of the Voices, of the Hidden Lands.
+
+―What's older, the Lord of the Mountain or the Hidden Lands?, Caprina asked.
+
+The Witch stood silent, a puzzled expression on her face.
+
+―Sorry, I forgot you don't want to be helpful, Caprina continued.
+	What do you mean by "spare"?
+
+―I mean "spare".
+	They will feel no pain, no hurt.
+	No death, no suffering.
+	Caprina, I feel as though you aim to drag this out.
+	Your answer, quickly.
+
+―So you aim to reclaim the authority needed to command all three Voices?
+	Reunite the power of creation, to what?
+	You couldn't do anything useful with it, even if you succeeded in ruling the three Thredings.
+	Barring―
+	No, you couldn't be that ambitious.
+
+The Witch was glaring at Caprina now, and she raised the sleeves of her dress.
+
+―Zeuit, I came in person because you understand the Meadowlark more than anyone alive today.
+	I felt it was sporting to let you fight me face-to-face.
+
+―Hah, Witch, look out the window.
+	See the rushing water, grey and angry.
+	You are a dumb rock in the river, proud to have stood strong for so long.
+	But look upstream!
+	A great wave comes, and it will crush you, wear you down into nothingness.
+	You want to control the Meadowlark?
+	Well, you don't understand it.
+	If you did, you'd know that I made my moves a long time ago.
+	It's the nature of Beasts.
+	We wait, and watch, and graze and fertilise.
+
+The Witch shook her head, sadly.
+The light seemed to dim, and alarm bells began to ring below.
+
+―Caprina, you could have made this easy.
+	But you have sacrificed everyone here for no reason.
+	My word is credible.
+	I will kill everyone here.
+
+―I'm not going to simply surrender.
+	If you want to undo the creation of the Hidden Lands, to erase everyone alive, I will fight you until my hooves are ground to sand.
+	And I wasn't joking.
+	Look out the window.
+
+The Witch looked up at the window, seeing what Caprina had done.
+Instead of the view of the valley that had been there, there was only a pale blue sky, rapidly fading to black.
+When the Witch walked up to the window, she could see far the curve of the Earth far below, slowly spinning.
+
+The effort of moving the entire Temple into space hadn't quite hit Caprina yet, but she could feel her feet trembling already.
+The air was thinning out.
+Rock that had grown well accustomed to staying firmly inside a mountain was now exposed to the inky void, and began to break apart with a shaky groan.
+Caprina said a prayer to herself for everyone now fated to death.
+
+―You can't have the Temple's authority.
+	And now, there is no Temple to control.
+
+The Witch was shocked for a moment, then began to laugh.
+
+―You absolute fool, Caprina.
+	You killed everyone for me.
+	And just so there wouldn't be a Temple?
+	If there's no Temple, you mad old goat, then there's no split in the authority of the Dwarrowfolk.
+	And I have the support of Mountberg already.
+	Ah, what a terrific idea.
+	I hope Galvarelli tries to stop me by setting itself on fire.
+
+The Witch seemed to fold herself into the shadows of the room, and disappeared, leaving Caprina alone to die.

witch-enters-havenmount.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+Nikki was conscious of herself being carried slowly through her old office.
+No one spoke, and the building was eerily empty.
+Hopefully everyone stayed in the saferooms.
+She still didn't know if it was just Sarla enticed into joining the Witchfen Meadowlark, or if Auroklos was a traitor as well.
+
+Rows of empty desks, filled with this invasive scum.
+Some sudden urge seized her, and Nikki spat at one of the yaks carrying her.
+Her defiance earned her a hoof to the gut, leaving her trying to double over while also being carried.
+The movement of her captors caused a minor rustle, and the Witch turned back to glare at them, and they fell back into formation.
+Her defiance at this point was nothing more than an annoyance, apparently.
+
+They reached Adam's desk outside Calvin's office.
+Nikki was dropped unceremoniously on the ground, and the guards holding her kept their spears close, as though she would be in a position to fight them.
+A yak reached ahead to open the door for the Witch, but she gestured for them to stop.
+
+—These things must be done properly.
+
+The witch walked back along the wall, until she reached a small utility closet.
+Stopping in front, she raised her staff slightly before tapping its butt end against the ground.
+
+Nothing seemed to happen, but after a moment Nikki felt a strange sensation move across her skin, from head to tail.
+Something like the feeling of lightly brushing something unexpected, a sensation of contact that sent shivers across her body.
+
+—Cruimo, the Witch called.
+
+A dwarf came forward, a long stick of chalk in his hand.
+With slow methodical strokes, he drew strange glyphs across the middle of the utility closet door.
+Then, he put the chalk back in a pocket and laid both hands on the door's surface.
+A moment passed, and a few more followed.
+Nothing happened, as far as Nikki could tell, but finally Cruimo stepped back.
+
+—That should be it.
+
+He opened the door, and Nikki immediately heard a panicked voice shouting to get back.
+
+—Don't move, any of you.
+	One at a time, come out, slowly.
+	If you make a sound or move quickly, everyone dies.
+
+Yaks began to file out from the saferoom.
+Adam was the first in line, followed by many of the staff Nikki had worked with.
+The Members of the Assembly came next, and Nikki groaned internally.
+She didn't know how the dwarf magic known which saferoom to use, or even how they knew there were saferooms.
+It was either some part of the magic or their location had been betrayed.
+Auroklos had likely been able to find out where they were, and could have given them up.
+A handful of the Witchfen Meadowlarkers instructed them to kneel, and stood guarding them.
+
+The Witch stood before them.
+
+—I wish to address the government of Galvarelli.
+	Who will speak on its behalf?
+
+Nikki waited a moment, but no one spoke.
+She felt her stomach churn, and she couldn't stop herself throwing up what little remained in her stomach.
+
+—If you want to negotiate, you can negotiate with me, she found herself saying.
+
+The Witch approached her.
+
+—I wish you to understand.
+	Galvarelli will be mine, and I do not want it to be broken.
+	But I will break it if I need to.
+	Make things difficult for me, yak, and you will drown in your friends' blood.
+
+Nikki nodded pathetically.
+
+—Who is the current Acting President?
+
+—It would be Vaughan, as Chair of the Assembly.
+	With him gone it's Justice Secretary.
+	But Acting Presidents only serve until the Assembly nominates an Interim President to serve until the next election.
+
+—The Assembly are here, in full.
+	They shall nominate me.
+
+Nikki felt a horrible sinking feeling, as though the bottom of her body had dropped through the floor.
+
+—Why?
+	What do you even want here?
+
+The Witch held the staff out, and gently brushed Nikki's face with the twig-covered end.
+She shuddered as soon as it touched her.
+
+—Again, child.
+	I will destroy every yak in this kingdom if I have to.
+	Will the Assembly act to prevent that?
+
+Nikki felt tears begin form in her eyes.
+She was shaking, and it took every part of her mental strength to force herself to respond.
+
+—How do we know you'll keep your word?
+
+The Witch paused a moment, then made some imperceptible gesture to the crow.
+With a flutter of wings, the crow moved in front of Nikki, and then suddenly her world erupted in pain.
+It felt as though nails were being driven into her feet, through her leg, all the way through her body, then back down, pain stitching her to the floor.
+Her hairs seemed to want to drill their way back into her skin.
+She wasn't sure if she was screaming or not, but her throat burned either way.
+
+The Witch drew closer.
+Nikki could barely move at all, let alone avoid her as the Witch reached out and grabbed Nikki's left horn.
+She barely seemed to move, and as easy as if it were a twig, she snapped her horn.
+
+The pain in her body stopped suddenly, leaving only the sharp pain from her horn.
+June was pleading to the Witch, but Nikki couldn't follow what was happening.
+She was sobbing into the ground, snot and tears mixing together on her face, blood dripping from her broken horn.
+
+Some part of her subconscious picked up on the Assembly taking a vote.
+They'd lost.
+The Witch had whatever legal authority this Assembly could grant, for whatever good that did her.
+
+After a moment of speaking to her followers, the Witch entered Calvin's office.
+There was a brief moment of confused silence among the hostages, until Kral shouted
+
+—All of you, leave.
+	You're no longer needed here.
+
+Nikki couldn't move.
+She had a vague impression of being carried again, and she gave up on remaining conscious, and passed out.

yakob-on-the-rock.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+In the days when the Rock was still called the Royal Mountain, before the name slipped out of the Hidden Lands into the Land of Men, before the Temple was built, Emperor Yakob wished to conquer the mortal worlds.
+The ancient division had begun to weaken, and the constant strife between Bird, Beast and Dwarrow led to death and pain.
+And the peace that Yakob had brought to the Lands of Beasts was enticing to those who lacked it, such that even among the Dwarrowfolk some called for his aid.
+Yakob heard these pleas, and thought that, though conquest was terrible, the order it brought could lead to a greater prosperity.
+
+His army gathered behind him as he announced his campaign, beginning with uniting the Dwarrowlands with his own.
+Such an army stands unique in history, and none before or since shall ever compare.
+An army of Beasts, with horns so sharp that the Air was wounded as they ran, with stone hooves so strong that the Earth itself began to crack, with resolve so pure that the Endless Stars began to dim.
+
+The Air came to Yakob and begged for relief, and Yakob sought forgiveness.
+―O Air, giver of the vital spirit!
+	Our Horns are blessed by the Lord from whom life stems.
+	You are the Lord's most merciful Servant, and we his meanest subjects.
+	The Power you bestow upon us I return to you now.
+	Let no knife ever cut you again, let your wind flow around anything that would harm it!
+Thus did Yakob regain the Air's favour.
+
+The Earth came to Yakob and begged for relief, and Yakob sought forgiveness.
+―O Earth, giver of the grasses and life!
+	Our Hooves are blessed by the Lord who gives us food.
+	You are the Lord's most compassionate Servant, and we his meanest subjects.
+	The Power you bestow upon us I return to you now.
+	Let no stone harm you again, for even as you crack and weather, your soil grows more fertile!
+Thus did Yakob regain the Earth's favour.
+
+The Endless Stars came to Yakob and begged for relief, and Yakob sought forgiveness.
+―O Endless Stars, givers of hope!
+	Our Resolve is blessed by the Lord who knows no bound or limitation.
+	You are the Lord's most wise Servant, and we his meanest subjects.
+	I cannot return the Power you bestow upon us to you now, for no mortal power may affect you.
+	I submit myself to your power, for your Judgement is infinitely fair.
+
+And the Endless Stars spoke back.
+―Emperor Yakob, our light dims near yours.
+	We see through your light, though, for it merely reflects the Light of the Lord Everlasting, and all things dim in the Lord's Glory.
+	But Yakob, take care.
+	You tremble still at shadows, thinking your strength can destroy them.
+	Only in the Light will they be eradicated, so you must direct it.
+Thus did the Endless Stars reassure Yakob and gently correct him.
+
+Then, his army began their march, and the Air and Earth sang Yakob's praises.
+His soldiers echoed their chants, and began to sing poems of his glory and victory.
+And Emperor Yakob corrected them, for glory and victory come only from the Lord, and can be owned by no mortal.
+So they began to sing only of his compassion and grace.
+
+The power of Yakob's army was terrible and even those few Dwarrowfolk who wished to resist surrendered on seeing the might of their invaders.
+For when Yakob's army grew thirsty, they summoned rains to wash away their sins.
+When they grew hungry, they cultivate great grazing grounds to nourish their souls.
+And when they reached mountains that blocked their path, with a single glance Yakob himself would move them with a glance, easing their march.
+They reached the Royal Mountain, birthplace of the yaks, leaving towns celebrating their rule in their wake.
+
+Here, deeper in dwarrow land, more people feared Yakob's army, and many hid deeper in the mountains, eventually founding Mountberg, leaving the rest to populate the Border between Dwarrow and Beast.
+But at the Royal Mountain itself, the army was welcomed gladly.
+One dwarrow bowed before Yakob, offering a circlet of finest truesilver, with fine strands that wound themselves through his hair, lighter than straw yet with yet capable of blocking all mortal weapons.
+Yakob asked her what reward she wished for such a princely gift, and she implored him to make the pilgrimage to the Summit, to honour the custom of the Dwarrow Kings.
+
+Yakob himself wished to supplicate blessings from the Lord of the Mountain, and led his army to the climb.
+As they passed the shrine, entering the holy ground, Yakob's army began to lose heart.
+Some grew angry that they were no longer gaining territory, distracted by this pilgrimage, and refused to continue.
+Some grew fearful that their sins would doom them at the day of Judgement, and lost themselves in terror, and eventually insanity.
+And still others knew that here the Sun was at its most dangerous, that the Air itself would weaken and the Earth grew sterner, and balked.
+
+Such trepidation was well-founded, for indeed as they climbed some yaks found themselves dying of thirst, others of hunger or exposure.
+And more and more, each death demoralised the living, and sent more scurrying down the mountain searching for comfort.
+At last, near the top, only Emperor Yakob remained on the quest.
+With the Summit in view, a mountain goat appeared before him.
+
+―What do you seek? she asked him.
+
+―I seek to view the Lord of the Mountain bare, Elder.
+	To pay my respects and feel myself clothed by the Glory of Glories.
+
+―Emperor Yakob, your task is pure, and your heart is filled with compassion.
+	Indeed you have polished the mirror of your soul smooth, such that you faithfully reflect Virtue as it flows from the Lord to mortals.
+	But Yakob, your mirror has yet its flaws, shadows still cover the future from you.
+
+―Elder, I know these shadows must exist, for only the Lord can exist without blemish.
+	But I do not recognise them yet.
+	Even still, why should the Path be barred to me when so many others have made it?
+
+―Indeed, many have made it to the Summit, and none as virtuous as you.
+	But your virtue itself hides your flaws.
+	You have made your goal the salvation of all the mortal worlds.
+	Lesser beings, with meeker goals, surrender in the face of even minor obstacles.
+	You, however, reflect the Will and Perseverance of the Almighty.
+	Until you found your goal realised, you would strive, with all your power.
+
+―I confess, O Wise One, that I do not see the flaw in this.
+	My goals are just, as far as I understand, and I will pursue them with all of my spirit, for anything less would betray those who I must protect.
+
+―Yakob, virtuous goals do not suffice!
+	Only the Lord, from whom all events flow and from whom all time is reckoned, can truly know what will be written in the books of fate.
+	To give you a view from the Summit, to let you see what will and will not be...
+	If you were given such a thing, your power would be closer to the Lord's power than any mortal could have, and mortal Wisdom will never suffice to use such power prudently.
+	You cling to virtue like a shield.
+	If you would truly seek the light of the Lord's Glory, you must abandon it.
+	Let your wife go, your children, all your family.
+	You use your power to shape the world to yourself, yet you have not tried to shape yourself to the world!
+	Embrace difficulties, loss.
+	Let yourself be weakened by anger, be struck down with thirst, be burdened with the vilest curses.
+	Let go of every tie that stops you from truly embracing the Glory of the Lord.
+	And then, when you have let go of your strength, let go of your self until there is no one left to let anything go, you will find the Love of the Lord.
+
+And Yakob, thus humbled, abandoned his ambition to save all of the mortal lands.
+He returned to the village at the base of the Mountain, and abdicated his post, dissolving the Yak Empire.
+A new Compact was made, for peace between yaks and dwarrowfolk.
+His Helm was returned to the yaks as a symbol of the friendship, and Yakob, as his last act with the Meadowlark, breathed into the dirt and it became the Trust as a symbol for the dwarrowfolk in turn.
+The soil of the Trust would survive forever, growing wood that responded like stone to dwarrow artisans, and would burn with a pure light, without smoke or ash.
+Thus did Emperor Yakob find a Path to a higher Meadowlark, one beyond virtue, one incorruptible.