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Miscellaneous

More about the Nine Realms— customs, wildlife etc. I'll be adding to this from time to time. You're welcome to ask me about anything you like; send an email, and as well as replying I'll post the answer here.

CHAMPION OF THREE

There were many fairs and contests held during the year in the six sheadings of the Commonality, but the Merigarth Midsummer Fair was the foremost meeting of the year. To win any contest there was the highest accolade, particularly the major disciplines of Wrestling, Hammer and, of course, Archery. To win all three at one occasion was rare and no mean feat for Holt, despite charges by some that his good friend Forman had thrown the final shoot-off to let him win. To also lead the victorious team in the final of the yearly Skarmuch League playoff (held just before the Merigarth Fair) was something never achieved before, so if Forman did manipulate the archery result a little, he may be forgiven.

CHARTER

The agreement made between the Shean and the King when Merigarth and Westergarth became part of the Nine Realms. Apart from the usual clauses concerning laws and tariffs, the Shean Charter was unusual in two respects. Firstly, the inhabitants were excused the Muster, on condition that they supplied the King's armies with food. The second special clause concerned their exclusive right to the land. Their lack of size and aggression had left them wary of sharing their country with larger and more assertive neighbours. Consequently strangers, usually travellers or traders, were permitted in the sheadings only as long as it took to conduct their business. None had ever been known to express any wish to stay longer— to those outside the busy, close-knit shean community, the Commonality was peaceful to the point of monotony.

LINNET

A small European finch (Acanthis cannabina) mainly brown, quite shy but with a beautiful song. In summer the male has a splash of red on his forehead, and another at the top of the breast. See picture

SADDLE HORNS

Stirrups were unknown in these times. An occasional poor rider suggested foot-loops, but was informed that such things were highly dangerous, leading to the foot becoming trapped when unseated. Learning to ride meant learning to stay on a horse’s back. Most saddles were little more than some form of pad to spare the steed’s back and the rider’s rear, and this was true even among the Berith people, the foremost horsemen of the time. The Fir Domnan, however, had developed a more sophisticated saddle with projections (horns) at the front and back, against which the rider could brace himself. The primary purpose of this was to give purchase for the throwing and thrusting of a lance, but it also helped to keep a rider in the saddle if something served to unbalance him (such as an enemy). Without stirrups, the only way to mount a horse, for practical purposes, was to vault onto his back. Holt could of course do this from many angles, though he did find it rather less easy when first wearing mail. None of this is impossible, in fact it is how cavalry riders operated in ancient times.

SNOWBIRD

Ptarmigan (older name Tarmachan); a type of grouse. One of the few British birds to winter in snowbound regions, it is seldom seen below 2000 feet. In autumn the birds begin to change their plumage, becoming pure white when the landscape is covered with snow. In summer its back is mottled brown, and only the wings and underparts remain white.

WAISTCOAT

The Shean, not being normally wearers of armour, had developed in their hazardous days a heavy leather coat for protection. This persisted as an outer garment, and lighter versions in buckskin and tweed were also worn. In summer, it was usually dispensed with, and indoors at all seasons— Shean houses with their earth insulation were always warm. Over the shirt— which was often quite a warm garment itself, woven from wool— they wore a garment best described as a waistcoat. This might be a leather jerkin, but for special occasions imagination was allowed to run riot. Mothers, sisters and wives vied with one another to produce the most gorgeous embroidered designs.

WARDEN

The title given to the Westergarth sheading head. The Wardens, as other heads, were not regarded as rulers but rather servants of the people, expected to take charge of matters for which others had no time or inclination. In Westergarth the post was only partly hereditary, being chosen from the Garland family by village elders. (All lesser local posts in all sheadings were elective.)

WATCH

The police force of the Commonality, which dealt with anything the citizens couldn't be bothered with themselves. They were technically answerable to the Council of Elders. Except for the Constable and his Deputies, most were part-timers. Originally, every able-bodied man was required to take a turn, but by Holt's time many discharged the duty by means of a tithe, which paid salaries and expenses.

WOLVERINE

Also called Glutton. This animal no longer exists in Britain, but like many others now found only in mainland Europe, it did in the past. The largest member of the weasel family, it is the size of a fairly large dog, and has shaggy brown fur with a paler stripe. It eats mainly rodents or carrion, but will attack much larger animals if they are sickly.

WREN

(Troglodytes troglodytes) The second smallest of British breeding birds. Reddish brown, light breast, a perky bird with cocked-up tail. The trilling song is surprisingly loud for such a small bird. See picture

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