Hell Hath No Fury....

[Dhugal]

The note is written in a hand that is bold yet rushed,
as if it were written in haste:

Ola,
John just told me about that wicked wicked Bae being
back in Myrken. It's a sign from the heavens I tell you!

You pack up Gertie and the others and come stay here
with us until it's over one way or the other. I know Buzz well
enough that he won't leave the farm but surely he'd feel
better knowing you and Gertie were safe. We have ample
room for all of you here.

And could you bring along some jars of your preserves for the
engagement party?

I can't write more, the man who will bring this is impatient to
leave. Say you'll come!

Mary Bates.

[Ola_Aberdeen]

Another letter arrived at the Pritchite settlement for Mary Bates.



Dear Mary,

I pray that you were serious, Mary, because the truth is that by the time this letter arrives in your hands - myself, Gertie, Granny, and Osburn will have already left Merryfield Farm with your heart's content of preserves. Buzz stayed on the farm; I think he would lose his mind if anything happened to the livestock.

When we arrive and settle in, I will give you a full account of all that has happened. Well, I do not mean to be so very brief, but I am in the midst of packing my things even now. It will be so wonderful to see everyone again!

God be with you,

Ola Aberdeen

[Dhugal]

John was out in the barn milking the cows when the shriek came from
the farmhouse. He was off the stool and on his feet at once, grabbing
hold of the pitchfork leaning by the barn door as he raced to see why
Mary might be screaming so.

But before he even reached the front porch Mary was halfway across
to the barn screaming again like a banshee, waving a piece of parchment
exciredly about in her hand.

"She's coming, John! Ola's coming! Quick we ahve to get the
spare bedroom ready for them!"

John Bates stared at his wife..then turned and walked back towards
the barn. There were cows still waiting to be milked.

That is, if Mary's screams hadn't curdled all the milk in the udders!

[Dhugal]

Mary and Ola were in the kitchen when they heard the rider
arrive.It was hard not to notice;the man had been shouting
for John even before he’d reined his tired horse to a halt.
Mary stood, wiped her hands on her apron and smiled at
Ola. “No doubt more about that wolf who killed the lamb
the other eve. I’ll see what they have to say.â€

[Dhugal]

John Bates sat alone late at night at the small table that served
as his desk. Mary and the rest of the family had gone off to their
beds an hour ago, leaving the farmer alone with his thoughts. A
letter from Abbot Fidelius had arrived earlier that day and the
news from Myrken had not been good, to say the least.

No matter that it had been several years since the Pritchites had
moved beyond the Wall to a new life. John and the others still
had friends and kin back in Myrken and it was distressing to see
how little things had improved for those they’d left behind. But
what could they do now? John Bates and the others could never
return to Myrken, not after the events that had led up to their
departure.

John had pondered this for most of the night. Perhaps there was
nothing he could do in person, but he could at least try to move
others to act!

Before him on the table lay a small stack of letters addressed
to various officials and rulers of the lands and territories that
surrounded Myrken. John picked up the last one that was as
yet unaddressed and scanned it again for errors in grammar:

[I]…â€

[Dhugal]

John Bates had been out in the fields since early morning and
was eating a mid-day meal beneath the shade of a nearby tree
when the group of riders came riding down the road. John
didn’t bother to stand; his legs tended to stiffen up more now
in middle age and he’d be damned if he was getting up now
unless he absolutely had to do it. Let the riders dismount and
give him their news.



And he doubted it would be good news, judging by the looks on
the faces of Amasa Dow and Wat Miller. “Hello, lads. Get
down and set a spell. Mary sent out enough pie to choke one of
those horses of yours and there’s cold water in the jug there.â€

[Dhugal]

As luck would have it the next news of Myrken that reached John Bates’
farm came from the ubiquitous Amasa Dow, who pulled his wagon into
the Bates’ farmyard one late summer afternoon. “Hello the house! John?
Mary? Are y’ home?â€

[Dhugal]

Beyond the eastern borders of Myrken near the foot of the Siskatoon
Mountains the rumor spread of some menace heading towards Derry.
When it reached the Pritchite settlement John Bates talked with the
other family heads and a decision was quickly reached. The Pritchite
Militia had remained intact after they’d left Myrken and was an entirely
mounted unit. It would keep watch for this Ashfiend in case it came
near the settlement but other than that they would no action. They had
no authority to do anything else within Derry.


Perhaps, John mused, as he led one such patrol, it would be a blessing
if this Ashfiend did cause trouble in Derry.


Perhaps then someone outside would finally decide that something had
to be done about Myrken!

[Dhugal]

Word of the latest political development in Myrken Wood reached the
Pritchite settlements beyond the Wall when Amasa Dow got a letter from
a friend "back in the Wood" as they all referred to their former home now.

He brought the letter to show some friends "Lookee here.That High
Combustible fella Cinnamon Caramel has taken over from the Guv'nor."

"Guess Cinnamon was more than the Baker Boy could handle, eh?"

After the laughter died down, there were long discussions about the news.

[Dhugal]

A day's ride beyond the Wall into Derry the Pritichite farms near the southern
edge of the Siskasoon Mountains are bustling with activity.

The crops, praise Pritchard, are mostly already harvested and what can
be quickly moved has already been stored in several large dry caves.
Large barrels of water and ale are there likewise, and the women
and younger children have already been sent to the shelter.

Meanwhile, John Bates and the Pritchite Militia patrol the area watching for
sign of troops all sides, Derry, Myrken, or the Crimson Duke's. But they will not
take part with any of them. They will not attack unless their families are
threatened.

In John Bates mind, is the question:

Is this the hard medicine necessary to rid Myrken of the taint of evil within
it?

[Dhugal]

Father-Abbot Fidelius was going over monastery financial accounts
when the acolyte came running into the room. “Stephen! What’s the
matter? Here, you’re out of breath. Sit for a moment before you speak,
so that your words are easier for you to say and I to hear.â€

[Dhugal]

Spurred on by the recent encampments of armies in the field of an
abandoned nearby Pritchite farm, and after a discussion with several
of the elder members of the monastery community, Father Abbot
Fidelius would file with the appropriate authorities in Myrken Town
some rather interesting deeds pertaining to the Pritchite farms and had
been drawn up at the suggestion of the Scottish mercenary, Lord
Kildrummy at the time of the Pritchite migration to Derry.


The wording of each deed was identical: the Pritchite farmers had
transferred ownership of their respective farms to the monastery of
St. Thecla the Feckless as a donation to use as the monastic
community saw fit. The only stipulations of the transaction was that
the Father Abbot agreed that for ten years time only an heir of the
original owner of a farm could purchase it and that during that ten
years no new permanent structures would be constructed on the land.
If after the end of ten years no claimant appeared, then the restriction
on buildings would lapse or the land could be sold to other parties.


Ten years was enough time for children to grow up and perhaps wish
to return to the land where they had been born. By donating the land
to St. Thecla’s the Pritchites were also able to give a farewell thumb
of their collective noses to Councilors such as Suede Roschen. It was
the monastery’s now.


St. Thecla’s had a Scriptorium and there were three copies of each
deed, each properly signed and witnessed and dated, with one copy
for each party and the originals to be filed in town when the time was
right. The Pritchite farm owners each had a copy and the third was for
the records of the monastery.


Feelings about the Pritchites had run so high at the time of their
departure that Father Abbot Fidelius had judged it prudent not to
disclose the land transfer at that time. There had been so much chaos
and disruption in Myrken since then over matters such as that Sword,
the Baie, and several transfers of power that there never seemed to be
a good time to do it.



But now, armies meeting on the land had convinced Fidelius he needed
to act.



He had no idea how the town or the Council would react.

[Treadwell]

Following receipt of the deeds, little action is apparent from the Government save for riders travelling in pairs to visit each farm named. They stay but briefly, checking each farm's lands against some scroll they carry before moving on to the next. On the third day a group of riders visit the Monastery; a sombrely-dressed man of middling years, accompanied by a half-dozen mounted Constables. With this group is carried a well-crafted iron-bound chest, small but rather heavy. The chest bears no lock other than a simple latch, but its lid is sealed with a government mark in wax; bound to the chest by a length of scarlet yarn is a letter on fine parchment, addressed to the Abbot.


--*--

To Father Abbot Fidelius of the Monastery of St Thecla the Feckless

Sir,

My thanks for your correspondence regarding the former Pritchite lands, belated though it was.

Following inspection of the deeds filed for these lands on behalf of your monastery, it is apparent that they prohibit the purchase of the land by any private individual save an heir of the original owners (who may or may not return at some point in the next eight years). As a result, in order to safeguard the territory's food supply the Judiciary Council of Myrken Wood has no option but to exercise its powers of eminent domain over the properties listed. These farms and associated lands are henceforth property of the Government of Myrken Wood, and will be reallocated to new tenants presently. In the interim, the presence of any persons not affiliated with the Government of Myrken Wood will be considered trespass and treated accordingly.

A sum deemed appropriate for the lands in question accompanies this letter. Please also find enclosed the relevant writs, copies of which have been filed with your legal representative in Myrkentown.

Sincerely

Aloisius Treadwell
Councilor of Administrative Sanctions
By my hand this 29th day of September, A.R. 207


--*--

In the chest is a sheaf of papers which do indeed enact the expropriation of the majority of the Pritchite lands which have lain fallow since they were donated to the monastery. Apparently these documents have been crafted by a legal clerk of no small skill, and are comprehensive in scope, yet unambiguous in effect.

Also in the chest are a number of soft leather pouches bearing the Governor's mark, each tagged with the name of one of the farms and containing coinage equal to a fair (though not necessarily generous) price for those lands.

As for the farms themselves, each has had a notice posted at the gate to the effect that the land is now property of the Judiciary Council, and that any inquiries should be directed to the relevant government office.

[Dhugal]

Fidelius contemplated the correspondence from Treadwell and
the chest for little more than an hour before he sat at his desk
and began writing:

To His Excellency the Governor Cinnabar Calomel:
Sir:
It is with great reluctance that I must write to you to report
that one Aloysius Treadwell has seized Church property, to
whit, the land donated to our monastery by John Bates and
his fellow farmers of the Pritchite sect when they left Myrken
in the face of attacks from townsmen. We have deed to prove
the validity of our claim to the land. Indeed, the actions of
Councilor Treadwell, as high handed as they may be, also serve
to validate the claim.

Councilor Treadwell did not even attempt to speak with me
about this situation. Indeed, if he had, he might have found me
willing to assist the town in the present crisis. Although I feel
I must also point out that Councilor Treadwell must indeed be
ignorant of farming since the time is long past in which any
viable crop can be planted and harvested, and we had already
harvested the apples and pears from the orchards on the
farms.

Here is the crux of the matter: Councilor Treadwell has shown
a lamentable lack of respect for Church Rights and Property. I
dare say that might make the leaders and members of any other
congregations in Myrken Wood less that trusting of the Town
Council and of Your Excellency. If Treadwell can seize our
legal property, what else might he seize from others to feed his
greed? Is this how you intend to rule the folk of Myrken Wood,
by seizing their property and ignoring their legal rights?

I therefore regrettably must inform you that unless Aloyisus
Treadwell’s actions are immediately rescinded, I have no other
course of action than to inform my Superiors of Myrken Wood’s
new government’s action. I do not know how they might react, true,
but surely news of this dispute will be seized upon by some in
Thessilane and elsewhere to justify their actions in attacking
Myrken.Wood.


I pray we can resolve this manner in a civil manner. If Councilor
Treadwell returns our property, he will find his money waiting here
to be retrieved. This should be done within 72 hours, after which
the Community of St. Thecla the Feckless shall gather to consider
appropriate action to be taken against the Town Council and a
government that rules by tyranny.

Yours in The Light.

Fidelius, Father-Master of the Monastary of St. Thecla the Feckless


Fidelius sent the message off with one of the younger novices
and then summoned the senior members of the Order to his
study to begin to make plans.

Much would depend on the Governor's reply.

[Cinnabar]

A day after the Abbot's letter to the Governor, a rider in Council livery brings a new message to St Thecla, this one written in an elegant copperplate on good quality paper, sealed with the Governor's mark.

To Father Abbot Fidelius of the Monastery of St Thecla the Feckless

[indent]Father Fidelius,

My thanks for your letter regarding the expropriation of the former Pritchite lands. However, I fear that there has been some misunderstanding. For one, the lands have not been seized - according to Government records, appropriate compensation was paid to the monastery of St Thecla at the same time as notification of the claim of eminent domain was delivered. The deeds are not being disputed, which is precisely why such payment was made to your monastery, rather than to the original owners of the land.

After your monastery's representatives filed deeds for the lands in question, Government inspectors carried out a survey of the properties claimed. Initial findings determined that the majority of these lands - particularly arable lands suitable for the cultivation of wheat and similar grains - lie unused; indeed, in some cases the properties display the early signs of dilapidation - lack of basic maintenance on buildings (many of which lack basic fittings such as doors and shutters), heavily-overgrown fields, weed-clogged drainage ditches and so on and so forth. This indicates that these lands have not been properly tended since the previous occupants departed and entrusted their use to you. Indeed, some of these properties show signs of having been used as hideouts by bandits, outlaws and suchlike undesirables.

In the meantime Myrken Wood has experienced repeated food shortages, due in no small part to the loss of agricultural output from these otherwise viable but untended lands. This shortfall in local production has required the use of Government funds to procure food from neighbouring territories, a senseless waste of public finances when there is easily sufficient land within Myrken to support the resident population.

Here is the crux of the matter: As landlords of substantial agricultural holdings (constituting a not-insignificant fraction of the total arable land in Myrken Wood), your monastery has consistently failed to have these farms properly worked, and as a result the people of Myrken starved and suffered. You have had plentiful opportunity over the last couple of years to seek out tenants to work the land, and yet for some reason this has not been done.

The fraught conditions under which the previous owners departed - my queries among those who were present in Myrken at the time tell of boycotts and deliberate destruction of crops during a time of drought and famine, which served to only exacerbate an already dire situation - combined with the clause forbidding sale of the land to any but the previous owners' heirs might lead someone of a less generous inclination to suspect that this failure is in fact deliberate, perhaps some effort of spite or malice against the honest citizenry of Myrken Wood in revenge for some perceived slight or insult (I am told of some issue stemming from a broken cup, but I am not sure that my correspondent has the full facts on the issue; perhaps you are better-informed and would care to enlighten me?).

In any case, I find it hard to believe that such petty-minded motives would be the truth of the matter. You are devout and pious men, I do not doubt, and were you able you would surely have worked the lands under your control in order to alleviate such suffering; since you did not, it can only be surmised that you unfortunately lack the ability rather than the inclination.

As such, it is a regrettable but unavoidable fact that your continued ownership of the land is clearly against the public interest, and it would be an act of gross oversight on the part of this Government to allow the farms to remain in their current state of neglect. The holdings will now be allocated to those best able to work them, and as a condition of that reallocation the new tenants will be required to contribute a proportion of the land's output to Government stores, as guard against times of famine yet to come.

Your monastery is made no poorer by the expropriation of these lands (donated to you for free, and for which you have received adequate recompense) nor are the former owners and their heirs (given that they would have been required to purchase the lands back from you in the event of their return). This business is not a matter of Councillor Treadwell's perceived greed, sir, but of executing our responsibility as public servants by making provisions for the future prosperity and wellbeing of Myrken Wood's citizens, in order to prevent further anguish and suffering.

Indeed, on consideration of your missive I hope I am sorely mistaken in feeling that your unreasonable resistance to these measures suggests perhaps Councillor Treadwell is not the one suffering from greed, since your claim upon these lands to serve no apparent purpose save to deny them to others. The lands are of little practical use to your monastery, yet you seem to desire them solely because they were briefly yours. I would respectfully advise that you look to your own motivations, sir, before calling into question those of Myrken's Government.

To conclude: In this matter we act to fulfil our duty as guardians and protectors of the public interest. We shall do our part to see to the temporal needs of Myrken's citizenry, Father, and trust that you will continue to focus your efforts more on their spiritual wellbeing in future.

Sincerely

Cinnabar Calomel[/indent]