JUNE 30, 2025
SYLVIA LOWIK
sylvia.lowik@gmail.com

Chapter One- A beautiful day

No one would have thought this beautiful sunny morning would end like it did. One of those days in April could make you believe summer had already arrived.
Gulls, squealing like a bunch of squabbling fishwives, were swooping around the cliff tops, now and then diving into the glistening water in the hope of catching their breakfast.
Two small figures, more falling than running, came tumbling down the high dunes, racing each other for the vast expanse of the deserted beach.
Waking up that morning, they had taken one look out of the window to make up their minds about either doing their chores or sneaking down to the beach below the castle cliff using a passage they had found while exploring the cellars. It had not been a hard decision.
“Wait for me, Astrid!” Marion yelled, her shorter legs not being able to keep up with the long strides of her friend.
Impatiently undoing her head-dress and shaking out a mass of tangled auburn hair, Astrid threw her cloak aside and started to strip her nightgown off with hasty determined movements.
“You’re not going in, are you?” Marion asked incredulously “, youwill freeze to death. It might already be warm outside, but the water will still be ice cold. Besides, youwill never hear the end of it when your mother finds out”.
“They are all far too busy getting everything ready for the wedding tomorrow to miss us. We were so lucky not to have a Morning meeting today, as they have to decorate the chapel. I feel as if I have been locked up forever in that smoky house this winter. Especially now they won’t let me hunt with the men anymore because I have become fifteen and a woman”. She practically spat out the last word.
” If I see another piece of embroidery or have to listen to one more of father Sirio’s lessons I will jump from the highest tower of the house! You are lucky; you like sitting around the fireplace gossipping with the other women. I don’t know how you do it!”
With these words, she gave her friend a playful push and crashed into the invitingly shimmering sea. At first, the cold made it nearly impossible to breathe, though as she started to swim with long, firm strokes towards the church steeple, it got a bit better.
A wonderful feeling of washing away all the smoke, grime, and boredom of winter made her spirit soar. It had been so kind of John, her brother, to teach her how to swim all those years ago. Life would have been far more unbearable if it had not been possible now and then to escape the restrictions of being a young woman by immersing herself in this blissful feeling of being free, of being able to swim away from it all. Alas, she always had to go back. She had reached the steeple of the old church and had a rest at the railing floating on her back, feeling the warm rays of the sun on her face. Strange to imagine that once there had been a whole community of people living right below the waves.
Before the Exodus, as brother William, or Billy as they called him still, Marion’s youngest brother, had told them, the earth had suffered many big storms, changes in the weather made all the seas rise to cover vast proportions of the known world. Wars, plagues and famine had further decimated the population. When offered the chance many had volunteered to leave earth for good on one of those Life ships.
He was strictly forbidden to talk about these mysteries, but he wanted the attention and admiration of his friends too much not to show off a bit with his knowledge. He had been studying at the monastery since he was twelve and loved it.
Now and then he missed his friends though. Whenever he could sneak out, he escaped the watchful eye of his teachers and joined his friends. She adored the serious young man.
‘What would it be like to drive one of those ‘automobiles’ Billy had told them about?’ Why was it so wrong to know about how everything worked before the Exodus? It must have been great to be able to communicate with people far far away in an instant instead of waiting for the ships or the postmen. If she believed Billy, everyone in those days had access to all the knowledge they wanted.
Every Sunday, father Sirio preached passionately about the dangers of Technology and how it once had ruined life on earth and caused the Exodus.
“Only when we turn away from Technology and follow the path of the Tree of Life, we will rebuild this earth “, he had taught them”.
She knew all too well what the path meant for her! He didn’t explain what exactly would be so awful about studying ancient knowledge. Only monks and the Guild of Medics, mainly nuns, were allowed to learn about the old arts and use some of it when needed.
Here on the Island, most diseases that apparently used to kill a lot of the Elders didn’t exist anymore. It was one of the reasons the Gene programme was followed so religiously by all the people of the founder families. The people in the rest of the Archipelago, she had heard, didn’t care much for their rules. She wondered how it was possible to do that and not be punished by the Prior.
At this moment in her life, it sounded like a rather good idea to her. She would be able just to ignore the stupid Path thing and marry Nick!
Peering at the shore, she saw that her friend Marion had given up worrying about her and was lying halfway up the sandy dunes enjoying the warmth of the sun.
Marion was more like a sister than a friend. She had come to live with them after her mother died in childbirth, something that rarely happened anymore, but when it did, they saved the child. Marion’s mother had been accompanying her husband during a Raid Marion hadn’t been due for another month. They were ambushed and narrowly escaped with their lives. The stress had brought on early labour. Without a nun to help with the birth, she had died on the ship of complications. First Master Selby, Marion’s father, hadn’t wanted to let Marion out of his sight. She was the last connection to his beloved wife. Marion was already eight years old when he finally was ready to let her go. Master Selby, her father, had been finally persuaded it would be better for his daughter to grow up under the strict but kind rule of Ingrid, Astrid’s mother, who had two daughters of her own. His household, with only five older brothers, wasn’t very suitable as he had no clue how to raise such a frail female person.
At first, Astrid had felt great pity for the shy girl and very protective of her even though Marion was two years older. Every time anyone spoke to her new friend, she looked like she was going to burst into tears. Eventually, after she had settled down and got to know their family a bit better, she turned into a sunny and talkative girl, ready to join Astrid in all her adventures. They became inseparable. They were the complete opposites of each other. Auburn-haired Astrid tall, golden-skinned and athletic, always looking for trouble and finding it, Marion tiny, pale and with a mop of curly hair that looked more silver than gold.
She was forever trying to keep Astrid out of danger, not always with success.
Now they couldn’t imagine being apart from each other or not sharing each other’s secrets and plans. With those weddings tomorrow though that time was looming very close.
The girls had always known they were not in control of their destinies. The Tree of Life or more specifically, the monks and their parents would decide their future.
“I wish I could have been a match for Nicholas instead of some old guy from the North. Or I could convince him to run away with me. What is wrong with his bloodline that we are not a match? He is handsome and strong.”
She blushed thinking about the night a few days before yesterday when she had persuaded him to meet in the old cemetery outside the walls and pleaded with him to run away with her. He had first been quite shocked she would be willing to defy her father and their community in such a blatant way.
“No, I can’t ever be your husband. We will always be best friends. When you need me, I will always come and help you. Sorry, it is impossible
He had then turned and fled, leaving her first embarrassed and then angry at his rejection. She knew he loved her too. What had changed? Had he found someone else? Before her father had announced she would be marrying his best friend Henry, they had often snuck away and kissed and cuddled and explored each other’s bodies. It had always left them both breathless and wanting for more. Without the threat of expulsion from the Island, were they to take it to the next level, they would’ve already done ‘the deed’ as Marion always called it when they were whispering about boys. She felt even worse, thinking about her desperate action last night.
‘Marion is so lucky to be marrying John. They love each other too. It’s not fair! I have to do something. Tomorrow will be too late. That Henry will take me up North to live on those freezing islands. The sun shines there only a few months a year. I will die!
Thinking about John made her hurry to swim back. Her brother had promised her that today, she could have the first choice of the litter of his favourite wolfhound Speed as her wedding present. She was so looking forward to selecting one. They were so cute. She never had a proper hunting dog before. It would be a comfort to take it with her and would make her feel less alone when she had to leave home. She rapidly swam back to the beach.
Once out of the water, the wind felt like icy breath on her wet skin. She ran as fast as she could in the direction of the protection of the dunes and her warm clothes. Seeing Marion had dozed off, she wrung a bit of water out of her hair right above the face of her unsuspecting friend. With a shriek, the poor girl jumped up, but once recovered immediately started to hurry Astrid back into her clothes and made them return through the tunnel to the house, before somebody found out. It was strictly forbidden to use the secret entrance unless there was an emergency. Being found out would have them scrubbing pans until kingdom come.
Soon, the only sounds on the beach were the screeching of the gulls and the soft swishing of the waves.

Chapter Two – On the cliff

High on the cliffs above the dunes, a small figure rose up and hurriedly made his way back into the forest.
The boy ran along a path that would lead him to his best friend and crewmate. He never knew girls could look so beautiful and, and what? The only thing he could come up with was ‘ shiny ‘. Women and girls in the Midlands didn’t look like that. Compared to these girls with their golden and silver skins, they seemed either drab or scary. It was strange they had been allowed on that beach without any men to protect them. That would never be okay at home. Far too dangerous.
To stay out of the clutches of horny men, a lot of the women in Midland made sure no one got any stupid ideas about them by making themselves look as frightening as possible. They were tattooed within an inch of their life and had piercings in practically every part of their bodies. Most of them would have no trouble in a fight to do considerable damage. They scared the hell out of him. They had formed a close group within the tribe and looked out for each other and their weaker friends. His big sister Yaya belonged to these Vixens as they called themselves. The men had different words for them. She had used her influence to be allowed to join the scouting group of her mate Solo.
“You need looking after little bro, too soft for your own good. If you don’t watch it, you will end up in Big Damian’s harem. You are too handsome and too weak-hearted.”
The thought of that happening made him break out in a sweat.
Damian was the self-appointed ruler of Midland. Since the man’s two older brothers had died during raiding parties, Big Damian ruled the inhabitants of Midland with an iron hand.
Everyone knew he was always on the lookout for additions to his circle of intimate friends or as he called them ‘ my sons’. For all his cruelty, he looked like a jolly monk though his innocent exterior fooled no one. He was said to be one of the meanest and cruellest men in Midland, maybe even the whole of the Archipelago. Gossip ran that when Damian was a young child, his family had been evicted from the Island.
Unadulterated hate for everyone from their home country and specifically for the Harringtons had been a constant incentive for the whole family to do as much harm to them whenever the opportunity arose. Damien had the reputation of being the worst of the lot. He was a very vindictive man with a terrible temper. As no one of that whole family would win any prizes for good behaviour, Jonah thought the islanders must have had good reasons to expel them, and they didn’t all have to do with their genetic makeup. It made Boy’s guts turn to water just thinking about getting anywhere near the man or catching his attention in any way.
He had sent orders to Solo to go on this scouting session they were on, to find out more about this large gathering families. Solo told them Damien saw it as an excellent opportunity to get some revenge on the islanders who cast him and his family out all those years ago. They were supposedly only to check out how tight the security was and report back. For himself, it was a chance to earn a proper name.
He could not let anything or anyone spoil it even if they looked like bloody goddesses. He hoped Solo would see his information as an opportunity to take matters in his own hands instead of just waiting for Damien’s men to come and take all the glory.
Solo needed money for his brother’s treatment.
At the thought of maybe being part of a surprise attack with little risk and hopefully a big reward, he worked his way through the woods even faster. The trees and shrubs were just recovering from last winter and had not yet grown as impenetrable as they would be in a few more weeks.
Despite still being nameless, Yaya’s scouting group had taken him in. The speed and stamina with which he could run and his sailing skills had been reason enough for Solo to allow him in. The relation the latter had with his sister, Yaya, had probably clinched the deal.
“You have to be smart and fast when you’re not strong”, he always said to Wulf, his best friend, only half-joking.
He stopped for a moment to get his bearings. The heady smell of early spring and the bright green of the new leaves made him somehow think of those girls again. How would it be to bed one of those? He felt himself growing hot just thinking about it. Especially the one who had gone into the sea ass naked! She had looked like a mermaid when she came out, her skin glistening like one of his mother’s copper pots. He had bedded some girls at home. It hadn’t made much of an impression. He might as well stick to his hand for all the emotion they showed.
Suddenly two massive arms encircled his body and lifted it off the ground.
“Daydreaming is for corpses! Anyone could have sneaked upon you, you little squirt. Wait till your big sister hears about it”.
After planting a big wet sloppy kiss on his head, Wulf kept holding him in a great bear hug, all his bright teeth showing through his bushy red beard. Being two heads taller and already given his name two years ago, you would never guess he was six months younger than the boy.
They had trained in the same set from the age of six after which they had to leave the Women’s house but were not yet allowed to live in the Men’s. They couldn’t be more different. The one slender and short, but with the wiry built of a man who had to make his living outdoors, the other looking like a massive bear with arms and legs the size of tree trunks. Right from the start, this large, boisterous boy had become his friend and protector. It lasted until today. He knew he would always have his friend at his back, no matter what.
Wulf was an only child and spoilt by his mother Freya, who was the chief of the Women’s circle and the wife of one of the village elders. She had become a good friend of Boy’s mother Sara, the latter working as the village herbalist and midwife. Her husband, the boy’s father, had one day not come back from one of his foraging trips when her children were still small. She’d had a hard time trying to provide for her family while at the same time warding off the advances of some of the single men in the village.
It had been a hard life, and the boy would love to make enough money he could in his turn look after her so she could take a well-earned rest. In the meantime, he would leave it to his sister Yaya to protect her.
After eight years of learning to hunt, to fight and read maps, Solo, one of the group leaders, invited both of them to join his band. They counted themselves lucky as scouts travelled widely to find resources for the village and make sure no unexpected threats were waiting around the corner.
They had not yet joined Solo on one of his notorious raids. Their only hope of escaping their perilous life without first having to go with Solo on his rampage was the yearly lottery in the Summer, set up by the White Fort. During the year you could use part of your savings to buy tickets.
“More chance of being hit by lightning, but it keeps most of us under control”, Solo used to joke.
Trying to wriggle free from his friend’s bear hug, he wanted to get word to his scouting group as soon as possible, he croaked while trying to get his breath: “This isn’t funny, Wulf. I nearly stuck you with my knife”.
“Which hands were you going to do that with?” Wulf laughed.
The boy immediately threw his head backwards into Wulf’s face, nearly cracking his nose. He let Boy go with a yelp and clutched his nose, which had started bleeding profusely.
“I would have used these hands,” the boy said starting playfully to use his friend as a punching bag.
Wulf pretended to be mortally wounded.” Hey, you little punk. That hurt! Why were you running the wrong way?”
“I have good news for Solo. While I was checking out the cliffs near the big house on top of the hill, I saw these girls come running down the dunes. They came out of a crevice at the back of the cliffs. One of them was swimming stark naked! It was amazing. The girl, I mean! They disappeared in that direction again. There must be a hidden entrance up there. We should check it out this evening and see if we can get in that way and get the loot ourselves instead of waiting for Damien’s guys”.
Wulf scratched his head.”Lucky you. Did you have a good look?? Maybe we should both go back, and I can have a look too.”
“No, be serious for a change! Don’t you get it? Delivering all that stuff on a silver platter will be my chance to make an impression. Even on Solo!”
The boy was getting more and more impatient, seeing his friend’s doubtful expression. This information would be more important for their group than ogling naked women, as lovely as they had been. He wanted to go back to their boat, hidden in a cove not too far away, and tell Solo what he’d found. His sister would be so proud and realise she’d made an excellent decision to let him join the group.
Wulf looked even more worried now. “We had strict instructions not to leave our posts until someone comes for us. You will never get a name if you keep trying to do your own thing. Shit boy, Solo already has it in for you because of your sister being so protective. As if he wants to prove to his men, she doesn’t have any influence on him. Let me spell it out again: We don’t make the decisions. We follow orders, nothing more nothing less. If you want to stay out of trouble, that is, you must know what happens to people who don’t. The last ones are still digging latrines”.
“But what will Solo do to us, eh, if he finds out later we had this one chance to get into the castle ourselves and we didn’t tell him? You can stay on your post if you want and I will run back and tell them. Let them make the decision. It won’t take long. Then there will be at least one of us keeping an eye on the house, so what’s the difference?”
“All right then”, Wulf knew when he was defeated, but he worried his friend would still get into trouble with Solo, “but I am coming with you. I’m not letting you do this alone. You know what a bastard Solo can be about discipline. At least we will be digging together”.
” Come on, then, let’s hurry. I promise you; Solo will be pleased, I’m sure of it ”. With these words, the boy raced off not waiting for his friend, who was trying hard to keep up with him, while hoping Solo would be happy enough with the boy’s report not to punish them for leaving their post.
As so often, Wulf wished Yaya had chosen another man. Someone more like himself.