Chapter 142: A fine day for a walk

Chapter 142: A fine day for a walk

Whether the weather is fine,

Or whether the weather is not,

Whether the weather is cold,

Or whether the weather is hot

We’ll weather the weather

Whatever the weather,

Whether we like it or not.

Anon

The sun rose on a glorious day, the sky was a clear cerulean blue reflected in the mirror-like salterns that now surrounded our mountain home. It was a fine day for walking. We rose and made our way to the town square to meet them but had an unwelcome surprise when we arrived. The clergy were all ready to go waiting for us but to cross the lagoon they had prevailed on another family to fit them all aboard their boats, the Diver’s daughters. With their wealth, they had the finest boats in town and the daughters were only too happy to help them in sailing across the lagoon on their mission. Though they were a little perturbed to discover that we had also been invited for the stone markers emplacement. Not that they could contest our inclusion because we owned the land, and it was only with our permission that it could be erected in the first place.

It made for a somewhat interesting shuffle as we made for the boats. While it appeared that Archbishop Grigori may have preferred to have travelled with us in our boat, the politics of his requesting the divers meant that he had to travel with them rather than us. This meant that for the boat ride across the lake at least we only had our close family and Bishop Bailie to accompany us.

“It’s a fine day for a sail. Although the temperature may make the climb a little more strenuous later on. What is the best way to get to the westernmost point?” The Bishop commented on the weather before questioning our route. A suitably sensible opening and question after the slightly stilted conversation which followed the awkward moment in the square.

“A fine day indeed.” Lady Acacia replied from her place in the boat. She had decided to come along as a chaperone for myself and Aleera much like a Victorian governess. We might be beginning to make waves of our own but each one would be observed, measured, judged, and then critiqued once we were home.

Aleera joined in the conversation, “We will sail south of our isle then arrive on the east shore of the lagoon. Once there we will make our way around the southern border of the eastern wood before making our way up to the cliff tops. It should not take us overly long.” She didn’t mention that this was the route that we had once taken to try skydiving or that this was where Grandfather sometimes took us hunting. The woods were not completely safe as we could attest to but as long as we stayed out of the woods and with Grandfather by our side we had nothing to fear other than perhaps another of his lessons.

Grandfather had decided to accompany us alongside Lady Acacia and Father although mother had stayed at home possibly to prepare more rooms as it looked like we would be seeing more company in the not-so-distant future. Father of course insisted on sailing our boat even though any of us could have done the job just as well. Maybe not just as well but it was hardly a life-or-death situation. Indeed, with the weather so fine, it made no difference either way. In fact, I would have enjoyed a chance at the helm but he was not to be denied.

“Do you visit this side of the island often?” he asked continuing the conversation.

“Not as often as we would like. There is a lot to do in building up our house physically, financially and politically so we have little time to explore.” Aleera explained our lack of time to run free and wild. “What do you hope to achieve by placing these markers of yours?” she asked intrigued. We had yet to see them covered as they were and were keen to see them unveiled.

“Whilst the circumnavigation pilgrimage is currently mainly for the clergy. We hope to inspire the populace with our markers, both the local and the distant. The idea was to create footsteps for people to follow. If we are successful in inspiring them, you might have a significant increase in the number of people visiting Wester Ponente.” He postured for a second, “Welcome to the Wester Isles, the very edge of the civilized compass, past Wester Ponente only the unknown lies. Travel the very edge of the compass to reaffirm your faith and spread the light of the lodestar ever further.” He paused after his pitch, “Or something along those lines. A path around the edge of the lagoon and one up from the easter shore would not be out of bounds in helping encourage such pilgrimages.” He added.

“It was only designed to seat the town of Wester,” I told him.

“You’d be surprised. You can always fit far more people onto a bench than a set of chairs. People will always be happy to move over a little more. You would be stunned by just how many people you can pack into a church and that is on pews. Your seating arrangements look far more spacious than that.” He replied confidently before moving back to his questioning, “So when is the next performance?”

“We haven’t actually decided. It is a new structure and still working on a routine to perform.” I replied.

“Your performing?” He asked astonished either by my statement, my age or my sheer confidence.

“Yes,” I replied unamused. On the one hand, being underestimated was a distinct advantage. On the other hand, it was a little tiring when people did not take you all that seriously.

“He’s really quite good but it would be good for my experience if I joined him in performing as well,” Aleera added supportively.

“I see.” He nodded while looking for confirmation from the adults in the boat. Mind sense showed that he was not quite convinced yet but as always I could see little past the surface emotions.

Thankfully Lady Acacia stepped in to support our claims. “The two scions have chosen métiers that would benefit significantly from such an event. One will entertain while the other makes a tidy profit, together they will go far.” She said proud of her proteges.

“Métiers? Then it is true? The child has a métier despite his age?” He looked down at me despite us all sitting in the boat. A seated position levelled many a man but there was only so much it could do when balancing a child and an adult in the height of their eye level.

“We do.” We replied into the silence that had drawn out painfully long as we all waited for Lady Acacia to respond but she did not.

“Astounding!” Said the bishop. “And unheard of. Is this due to your tutelage?” He asked Lady Acacia only to receive a silent shake of her head. “To unlock your status so early is in itself alone unprecedented.” He reached forward as if to take my hand then realized where he was and sat back against the side of the boat. Rubbing his forehead he continued to verbalise his thoughts, “To be able to access metiers as well . . . I’m simply speechless.” For one supposedly speechless he continued thinking his thoughts out loud for the majority of the journey. It was not until we landed on the eastern shore of the lake that he finally ended his speculation and rejoined his colleagues.

Once together he did not bring up anything that we had discussed on the boat and simply slipped back into his position by the Archbishop. I was sure that they would discuss our statements later, to pull them apart for their truths. But for now, we all concentrated on moving swiftly along the edge of the eastern woods. We were a large group and had little to fear on the island but there was no reason not to walk past as quickly as possible. We were soon ascending the slope to the cliffs that lay at the top. In the distance, I could just make out the town in the distance over the shoulder of our mountain home.

“We’re here at last. The very edge of the compass.” The archbishop seemed inordinately pleased for travelling just a little bit further west. To us it was just one more part of the cliffs that surrounded our home but to him and his party, it meant significantly more. “Time to spread the light of the lodestar a little further.” He gestured for the acolytes to carry their package further forward. It had taken all of them to carry it up here and our pace had been set more by them than by my little legs.

Archbishop Grigori placed his right hand bearing his ring down onto the stone top of the cliff edge. “Consecrate.” He murmured and the stone rippled. When it stopped a compass emblem had been embossed into the cliff top. Each point aligned to the cardinal and ordinal directions a carved octagonal depression in the centre left as a space for the stone marker to be emplaced.

The acolytes removed the sheet covering the plinth they had carried so far. The octagonal stone column had markings on each side but I could not yet decipher their meaning if they even had any. Carefully they raised it upright before setting it into the depression carved for it. Through my mana sense, I felt a flicker of mana as it seemed to settle into the land. Its roots and workings were a mystery to me.

“What does it do?” I asked. Now that it had been emplaced I realised that should probably have been a question I should have asked prior to agreeing to its placement. However, when agreeing I had thought it was only a stone marker. I had not realized the magical component of it. Perhaps my family had known but did not feel it worth mentioning or maybe they too hand only thought it was a simple stone, not the magical construct it actually was.

“For now, nothing. It has only just been sealed into the Lodestone but in time it will be able to call forth the light of the lodestar to warn, direct, call and protect those who need it.” He turned and bowed to our family, “The Lodestar Church thanks the Silversea family for your support in extending the bounds of the compass.”

“Our pleasure,” Aleera answered for the two of us. While I wondered whether the favours had been of equal value after all.