Chapter 68: New Settlement

The Esme’ is loaded and ready to depart early the next morning. All four Tomyris join us as we return to the inlet. Arona remains at the Potiora to see if she receives a reply from her sister in Thur. Arona’s outward message was successfully routed to the Lampetia Potiora via the Helia Potiora, but we’ve no means of knowing whether the message has reached Arihia. Even if it has, she may not understand the cryptic message or be able to respond by the same route. Maia has remained with Arona to keep her company, and to help forage for more food. Whatever the response from Arihia, there will be over a hundred more hungry mouths to feed before long.

Taking the direct route to the bay in the inlet means that unloading of all the tools and equipment is accomplished by mid-afternoon. Hinano has been placed in charge of establishing a new settlement for the soon-to-be-awakened population of over a hundred Tomyris. That means clearing a large enough area of trees and scrub, and felling enough timber to construct temporary housing. Akamu and Taito will assist with the initial work before busying themselves gathering a stockpile of food.

“We don’t have time to build more than temporary housing,” says Hinano, when he shows me the design of what they intend to build.

“They look very flimsy. A strong wind will scatter those huts all over the Ribbean Sea,” I reply. “Why not ask for help from Bardos? They have plenty of people and material to help you build something more permanent.”

“And how are we going to pay for such assistance?” fumes Hinano, refusing to accept my assessment of the flimsy huts.

I’ve no answer to that. We might be able to persuade a few volunteers from Aegle Harbour to help, but that won’t make much difference. Hinano is right. We need money we don’t have to pay for additional help and proper materials.

After ferrying the tools and equipment from the Esme’, Harry and Roland remain on shore to help Hinano and the others. Jaro takes the opportunity to talk with the remainder of his crew about their future plans. Firstly, he emphasizes that the Esme’ will need to fulfil its contracted return journey to Tewhanga unless TM, Arona and I decide otherwise. The older Mariners ... Numcio, Gaelan and Valeria ... are keen to remain in the Ribbean Sea rather than return to Tewhanga. The young elves in the crew also favour staying in Madiana. Suddenly I feel the pressure of making that possible.

“I think we need to wait and see if Arona receives a reply from Arihia, and whether Arihia is able to organise a group of Elf Maidens to come to Madiana,” I reply. “If our plan for transporting Elf Maidens to Madiana isn’t going to work, then I think we have no option but to return to Thurn and see what we can do from there. The Tomyris will struggle to survive if their population doesn’t achieve an increase in the number of fertile females. Even the Tomyris population on Bardos isn’t likely to be enough ... and that’s assuming they wish to help. From what I observed while we were on Bardos, I’m not sure they will be willing or able to provide more than a token gesture of support.”

“I agree that an influx of Elf Maidens from Thurn is the best solution,” says Nyra. “Hopefully Arona’s plan will work, but we need to consider an alternative. Even if we take the Esme’ back to Thurn, how are we going to contact and transport enough Elf Maidens to Madiana?”

“There’s also a question of timing,” says Jaro. “From what Teuila says, the hibernating Tomyris will start to be roused in sixteen days time. If that’s so, then I understand that it will be another five days before everyone will be ready to be transported from the tower to here. They could travel overland, but it will be more than a day’s hike through dense forest and then navigating the swamp at the eastern edge of the inlet.”