A Surprise Visit

Mar 19, 2025

The pulling of the wagon was getting easier and harder. We had lost all of the Farmers, and so had no help. And we were now going through hills. But we had all gained in strength and ‘technique’. You learned exactly how to put yourself into the traces, and how to get a good grip with your feet, etc. Still, we went more slowly. We didn’t get all that many miles done before it was time to stop for lunch.

And at lunch, we had a surprise. Without warning, without asking, and without explanation, Nhomhisosh rode up to our wagon, and got off his horse.

You must know how rare this is, whoever you are and wherever you live. Horsemen never get off their horses; not for anything. They can, we all know that, but they never do. I have heard of them doing so to get a job. A cast-out male might come into an inn to require if anyone had any letters, or some such, but just for a few minutes, and they hated doing so.

But Nhomhisosh rode up to our camp, and got off his horse. He walked over to where we were eating, took a bowl, took some food, and sat and ate. He proceeded to chat with me as if it were the most natural thing on earth, and not as if we had never had a conversation before where he wasn’t up on his horse. It not only startled everyone in our family into total silence, but I could see the stares from all the nearby wagons, and some not so nearby.

Gertrude had no idea what to do. At first she sat, frozen. Then, when Nhomhisosh didn’t say anything to her, she resumed eating.

Mother had other ideas, however. She watched like a hawk, and when Nhomhisosh’s bowl was empty, she poked Gertrude in the ribs, nodding her head in his direction. It took her a second, but Gertrude got the message and jumped up, taking Nhomhisosh’s bowl from his hands and going to get more food.

Whether Nhomhisosh wanted more food or not, I will never know. But he ate it like a starving wolf.

Several minutes, and significant looks later, Gertrude was again prodded into action. She went over to the wagon and came back with a bucket.

“My Husband, would you like some water?”

Horsemen didn’t need to eat or drink. They got all of the nourishment they needed from their symbiotic relationship with their horse. They could eat and drink, of course, and often would, such as when on a hunt. But most of the time they didn’t, contenting themselves with what the horse brought into the relationship.

Nhomhisosh looked up with a startled look. “Yes, my Wife,” he said, after a pause, and held out his cup.

Even Mother seemed content after this exchange, and the rest of the meal passed off with only trivial conversation, mostly between Nhomhisosh and I.

When lunch was over I walked with Nhomhisosh over to where his horse was grazing. After he had leapt up onto it, he turned to me. His horse pranced slightly.

“How did I do?” he asked.

When I didn’t answer right away, he continued, “I decided that it wasn’t fair of me to ask Gertrude to do all the changing. She is going to have a really hard time over the next few months. I thought it was the right thing for me to do to… to make some changes myself. Did I do well?”

Understanding what he had tried to do, and what he was asking, I said, “You did fine. Gertrude will be very pleased. She will expect you again at dinner, though, and whenever you can come again.”

He nodded, “I thought so. I didn’t think one time would do it. Can you teach me what to do and to say?”

I thought about this, “I could, but it would be hard. What would be easier for everyone would be for you to talk to an Elf. She is my Sister, after all, and there are things that would be hard for me to talk about. Dwarves aren’t the best teachers.”

Nhomhisosh’s horse danced about. “That’s a great idea. I’ll do that. I bet he won’t even charge me anything, since he will be very interested to see how it all turns out and all. I’ll ask Meical if he knows anyone I can talk to.”

And each meal got better. Nhomhisosh and Gertrude never talked directly, of course. It would have been inappropriate for a betrothed couple to speak directly to each other in front of others. But as time went on, this pretense got thinner and thinner. Nhomhisosh would tell me things about himself, things about herd life… teaching Gertrude what her life would be like. He tried to be careful to avoid topics that would offend Dwarf sensibilities… and usually succeeded.

Gertrude, on her part, was learning how to ask her Mother questions, in front of Nhomhisosh, about what he might like her to do, or learn, or whatever. And her speech began to be filled with concepts that were not at all Dwarf like. Once Mother tried to object to one of the questions, but Father over ruled her, saying, “That is a good question.” And Mother, blushing, had answered it.

Each evening at dinner we sat down in a smaller camp than the night before. The Trolls, trailing behind and off to either side with their herds, were, from day to day, peeling off to the right or the left, according to some plan that had been established back at the last fort. Two weeks after we had left the final outpost, there were only two Troll families with us, and both of them were going to leave the next morning.

—

Island People

Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.

The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books are published by Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:

The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid

The Bobtails and the Cousins

The Bobtails go to France

and

No Ordinary School

As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.

Arthur also has a substack, and a website. On the substack you can listen to some of his published books. Free.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von