Ikola Erelaria
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81 Tears
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Ikola feels like they have found a home when she and her family settle in South Erelaria, but then she gets the news that her family is leaving Deepene and traveling north.

Dear Diary, April 14
Today was Aka's special day. I must of cried 81 tears when Nilshance put his arm around her hip and they kissed. I stood there, wearing the dress Haisha made me with mac fur. It is lavender colored (we dyed it together) and has frills on the sleeves. The bottom goes down to the ground, and it is striking from the outside but it is stifling inside. I can't wait for later when I get to take this off and slip into bed. Since we are moving away, Aka and Nilshance will move into our home. For tonight and the next 4 days, we will let them have the secret room that Aka and I made 1 month ago. Haisha, Baba, Ogo and I will have the main room. Then, we will pack up our things and depart.
The wedding was held on the beach. Aka was wearing her Omam's silk dress that she traded for in China. It is a light pink with cherry tree flowers on it. Nilshance wore a shirt made by his Omam an long leggings. It is customary that either your mother or Haisha makes your wedding clothes for you. I will probably wear this dress at mine.
If you didn't read my earlier diary, you wouldn't know much about me. My name is Ikola Erelaria. I have a baby brother named Ogo. I am 15, and Aka is my best friend. She is 15, too, which is customary marrying age for us. My family is made up of Nomads traveling to find a home. We found one, and call it Pinia, after my grandfather. My aunts and uncles all have lands named after them in Pinia- Boerhurst, Faireden, Ekkaria, Airavia, Erelaria (that's my home), and Allerakin. We found Pinia and traveled to what is now Erelaria. For our move, we will travel North and start a capital city. Hopefully...

Dear Diary, April 15
Today was really hectic. Aka and Nilshance had a big Bila party which Aka, her friend Täel,Ilvory and I worked in our hot kitchen. Täel is a year older than Aka and I and already is married and with child. Though the child may come any day now, she makes it important that she helps with the Bila.
We cooked all morning delicious foods- Nut paste (which is now very traditional) baked into little crackers that we can spread a berry perserve on (or just salt), Lamoya (which is a bean and meat dish), Gomabi (a bittersweet purple vegetable, Vikenay (Which is made with eggs and ground nuts and mac milk dough ground into flakes), and a lot more. Meat is cooking on the fire, blades are slicing through the Gomabi, Nuts are being ground, etc as our hands keep busy. When it gets closer to time, Ilvory, who is only 12, sets out finished food and leaves to place it on. Then, the whole village came. Lots brought platters of food- oysters, fish, meat, as well as gifts for Aka and Nilshance. Aka got a set of clay dishes, clothing and blankets, and Nilshance got blades and a mac. They got, as a couple, a set of table and chairs as well as a big bed from Nilshance's parents. I can't believe that the underground that Aka and I dug for Baba will soon hold such a magnificent piece of furniture with the epachee quilt that every girl in town made a square for. This is the end of the first Erelarian marrige, and it was a fabulous one, we all have to admit.

Dear Diary, April 16
Though we are moving in 2 days, we have yet to gather our things. Today was speant gathering. Aka helpt a lot. She helped me pick nuts, berries, pull salt from the water, scrape bark from trees, and cut the meat that Baba hunted for. We layed the furs out in the hot sun, today was exceptionally hot. I never knew it to get this hot in April, but I guess it was pretty hot in March too. The unberable conditions slowed us down. After hunting in the morning, Baba put together a cart that we could place our belongings in. Täel and Ilvory came over to help us sculpt clay dishware for the new home, now that they were done making dishes for Aka and Nilshance. Those were set on the fire to cook and we placed foods into jars and bladders. By the time the sun dipped under the horizon, I felt ready to move out.

Dear Diary, April 17
Today we packed the cart. Last night, Nilshance gave us some crates he had made as well as a hammer and some nails, that were "from his parents" as he said, but I think that they were really from him. So sweet! We laid a blanket on the bottom of the cart, and then placed the four crates across to form a box with a place in between to place Ogo when we are tired of carrying him. 2 crates have food, one has clothes, and the final will have dishes. The rest of the tools are loose. We have blades, shovels, tools, lacalob leaves, and various other things including a huge barrel of fresh water. The macs got tied to a cord which was tied to the cart. They will help Baba and I pull the cart. Haisha will walk along and carry Ogo. In that way we will get to a home that we can call ours.

Dear Diary, April 19
Sorry for not writing yesterday, but we got to this ideal location last night, very late, and very hungry. We had gotten up before the sun and then traveled non-stop, leaving Deepene behind us with Täel and her husband and several more groups:
There is a Lomu named Rilma who will watch over us, and a family full of girls: 1 boy and 6 girls. Their parents are dancing on coal to have them all here with them. Then, there is a man named Jove. He is marrying one of the six girls soon, and so that will help the population. And finally, there is a Gyt. A Gyt is the man who watches over the village. So, we all travled here, together, and were exhausted when we got there. We slept in the cart.
The next morning, or today, We woke up very late and got right to work. I pulled out a crate for Haisha to sit on and stacked the rest next to it. Then, the tools all got moved out. Baba ripped the boards of the cart apart. For now, we needed a house, and we didn't want to chop down trees, taking time from having a home.
Even with the boards, we needed to have more wood, so he gave me his heavy blade to chop down trees. I did so, I mean, I don't have as much muscle as he, but I have enough to chop down a tree. Without an older brother, you learn to do some things.
Once I had enough trees, I took off the bark with my own blade, we could eat that. Then, I cut them into boards, tied a rope around them, and lugged them to where Baba was building. He had driven 4 posts into the ground already and was connecting them around with parts of the cart. We got into a system- I would place and hold a board and he would hammer in a nail. We got the house built like that.
Tonight, though the only roof is a tarp and the door is an open space, We will sleep in the new house. There is an empty space in the wall, shaped like a triangle, where we would add on a tent room. But that was yet to come. First we needed to add a roof and a door.

Dear Diary, April 20
Today, while Baba constructed a roof, Haisha the door, and I oiled animal skin to be put in place as windows and pinned it in. That work was all done in the morning, and after a quick meal of bark broth we got to work on the tent. Baba and I nailed a long pole to the roof, and then took the leftover wooden boards and nailed them on a slant to the pole. Baba showed me how to get them in the ground nice and firmly, and then we only had to do the end. I stuck the sticks in the ground fairly slowly, but so strongly that, in Baba's words, A giant couldn't have moved. Now the house was done. Unless, you say a house is never done, because you can build up, down, and all around. We will probably do that, but first we must move in. There wasn't much to move, but we put all of our things in it and laid the blankets out to sleep in. Then we ate some Gomabi with beans, and sat and worked. Baba is making shelves, Haisha is putting Ogo to bed, and I am writing.

Good night !

Dear Diary, April 20
Today it was rainy. We thankfully have enough wLinood close by to build more shelves, and perhaps some tables and chairs, but the first priority is a design. While baba sands some wood, Haisha and I are scratching out a design for the room. We will place a big bed in the triangle room, and the other two beds straight across from the door. 1, hopefully will be a trundle bed and I will sleep on that one. If we ever build an underground room, all the beds will go down there. Unless we use it for storing food. But, that bridge will be crossed when we get to it, and we aren't quite there. To go on with the design, tomorrow, if the rain lets up, Baba will put in a fireplace for cooking on rainy days like today was in the far right after you enter. A bench will be put in front of it to sit on after dinner, and if you are facing the fireplace, a table with three chairs and a bench will be on the right. Nails and shelfs will be scattered along the wall to hang clothes and place things. I hope it works! After plotting the design and showing it to Baba, Haisha and I know that we need to have a cold meal. I scoop fruit from a jar onto the new, plain dishes and then mix up a nut paste that can be eaten cold. Haisha blesses the food, and we eat. The berries are nice, but the nut paste is cold and I poke it.
"Ikola, the nut paste is usually your favorite! Why are you not eating it?" Baba asked me.
"I don't know. I guess because it is cold," I say, wiping Ogo's messy face. He giggles.
"We'll have warm food, rain or shine, as soon as you can say sunshine, malie." I smiled and dug in.
After doing the lunch dishes and laying Ogo down for his nap, Baba and I work on the table. With 4 posts and a board, a simple table is constricted, and as baba makes chairs (which is harder), I sand the table down so it is smoother than a baby's bottom. We can eat dinner at the table tonight! I look over at baba. He has finished 1 chair and is working on the bench. We don't have much wood around, so I hammer nails into the wall to be used as hooks as soon as Ogo's awake and in Haisha's care. Haisha is going through seeds. I believe she is thinking of planting tomorrow, if there is sun. I hope there will be.

Dear Diary, April 21
Finally! When sun streamed through the window this morning, my heart lept with joy. We all bounded out of bed, leaving Ogo in his crib, and got out of there, without breakfast!! I wanted to chop wood for the woodpile and construction, but first I had to attace the wheels from the cart to an empty crate to make a pulley for hauling stones and then hauled what felt like hundreds of stones from the river bank (and clay!) for Baba's fireplace. Haisha cut away land for a garden, and after wasting the morning away hauling, I made lunch. We were all starved. Ogo had sat in his crib quietly all morning (good boy), but he didn't get breakfast and neither did the hard workers. Haisha made a fire, and so I cooked meat, which I broke into chunks th and mixed with beans, nuts, and gomabi to make a salad. Haisha scooped it on to plates while I extinguished the fire. It was epachee. Since I made the food, Haisha did the dishes while I skipped off to cut wood. I used the same cart that I used for the stones and clay, but I would place firewood in the container and then longer trees on top for construction, then push it back to the shelter. The firewood gets stacked by the house, besides several logs that I place inside by the fire, or where the fire will be. Baba has yet to finish choping away the house, but he is doing the outside part first, so on a rainy day he can hack away on the inside. I am still worried that he will cut inches from the fireplace and we will, from then on, have a hole in our wall. To go on, I need to cut more wood, so I take trip after trip outside to get more until the furniture wood is almost as tall as the house and the inside wood is in a fair stack. Now that the evening is approaching, dinner must be served. Our food supply is diminishing, and outside there isn't much to chose from. I can still get the bark from the trees I cut, And there are dandilions that we can eat the leaves of, or make a salad.
I take what I gather home and steam the bark to make a sauce, which I mix with more bark (ground) and then toss a salad. Tomorrow I will try to find more food before we starve.
That night, after dinner, Baba makes his first bed, but we need the matresses (which are in Deepene) before we can use them. We'll have to go back.

Dear Diary, April 22
After I woke up to clouds today, I knew that I needed to get food. Rain could happen soon, and Baba sensed it to and left without a word. When I poked my head outside, he was hacking away, poking and prying things around the chimney.
"I'll go get food," I tell him. He nods and I bound away with a container. Dandilions are scarce after yesterday, but I find enough for a few meals. I scrape all kinds of bark off of trees that we can boil and find a few bean pods. The big thing I find is cotton scattered to and fro. It is just a white material that is fluffly. Ever so often, there are sticks in it, but those we can get around. I collect as many as I can on my way to the river, and there I get so much water that I don't have a free hand to collect cotton on my way back, when rain starts dripping. I try to run, but the water sloshes out of the bucket. Then I just speed-walk, but the rain picks up really hard when I am feet from the door. I collapse inside, breathless and wet. Haisha wraps a blanket around me and Baba takes from me what I collected.
"Whats this?" he asks, looking at the cotton.
"Oh. That! That is something I found lying around."
"Must be more macs around here, eh?" I smile. Haisha made our macs pen yesterday when the garden was finished. It was a great garden, but a simple mac pen- Four posts driven into the ground with cross bars connecting them. The macs are okay with it, and they haven't escaped...yet. Anyway, I give the cotton to Haisha and help organize our food and dishes on shelves. Haisha fiddles with some wood, trying to find a way to weave it into string. I place a blanket- yellow sprigged- on the table, and finish making the last two chairs. They don't look as good as Baba's, but you can sit on them and they won't fall. Now we just need one more bench. Benches are easy to make, but Bila is the first priority. Baba is done cutting away the fireplace, and he even has lined it with stones so we don't set the house on fire. I start a fire and cook nut paste into crackers, which we have by itself. Nut paste is easy, and it uses mainly water. I'd call it a staple food. We eat every single bite.
That afternoon, I make the second bench. I just place a flat log on two cubes with crossbars for support, and beacause it holds I am happy. Now we just have the beds to make. But First, Baba needs to return to Deepene to get our mattresses. I beg to go with him to visit Aka, but his answer is a firm no. He is leaving tomorrow, and if he is gone for 4 sunny days, then I should get worried. He'll try to only be gone 3 days. I must stay and care for Haisha and Ogo, but I'll miss him. Plus, it's sad that I can't see Aka and Nilshance. Baba will tell me all of the news, though, I'm sure.

Dear Diary, April 24
I know I didn't journal yesterday, but without baba there is so much work to be done. I have to do all of his chores plus my own, which includes bringing in wood, gathering, hunting, regular cooking and cleaning, etcetera. Haisha just played with Ogo and helped with cooking and cleaning a bit. She sewed and worked with the cotton a bit, and slept! It really has been quite peaceful these past days, but nontheless it pains me to be without baba. He'll be back soon, I think. I hope.

Dear Diary, April 26
Baba came back yesterday, so I didn't write. I stayed up late waiting, and he burst into the door late, when Haisha was asleep as was Ogo. Baba had brought 4 mattresses, each softer than the other. I gave him a huge hug, and his sweaty arms hugged me back as 81 tears of joy rolled down my cool cheeks. He had brought news: Aka was with child. I was showked. I didn't know things like this could happen 12 days after a wedding! But, whats done is done, and if they are really in love...
On a different note, Baba brought back lots of goodies: There are oysters, langosta, fish, berries, bark, nuts, and lots more that Aka had prepared for us when we got our mattresses. She was so glad to see baba, but was disapointed that I didn't come. She was elated when she saw that she was with child, but a little shocked. Nilshance was also really happy, clearly. His smile, as Baba relays to me, was a mile long when he got the news. I'd rather not be with child that early in a marrige.
I finally get to sleep on the trundle, and Haisha the bed. Baba will make one more fraim, but for now he can sleep on the plain mattress. Goodnight!!

Dear Diary, April 27
It is so close to the Month of May, and I have nothing to write about. The only big thing is now the house is fully furnished and we are going to build a well. Sadly, to do that, we must use Omam's treasured candles. I find that heartbreaking, but it is the best way to have instant freshwater. What must be done must be done, and this is a must-do on our to-do list. Baba will start tomorrow, but I am not going down insude the hole that he will dig. Maybe I'll supervise, but I am still wary about that- I don't want myself or Baba to leave this earth- that would be torture, not only to myself, but to Haisha and Omam's spirit.

Dear Diary, April 30,
Daily chores have started. Every day I will gather food, Sweep the floor, make meals, cut more wood, and make meals. Baba will get the water from the well, bring firewood inside, hunt, and do whatever he is doing for that day. Today it is the well he is working on. Haisha will set and clear the table for meals, play and care for Ogo. She also does general cleaning and sewing or knitting.
The well still isn't very deep. Every day before sending baba down to dig, we we would send down one of Omam's special candles to test the air, and now it was dirty and grimy, so every night Baba will sit at the fire and sob while he rubs it clean. That is what he is doing now, and it causes my heart to weep for Omam. If you didn't read my first Diary, you wouldn't know that she left us in the cold land to illness. We use her candles every night at supper. They were made with glass, melted around a waxy wick that we put the fire on. It provides a light in the darkest night, and we use them when the fire is down. Omam kept them in her glass sand dish, in with you place the candles in the sand to keep them up, and to store them just place them inside it laying down. It is very special to us beacause of its specialty to her.
Anyway, until later!

Dear Diary, May 1
Today is Loya Day. Loya Day is when we celebrate the flowers. I awoke early, put covers on the windows, and picked a bouquet of wildflowers. I get back before baba wakes up, or Haisha. Ogo is awake though, and fussing. I pick him up and cradle him back to sleep. The room is dark with the window coverings, but my eyes will enlarge big enough to let enough light in, and at least now I can get my bearings. I pull a jar off of the shelf and fill it with water, then put the flowers in. They look really fabulous, sitting there on the yellow sprigged tablecloth. I mix the ground nuts with water, but add more water into hot little cakes. They look good, and I boil some berries to get the juice that can go with it like a sause.
When I take the window coverings off, Baba and Haisha wake almost instantly. The first thing they see is me, standing there with a grin a mile wide on my face.
"What did you do, malie??" I grin and step aside. The house has flowers scattered all over. Baba gets up from bed and gives me a giant bear hug. I feel a tear drip from his cheek to my shoulder. I pull tight.
"Oh, please, don't get all emotional on me!" Haisha butts in, and we laugh whole-heartedly and sit down to enjoy the cakes. The berry sause works great with it, and it is gone before you can say "Loya Day". Instead of doing normal work, we gather flowers to be dried and dry them by hanging them from the roof. We press petals by putting thm under a giant block o wood. Neighbors visit and give us bouquets. In the afternoon, we go out to give flowers to people who gave them to us, and those who didn't like Ho Gyt. When we go back home, Baba gets back to work on the well while Haisha and I make dinner. We surprise him by sprinkling petals on the table and cooking Meat with Beans and Gomabi into a dish. Then, Haisha makes a necter with some of the flowers that she pours into the cups and serves.
When Baba comes in, he cries even more. I hug him hard, and then we all sit down to eat. "Ikola,"he says after a while. "How would you like to visit Aka? I can't leave, but you know the way." (I do?)"Just follow the creek South until you reach the town. It is pretty simple." I nod and gp back to my food. I'l leave tomorrow."Stay for 7 days time." I smile, and after doing the dishes, I get together my things. I pack my dress, but will travel in my work clothes. Then, I pack a blanket and some dried meat and fruit for the trip. I pack jars for food I might bring back.

Dear Diary, May 4
So much to write about, so little time! I'll go day by day.
May 2
I travel along the river and find the village easily, but it takes a whole day. When I got here, I collapse outside the door without dinner. I was exhausted.
May 3
Aka and I spend the day catching up and cooking. She welcomes me right into the house and gives me a hot fish. Nilshance tells me hello, and I say hi back. Aka's belly is getting big, and I wonder if there is more than one child in there. Lirium stops by to visit me after Nilshance leaves, and Aka and I pour lacalob milk into glasses. We drink and talk the afternoon away, and when Nilshance comes home, Aka hasn't even made dinner. He just laughs and hugs her.
May 4
Lirium visits (again) and we have lacalob milk again, but we don't forget our chores. Lirium helps get oysters for Ekayiou while Aka and I clean. He is so sweet!

Dear Diary, May 7,
Over the past few days, Aka has helped me gather food to take back home to my family. We gather lacalobs, oysters, fish, berries, nuts, and more. Someone visits me every day, but Lirium comes every day. I am afraid I am falling in love. I told Aka last night, when Nilshance wasn't there. She could tell what was going on.
Tomorrow, we will make a cart to haul all of this stuff back home.

Dear Diary, May 11
I feel so peculiar right now. I am dead in love. On the 9th, I left, promising Aka that I would return. While eating Bila, Lirium popped out from the bushes. He told me that he loved me, and I told him the same (but with him) and we speant the afternoon talking about what our hopes were for the future. The time flew by without us realizing, and Before we knew it, the day was done!
The next day, we continued home, but since we were talking for a while after eating, the day crept by again. Today, we fianally made it home, but baba had already went out looking for us. I mean, me. He didn't know about Lirium. Haisha was shocked. She made him sleep in baba's bed tonight.

Dear Diary, May 12
While we were sleeping, or, trying to sleep last night, Haisha asked me if I really loved him. I said yes! She said that that was okay, but wait for real love until we were married. Baba is not back yet. Haisha won't let me or Lirium go look for him.

Dear Diary, May 15
Baba isn't back. Lirium went out to look for him yesterday and isn't back yet. I want to follow, but Haisha says no.
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This part of the Story onward is
not from Journal view
until further notice

Ikola Erelaria woke to the full moon shining through the window. She slithered out of the bed and crept out to the dark night. Lirium and Baba had been gone too long, and she had to find them. The midnight moon shone brightly, and she followed that light to the river, and a boat baba built while she was gone in Deepene. She pushed the boat to the deeper, clear waters and hopped in. The one oar was in the bottom, and she picked it up and pushed through the moving water
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Haisha and Ogo woke up to the sun. Imagine the shock when she say her Hais' bed empty.

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Ikola paddled all the way to Deepene that night. In the early moring, she pulled the boat aside and slept. When she awoke again, it was midday and the sun shone brightly. Her skin was as red as the langosta she had for supper last night, and it stung with every move. But, Ikola had a mission. To find the men, and there was no saying that they were together. For all she knew, they were miles away from her- and each other.
She wandered straight to Aka's house were her burns were tended to and she had good, cold water.
"Have you seen Lirium, or Baba around?"
"Your baba came this time yesterday, looking for you. I told him you went home. What is your side?"
"I left, but Lirium followed. We talked a lot and lost track of time, so baba left to look for us, I mean, we, but then we got home and he wasn't there. He went looking for baba, and then I went looking for both of them."
"If I know Lirium and he is still looking for your baba, he'll come here. If I were you, I'd either stay here or go home. What'd you stay?"
" I guess I'll sleep on it tonight."
"Good girl."
Ikola and Aka talked the afternoon Bye-Bye, and went to bed, Ikola in the secret room.
The next day was rainy, so Aka and Ikola stayed inside and were doing spring cleaning when a messenger rode in on a horse with News. "Government Change!" He called. "Go to first Dock!" He kept riding, but the people knew where first dock was.
"Wait!" Ikola called after him, but to no avail. She would go to First Dock without Baba, Haisha, Ogo, and Lirium. She could, hopefully, find them there.
The boats were used to travel there, and the group arrived in 5 days time.

_____________________________________________________________________
This part of the Story onward is
from Journal view until
further notice

Dear Diary, May 24
Today we arrived in First Dock. So many people were there! I didn't know how I could ever find Baba, Haisha, Ogo, and Lirium. But Aka was my best friend, and it would be okay with her, and hopefully Nilshance. We searched for a place to put up a tent, but there were tents everywhere, and no place to put ours. But after journeying deeper into the woods, we found a place. After pitching the tent, we built a fire and cooked some nut paste. The remaining was baked into crackers. Then, we are going to bed.

Dear Diary, May 25
Today we traveled around the 'fair' grounds. There are tents everywhere! Where there aren't tents, there are trade stands, where people will give you treats if you will give them things. I give some nut paste crackers to get a new journal I can use when this one runso out of pages. That will be a while, though, I think. This one is very think and so is the one I got. They should both last a lot longer compared to the first one. That was short!!! Aka and I found macs up for sale, food, jewlery, clothes and more for "trade". We didn't get muchm but we got a little amd played in the sand like we did 2 months ago together. It's bizzare how so much can happen in 2 months! Reading back in my old diary, it says that she was really wet after a storm and so she boarded with us. Just a bit more than two months ago!!!
Anyway, we dove in the crisp ocean and splashed around, but then got out after an hour to find out why we were here. Of course, a government change was happening, but we wanted to know more. We wandered back around the fair grounds, looking up ever so often to see the big building. First Dock Hall, it was called. It was like one house on top of another, making several rooms. When we got there, a maid opened the door for us. We were wet with only a cape wrapped around us, but the maid took us through a hallway to a back room, which was like a kitchen. She gave us a loaf of bread, all without saying a word. She gestured for us to tell her what we were there for.
"We will," I say, "But first, are you mute?"
She nodded, and then pointed to herself.
"Me.."Aka started. Then the maid placed her hand by her lips and pulled them away in an arc. "Talk! Wait. You, a mute maid, talk?" The maid then repeated the signals again and made some incredibly fast gestures. I didn't get it. At this rate, we'd be there forever. Aka got it though. "You talk by gesturing!" she called out. The maid nodded.
"Yes. We are here to see, well, why we are here." The maid looked confused. "It's hard to explain, but all of the people of Pinia, and here in First Dock, so we thought someone in First Dock hall could tell us why. Besides the government change." The maid shrugged and began gesturing ferociously and Aka mouthing words.
"6... men? Uhm.. place... no, land..s? sky.. tall... oh, Big! 6 men land big.... Oh! Ho Pinia's children! Their lands are big! No.." The maid contined gesturing, starting with a no. Aka looked sad. "Big... House! She doesn't live in a big house! Yes, this is Ho Erelaria's daughter, Ikola Erelaria." The maid smiled and fanned herself. " Look... Ikola? Her father is looking for her! Yes, Ikola is looking for him, too. Up? He is upstairs!" Oh, my! Would you care to show us? Thank you! " Even I could have understood that. Baba was here! In First Dock Hall!! Words could not proclaim my enjoyment. We walked up stair (stairs! Can you believe that!) and came to a door. It was closed and locked. The maid shook her head sadly. "Not today..." Aka said. "I think go back to the tent..."
The maid made a what looked like a what gesturthey are busy."
"What about Lirium? Haisha? Could they be with Baba?"
"I don't know, Ikola. We probably should e to me, but Aka knew that it is a where gesture and so she told her where we were staying, and on our way out she gave us a bread loaf to split with Nilshance.

Dear Diary, June 2
Wow! I have not written for a whole week! First Dock was so pretty and exciting that we had no time. Now that I can, I will write a detailed entry on the doings of the past few days.

May 26
We went to a All Pinia meeting held in front of First Dock Hall. Ho Pinia went onto the roof of the building and spoke,
"We are one. We will build this Land together! And to help us do that, each leader will be given big priviliges They will meet with me come every 2nd full moon. We will build this land up until nothing can stop us. This is Home. This is Boom. "And now, may I present to you, Ho Allerakin." Ho Allerakin Climbed out from the roof and smiled. He went through Ho Boerhurst and Ho Faireden, and then got to Baba. "Ho Erelaria would like to make an announcement, and then we will proceed," Ho Pinia shouted over the murmur of voices.
"As you may know, I can't seem to find my daughter. If anyone is to see her, send her here, please." I'm sure that mute maid was yelling in her head at that moment.
"Baba!" I tried to scream, but the words were choked by a sob. I ran away from the building, to who knows where.
"Ikola, wait!" I heard Aka cry over all of the voicec coming from the crowd. I ran through the forest, and collapsed behind a tree to cry. Lirium had been running behind me, and he caught up there.
"Ikola, shhh. I'm no pro at conforting (I look up and smile), but I can tell you that your baba is looking for you."
"Lirium, I'm looking for him, too. I'd just rather not come to him around all of those polotitians. Really, I want to be with him at the earliest moment it is convienient, but right now it isn't. Can't we just stay here? For now?"
"Anything for you, Ikola Erelaria." He kissed my cheek. I swung around and had our first, real, kiss. Sadly it lasted until Aka walked up. She turned around and walked away. Lirium broke off from me and called Aka back.
"So.. Ho Pinia pretty much said that the rulers are getting "special priviledges, and that they have the rifht to govern. I left as he said that his building crew was traveling around."
"What building crew?"
"I guess he is building houses for the leaders??"
"Does that mean you, I-kol-a?" Lirium butted in.
"Well, if it means baba..."
Lirium began kissing me again, and we went on until we could no longer sense Aka.
That night, we found Haisha and Baba.

May 27
I spent most of the morning in a deep conversation with Lirium how we would tell baba about how we got together. That afternoon, we faced him. After the story was over, baba dismissed Lirium but kept me.
"Aka, there is something you need to know."
"Please, baba, first what is your opinion on my love for Lirium?"
"Malie, Lirium is a wonderful man. You are perfect with him." I kiss his cheek. "All of the leaders are going to be put into a home. We will be the second royal family of Pinia. Akkerakin is first, then us. We will be rich and influencial, malie! How does that feel?"
Honestly, I didn't know how I felt.

May 28
The 28 was our last day in First Dock. We gathered food to take on the 5 day ride home. That was really it!

May 29-June 1
We began the ride home. Aka and I ran and froliced together on the beach, just like the first journey from First Dock to Deepene. I miss those days.

June 2
Today is the second of June. We traveled back at break speed in the nice weather and got back in between bila and ekayiou, so we settled in with Aka and Nilshance. I have written the whole time.

Dear Diary, June 4

I am well aware of my reason for not writing yesterday. Ogo, Lirium, Haisha, Baba, and I traveled back to the capitol (which will be called Verthall, it has been announced). We got back very late so I couldn't write. Today, we went down to the creek for the heat was unbearable. Literally.

Dear Diary, June 14

Okay, I have some explaining to do. I have not written the past 9 days! Unbelievable! The heat has been intense, and practically the whole country has come here to build the house for us. They say Baba is their "King" but he is still baba to me. He always will be.
Anyway, They all made bricks. I insisted on helping. I will not tolerate being treated like royalty, even if I am royalty. The change was so dramatic. What better way to start a monarchy than with Ikola Erelaria.
The men would dig clay out from the river bank and send it on a cart pushed by older children to the women and other men, who would mold it into brick chunks with cut grass, which is cut by girls my age. That is what I have been doing. The bricks will be set out in the sun to dry, and then put in a pile. At night, instead of writing, a group of people have formed a council that includes:
Baba
Me
Haisha
Lirium
Umonic
The Gyt
Rilma
We are working on designing the house and system now. We wouldn't wait for Ho Pinia to get here- He would take over.
The plan is to build a long rectangle with circles on each end. The circles will go up into the sky and will have 3 rooms in them. That is 6 rooms total! The rectangle will be one on top of another and include a ballroom and dining room, with meeting rooms on the second level. A river will be dug around it for protection. This is getting me excited. Expecially since the first "level" is on.

Dear Diary, June 23

Time is going by like the breeze that blows winter in, but it isn't getting any colder. Instead, it is getting hotter. I wear a simple muslin shirt and leggings, like most of the folk. Some women (Aka included) will wear a shirt dyed exubrant colors that cuts off at their ribs and a long, flowy skirt made with the same color. They seem to not feel the heat. I wish I had a shirt and skirt like that. Then I could be so much cooloer!
On another note, the towers are almost done. Today they put the roof on both, but since their are no stairs or holes, we can only get in through the windows. No work has been done on the middle part.

Dear Diary, July 1
July started with our first night in the new house. Though we slept on blankets, we slept there nonetheless. Now my back is sore, but we kept on with the work. The outside is done and floors are in, but an underground room has yet to be dug under the kitchen and furnisher must be made. We also need to complete a stair case in the main room. A staircase! Just like the one at first Dock! I can't wait! My feet will go up it often, skirt held behind me by my dayservant. Anyway, I still work. The main part will be for business and officials, and the two towers will be for living! Imagine that- 2 3 story towers just for living! Epachee!
To continue, I began moving furniture in today. The top tower shall be mine, the bottom one Haisha's, and the middle one Ogo's. Ogo shall have his own room! The top level on the other side shall be Baba's. The one below will be a private library for me to write in and sew and such, and the bottom will be a living room. In the middle, there will be a ballroom to the back, a kitchen to the left, and dining area to the right. On the second floor of that there will be Baba's study and some meeting rooms. Moving in furniture was tough. Lirium, Nilshance, and Aka helped me carry in Baba's bed, then mine, and finally Haisha's. Fist we prepared my chamber by making the bed and hanging shelves and hooks. Then, we did Ogo's. He didn't need much, but we had to carry the cradle in. Haisha's was last. Since being here, Lirium had made a sway chair for her. If you sit on it and push with your legs, it will sway back and forth. It is quite comfy, and we took turns rocking in it before we moved on to Baba's room. The bed was made and a table and chair set up in the corner for writing. We placed benches in the sitting room and a long table and stools in the dining room and kitchen and were done with our job.
Here I am now, writing, and will soon go to help Haisha prepare dinner.

Dear Diary, July 7
I know I haven't written for a while, but everyone has been busy digging the moat. It travels from the river all around the house and then back to the river, leaving a space in between to walk in or sit in the waving grasses. My, I am already starting to think like royalty.

Dear Diary, July 13
Today we finished the moat and bridge. I think now we will start living like royalty. But for now, furniture must be made and maids chosen. There is a big lineup for maids, I do believe.

Dear Diary, July 14

Today Haisha and I went out to chose maids. I wore my best dress when I rode out on the bridge atop a horse, one of the 3 in Erelaria. His name was Malie, and he came here on a flatboat. Haisha and I sat proudly when the people who wanted to be maids stood. They understood the means of this. We walked them inside and talked to them. They showed what they were good at and wanted to do. Then, we escourted them out.
Umonic had written everything down. Haisha and I took it to the sitting room and went through it. Once the decision had been made, we rode back out. Umonic blew a bugle and everyone came rushing out. I called the names. Once a name was called someone stepped forward. By the time it was done, we had 9 maids to take inside.
My dayservents name is Marinne. Haisha and baba have dayservents as well, Ogo has a caretaker, there are 2 cooks, 1 cleaner and a footman. A good lot, indeed, I think we can all agree.

Dear Diary, July 15
The royal life gets a little boring doesn't it? I already am a bit, but baba sees and he gets me busy planning my 16 birthday gala. I am really excited. We are going to have lots of food and dancing and more. The date is August 1. Finally the ballroom will be put to use!

Dear Diary, July 16
Haisha insists that I have a new dress for the party. I spent this whole morning cutting out the pattern. It will have a big skirt with teardrops of different fabrics as the skirt, and the top will be a wide cotton piece. In the afternoon, I went walking with Lirium. We held hands as we walked through the park talking. I talked about the party. He is delighted to come! We shall dance the night away. For once in the past day, Marrine followed me only from a distance.
Then, Lirium did something really exciting. He dug around in his pocket a moment and pulled out a gift. A necklace! It is silver with a stone pendant on the front. It is small, but to it's sides are two, perfect, blue jewels. He put it on me as we kissed.

It was a long one.

Dear Diary, July 20
The completion of furnishing the house has held me off from writing. Every dsy we will make or add new furniture. It makes it beautiful! My dress is done, and we are now working on one for Haisha. Last night, we took a break from sewing and practiced the dancing. The cleaning maid, Yertia, walked in on us and then walked out. Marrine and Kasuni (Haisha's dayservant) just looked at each other and smiled.

Dear Diary, July 26
The house is fully furnished and looking nice, just in time for the party. The two chefs have just began cooking, and the ballroom is fully scrubbed and tables set out. We will have a fancy dinner and then dancing, music provided from some Regular Erelarians. I am so excited!

Dear Diary, July 27

Since there is time, I think I shall describe to you what my day has looked like.
1. I will wake up ande be dressed by Marrine. Be dressed! It seems so awkward for my clothes to be put on my body by someone other than me.
2. I will be escorted down to breakfast, which will be put on the exrta-long table. It's too long for 4 people, but it fits all of the servants perfectly when they want to eat.
3. Baba will go off to work, and I will go for a walk, followed be guess who? Marrine. Aka has gone back to Deepene and won't be back until July 30. So for now I walk with Lirium. It really is quite sweet.
4. I will go in for midday meal in the dining room
5. I will work with Baba on "Polotics" as we call them, such as roots for the capitol city and more.
6. I will work on things such as furniture, talking to maids, and my party.
7. Ekiyou is served.
8. Haisha, Baba, and I will sit quietly and read, sew and write by the fire just like before.
9. I will head to bed. Marrine has already gotten my bed nice and ready, so I sleep nicely always. It feels like royalty! Oh, wait, I am royalty.

Dear Diary, July 28
Today Lirium and I ate a nice Ekayiou together, just us two. We went for a walk in the gardens and then rode 1 horse around Erelaria. Since we are only on horse, I lean against his back and clutch his chest while he takes the reigns. We are in Love! There isn't a doubt about it. He promises that we will go to Deepene tomorrow to come with Aka and Nilshance here. The rest of the day, I stay at home and work for the party. Ther isn't much left to do, but I help the cleaning servant, Yertia with the scrubbing. She insists that I don't, but I change into my old clothes and get down on hands and knees to scrub. The sponge feels tough in my hand, but I grin and bear it. Yertia asks me non-stop if I wan't to stop, and I say no each time. I wouldn't, and will not, and do not tolerate being treated like royalty, royalty as I was.
Anyway, after that, I helped prepare Ekiyou and, instead of writing after dinner, work on digging the underground room with the maids. Baba was proud.
Now, It is late, and I am writing by the light of a dripping candle. Marrine dressed me for bed, but after I heard her going downstairs, I lit a canlde and started writing.

No one has caught me yet.

Dear Diary, June 29
I had to be convinced to write this enty. I am sitting in a curled up position in a small cabin near the beach. I am in Deepene, spending the night with Aka and Nilshance. Ever so often I pull up off the ground and stretch, for the day was spent hunched over Lirium on a pony. We (Marrine too) rode all the way from Verthall here, just in the morning, and then Surprised Aka and Nilshance. They invited us in for Bila, and we accepted. It would for us not to. Aka had made bread with the newly harvested wheat crop, and so we ate that with meat to the side and cold sea greens. It was Epachee! Once we finished, we all went swimming. We stripped down and dove in the cool water, retrieving clams and langosta. Marrine just sat by the shore, watching. I'm glad she didn't swim with us, but if she had, it wouldn't have been torture.
I haven't really written much about my maid. Marrine has long, brown, hair that she braids and coils up into a bun. She always has a straight back when walking around the castle, and always adds "Your Highness" to whatever she says to me. She is like a shadow, always watching me. Sadly, she, as well as everyone in the castle, knows I write.
To continue with the day, After swimming our afternoon was up so we headed back to the kitchen hut to have Ekiyou. I ate all the oysters and langosta I could possiby digest, and now we are back at Aka and Nilshance's place.
I am writing in front of the fire. Marrine keeps a close eye on me, but I really wish she wouldn't. The starry night sky is beautiful. Once I finish this, I think Aka and I might walk on the beach.

Dear Diary, July 30
I will pick up with this entry where I left last night:
I had to beg Marrine to stay home while Aka and I walk, and it works. Aka and I venture out into the starry night while Nilshance and Lirium hook the horses to Aka and Nilshance's cart. My foot dips into the sand, and I feel the grime beneath my bare toes. It feels like freedom.
We talk as we walk, and when we return it is late and the men are in bed, but Marrine has stayed up to ensure my good return. Bless her heart!
Today, we arose early and loaded the cart for the journey north. We set off, making good time. Nilshance walked the horses while the rest of us ventured ahead. We got there before Nilshance so we all sat in the sitting room to wait. Yertia came by to greet Aka, but besides that we just chatted. Lirium too, of course. The Man maid would bring Nilshance in- he knew what to look for, so we would just wait.
When Nilshance finally got in, Yertia escourted them up to the library, where they would stay. Lirium kissed me farewell and departed. He had some business to attend to, and, sadly would not see me until the party. Aka, Nilshance, and I left to go to an Ekiyou party that was quite exciting. Baba and Haisha were, of course, there, but we had several additional political guests. I wore my lavender mac fur dress for I didn't want to wear the new one in public before my own party.
After Ekiyou and evening talk, I said goodnight and left for bed, and now sit here writing before Marrine comes up. Once I am done, I shall call her.

Dear Diary, July 31
The party is tomorrow! Words cannot express my intermost feelings as we reach this climax of joy. I could scream! Today we set the tables and set up for the musicians. Aka and Nilshance helped my dancing, for I am not good, and Aka and I went for a sweet walk.
I have not written about Ogo for a while. He is fine, alive and kicking. He has a nanny who cares for him, so I am not with him as much. I still say hello often so he doesn't forget his sister, Ikola Erelaria. He can say simple things, Including my name, which he says with great distinction.
Another thing I haven't mentioned is our own house. Now, it sits sadly, away from the hub of the town but not on the outskirts. It is barely outside the moat, and I'd like to visit more often.
Today I felt in such a good mood that Aka and I walked Ogo there, maids trailing behind us. Once in the house, they stayed outside as we showed Ogo around. I found a leftover flower petal from Loya day, and Aka found some coals in the fireplace. We took them both home with us.

Dear Diary, August 1
This entry is bound to be the longest one yet, for tonights events could take up and entire book, much less the whole day in the remaining pages of this one
(Yes, there are quite few left)! This morning I arose with butterflies in my stomach. I wasn't hungry, so after dressed into my everyday dress (if you can even call it that) and wandered around, watching the maids hard at work. A chandelier was being lifted into the ballroom. A chandelier is a glass piece that is hung in a roof that will hold lit candles. Yertia is scrubbing the floor for the thousandth time, so I wander into the kitchen. The two kitchen maids, Mies and Riesha are working hard at a cake, meat is cooking, and there is a hot sauce chilling. I couldn't wait.
Finally, after the day of sulking and an occasional chat with Aka, the party was about to start. All Erelarians were invited, so the moat was put down. Haiashi, our butler, stood at the door to write down names of people here. You can never be too safe. I went up to my bed chamber with Marrine to change. The gown was beautiful on me, we both admitted. I wasn't trying to be boastful, but it really was!
To continue, Baba came upstairs to escourt me down. "Happy Birthday, Ikola!" He whispered in my ear. I hugged him as hard as I could when 81 tears began dripping down my cheeks. I was happy, and nothing could stop it.
Down at the party, the crowd was seated at the tables. Gifts were stacked outside. I told Yertia to take them to my room, I would open them after dinner, but before dancing. Baba escourted me to the head of the table, and food was served. There were dishes that we made plus dishes that commonfolk brought from home. All of the food was good, except the mac-and-gomabi-and bean casserole. Someone killed a mac, which was great for sliendeling, and made a casserole with it that wasn't even good!
I sat next to Lirium and Baba. They made plesent convertation about general things- the food, the polotics, etcetera. When Ekiyou was finished, I excused myself to see to my gifts quickly. There was a looking glass, candles, fabric, a journal, a pen, feathers, skirts, dresses, dishes, jewlery, and all of that. My favorite thing was a new bed. It was a big one- big enough for two people, and I was only one person!
I went back downstairs to the ballroom where dessert was being served. There was lots of sweet things, and after that was dancing. I'll have to admit I danced with everyone else (Baba, Aka, Haisha, etcetera) before Lirium. I was really scared that once I danced with him I wouldn't be able to stop.
Baba was first. We had our special dance while everyone watched us. It felt really strange, but given the practice we had from nights by the fire, I don't think I was too embaressed, and same with baba. Lots of people said we looked great, but I didn't see it and never will, so I can't tell. For now, I'll just believe Aka. She is, after all, quite trustworthy.
I danced with her, just for fun, Then I danced with Haisha, and Ogo. I held him while he danced and taught him the word dance. To take a break from dancing, I put him to bed. He was really tired, and it was really late. I was getting tired, too, but I had to dance with Lirium before I retired. I walked down the steps slowly, but my pace quickened when I heard Lirium calling my name.
"Ikola! Where were you?"
"Oh. I was putting Ogo to bed."
"How sweet of you, malie." He gasps both my hands. "Ikola, I was wondering if..." He trailed off. "Will you have this dance?" The musicians began a slow tune. I smile, and we walk, hand and hand, in.
The first dance was a delight. Lirium's shoulder cradled my head as he rocked back and forth. His sweaty hands held mine firmly, and I finally knew what it was like to be in love when my eyes slipped closed. They stayed in that comfortable position until the song was over. Then, a quick melody picked up and we danced a lively tango.
We danced the whole night away as the guests exited, one by one. He and I walked outside into the crisp, starry night. Once we were a decent distance from the castle, he asked quietly yet firmly, "Do you like rings?"
I did.
"This one included?" He pulled a ring out from his pocket. This ring was golden with a diamond nested in the center. "I mean to say, will you... Will you marry me?" This didn't surprise me.
What did surprise me was that I wasn't a mite hesitant to say yes.

Meet The Author
Caroline Thies

Hello, I am Caroline Thies, Author of The Ikola branch of the Erelaria series. I live at my home in Illinois with my family and computer, Humperdink. Some of my favorite authors are Sharon Creech, Katie Thies, and Karis Johnson. I enjoy (besides writing) thinking, psychology, advertising, biking, creating, reading, and a lot more. Of course I love writing. If I didn't, why would I get up at 6:30 on the weekends?

By The way, (SPOILER ALERT) Yes, Ikola is getting married. That part won't be written in the next book, which will be the last Ikola book. Next in the series is her daughter.

The entry from June 14 is dedicated to my Baba, John Thies.