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around, but they manage to cope at a subsistence level, running farms and smallholdings. And because there are so few of them, they have enough drinking water, and they’re too focussed on survival to be interested in harming their neighbours.”
“The story is the same with Worringfolk. But different! They’re nothing like the good people of the older Merseyside. Those who were able, moved north towards the Lake District, or west towards Eryri. It’s said that the remaining Worringfolk are descended from Visigoths and sportball hoodlums, and they’re a bit monosyllabic.”
“Their version of English was called Scouse. Even that word was too much of a challenge for some of them, so it’s been shortened to Scow. Lots of words have been shortened. Some of the legendary places of old, like Everton, Liverpool and Manchester have been abbreviated to Ev, Lool and Manch. These places are shadows of their former selves. However, there’s still a harbour at Boot, and the sparse population stretches from there along the Merse as far as Wor and Stock.”
The ElderWolf asks about the system of government in Worringfolk. Franklin continues.
“Unlike Wolfland the Worringfolk don’t have a proper Chamber. They have a Wor Council. More like a War Council if you ask me! And the principal industries in Worringfolk are piracy, forgery and extortion. They have just enough resources to perpetually disrupt trade between the allies of Wolfland, Meirionydd, Mannin and Leinster. The allies regularly debate the value of establishing a land corridor between Wolfland and Meirionydd. But that would take time and money, and manpower. All of which are in short supply. So for now, it’s the Worringfolk who officially control Boot, and periodically ThunderCloud sends out BlackCloud and BlackDog to wreak havoc on their neighbours.”
Before the discussion ends CandiCrush offers her apologies, and heads back to the Garrison.
KristalClear has already saddled up Handsome.
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