Star Wolves (The Tribes of Yggdrasil Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

well as biology. You’ll also see similar animals and plants. Not identical mind you, but very similar. Each evolve under the pressures and constraints placed on them by the environments, but the basic coding was the same; as our biospheres are very similar, you can see horses here which are nearly identical to ones on Earth. This also means our species may be able to interbreed.”
    The party looked shocked.
    “I meant the animals, of course” Saeran said, “but Alfar and Humans should be biologically compatible; there are a few human and Alfar couples, but no children yet.”
    Hal nodded. “Inspiring.”
    Saeran continued her guided tour. “Each of the large ywen trees you see functions as a building. They grow naturally, more or less as you see them. The insides are predominantly hollow, with a network of tunnels acting as hallways and rooms. Using the science of arbortecture we encourage the limbs growing further up to meet between trees, which then act like bridges among the higher levels, creating a network—somewhat like your sidewalks. We have no large roads, as we have no ground vehicles like you do on Earth. Our settlements are all very densely populated and our people spread out vertically instead of horizontally. We use shuttles and aircars between our groves—what you call cities, or towns.”
    Nila put her hand on the smooth white bark of the ywen tree closest to her. “It’s warm!” she exclaimed.
    Saeran sauntered back to where Nila was standing. “Yes, there’s sap running between layers of the bark. As the upper parts of the tree are heated by our sun, the sap migrates down to the cooler levels, lower down on the tree. This heated sap then radiates a pleasant warmth which regulates the temperature of the forest on cool days. During the hot summer days, when there is thicker leaf cover in the upper canopy, the bark gets less sunlight, and stays cool. The whole system creates a self regulating temperature which is pleasant in any season."
    "I remember learning about them in school," said Nila.
    As they continued walking, the group approached a stand of nine ywen trees dwarfing everything around them. They were half again as large as any trees they’d seen yet in Llangernyw.
    Saeran looked up at the trees, and with reverence said, “This is the sacred grove, the Naw Colfen.”
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    S aeran turned toward the trees and gestured. "The Naw Colfen are our nine holiest trees, representing the nine classes in Alfar society. There were originally three classes, said to be given us by the god Heimdall. I believe your myths speak of a similar tale in the Lay of Rig. Heimdall, or Rig, was said to have introduced the class of Thralls, Karls, and Jarls. Which roughly translated, means: peasants or slaves, craftsmen, and leaders.
    As our culture evolved we refined our class structure to better suit the needs and wants of our people. Unlike the Hindu caste system from Earth’s history, our classes are voluntary. Every Alfar has the same opportunity. In the first hundred years of their life, an Alfar studies, trains, and explores their passions and strengths; then, on their 100th birthday, they choose a class in which they will remain until death. This is much like a human finishing university then embarking on a career.”
    "What if you don't have enough of the lower classes to do the work?" asked Nila.
    "We do not refer to workers as lower classes , but I understand your meaning. It rarely happens, but when it does, people from other classes take turns filling in as required. It is possible to see our leaders out tending to crops, or serving food some days."
    Saeran continued around the circular walkway. "Each of the Naw Colfen represents one of our classes, as follows,” Saeran pointed to each in turn, “the Arbeder, our workers, the Greftwyr, our craftsmen, the Farsiandr, our merchants, the Harlunydd, our artists, the Wydonwyr, our scientists, the Peirianyd, our engineers, the Rhyfelwyr, our warriors, the