Serenity Valley (28 page)

“I am going hunting this evening,
Giselia.”

“You not, weapon not for hunt, man
killing me think!” Giselia moved to Demon and started rubbing his
neck. She scratched behind his ear, and he just stood still,
radiating melancholy. She moved to Mildred and looked in her eyes
while rubbing her neck. “Horses happy not, sad be horses like you,
thinks me. What Gamel be wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong, Lady Giselia. We
are just being careful today is all.”

“Lying Giselia you be telling, no go
Ivan, Ivan talking be to you, no go.” Giselia ran back to their
booth and rattled off an excited outburst in their language. Ivan
looked at me, then back at his wife, who was still talking faster
than any normal person should be able.

After a few more words exchanged with
Giselia, he dropped what he was holding and came trotting over to
me. “Gamel, what wrong? Why you ready go to war?”

“I cannot tell you why, Ivan. There
may be some trouble this evening. We are just being
careful.”

“Gamel, what you know that trouble be
coming?”

“Ivan, you know that there is a big
theatre show tonight, don’t you?”

“Yes, big show, very good show;
Giselia and me watch tonight.”

“Do not go to the show tonight; go
tomorrow night.”

“There be trouble at theatre tonight,
we not go?”

“There could be trouble, Ivan. Do not
let Giselia go to the show. Take Giselia to my house, and stay
there until after I return.”

“You want Giselia, Ivan to stay your
house while theatre, then you come home?”

“Yes, take Giselia to my house until
after the theatre. She will be safe there. I will come back when it
is safe to leave.”

Ivan thought for a moment. “Yes, I
take Giselia to your house safekeep there until you, Gamel, return;
yes, I do this thing.”

Smiling, I looked in Ivan’s eyes and
grabbed his hand with mine. “Thank you, Ivan. Keep Giselia safe;
you go to my house after the midday meal.”

“Yes, we go after midday meal, your
house we go, keeping Giselia safe. Thank you, Gamel, good
friend!”

Ivan turned and left for his booth.
The horses and I headed in a roundabout way towards the bread tent.
We had gone about fifty yards when a very excited Giselia caught up
to us. She gave me a crushing bear hug, then she hugged both
horses’ necks and gave them each a kiss on the nose. “Gamel, safe
you be, thank you, for being safe I being, thank you.” She pulled
my head down and kissed me on the lips, then turned and ran back in
the direction she had come. The horses and I managed to make our
way to the bread tent without being stopped along the way. The
three of us were in no mood to entertain today.

Upon our approach to the rear of the
tent, I could hear Trina talking to Fina. Trina said, “There is
not'in' wrong with da flour, Fina, checked tit maself just dis
morning.”

Fina replied, “We found da spoiled bag
in da stores; inventory be needin' checked 'fore makin' 'nother
batch.”

“If'n ya say it be, so then we be
shuttin' down till mornin, then.”

When the ladies finished their
conversation, they noticed me standing there. Trina spoke first.
“Rogue Boy, why ya be dressed fer battle? First Basilea comes here
wearin' weapons, now you comes ready to slay giants.”

“Basilea, Fulk and I are going on a
boar hunt this evening. We are taking some noble sons into the
woods.”

Trina replied, “That don’t be
explainin' why ya dressed fer battle.”

“We seek an outlaw boar, over four
hundred pounds of him. He’s been causing trouble, and there could
be a battle. We just want to be safe in case he comes at us is
all.” Trina wasn’t buying very much of the story. Her only reply
was a grunt of dismissal. I asked, “I say, ladies, have you by
chance seen the fairest in the land, the notoriously beautiful
Basilea?”

Trina was giving me her worst death
stare, but Fina responded, “She’s already left, Gamel. Gone back to
the house, I s'pect.”

“In that case, my fine and beautiful
ladies of the land, I bid you farewell until I may once more bathe
in the light of your beauty.”

As we were walking away, I could hear
Trina complain, “Sumpton ain’t right here, I tell ya; someone been
shittin' in da wood pile!”

The horses and I left the festival
grounds by the most indirect route possible. If I had to deal with
some jealous nobleman right then, I was afraid I would just knock
him on his butt. I wanted to see the brook again, so we took the
trail Bells had used the day we moved to the house. When we arrived
at the clearing in front of the steps, we spotted Basilea there,
sitting on the grass. The horses got excited and trotted over to
her. Demon immediately went to work sniffing and touching parts of
her clothing.

Basilea said, “Ah, hello, my beautiful
horses, and you have brought the honorable Sir Gamel with you.”
Basilea was standing now, admiring the numerous braids in their
manes. “Oh, look at all of these braids; your ribbons are so
beautiful. You are the most beautiful horses in the land!” Demon
and Mildred perked up a little after receiving the praise, but
nowhere close to their usual standard.

“Basilea, remember the day we came to
our new home?” I said, my voice filled with nostalgia. “Oh, yes,
the perfect day. How could I ever forget it?”

“That is a day to hold onto in
troubled times.” Basilea just smiled, grabbed my hand, and lightly
squeezed it. “Come, my princess, just a few more things to do.” We
took one more look at our brook, then began the ascent up the
stairs.

When we arrived in the clearing in
front of Sirates House, no guards could be seen. I called out,
“Who’s in charge here?”

Stepping from behind a tree, a huge
man dressed in personal guard uniform came forward. “That would be
me, sir, Lieutenant Renald.”

“Lieutenant Renald, I am Gamel, and
this is Basilea.”

“Everyone knows who the forest people
are, sir.”

“Lieutenant, in a short while, a
couple of very close personal friends of mine will be arriving, and
I wish that they be accommodated in the house as long as they wish.
They are the Gypsies, Ivan and Giselia. Do you know of
them?”

“Yes, everyone knows of them. They
kind of stand out from everyone else.”

“Good, then. I entrust them to your
care, Lieutenant.”

“Consider it done, sir. What of the
troubles that are coming, sir? It’s not right that we be stuck here
on guard duty when there’s fighting to be done. This is our home,
and every last one of us a blooded fighter.”

“I tell you what, Lieutenant, have two
men stay to guard my friends, and when the fighting starts, you
come running.”

Renald immediately rose to his full
height. Ten men suddenly appeared from different locations in the
dense woods, every one of them smiling. Renald asked, “How will we
know when the battle begins, sir, and where it will be?”

“You will hear it, Renald; it will be
close.”

“Sir, what of the other soldiers?
There be neart one hundred souls itching to defend their home, all
ordered to stand ready at the barracks.”

“When the fighting starts and the hold
is under attack, your purpose is to defend. Damn the orders! Have
the men ready and holding at the armory. When the fighting starts,
defend the hold.”

Renald and the men were smiling
proudly. Renald barked out, “Runner Ira!”

Ira, a small, thin man, stepped
forward. “Sir?”

“Ira, do you know what to
do?”

“Yes, sir, light armor, running battle
dress, hold for the sign, kill them all!”

All the men, including Renald, let out
a yell as if on cue. Basilea and I were impressed by their
efficiency and enthusiasm. Huge smiles covered our faces. Renald
barked again, “Ira, why are you still here?” Before Renald finished
speaking, Ira was at a full run. Great clods of earth kicked up
behind him as if from a horse's hooves. Renald looked me in the
eyes. “Thank you, sir!”

“When this is over and you stand
before Captain Terric, getting your ass chewed, I did not give you
orders. I hold no rank and do not give orders to men-at-arms. Point
out that every last De Ferrier soldier gave an oath to defend lord,
hold, and home. To not defend when under attack is treason
punishable by death. That should work!”

Renald grinned. “I think you’re right,
sir.”

“I’m just glad that such fierce
bastards are on our side!” I said vehemently.

Again, as if of one mind, the men gave
their battle yell. I looked at Basilea. “Dear princess of mine, I
am starting to believe we will survive this.” Basilea was smiling
as wide as I was. Even the horses were at attention and feeling
frisky.

As we walked away from the men, I
could hear Renald say, “All right, you murderous bastards. We draw
straws to see who stays!”

Basilea went into the house to get
something ready to eat. I put the horses in the turnout and saw to
their feed and water. I said, “You two lucky beasties get an early
feed. Things may be delayed this evening, so enjoy it now.” Both
horses needed no further encouragement. They buried their heads in
the feed grass and grain. I jumped the fence and trotted back to
the rear gate to secure the rails. I didn’t want any chance of the
horses getting out this day. Upon return to the house, a familiar
smell filled my nostrils. Basilea’s black bread was cooking in her
clay oven. I built a fire in the hearth, and we sat on the wide
chair together, holding hands while the bread cooked. In about an
hour and a half, we would have to leave our home.

When the bread finished baking,
Basilea and I put five loaves on a tray with as many mugs as we
could find. I carried a large jug of cider behind her as we made
our way out to the men hovering about the porch. No longer
concealing themselves, most sat on the porch putting their stones
to blades. I spoke to them. “Can’t have you men fighting on empty
stomachs. Dig in, men.” The men were more than happy to oblige. The
mugs and bread loaves were being made good use of. I asked, “Who
are the two unlucky men today?”

Two men were standing together away
from the rest. One spoke up. “That be us, sir,” he said, looking
less than happy with the prospect.

I said, “For what it’s worth, I
understand the sacrifice you are making, and you have my gratitude.
I’m sure next time you will be exempt from any guard
duties.”

One of the men spoke up. “Next time,
sir?” All the men stopped eating and turned to our
conversation.

“History repeats itself,” I replied.
“If you live in paradise, others would have it for the taking. You
all have seen this and know it to be true. There will be more
attempts to take our home or lives. We will be tested
again.”

The man spoke once more. “Aye, I
believe you be right on that account, sir, aye 'tis true.” The
other men chimed in their agreement.

“Thank you two once more,” I said.
“The rest of you, I will meet on the field today.” Another battle
cry erupted from the men as Basilea and I returned to the
house.

We settled across from one another at
the table and began eating our bread and drinking cider. Basilea
said, “You know, you’re very good at handling men. You have a
degree of leadership quality to you, sir.” We both started to
laugh, the first time in hours.

“Be sure to drink lots of liquid. Ox
says during a fight one gets as dry as a boar hog's tit.” Basilea
and I laughed together. Much too soon, it was time to clean up and
get on our way. Basilea grabbed a couple of big blankets on our way
out the door. Demon and Mildred were waiting for us in the rear
turnout. Mildred took position on Basilea’s left, and Demon walked
on my right side. We were escorted to the rear gate. Two beasts
more miserable could not have been found when we gave them hugs and
told them we would see them later. We turned back several times to
see the horses at attention, eyes and ears tracking us until we
slipped out of sight. When we passed the kitchen window, we could
feel eyes on us. Trina’s voice could be heard. “Just what ta hell
be going on tis what I’d likes ta know?”

Fina responded, “Not'in' of our
business; go back to inventory.” We crossed in front of the main
house complex and found Bells and Goodwin waiting with five guards.
I took note of numerous other guards dressed in common folk attire
mixed in with the entourage. Bells was dressed in a snow-white
loose-fitted short dress with matching britches. A dark green sash
covered her weapons belt. She wore a lightweight pale green cloak
to hide her katana sword on her back. In her hair was the new hair
comb with its matching pins.

Goodwin wore a loose linen suit in
forest green. His belt contained a short sword and dagger. His
cloak was also of a pale green color to match the one Bells wore.
When Bells saw us, her face broke into a great smile, but the
creases between her eyes remained. I looked into her enchanting
golden eyes and gave an obvious wink. It was rewarded with a
strained titter. I addressed them both. “Good evening, my lord and
lady. Basilea and I would be honored if you would join us at
theatre tonight.”