Serenity Valley (35 page)

“Thank you, my lord. I take my
leave.”

Sitting propped up on one of the beds
in Fulk’s quarters, Goodwin looked around the room. “Captain
Terric, are you here?”

“Yes, my lord.” Terric moved to
Goodwin’s bedside. “My lord, what is your will?”

“What of the casualties? Have we any
word yet?”

“My lord, we have suffered fourteen
dead, twenty-three wounded, nine of those seriously, of which two
are not expected ta live. Of the dead, three are personal guard and
eleven regulars. Of the wounded, two are personal guard, of which
one will not live the day out.”

Looking somber, Goodwin said, “Did we
lose any ranked soldiers?”

“No, my lord, we did not. Sergeant
Devin, of the personal guard, is wounded but 'tis not serious. We
were very lucky, my lord. We should not have survived the
attack.”

“I didn’t know we had planned for the
regulars to join the battle. That is what saved our asses today.
How did that come about?”

“My lord, that be Gamel’s doing. Seems
he pointed out ta Renald, when the hold be under attack,
men-at-arms be bound by oath to defend. To not defend 'tis a crime
punishable by death. That be all excuse Renald needed ta
deploy.”

“Well, thank God for oaths and boys
smart enough to use them against us!”

Both men laughed. Goodwin stated,
“Well, that boy saved the hold today and all of our asses, Terric.
How bad is he with the battle fever?”

“My lord, 'tis reported as the worst
case Ox has ever seen. I be afraid he might not come back ta
us.”

“Well, let’s not think of the worst.
If Basilea lives, he will have good reason to stay with us.
Captain, I don’t want any battlefield looting, not here in Serenity
Valley. Please see that that does not happen.”

“'Tis taken care of, my lord. Men are
posted to guard da field. Weapons're being collected, and the
corpses bein' collected. My lord, how do you want the dead invaders
handled?”

“After we came under attack, Lady
Bella checked a couple of the dead, and they wore the symbol of the
assassin guild from Ackmer. They have ink in the palm of their left
hand of a coiled snake; that’s their mark. They are ruthless
killers of anything that walks or crawls. They had no honor in
life, and they will have none in death. Haul all the corpses to the
trash pit, and burn them.”

“A fitting end for trash, indeed, my
lord. I’ll see to it.”

“Captain, we have over two thousand
visitors to the valley, not counting nobility. I need to address
the visitors and our hold folk right away. Has Sayer come in from
the mounted sweep yet?”

“Yes, my lord. He waits in the great
room. I’ll get him.”

In a few moments, Sayer joined Goodwin
and Terric in the sleeping quarters. He asked, “My lord, how are
you fairing?”

“Well enough, Sayer. I’ll be fine. How
did it go with the mounted cavalry this day, any
casualties?”

“The unit performed admirably, my
lord. It took some doing to root the invaders out of the woods.
When things turned against them, they tried to retreat. The unit
only took some minor injuries to the men and horses. The Siren
foals took to battle like seasoned chargers.”

Goodwin was pleased with the report.
“Terric, Sayer, we were lucky this day. Let us learn from the
children who saved our asses this day and be better prepared next
time. We need many more good men like the ones we have now. This
will be a priority in the very near future. Sayer, please see to it
that the temporary mess hall stays manned through the night. Anyone
who has need of food this night will be fed, hold folk, visitors,
makes no difference. Also, gentlemen, I intend to address everyone
in two hours at the main gate of the complex.”

“My lord, in your condition, do you
not think it better someone else address the crowd?” Sayer
objected.

Goodwin looked at the two men with
serious eyes. “It is because of my condition that I must make the
announcement personally. I don’t want one of our noble guests
getting the idea that the hold is in a weakened condition at
present and ripe for the picking. Thus the phrase: 'keep your
friends close and your enemies closer.' I want you two with me when
I address the crowd. We will use one of the towers as a
stage.”

Terric replied, “But, my lord, you
will never be able to climb the stairs in your
condition.”

“That is another reason I want you two
with me. Once inside the tower, you two can help me with the
stairs. No one outside our trusted group is to know of my weakened
condition.” Sayer and Terric agreed with the plan.

Sayer said, “I will get the word
spread that you will speak in two hours then, my lord.”

From the great room, a loud voice
could be heard. “Runner Ira to report to Lord Goodwin as ordered!”
Ira was shown to the sleeping quarters where Goodwin
rested.

“Runner Ira, what word do you have of
Basilea?” Goodwin inquired.

“My lord, Basilea lives, but barely.
Healer Warin says there is no hope and gave the girl one to two
hours to live. The Gypsy woman is there now and knows of a
procedure that may restore her breath. They are trying this
procedure now.”

“And what of Gamel, Ira? What news do
you have of him?”

Ira’s shoulders sank. “My lord, he is
unchanged. He sits lost to the world. He does not see, nor hear,
nor talk to anyone. He is gone, my lord.”

“Very well, Ira, return as soon as you
have word on Basilea.”

“Yes, my lord.” Ira turned and quickly
left. A short time later, loud, fast hoofbeats could be heard
trailing away in the distance.

Goodwin and the two men were silent
for a bit as they pondered what they had been told. With concern in
his voice, Goodwin said, “Let us hope that our friends, no, our
family, return to us. Terric, did any of the fallen soldiers have
families here in the hold?”

Terric replied, “My lord, seven
families are now fatherless. There are six widows with children and
one orphan boy of nine years who has no family at all.”

“Terric, see the master accountant.
The widows will be pensioned and children offered employment within
the hold when they are of age. This hold is their home, and I will
not be turning out widows and orphans as other holds would. What is
the boy’s name, Captain?”

“The boy is Simon, son of Private
Luke, my lord.”

“Very well, please see that the boy is
placed in a home until we can find a family for him.”

Sayer spoke up at this. “I will keep
the boy with my family as long as is required, my lord. With your
permission, I will make arrangements for the address and return
shortly.”

Goodwin said, “Thank you, Sayer.
Please see to it and return as soon as possible.”

With that being said, Sayer left the
room to attend to his duties.

Nesta, Fulk’s girlfriend, entered the
quarters with two steaming mugs. She said, “Lord Goodwin, Captain
Terric, you must drink this herbal tea to restore
fluids.”

“Thank you, Nesta,” Goodwin said. The
men took the mugs and began drinking; Nesta remained in the room,
looking nervous.

Goodwin spoke to her again. “Nesta, is
there something else?”

“My lord,” Nesta started timidly, “I
haven’t received any word of Fulk but that he lives. Is there any
more information?”

Terric barked, “Hell, girl, Fulk is
fine, better than fine; he be a damn hero! Dropped two snipers
whiles hanging upside down from a tree. Damndest thing I ever seen,
hell, damndest thing I ever heard of! When he runs outta arrows, he
joined the ground battle and cut a score down there!”

Nesta swelled with pride, and her eyes
filled with water. “Thank you, Captain Terric. I can’t tell you how
much it means that he is safe.”

Lord Goodwin offered, “Nesta, you are
aware that Fulk worships the ground you walk on?”

Nesta looked a little stunned. “I know
he likes me, my lord.”

“Oh, my darling girl, it goes much
further than liking you, I’m afraid.” Goodwin added a wink after
his last statement.

Nesta turned a pretty shade of pink in
embarrassment. After a moment, her mood turned somber. “My lord, is
there any word of Basilea? She is my best friend. They say she
lives by a thread.”

“All that can be done is being done.
There is hope.”

They heard running footsteps in the
great room. A very excited runner Ira entered the room with a huge
smile. “My lord, Captain, she lives! The procedure works! Her
breath returns!”

Terric boomed, “Damn good news, Ira,
the very best damn news!”

Goodwin added with a huge smile,
“Indeed, indeed. News doesn’t get any better than that!”

Nesta now had huge tears of joy
running from her eyes. Terric barked, “Runner Ira, this young lass
is in need of seeing young Fulk as soon as possible. Can you
arrange it?”

Ira, beaming with pride, said, “Sir, I
can delivers the girl to him so fast she will have ta wait fer her
arse ta catch up wit her.” All the men laughed. Nesta giggled but
put her hand over her mouth in embarrassment.

Terric regained his composure and
cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I believe that to be truth, but
nonetaless, please deliver the girl wit her arse attached if'n you
please. I believes Fulk prefers her wit all a her parts
intact.”

“My lord, Captain. My lady, your ride
awaits.” Ira took Nesta by the arm for the beginning of the fastest
trip she could have ever imagined.

When Ira and Nesta got outside, he
said, “When we mount Whip, you grab hold 'round me waist an' grip
wit yer knees a hard is ye can; we be woods running.”

In a tentative voice, Nesta said,
“What’s woods running?”

“'Tis the fastest way from one place
ta 'nother, a straight line.” Ira mounted Whip and gave Nesta an
arm up. He said, “Now hold on tight likes a told ya!” Ira gave Whip
a nudge with his heels. Whip went straight up on his hind legs,
bellowed excitedly, and took off at a flat run. Instead of taking
any path or trail, Whip cleared the turnout fence and took off into
the woods at a full run. Once in the woods, Whip turned and veered
to miss trees. When he came to a fallen log, he jumped it at a flat
run. Still, he ran faster, turning and dodging quicker. Nesta tried
to look over Ira’s shoulder to see upcoming obstacles and have some
warning of maneuvers, but the wind rushed into her eyes so hard she
couldn’t focus on anything. She could feel the wind turbulence and
hear the swish of trees as they streaked past. She started shaking
and closed her eyes. Someone was screaming, but she didn’t know
who. With her eyes closed, she heard the thunder of Whip’s
hoofbeats and the swish of trees as they zoomed past. She felt the
wind pushing her hair straight back. She leaned with Ira’s body as
they maneuvered. Someone was still screaming. It seemed like
forever, but finally, they cleared the woods, and Whip accelerated
even faster. Nesta hung on with all of her strength. She didn’t
know anything could travel this fast. At least the screaming
stopped. In a few more seconds, Whip planted his rear end and slid
to a stop.

Someone was calling her name. “Nesta
lass, Nesta girl, you there?” Nesta realized it was Ira talking to
her. “We be here, darling. Yer feller be comin' up the road right
there.” Nesta opened her eyes. They were behind a crowd of people
that lined the roadway. She began to swing her leg over Whip’s
sweaty rear to dismount. Ira said, “Gots ta let go now, darling.”
Both of her hands clutched the neck of Ira’s breastplate, and he
was gently tapping them. “Got ta let go naw, lass.” With a
conscious effort, Nesta let go and began her descent from
Whip.

When Nesta got both feet on the
ground, she tested the firmness with her feet. Her legs were
unsteady, but within a few more moments she was recovered. Ira was
pointing to the procession walking up the path. “He be right there
in front, with Mildred next to him. Gamel’s on ta other side of
Mildred carrying Basilea. Gots ta go, darling. Go get 'im if'n ya
want 'im.” Ira was whooping as he turned Whip around and dashed
away. Nesta pushed her way through the crowd until she was in the
roadway. Still trying to retrieve total control of her legs, she
teetered from side to side a bit. At last, she spotted Demon
parading in front of a procession of people. She spotted Mildred,
and then she saw Gamel on one side carrying a wrapped up Basilea.
Fulk walked on the left side of Mildred. She could no longer
restrain herself. She took off at such speed that, once again, her
flaming red hair was pulled straight back in the wind. Fulk saw her
running his way, and his face broke into a face-splitting
smile.

Gamel said, “Well, don’t just walk
along here; go get your girl. GO!”

As if released from a prior
obligation, Fulk took off to meet his princess. When they reached
each other, Nesta launched herself into his arms and wrapped her
arms around his neck. Shaking, she said, “I was afraid that I lost
you!”

“No, my lady. I had someone to come
back for.” Tears freely flowed down both their faces. They broke
apart slightly and kissed each other passionately on the
lips.