Serenity Valley (27 page)

“Basilea and I will sit on the south
side of Bells and Goodwin and try to keep anyone from sitting to
the south of us. We don’t want any folk getting in the middle of
it.”

Basilea said, “We will get word to the
guards to sit around us, dressed as common folk.”

I looked at Basilea and Fulk, and
stretching my right arm in front of Basilea, I said, “Join hands.”
Fulk took my outstretched hand on the table, the other joined with
Basilea. I prayed, “Dear Lord, help us use what we have learned to
protect our family this day. May we defend them with honor. Oh, and
Lord, if by chance I should be standing in front of you in the near
future, please don’t judge me too harshly for my occasional
departure from the truth, or my occasional manipulation of the
weak-minded, or for stealing a pie from time to time. Oh yeah, and
for swimming with naked women.” We all tittered a little bit. It
seemed like there was some chuckling from Ox’s direction, too. We
all turned toward the hearth, but only heard snoring.

Fulk spoke next. “Lord, all that goes
for me too, and forgives me for being a bully all those years. I
was too stupid to realize others had just as sorry a story as
mine.”

“Lord,” Basilea spoke up for her turn,
“please, forgives me for lying to Gamel and giving him a hard time
the day Demon was born. He didn’t forget we had a date the night
before. I just wanted some attention.”

I gasped with disbelief, “Oh, you, how
could you!” Fulk and Basilea were laughing at me. We swore we could
hear Ox laughing in the next room, but the snoring resumed. Once
our laughter died down, I said, “Fulk, when Ox wakes up, clear this
plan with him.”

From Ox’s direction we heard, “The
plans er fine. Fulk, get your arse ta Terric an' bring him up ta
date. Tell him ta post five personal guard long ta south so ta look
normal. Get these guards relieved 'ere wit regular soldier in ta
guard attire. I want all ta personal guard on ta field, they being
ta best fighters. Burn ta diagram tafter you goes over it wit um
before da fool has ta chance ta post it somewhere. And you children
shuts up an gets on 'bout ya business. All tis planning an praying
'tis givin me a headache!”

We all looked at one another, I said,
“Be safe, my friends.”

Fulk added, “Be safe, my
friends.”

Basilea nodded her agreement and
added, “Be safe, my friends. Ox, be safe.” All that could be heard
from the hearth area was loud snoring.

Fulk said in a low whisper, “How can
he hear us when he’s asleep snoring?”

Before we could say anything, we
heard, “I can hear ta ant scratch him balls at near one hundred
paces, an tat being when um sleepin', an I don't snore; shut up!”
Immediate snoring resumed from his direction. We all gasped out and
laughed loudly. We definitely heard Ox laughing too, but when we
quieted down, all we heard was snoring.

Basilea and I went into our sleeping
quarters to dress for battle. Fulk would be doing the same thing in
his room. First, we each stripped naked to our waist and put on a
tight-fitted linen shirt. Over that, we dressed in a shirt with
heavy padding. A custom-fitted suit of chain mail went over the
padded shirt, and a lightweight boiled leather breastplate went
over the mail. Covering that, we each dressed in a lightweight
long-sleeved shirt. We put on our belts containing pouches in the
front for death stars, and sheaths in the rear held throwing
knives. Basilea clipped a scabbard on to the side of her belt,
which held a tanto, a twelve-inch version of her katana sword. She
then put her arms through a harness, the straps braced on her
shoulders. The harness held her katana sword with the handle angled
just slightly to the right. Basilea tested the position by reaching
over her shoulder with her right hand and drawing it in less time
than it took for the blink of an eye. She replaced the katana
almost as fast as she had drawn it. On her right shoulder harness
strap she clipped a scabbard holding a katara, the fist-held
dagger. It was positioned upside down.

On my belt, I snapped the scabbard for
my kukri on the left side. I pulled the harness over my shoulders
that held my battle-axe. On the left side of my harness was a strap
that ran from the shoulder and attached to the belt. To this strap
I attached a flapped leather pouch holding several quoits. I tested
the reach on my axe by grabbing the handle and pushing back, which
released it, then pulled it up over my shoulder, twirling it one
complete revolution and engaging my wrist through the leather strap
at the same time. I twirled it another revolution, releasing the
strap, swung it over my shoulder, and slid it into its scabbard,
snapping it back in place. On the right side of my shoulder harness
strap, I attached my katara upside down. To cover the harness
straps, we wore lightweight cloaks that had clasps that released
when we hit them.

Fulk’s equipment was slightly
different. At the rear of his belt were throwing knives, and in the
front, pouches holding death stars. On the right side of his belt,
he attached a short sword. Over his right shoulder, he wore a
harness made to hold a katara upside down; the harness attached to
the right side of his belt. On the left side of his belt, he
attached a long dagger. His chain mail and breastplate were lighter
weight, more fit for running.

With everyone prepared for battle, we
reentered the great room to find Ox missing. I looked at Fulk and
nodded and he nodded back. “Well, I guess we’re ready then?” I
said.

Basilea responded, “Just one more
thing.”

From a pocket in her loose-fitting
linen pants, she removed the bright red ribbon that had decorated
her necklace box. She placed it in her teeth while she tightly
braided her hair. When she was satisfied with the braid, she tied
the ribbon on the end. Fulk strapped the quiver to his back so the
arrow feathers were over his right shoulder. He went to the wall
where his bow was strapped into a jig to prevent warping. He
released it from the jig and strung it. He hung the bow over his
left shoulder.

I asked Fulk, “Have you thought of
something to tell Nesta? Something to keep her away from the
theatre tonight?”

“I’m going to tell her that I’m taking
some lords’ sons on an evening boar hunt. If she would wait until
tomorrow, I want to take her to the theatre. I expect to return
after the performance starts, but if she will stay at her house,
I’ll stop by as soon as I return.”

Basilea said, “That’s an excellent
cover story. By the way, we are going on the hunt with you. I will
stop by the bread tent and tell them I won’t be there today. I’ll
spin the same tale.”

Fulk looked at both of us for a long
time, then said, “I expect I won’t see the two of you until the
theatre field this evening. And I expect to see you both back here
tonight!” He grabbed the diagram from the table, turned, and made a
hasty exit through the rear door.

I looked into Basilea’s emerald eyes.
“You better go talk to the bread-baking ladies. I need to polish up
the horses and stick to my routine, perhaps a performance or two
before the noon meal.”

“I’ll meet you back here by noon meal,
unless I see you on the festival grounds, sir,” she
answered.

We gave each other a long hug,
although, with all the equipment we wore, it was somewhat
ineffective and unsatisfying. Basilea turned and left before I
could see the tears in her eyes. I was thankful, as my eyes also
seemed to be running. Now I knew why Fulk had left so abruptly. I
pulled myself together, wiped my eyes, and went out to polish the
horses.

Demon and Mildred were finishing their
meal when I arrived with the brushes and a comb. They trotted over
to me, then stopped and looked me over. Demon started sniffing all
over my body. “It’s okay, young man, just wearing a few different
things today is all.” Both horses looked a bit puzzled for a
moment, then Demon lipped the side of my face and gave a soft
nicker. I said, “I’m okay. Let’s get you two polished up now.” I
started to work on them, first the coarse brush out, then the
polishing. Somewhere along the way, they had both fallen
asleep.

As I groomed them, I
thought about how much I loved these two beasties. When I got to
braiding Demon's mane, I went into sort of a trance, never wanting
these moments to end. I thought,
If
something happens to me, at least I got to groom them one last
time.
Fulk and Basilea would take good
care of them, I knew. By now, I had moved to Mildred and happened
to look over her neck. Demon was staring at me as if he was in some
kind of deep thought. I guess he was picking up on my somber mood.
I just couldn’t seem to help it today. When I ran out of the red
ribbon, I was forced to stop. I put my equipment away and returned
to the horses, who waited for me in the open turnout. This was
unusual. Typically, they were still asleep after grooming. I said,
“Well, what do you two extraordinary horses think? Ready to go get
a snack?” Both horses gave a quiet nicker and moved their heads up
and down slowly. “Come on, you two, cheer up. I’m okay, honest!”
Both horses walked in their respective positions, Demon on the
right and Mildred on the left. When I lowered the gate rails,
neither horse left my side. Usually, they would be halfway to the
kitchen with flowers by now. I walked over to a prime location for
wildflowers, but neither horse seemed interested. I picked a couple
of bunches and put them in their mouths. I said, “Come on,
beasties, you’ll have to do better than this.”

When we got to the kitchen, both
horses exchanged their flowers for pies and were slowly eating them
when Fina asked, “Gamel, what’s wrong with the horses? They don’t
seem themselves today.”

“Oh, they’re just a little slow this
morning. We had a rough night—got some bad feed that bound them up.
I oiled them, and they’re pooping normal again. They’re just a
little tired after a rough night is all.” By now, the entire staff
was outside to check on the horses.

Ada said, “Well, they’re eating ma
pies, and that’s a good sign.”

Fina came over to me and gave me a
good look. She put a hand on my shoulder, then pushed against my
chest with the back of her hand. “You come with me, boy!” she
said.

I followed Fina away from the others a
good long ways, well out of hearing range. The whole staff remained
standing around the horses but trained their eyes on us. Fina spoke
in a serious tone. “Gamel, tell me what’s goin' on. First the lady
comes through ta kitchen wearin' every weapon known ta man, actin'
like it be goodbye or sumpton. Now you dressed fer war? Tell
me!”

“We are just taking some extra
precautions today is all, Fina.”

“Hog’s balls, boy. Even ta horses
knows sumpton evil comin'.”

“Fina, I can’t tell you much, as it
could affect the safety of some people.”

“Well, then, what da hell can ya tell
me?”

“Dear Fina, tell your staff one of the
play actors has come down with an illness the healers are yet to
identify. Tell them anything you want, but keep your ladies and
their families out of festival this evening. I love every last one
of you. Please promise me to keep everyone away after midday meal.
Close the bread tent early. Say they ran out of makings and will
open again in the morning.” I put my arms around Fina and hugged
her. I whispered in her ear, “Now, promise me.” I let her go and
pulled back to look at her face. Her lip was trembling, but she was
too strong to cry.

“I promise. God protect you, Gamel,”
she mumbled.

I said, “May God protect you also,
Lady Fina.”

We walked back to the kitchen staff
and horses. Fina addressed the ladies. “Come now, ladies, back to
work. We have many noble folk to get fed, and Gamel needs to do
some errands.” The ladies had bewildered and concerned looks on
their faces, but they complied with Fina and scurried back into the
kitchen.

“Well, Demon, Mildred, you must feel
better after the pie?” I said. Both horses gave a low nicker and
dropped in alongside me in their usual places. “Well, I don’t think
we're up to performing for the spoiled noble class today. There are
a couple more places I want to go before we go home, though.” As we
walked away, I looked back at the kitchen window where we had
begged for so many pies. The entire staff was watching us walk
away.

To avoid contact with everyone, I
walked to the south instead of the north and circled the rear of
the main house complex. When we cleared the rear of the complex, we
kept walking due west to the fenced pasture edge, then turned
toward the festival grounds after clearing the hold village.
Staying within the fence line, we edged over close to the trees. I
didn’t want to chance being stopped by anyone today. Ironically, we
went right by the area we expected the attack to occur. As I
scanned the trees and surroundings, Demon and Mildred seemed to be
looking right along with me. I said, “Well, my beauties, this is
the place we expect trouble this evening. I want both of you in
your turnout this evening, safe and far away from here.” Both
horses gave a low whinny and continued surveying the treeline with
me. They looked at different areas, as if they were recording
memories of the landscape. I asked, “Hey, you guys making pictures
like Giselia said horses do?” There was no response from either
horse, both preoccupied with looking over the surroundings. We
completely circled the rear of the stage area, passing the actor
and minstrel wagons. I spotted what I was looking for, Ivan and
Giselia’s wagon. Both horses perked up at the sight, raising their
heads up to a more attentive state. As we approached, Ivan spotted
us, and smiling, he called to Giselia, who then saw us and started
her customary hopping up and down and waving. There was a good
crowd at their wagon, but when we got close, Giselia broke into a
run, squealing and half skipping her way to us. She immediately
grabbed me and gave me a strong bear hug. Suddenly, she froze,
backed up, and started patting me down like Fina had. Giselia
pulled my cloak open and took inventory of my belt. Circling behind
me, she pulled up my cloak to see all of my other weapons. She was
visibly shaking when she came around to face me. “Why for war you
dress?” she asked.