The Remembered (23 page)

1456

The pounding hooves of John Darby's horse left deep prints in the muddy road. Despite the chilled morning air, the horse was wet with perspiration from the fast pace that John had kept throughout the night. It was still several miles to Aveley, the next village where John would allow his horse to rest before pressing on. John was pushing his horse as hard as he dared so that he could reach home as quickly as possible. He had heard rumors two days earlier about the battle of Stamford and had left Calais immediately. His primary concern was for Agnes, and his thoughts were on her as the great horse's thundering hooves carried him closer to home. He wondered whether she was okay. He knew well that when opposing forces occupied a towne, it could be particularly dangerous for women. He knew though that Agnes was a strong and intelligent woman and she was surrounded by servants that he trusted. Agnes had to be a strong woman to care for the estate and handle the trade while he was away. John remembered on another occasion when he was in Calais that a wolf ventured as far south as Stamford and was killing flock in the area. While the people of England had long been tormented by wolves, the wolves were now largely extinct, especially in the Midlands around Stamford and in the south counties.
Agnes had been taking a short walk near the estate when she unexpectedly came upon a wolf devouring a sheep. The wolf was caught by surprise as its focus had been on its meal. Agnes froze in mid-step when she saw the wolf. The wolf saw her almost immediately and raised its head and stared at her narrowly. Hair stood up on its back and its lips curled, baring sharp teeth as he let out a low and threatening growl. Agnes slowly backed away and was able to pick up a large stick. She knew that it could only offer little protection, but she kept it in front of herself just the same.
As soon as she was out of sight of the wolf, she ran for the house and called the servants. She ordered her horse readied and she rode with them in pursuit of the animal. With the help of the dogs, the wolf was cornered and one of the servants killed it.
'If Agnes culd face a wolf and nay faint,' John thought, 'surely she culd also face a human enemy with the same determination.'
With no warning, the great horse that John was riding went down and John flew over his head and onto the muddy road. The momentum caused John to roll several times before coming to a stop. For a moment he was dazed and lay still in the mud. The mud had cushioned the fall and he was unharmed. When he realized his circumstances, he jumped up and rushed back to his horse who was trying without success to stand. The horse had apparently broken a leg in a hole and it was not possible for him to rise. The great horse fought valiantly to get to his feet, but only managed to cover himself in mud and to dig a deeper hole. His eyes were wide with fright and great billows of steam exited his nostrils. It pained John to watch, unable to help his horse. John tried in vain to calm the beast. Eventually, the horse lay down in the muddy road after having exhausted his strength. John felt a lump in his throat and moisture in his eyes as he looked on his horse. This was more than a horse to John. They had spent everyday together for years and had traveled this same road many times. And now his friend lay in the mud with a broken leg. John knew that he could not leave the horse there to die a slow and painful death alone. With his horse laying still, John approached and knelt in the mud next to him.
John stoked the horse's head and whispered in his ear, 'I am so soory, me friend. You 'ave been a faithful companion. I am grateful to you for your service.'
John then searched the nearby roadway for the largest stone that he could heft over his head and carried near to his horse. As the brave horse looked into John's eyes, John felt that the horse sensed what was about to happen and John looked away. He stroked the horse's long mane and patted his back. The horse turned his head, presenting John with the opportunity to pick up the stone. He raised it high above his head and brought it down swiftly on his horse's forehead. The horse went limp and John turned his back. He wiped away the tears that started to flow down his face and looked around. He realized that he was miles from home and without a horse. He decided to walk to Aveley where he hoped to purchase a horse. It wouldn't be a great horse like the one that he loved, but it would get him home. He checked his pouch and determined that he had enough money to purchase a horse, but it would leave him short on lodging and food. He expected that he could eat bread rather than purchase cooked meals at public houses and he then would have sufficient funds to reach home.
It was late morning before he reached Aveley. It was a very small village with one public house. John went to the public house to inquire about the purchase of a horse.
Because it was still early in the day, there were few others in the public house.
'Gud dee, sir,' John said to the owner of the public house.
The man looked sternly at John and said, 'Oy, whot do you mean bringing that mud in 'ere anyway? At least remove your boots and cloak.'
'Pardon me, sir,' John said as he looked down at his muddy britches and boots. 'I lost me 'orse and took a tumble.'
'I do nay care aboot your 'orse, you will leave your muddy cloak and boots ootseed.'
Unaccustomed to such treatment, especially in front of others, and upset at the callous response to loosing his horse, John felt his face flush with a combination of embarrassment and anger. He wanted to lash out in response, but instead removed his cloak and boots and left them at the door.
Speaking to the owner of the public house again in a firm, even tone that underscored his frustration, John said, 'Now, sir, I 'ave muney enuf, may I 'ave sumething to eat?'
'Aye, 'ave a seat,' said the owner and brought John a plate of potatoes.
After eating John asked where he could purchase a horse. 'You can nay purchase a 'orse in Aveley,' replied the owner. 'Which way are you going?'
'I am 'eading north, toward Stamford,' replied John.
'Aye, those are dangerous parts. They 'ave war in those parts.'
'I am aware,' replied John. 'Where may I buy a 'orse?'
'You may find a 'orse in Rain'am, boot nay in Aveley,' stated the owner.
''ow far to Rain'am then?' asked John.
'Aboot 4 miles. Follow the London Road to the wood and 'ead north through the wood. You will find Rain'am just north of the wood.'
John rose from the table, thanked the owner and retrieved his cloak and boots. The articles were layered with drying mud. He beat the cloak against the side of the public house to loosen as much mud as he could. His britches were in the same condition. He didn't want to put the cloak on, but it still provided some protection from the chill.
He was about to start for the London Road, when a patron of the public house walked out the door and said, 'I 'eard you say that you need a 'orse.'
'Aye, that is true,' replied John. The stranger was not dressed in the garb of a peasant, in fact he was fairly well dressed. He also wore a fine cloak and hat. John noticed that he had a long knife at his side, but then so did most men of his apparent station.
'I 'ave a 'orse that I am willing to sell. Times are a lit'le 'ard and I culd use the extra muney.'
'And where is this 'orse?' asked John as he surveyed the road, not seeing a horse near the public house.
'Aye, me 'orse is tied in the back of the public 'ouse. Follow me.'
John followed the stranger to the back of the public house. There was a horse there. It wasn't a great horse as John was accustomed, but John expected that it would suffice.
''ow much?' asked John.
'Three pounds,' replied the stranger
'That is a lit'le dear,' replied John. 'The most I will give you is two pounds five shillings.'
'Two pounds ten shillings, or nuthing,' replied the stranger.
'Dune,' said John and he removed his pouch from his belt.
John hadn't noticed a second stranger standing around the corner of the public house when they walked up to the horse. As soon as John had removed his pouch, the second stranger sprang forward, grabbed the pouch and jumped onto the horse and rode quickly away. It happened so fast that John didn't even get a good look at the second stranger. The man who had the horse yelled at the second stranger and watched as he rode away.
John was upset at the loss of all his money and he grabbed the first stranger and accused him of working in concert with the thief.
'You thief,' shouted John. 'I will 'ave your 'ead for this.' Suddenly, John felt a knife pressing against his side and he released the stranger and stepped backward.
'I 'ave been robbed also, sir,' shouted the stranger. 'Me 'orse is gone!'
'Surely the thief is your friend and you both 'ave arranged this,' John said as he pulled his own knife from beneath his cloak and held it in front of himself.
'I assure you sir that we did nuthing of the sort. I 'ave never seen that man before. Boot, if you wish for me to prove me words with me knife, then so be it,' and he stepped forward toward John.
John squared his shoulders and planted his feet firmly. He unclasped his cloak with his left hand and cast it aside as the stranger circled to the right. The stranger made a half lunge at John and then jumped backward. John lunged forward and as he did, the stranger turned and ran toward the nearby woods. As he neared the woods, the supposed horse thief emerged from the woods on horseback and galloped toward him. The stranger swung himself up onto the back of the horse and the two rode away.
''ow culd I 'ave been so daft?' John shouted as he stomped around in the mud, all the while yelling at the world. He threw his knife into the side of the public house and kicked the mud.
After he calmed a bit, he took note of his situation and realized that it was not good. He was a very long way from home, without a horse and without money. At least his belly was full for the time being.
John picked up his muddy cloak and retrieved his knife. With no money, there was no point in going to Rainham, so John instead headed north. After walking for several miles he became aware of blisters forming on his heels and toes. The boots that he was wearing were good for riding, but not much for walking.
It was well after dark by the time that he reached Epping. The meal that he had eaten earlier in the day seemed like a distant memory and the hunger that he was starting to feel was as unusual to his experience as a drought was in England. His feet were feeling raw from the blisters and so he found a small stream to rinse them off and to ease the pain. The water was cold, but had a soothing effect on his sores.
Since he didn't have any money, he would have to spend the night outside. He couldn't remember the last time that he had done that, or whether he ever had done so. John studied the dark sky and could see some stars, so he expected that it probably wouldn't rain. He found a smooth place beneath an oak tree, and since he didn't know how to build a fire, he laid down, wrapped his cloak around himself and tried to sleep. It was a cold night and seemed to him that he didn't get any sleep at all. John thought about Agnes and he longed to be beside her in a warm bed. He wasn't certain that he had ever been as cold as he was that night.
As the night passed, it became colder, until the biting chill drove John from his bed. He decided that he could only stay warm if he was walking, so he wrapped his cloak more tightly about himself and started walking the road in the same direction that he had been walking before dark.
Mercifully, the morning eventually came, and the sun rose, but it wasn't any warmer and it wasn't much easier to see. A fog had enveloped the area, making it impossible to see more than a hundred yard. Nevertheless, John welcomed the glowing rays of the sun with more gladness and appreciation that he had ever felt before. He was limping now from the constant pain in his feet. At mid morning, he decided that the only way to get relief from the pain was to cut out the offending portions of the boots. Sitting on a rock, he removed his boots and with his knife he cut out a portion of each heel. He also removed a small oval of leather where the big toe rubbed and a similar oval from where the little toe rubbed. He was pleased with the results when he put the boots back on.
As he stood to continue on the road, he saw something moving faintly in the fog across the field. He could make out a group of four shapes and knew that they must be horses and riders. The group was coming nearly directly to him. Soon the riders were close enough that John could make out two men and two women. His heart was cheered at the prospect of meeting people of his own station in life and receiving sustenance from them.
As the group drew near, John called out to them, 'Oy, kind sirs and ladies.' The group slowed their horses to a walk and stopped near him. 'I am 'appy to see you,' said John. 'I am John Darby of Stamford, a merchant of the Staple of Calais. I 'ave lost me 'orse and 'ave been robbed. Please, I am 'ungry and tired.'
The group looked on him with disgust and one of the men said to the others, 'Luk at this beggar covered in mud and shoes with 'oles. 'e is repulsive.'
'Aye,' agreed the other man. 'Shall we fetch the dogs?'
John stood erect and addressed the group again with more urgency. 'I am John Darby of Stamford. I am 'ungry and tired. Please gud sirs, I must eat.'
The group laughed and one of the women said to the men, 'Per'aps we culd get 'im a lit'le food.'
'Nay,' responded one of the men. 'it is too far back to the 'ouse. Whot 'ave we to do with 'im?'
'Please, which way is the 'ouse?' asked John. 'I do nay mind walking there.'
The woman that hadn't spoken to that point put her nose in the air and spurred her horse on as she said, 'There is plent'y of food with the pigs. You are welcome to it.' At that, the group laughed and followed her into the fog.