The Sampler Platter: A Little Bit of Everything

by Susan Skylark

Endures All Things

  The world was aflame with autumn and the horses seemed able to fly that day. They chased through valleys full of yellowed grass and glades afire in crimson and gold. The haunting song of geese overhead and the chill in the wind added to the vibrancy of the day. As the sun withdrew amid splendid clouds of scarlet and gold, the merry pair made their slow way home. Selendra nearly glowed with joy and exhilaration and Ian was quietly ecstatic. Ian had been accompanying Selendra on rides since she was old enough to go alone. She was the only child of a once great lord and he would not hear of her riding out alone. Ian was one of the stable boys, the son of a late groom and a housemaid. At first she had been indignant at the thought of not being allowed out in the world alone, but Ian proved to be such a good companion that soon she quit complaining lest her father decide one of the guards must accompany her instead. He was two years older than she, quiet, thoughtful, and never one to make mischief. When she wanted company he was a good conversationalist and when she wanted to be alone, he was so silent and unobtrusive that he might have been her shadow. They were the dearest of friends though Selendra dared not let her father know how much she cared for the boy or she would be escorted by the oldest and grouchiest of her father’s soldiers and the boy would be turned out of the house permanently.

  Ian greatly admired Selendra but also knew that what both of them desired above all else could never be. She was the heir of what remained of her father’s estate and he hoped to improve his dwindling lot by marrying his daughter well. And it seemed such a match was imminent. The neighboring lord, who had already engulfed some of Lord Sendric’s holdings, had a son he very much wished wed to Selendra that thereby he might consume what little remained to her aged father. Jorsh was a big, strong, and not very bright young man who was quite proud of his physical bearing and wealthy father. He had often glimpsed the girl riding abroad upon a morning and liked what he saw. The two lords agreed and the match was made, much to Jorsh’s delight and Selendra’s dismay.

  Ian’s heart sank, he knew he could not woo Selendra but knowing her matched with such an unworthy fellow nearly broke his heart. This bright, lively girl would soon be crushed into a small, pitiable creature under such an oppressive master; she would wither away without hope or joy though once both had flourished within her. As the wedding day approached, Jorsh spent most of his free hours calling upon Selendra. He had often seen the innocuous little stable boy accompanying her on her rides, but it was not until he became something of an inmate at the house that he began to notice her regard for the ridiculous servant. Jorsh also began to see how little the boy admired himself and how much the boy regarded his mistress. Something must be done about the little weasel ere the wedding; Jorsh would brook no competition, even from the lowliest of men. With his luck, his new wife would demand that the creature remain a part of the household and that he could not bear! No, something must be done now and done in such a way that it did not cast any shadow of doubt upon Jorsh.

  Ian did not approve of Jorsh, but there were many amongst Sendric’s household that toadied up to him, hoping to gain a good standing with their impending new master. Several of these were willing to say and do just about anything to gain Jorsh’s favor. One night as he was leaving, Jorsh called aside one of the grooms and a young guard and asked after his young nemesis. The groom snorted, “him? He ain’t nothing special. He does his job well enough and takes care of his mama. Besides mooning after the Mistress he ain’t a bad sort.”

  The soldier scoffed, “he makes the rest of us look bad. Never causes problems or slacks off, does that one. He may be love sick over the girl but he never lets it get in the way of his duties or lets on to the master.”

  Jorsh asked, “so there is nothing I could use to discredit the rascal? Nothing to send him away in disgrace?”

  The groom shook his head, “he’s been too good a servant for too many years. Even if we contrived something none would believe it. Besides, the mistress would speak for him as would half the staff.”

  Smirked the soldier, “if you want him out of the way just leave that to us.”

  Jorsh smiled darkly, “just make sure this does not come back to haunt me and I will make it well worth your while when all is said and done.” The three shared a silent laugh and then vanished into the night about their various tasks.

  The next evening, the groom sidled up to Ian and asked, “do ya want to run over to the inn tonight?” Ian gave him a strange look, this man had never been particularly friendly before and the man must know he had never set foot inside an ale house. The man continued as if reading his thoughts, “I know you don’t usually go in for that sort of thing but I heard one of the Brethren would be there and thought you might like to come with.”

  The boy smiled and said, “that is quite another matter. I would be quite delighted to accompany you once I finish my chores.”

  The groom smiled darkly, “I very much look forward to it.”

  Ian finished his chores, found his mother in their room, and told her of his anticipated adventure. She said thoughtfully, “it is a worthy cause, just be careful, for this man you are going with is not exactly a man to be trusted, but perhaps this night will do him good.” He kissed her goodbye and ran to find his companion, eager for a night abroad.

  “My mother thinks this is a wonderful opportunity,” said the boy as they walked along in the darkness.

  Said the groom in surprise, “who else did you tell about this little excursion?”

  Ian said confusedly, “no one. Why the concern?”

  The groom relaxed, “I just didn’t want the whole house knowing I might be turning soft, that’s all.” The boy nodded, thinking he understood. That was his last thought before he felt a ferocious pain to the back of his head and then he lay sprawled upon the road. The groom exchanged a grin with the soldier there in the dark as they stood over the prone form of their victim. “Now what?” asked the groom, “his mother knows where he was going but no one else.”

  Said the soldier, “she will definitely make a fuss when her son does not return, especially if she finds out your little lie about one of the Brethren being about. What should we do with him?”

  Replied the groom, “I don’t really want to kill him but we can’t hold him prisoner without risking discovery and I doubt he would be reasonable enough to leave and never come back. I don’t see as we have any choice.”

  The soldier smiled darkly, “it will serve the little rat right for making us look bad all these years and will also get us in good standing with our new master. It is not like anyone but his mother will miss him after all. Maybe the mistress but this should just drive her closer to her lord in her grief.”

  The groom said reluctantly, “you must be right but how should we go about it?”

  The soldier said, “it will need to look like you were both overcome by brigands on the highway. That means I will have to rough you up a bit so you don’t look guilty and then the boy will need to die by some violent injury common to robbers.”

  The groom snarled, “you will not touch me!”

  The soldier laughed darkly, “and just how are you going to explain to everyone how the boy died while in your keeping?”

  The groom shrugged, “can’t we just toss him off the bridge and tell everyone he stumbled in the dark?”

  The soldier raised his club, “no one would believe that.”

  The groom looked at his coconspirator as he approached with his weapon raised and screamed as he fled, “I want no part in this!” The soldier snarled and dashed after his prey lest he betray them both.

  Ian raised a hand to his head and groaned once he was sure the villains were well out of earshot. The blow had stunned him but he had caught the entire conversation, especially the part about their new master. He shuddered to think what would come of Selendra if she married such a man as this! He crept into the bushes along the
road, concealed himself as best he could, and then lapsed into an uneasy sleep. As dawn was breaking, he was wakened by the muttered cursing coming along the road. It was the soldier looking for his victim but having as little luck in finding the fool as he had in chasing down the groom the previous night. Suddenly there came the sound of hooves upon the road and the frustrated soldier vanished into the bushes so as not to be seen. He watched from his hiding place and seeing that it was Jorsh, he leapt from concealment and waved for the man to stop. The young lord was far from pleased at this interruption in his jaunt to see his beloved, but recognizing the fellow he had no choice but to stop.

  “What is it?” scowled the lord as he slid from his saddle. The soldier stuttered out his tale. “You lost them both?” raged the man, “what if word of this reaches the wrong ears? You are less than worthless!” But the soldier did not hear the last of the words directed at him for he lay dead at Jorsh’s feet. The man smiled down mirthlessly at his handiwork, cleaned his sword on the fool’s cloak, and quickly hid the evidence in the bushes from whence he had sprung.

  Ian shivered as the man mounted his horse and continued on his way. There was no way he could go home with that killer awaiting his return for he would likely end as the soldier had. But neither could he let Selendra and her father, not to mention the entire household including his own dear mother, fall into the hands of such a villain. But what to do? Who would believe his accusation that Jorsh was a murderer? No one at home would believe him save his mother and that was no help. He could take it to the Guards or the King but they would not believe him either. Then he remembered his errand of the previous night. The Brethren were renowned for their ability to sense when someone was lying. There might not be a Brother at the inn but the King certainly had an Advisor from Astoria. The boy crept from his hiding place, swayed slightly as he stood, and set off to seek an audience with the King’s Advisor.

  Ian did not take into account his head injury or his recent lack of adequate sleep, water, and food. Less than an hour into his journey he fainted upon the way. A farmer hauling a load of apples into town noticed the boy laying by the wayside and drew up his team. He turned the boy over and Ian stirred with the man’s touch, groaning as he did so. The boy smiled ruefully at his rescuer but then noticed the wagon and asked, “could you give me a lift into town sir? I have a dire errand but fear myself in no condition to carry out my task.”

  The man studied the boy carefully and said, “you look like you have had quite a night lad, but you seem of an honest sort. Get up in the wagon, help yourself to the apples, and I will get you into town quick as I can.” The boy smiled thankfully and allowed the farmer to help him into the wagonbed where he was soon quite comfortable and found the juicy fruit reviving to his spirits.

  They reached the capital city by midafternoon and the boy thanked his savior enthusiastically and immediately set off towards the castle that he might seek an audience before the day was out. The farmer watched him go, wondering what was so important but shrugged it off and turned back to the business at hand. The boy was very nearly to the castle gates when an arm shot out from an alleyway, grabbed him roughly by the shoulder, and pulled him into the grim confines of the alley. He turned around, ready to run or fight but was surprised to find the groom from the previous night. “What are you doing?” demanded the groom.

  “I am going to the King’s Advisor from Astoria for I fear none else will believe me,” said Ian boldly.

  The groom snarled, “that would be a very unwise thing to do.”

  Ian finally noticed the dagger the man held in his hand and the boy stuttered out, “do you not know what happened to your comrade?”

  The groom frowned, “what are you talking about?”

  Ian quickly told his tale much to the astonishment of the groom and finished with, “we must stop Jorsh from marrying Selendra.”

  The groom shrugged, “what is that to me? He will kill us both if ever he sees us and I have no intention of ever letting that happen. And neither do I plan on letting you tell the King, for that will only result in my arrest for assault and attempted murder.”

  Ian said desperately, “you were reluctant to kill me last night and for that I thank you. What will it avail you now? Jorsh is the main villain here and he must be stopped. If murder is your game, then know I will not die quietly. You will bring doom down upon yourself all the sooner.”

  The groom snarled, “very well, I shall use what time I have to disappear, but know if ever we meet again you shall rue this day.”

  Ian nodded and dashed from the alley lest the man change his mind and pursue, but it seemed he was intent on flying as fast and as far as he could ere word got out of his actions the previous night. The boy ran up to the guards at the castle gates and begged an audience with the King’s Advisor from Astoria. The guards eyed the dirty and exhausted boy, barely containing their mirth that such a one would demand an audience with any related to the royal court. They shook their heads and told the boy to go about his business ere he ended in the dungeons for bothering them.

  Ian cried desperately, “but it is a matter of life and death! There has been murder done and the villain goes about free!”

  The guards turned a deaf ear and one was about to teach the child a lesson with the blunt end of his spear when a voice said, “let the boy pass. I shall gladly hear him.” The guards turned in surprise to see the very man the boy sought standing in the courtyard and watching the scene.

  The guards growled, “very well but see that he comes to no mischief or on your head be it.” The Brother bowed his acceptance and motioned for the boy to follow to a quiet corner of the courtyard.

  “Now what is all this about murder and villains lad?” asked the man patiently.

  The boy said through his awe at being in the presence of such a legendary personage, “this very morning I watched a young lord kill a man in cold blood and hide the crime under the bushes along the road. This very man plans to wed my Lord’s daughter in only a few days.”

  The man felt the truth in the boy’s words and asked, “why did you bring this to me and not to your master or the Guard?”

  The boy said quietly, “who would believe me? I am but the least of the servants in the house of the least of the Lords in the realm. He is the son of one of the greater lords of the realm! I knew you would hear the truth and know what to do about it.”

  The man nodded, “a wise course of action. I will take this immediately to the King as it involves his lords, and then I think we shall soon be paying your master a visit.”

  The boy grinned but was dumbfounded when the Brother said he would be explaining the whole thing to the King himself. His Majesty was not pleased to be interrupted at supper but it seemed a matter of great import so he allowed the importunity. The King looked agape at the boy and asked of his Advisor, “is this the truth?”

  The Brother nodded, “it is Highness. What would you have done about it?”

  The King sighed, “this cannot be allowed to go unpunished yet it involves one of my most powerful lords. You must let the youth incriminate himself and limit the damage to the rest of my subjects.”

  The Brother bowed and said, “we shall leave immediately upon the morrow my Lord. Tonight the boy needs a good meal and a sound sleep.”

  After the aforementioned refreshment, Ian felt quite ready for an adventure, especially one that involved rescuing a lady in distress. It was quite an adventure already to encounter one of the Brethren, to stand before a King, to sleep in a castle, and now to ride a unicorn! They reached the now miniscule estates of Lord Sendric without incident and easily gained an entrance, for the Lord was always eager to meet with anyone associated with the King. Just as they were dismounting, Jorsh came round the corner of the house with Selendra on his arm; she did not seem overly pleased with his attentions but accepted them for her father thought she must. He glimpsed
the boy and stopped suddenly, thrusting the lady aside and reaching for his sword. Hate and anger roiled in his eyes as he raised the weapon and charged the boy, heedless of all else about him. Ian’s eyes were large as the blade was blocked mere inches from his head by the Brother’s blade. Seeing himself incriminated, Jorsh lashed out with everything that was in him like a cornered wolf, knowing it was hopeless but determined to kill as many of his foes as he could ere his own demise. But the Brother was too skilled for the boy who soon lay clutching his wounded shoulder and staring daggers at man and boy both, snarling, “my father will have both your heads for this!”

  Lord Sendric came running out of the house from whence his terrified daughter had fetched him and he demanded of the sword wielding stranger, “what is the meaning of this?”

  The Brother collected Jorsh’s sword and put away his own blade saying, “this lad witnessed a murder yesterday morning and very nearly had his own throat cut the night previous to that. The perpetrator of the whole ugly business went mad at sight of him and forced me to defend the boy as well as myself.”

  The old man gasped, “can this be true? Would I unite my daughter to such a scoundrel?”

  Sneered Jorsh as he struggled to his feet, “it is quite true and your daughter will still be my wife! Go to my father and the King! We shall yet see justice done.”

  The Brother shook his head, “it was the King that sent me.”

  The old lord sat down hard and said, “what am I to do? Is my house to fall so utterly into ruin?”

  Said the Brother with a smile, for he had been watching Ian and Selendra while the discussion had been going on, “why not allow your daughter to marry the man of her choosing? Perhaps there is yet hope for your crumbling estate if she chooses a man of wisdom, ingenuity, and valor.”

  Sendric looked up hopefully and asked, “and where is such a man to be found?”

  The Brother smiled down at the boy and said, “the very lad who risked so much to save your daughter from ruin.”

  The old lord gasped, “a stable boy?!”

  The Brother laughed, “I think the younger set have no such qualms. I think the quality of the person and not of the pedigree should count for something, but the choice is yours my Lord.”

  The old man studied the boy carefully and then said cautiously, “perhaps.”

  “No!” shrieked Jorsh, “I will not lose my place to a skulking peasant!” He had lost his sword but still possessed a dagger which he drew forth and leapt towards his formerly beloved but Ian dashed between them without a thought for himself. The Brother’s sword flashed in the sun as he drew it forth to ward off the villain but he was too late. Even as Jorsh fell pierced through the heart by the Brother’s blade, Ian lay just as lifeless with the dagger buried in his own chest.

  “No!” wept Selendra as she fell into her father’s arms, sobbing in grief. The Brother shook his head sadly at the wreck of two young lives.

  Ian’s mother had come out of the house and watched silently; she nearly collapsed but one of the other maids held her as she grieved for her lost son. Collecting herself somewhat, she cautiously approached her mistress and said through her tears, “he loved you my dear. More than he loved even himself or his own dear mother. Now we must go on living without him, but let us live in such a way so as not to make his sacrifice vain.”

  Selendra smiled through her tears and embraced the weeping woman and together they found solace in their grief. Her father was aghast at the very idea of her marrying a peasant. He was dumbfounded when she said she was going to join the Brethren. Selendra was even more surprised when Ian’s mother said she thought she might do so as well. But the boy’s courage had inspired such feelings within them that they could not be satisfied with less, and following his example, they abandoned everything that others might discover what it is to truly live.