“That was wonderful,” he said smiling back at her.
“Tis called the Knuckle Buster,” she said fanning herself with her hands, and panting to catch her breath.
Matt laughed. “I can see why. It was beautiful.”
“Wold ye like to try it?” she asked with a sly smile, hardly believing that the man before her knew no dances as he claimed. Dancing was a ladies right, so she could get the feel of a man in her arms before she consented to other more serious things.
“I...”
“Come then,” she ordered and began to pull him out onto the dancing area. He resisted her pull only a little, since he was actually very interested in learning. Soon many a young maiden had found a handsome stranger to teach, and General Peebles was even coaxed out by the charms of the Lady Merwinna.
“Tis this way,” Ellyn explained telling him to hold his stick up and still. “Not this way,” she added and struck him hard on the knuckles.
“Oooww,” Matt said shaking his injured hand, but he smiled at Ellyn and then they all started to dance very, very slowly.
§
Everyone arrived a few minutes early to the meeting except Matt who lingered longer than most after the dancing was over. Against his better judgment, Matt spent every available moment with Ellyn and deeply regretted having to leave her at all.
“All right,” the General started at once. “First I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts on the locals. Can they be trusted?”
At first no one spoke, but then Colonel Lemay stood. “I would say so. They’ve received us very well, considering the circumstances, and except for a few small incidences have left us and our equipment alone. The Ealdorman, in particular, seems to be very congenial, of course we have to expect a few bad eggs in the bunch, but on the whole I feel we have been more than welcome here.”
“Any certain bad eggs that come to mind that need watching?”
Lemay shrugged. “After last night, I would have said Sir Elid, but he spent most of the day with Sadao and Jefferies, at least during their down time, hounding them to teach him more with the staff. I’ll say this for the man; he took his defeat graciously enough, and kept those two sweaty all afternoon. Other than that no one comes to mind right off.”
“I’m not sure the bad eggs are in this basket,” Dr. Rice began. “There are several major players in this era. Lord Eadwulf of Kent and maybe fifty knights are moving west from Shaftesbury, which is only a couple of days ride from our position. Æthelnoth tells me the Earl of Kent is a hard man and challenged Alfred for the throne after Alfred’s older brother died.”
Peebles frowned. “Is he heading toward Athelney?”
Rice shrugged. “Unknown, but Leoforic’s father, the Earl of Mercia is also moving to the southwest, but with an army. Æthelred’s his name; he’s married to Alfred’s sister Æthelflæd and is very loyal to the King.”
“Two Earls?” Matt asked and Rice nodded.
“Earls…yes, though Æthelred was considered a minor King in his own right. England was divided piece meal in these times into many small countries, each with their own ruler. There’s Mercia, where Leoforic’s father rules. East Anglia, which is truly ruled by a Viking named Guthrum. According to history he’s still a great danger to Alfred and lower England despite the treaty of Wedmore. And there’s Northumbria, also ruled by Vikings and then the lands of Kent, led by Eadwulf, which is at this point in history is subservient to the dominate King of Wessex…Alfred.”
Peebles frown deepened. “Too much politics…this could get very sticky. And just where does Ealdorman Æthelnoth stand in all of this?”
Rice smiled. “Oh he’s very loyal to King Alfred…one of his most loyal subjects to be sure. Our trip through the Door was most fortuitous.”
“Fortuitous!” Lemay barked. “We have the army of Mercia and horsemen from Kent marching our direction and you call our arrival fortuitous!”
Rice smiled and nodded again. “If we can win Æthelnoth, Æthelred and Eadwulf to our side…well then Alfred should be easy.”
Lemay shook his head…clearly worried and the silence in the tent became palatable.
“Look,” Rice continued, “armies of this time were relatively small…no more than a couple of thousand men. I’m not sure Alfred ever managed to muster even a ten thousand man army against the Viking invaders.”
“Yes,” Lemay spat back, “even so it still means a couple thousand armed men in our midst any day now.”
“Yes,” Peebles finally said, “it seems we may have a substantial fighting force descending on us soon. Let’s extend the perimeter by a klick and I want a bug up constantly surveying the east and northeast. I don’t want either Æthelred or this Lord Eadwulf arriving without prior warning.”
Everyone nodded. “I’d suggest that we stay on alert, and I’ll double the watch around the ammunitions tent,” Lemay said. “All of the infractions so far have included children...but I don’t think any of us want any of the locals to become too curious and manage to get their hands on a grenade or AR.”
Again everyone agreed, even though the locals that showed some interest in their camp were very careful to give their equipment a wide berth. They were a superstitious bunch.
“The real reason I called this meeting, is that I’ve made a decision to attack the Danes to the west. I believe we need to establish ourselves as a force, and at the same time sow a little loyalty among the local people, not to mention a healthy dose of respect. And if we remove the Danish threat, I believe it will go a long way into gaining their trust.”
“I tend to agree,” Rice said. “These people live in a time where might makes right. There are few true laws other than the laws of force, especially out here on the fringes of current civilization. The Danes fight and raid...if they win they get food, women, trade goods, and if they lose they die. Much the same can be said for the locals. They grow their crops, and raise their livestock, if their crops fail or their livestock are stolen, they die. There are no grocery stores to pick up extra food...they fight to protect these things or they perish. Neither stability nor security are concrete concepts in these times.”
“Robertson?”
“No objections, Sir,” the scientist answered. “We came fully expecting to dominate these people and pull them out of the muck of the dark ages. I say let’s get to it.”
The entire group of soldiers smiled, including the General. Apparently five hard years of fighting Skawps could toughen even the most absent-minded bookworm. In any case, he could not express their mission any better.
“My tactical plan calls for the group to split up. I’d like to take about two hundred men west, along with all the Hummers but one. The Ealdorman believes the Danes are only about five hundred strong, which is a sizable force from his vantage point.”
Rice nodded. “From what I can gather the Ealdorman would only be able to scrounge up about thirty-five knights on horseback and maybe another two hundred huscarls, or professional foot soldiers. These along with a hundred or so archers, mostly peasants, would make up the bulk of his army. Of course this is just an educated guess. Æthelnoth, as friendly as he is, has not offered up any concrete information about his strength.
Peebles frowned for a moment, wondering how anyone could keep a stable land with so few fighting men.
After a moment Rice continued. “If I’m correct and Æthelnoth waits for the King of Mercia, his force would still be only a couple of thousand at most. It would be a hard fight for them, against a fortified position, but I don’t expect the Danes to give us any trouble.”
Peebles nodded. “Yes, I want to smash them completely with absolutely no casualties on our side...we may have to be merciless. We’ll plan just what force is necessary after we have a look at their stronghold. Does anyone have any objections to splitting our forces? I plan to leave Major Thane in charge here. He’ll have about one hundred and fifty troops and technicians, but we are all aware of their fighting capabilities. We’ll also lea
ve one hummer to help guard the supplies.
“It’s a risk,” Lemay said simply. “We still don’t know much about the local area. Just how far away is this Countisbury Hill?”
“Approximately forty-five miles.” Rice replied.
“That close,” Lemay said with surprise, but then realized it was probably a two-day trip for troops on foot. “We could be back in a couple of hours at most,” he added thinking out loud, “depending on the road conditions. I think we can manage this. It’s unlikely that Matt and his contingent could not hold out for at least a couple hours against anything the locals could muster. In any case, it would have to be a very sizable force. I’d like to send up a Bot to scout the area at least fifteen miles out to check on Wulf and Red before we head out. We can travel forty-five miles, much faster than any army on foot can fifteen. No sense taking any chances.”
“Someone’s at Shaftesbury…maybe fifty to a hundred horses outside the walls, clearly not an army,” Matt said, “but they’ve got to be fifty…fifty-five miles away.”
“How fast can they travel?” Peebles asked Rice, who shrugged.
“No more than ten… maybe twenty miles in a day with foot soldiers. It’s still probably a two-day trip on horseback,” he answered though truly he had no idea.
Peebles nodded. “Major, I’d like you to set up a perimeter about one klick out, at normal walking speed that would give you at least ten minutes of warning time. No one should be able to severely threaten you if you’re not taken by surprise,” the General said.
“I don’t see anything to worry about, if we scout the area by plane first. I suggest you take the Bots with you. I’m sure they could give you a better idea of what you are up against. I’ll keep at least one bug in the air all during the day.” A bug was a small, Micro Air Vehicle or MAV. They were much smaller than their famous cousins the Predator drones; the UAV’s used in the Afghan wars. Mav’s or bugs, as they were commonly called, were used only for reconnaissance without putting any pilots in harm’s way. The bugs were incredibly small but fitted with sophisticated cameras equipped with night vision, infrared, and microwave technology, and they could be plugged directly into the IWS, or Integrated Weapons System. Bugs were used extensively against the Skawps, who tended to ignore it because of their small size. The Skawps were singularly committed to killing humans and since no humans could possibly fly in such a small craft they paid it no mind. “We will be covered,” Matt added.
“So then we’re in agreement?” Peebles asked and everyone nodded. “Splitting the force is a risk, but the locals at their present state of technology are not a serious threat as long as we stay on our toes and are not taken by surprise.”
The General then looked Matt directly in the eyes. “Stay on your toes Major. You’ll have the bulk of the supplies under your guard. Don’t become distracted.”
“Yes Sir,” Matt answered, and saluted, understanding the thought behind the warning. Many things depended on him, and he couldn’t let any of the locals get in the way of their overall mission, no matter how enticing their eyes, breasts, or hips.
Chapter Five
They woke the next morning to a hard driving rain. The sky was dark gray and uniform from horizon to horizon so the expedition west was delayed. The rain posed no real problem for the trucks and hummers, but the low ceiling and bad weather would keep the Bots on the ground and make reconnaissance tricky. Even without the small planes the trek to Countisbury Hill would probably present no great danger but General Peebles wanted a zero risk operation…so they waited, which suited the Ealdorman Æthelnoth who was aging and his body no longer reacted kindly to the rain. Throughout the day most of the soldiers stayed in their tents and out of the elements, at least those who did not have sentry duty.
The refugees from Pilton arrived wet and miserable just after midday. Their arrival created a stir and a bit of a dilemma for the Ealdorman, who did not have the resources to house the unfortunates. A few found sanctuary among family and friends living within the gates of Athelney but most made camp on the far side of the town, away from the soldiers and out in the open air, at least until Dr. Rice heard about it and requisitioned four large tents for them. They would be crowded but dry.
All throughout the day the local soldiers and archers that the Ealdorman called into action streamed into the town. Many found quarters within the walled town but a few hundred also camped outside just to the east of the cultivated fields. They came willingly from all over Somerset, heeding their Ealdorman’s call to war even though Peebles had assured Æthelnoth that they would not be needed. Rice was positive that all of the extra people were putting a strain on the Ealdorman’s food supplies, and suggested that the soldiers stick to their rations for the time being, and Peebles agreed. The men took the news without so much as a grumble; since they were accustomed to far worse conditions…at least the constant threat of a Skawp attack was missing.
The grounds in and around the Athelney quickly grew into a muddy mess, where even walking became treacherous, and most of the noblemen stayed indoors by the fire. In the early afternoon the Ealdorman sent a huscarl out into the mud and filth to invite the General and his immediate staff to eat in his hall. The General agreed, taking Colonel Lemay and a few others, but Major Thane declined so that he could work on the ship he’d so recently neglected. Rice also declined, deciding instead that it would be a good day to begin the education of the youth that always seemed to be under foot these days. Master Leoforic was constantly in his tent, and even spent the previous night with the doctor, having been caught by the rain storm. With the General’s permission, Rice sent word out among the soldiers that he was going to begin teaching the locals and was swamped with volunteers to handle the job. He finally settled on Private’s Guon and Osage, both of whom had extensive teaching experience back on old Earth.
The first day of class was relatively small; to be exact there were only three students, all male and all young sons of the surrounding nobility and only Leoforic was an enthusiastic participant. Rice frowned at the meager turnout, and so sent out word once more that the school was open to all, common or noble, and that the gentler sex was also welcome. An hour past and then two before finally a few gathered the courage to investigate. First among the newcomers was the Lady Ellyn, who spent a great deal of time around camp waiting for Major Thane to conclude his duties. Also straggling in was young master Harden, son of the Ealdorman, who was more or less forced to attend by his father and was in no mood to cooperate. Sir Rawlins’s thirteen-year-old daughter Aldarcy and her ten-year-old sister Gytha arrived not long after with their manservant Jarvis along as chaperone. Sir Tompkin’s twin sons Kinsy and Lind, both ten, also sourly appeared as did eight-year-old Palma, a beautiful young girl who belonged to Sir Ældwin. There were also a few adults on the first day, namely Sir Elid, who was always about with Sergeant Sadao, but his new friend was currently on guard duty. Lady Radella, wife of Sir Rawlins, and Rishley, Scott, and Seabert, peasant men who worked in the fields around the Hall also shyly entered the tent.
Rice was more than satisfied with the turnout at this point and was practically giddy with excitement. Teaching the group to read American English was the first priority. Of the students, only Leoforic could read. He understood a bit of local English, but was much better with Latin, which would be of little use in this classroom. From the first Harden was slightly scandalized to learn that these strange men intended to teach them all to read, even the young girls, which was not proper. But after Rice carefully explained that teaching without reading was nearly impossible he held his tongue, though the sour look remained on his face for most of the day.
Even the Lady Ellyn felt a shiver of wickedness ripple down her spine when she realized what Doctor Rice intended, but it was the Lady Radella who quieted the protests. Radella, a cousin to King Alfred, grew up in the metropolis of Winchester and was quite convinced that the King would approve, and no one present had the wherewithal to challenge her. And so ever
yone attending remained quiet and respectful. Rice suspected that the group was more impressed by the warm, bright atmosphere of the tent than the opportunity to forward their knowledge. Even the Ealdorman’s hall was dark and dreary when compared to the electric lights of the tents, which were powered throughout the camp by several large generators.
The classes, and the rain, went on all that day, Rice began by handing every student their very own computer tablet and spent a good hour instructing the locals on their use. In the beginning the atmosphere was filled with fear and superstition but as the students grew comfortable with the device they were all filled with delight, even the reluctant Harden. Rice used colorful pictures to teach the ABC’s, and quizzed his new students with interactive games that to the locals…did not seem like learning at all. But by the end of the day, everyone could recite the entire alphabet, which Rice thought was incredible progress, and he rewarded them all by allowing them to play one of his favorite computer games, Tetris.
The fun ended abruptly when Father Gillian rushed into the tent looking for Rice, and explained that one of the children among the refugees had fallen and hit his arm on a rock and now could not use it. Rice excused himself and went outside where the boy was waiting with his mother, father and Friar Padstone. Rice led them to the medical tent and sent an orderly to fetch Lieutenant Wells, who was the best paramedic in the group.
“What’s your name?” Rice asked with a smile as he helped the lad up onto one of the examination tables. He also turned the smile on both the boy’s mother and father, who were understandably concerned. A broken arm that did not heal correctly could render the limb useless, hindering the boy’s ability to do labor, which was very important to both him and his family.
The Temporal Knights Page 14