The Temporal Knights

by Richard D. Parker

  General Peebles, who sat on Eadwulf’s left, waited patiently, feeling a bit more confident now that he had met and dealt with several of these English Lords. It would take a little time, but in the end he knew that they would win over this quiet, cautious man. He studied Eadwulf discreetly, knowing that this was the King’s right hand man and major warlord, and for the most part he was very impressed. Eadwulf quietly watched everything that went on, much the same way Sir Æthelred had just a few days earlier. He also noticed that Eadwulf ate sparingly, and drank very little.

  Sir Eadwulf, also paid close attention to the man to his left, along with everything else going on around, saying very little, and grateful that those around him left him alone. He needed time to think. At first he was surprised that the strangers did eat, though they all drank very little mead. Captain Lochlin on the other hand, guzzled several large mugs of the strong brew but seemed unaffected. Eadwulf frowned; sure the simple man was trying to bolster his shattered confidence with thick drink.

  ‘Lochlin will have to be replaced,’ he thought regretfully. Lochlin was a good man and had a mean streak Eadwulf admired. His gaze slowly wandered to his other knight. Sir Eadric, who sat next to the Earl of Mercia, was also quietly observant. Sir Æthelred and Sir Æthelnoth, however, were eating and drinking with gusto, talking excitedly with many of the strangers that surrounded them. And it did not take Lord Eadwulf long to notice that even the serving wenches deferred to the strangers, many laughing, petting and teasing the strange men. Finally the meal ended and Sir Eadwulf found that his courage was returning, bolstered by the many simple acts the strangers performed; simple acts, like eating, drinking and flirting with women.

  Eadwulf stood and was gratified to find that his legs were no longer shaking. “In the name of King Alfred,” he said imperiously with a quick warning look to both the Earl and the Ealdorman. “I will know who ye be, and why ye be trespassing on these western lands?”

  General Peebles conversed with Rice for almost a minute before turning back and addressing the still standing Englishman. “Lord Eadwulf...we are from a land very far away...a conquered land of war and death. We come here to help you and your people grow strong, so that we ourselves can grow strong, and eventually return to our lands and triumph,” he explained, using a similar explanation he had for the previous two Lords.

  ‘Conquered,’ Lord Eadwulf thought with a mixture of delight and dismay. On the one hand, these men were acknowledging that they were just that, men, and not devils, not Gods, but on the other hand, he was not sure he wanted to meet those who could defeat fire breathing men. But then a thought came to him…

  “Help us to grow strong?”

  “Yes,” Peebles answered, familiar with this line of questioning also. “We will teach you many things...how to fight more effectively...how to grow more food, and raise healthier livestock...power plants, energy...and a host of things you cannot now possibly imagine. We’re beginning the process right now with the Ealdorman’s people. All we want is to drive out the enemies of England, and help the country grow strong beyond all imagining.”

  Eadwulf remained silent for a time, trying to digest what was being said to him. The man before him talked very strangely...using words he did not understand, though some of the meaning did come through. That he wanted to teach him to fight was clear enough, and though he was insulted by the presumption, he was also intrigued. ‘Wot could these strangers teach?’

  “And if ye conquerors come to the lands of the Anglish?” he asked, a little jaunting, wanting to rub their defeat in the face of all these strange men.

  “Oh, they will,” Peebles admitted, noting the flash of dread that flickered across the Lord’s face, “but it will not be for a very, very long time.”

  Eadwulf frowned. “Why do ye come to us then, and not our enemies?”

  General Peebles glanced at Rice, weighing his options and then decided on the truth. “Frankly, it’s because of the language...you speak English, as do we. Most of the people from my land came from England, a long time ago,” he replied, thinking correctly that it would be a long time from now…Peebles smiled. “We’re mostly of English decent, but truthfully it was because of the common language more than anything.”

  Eadwulf pondered this new information. He’d noticed that many of the men among the strangers looked very odd indeed, and not just the Moors. There were others who looked far more peculiar, but they all seemed to speak English, so he let the differences slide for now.

  “I will retire now and think on wot ye’ve said. Ye may take yor leave,” he ordered, but did not wait to see if the strangers would go, instead he motioned for Lochlin and Sir Eadric.

  “Mayhap, M’lord,” the Ealdorman said loudly, knowing of Lord Eadwulf’s pleasure of the hunt, stopping all motion. “We could arrange a hunting party for early morn...The Ameri...strangers have not yet hunted with us.”

  Eadwulf smiled and nodded his head slightly. “Yah,” he answered turning to look at the General, “that be an excellent notion.”

  “Boar or stag?” the Ealdorman asked.

  Again Eadwulf smiled. “Boar,” he replied and then headed out of the hall. As the Lady of the house, Merwinna rushed off behind to make arraignments for the Earl. As she hurried along she quickly went over in her mind who would remain where they were and who would be displaced. Colonel Lemay raised an eyebrow.

  “What do you make of that?”

  Peebles shook his head. “I’m not sure, but I have a feeling Lord Eadwulf’s going to be a handful.”

  The Ealdorman laughed. “Never doubt that...” he said then suddenly stopped laughing as he saw the look Sir Æthelred was giving him.

  “Meeting in my quarters, immediately,” Peebles announced to everyone within earshot, they all nodded and prepared to leave.

  “Genaral...if I may,” the Sir Æthelred said a little uneasy. “I’d like to join ye?”

  Peebles glanced at Lemay quickly but then nodded. “Of course.”

  §

  They all headed directly to the meeting, except for Major Thane, who made a detour to the ship to get the latest news...it was more of the same, almost three weeks now and still the engines would not come online. Lieutenant Turnbull was completely frustrated, and his temper was short. Matt begged out quickly, using the meeting for a quick escape and headed over to the General’s tent.

  “Some good news, Major?” Peebles asked hopefully. He did not really expect any great changes but knew eventually, Sergeant Blish and Turnbull would find the answers to the mystery. He was confident in his men. Matt just shook his head and took his place next to Rice, everyone very conscious of the presence of Sir Æthelred. This was the first time any local had attended a staff meeting. The General noticed the hesitation in the room and smiled.

  “We’ll conduct this meeting as usual,” he insisted and gave a slight nod to the Earl. “So let me see if I’ve got this straight. Sir Eadwulf, King Alfred’s number one military advisor shows up at our doorstep and within fifteen minutes we’ve killed his favorite horse, broken a sword that has been in the family for generations, and driven away a good portion of his knights. The rest of his men, most of them now on foot, cower in fear at the far side of camp. Does that about cover it?”

  Colonel Lemay smiled, but that was about the only reaction from anyone, except for Eve, who scampered in and climbed up into Matt’s lap. All the men greeted her happily. She was no intrusion and never would be.

  “Major Thane handled the situation extremely well,” Dr. Rice argued in Matt’s defense. “It was a very sticky situation.”

  “Sticky,” Eve agreed. Matt hugged her as Greybon stuck in his head and spotted the girl.

  “Sorry Sir,” he said, with a quick salute. He hurried in and quickly snatched Eve up, tickling her. They left in a wave of laughter.

  “Granted,” Peebles said once the disturbance was over, “but that does not change our situation one bit. Sir Eadwulf is still the King’s advisor, and we have
greatly insulted and embarrassed him.”

  “Yes Sir,” Rice added but then the Earl interrupted.

  “Methinks ye may have the wrong idea about Lord Eadwulf and me dear brother King Alfred...Eadwulf is strong, a good leader in battle, of that there is na doubt. And Alfred is dependent on him for now, but it is an uneasy truce. Together they can handle the Danes…at least together they have a chance, but Eadwulf would like nothing better than to have at the King and take his Kingdom. Once the Danes are vanquished Eadwulf will be the enemy for sure.”

  Peebles raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Everyone in the tent was stunned by the news.

  “Forsooth?” Matt asked, getting a smile from his General at the local lingo.

  “Forsooth,” the Earl acknowledged. “Neither are strong enough alone to fight off the Danes and hold the country, only together are they strong...but when the Danes go, Sir Eadwulf will be at Alfred’s throat. Tis na a secret to either man” he shrugged.

  “General, this is Private Morris. We have a rider coming up behind us, moving fast to the east,” the voice sounding over the speakers on the General’s desk. The Earl looked at Peebles and then crossed himself quickly.

  ‘Tis na natural, wot these men could do,’ he thought and repressed a shiver.

  The General paused for a moment then glanced at Colonel Lemay, who shrugged. Peebles moved over to the radio at the desk.

  “Your call,” the Colonel said.

  “Let him pass...I repeat do not interfere,” the General ordered. “Any ideas on who that was and where he was going?” he asked the Earl.

  The Earl shrugged. “Eadwulf’s man to be sure. Mayhap he be on his way to the King, mayhap to Rochester and his fyrd.”

  “A fyrd?” Peebles asked.

  “A conscripted army,” Dr. Rice translated and the Earl nodded.

  “Ye have Lord Eadwulf in a delicate position, and methinks he knows it and be a might worried,” the Earl continued as the Lady Merwinna stuck her head in the tent. Matt was the only officer present who was not surprised.

  “May I enter?” she asked.

  Colonel Lemay rolled his eyes, but the General nodded.

  “Genaral,” she said quietly. “M’lord Eadwulf tis a hard man, and he tis verily angry right now,” and she told them of what she’d overheard the Lord tell his men in their rooms. “He be angry as much out of fear methinks, as from the loss of his father’s sword, though that has him a might peeved. But tis most likely fear that drives him now and Eadwulf is a man who uses fear, not feels it.”

  “Aye,” the Earl echoed. “Ye will have to handle him verily careful.”

  “Sir Æthelred, Lady Merwinna,” Peebles said with sincerity. “I’d like your advice on the situation. I hope you believe me when I say we’ve come to help you and your King. What we don’t want, at any cost, is for King Alfred to come charging up here with an army in an attempt to rid his country of us.”

  Sir Æthelred smiled grimly, for that was the thing he most feared. Alfred could be recklessly bold at times…especially when his enemy appeared strong. But Æthelred was also growing to trust this man before him, he had to. After the way these men handled the Danes at the Hill it was plain enough to see that no fortress could stand against them, and indeed no army. They would not need guile to overrun the countryside, and yet they did no such thing. The Earl was taking a great risk, but he believed that the Genaral’s words and actions were in agreement. He was also positive of one thing, if Alfred led an army against these perplexing and deadly strangers, he would lose…horribly.

  “Ye can believe me when I say that tis the last thing I could want as well. Sir Eadwulf is headstrong and prone to anger, but he fights hard and well. Do not make the mistake in thinking that our King is anything like him. Sir Alfred is wise, and thoughtful. He has pulled the Anglish, Cornish, and Welsh together. Lord Eadwulf could not have done so, strong though he is. Eadwulf is not the King, though Alfred needs him sorely. Sir Eadwulf has all but driven the Danes from his eastern lands, and he has done it with force and not with words and bribes as some lords on the Lizard have done. Alfred needs him for his strength, but he be verily wary because of that strength.”

  Peebles nodded, thinking. “What would King Alfred have us do?”

  Sir Æthelred smiled. “Patience...I will send a messenger of me own to me good King. Will tell him how ye’ve driven out the Danes in the west, and that he must be meetin’ with ye, friendly like...I will tell him.” he said his voice trailing off as a sentry entered.

  “General, a Sir Eadric wishes to speak with the Earl,” the soldier said.

  “Let him come in,” Peebles replied, and noticed how both Colonel Lemay and Major Thane moved instinctively up on the balls of their feet, and smiled ever so slightly. Sir Eadric entered with an air of indifference, but he did not fool even one of the soldiers present. They’d all seen enough of war and death to know when a man was afraid. Sir Eadric was very afraid, and so very brave for entering in any case. He was also very surprised to find the Lady Merwinna present.

  “Sir Eadric,” the General greeted with a nod of respect. Eadric bowed low and studied the man who wore command with such ease. ‘This be a hard man to push,’ the knight from Rochester thought. He glanced briefly at the Mayjor, and Docktor Rice, before his eyes came to rest on Colonel Lemay. Eadric had trouble pulling his eyes away from the Colonel’s, for in them he saw certain death. They were the eyes of a predator. Sir Eadric swallowed; his mouth suddenly very dry.

  “Lord Eadwulf orders the Earl of Mercia and the Ealdorman of Somerset immediately to his rooms,” he said hoping these strange devil men would not kill him instantly for Eadwulf’s boldness. He glanced quickly over at Lemay and had to repress a shiver.

  The Earl did not hesitate, but he did bow slightly to Peebles. It was a gesture he intended Sir Eadric to witness. It would send a clear message to Sir Eadwulf when he heard of it.

  “Yor husband?” Sir Eadric asked, looking closely at the Lady Merwinna.

  “Tending the fields. I’ll have a huscarl go for him,” she replied and Eadric nodded then left hurriedly glad to be out of the tent and out from under the eyes of the Colonel.

  “Suggestions?” Peebles said after they’d gone.

  “That man’s a vulture,” Lemay said at once, but no one commented.

  “I suggest we show Lord Eadwulf exactly what we can do. Let him make no mistake about our capabilities. His ignorance could be a great danger to us all. I think a little demonstration is in order, and then I say we take him flying. It’s worked on the others,” Dr. Rice said.

  “I tend to agree,” Matt said. “We can’t let his stupidity cause him to be rash like he was this afternoon.”

  The General nodded. “So we’ll put on a display...perhaps show the people left behind exactly how we defeated the Danes at Countisbury Hill.”

  “Tis something I would like to see, verily,” the Lady Merwinna agreed.

  “All right,” the General said. “A small demonstration, no more than a few mortar shells, and a couple of bursts from an M60...a few flame-throwers. Let’s make it small but effective. Colonel, see to it.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  “Dr. Rice, Lady Merwinna, I would like you to see that word gets around that we will demonstrate just how we routed the Danes...play it up. Let’s plan on late tomorrow evening, when the light from the flame-throwers will be more effective.”

  “And that will give us time to recover from the morning hunt,” Dr. Rice added.

  Peebles smiled and dismissed the meeting. The Lady Merwinna took her leave, as did the Colonel and Dr. Rice.

  “Major Thane,” the General said as Matt made his way out. “I need to speak with you a moment.” Matt nodded, standing at attention. He had a good idea what was coming.

  “You seem to be getting along quite well with Sir Oldalf’s daughter,” Peebles added, hating to have to go where he must with this.

  “Her name is Ellyn,” Matt answered simply, and the Gen
eral nodded.

  “Ellyn,” he repeated, noting the correction. “Have you told her you’re leaving?”

  Matt just stared at the ground in front of him, his actions admitting that, in fact, he had told her nothing of the kind.

  “If we get the ship fixed,” he said lamely, and immediately wished he had not.

  “When we get it fixed,” the General answered, a sharp glint coming into his eyes. “You know full well it will eventually be repaired. I thought you were completely behind this mission, Major. I thought that’s why you volunteered.”

  “When I volunteered,” Matt said raising his voice a little, his own anger surprising him. “I had nothing but a life of blood and death. If we’d gone as planned, just after the crossing to this time, there would have been no temptation, but now...now you have to admit the temptation to stay is very great.”

  “This mission is vital to the survival of....”

  “Don’t give me that,” Matt interrupted angrily, much to his General’s surprise. It was obvious the Major felt very strongly about this....too strongly, and no pep talk was going to solve this problem. “Could you go?” The Major demanded. “If it was right now, could you go and lose another six years of your life? Could you go?”

  Peebles thought about it seriously for several minutes, considering the idea. It would be rough to go; he could at least admit that. Life here, in this time, definitely held a certain charm. He made a mental note to speak with everyone on the team to assess how they now felt about the mission. The Major had his say, as did every man under his command. They’d all lived through hell; there was no denying that, and God knew they’d all earned a chance at a new life. It wasn’t in him to deny any of them that, unless it jeopardized the mission to utterly destroy the Skawps. What happened before could never be allowed to happen again, not while there was a chance of preventing it. This life, this time, was very appealing, very seductive, but if he thought even for one minute that his staying behind would give the Skawps an open door to repeat their genocide, he wouldn’t hesitate.