The Temporal Knights

by Richard D. Parker

  Matt turned about and was again struck by the woman’s great beauty.

  “Yes, M’lady?”

  “I was wantin’ to tell thee that I will be leaving come morn for Tamworth but I’ve written to the Lady Ealhswith, impartin’ to her the respect and friendship ye have shown for all the peoples of Mercia and Somerset.”

  Matt smiled. “Well, I’m sorry we cannot fly you there. It will be a long journey will it not?” he asked thinking of Ellyn.”

  “Near three days,” she answered then reached out and took his hand. “I be leavin’ me youngest under me sister’s charge, ‘til she moves down to Shaftesbury but I’d feel verily much better if’n ye’d also see to his protection. I have lost a husband and I fear a son in these past days, and Leoforic is verily precious to me.”

  “Of course, never fear on that account. We will protect him as one of our own,” he answered thinking of the lad, who now had commandeered Dr. Rice’s tent in his absence and spent most of his days on the computers or in class with Privates Guon and Osage. The classes were growing by the day, and Leoforic was their star pupil.

  “How long will your sister bestaying with us?” Murphy Giles asked and Æthelflæd smiled at him. Giffu, ever the reluctant Abbess, was very pleased by the man’s interest…if only they could persuade father to share their enthusiasm.

  The Countess shrugged. “The Abbey at Shaftesbury is na yet finished…an if’n me sister has her way twill never be finished…but father’s na likely to forgive or forget.”

  Murphy raised an eyebrow, not truly understanding the complexities of the statement. “We’ll look after Leoforic,” he told her to cover his confusion.

  “He has taken to ye well, and for that I thank ye, but I’ve lands to see to and protect meself,” she told Giles as the Lady Merwinna approached to offer her condolences.

  Æthelflæd hooked her arm through Matt’s and led him off a ways. Matt went willingly, curious about the beautiful woman’s intentions.

  “Ye watch after Captain Giles...he be taken the killin’s verily hard,” she added softly, staring at the Captain as he talked softly to Merwinna and Beatrice Lochlin.

  “Yes, he was fond of Selby, and we’ve already lost so much,” Matt answered and the Countess nodded her understanding.

  “Me sister may be able to help in the healin’,” the Countess replied, surprising Matt. “She’s confided a great interest in Captain Giles.”

  “Oh?”

  “Tis a secret to be kept on yor honor Mayjor,” Æthelflæd warned.

  “Of course,” Matt stammered, “but I thought she was to be a nun?”

  Flæd laughed. It was a pretty sound to Matt.

  “Na…not a nun ‘nd a verily reluctant Abbess,” she explained. “Father was na happy ‘bout her refusal to marry Charles the Fat,” she added with a laugh.

  “Ah…” Matt said, getting the gist of the point.

  “I also be wantin’ ye to know that ye have a friend in Mercia,” she said and then moved back toward Giles. Matt watched as she approached and touched him on the arm and spoke to him. Giles smiled and bowed, and then the Countess leaned over and hugged the kitchen woman before moving off toward the manor hall. Matt was touched by how much poise and grace the woman showed and was once more impressed by the resiliency of man...and woman.

  The afternoon passed solemnly and quietly until Blish strode into the Hall with a smile on his face. Almost at once Matt was overcome with a feeling of dread, believing that the alien ship was finally online. But that was not to be; instead the Sergeant announced that a message from General Peebles was coming weakly over the ship’s radio. Rochester had been taken, Sir Eadwulf was dead. Stuart Greybon had been avenged.

  “He wants to speak with you,” Blish added with a smile, as a young serving woman sauntered by and treated the Sergeant to a soft caress on the arm.

  “Gythæd,” the Sergeant greeted the woman and returned her touch. It seemed odd to Matt that someone as hard as Blish could look so softly on someone else, but he said nothing, just smiled and led the way back to the ship, since it had the only receiver powerful enough to pick up the signal. The Ealdorman, Lady Merwinna, the Countess and her sister were in the entourage that followed, along with nearly all the Americans and Leoforic, who emerged from Rice’s tent at the sound of the passing crowd. In short order the alien ship was very crowded.

  “General Peebles,” Matt said sitting before the console, the cockpit packed with people.

  “One moment,” came the reply, very dimly, through the static. Matt could barely recognize the voice of staff officer Newton though all the interference. They all waited a long moment.

  “Major Thane,” the General finally said. The signal was still very faint.

  “Yes Sir. I’m surprised you can reach us during the day like this.”

  “We’ve erected a tower on the roof of the keep at Rovescester...one of the tallest structures in the land I would think,” Peebles replied, his voice breaking up slightly. “I’d like you to erect a similar one on the highest hill within sight of the Ealdorman’s...Sergeant Blish will know what to do.”

  “Yes Sir. We’ve buried Lieutenant Greybon this morning...full military honors,” Matt replied, wanting the General to know.

  “I see...I’ll be up when I can, to pay my respects. I’m sending a contingent of seventy-five men west to collect the rest of the trucks and supplies. We will be making our permanent base at Rochester. No offense to the Ealdorman, but his lands are too far west to have a real impact on the fighting with Danes.” His voice was interrupted by a loud burst of static, then “Private Hamilton was killed at Doncaster by Eadwulf. They’ll retrieve his body...I’d like it to be buried with Stuart’s.”

  “Yes Sir,” Matt said with a frown. Hamilton was a shock. The man was a superb soldier.

  “And Major, Captain Hersey has volunteered to lead the group. When he arrives I’ve granted him three days leave...see that he gets it.”

  “Yes Sir...the ship?”

  “It’ll be a bitch to tow it all the way down here...we need it fixed. For the time being I think we will leave it there. The group is going to stop south of Reading and erect an additional communications tower. Lemay says we’ve brought five in all, which leaves one for Winchester, and a few for the north if need be, once they’re all up and operational we should be able to communicate quite easily through most of the country...as long as the solar generators are not vandalized. We won’t be able to guard them for a while.”

  “Yes Sir. Anything else?”

  “Get that ship repaired,” the General said harshly. “Send the Bots. You’ll have the UAV’s for reconnaissance...I wish you could come also. I’d like to show you our new castle. Rovescester is something to see.”

  “Yes Sir,” Matt said with a grin, but before he signed off he glanced over at Murphy and the rest that were near him.

  “Any news of Ellyn?” he asked and he could almost see the general cringing.

  There was a pause.... “He...they canna hear me...na....Hallo....Hallo...Mayjor Thane,” they all recognized the voice of Sir Oldalf.

  “Yes Sir,” Matt replied, smiling.

  “Me dottir, she be at court in Winchester,” he said. “I’m sure she be missin’ ye powerfully.”

  “As I am,” he replied unembarrassed.

  “I still have your letter,” Rice announced weakly, obviously not next to the microphone.

  “Thank you.”

  “Cheer up with any luck the King will invite us to court soon,” the doctor added.

  “Na bloody likely,” they heard Oldalf as he moved away.

  “Anything else Major?”

  “No Sir.”

  “Expect Captain Hersey and the others sometime late tomorrow evening...out.”

  Matt clicked off. Everyone was excited by the news of the conquest but sad at the news of Private Hamilton’s death. ‘Christ,’ Matt thought, ‘we’re down to three hundred and forty-six...already.’

  As
the ship emptied Lee Robertson approached him, and Matt was almost surprised to see the man, he’d been around so little recently.

  “Major, I’ve been riding with the Ealdorman these past few days as he has worked his lands, and he tells me of an oil deposit not ten miles to the northwest. I’ve checked coordinates with the maps of British Petroleum and sure enough it matches one of the country’s largest sources of oil...I’d like to go with him in the morning and look at the sight...maybe take Blish with me.

  Matt considered this a moment, weighing the risks.

  “This could be important Major,” Robertson argued. “The Ealdorman says the oil is on the surface and easy to get at.”

  “All right, but Blish needs to erect a communications tower first…and remember, his main responsibility is still the ship.”

  “If we can get to oil...easily, we can power this country,” Robertson replied but then smiled and clapped Matt on the shoulder. Matt smiled back as the scientist quickly exited the ship. Matt followed him down the ramp and was surprised to find the Lady of Mercia waiting for him.

  “Hello,” Matt said, but came up short at the Lady’s angry expression.

  “I be needin’ another word Mayjor,” she snapped.

  Matt nodded but said nothing.

  Æthelflæd offered her arm once more to the tall man to soften her demeanor and Matt happily linked his with hers. The Countess then led him off toward the river.

  “I have told me brother of yor good intentions and ye have treated all the people of Athelney verily kindly but I’d know forsooth if ye have designs of this land of ours,” she said as they moved under a pair of monstrous oaks.

  Matt smiled. “Of course not,” he replied at once.

  “And yet yor General has destroyed Alfred’s most powerful ally and ye claim Rovescester for yor own,” the beautiful woman accused.

  Matt blushed, knowing how this must look to the locals.

  “Well…I…” he stammered trying to come up with the right words. They stopped at the banks of the river and turned north toward the town.

  “I be needin’ the truth Matthew,” the Countess insisted and stopped. Matt pulled up short with her.

  “Lady Aathelfled,” he began haltingly, butchering her name, “we only wish to protect this land and its people,” Matt finally answered but the words sounded weak even to his ears. “Sir Eadwulf attacked us…and would have used our power against the King.”

  The Countess stared up into Matt’s face for a long moment, looking closely. Matt flushed, the woman before him was very beautiful and strong.

  “Call me Flæd,” she finally said.

  “Flayed,” Matt repeated and the Lady of Mercia laughed lightly.

  “Tis close,” she admitted though the pronunciation was not quite correct. “Me father be na trustin’ ye,” she finally said and once more pulled him along the banks of the Tees.

  “We will give up the castle,” Matt promised, “if the king so desires.”

  They walked in silence through the towering trees for a time. “Mayhap he will, mayhap he won’t, but ye must na force his hand na more than ye already have if’n ye truly care for the peoples of Angland.”

  “We do,” Matt answered and wondered just how they were going to keep from antagonizing the King further.

  “Alfred twill be watchin’,” Æthelflæd remarked as they entered the back gates of Athelney together, “and I be watchin’ as well.”

  §

  It rained softly the following day as Hersey and his men erected the tower outside the small town of Reading. Hersey selected the location carefully, choosing a site high on a hill and well off the road. The tower soared upward on a wide, solid base nearly one hundred and twenty feet into the air, slightly taller than the surrounding oaks but well camouflaged, at least from a distance. Of course any local hunting these woods could easily stumble across it, which was Hersey’s biggest worry. Hopefully anyone discovering the tower would be too superstitious to meddle with it. As it was, both the transmitter and booster were located at the very top of the tower along with the solar generator, so the delicate equipment should be safe enough unless someone actually climbed the thing. The generator was another worry since it needed plentiful sunshine to power the electronics inside, something that apparently was woefully lacking in this country, but that couldn’t be helped. At the moment the tower was up and working and would boost the signal considerably between the forces at Rochester and Athelney. Hersey tested the signal by contacting both General Peebles and Major Thane before moving out, still worrying absently about vandalism. It didn’t help when they caught about a half dozen young boys, watching them from behind a thicket of thorn bushes. Hersey concocted a story of imminent beheading for anyone caught climbing the tower. He hoped the threat would work with the boys, but had serious doubts that it would. Boys would be boys...always. He just prayed they wouldn’t damage any of the transmitting equipment.

  The group reached the town of Athelney right before sunset, just as planned. Hersey, after a slight detour, went directly to the alien ship and reported to Major Thane.

  “Good to see you Captain,” Matt said and truly meant it. The extra soldiers would take a good deal of worry from his shoulders. Hersey nodded and they shook hands.

  “It feels funny to be back, almost like this is home,” Tom answered but then got to the point. “I’ll be leaving at first light for Mortehoe, a small village just south of Pilton.”

  Matt frowned. “The General said you were due leave?”

  “Yes, I had to fight for it though. I’d hoped to spend it around here, but she’s already left for home.”

  “She?” Matt said surprised.

  “Yes, Hester Manning. She was one of the refugees from Pilton. We got to know each other a bit before I left, and well, I was hoping to get to know her even better.”

  “Can you ride?”

  Hersey shook his head. “Not well, I’ll be taking a hummer. The Lady Merwinna says she left in a group the day before yesterday. They’re on foot; I should be able to catch them before they get home.

  Matt smiled. “It’s your leave...be careful and have a nice time.”

  “I hope to Sir, Mortehoe is right on the sea...it should be nice. There will be other men asking for leave, they’re to report directly to you and give an itinerary.”

  Matt nodded and Hersey saluted and left to get some sleep. He had a feeling he would need it.

  Matt found he envied the man immensely, and the ache for Ellyn grew stronger.

  At that moment however, Ellyn was not thinking of Matt. She was busy kissing Sir Gospatrick on a balcony overlooking a small lake at Winchester. He was kissing her and in his opinion, kissing her well. His opinion was reinforced by the fact that she was no longer resisting his advances, though she had for the better part of the day. He’d spent the afternoon escorting her around the festival grounds, buying her little presents and sweat meats. Despite her love for Matt, Ellyn found that she enjoyed both Gospatrick’s company and his attentions. She finally gave into temptation as they watched the sliver of moon and its bright companion Venus, sink toward the horizon, slowly following the sun in the west. She was not sure how the actual kissing started, only that he had made some witty remark as he was prone to do, and she had pushed him gently. He quickly grabbed her hand, and held it, his touch burning her soft skin, and then they were kissing.

  Finally she broke away, a cauldron of stirring emotions. That she liked the kiss was undeniable, that she liked Sir Gospatrick was also true, but she loved Matt, did she not? Her head finally cleared, and she stumbled away from the knight of Winchester.

  “I...I must go now.”

  “Must ye,” he said and was on her again, holding one hand in his while his other encircled her waist.

  “Yah, this canna be,” she replied, but let him kiss her again despite her better judgment. After a few more deliciously wicked moments she regained control of her senses and broke away and then without a word ran fr
om the balcony and to her rooms. Sir Gospatrick was left smiling, but still wanting. ‘Ædwin does na know everything about women,’ he thought, smelling her on the air about him. It had been a very good day.

  §

  The next morning, just before sunrise, Captain Hersey was up, dressed and on his way. He was both excited and nervous about the coming reunion, after all he had only slept with Hester once, and their conversations did not even hint at anything more permanent. All he knew was that after that night, that glorious night, he could not get the red headed woman out of his mind and it was driving him mad.

  He drove slowly, knowing that it was only ten miles to Two Potts, fifteen to Crook, another five to Lynton Comb, and all told about forty-five miles to Pilton. Going very slow he could make the entire trip in less than an hour and a half, even taking the roundabout way. The Lady Merwinna assured him that this was the way, the road that the people of Pilton would take. Whether he caught them before they were home, he couldn’t say. They were on foot, which would slow them somewhat, but even on foot a forty mile journey in three days would not be overly hard, especially for people accustomed to walking. So he drove slowly, knowing the General would have his head if he broke an axle for such a frivolous reason. It was still early morn when he reached Two Potts but the village was up and about. The people were very friendly and excited to see him. The Marshall of the town even invited him to breakfast, but Hersey politely declined and was told that the widow Manning had indeed passed through the day before. Hersey climbed back into the hummer, knowing that the refugees were planning to spend last night in Lynton Comb, which was more than he knew an hour earlier.

  The countryside was strange and wonderful, a mixture of hilly grasslands, strewn with rocks and boulders, with patches of towering oak groves. Tom felt utterly alone in the eerie quiet of the morning and flipped the vehicle’s computer on and tapped into the musical library where he selected the complete compilations of John Coltrane, a jazz musician from the last century. Coltrane was his personnel favorite and music soon flooded the vehicle. In his opinion, the speakers were sub-par, but at least he had something to occupy his mind. The first song was not even finished when he reached the village of Crook, where the Americans spent the night following the defeat of the Danes at Countisbury Hill. He remembered a few of the locals and was surprised when they all remembered him. They stopped their work to talk with him, so he obliged them and told of how the General had moved down to Rochester, but left out the news of Sir Eadwulf’s demise. They could get that news elsewhere. They asked about the Ealdorman and his wife and many others and Hersey answered the questions as best he could, anxious to be on the move again. Finally, he broke away and traveled on. The day was beautiful, sunny and warm, and the rain from the previous week was all forgotten. He sped a little faster on the pathetic road, becoming more impatient as his destination grew closer. He hoped Hester would be happy to see him…surprised and happy. He was not sure he could bare it if she felt otherwise. He would know instantly however, by the look on her face. He reached Lynton Comb ten minutes later, and after a quick conference discovered that Hester Manning had indeed spent the previous night in the town and she and the rest had left but an hour ago for home, almost the exact time he left the Ealdorman’s.