by Rocky Bills
Under the cloak was a large bag. Opening the flap revealed a shirt and britches like Lady Bella’s. “This is all for me my Lady?” I asked.
“Yes, Gamel. You will need these things for your exercises, so wear them when you come to train.” I returned to the log and sat next to the lady. “Gamel, one of the weapons you will be learning is medium range, for snake attacks and such.” Chuckling, she made a flicking motion with her wrist, and a star-shaped object was embedded in a tree about twenty feet from us. I walked to the tree and noticed a line had been drawn where the star had embedded. “The line I drew on the tree represents the throat of an adversary.”
I thought about that for a moment. I pictured a most grisly sight. The star was deep in the tree, but I finally managed to retrieve it. I handed it back to the lady, and it quickly disappeared somewhere in her clothing. “Sit, I want to show you something,” she instructed. Lady Bella produced the scroll that I recognized as a star chart. “You will learn about the stars and their location in the sky. I will teach you how to use instruments to plot a course on land and sea. You will also be able to navigate on land using maps, landmarks, and surroundings when stars are hidden. Many things in the forest and plains can determine direction. Moss on sides of trees and rocks, which way leaves turn to capture the sun, even which side of a tree contains more limbs, all aid with navigation. You will be able to read sign for tracking, as well as how to hide your own sign and scent. You will become as aware of your surroundings as a wolf in the forest.” She replaced the scroll and produced another one. “This chart is one of many to teach you my language. As you can see, it is very descriptive. The proper pronunciation of various words takes much time and patience to perfect.” I looked at Lady Bella very differently now. She contained so much knowledge and skill that it was hard to believe and still harder to understand. “Now, Gamel, before we can progress with your physical training, we must retrain your body to move differently. The way you walk, run, and even hold your arms will alter. Let us go into the forest for a walk.”
We had proceeded into the forest several hundred feet when Bella stopped and said, “Gamel, you sound like a draft horse smashing through the forest. Stand and watch my movements. Listen for any sounds I make.” She then walked away from me some one hundred feet, and it was as if she floated over the ground. I couldn’t make out any sounds that couldn’t be explained by normal forest noise. She then turned and walked back to me.
“My lady,” I said in awe, “it’s as if you float over the ground.”
“You will learn this also, Gamel. Someday, you will be able to sneak up on me!”
I grinned. “I find that possibility remote, my lady. Your beauty can only be matched by your exceptional skills and talents.”
Bella chuckled, “Ah, Master Rogue, you flatter me, but remember two important things I tell you now. Every instructor desires that their student should surpass their skill, and you will not find it easy to best me, even when you have the skills.” I found that to be rather contradictory, but then again, the lady seemed full of contradiction. She continued, “Now let us move to the pasture and begin teaching you to run.”
“With all respect, my lady, running is one thing I do well.”
“Gamel, I have seen you run. You pound the ground like a wounded cow. After a day of continuous running, your spine would snap.”
“My lady, you can’t be serious. No one can run for a full day!”
“Some people from my country can run for two days if necessary. They eat while they run and only stop to sleep when the mind starts to play tricks on them. I am not that good. I have only been able to run for a day and a half. You will at least be able to run for a full day when your training is complete.”
Without further talk, we made our way to the open pasture, and I started to learn to run.
A routine was established after this day. I slept in the stall next to Demon. After chores and breaking fast with Basilea and Fulk in the morning, we went to our duties. Some mornings Fulk handled Demon on the walk as I thought it important he be able to control him also. We always made a round by the kitchen, where Demon would beg for the pastry of the day. I taught him to carry a flower or two and drop them on the ledge before taking the pie. Mildred was getting into the act also, and it wouldn’t be long before she would be delivering her own flowers. Mildred was a smart horse also, but had never spent much time around humans. The kitchen staff enjoyed the flowers for pastry trick and always came to the window to cackle about the horses. Of course, Demon thought this a great game and enjoyed the attention bestowed upon his royal personage. After the mid-day meal at our worktable, I changed into my training clothes and took the horses to the main house turnout. I improved greatly in the first month of training with my lady. We always started by me trying to find her, and usually, I could not. She continued to terrorize me. One day, I had given up locating her and sat down on the log to wait. She appeared in front of me upside down, hanging from a rope. She announced, “You did everything right, but you forgot to look upward, Gamel.” In the evenings, we practiced locating stars and studied the star chart.
After nine weeks of following this routine, we were breaking fast in the morning and suddenly realized Lady Bella's head was sticking out over the stall door. All three of us were stunned to see her in with the horses, as our worktable was right next to the stall door. We had no idea how long she had been there, nor how she got there. Knowing her, she could have been there ever since we first arose. There was always confusion in the morning, and it would have covered her entrance. After she had enjoyed herself thoroughly at our expense and we recovered from the shock of her sudden appearance, she joined us at the table, and we all broke our fast together.
Looking pleased with herself, she said, “When we finish here, there is something I want to show the three of you.”
“Should I bring the horses, my lady?” I asked.
“Yes, yes, by all means. It concerns them also.”
We all three looked at one another in our puzzlement. Fulk could not restrain himself. He asked, “My lady, would it be inappropriate to ask as to what this is about?”
The lady smiled. “Yes, it would be inappropriate.”
Now we were all really in a quandary. After eating, Fulk and I both got lead ropes. I attached mine to Demon, and Fulk connected to Mildred. We had been practicing leading without ropes but without knowing what we were getting into, we thought it best to tether both horses. If we were headed for one of Lady Bella’s scary surprises, we needed to be prepared. Basilea packed up her basket, and off we all went, through the barn and down the path to the main house. Who knows where Lady Bella was leading us or what she was planning to do to us. With tense, measured footsteps we walked on into who knew what.
Chapter 5
Walking along the path to the main house, I noticed how much deeper the wagon ruts were. For the expansion of the hold and operations, mass quantities of stone and slate were arriving daily from the lord’s quarries at the base of the Enola Mountains. Timber arrived from the logging operation in the north via the Verines River. Timber haul wagons were used to transport from the river to the hold. Along with all of the requisite materials for construction, the number of trade folk had increased greatly. The hold had become a small village in a short time. New people sifted in daily from other areas of the country. Some carried a letter of introduction signed by Lord Goodwin, and others arrived by word of mouth, hoping to find work. When the lord was away, it was the job of his managers to interview all applicants and judge worthiness and character. Lady Bella oversaw the process in his absence, and about eighty percent of those arriving without introduction or recommendations were turned away. Those rejected were given a sum to cover their travel expenses and escorted to the valley borders by men-at-arms. The hold needed skilled people, but not at the cost of polluting the population with thieves, the lazy, and those of questionable moral character. To handle the increase in families that need housing, a temporar
y tent camp was set up, including a kitchen and mess hall. Construction was already underway on family cottages, a large dormitory facility with kitchen and mess hall, as well as a new stable structure. Lady Bella saw the need for a larger schoolhouse. She demanded all children between the age of five and eleven years old be schooled. School was offered to older children, but it was not required by the hold. Two additional teachers were sought to cover the increase in pupils. When the schoolhouse was finished, it would be approximately three times the original size. Additional men-at-arms seemed to trickle in daily.
These professional soldiers were handpicked by Lord Goodwin and his captain of the guard. Most were in the employ of other noblemen and were battle-proven, hardened men. In many cases, Lord Goodwin had to compensate the lords' holding contracts on soldiers, but he paid willingly for the few worthy of service to his hold. In many cases, the employing lord would recommend those labeled as malcontent troublemakers, hoping to be rid of them. The lords holding such men were surprised that almost all were found acceptable for employ at De Ferrier Hold. What they didn’t understand is the very reasons these professional soldiers were disenchanted with their current station made them prime candidates for Serenity Valley. Many were tired of butchering men. Some had families, and Serenity Valley would offer them a much better life for their children. Most started out in their profession thinking they would fight for honor and protect those not capable of protecting themselves. They soon found that they fought for another man’s greed, ambition, or power. Some of these men had been passed around to different lords like chess pieces on a gameboard. Many no longer knew who or what they fought for; they were simply expendable tools to be used and traded at will. They only stayed in their profession because it was simply all they knew how to do. The men had to be honest to pass the interview with the captain or Lord Goodwin. After reaching the conclusion that the man was honest and of decent moral character, the men were asked by their interviewer how they would feel if asked to defend their own home and the people living within their homeland. They were told that if employed in Serenity Valley, they would not be marching on campaign or sent on crusade. Allegiance to Lord Goodwin and Lady Bella ensured they would serve to protect all those dwelling within the held lands. Any incursion beyond hold borders would be to ensure the safety of the land or to see that valued customers traveled without the threat of robbery. All men-at-arms selected stated that such an opportunity would be well beyond expectation. Although they were killers of men, they wished for some honorable way to ply their trade, or possibly a chance to redeem their lost souls. The soldiers who adopted Serenity Valley as their home were some of the fiercest men in the land. Strong, tough, scarred men came to find the hold a place they could call their home. Although extremely intimidating, these men sought redemption, direction, and purpose in their lives. Serenity Valley was the perfect place for a disenchanted soldier to find solace.
My life had been good compared to these tortured souls, although Lady Bella seemed to be borderline sadistic with her antics and surprise attacks. I am confident she would never ask me to commit crimes against man and conscience.
My gut tightened as our small group was led by Lady Bella to an unknown destination. I did not know what cunning surprise she may have in store for us. I kept Demon on a short lead, as Fulk did with Mildred. Basilea walked along tentatively next to me. Although not mean-hearted, Lady Bella never failed to exercise abundant exuberance for executing her antics. The same quality about her that I found unpredictable and terrifying was one of her most endearing. Although extremely intelligent and knowledgeable, she saw the world through a child’s eyes. She simply consumed life at a pace that others did not comprehend. Knowing her was to love her, and I did love my dear Lady Bella.
Now that love would be tested once more with one of her elaborate attacks. When we passed through the gate to the main house, she changed our course to an eastern direction into the grasslands. Basilea, Fulk, and I looked at one another with puzzlement. I just shrugged my shoulders, and we continued on. We went through the open grass until coming to the forested area, and still, we went on. When we arrived at the brook, we turned south on a narrow game trail through the woods. The trail was so narrow that once on it, we had to fall behind one another, walking in single file. By means of some minor manipulation, I managed to put Basilea in front of me, behind Lady Bella, Fulk following with Mildred. I figured Basilea could take the brunt of any surprise the lady had in waiting and allow Fulk and I opportunity for escape with our charges. When we had walked far enough to reach the clearing by the brook, we turned west, toward the main house. I thought that whatever she had planned would happen pretty soon; then, I noticed some steps I had never seen before. In the incline from the brook, wide, deep steps had been carved out of the ground and covered with flat stone. Being totally familiar with this area, I knew the steps must have been constructed in the past month. The step levels were short in height but very deep, and the horses had no problem negotiating them. The twenty steps led to a recently cut path through the trees. After walking about one hundred fifty feet, the path gave way to a natural clearing. We all spread out in step with the additional space. Demon was acting a little excited and let out a whinny. Mildred answered with one of her own. There, in the clearing, stood a structure that was obviously new.
Lady Bella stopped and turned to us. She said, “Welcome to your new quarters.”
We all just stood there for a moment, taking in the sight.
“My lady, this is for us?” I said, staring in awe.
“Yes, Gamel, it is for the three of you. It should prove much more comfortable than a bedroll on a stall floor. Well, don’t just stand here with your mouths open. Put the horses in the turnout and go inside.”
We were all just standing in bewilderment, which made Lady Bella bark out impatiently, “Go on now, hurry up. Can’t you see the horses want to see their new home?”
That seemed to bring us around. Fulk, Basilea, and I made our way to the post gate in the turnout and dropped the fresh cut rails. The horses wasted no time trotting into the turnout and beginning their investigation. With their ears pricked up and eyes wide, they sniffed and snorted at everything. They went to the heavy stone water trough and swished the water around with their noses. They ran over to the feed trough to check for contents. I noted the fence pillars were stone, with post rail spans just like the main house turnout. Next to a newly stoned well stood an outbuilding of considerable height. I opened one of the large doors to find it fully stocked with feed grass and sacks of grain. Fulk and I looked at each other with huge smiles. We were so consumed with our observations that we hadn’t noticed the two ladies had disappeared. We railed the gate and headed for the house. A large hitching post was erected just off the porch, which spanned the entire front of the dwelling. Heavy timbers held up the porch roof, which was slate covered just like the dwelling roof. There were a number of chimneys protruding from the roof that had rain caps on them. On each side of the large front door were huge windows formed into the stone walls. Windows were also present on the outer sides of the front facade. Fulk and I entered the front door to find ourselves standing on a polished marble floor. We both stopped and just took in our surroundings. From the walls hung modest tapestries where no windows or shutters existed. To the rear and center of the main room was a fully equipped kitchen area. A large stone cooking hearth was built to the left of the kitchen on the rear wall. On the right side was a good-sized clay oven. Basilea was standing in front of the clay oven with tears streaming down her face.
“Gamel, Fulk, come see my clay oven. It is amazing!” she cried out.
We went to stand next to her, and she explained all of the workings of the oven, and how the firebox was designed to provide even heating throughout the oven. Even the wood box built next to it held just the right size chips. Next to her oven was a large cabinet pantry with a work table directly beside it. On the left side of the hearth was a washtable with basin. B
asilea didn’t even notice that she was crying in her excitement. I reached up to her smiling eyes and rubbed her tears away.
Lady Bella interrupted to say, “Well, come along and see everything.” She took us on the grand tour, pointing out the table and chairs she had found in storage, along with the writing desk complete with parchment and supplies. In a large common area around the main hearth, two large chairs and a long chair for holding several people were arranged. A large table was centered between the furniture. This furniture had been made of dried logs and finished roughly by axe; it had a very forest feel to it. Cushions were fitted to seats and backrests. “Come now,” Lady Bella said after a moment, “I want to show you the bedrooms.” We all walked through the door to the first bedroom, which was no less impressive than the rest of the house. On the three outside walls were good-sized windows with shutters. Smaller tapestries hung from the overhead beams as most of the wall space was taken up with windows or furniture. Two large beds were placed in the room at opposite ends. In the middle of the room was a small table with chairs on each side. At the foot of each bed were chests filled with blankets and bed linens. The rear-facing window opened to a covered area in the turnout.
The window was open, and Demon stuck his head through and nickered. If horses could express a smile, he was doing it. The lady pointed out the stove stoned in, mid-way up the outside wall. It was the shape of a pear, with a huge oblong hole along the bottom. She explained the stove design was from her country and provided great heat when fed little fuel. Next to each bed was a small table with an oil lamp and candleholder. Next to that was a large cabinet for clothing. She opened the cabinet next to the rear bed and revealed that my clothing had already been placed there. “The other cabinet is empty at present, but you never know when you may entertain someone.” She looked at Basilea and winked. Basilea immediately turned bright scarlet, and Bella continued, “Assistant Fulk, you will find an identical bedroom on the other side of the great room. Your clothing has been moved there.” Fulk and I were beyond words, so we just stood there and stared at each other. Lady Bella stood in front of us and turned her viper-eyed, piercing stare on us, which caused shivers up everyone’s back. “I feel slighted by all of you. No one has complimented the beautiful polished floor tiles!”