Serenity Valley

by Rocky Bills

  As soon as we all had mugs full of sweet wine, Bells said, “In case anyone is wondering, I fully intend to get drunk. Although I am not normally a corruptor of the youth, please feel free to join me in the debauchery if you wish to.” We all shared smiles with one another then began drinking with renewed enthusiasm. The lady was getting a few sheets to the wind and began talking. “What you all need to know is that our security here is directly relative to how well we prepare ourselves. Gamel has already been in training for some time now, and that will continue. Now that you have improved your coordination, we will start training with weapons. I have selected an array of weapons that are fitting for your build, size, and strength. Although you will be trained in conventional arms, you will concentrate on these specialized arms. Your other primary duty will remain Demon. I know he is vital to the future, although what part he will play remains in question. Fulk, your commitment to Demon will also remain a primary duty. Your other duties follow in kind with Gamel’s. You will begin training for evasion, deception, and weapons. You already move well and will be a great runner because of your stature. Your primary weapons will be long bow, broad sword, and dagger. I have arranged with the weapons master for you to start training tomorrow with him.”

  “Excuse me, Bells, but are you not to see to my training personally?” Fulk asked.

  “No, I will see to your secondary weapons training. I am only fair with the long bow, but Master Ox can fire twelve shafts or more per minute and find his mark. I have seen him loose twenty shafts to flight before the first one finds its target. He is a master archer, so he is naturally the best choice to train you in such.”

  “Oh, I had no idea my—I mean Bells.”

  “I fully expect you to match his expertise in time, Fulk. Basilea, I have not forgotten you. Your duties will change the most. I have touched base with Fina, and Ada’s daughter will be taking over the bakery duties once you have trained her.”

  Basilea looked at the lady. “What is it you would have me do if not bake, my—sorry, Bells?”

  “Like the boys, you will enter a training program similar, but unique for your abilities. You are most like me, so your weapons will be fitting to your stature, something I have much experience with. I will teach you to use gracefulness and speed against much stronger opponents and defeat them.” Basilea had a puzzled look on her face, but no question came to mind. Bells said, “Oh, don’t be scared. Don’t any of you be afraid. What you train for will probably not come to pass for many years. I hope that none of you ever have to utilize what you learn, but I know that there will be greedy men who would steal our way of life from us. History has taught us that the unprepared are easy targets and soon perish from this world. My primary concern is for my family’s welfare. You are now part of my family. You will be able to survive, and possibly save our beloved Serenity Valley.”

  We all took a moment to sip our wine and consider what the lady had said. I asked, “Bells, why is it that someone would take by force something that is within their own capability to create?” Everyone was troubled by this question and adopted looks of concentration.

  “Gamel, that is a simple question with a complex answer. The three of you have had a life here that I envy. You have not had to experience the evil in the world. I tell you, there are evil and cruel people out there. These people have one thing in common. They only think of their own dark desires. They are motivated by jealousy, greed, power, and often cruelty. I believe this to be a form of insanity. They can come at you from any direction, with any face. They are never happy because their desires are insatiable. When they come at you, you can outthink them, outmaneuver them, or employ my preferred method of dealing them. I like to end them, so they do not come back. Their blight on the world is discontinued.”

  After some serious contemplation, Fulk asked, “Bells, have you needed to end people before?”

  “Yes, Fulk, I have. I take no joy in it. It is a weight on the soul, but I have killed twenty people in my defense and defending my family.”

  I thought about that for a moment, then asked, “Bells, have you had to kill since coming to Serenity Valley?” Everyone looked with trained interest to the lady.

  “Yes, I have,” she answered. “I have killed five men since my marriage to Goodwin. Three right here on the property, and two while traveling.”

  “Well, that’s certainly sobering. Killers right here on hold lands. I guess we do live a sheltered life.”

  “Gamel, Basilea, Fulk, it is the life you deserve. I fear that, before long, others will come to claim the paradise we have. Of course, there is always the threat of my father’s enemies too; they seek to strike at him through me. The best advice I can give you when you are facing someone who wants your life is: do not hesitate, do not pause to judge them, just act, and leave judgment to God.” Everyone was a little stunned. We continued to drink wine and watch the dancing flames until Fulk spoke.

  “Look, everyone,” he said, “look at the bright side of it all. At least we will be proficient at arranging their overdue meeting with God.”

  Everyone, serious in thought and slowed by the wine, took a few moments to realize what Fulk had said. When we turned our focus to him, Fulk was grinning like an opossum caught with an egg. I don’t know what was funnier, what he said or his stupid expression, but everyone lost control. The lady’s personal guard must have thought we lost our minds.

  The Lady looked at Fulk, trying not to laugh, and said, “You say the most profound things,” and we all started laughing again. Fulk made another round with the wine skin, even though we were all very drunk already. Basilea stood and stumbled into the kitchen, soon returning with a loaf of bread. We laughed and passed the bread around as each tore a desired chunk from the loaf. We washed the bread down with more wine, of course. We soon became quiet again, but content with our state of mind.

  Then, Bells asked, “Basilea, would you care to join me on a trip to the crapper?”

  Such a blunt question roused laughter, although anything would be funny right now. Basilea said, “Yes, my, my Bells. It would be a privilege.”

  The two women headed out the front door. Bells called, “Oh, Devin, have you seen a facility around here?”

  “Yes, my lady, right over here at the treeline. Please take my arm so I may assist you.”

  While the ladies were outside, Fulk and I stepped out the rear door and relieved ourselves in the open turnout. We checked on the horses and found them both down and asleep in the covered turnout. Moonlight lit the stall area through the light box. It was very impressive indeed. We resumed our positions in our favorite places in front of the fire, and Fulk added a bit of wood and stirred it in with a poker.

  Soon the ladies were at the front door. “Oh, thank you so much, Devin. You men stay warm. Build a fire pit,” we could hear Bells say.

  Devin replied, “Yes, my lady. Welcome, my lady. Sleep well.”

  In a slurred voice, Bells said, “Thank you soooo much.”

  When they rejoined us, Basilea took a chair, and the lady promptly stretched out on the wide chair and laid her head in my lap. She said, “I think I’ll just rest here a bit, if you don’t mind too very much.” It was some time later that I awoke to find everyone had fallen asleep. I looked at Lady Bella’s face. She was so childlike in her sleep. I couldn’t help but feel affection for her; Bells was a good person born into a situation she could not control. If I could, I would make her life more enjoyable.

  I gently picked up her head and slipped out from under her. I pulled down the bedcovers on the extra bed in my quarters and added a few chunks of wood to the clay stove. I was very impressed with the efficiency of the small stove. I approached the lady and tried to wake her, but she would not be revived. This was probably the best sleep she'd had in a long time. Well, I didn’t consider myself handsome, but I was strong. I picked the lady up and moved her into the bed quarters. I removed her tunic and suddenly realized the lady was armed. In a pouch in her tunic were two o
f the death stars. In the back of her belt, I found three throwing knives. When I removed her belt, I saw two daggers of a kind I had never seen before. I placed all the weapons on the bed table and removed her clothing down to undergarments. Then I tucked the blankets in around her neck. I couldn’t help but bend down and lightly kiss her forehead. “Goodnight, Bells. Sleep well,” I murmured.

  I straightened up and turned to retrieve another charge and noticed Basilea leaning against the doorway. Basilea walked over to me and said softly, “I sent Fulk to bed. You know that’s how you put me to bed when you nursed me back to health from the pox. You love the lady.”

  “Yes, I do. She is a fine person with an honest soul.”

  “I know; I love her also. Is that your bed?”

  “Yes, go ahead. I’ll bunk with Fulk.”

  “Don’t be silly,” she argued, “get in.”

  I was puzzled, but I had no intention of arguing about it. Soon I was in my underbritches and in bed. Basilea stripped down to her undergarments and said, “Well, scoot over, sir.” I quickly complied, and she joined me, pressing her body against mine. She grabbed my arm and placed it over her chest.

  “Good night, Gamel.”

  “Good night, my heart.” I withdrew my hand and moved her golden hair from her neck and kissed her lightly.

  “That’s very good, dear sir. Get some sleep now.”

  I placed my arm back around her, which she quickly grabbed and placed back on her chest, covering it with her hand. She gave my hand a soft squeeze. I could feel Basilea’s body rise and fall with her breath. I could smell the sweet bread scent in her hair. Without notice, I slipped into a restful sleep.

  Morning came too soon. I had a terrible headache, and my eyes remained blurry for some time after I awoke. At first, I could not recognize where I was, but I could recognize Basilea’s golden hair nestled against my chest. Then I remembered we were in the new house. We had gotten drunk last night, so Basilea and Lady Bella spent the night.

  The clay stove in the corner still produced heat. I thought about what an impressive device it was. I carefully extricated myself from Basilea and got out of bed. As I got dressed, Basilea stirred and said, “Good morning, good sir.”

  “Morning, dear one. Go back to sleep; I just need to see to the horses.”

  Basilea sat up on the edge of the bed, rubbing the sides of her head. With a yawn, she said, “I need to get up also. I’ll fix food to break fast.”

  I finished dressing and stopped to check on the lady. She was curled up on her side, her jet black hair partially covering her face. She looked totally peaceful, childlike. Seeing her like this, it was hard to imagine the strong, independent Lady Bella. I could feel the affection for this woman well up inside of me. I went to the great room and started a fire in the hearth, then washed up at the basin. I exited out the rear door to the turnout. The horses were not in the covered area, so I went through the maze walls and out in the open area, with still no sign of the horses. I walked around to the feed area and found them. Mildred was dining on cut grass and feed grain at the trough. Demon was busy getting his meal from Mildred. I said, “Well, good morning, lady and gent.” Mildred just took a cursory look and continued eating. All Demon could manage was a small grunt. I checked the water and found it had been recently filled from the well. I picked out a good-sized tree and moved to it and began to relieve myself. Something caught my attention, and I looked to the right, where I spied Fulk. He had obviously had the same idea and was acting on it. I said, “Oye, Fulk, how goes things with you?”

  “Very well, if it weren't for this blasted headache.”

  “I know; me too. Guess it’s the price for drinking so much.”

  We finished our business and went back in through the back. I walked through the house to the front door and stepped outside. The guards had gathered some large stones to form a fire pit. A good blaze was burning away the morning chill. I noticed the guard had been changed.

  “Good morning, Thereon,” I said as greeting. “How goes it?”

  “All is well, Gamel. Does the lady yet sleep?”

  “Yes, she still rests. Guess she needed it.”

  “We are all very happy the lady had a good time last night. She deserves a rest from her burdens.”

  Nodding in agreement, I asked, “Thereon, does the lady often carry weapons?”

  “The lady is always armed, and she knows how to use every one of them.”

  “So you have seen her fight?”

  “I have observed her end two people, if that be what you mean. It really wasn’t much of a fight.”

  “Over quick, was it?”

  “They drew swords, and she cut them down in the blink of an eye. She was walking away before they hit the ground. Most impressive thing I ever seen. We all adore her. Not a man on her guard would hesitate to give his life for her!”

  “Good to know. Let me see if the tea is hot yet.”

  I picked up the mugs that had been left on the porch and entered the house. Fulk was setting the table, and Basilea already had something cooking in her oven. The smell of cooking pork strips at the hearth filled the great room. A huge pot of tea was hanging in the hearth. I tended the pork strips, removing the cooked ones and starting new ones. It wasn’t long before I had a platter of cooked meat. By this time, Lady Bella had dressed and entered the room. “Good morning, everyone,” she said. We all said our good mornings, and she asked, “What is that wonderful smell?”

  “It's pork strips my, my Bells,” I told her.

  “It smells yummy!” she said.

  Basilea informed us, “We are having fresh biscuits, pork strips, eggs, and hot tea to break our fast.”

  “Oh, Basilea, that sounds wonderful,” Bells said. “Do we have enough hot tea for the guard?”

  “We have plenty of everything. I will make break fast biscuits for them,” she answered.

  We all looked at one another, and I asked, “What is a break fast biscuit?”

  “I take a large biscuit, prepare the halves with honey and butter, and put an egg and pork strips inside. It is a meal all in one, easy to eat on your feet.”

  Lady Bella looked at Basilea. “That sounds fantastic. I must try one myself.”

  Fulk and I seconded the idea. When I had enough pork strips finished, I poured out the extra grease and started cooking eggs in the same pan. I broke the yolks so no one would mess their clothes. With Basilea’s huge biscuits finished, we began preparing the food. We prepared five of the huge honey-buttered biscuits with two eggs each and pork strips. With the biscuits prepared, a huge tray was loaded with the biscuits and mugs of hot tea. Lady Bella took the tray out the front door. “Good morning, Thereon, please call your men in to break their fast,” she said cheerily.

  “Yes, my lady; thank you, my lady, and good morning to you also.”

  The Lady returned inside, and we sat together to break our fast. Bells said, “Oh, Basilea, this is good, really good!”

  “Thank you, Bells. It’s something we make for people who have no time to sit and eat. It’s quick, effective, and somewhat tasty.”

  “Oh, Basilea,” I said, “the only thing better is the reflection of water in your emerald eyes.”

  Lady Bella choked a bit. Basilea smiled and giggled. Fulk thought for a moment and stated, “Well, yea, the eye thing and the black bread, of course.” We all laughed.

  Bells said, “My, Assistant Fulk, you do command a keen wit.”

  With our stomachs full, we discussed our schedules for the day, and Lady Bella left for the main house. Fulk and I decided to take the horses out for a training session. Basilea was going to clean up the house, then report to the kitchen to work with Ada’s daughter, Roesia, who would be taking over the bakery.

  I had Fulk leading Demon this morning. As we headed out toward the stable area, I noticed work on the main wall had begun. Much of the great wall and turrets had been salvaged to contribute to the main house additions. Now the main house complex spra
wled in this and that direction, with little concern for symmetry and flow. Function had been the only concern. Now a sprawling facility with all manner of different rooflines, the main house was basically indefensible. It stood unprotected without the great wall. A train of great ox-drawn wagons shuttled the large quarried blocks of stone to rebuild the wall. Deep wagon ruts could already be seen leading off toward the west, where Lord Goodwin operated the quarries. I loved the hold open and free, but I knew it better to be defensible than see it destroyed. I thought of Basilea, Fulk, and myself. We were being prepared for the future, just as the hold was being prepared.

  Chapter 7

  Basilea, Fulk, and I walked along the road that encircled the great house. Demon followed along behind me, with Mildred at his right side. We were all suffering from nervous excitement. Today we were to be introduced to our weapons the lady had personally selected for us to specialize in. Ox, the weapons master, ran the armory and training facilities. He would see to our basic weapons training, except for Fulk, who would specialize in the long bow. Ox’s abilities with the long bow surpassed even Lady Bella’s. We rounded the north end of the main house compound and could now view the western side of the complex, which contained the armory and training grounds. The armory was located in the northernmost end of the guard barracks. Weapons of all description were stored here, along with shields and light armor. A great circular wall extended from the guard barracks, creating several acres of theatre space. The closest grounds contained walls, trees, ditches, and dummies for training ground forces. Grounds farthest west were set up for horse mounted training, with a number of tracks and courses. We entered the courtyard adjoining the armory and access to the training grounds. I turned to Demon. “Young man, could you occupy yourself for a while so we can see Master Ox?” Demon nickered and trotted off with Mildred to the training grounds. As we neared the armory, we could see Lady Bella talking to Ox in the exhibition arena, where a number of targets and dummies were set up for purpose of demonstration. We approached, and I greeted them, “Good morning, Lady Bella, Master Ox.”