Serenity Valley

by Rocky Bills

  Basilea and I made the same statement and hurried out of the room as quickly as possible. So ended the first day of festival. What a good day, I thought. How lucky I am to have Basilea and all of my friends with me!

  Chapter 10

  Not wanting Demon to wake us with a cold water dousing like previous mornings, I set a trap for him. While Demon and Mildred were busy eating, I put my plan in play. I had fashioned a flat stick that I wedged into the stone crevice directly above the center of my window. Balanced on top of the stick, I placed a small metal pot filled with water. I had collected several long horse hairs and tied them together, forming a strong and almost invisible string. One end of the string was tied to the kettle handle, and the other end to a horseshoe nail I drove into the bottom center of the window opening. I stood back and admired my work. If Demon came to the window to shower us with cold water, he would trip the kettle. He had earned himself a good scare, and I couldn’t wait to see him with cold water in his face.

  As had happened previously, my personal body warmer, Basilea, got me too hot during the night. I got up and opened the shuttered window. I murmured under by breath, “All right, try your game now, Demon. You’re in for a surprise.”

  Just before daylight, Basilea and I were jolted from our sleep by a shower of ice-cold water. We jumped out of bed, gasping for breath. “DEMON! I'm coming for you, Demon!” I could just make out a shape in the window. Something was different this time; Demon held the kettle in his mouth. He whinnied and bobbed his head up and down, turned from the window, squealed, and ran away. He had used my own trap on me! This was getting out of hand. Horses were not to be figuring things out like this.

  Fulk stirred in his bed. “Problems with your horse, Gamel?” he asked. He was laughing at us while we tried to dry the icy water from our faces.

  As we were all up early anyway, Basilea decided we would have a good meal. Goodwin and Bells couldn’t stay, so they headed for the main house under cover of darkness. Fulk and I cooked pork strips and eggs on the hearth while Basilea put a batch of her monstrous biscuits in her clay oven. A huge kettle of tea was hung in the hearth.

  Fulk, Basilea, and I sat at the large table once everything was ready, and I asked Basilea, “How did you and the ladies make out on bread sales yesterday?”

  “Beyond all expectations. We filled a huge pot with coin yesterday. It took two of the staff to carry it to the main house. We only charge three silver pennies per loaf, but it adds up when you sell so many.”

  Fulk asked, “How is all the money to be divided up?”

  “We all agreed that after we pay for all the ingredients we use, the total amount remaining will be split among all the kitchen staff.”

  “You mean among the ladies working the bread tent?”

  “Those working the bread tent and the ones in the kitchen as well. It’s only fair that all get a share. Those working in the kitchen are doing double the work while the bread tent is manned. Everyone does their part.”

  Fulk responded, “That seems to be fair. You might want to touch base with the master accountant and have your earnings logged and placed in the hold vault until it’s divided. You’re going to run out of kettles to put it in. Besides, if someone like Trina’s husband gets wind of it, you will come up missing your earnings.”

  “That’s a good idea, Fulk. I’ll arrange it this morning.”

  “Oh, by the way, you two,” I spoke up, “if anyone ever needs money, this will be in the kitchen cabinet.” I pulled back the flap of my britches pocket and pulled out the bag of coin Forwin had given me. It made a loud clank and jingle as it hit the table.

  With wide eyes, Basilea asked, “What’s that!”

  “It’s our commission for helping Forwin’s sales,” I said. Fulk and I explained what had been happening with the rich lords, how easy it was to use their jealousy to get them to spend money on goods made at the hold.

  Basilea was giggling by the time we were finished. “I’m not sure it’s very nice to take advantage of the weak-minded.”

  Fulk chirped in with, “No one’s forcing them to do anything. If they think a new pair of boots will make their holds more like ours, well, there just isn’t much hope for them, is there?” We all chuckled a little.

  “How much money is in that bag, Gamel?” Basilea asked when we had quieted. “I don’t know. I haven’t looked in it.”

  “You really don’t care very much about money, do you? You spent your coin buying presents for everyone else. You just don’t care, do you?”

  “The best things in life cannot be purchased.” I winked at Basilea. “And I did buy something for myself.”

  “What would that be, sir?”

  “Why, these fine boots I’m wearing, of course.”

  Fulk was shaking his head. “I just don’t know if there is hope for you, Gamel.” He picked up the bag of coin and opened the top. “My word! There must be twenty gold in here!”

  I said, “Well, it’ll be here if anybody needs it.” I retrieved the bag, strode to the kitchen, and threw it behind a pot on the top shelf of the storage cabinet.

  Fulk was still shaking his head as he said, “Nope, no hope at all!”

  Basilea smiled. “Well, it’s good to have something for an emergency. By the way, good sir, are you taking me to theatre this evening?”

  “Why, of course I am, my princess. This entire festival is but for one purpose: to place a smile upon a face as beautiful as the evening sunset over the Enola Mountains.”

  “Why, thank you, good sir. Fulk, are you taking Nesta?”

  “Oh, yes, there is a different theatre group playing tonight,” Fulk answered. “The presentation is going to be about the crusades.”

  “You and Nesta can meet up with Gamel and me. We can go together. I miss Nesta; I hardly see her anymore.”

  “Basilea, if you and Fulk see to the food, I will go feed the horses. I need to look for the kettle anyway.”

  Fulk jibed, “Good luck with that!”

  I went out the front door and greeted the posted guard. “Good morning, Thereon; how goes it?”

  “All is well, Gamel,” he replied. “Should have food for you in a few minutes.”

  “Much appreciated, Gamel.”

  I fed the horses and topped their water off from the well, then climbed the fence to begin the search for the kettle.

  Demon and Mildred were both eating, but they watched as I searched the turnout. After a while, I said, “Okay, Demon, where did you put the kettle?” Demon just whinnied and shook his head back and forth playfully. “No help from you then, aye?” I heard a snort as I resumed my search. While searching the rear open paddock, I sensed something was not right. The back of my neck was burning, and my hair felt like it was standing on end. I took cover behind a large tree and scanned for a presence. I withdrew a hoof pick from my pocket and held it tightly in my right hand. Then I saw it: a form in the shape of a man, slowly moving toward me. Something else caught my attention, a disturbance in the air around me. I looked to my left side and found Demon next to me, his eyes fixed on the man thing approaching us. I yelled out, “Halt! Who goes there?”

  Within moments, three guards were next to Demon and me, with weapons drawn.

  “Oh, sheath your weapons before ya bloody fools hurt yourselves. It’s me, Ox!”

  I called out, “Master Ox, what brings you out this good morning?” I noticed he was wearing full battle attire. His chain mail was covered with a lightweight scaled armor, and his belt contained an array of throwing knives, short sword, and a dagger. On his back was a large quiver of arrows, and on his shoulder, his bow. I had never seen Ox dressed for battle. He made a very imposing image. He had a very serious look on his face as he answered, “Gamel, Thereon, I needs to talk ta ya inside right now!”

  The three of us quickly made our way into the house, where a somewhat alarmed Basilea and Fulk were just finishing the assembly of break fast biscuits. Ox promptly made his way to the table, sat down, and sta
rted eating a biscuit. After a sample, he said, “Hey, this be really good. Been out scouting all night, could eat a whole goat on da hoof 'bout now!” Basilea poured him a mug of hot tea, and we all sat down around the table as he continued. “I been tracking since yesterday afternoon some scum; least three been doin' reconnaissance round da perimeter of ta hold. Mostly just standin' in ta edge a da treeline an' such. Being ah advance scout party fer a group, I believes. Found this in da turnout.” Ox produced a light brown blood-soaked piece of tan linen. “Guess he met yer beastie last night; bet he shat himself good!” He laughed loudly while we all sat there with concerned looks. Realizing the solemn mood in the room, he stopped laughing and started talking again. “Oh, come on, no one killed da cat. Ain’t notin' goin' ta happen we ain’t goin' ta handle, by God! Thereon, what be da plans fer Lord an Lady today?”

  “They plan to entertain the noble families in the main house during the day and attend theatre this evening.”

  “Notin' going ta happen in ta main house, security too good. Get wit' Terric an tell 'em no more walkabout for Lord an' Lady. Sayer cun give tours of da stables an such. I want guards, twenty should do, cloaked an smocked in ta crowd ta blend in wit the normal folk at all times. When Lord an Lady attends theatre dis evening, I want Basilea an' Gamel wit um at all times. Fulk, you wit me after ta midday meal.”

  “Master Ox, where will the two of you be?” I asked.

  “We will be 'round. You probly won’t be knowin' where, but we be seeing ya ta whole time. You children be wearing smocks and cloaks ta cover yer weapons. They won’t not be expectin' fierce children such as you. Thereon, tell Terric ta have a mounted squad ready fer any dat try escape in da woods; got ta get um all or dey be comin' back ta us. Most likely place they be tryin' is da theatre or afterward.”

  “If we know they will try, why not just have the lord and lady stay in today?” I broke in to ask.

  “Da bastards will just wait fer 'nother try, 'haps one we not ready fer. Dey only be interested in killin'. They have no honor 'cept they kill or die tryin', an dey don’t be doin' no talkin'. Don’t be a wounding um, just send um ta hell. Dey won’t be lackin of company there. Now I be gettin' some shut-eye here by ta fire fer a couple hours. You go on 'bouts yer business like everything be normal.” With that statement, Ox went to the big chair by the hearth, leaned his quiver and bow against the back of it, stretched out, and promptly began to snore. Basilea got a blanket from the sleeping quarters and covered him up. “Thank you, child” was all Ox said. Then the snoring started again.

  Thereon looked at the three of us with a worried expression. He said, “I must find Captain Terric. I will see you later, then.”

  Basilea stopped him at the door, handing him one of the biscuits. “Here, eat this on the way to the armory. You don’t know when you’ll eat next!”

  Thereon took the biscuit. “Thank you.” He was out the front door in a flash. Some curt talking took place outside. The sounds of quick footsteps were heard shortly after that.

  Basilea and Fulk loaded a tray with biscuits and hot tea for the guards outside. I went to the desk and got drawing materials. When Basilea and Fulk returned, I said, “Let’s do a bit of planning, shall we?” They each took a chair, one on either side of me. I was busy drawing the festival grounds on a piece of parchment. “If we have to do this, let’s pick the spot for it,” I said.

  “I’m with you,” Fulk said. “At least that way we can have the advantage.”

  I finished drawing the layout with the stage and added the treeline on the southern edge of the grounds. “Fulk, what distance can you and Ox shoot a moving target with accuracy?”

  “About sixty yards for a running target. More than that takes the arrow too long to hit, and the target can change course.”

  “Basilea and I will be with Bells and Goodwin here.” I drew an X on the diagram. “That will be fifty yards from the treeline. Can you and Ox set up good vantage points around this area?”

  “No problem. We will take the high ground, or in this case, the high trees.”

  “Basilea and I will sit on the south side of Bells and Goodwin and try to keep anyone from sitting to the south of us. We don’t want any folk getting in the middle of it.”

  Basilea said, “We will get word to the guards to sit around us, dressed as common folk.”

  I looked at Basilea and Fulk, and stretching my right arm in front of Basilea, I said, “Join hands.” Fulk took my outstretched hand on the table, the other joined with Basilea. I prayed, “Dear Lord, help us use what we have learned to protect our family this day. May we defend them with honor. Oh, and Lord, if by chance I should be standing in front of you in the near future, please don’t judge me too harshly for my occasional departure from the truth, or my occasional manipulation of the weak-minded, or for stealing a pie from time to time. Oh yeah, and for swimming with naked women.” We all tittered a little bit. It seemed like there was some chuckling from Ox’s direction, too. We all turned toward the hearth, but only heard snoring.

  Fulk spoke next. “Lord, all that goes for me too, and forgives me for being a bully all those years. I was too stupid to realize others had just as sorry a story as mine.”

  “Lord,” Basilea spoke up for her turn, “please, forgives me for lying to Gamel and giving him a hard time the day Demon was born. He didn’t forget we had a date the night before. I just wanted some attention.”

  I gasped with disbelief, “Oh, you, how could you!” Fulk and Basilea were laughing at me. We swore we could hear Ox laughing in the next room, but the snoring resumed. Once our laughter died down, I said, “Fulk, when Ox wakes up, clear this plan with him.”

  From Ox’s direction we heard, “The plans er fine. Fulk, get your arse ta Terric an' bring him up ta date. Tell him ta post five personal guard long ta south so ta look normal. Get these guards relieved 'ere wit regular soldier in ta guard attire. I want all ta personal guard on ta field, they being ta best fighters. Burn ta diagram tafter you goes over it wit um before da fool has ta chance ta post it somewhere. And you children shuts up an gets on 'bout ya business. All tis planning an praying 'tis givin me a headache!”

  We all looked at one another, I said, “Be safe, my friends.”

  Fulk added, “Be safe, my friends.”

  Basilea nodded her agreement and added, “Be safe, my friends. Ox, be safe.” All that could be heard from the hearth area was loud snoring.

  Fulk said in a low whisper, “How can he hear us when he’s asleep snoring?”

  Before we could say anything, we heard, “I can hear ta ant scratch him balls at near one hundred paces, an tat being when um sleepin', an I don't snore; shut up!” Immediate snoring resumed from his direction. We all gasped out and laughed loudly. We definitely heard Ox laughing too, but when we quieted down, all we heard was snoring.

  Basilea and I went into our sleeping quarters to dress for battle. Fulk would be doing the same thing in his room. First, we each stripped naked to our waist and put on a tight-fitted linen shirt. Over that, we dressed in a shirt with heavy padding. A custom-fitted suit of chain mail went over the padded shirt, and a lightweight boiled leather breastplate went over the mail. Covering that, we each dressed in a lightweight long-sleeved shirt. We put on our belts containing pouches in the front for death stars, and sheaths in the rear held throwing knives. Basilea clipped a scabbard on to the side of her belt, which held a tanto, a twelve-inch version of her katana sword. She then put her arms through a harness, the straps braced on her shoulders. The harness held her katana sword with the handle angled just slightly to the right. Basilea tested the position by reaching over her shoulder with her right hand and drawing it in less time than it took for the blink of an eye. She replaced the katana almost as fast as she had drawn it. On her right shoulder harness strap she clipped a scabbard holding a katara, the fist-held dagger. It was positioned upside down.

  On my belt, I snapped the scabbard for my kukri on the left side. I pulled the harness over my sh
oulders that held my battle-axe. On the left side of my harness was a strap that ran from the shoulder and attached to the belt. To this strap I attached a flapped leather pouch holding several quoits. I tested the reach on my axe by grabbing the handle and pushing back, which released it, then pulled it up over my shoulder, twirling it one complete revolution and engaging my wrist through the leather strap at the same time. I twirled it another revolution, releasing the strap, swung it over my shoulder, and slid it into its scabbard, snapping it back in place. On the right side of my shoulder harness strap, I attached my katara upside down. To cover the harness straps, we wore lightweight cloaks that had clasps that released when we hit them.

  Fulk’s equipment was slightly different. At the rear of his belt were throwing knives, and in the front, pouches holding death stars. On the right side of his belt, he attached a short sword. Over his right shoulder, he wore a harness made to hold a katara upside down; the harness attached to the right side of his belt. On the left side of his belt, he attached a long dagger. His chain mail and breastplate were lighter weight, more fit for running.

  With everyone prepared for battle, we reentered the great room to find Ox missing. I looked at Fulk and nodded and he nodded back. “Well, I guess we’re ready then?” I said.

  Basilea responded, “Just one more thing.”

  From a pocket in her loose-fitting linen pants, she removed the bright red ribbon that had decorated her necklace box. She placed it in her teeth while she tightly braided her hair. When she was satisfied with the braid, she tied the ribbon on the end. Fulk strapped the quiver to his back so the arrow feathers were over his right shoulder. He went to the wall where his bow was strapped into a jig to prevent warping. He released it from the jig and strung it. He hung the bow over his left shoulder.

  I asked Fulk, “Have you thought of something to tell Nesta? Something to keep her away from the theatre tonight?”

  “I’m going to tell her that I’m taking some lords’ sons on an evening boar hunt. If she would wait until tomorrow, I want to take her to the theatre. I expect to return after the performance starts, but if she will stay at her house, I’ll stop by as soon as I return.”