Serenity Valley (13 page)

“Well, rogue boy, which is it then?”
Fina said.

“Oh, dear Lady Fina, I say it's unfair
to ask such a question. Due to my very recent and unexpected
education in the woman’s body, I have learned that a woman’s body
comes in all different shapes and sizes, every one of them unique
and beautiful.”

“I’ll say he got educated today,
that’s for sure!” Trina piped up.

The ladies all began laughing again,
until Lady Fina quieted them. “Let Young Rogue speak.”

“What I mean to say, fine and
beautiful ladies, is no matter an enormous bosom or small one, thin
body or plump, large butt or small butt, all women are uniquely
beautiful because of the mysterious and bright soul within their
body, whatever it may be.”

Fina beamed at me. “Well answered,
Rogue Boy, well answered indeed!”

“Aye; I wish I were twenty years
younger, unmarried, and without me three childs; I would show him
some of my inner beauty, I would!” one of the staff
said.

The ladies began another round of
laughter and began splashing about in the water. Suddenly, a very
penetrating voice was heard above all the noise.

There, standing on the shoreline, was
Lady Bella with her best viper-eye glare locked on us. Everyone
hushed and turned to face the lady. They knew they were in serious
trouble now. In a booming voice, Bella said, “Imagine finding the
entire kitchen empty of personnel, then following a terrible racket
to this place. I find my entire staff playing naked games in the
brook with two young boys, and not one informing me of such
doings!”

Knowing the good lady as well as I
did, I immediately understood how this was to play out, and I spoke
up, “Oh, but fine Lady Bella, please forgive us as we fell ill from
the frivolity of the moment. I am afraid our manners had
temporarily departed. My gracious lady, please forgive us and join
us if it pleases you!”

Those few kitchen ladies not
experiencing mortal fear started gasping in surprise at my
ridiculous offer.

“Well, I guess I will forgive you for
your transgressions in that case,” Bella replied.

More gasping could be heard, but no
one had the courage to say a word. With her comment, Lady Bella
immediately stripped naked and joined us in the brook. Lady Bella
had an olive-colored skin compared to the rest of us. The most
defining thing about her was her physical attributes. Although
feminine, with ample bosom and delicate curves, she was also very
muscular and lean. Very little body fat covered her well-developed
muscles, probably due to her regimen of exercise and running.
Everyone relaxed and began playing again. Many of the ladies were
looking at me as if to ask what this was about. I just looked back
at them and grinned.

Lady Bella swam over to where Basilea,
Fina, and I were talking. She said, “It is a fine day for a bit of
cooling off.”

Lady Fina spoke. “Yes, my lady, it is.
I don’t know how long it’s been since the staff was in such a grand
mood. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy ourselves, my
lady.”

“Oh, nonsense, Fina. They deserve a
break. A better staff no one could hope for.”

The kitchen staff moved in closer to
hear the conversation as Fina said, “Young Rogue here has offered
us hospitality at Sirates House any time, day or night. We have yet
to hear if that welcome extends to the use of his favorite swimming
hole?”

I thought to myself that this was an
opportune time to reaffirm my unconditional admiration for the
kitchen staff—and the commitment to care for one’s stomach, of
course. “My beautiful ladies and creators of fine cuisine, by all
means, please feel welcome and accept the hospitality of the house
and the brook whenever it should fancy you,” I said in my most
gracious voice.

Lady Bella smiled. “Well, I guess that
answers that question. And would I be welcome also, young
master?”

“Oh, my sweet lady, of course. I only
omitted saying it for I felt it went without saying!”

Basilea was next to Lady Bella, and
she leaned in a bit closer as she said, “Watch out for him, my
lady. Gamel is known throughout the hold as Silver Tongue
Rogue.”

“Oh, I’m quite aware of his charms,
but I’m afraid I am not totally immune to his flattery,” Lady Bella
replied.

Fina added, “Yes, he charms my entire
staff, ensuring his stomach never goes wanting.”

Everyone laughed easily. All tension
from having Lady Bella join us had dissipated. I couldn’t help but
notice that there was some sort of symbol painted on the lady’s
left breast. I knew that in many countries it was a common practice
for men and women to put ink on their bodies.

Unable to resist the urge, I said, “My
lady, I do not wish to be crude, but do you have an ink symbol on
your breast?”

“Oh, yes,” she answered, “it is my
personal symbol. Come here and look at it. It is a symbol I wished
to teach you.”

I moved forward, and the entire group
tightened in around me in curiosity. The lady stepped close, then
lifted herself out of the water so the symbol could be seen easily.
Everyone crowded around. I felt numerous breasts pressing against
me, a kind of sea of boobs, if you may. I looked closely at the
symbol that was just above the nipple and about two inches in size.
In dark blue ink, was the right-hand side of a crescent moon. Below
the moon was a triangle shape with a cross through it. Separated
and above the right-hand side of the triangle was one short,
straight line parallel to the line of the side. She said, “The
crescent represents under the world’s sky. The pyramid represents
the house of my father. The line along the pyramid side represents
the third child born, which would be me. I am the third child of
the house of Ackmer. Remember this symbol, Gamel. One day, you will
need to use it.”

“It’s very beautiful, my lady; it adds
mystery and suspense.”

Lady Bella giggled, and the other
ladies commented their own approval. Before we could resume our
frolicking in the water, we heard a loud bellow from the shoreline.
There, standing on the shore prancing back and forth, were Demon
and Mildred.

I said, “Hoy, Demon, how goes it,
young man?” as I moved away from the group toward the horses. Demon
was prancing around, afraid to enter the water. Mildred simply
splashed into the brook, waded out, and began to swim. Demon
watched his stepmother swim from one side of the brook to the
other, walk out, and begin grazing on some very healthy grass.
Demon was still apprehensive, dancing around. Having never been in
water before, he was unsure, but he slowly walked in, wetting his
hooves and hocks. I went to him. “It’s okay, Demon, it's only
water. Come, follow me,” I said softly, trying to be as reassuring
as possible.

Demon slowly followed me into deeper
water until most of his body was submerged. He sniffed and snorted
at the water. He was still unsure about it. As he slowly relaxed
and began to enjoy the water, I could hear the ladies in the
background, playing, splashing, and laughing. Within a few minutes,
Demon relaxed and got brave enough to swim a bit. He went out a
short way in the brook, then circled around and came back to me.
His next attempt was more confident, and he swam the width of the
brook and emerged near Mildred on the opposite shoreline. Well,
that question was answered. Although rare, a few horses don’t swim
and simply sink. Unlike humans, when horses submerge in water, they
cannot close their windpipe. Their massive lungs fill instantly,
and they drown. After a short investigation of the shoreline, Demon
started back across, with Mildred in tow. Mildred got out and
resumed her grazing while Demon curiously investigated clothing
that was strewn about on the bushes. After a good long while of
swimming, playing, and splashing about, the kitchen staff started
to emerge from the brook and locate their clothing. Everyone seemed
to be in a grand mood, refreshed from the warm water and fellowship
they'd shared. Demon was most interested in the ladies putting on
their clothing. He probably thought it unusual that humans put on
additional skin.

Fina announced, “All right, ladies,
we’ve had our fun, now there be a meal to prepare. Hungry folk
don’t stop coming.”

Soon we were all making our way to
Sirates House. Fulk and I escorted the ladies back to the kitchen,
where Fulk said, “Thank you very much for the visit, my
ladies.”

Several of the ladies responded. “Oh,
thank you two for inviting us.” “A most enjoyable afternoon.” “Most
fun I’ve had in years.”

“Fairest ladies, please feel welcome
at the house at any time, and make use of the brook whenever you
like,” I told them.

The ladies returned to their duties,
and Fulk and I turned to go but found Lady Bella standing directly
in front of us. I knew she wouldn’t waste an opportunity to ply a
bit of terror.

“Master Gamel, Assistant Fulk, thank
you for a very enjoyable afternoon,” she said. “It was much
fun.”

“You are most welcome, my lady,” Fulk
said. “We would be honored if you would join us for the evening
meal.”

She looked pleased with the
invitation. “I will be by at dusk, then. I will see what Basilea
has planned for the meal. Until tonight, young men.”

With that, we retired to our retreat,
securing the horses for the night in the turnout. Checking the
outbuilding, we found a good supply of grain feed for Mildred. The
grain was a mixture of oats and cracked corn. Although Mildred
grazed on rich grass, I thought it best to supplement her diet with
the grain while she nursed. With our duties seen to, Fulk and I
retired to the house, where we lit some of the oil lamps in the
great room. We stocked the wood box next to the hearth from the
stacked wood on the porch and lit a good fire. We both sat down in
the chairs circling the hearth and admired the flames.

Looking quite content, Fulk said,
“Gamel, I cannot think of a better day of my life than
today.”

“Fulk, someday, we will be tested to
our limits physically and mentally. When those dreary days are upon
us, let us look back upon this day and remember the perfect day,
and our perfect home.”

“Aye, let this day sustain us through
troubled times,” he agreed.

We were both fast asleep in front of
the fire when the rear door opened to reveal Lady Bella and Basilea
carrying baskets. Fulk and I got up to welcome the two women and
offer assistance.

Bella said, “Good evening, gentlemen.
My, this house is very inviting with the fire burning in the
hearth, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes, my lady,” I replied. “And
thank you for everything you have done for us. Basilea, is there
something we can do to help?”

“Yes, indeed, there is. Take this
haunch of beef and get it turning on the spit, please.”

More than glad to get the meat
cooking, we had it spitted in no time, and the fire tended to.
Basilea took the kettle from the swing arm and put a few tubers in
it with some water and some seasoning added. She replaced the
kettle and swung it into the hearth. Without being asked, Fulk and
I set the table with plates, utensils, and mugs. With some
exploration, we located a jug of cider and placed it on the table
with a large jar of water and a dish of butter. With nothing left
to do, we went back to the hearth to tend the meat while Lady Bella
and Basilea worked on something in the kitchen. Lady Bella asked
questions every so often as Basilea worked on making what I assumed
to be fresh bread. After about thirty minutes, Lady Bella and
Basilea sat down in front of the hearth on the wide chair. By now,
a most heavenly scent was filling the great room. Fulk and I smiled
at each other.

“I know that smell! Basilea is baking
her famous black bread,” he said happily.

“Of course I am, Fulk, do you think I
could pass up the opportunity to brand the house with my personal
cooking smell? How could I possibly resist using my beautiful new
clay oven?” Basilea responded. Turning to Bella, she said, “Thank
you again, my lady. It is the finest oven anyone could dream
of.”

“Do not worry of it. You three are my
favorite young misfits. If I wish to indulge you a bit, it is my
rightful place to do so. I have yet to have any of my own children,
so I will simply think of you as my own,” Bella
answered.

“Thank you, my lady,” Basilea said.
“We are not worthy of your favor.”

“Oh, but you are. The three of you are
key to the future of the hold in more ways than you dare try to
realize. The future is a cloudy place, but history does repeat
itself over and over again. I tell you all that someday, I will
entrust you with my life, and something even more precious to me.
The three of you are devoted to one another in a bond as strong as
any family ties. You are also bound to me, as I am to you. We are
family.” Basilea, Fulk, and I looked at one another in amazement
before our gazes returned to Lady Bella as she continued, “Once
orphaned, all of you are kin to me now. Unfortunately, such
devotion comes at a price. What say the three of you? Can you trust
me unconditionally?” We all pledged our allegiance and devotion to
her wholeheartedly. “Good. I will be making changes in your lives
that you may not understand. You must trust that one day, all will
be clear to you. The lessons learned and the skills taught will all
come to play in securing our way of life here in Serenity Valley. I
truly love my motherland, but this is my home that I love with all
my heart.”