The Temporal Knights (11 page)

Once everyone was seated, a small army of young men and women from the kitchens began to arrive with an impressive array of food, including enormous amounts of fresh pork and beef and a variety of vegetables and breads. The meat, which was freshly killed earlier in the day, had never been refrigerated or frozen and was delicious beyond belief. There was no water on the table, and the only drink was either
a thick, strong mead, or a light red wine that was a bit old and full of small lumps. The atmosphere was strange and wonderful to Peebles and the rest, but despite everything, it was still the women who captured their fancy and attention. All of his men, even Lemay and Robertson were riveted on every movement and word of even the lowest serving wench. The Ealdorman, and a few of his knights, notably Sir Oldalf, noticed this undue attention.

“Ye
be sailors?” the knight finally asked, who as an adopted Northman had some knowledge of this affliction.

General Peebles chuckled softly, partially because the question was such an apt one, and partially from the mead, which a strong alcoholic beverage brewed from honey. He warned himself against the dangers of over indulgence at this critical time, but then the Lady Merwinna was leaning toward him and laughing also, and he felt very good.

“No,” he finally answered Sir Oldalf, “not sailors, but none of my men have seen a woman in over five years. All of our women were killed by invaders.”

“All?” Merwinna asked very concerned. “Yor tormentors didn’t enslave any?”

Peebles shook his head slightly, growing suddenly sober. “No, all killed. All four billion,” he added though the number meant little to his hosts. He looked about the room filled with gaiety and noise and smiled sadly. His men seemed to be truly enjoying themselves, and only a few caught his eye.

‘We are very vulnerable now,’
Peebles thought simply, but he felt no threat at the moment. He looked down to the Colonel, who was conversing quietly with the Lady Cronin, though his eyes remained fixed on his General. The smile faded from Lemay’s face as he caught the General’s expression, but then Peebles held up a hand and shook his head.

The Ealdorman was still frowning, and looked around at his new guests. “Ye all
be wanting a serving wench for the night then?” he asked, hardly believing his guests claim. They were much too calm if such a thing be true.

Peebles laughed again, very tempted, and was joined by Colonel Lemay, who thought it best to listen in closely, just in case the conversation turned serious. He now turned his full attention back to the Lady Cronin.

“We probably should go slowly on that account,” the General replied, knowing it would mean trouble soon enough.

“Sir Eadwulf has a famous wench,” the Ealdorman said with a twinkle in his eye. “She
be helpin’ all of ye I’spect oncet word gets out,” he continued and belted out a contagious laugh that caught his wife, Peebles, and even a few who had not heard the jest in its grip. Then he clapped his hands, and the entertainers were admitted. There were musicians, dancers, jugglers, acrobats, and tumblers. There was much hand clapping and merriment as Peebles studied his surroundings once more. Dr. Rice was thoroughly enjoying himself, as were all his men, which was good. They’d definitely earned a little R&R. It was only when he spotted Major Thane that his disquiet returned. Matt was hardly paying attention to the entertainers before him, though they were surprisingly good, instead his attention was locked on a lovely young woman to his right, quite easily the finest looking female present. Neither the General, nor the pilot Major, needed this complication. He leaned over to the Lady Merwinna.

“Who is that next to Major Thane?” he asked and pointed out the young lady.

Merwinna smiled and placed a hand on his, and he nearly jerked at the electricity of the touch. He had all but forgotten the softness of a woman’s hand, but the Lady meant nothing by it and did it with a simple casualness. “She be too young for thee, Genaral,” she said in a whisper with a wink. “She is the Lady Ellyn. Sir Oldalf’s daughter from Bridgwater.”

Peebles was deep in thought but did not remove his hand from beneath the Merwinna’s, then looked up at her exclamation of surprise. He jerked, expecting some threat of violence but instead he saw that both Corporal Jefferies and Corporal Garraty had joined in with the performers, much to the surprise of the entertainers, and the local nobility. But Jefferies had competed in gymnastics at the University of Nebraska, and Garraty was apparently an accomplished juggler, though Peebles had not known that about him until now. Once over the initial shock, everyone began to clap in time with the music and all were thoroughly entertained.

As his General surmised, Matt Thane was barely aware of any of the festivities, because the Lady Ellyn on his right was commanding all of his attention, and though he was out of practice, he believed that she was as equally engaged with him. Matt was completely flustered and could think of nothing to say to the beautiful young woman, but his nervousness did not stop him from turning often her way to catch a glimpse of her profile, or her hair. He tried not to be obvious about his attention, or seem forward. He did his best to concentrate on the entertainers performing but the young woman’s beauty lured his eyes to her just as surely as a drug. The Lady Ellyn was of course aware of the handsome man’s attention, but it would be entirely improper for her to address him first. So from the very beginning of the feast, the air around the two was tense. Matt, despite his desire, could think of nothing to remedy the situation and was beginning to despair that he would ruin it all, but then the Priest, Father Gillian, who was on his left began to ask him question after question. He answered the questions as truthfully as he could, when he believed the locals could understand the truth, and soon the Lady Ellyn was speaking and asking her own questions. Soon the three of them were having a marvelous time.

For her part, the Lady Ellyn was also very tense. Never had she met a man so enticing, so attentive, so smooth of face…and so clean. It was all she could do not to reach over and touch his cheek. All the men she knew were completely bearded; only young boys were smooth faced like women. But she found she enjoyed begin able to see the Mayor’s face, plus he was so very clean, and smelled positively divine. She watched the tumbling and the players with only half of her attention, though usually she was very excited about any sort of entertainment. But some instinct told her, that though it was Father Gillian who asked most of the questions, the handsome Major’s answers were directed entirely to her. It caused her heart to thump wildly in her chest, and she found herself desperately trying to think of anything at all to say to him. However, when the old man Treymont began to play his harp, all the talking stopped and the three of them just listened as he played many of the current favorites. The atmosphere in the hall had grown quiet and still, calmed by the soothing music coaxed from the harp by Treymont’s nimble fingers, but even so the tension between the Lady Ellyn and the handsome stranger to her left continued to build. Finally the young lady could stand it no more and during the last of the love ballads she boldly, yet gently, pushed her leg against Matt’s, feeling a thrill at her own wickedness.

From the first moment Ellyn was shocked by her actions and almost pulled her leg away. She was afraid that he may pull away first or even publicly rebuke her, but instead he smiled slightly, and returned the pressure. Ellyn’s heart fluttered in her chest, like a small bird beating its wings against a cage.

The night had taken on a kind of fairy tale magic, and the hall seemed to be immersed in a golden glow, at least until a careless serving wench spilled a pitcher of mead down the front of Sir Elid’s leather jerkin. With a growl Elid gave her the back of his hand, striking the young maid across her temple. She went sprawling, which was no less than she deserved for her clumsiness. Elid was about to give her a tongue lashing as well, but before he was even aware that anyone had moved, both Sadao and Jefferies were in his face, each man pressing a cold bit of metal under his chin. The rest of the strangers were also instantly up, arms drawn, even Matt was up with a speed that absolutely startled the Lady Ellyn, as well as Father Gillian.

General Peebles was the only one of their group who remained seated, though his face was red with anger. Both the Ealdorman and the Lady Merwinna looked to him both out of concern and curiosity, because as yet they did not know what had caused such a reaction. It was well within Sir Elid’s rights as a nobleman to strike or discipline any common person, man or woman.

“Sadao, Jefferies, at ease!” Peebles yelled from his position, and the two immediately backed off, even though it was plain neither wanted too. Sadao backed away quickly and moved to the serving girl and gently helped her to her feet as if she were the queen herself. Sir Elid was insulted to be challenged in such a manner, though the quick movements of the strangers left him somewhat cautious.

“At ease,” Peebles yelled again, causing Merwinna to jump and all the other strangers lowered the odd metal pieces they held in their hands and sat back down. Up to this point the Ealdorman had remained calm, because he thought the strangers were unarmed. They had no visible swords or knives among them, but now he was beginning to wonder if he was not seriously mistaken. The strange pieces of black metal they all carried, perhaps they were some sort of weapon, strange and deadly, like all their weapons. He looked nervously to Peebles for an explanation, though he very impressed by the General’s instant control over his men, who were obviously upset. The hall had grown deathly quiet.

“We beg your forgiveness. The men meant no harm...but when the girl was hit...”

It was Merwinna who interrupted him, with a small gesture and then she leaned over and whispered something to her husband, who nodded, laughed, and nodded again.

“Methinks women, though sometimes they mightily deserve it, should not be struck either,” the Ealdorman said loud enough for all to hear. “Striking tis too manly for them, beaten mayhap, but
na striking. What ye think Sir Elid?”

“Yah, the lass got me mad t’all. Clumsy wench,” he said, but was still not over the insult of being attacked, or having neither the courage nor the speed to react to the strangers. “Mayhap the strangers would like to challenge me with the staff?” he asked in the heat of the moment, forgetting the spitting fire and the kilt dogs of the past day. But he had confidence...confidence with a staff in his hand.

“Now Sir Elid...” the Ealdorman started, wishing to defuse the situation.

“I accept,” Sadao said loudly and with a graceful leap was beyond the table and in the center of the hall.

“Sadao,” Peebles added, genuinely perturbed, but he was stopped with a look from Rice, who rose and squatted by the General’s side.

“What exactly is a challenge with the staff?” he asked the Ealdorman slowly, and with enunciation, not wanting to be misunderstood.

The Ealdorman laughed and waved away the fears of Rice and General Peebles. “Tis but a friendly contest to be sure, though methinks it naught that friendly...the first man sleeping loses,” he said and barked out another laugh. Sir Elid was now up and moving around the table to face his challenger.

“Sir, this may be a good thing,” Rice whispered quickly. “We can show off our fighting ability without anyone actually getting hurt...well Sir Elid will have a lump or two, but no one will die.”

The General nodded and called Sergeant Sadao over to the table, who was about to apologize for his rash actions, but Peebles held up a hand. “Deal with him quickly. Show him up, but don’t hurt him seriously,” he ordered and Sadao immediately understood. Peebles had complete confidence in Sadao. He was the best hand to hand fighter they had, and was a master of many disciplines in the Martial Arts, the staff being one. Likewise, the Ealdorman was also confident in Sir Elid. He was the best in all Somerset with the staff, and was always eager to face a new opponent, of which there were fewer and fewer these past few years...word eventually gets around. Now, at least, they would see how these strangers fought without their magical weapons.

Major Thane watched the proceedings with just a hint of a smile, nearly forgetting the girl at his side, that is, until she slowly reached beneath the table and slipped her hand into his.

“Tis vary exciting,” she whispered, and he had to agree. “Tis so that he is a man then?” she asked of Sadao, who was a Japanese American. Sadao’s face was so familiar to Matt that he forgot that there were those at the table who had never met anyone with oriental features.

This time it was Matt who chuckled. “Yes, he is human too.”

“Then they be Moors? I h’ve heard of Moors and their dark skin.” she added referring to Jefferies and Hersey.

“I’m not sure,” Matt answered with an amused frown, “but I think not.”

They fell quiet as Sir Elid, smiling broadly, offered Sadao his choice of weapons. Elid was relieved that one of the giant men among the strangers had not accepted his challenge. He felt much more comfortable with Sadao, who was only a couple of inches taller. Sadao made his choice, and took a moment to admire the weight of the staff and its craftsmanship. He retreated a few steps, and then with a series of lightening spins and moves, checked the balance of the weapon. It was superb. Elid watched all of this with the first inkling of doubt he had ever had with a staff in his hand. The odd looking man was fast and obviously no stranger to the staff. He tested the balance of his own weapon before crouching and beginning the first movements of his favorite attack. The stranger performed a basic counter, and Sir Elid smiled confidently. He blocked the simple move with ease, but then somehow was disarmed and flat on his back. The hall erupted with cheers, hoots, and howls of laughter, though most were just as surprised as Sir Elid with the quick outcome. Sadao stood over him now with both staves, but instead of planting a few more knots on Sir Elid’s head, the stranger smiled, reached down and helped his opponent to his feet. Once standing, Sadao flipped Elid his staff and backed off, standing ready.