The Temporal Knights (33 page)

“Incredible!” Colonel Lemay muttered and Peebles nodded.

“Absolutely beautiful,” he agreed.

“Yah but ye must be verily careful,” the Ealdorman was saying to the General as they dismounted, thinking of the fairy people who inhabit the deepest parts of the woods. “The trees hide many dangers, man and beast be the least of yor worries.”

They stopped to eat and drink while the peasants moved quietly off into the forest, hoping to drive the boars back toward the noblemen.

“Yah,” the Earl added. “I’ve seen a boar split a man from knee to neck with but one pass of his tusks...they be razors, and the young ones be verily fast.”

“Yah, and many a dog have they kilt...deadly these boars...but verily good eatin’” added the Ealdorman.

Peebles nodded. Wild boars were notoriously dangerous animals whose reputation lasted even to his day, that the people of this time would willingly hunt and kill such dangerous animals was a testimony to both their need and their bravery.

The nobles rested, eating leftover biscuits from the morning meal, and drinking wine. Everyone seemed excited and thrilled to be hunting; it was a trip that was long overdue. General Peebles allowed all of his men to rest and eat, but insisted that one remain on alert at all times in full gear, visor down, which unsettled Eadwulf and his men, but neither the Earl or the Ealdorman paid the soldier any mind.

“Will we be hunting only boar?” Dr. Rice asked, fascinated by the entire process, and realized that these people were really just hunter-gathers, and did not yet have the capabilities to survive on only their agriculture.

“Na,” the Earl responded slowly chewing on a stale biscuit, “but that wot we mainly be after. We’ll hunt wot we find, though we have brought the dogs and weapons for boar.”

“What...” Rice started to ask, but a loud deep horn sounded far off in the woods. The Ealdorman smiled. The peasants and dogs had their quarry on the run. The nobles leaped to their feet, only a fraction of a second slower than their American friends and without hesitation moved off through the giant trees. A half dozen dog handlers led the way, their canines pulling eagerly on their leashes.

“Careful everyone,” the General cautioned as they stepped deeper into the forest, where visibility quickly diminished.

“Let’s go full IWS,” Lemay ordered and to a man they lowered their visors and dropped into the virtual world. The air was now alive with barking dogs, blowing horns, and beating drums. The hunt seemed to be barely controlled chaos to Peebles and his men. They realized soon enough however, that the locals knew what they were doing and their methods were very effective.

“Infrared,” Lemay ordered and the heat signatures of every living thing showed up starkly against the cool background of the forest. Another horn blared in the distance, and the directional mics plotted an optimum course. The Americans shifted into the right direction even before the dogs brought by the locals.

“Cheun and Brooks flank us gentlemen,” Lemay said to the only two soldiers authorized to go live with their M18’s. “You’re our protection, everyone else side arms only,” the Colonel ordered, and the two men instantly moved out to the left and right, their entire attention now on their comrades in arms and any possible dangers to them.

Sir Eadwulf watched the Ammericaans closely, utterly fascinated, and though he could not hear everything that was being said, he could tell that orders were being given and followed immediately. He studied every movement the strangers made but held his position behind the lead dogs, and then he cocked his crossbow, as did every other nobleman in the vicinity. The
peasants mingling among the hunting party carried long spears, which were mainly used to guard the nobles while they took aim with their bows. Boars were very fast and would be nearly impossible to hit while moving, but if the dogs could corner, or confused them long enough then the crossbow became a very lethal weapon.

The horn sounded again.

“Got them,” Lemay announced. He was a little in front and to the right of the dogs. He turned slightly and moved quickly to the left, cutting across in front of the anxious dogs. The others followed as did the excited canines.

“Heat signature coming this way very fast,” Corporal Killian added, plainly excited. The soldiers all spotted the movement on their TVD’s three full seconds before the dogs in the area and then everything went wild. The boar darted to the right, but was completely encircled by the large, though ever shrinking contingent of men and dogs. The animal veered about so quickly that no one even released a shot.

“God, he’s fast!” Cheun exclaimed as the circle steadily closed. The dog handlers let loose a pair of Alaunts who streaked after the boar, confusing the heat signatures. The boar turned back toward the noblemen who prepared themselves, but just before it reached them it streaked away once more, this time to the left, safe for a moment but the circle continued to close. More dogs were released and the boar, now frantic, ran inside the shrinking circle before quickly darted directly at the nobles, his path taking him just to the right of Peebles and his men.

“Here he comes,” Peebles and Rice warned at the same instant, and suddenly there were two, as another boar came leaping, maddened by the squeals of the other, out of its den. One caught a dog along its haunches and the animal yelped, flew into the air and went down. The boars darted about and then suddenly both flew at the nobles. Sir Æthelred shot a bolt but missed just as one of the boars, whipped through a group of huscarls, slicing directly toward Æthelnoth. But the beast had the misfortune of running headlong into a spear and was skewered. The boar dropped dead not three feet from the Ealdorman, who sighed with relief.

In the confusion, the other boar launched itself at Lord Eadwulf and the knights in his area. They all fired their weapons and to a man missed the cagey creature. The boar was incredibly fast. Eadwulf’s hand went to the hilt of his sword, though he knew the animal would be on him before he could draw it. The boar raced forward, death reflecting in his bloodshot eyes as he headed directly toward the Earl of Kent. Eadwulf turned slightly to protect his groin, his sword only half way out of its scabbard, when two loud cracks echoed through the forest and seconds later, for no apparent reason, the beast fell at the Earl’s feet. The animal raised his head, eyes blazing red, filled with hate and anger. It struggled for a moment to rise and then exhaled a mighty breath and died. Eadwulf was not completely sure what had happened. One instant he was facing possible death and the next the boar was dead at his feet. He and his knights looked around and spotted a stranger, who they did not recognize. The man’s helmet was on and his visor obscured his face. But the soldier approached with something in his hand, which he carefully kept pointed at the boar. His full attention on the animal until he was close enough to be sure the animal was dead. The stranger lifted the visor and Colonel Lemay smiled out at them. Sir Eadric, glad though he was, shuddered helplessly.

“That was a close one,” Lemay commented and Eadwulf could do nothing but nod.

They hunted the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon before they finally managed to scare up another boar. This one was old and cunning, but slow, and Sir Oldalf speared it to the ground where it thrashed and squealed against the Danes’ great strength. In the end the large beast died, though none too quickly for Oldalf’s liking. But he was proud and happy that he managed to make a kill in front of his new friends, wanting to show them that the Anglish were not entirely helpless.

The kill belonged to him, but Sir Oldalf had every intention of adding it to the others for the Ealdorman and his household. He cut off the tail for luck, and was about to cut the boar’s heart out for his dogs when Lord Eadwulf interceded.

“I’d a word with ye Sir,” Eadwulf said softly, seemingly very uncomfortable, which immediately raised Oldalf’s suspicions. Most the hunting party was either resting in a glade, or still on the hunt, hoping to come up with just one more prize. “Sir Eadric will tend to yor kill,” he added and Eadric knelt next to the boar and held out his hand for Sir Oldalf’s knife.

“I’ll feed yor dogs well. They
be fine beasts,” Eadric said with a smile and a nod. After a brief hesitation, Sir Oldalf handed over the knife and stood, very wary, and even went so far as to put his hand on the pommel of his sword, which Lord Eadwulf noticed but instead of growing angry he laughed loudly.

“Tis na a fight I be wantin’,” he said much to Oldalf’s embarrassment. He didn’t remove his hand, however.

Eadwulf led him off a distance, but still close enough that they would be overheard by several of the Ealdorman’s men, and a few of the strange soldiers. He spoke bluntly and in a tone that carried easily to others.

“Tis yor daughter I’d
be wantin’ to speak with ye about,” Eadwulf began, stammering slightly. “Tis quite a beauty...has much of her mother in her, and I be noticing that she be of marrying age...I have na wife and been meanin’ to get me one. I’d like to ask ye for her hand,” he finished up, his face so flushed that Sir Oldalf immediately felt bad for his earlier suspicions. He smiled at his Lord, slightly taken aback by his own good fortune.

“Well, she be of marrying age forsooth, but she be me only dottir and I’ve made it plain to her that she may follow her heart in this matter,” he began, wanting to be honest with Eadwulf and trying desperately not to anger the man. But surprisingly Eadwulf seemed to understand.

      “Tis only yor permission to court her I’d be lookin’ for,” he added with a look of hope in his eyes.

Oldalf could not say anything but yes, though he knew his dottir had her hat tipped toward Mayjor Thane.

“Of course ye have permission to court,” Oldalf replied and had to smile at the Lord’s reaction. Mayhap he misjudged the man. Eadwulf seemed genuinely pleased and his attraction to his dottir was clearly understandable. She was growing into quite a beauty…mayhap even a might prettier than her mother. Still, Sir Oldalf felt a bit uneasy about his Ellyn going to live in Rochester with this powerful Lord. Eadwulf slapped Oldalf on the back and grinned.

“Come, let’s ‘ave a drink to toast this day,” he said, his mood now very upbeat, and they started back to the glade, the boar forgotten for the moment. They drank and sat together, celebrating the successful hunt. Sir Eadric soon returned, the dogs following at his heels and behind them came four peasants hauling the dead boar that was nicely trussed to a thick tree limb.

“He’s a fine catch,” Eadric commented. “Big and fat,” he added. He said nothing about Sir Oldalf’s knife, which was safely hidden, deep in his vestments. Sir Oldalf smiled, very happy. Yes it’d been a very, very successful day.

The hunting party returned sporadically from out of the forest, a man here, a dog there and then a small group of drummers. Only the Americans seemed to be able to coordinate their movements. They all arrived just as Sir Eadric pointed out a large buck standing at the top of a
hill on the far edge of the large clearing, watching pretty as you please some three hundred yards away. It was an old buck with an impressive rack, and everyone turned to look at him. The deer stared back down at them, apparently unafraid because of the great distance. The locals would have liked to have gone after him, but knew it was futile. The beast was too far away and already alert to their presence. General Peebles, though, was not so disheartened.

“Captain Hersey,” he said softly, not wanting to spook the animal. The buck however, was much too far away to spook, and did not consider the group a danger to him or his females, which were just over the ridge. “Would you do the honors?”

“Yes Sir,” Hersey replied with a grin, and brought his weapon to bear. He quickly took the animal’s range with the laser, and the scope adjusted automatically. The entire camp went quiet as he aimed; even the dogs could feel the expectation in the air and grew still. At the sudden silence the buck’s ears shot up but he stayed motionless for just over a second. He must have sense danger and he started to leap away. The 5.56mm bullet pierced its heart an instant before he moved. He jumped, took one bound and fell over dead. Many of the locals also jumped at the report and a few of them crossed themselves or gave the sign to ward off evil, but the Ealdorman roared his approval and the Æthelred went so far as to clap Captain Hersey on the back.

“Go and get the beast,” Æthelnoth yelled delightedly to a group of nearby handlers. The Ealdorman clapped his hands loudly several times in his excitement. Neither man was surprised that the strangers could kill the animal at so great a distance but Lord Eadwulf was shocked and aghast. It seemed quite impossible that anyone could kill from such a range. Eadwulf could feel the sweat running down his back, and he thought of Colonel Lemay killing the boar earlier in the day. These men were magical, and it was a very dangerous game he was putting into motion. But still he had no second thoughts. The way to any crown was always ripe with danger.

The hunting party was very successful, three boars, a large stag and a pheasant. There would be a feast that night for sure. The locals were very happy for the American’s help and many of the peasant class were beginning to consider the strangers charmed. Everyone was laughing, teasing and genuinely happy, as they made their way slowly back to home.

§

Back at Athelney, Ellyn was loitering around camp waiting for Matt to finishing working on the ship. She was not exactly sure what it is he and his men did inside the strange place, but whatever it was it took a good deal of his time. Usually patient, today she could hardly contain herself, partly because Dr. Rice had gone on the hunt and classes were shortened by Private Guon and Osage, so she really had very little to do. Earlier she was content to sit by an oak with Selby, chatting about their men, but Murphy tromped down the ramp nearly an hour ago and the two had gone off together, leaving Ellyn to wait.