The Temporal Knights (39 page)

§

Life has a way of answering your prayers at the most inconvenient of times. Something the Lady Ellyn discovered when she arrived back at her home in Bridgwater, where a letter from the Queen was waiting for her. The Lady Ealhswith had finally invited her to come to court at Winchester. For as long as Ellyn could remember, she dreamed of attending court at Winchester. Every night before sleep she’d fantasized about the King’s court; the pretty maids and the handsome eligible knights from all over the land, coming together in hopes of finding the perfect match. For her going to court and finding a handsome knight was not a monetary goal as it was for many country maidens. Her father was well rich, nor was it one of status, though a good match could certainly raise her family’s prestige, rather she always dreamed of going to court to find her true love, the man of her dreams. But, of course the invitation had come too late, she’d already found the man of her dreams, and the order to court would only take her farther from him.

So she cried that entire first day of the trip, telling herself that Matthew Thane was lost to her in any case. As she rode along in the carriage, she desperately tried to convince herself that it was all for the best, in a vain attempt to prop up her spirits on a faulty framework of self-delusions. Trudy, her personnel maid, sat on the bench beside her, sympathizing with her Lady, but biting her tongue against the desire to ask all about the handsome gentlemen who’d stolen her heart. Trudy was older by two years, but because of her missing front teeth, propensity towards facial hair and plain looks, she was far less experienced with the boys. But she loved her Lady, who loved her back and Trudy lived her romantic life vicariously through Ellyn, which was enough for her, at least for now. They were fast friends all through childhood and were, even yet, very close, but if Trudy had been the Lady she would have long since demanded to know everything about the handsome, mysterious strangers and their magical deeds. But she was not the Lady, so she patiently held her tongue and waited, absolutely sure that everything would come out in the open soon enough. In the meantime, she rode next to Ellyn and held her while she cried, and occasionally yelled at Law when he hit a particularly rough bump in the road. Their party also consisted of six other horsemen, all well armed; to guard against any would be highwaymen.

By the time they pulled into Shaftesbury, the largest town either young woman had ever visited, Ellyn’s crying spell was over. The two country girls were overcome with curiosity as their carriage moved through the crowded streets, and each took a window and carefully peeked out from behind the burgundy curtains. It was a bustling town of eight hundred souls, and it seemed to Ellyn that nearly all of them were on the streets, from the filthy vagrants, to the wellborn. The town was a hive of activity; everywhere people moved this way and that along the torch lit roads. Law and her escort were very careful to stay on the main thoroughfare, for to move along the back alleys was very dangerous even for a group of their size.

“Did ye see that dandy, mum?” Trudy said pointing out a particularly handsome gentlemen riding by on horseback. Ellyn nodded, but only compared him to Matt, who came out very favorably.

“The court at Winchester will be filled with such fine looking men,” Trudy added with a sigh. She thought mayhap she would finally find a man of her own, after all they could not all have pretty ladies waiting for them at home, and she had many things going for her as well.

They clomped their way through town until finally coming to the Black Boar Inn. It was a very large place, four stories high, by far the tallest wooden building Ellyn had ever seen, and the two women exited the carriage gratefully, with Trudy rubbing her sore bum. They paused at the entrance to the inn for a moment, each looking up at the heights and then they followed Law inside.

The lower floor was completely devoted to a tavern, where many of the more well-to-do of the town came for both food and drink. The place was crowded, cozy and very warm. And though the tavern was clean and catered to the upper class, there were still a number of unsavory patrons in the crowd. As they made their way farther into the establishment, the Lady Ellyn’s guards tightened up around her as Law went off to make arrangements for rooms for the night. Lady Ellyn was breathless with excitement and wondered briefly if Shaftesbury could be so exciting and loud, what must Winchester be like? She gawked all around, carefully avoiding the darker corners of the room. She did not want to risk attracting any unwanted attention. But other than turning invisible, there was little she could do on that count. Long before Law returned, a pair of well dressed, handsome men approached and bowed low before her.

“Lady Ellyn of Bridgwater?”
The taller of the two asked with a low bow and Ellyn nodded, very surprised. As far as she knew she did not have any acquaintances in Shaftesbury.

“Hallo, I
be Sir Gospatrick of Wilton, personal guard to the Lady Ealhswith. She has sent me and me men to escort yor party to Winchester. We were on our way to yor home to do just that, but happily ye’ve saved us some riding,” the dark, handsome Captain of the guard said to Ellyn as his eyes wandering about her face and upper body. He was surprisingly tall and lean, though not nearly as tall as Matt. His hair was dark like Matt’s, though it was long and a bit wild. But his beard was trimmed and he looked well enough, attractive, despite his confident manner, but it was his eyes that stood out, they were a startling green and contrasted greatly against his dark features.

“Tis me hope that yor journey up to now has been a pleasant one?” The Captain asked motioning for them to sit, and both Ellyn and Trudy did so as Law returned for their bags. The remainder of Ellyn’s party withdrew to the background, but did not eat or relax their vigilance.

“Twas a bit over long, but otherwise pleasant enough,” Ellyn answered wondering just why this Captain was present. Twas odd indeed that the queen would send someone so far west to escort her to Winchester, after all they’d never met.

Trudy giggled and took her seat as a barmaid immediately set a fresh bottle of wine on the table. She added a pair of clay cups for the women, but Sir Gospatrick and his companion, an older gentleman, were already drinking.

“All pardons,” Sir Gospatrick said with a simple introduction. “Tis me friend and companion, Ædwin Mucel of Chippenham.”

Ellyn sucked in a quick breath, and Trudy nearly dropped her cup at the mention of the infamous swordsman’s name. Ædwin of Chippenham was well known all over Angland, and carried with him the reputation of being the finest man in the land with sword or knife. He was much shorter than his companion, with sandy blonde hair, gray eyes and moved about on the balls of his feet as if he were preparing to dance.

Twas rumored that he, this very man, had killed the late Cuthred, the Bishop of Winchester after he betrayed Alfred to Guthrum, though what truly happened was not known in the outer reaches of the Kingdom.

“I have heard of
ye,” Ellyn said, trying desperately to cover her shock. Her eyes darted up to the older man and then away again, as if she thought he may actually harm her.

Ædwin, for his part, sighed deeply at her reaction. He was use to fear, nervousness, and caution in his presence and it wore on him, especially when such emotions came from lovely young women.

“M’lady...I be yors to command as ye will while we travel to Winchester,” he said with a smile, hoping the young lady would take him at his word. She raised her eyes and even met his briefly. For a moment she studied him closer, making him smile all the more.
‘She’s a brave one,’
he thought, finding her very attractive despite the dust she carried in her hair from her travels.

“Pray now. Please tell me why such an honor is being bestowed on me and me small company. Surely the Lady Ealhswith does not escort all the young maids of court just so.”

“Na,” Sir Gospatrick said with a chuckle. “She does na, but the Earl of Mercia and the Ealdorman of Somerset have sent word of an army invading the Lizard. The King…and the Queen be verily interested in just wot news there is from that land.”

“They have na invaded!” Ellyn protested.

“Twas wot the letters have said...but then some say they be friends, even allies against the Danes, while others caution the King to stay away at all costs. The Lady Ealhswith is deeply concerned, especially with her husband preparing to move against Ivarr the Boneless up in East Angles.”

A fat maid huffed over with their food, a thick meat pudding served with hot, soft bread, along with more wine. Ellyn said nothing while they were being served. Her caution was duly noted by both men at the table and their estimation of her rose. Trudy was absolutely terrified to be in the presence of the infamous swordsman and remained very quiet, carefully keeping her eyes on her meal, despite the man’s good looks. The handmaiden silently prayed that her mistress would be careful and wondered why they’d left the safe confines of Bridgwater.

All talking stopped for several long minutes as they ate until finally Ellyn gathered her nerve. “The Lady is wise na to believe all the lies ‘nd gossip, but she has nothing to fear from the Ammericaans. They be of honorable and gentle blood.”

“Ammericaans?”
Ædwin asked.

“Tis wot they called themselves...and yah, they be friends.”
“And mayhap lovers?” Gospatrick asked with a playful smile, which faded as the Lady’s face turned bright red and she slammed her cup down on the table spilling its contents over all of them.

“Word travels fast,” Ellyn spat, “but mayhap
na fast enough, for if I be a lover, tis a lover scorned. Indeed I’ve fled from a broken heart and still I tell ye that they be decent and honorable men.” She stood as she defended the Americans, the blush still on her cheeks, her embarrassment made only worse by the smug look on Sir Gospatrick’s face. Trudy’s eyes went wide; nervous about how Ædwin would react to the outburst, but the swordsman just stared up at Ellyn, his eyebrows slightly raised in surprise.

“Come Trudy I
be over tired,” she added and Trudy rose though she was not nearly finished with her meal and still hungry from the road. “If ye will excuse us’n,” she said as both men stood and bowed low.

“Of course,” Sir Gospatrick replied, a smirk still on his face. “We
be off by sunrise in the morn. Tis me hope that it will na be overly early for yor delicate constitutions.”

Ellyn seethed for a moment but said nothing and just stared at the man smiling down at her. Her mouth moved about nervously as if she were about to say something, but in the end she remained silent and with a nod of the head moved toward the stairs and her rooms. Her guard from Bridgwater followed behind, careful not to show their disapproval to the infamous swordsmen.

“It never ceases to amaze me that with a sword ye can learn every subtle trick I teach thee, but with the Ladies ye still be the bumbling fool,” Ædwin scolded his young friend. 

“Na…she be quite taken with me,” Gospatrick answered as he watched the Lady Ellyn exit the room.

Ædwin laughed and Gospatrick turned to look at his older friend.

“Five farthings
says I bed her a’fore the next moon,” he challenged.

“Done...and ye should pay me now. She may kill thee a’fore I get me money.”

“Pah! She was smitten, surely ye saw it, and I hear her father tis a noble knight who runs his lands well. She would fetch quite a dowry.”

“Yor to marry now eh?”
  Ædwin asked and laughed again. “I’d say twas na the Lady that was so taken.”

Sir Gospatrick frowned but then laughed with his friend. “Rightly said, and if’n she’s a scorned lover, mayhap tis up to me to sooth her wounded heart.”

“With a kiss to her bosom na doubt.”

“Aye...ye saw her bosom too,” he said with a sigh, while Ædwin rolled his eyes at his young friend.

§

“We could take a Bot up and get her,” Giles suggested but Colonel Lemay shook his head.

“No, the people of northern Mercia aren’t even aware of our existence. You saw how the Ealdorman’s people first reacted to us. Do you really want to fly up there and announce that their Earl is dead, and you’d like to take the Countess away to his funeral in a flying dragon boat?”

Giles smiled then fell silent for a moment, thinking.

“But it wouldn’t be like that at all,” Matt protested. “Leoforic has already sent word to his mother, the Lady Merwinna has as well…plus we could take Leoforic with us. He’s a smart boy. It was his idea that the funeral be delayed until his mother could attend. If we explain to him exactly what we are trying to do and what we will be up against, he’ll understand and help us. Besides, if it looks a little dicey we can always turn back for home.”

Now it was Lemay’s turn to think and consider. He didn’t like the idea of putting both of his planes, plus two pilots in harm’s way, especially when it was not truly necessary. While going to fetch some Earl’s wife in her time of grief might be a good public relations move, it was definitely not vital to their ultimate objectives.

Finally he shook his head negatively. “It’s too risky. I don’t want to risk both Bots…or you two for this. She’ll get here in her own good time.”