The Temporal Knights (19 page)

“And just where wold this land of yors be?” the Earl asked curiously. He was a well traveled man for his day, having spent time in France, Italy, and Spain. He felt sure that these strangers were from no land he had ever visited. Out on the floor the two strangers were trying to teach Sir Elid to walk on his hands.

“It is far to the west...across the ocean,” Peebles said watching the Earl intently. He saw surprise and doubt flicker across the older man’s face. He also noted the disdain the Earl felt for Sir Elid’s antics, which the Ealdorman did not notice, but his wife did. The Lady Merwinna was seated to the left of the Earl, and for the first time Peebles entertained the notion that the brains behind Somerset might be the lady of the house. He smiled at her briefly and her eyes twinkled. But then Peebles turned his attention back to the Earl, knowing he was being grilled by this cagey, cautious, older man.

“Ye landed in Somerset then?” the Earl asked suspiciously, knowing that the Danes had settled in some of the cold lands to the west. He questioned the General not realizing that, with this last bit of news he had not required a translation.

“Yes,” the General confirmed just as the Earl thought he would.

“The Danes oft land on the Lizard as well,” he said simply, but now there was no mistaking his tone. “Why ye land in the west?”

“Sir,” the General began, as the Ealdorman called out for his bard, oblivious to the conversation taking place around him. “We did indeed land in the west, but that was mere chance. These questions are hard to answer so that you would understand, but trust me now when I say...we mean you and your people no harm, and only wish to help.”

An old man began to strum a large lap instrument Peebles later learned was called a psaltery. It had a very pleasant musical sound, and the General couldn’t help but listen as the bard began to sing and tell stories, though he kept the majority of his attention on the Earl. As the brother of the King, this man could be a great help in achieving their mission here. Lemay, the Lady Merwinna and Sir Beonoth also kept most of their attention on the two men as they verbally sparred.

“Help? Wot help, ‘nd why?” the Earl asked suddenly, clearly antagonistic. He did not like the vague answers he was getting from these vague men. They could be Danes except for the odd looking fellows who accompanied them, and he was growing more convinced that they might be in league with their crafty enemy. This time even the Ealdorman noticed the Earl’s tone and was jerked out of his revere, but Dr. Rice, who was farther down the table, took no notice and called on staff officer Newton to fetch Private Goldstein, who played the guitar and sang quite well.

“Sir,” the Ealdorman said when his wife nudged him, “these men have sworn fealty to me and thee King. They can help rid us of the Danes to be sure.”

“Fealty?” The Earl asked and now turned a suspicious eye on the Ealdorman. “Ho, how ye be so sure?” he asked moving his eyes from the General. “Giants they be, but I see na weapons. How many men have ye Genaral?” he asked, clearly exasperated with the Ealdorman.

“Three hundred and forty-eight,” Peebles answered instantly and realized that this conversation was getting out of hand. He looked across the table to Lemay. “Get Rice over here now,” he whispered.

“Then ye must be mighty fighters indeed,” the Earl scoffed as he watched the stranger called Lemay rise and move off in the direction of his son. Alarmed by the big man’s quick movements his hand instantly went to his sword. His knights, ever watchful, tensed also. “We’ve word that the Danes at the Hill number near a thousand, and they be buried deep in their stronghold, a difficult task for even a large fyrd.”

“They
be mighty fighters,” the Ealdorman added, his mood sober. The Hall was now deadly quiet as everyone grew aware that something was up between the General and the Earl. Sir Æthelred kept eyes on the large stranger approaching his son and had a few anxious moments, suspecting that his boy might be taken as hostage by the big man. But it soon became apparent that he was not threatening the boy as the Earl feared, instead he knelt and said something to the man his son so obviously worshipped. Private Goldstein entered into the now silent Hall, carrying is guitar under one arm. Rice held up a hand for him to wait, and then he rose and quickly moved to the General’s side.

“I hadn’t planned on taking all of my men,” Peebles answered the man’s insulting tone, losing his own cool somewhat.

“M’lord,” the Ealdorman said barely above a whisper as if he were afraid his voice would awaken the dragon hiding within these very men. “These strangers spit fire and thunder. They fly over the ground and through the air. They move and fight like the wind...” he talked in a rush and only stopped when he realized the Earl was staring at him in disgust.

“Da’?”
Leoforic said, having followed Dr. Rice over. Sir Beonoth was on his feet as was the Earl’s elder son Æthelstan, his right hand very close to his sword. The air was bristling with hostility.

“Be still Leo,” the Earl said and there was no way the boy could mistake his father’s tone.

“Is there a problem Sir?” Rice asked General Peebles.

“I...” the General started, but was interrupted by the Earl.

“The Danes be the problem in this land, and ye have the smell of them. If na as ye claim, then how will ye force them off the Hill, or will ye just lead the Ealdorman and our armies to them, and fall upon us?”

Dr. Gordon Rice hesitated for only a split second and then he spotted a suit of chain mail complete with a bronze helmet standing against the far wall of the main hall. He quickly gestured for everyone on that side of the room to move away, and they did so with a little help from several soldiers. Once the area was clear, Rice smoothly drew his revolver and fired four quick shots into the side of the helmet, and then just as quickly he holstered his weapon. All of the locals, including the Earl, jumped at each report, some covering their ears at the noise, but no one moved until Rice nodded for Newton to bring the helmet over. He did so and set it on the table before the Earl. Four neat holes now marred the side of the helmet, with dents on the other side, since the doctor only carried a small caliber pistol. The message was perfectly clear to the Earl and all of his knights.

“This,” Rice whispered, bending close to the Earl’s ear, “is how we will force out the Danes...and we would not need their help to turn on you.” That said he straightened, nodded to the General, and led Leoforic back past his elder brother and to their seats.

“Private Goldstein,” Rice said once he was seated. “Why don’t you play something for us...perhaps
‘Greensleeves’
.” He glanced over and noticed the barely repressed smile on his commander’s face and the look of shock on the Earl’s, who still held the helmet before him. Then Newton began to play and everyone was entranced.

“Tis a beautiful song,” the Lady Ellyn commented to Matt, still shaking from the excitement, something which seemed to follow these men like flies.

Matt nodded. “Old English,” he answered without thinking.

Father Gillian was also much impressed with the song, and wondered if there was anything these men could not do. They seemed to be a gift from God, and he began to look at them differently. When the Private was finished everyone clapped enthusiastically and begged for more. General Peebles nodded, and Goldstein, who was a big fan of late twentieth century music played
‘Yesterday’
by his favorite old English band, the Beatles. He played on for nearly an hour, both old songs and new, before finally taking his leave to go on guard duty. By that time the Earl was over his shock, though not completely over his suspicions. Clearly these strangers were something beyond the ordinary, and that night when he retired he took the ruined helmet with him as a reminder.

After the feast everyone broke away and went their separate ways. The Earl informed the Ealdorman that the remainder of his troops should arrive sometime in early morn and then took his leave, claiming to be tired from the long, rainy afternoon march. General Peebles also took
his leave, and called for yet another staff meeting at 21:30 which gave Matt and the Lady Ellyn about an hour, though their time would be chaperoned by both her aunt and her father.

She invited him up into the upper floors of the Manor Hall, where Matt had never been and he found it just as fascinating as the rest of the place. He could not quite get used to the crudely built, dusty wooden floors that made up the hall, but figured it was because he had spent his entire life with carpet and smooth tile. The girl shyly showed him into their one room, though they previously had two before the Earl and his men arrived. The room was large however, with a high, heavily beamed ceiling, just like a miniature of the one in the main hall. It contained a single high post bed, one wooden rocking chair, a vanity with a pitcher bowl, and a large fireplace that nearly took up half of the east wall. There were two additional wooden chairs with just a bit of padding that sat in front of the fire. The room had two large windows, but no balcony, and the walls were bare except for one large painting of a powerfully looking black horse above the mantle.

“Tis Tregar,” Sir Oldalf said noticing that Matt was studying the painting. “Twas the old Ealdorman’s war horse,” he added meaning the current Ealdorman’s father. “Tis said the horse was a nasty beast; kilt more men in battle than his master.”

There was a small fire burning in the fireplace and the knight bent and threw three more logs on the fire to keep the chill, rainy air out of the room. He preferred to sleep in the cold, but he knew his daughter did not, nor was the damp air good for Eldreena. He motioned for Matt to take one of the chairs, while he took the other. Aunt Eldreena retired to the rocking chair, which left Ellyn without a place to sit. Matt offered her his chair, but she just blushed and sat on the small but exquisitely designed throw rug at her father’s feet.

They sat quietly for a spell. Sir Oldalf stared at the fire, while Matt leaned forward and studied the rug, which was beautifully made, showing a castle on a hill, with a river running through the foreground. There was an army of knights with flags of all colors along one side, obviously marching home after a victorious battle. The Lady Ellyn just sat and watched Matt, while Aunt Eldreena snored softly in the background.

“Ye ever had a horse such as Tregar?” the Ealdorman finally asked, trying to get the measure of the man before him. That he was cautiously supportive of his daughter’s choice was no secret, though before the strangers had come he was leaning for a marriage with the Earl’s youngest. But he was not overly picky as long as his daughter chose well. He was a wealthy man with good lands, and did not truly need his daughter to be well married, though it would be nice if she was taken by one above her own station. Til now, though, he’d left the matter to her, which was why she was still available. Never had he known a woman to make up her mind quickly, and his daughter was little different. She had shown no inclination for any courter longer than a week or two, but something about this man was different. He could tell by her shyness and her nervousness around the Major, something which of itself was hard to believe. She was smitten, of that he had no doubts, and he could see why. The strangers were charming, mysterious, and powerful, and these were the very same reasons why he cautiously gave his blessings.

“Actually, I’ve never owned a horse of any kind,” Matt replied with a smile, which grew broader as he noticed surprise on the old knight’s face. “As a matter of fact, I’ve only ridden a horse once in my life. Well, really it was probably a pony. I rode it on my uncle’s farm in Iowa.”
“Ye’ve never ridden a horse?” Ellyn asked and quelled a laugh, her eyes twinkling with mirth. Sir Oldalf just sat silently…completely stunned. It was almost like a grown man claiming he’d never mounted a woman...unbelievable.

“No,” Matt said shaking his head, enjoying their disbelief.

Ellyn surrendered and began laughing and soon could not stop, her peals of delight waking her aunt.

“Tis...tis a hard thing to believe,” Oldalf finally said catching his daughter’s infectious laugh. It was good to hear her laughter, and Matt easily joined them.

“Where I am from, horses are no longer used for transportation. Cars, planes, even bicycles are more the everyday mode,” he explained. “Horses are for the very wealthy, or for those that live well out of the mainstream cities. They’re a pastime is all.”

“Wold ye like to go ridin’?” Ellyn asked suddenly excited. “We could show ye how tis done.”

“Me dottir has an excellent seat on a horse,” Sir Oldalf bragged.

“I’m sure she does,” Matt answered with a smile and a couple of raised eyebrows. Ellyn immediately went red with embarrassment, and Oldalf laughed hard, liking this humorous stranger very much. Matt stayed a bit longer but then took his leave so that he could make the staff meeting. Ellyn walked him downstairs and to the front door. It was still raining and very dark out, as they stood in the open doorway looking at each other. She was very beautiful in the dim light, and Matt desperately wanted to kiss her, not like the quick kiss by the plane, but a real passionate kiss. He almost succumbed to the temptation, but as much as he wanted the kiss, he also wanted the innocence the girl before him embodied. A first kiss could only come once, and once taken it was gone forever, banished to memory. He wanted to enjoy his first kiss with her, and he wanted to enjoy kissing her for a long time after...the kiss could wait, but he hugged her fiercely.