The Temporal Knights

by Richard D. Parker

Two hours later the night’s festivities started with yet another feast of roast lamb, venison, and wild hare, along with the usual fruits, nuts, fish puddings, and wine. By now all the locals were relaxed and comfortable in the presence of the Americans who were quickly becoming friends rather than strangers. The two groups were mixing together regularly, especially the available women of the land, who gravitated toward the new men as if hypnotized.

  The meal was served and eaten leisurely, but not overly so. There was little entertainment besides a small group of musicians, and the Lady Merwinna, who hosted the meal, hurried the process along as quickly as the etiquette of the day would allow. She looked forward to the play, but was also having the time of her life sitting between Major Thane and Dr. Rice even though the Major spent a good portion of the time glancing down the table at the Lady Ellyn. She separated the two by design, for Merwinna wanted the attention of this tall, handsome Major...to get to know him better. And he obliged her, answering all her questions, asking a few himself, and generally treating her with charm and grace, as did all the men from his land. They were all so attentive and respectful that she almost wished that her husband would never return.

  She was truly enjoying her role as hostess and ruling Lady and the extra attention it brought her.

  Once the meal was over, the remainder was cleaned up very quickly, though Dr. Rice left plenty of time for the servants to finish before the start of the show. The Lady Merwinna and her party, which including Rice, Thane, and the Lady Ellyn sat in chairs beneath a large awning and had one of the large monitors all to themselves. Murphy Giles and Selby, sat near the back, the girl uncomfortable, but very proud to be included with the all of the nobles. Her mother, who was relegated to the common area, was equally proud. The additional four screens were set up to handle the nearly five hundred others who would also be watching. Most of the common folk sat on the ground or on large logs carried over for seating purposes. When all was ready, Dr. Rice picked up a small cordless microphone and addressed the crowd.

  “Good evening,” his voice boomed from the speakers, startling all of the locals, a few rushed away a few steps before they regained their courage.

  “This is the story...one story of a very old English King, King Arthur,” he added and the crowd buzzed in excitement, even now, tales of the legendary King were popular. Rice paused a moment before continuing.

  “Some of this story may be true; some of it may be false, but it has captured the hearts of countless generations. We hope you enjoy it,” he said finishing and went to take his seat next to the Lady Merwinna.

  “Ye know of Arthur and his Anglish rule even in yor lands?” she asked.

  “Oh, yes. It is a fabulous story.”

  “Tis said Arthur be a mighty King, wise and just. Methinks for ye to have heard of such a thing that it must be truth.”

  Dr. Rice smiled. “Perhaps,” he replied and the film started. From the beginning the locals were in a word, spellbound. The entire audience remained riveted from the opening night scene, terrified by the amplified sounds of charging horses, and excited by the clash of swords. Most watched the entire film in a semi catatonic state somewhere between disbelief and wonder.

  “I thought ye knew nothing of dance,” the Lady Ellyn commented during a dance scene at the very beginning. Matt did not answer, but Ellyn took no notice, and said nothing more until the movie was over. At the end she was weeping with joy, and triumph.

  “Wondrous,” she exclaimed and everyone around shared her feelings, the camp was buzzing with unbelievable excitement. “Twas players, truly?”

  “Yes,” Matt answered.

  “Wondrous,” she repeated. “Twas so real, even for gnomes of the magic box.”

  Matt laughed, happy with the excitement the locals all shared. They were all amazed, delighted and moved by the film. It was a smashing success, and he was glad he’d suggested it. Quicker than thought the locals cleared a large area near the camp and as if by magic, music filled the air. An instant later the dancing began without preamble. This time however, Matt remembered a few of the songs and even a few dances. The makeshift dance floor was soon crowded with boisterous, happy people. Rushing all through the dancers and the immediate area were small knots of screaming, joyful children. Eve darted about among them; she was adjusting marvelously to her new playmates, so much so that her guardian Stuart Greybon seldom, if ever, followed directly behind her any more, though he still kept a close eye on the very special girl.

  Once again, Matt danced almost exclusively with Ellyn, though the Lady Merwinna did sneak in one dance, as did little Eve, neither of which the Lady Ellyn minded. But when she returned from relieving herself to find the young Pilton girl from the woods in the arms of her lover she nearly went mad with jealousy, especially when she saw just how the little wench was looking up at him. Matt caught Ellyn’s eye as she came out of the darkness of the surrounding night and smiled, shrugging slightly, but he kept dancing with the commoner until the song was over.

  “Ye looked to be as enjoying yorself Master Thane,” she said scornfully. He stepped back, delighted by her jealousy.

  “It was only a dance,” he chided and pulled her to him as another song started. It was an intricate group dance where everyone changed partners numerous times before finally ending up with their original partner at the end, so Matt had the chance to dance with the little vixen again. Ellyn seethed. The girl was obviously very taken with him, and for his own part Matt thought she was cute.

  “I care na for the way that wench be lookin’ at ye,” Ellyn admitted once she was again in Matt’s arms.

  Matt laughed. “Her name’s Rebecca...and you didn’t seem to mind her looking at me this afternoon.”

  Ellyn frowned unwittingly and her heart skipped a beat. “Wot?”

  “Yes. All of you girls seemed to be having quite the time of it,” he answered and watched her closely with a smile. She was squirming now, but still not completely convinced that he knew her secret.

  “I na know wot ye mean.”

  “I just hope it was me you were looking at and not all those other men swimming about,” he added, dropping the bomb. Shocked, she made to flee but he grabbed her tight and held her fast. They continued to dance, Matt leading Ellyn around the floor, as she blushed furiously.

  At first she didn’t say anything, and he was afraid she would start to cry, so he made sure to smile and press close against her. For almost a minute she wouldn’t look at him, then she glanced up, face still very red.

  “Ye knew?” she asked then looked down again. “I...I am verily sorry. Twas na a proper thing to do.”

  “I don’t mind as long as you were only looking at me,” he answered as the dance came to an end. She wouldn’t look at him until he lifted her face with his hand.

  “Yah, I was lookin’ at ye, forsooth.”

  “Forsooth?”

  She shook her head positively, smiling slightly. He led her slowly away from the dancers and over toward the fringes of the crowd, away from prying ears, but still near enough so that old aunt Eldreena would not get too uppity.

  “Ye knew?”

  Matt smiled and then laughed a bit. “Yes, we’ve known about the girls watching for quite some time now. At first we thought to drive them away, but we realized we didn’t care if they watched...and we didn’t want to get them in trouble for their natural curiosity. I was a bit surprised though, when the sentries reported that you were on your way to the grove, however.”

  She blushed again. “Ye knew I was going?”

  He nodded. “That’s why I decided to go for a swim.”

  “Ye knew I was there the whole time?” She asked, growing indignant.

  He nodded again, wondering just what she would do. “What are you going to do tell your aunt?”

  “Baaah! Why...ye...Matthew Thane...” she stammered.

  “Well, you were the one spying, and I just couldn’t have you staring at Sergeant Blish now could I.”

  S
he started to scream, then he laughed, and soon they were both laughing so hard they could hardly speak.

  “Ho,” she finally said with some semblance of control, “thee girls think ye have a nice bum.”

  “Oh, do they now...and what do you think?”

  She smiled again. “Tis verily nice,” she agreed with a nod.

  “You seem to have me at a distinct advantage now. You know what my bum looks like, but as for me, I have no idea what yours looks like. For all I know it could be this big,” he said holding his arms wide apart.

  “Matthew Thane!” she stammered. Matt smiled widely; he loved it when she used his full name. It sounded so sweet coming off of her tongue. They laughed again for several moments before she became suddenly serious.

  “Ye wold like to see me?” she asked not truly believing what she was saying.

  He looked into her eyes. “Oh yes,” he answered.

  She looked back, then around to make sure there was no one spying on them at the moment. Her aunt was currently dancing with Dr. Rice and no one else was near. “Twill have to be verily early...before the cock crows,” she whispered leaning forward. “Meet me behind the old barn down by the river, just before sunrise.”

  Matt just nodded; his body beginning to hum with excitement and for several long moments he was unable to speak. He was confused, wanting this and frightened by it at the same time. His feelings for her did not change, but his need increased a thousand fold.

  §

  Ivarr watched the long boat tack back and forth as it made its way to the mouth of the Medina River.

  “Na good will come of this,” his brother Halfdan commented as they looked on from a large manor home they’d captured when they sacked the town of Shamblord over a year ago. The entire Isle was now under Danelaw, a safe harbor against the armies of the Anglish. But that didn’t keep the pit of Ivarr’s stomach from souring as the boat moved closer.

  ‘Tis something bad,’ Ivarr thought and for the briefest moment hoped it was the plague, but deep down he knew this was not so. The Anglish under Alfred were growing strong…worse yet they were growing bold.

  It took nearly an hour before the boat finally moored and it became readily apparent why the crew was not manning the oars to navigate the harbor. There was no crew. Twenty men and a handful of captured women were all that was on board. Ubba was not among them, though the boat flew his colors.

  “Bring them to me,” Ivarr ordered in a deep, low voice that always precluded trouble. Halfdan grunted, by now equally concerned, and left to do his brother’s bidding.

  The survivors were herded into the large courtyard of the manor house. Ivarr sat beneath an overhang in a large, ornately carved chair that sported a bright red velvet cushion…not quite a throne, but close. The yard was crowded with curious Northmen, wondering what harrowing tale these unfortunate warriors would bring with them.

  Even yet, Ivarr was hoping for some natural catastrophe rather than a calamity brought on by Alfred. The condition of the boat ruled out a storm…plus the weather had been quite fair for this time of year. Ivarr’s stomach did another slow flip as he caught sight of Aleweard, one of his brother’s top men and a powerful fighter. He was wounded and held his right arm close to his side for support, but otherwise he appeared to be uninjured. The man began to tell the tale slowly, awkwardly, but soon enough it became clear that Ubba’s band had been defeated in battle, routed out of the fortress at Countisbury…and in less than a full day.

  ‘Tis na possible,’ Ivarr thought and grew angry at the cowardly display of the men before him. Ubba would not let such a thing happen; he would go berserker and fight to the last man.

  “They be na men,” Aleweard explained. “They be faceless apparitions that called down the thunder of Thor upon us. The fortress be destroyed, just so much rubble. Dey…” he began and suppressed a shiver as he remembered the attack, “killed from away…long away. Dey had na swords, na knives, na bows but men…good hard men screamed and died all around.”

  “And me bruder?” Halfdan asked loudly, becoming alarmed by the tale, wondering what mystical mischief the Anglish were up to now.

  “Captured,” Aleweard answered. “Dey devils have ‘em.”

  “Ye left me bruder in the hands of devils!” Ivarr finally spoke as his rage built quickly.

  Aleweard said nothing, just stared defiantly at the Boneless, which only made Ivarr’s anger grow.

  “Ye be cowards!” Halfdan screamed and Aleweard’s hand automatically went to the hilt of his sword.

  It was a mistake. Before he could draw his weapon, Halfdan was on him and Ivarr was out of his seat, battleaxe whistling through the air. The rest of Aleweard’s crew pulled their blades, realizing immediately that they would fight and die, or fight and live. Not one of the doomed men felt cheated at their fate…at least they were fighting men and not the faceless devils from the Hill.

  Aleweard was a large, strong warrior and held off Halfdan for several moments but Ivarr was a master in the art of death. He swung his large, heavy axe with his right hand arcing it back and forth across the front of his body with amazing speed. In his left hand he held a gladius, a short sword he’d found among the bones of long dead roman army.

  Ivarr’s approach distracted Aleweard momentarily and Halfdan pounced, sending a flurry of blows at the man. Aleweard managed to deflect them all but the last; it cut deeply through the front of his left thigh. Aleweard hissed and tried to retreat but his leg gave way slightly and he almost went down. He somehow managed to turn away Ivarr’s axe, but as he did the gladius disappeared into his gut.

  Ivarr stared mercilessly into Aleweard’s eyes for only a second before he yanked the sword free. Blood poured from the stricken man’s mouth as he dropped and bled out on the ground.

  Two of Aleweard’s men rushed forward, seeking revenge and forgiveness in equal measure. Ivarr held his ground, a smile on his face. He met the two men, proud of their fearlessness. He evaded the first of their blows, not with his weapons, but with his speed, agility and astounding flexibility. He twisted, turned, bent and ducked as the sharp swords of his attackers whipped harmlessly past, unable to connect with their supple opponent, proving once again that Ivarr was not called the Boneless just because of his lack of virility. Seconds later Halfdan strode in and beheaded one man just as Ivarr’s axe cut the right leg from the other. The man went down screaming but Ivarr did not finish him, instead he twisted around looking for new threats, but the remaining cowards were already dead, killed by those in the courtyard loyal to the brothers of Ragnar.

  The man on the ground continued to scream as he clutched his leg, but the two brothers ignored him.

  “Ubba?”

  Ivarr shook his head. “Na, Ubba lost the Hill, he should stay among the Anglish. Alfred will ransom him for sure…try and talk us back to Anglia.”

  Halfdan grunted, figuring his brother was right. He usually was where the Anglish were concerned. Strange people, strange ways. Finally, Halfdan glanced down at the howling man and held up his sword.

  Ivarr frowned. “Leave him. His cries will help me digest my meal,” he said and with one quick gesture the courtyard quickly emptied leaving the wounded man alone. It was hard to say if the man was aware of being abandoned, he continued to scream for several more minutes before falling silent, but it took nearly five for him to bleed all the way out.

  §

  It was still very dark when Matt finally rose, having slept little. He dressed quickly and went out into the still morning air. He waved to the guards on duty, but said nothing as to his destination. The stars were still bright in the sky, though a hint of the new day was appearing in the east. The ground was wet with dew as he made his way carefully around to the western side of the town. He moved carefully in the semi-darkness, not wanting to rouse suspicions by wearing his combat helmet. He moved quietly but to him his steps were loud and clumsy in the quiet of the morning. The old horse barn was a few hundred yards from the rear gates, wh
ich were still closed at this hour. The dilapidated structure was set only about thirty feet from the bank of the river Exe.

  The barn was very small by modern standards, but it was two stories tall. Most of the roof had long since collapsed in upon itself and the walls were missing planks here and there as the good ones were robbed to be used on newer structures.

  Matt circled the dilapidated building and in the darkness somehow found a rocky ledge that hung out over the river. He fidgeted a moment then nervously sat down on the very edge, letting his feet dangle in space. He listened to the gentle flow of the river beneath him, and to the occasional splash of a fish jumping for an early meal. Very slowly the morning became brighter and his surroundings became more distinct. He spotted the stones used to cross the river and smiled nervously. He half expected the Lady Ellyn not to show, and was almost convinced that it would be better if she didn’t. He felt young, excited, like a school boy before his first real date, though he was far past the age for such nonsense, or so he told himself. He also felt guilt, along with anticipation, which he found curious, but still it gnawed at his consciousness. He wanted Ellyn to show up badly, and he was finding it increasingly hard to sit still, his muscles began to twitch beneath him to such an extent that he was nearly to the point of leaving.

  ‘She’s too young,’ he thought and finally realized that he could not go through with this. He started to stand up but froze at the sound of approaching footsteps. He remained motionless for a long moment, his heart pounding loudly in his chest and then slowly, helplessly he sank back down. He was dimly aware of his blood thumping in his ears, but most of his attention was on the corner of the barn. Strange, he thought, that the approach of a girl could cause the same reaction as the approach of a Skawp bent on killing. He tried once more to stand, but again failed as Ellyn rounded the corner of the barn. The eastern sky was going from purple to blue behind her as she met his eyes. She smiled slightly. She was wrapped in a thick burgundy cape, but let it drop behind her. Beneath, she was wearing only a flimsy nightgown, her body highlighted perfectly from behind. Matt swallowed hard and forced himself up to his knees. She said nothing, just took two small steps forward and then slowly, with unbelievable grace, slipped out of her clothes and stood nude before him. He stared at her, unable to breathe, as he took in the sight of her. She smiled again…shyly and did a slow turn, letting him see all of her, and then she faced him again. Matt tried to resist, tried to speak but found he was not able, and then she rushed to him, fell to her knees and they embraced fiercely.