by Anni Antoni
“When, when can I meet Rachel?” I asked impatiently, putting my hands on his shoulders.
“Before we start work if you like. She is ready to see you this morning.”
I would have gone there immediately but Pelle held me back. “Wait, it’s still too early. Most people would not be awake yet. You can't go drag the poor girl out of her bed. It might startle her… and her father.” he roared with laughter. “Please, eat with us first. Rachel and her family will want to eat before meeting you, and I'm sure she will want to spend time preparing her hair nicely. Women pay attention to those little details.” He wiped tears of laughter from his face.
I laughed too, delighted with his news, all the guilt and anguish within me washed away by the promise of spending time with my Rachel.
“Is Bronwyn up yet?” I asked, eager to eat and make my way across to meet my future wife.
“Not yet, Joshaviah, not yet.” He laughed again, “Have patience. At least it’s good to see you happy again instead of morose, as you have been. I was worried about you, but don’t worry, I’ll call you when Bronwyn has prepared our food.” With that, he went back inside.
In an agony of anticipation, I paced back and forth along the wall watching the sun rise, eager to meet Rachel. Time stopped. The sun ceased its march across the sky and I waited an eternity, or so it seemed.
I'd be guided by Pelle, I reminded myself, grinding my teeth. He would know when the right time had arrived, but I would be in agony until then.
**********
At last, Pelle waved me in to eat with the family. Bronwyn ladled out bowls of the wet, sticky gruel, which was our normal morning meal.
I ate without tasting it, as if in a trance, Rachel's face foremost in my mind. Although waiting was agony, I was so nervous of meeting her, my heart raced at the thought of it.
Finishing breakfast quickly, I was ready to go, but it was still early. Pelle shook his head when I raised a questioning eyebrow. I knew he would wait for a respectable time before making a move.
While I waited, I wandered outside to my position by the fort wall, now fast becoming my favorite spot. Far away, farmers came out to work in the fields as I watched.
Looking at the sky I noticed the sun had risen a little past the horizon. It was now full daylight. Surely it must be time. I went inside to ask Pelle again.
“Pelle is a time to go yet?”
He looked at me and laughed, shaking his head. “Patience, have patience Joshaviah. Rest assured, I will tell you when it’s time. Meanwhile, just relax. You will spend a pleasant morning with your intended wife soon.”
‘Intended wife’ -- words I was still unfamiliar with, but I glowed with happiness at hearing them. I took a deep breath to calm myself. “Yes, I’ll be waiting for you by the wall.” I said.
I hesitated before leaving and turned back to speak with him.
“This nervousness I'm feeling, I was less nervous at facing three armed soldiers yesterday. What is this? At times I can hardly breathe.” I wiped sweaty palms on my tunic once more.
Pelle snorted, and Bronwyn giggled. Even her eldest daughter giggled.
“What you are feeling is normal,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Women have this ability to reduce us to nervous wrecks. Get used to it.” He laughed. “Ah, but the reward…” he said, winking at Bronwyn. “That is worth all the waiting, the nerves, the anguish and suffering they put us through.”
I frowned. “Pelle, I don't understand what you're talking about.”
“Don't pay him any heed.” giggled Bronwyn. “Your young lady is beautiful and has a wonderful nature, I’m told. She will make you happy and, if it makes you feel any better, she is probably just as nervous as you.”
It did make me feel better. I hadn't even considered she would feel nervous about our meeting, but it was to be expected.
Mating for life is a big thing among humans. It changes their way of life and produces children. Making the wrong choice, or not having the freedom to choose, would bring a lifetime of misery.
My happiness soared again, to hear of Rachel’s good nature. It didn't surprise me, her wonderful loving nature shone from her face.
Once again, imagining her face, her dark, wavy hair and her violet eyes produced a flow of nervous sweat down my back. Again, I wiped my clammy hands on my tunic, wiped my brow and brushed my damp hair back with my hands.
There was still more time to wait, so I wandered outside and paced along the fort wall. Immersed in an agony of anticipation and nervousness, I didn't even hear Pelle creep up behind me. I jumped as he put his arm over my shoulder.
“Are you ready to meet her,” he asked.
I looked up, hardly daring to believe my ears. “Is it time? Is it time now, at last?”
“It's time. Her father actually sent word she is ready to meet you. This is a good sign. It shows how eager they are.”
Agony dissipated in an instant and bliss flooded my being. She was waiting for me. She had sent word she was ready and wanted me to come. It was a miracle.
I grabbed Pelle's arm. “What are we waiting for?” I said, almost running across to where Rachel's family lived, pulling a chuckling Pelle behind me. We got to the door of their living quarters and knocked.
Rachel's father greeted us and shook our hands.
“Welcome,” he said, shaking our hands vigorously, first Pelle’s, then mine. “I'm very pleased to see you.” Turning to me, he said, “I was glad to hear you won the approval of the Prince for this union and will have your own quarters. And I can't tell you how pleased Rachel was to hear it.” He laughed happily, still shaking my hand. “And I’m happy too, knowing you will make a good husband for her. I hope we can get well acquainted over the coming months.”
I nodded and smiled at his words, and hung on as he kept shaking my hand and smiling, but he was talking too much. All I wanted was to see Rachel, now I had arrived at her home, preferably without being rude to her father to gain entry.
Chapter 18.
Getting to Know Rachel
Finally, he stepped back at last, and allowed us to enter. I walked into the room and immediately halted.
Rachel stood, bathed in a ray of light from a window, illuminated, fresh white flowers in her hair. Her beauty shone out at me and I couldn't move, my legs had inexplicably disconnected from my brain’s commands.
Pelle bumped into my back. “Keep walking,” he whispered in my ear, giving me a slight push in the right direction. “Let us all get into the room.”
I drifted towards her, still not fully in control of my limbs. Her eyes drew me forward, her beautiful violet eyes.
I was mesmerized. No words came to mind. She looked at me wide-eyed as if terrified. Was she afraid of me? This couldn't be.
I smiled, hoping to reassure her. She gave a huge, shuddering sigh, as though it was a first breath after she'd stopped breathing for a while, and gave me a shaky smile in return.
That was all the encouragement I needed. In a fraction of a second, I was by her side, gazing down at her, grinning like a fool. She looked up at me, smiling too.
Bronson’s voice broke the silence. “We will leave you to get acquainted.”
He and Pelle left the room, but I hardly noticed. Rachel and I were alone. Neither of us moved, standing close to each other, not touching, silent but smiling broadly. Eventually she bowed her head, her cheeks growing red, blushing.
How strange this must seem to her. Here she was, unable to voice her own desires, and traded like a possession or an animal. The sudden realization made me feel bad for her, but I was also relieved she looked happy at the outcome.
You must remember, these were very different times. Women were mere possessions. If a man had a daughter, he was grateful if she grew to be pretty and plump with wide hips. If so, she would fetch a good return having many suitors vying to have her as a wife. A potential suitor had to act fast if he wanted her.
The next best thing was plump with wide hips.
However, if he had a daughter who was plain and thin, she was a liability, lucky to find any husband.
Rachel was the perfect female, breath-takingly beautiful and deliciously curvy. I was lucky to have found her when I did. She would never be short of suitors.
It dawned on me, we had not spoken yet. “Hello Rachel,” I said, reaching out for her hand. “I'm Joshaviah. I'm happy you have agreed to see me.”
She raised her beautiful eyes to meet mine. “Hello Joshaviah.” she said.
My breath caught in my throat to hear her voice, so beautiful, low and melodious. Just listening to that voice made my heart sing.
“I am pleased you want me for your wife. When I saw you, sword fighting in the yard, it was my fondest wish to be your wife. You have made me the happiest woman by claiming me, and I'm so pleased my father, and even the Prince, agreed. I don't know how you worked such magic, but I'm grateful and happy you did. If it pleases you sir, I will try to be a good wife for you.” she said and curtsied to me.
Touched by her open sincerity, I replied. “No need to be so formal, you already please me. When I first saw you. something compelled me to seek you out. I'm only glad you wanted me too.”
She looked up at me again, more warmth, and confidence in her smile. Right then, I had a glimpse of what Pelle meant. Before I met Rachel, I would never have imagined a simple, sweet smile could make me so impossibly happy.
I took her hand, placed my other hand on top of it and knelt in front of her.
“Rachel, my beautiful wife to be, I pledge to you my undying love. I will give my all to protect you and make you happy.” I ran out of words, but I sealed my heartfelt promise with a kiss on her hand.
As I looked up at her, I saw silent tears running down her face. “What's wrong?” I asked, dismayed. Had I said something to upset her?
“It's just, it's, well… I never imagined my husband would say such things. You have made me the happiest person alive. I will do all in my power to be the best wife you could ever wish for, and bear you good strong healthy children.”
Children…. The possibility never occurred to me. How stupid! But yes, they came eventually, once you took a wife.
I laughed with delight. “I swear,” I said to her getting up off my knees, “we'll be very happy together.”
She laughed too, and put a hand on my shoulder. I put my arm around her waist and hugged her close. She didn't resist, but melted into my arms as though she belonged there. I had never felt such happiness. Every cell in my body sang with joy.
“Shall we walk,” I asked her, “in the courtyard?”
“I’d enjoy that,” she said, smiling at me. “Please tell me about yourself as we walk. I know so little about you.”
As we walked outside, arm in arm, I told her about my experiences with Pelle and learning how to work with wood and metal, making furniture, household goods, jewelry and weapons and how we travelled until we came to the fort.
She, in turn, told me about her life. She had older brothers, but they became soldiers and died in battle. That meant there were three girls left. Her mother and father had a small farm but lost the farm in an enemy invasion.
Alone, with no way of earning an income, they found their way to Juffort. She and her sisters represented the only wealth the family had. And she was so happy that I was the first person to help rescue the family by offering to take her as a wife.
We stopped by the wall, near a clump of small white flowers, like the ones she wore in her hair. “Ah, daisies,” she said with sigh. “They may look fragile, but they’re strong flowers, the only ones I have found that grow in the fort. I miss the flowers we had on the farm, flowers of every color.” She smiled wistfully up at me.
I was enjoying her company and the warm sun on my back, but before I could reply to her, Arbiter Berkant burst upon us.
“Ah, there you are,” he said, breathless after running across the courtyard. “I need to talk to you, now. We must start today. The Prince is impatient to see results. Come immediately to my business quarters.”
“Let me escort Rachel home and I'll be with you straight away.” I said, aware of the need to keep my promise.
I walked her back home. At the door, I bowed and said, “I've enjoyed your company and love talking to you. May I see you tomorrow?”
“Yes,” she said, a happy smile playing with the corners of her mouth. “I'd like nothing better.”
“Tomorrow.” I said. “I’ll call for you at the same time.” Mindful that the Arbiter was waiting for me, I tore myself away, but my heart remained with her.
Chapter 19.
A New Beginning
I hurried across the courtyard to the Arbiter and found him pacing back and forth in his office. “We need to start now,” he said in a trembling voice. “The Prince is angry at all the delays we've been having getting the soldiers ready for war.”
“Those delays aren't my doing,” I said, taken aback by the implied accusations.
“They don't have to be. If the Prince is in a bad mood, anyone can suffer, as you should know.” The Arbiter mopped his brow with a cloth.
I had to agree with him, and nodded my head.
“As of today,” he put on his official voice. “You are no longer a weapon-maker but the Prince’s soldier trainer. Let’s hope you can live up to your claims. What you did yesterday in front of the prince was remarkable, and if you can teach our soldiers half of that we will be an invincible force.”
“Not that we have need to worry much in this campaign, because we're just annexing land. And our opposition will only come from farmers who have banded together. They will be no match for our men, so the short amount of training you give them should be ample. You have two weeks to train them.”
My head reeled. Two weeks to train a whole army? It was not enough time, but I needed to make it work. My brain whirred into action, starting at the most logical place.
“How many soldiers must I train?”
“One thousand men live in the soldiers’ quarters. Five hundred of those will stay behind to protect the fort.” The Arbiter barked the numbers out, as if dragged from somewhere deep in his memory, while continuing to mop his brow. “You will train those going to war first. Those who are to stay behind you can train sometime later.
You may be wondering about the logistics of training and warfare in this dark age in human history. It was a time before soldiers were provided with horses. Of course, we had horses, but not in great numbers, and they were used for pulling supply carts. Therefore, the soldiers who went into battle expected to go on foot.
This made campaigns slow and food supply difficult. Although supplies were kept in the accompanying carts, especially staples like water and grains, soldiers were expected to forage for food along the way, for themselves, and to add to the supply cart.
Food supplied was basic, usually gruel and water. Any personal extras had to be provided by the soldiers themselves, from extra rations they carried, taken by force from farms along the way, or game they were lucky enough to find. Campaigns often ended at short notice if they ran out of food.
They were forbidden, on pain of death, to take from farms that the Prince owned, but anywhere else was fair game while they were on campaign.
This campaign’s target was for more farmland, beyond the Prince’s current holding. Anyone in those lands, usually consisting of small settlements, was vulnerable.
They were attacked, driven off their farms and everything was taken. The farm became property owned by the Prince and extra food from the farms was carried back to the fort.
No prisoners were taken, the landowners were either killed or they ran. Unless they banded together, they had no protection. It was savage and brutal -- a matter of the strong taking from the weak.
Getting messages to and from the army was difficult too. Messenger soldiers rode horses between the front and the fort otherwise runners delivered messages.
The Prince and his father, King Juf, were keen to ac
quire more fertile land to expand their holdings of farmlands and gain a greater supply of food. That way they could grow their forts in size and population and become more powerful. Whoever controlled the farmlands and the food supply had the most power in those dark days.
“So,” said the Arbiter, taking a deep breath. “I hope you have given good thought to how you will train five hundred soldiers in two weeks. We will both be in trouble if you don’t perform well. It sounds like a daunting task to me.” He paused, no doubt noticing my silence. “Well… What say you?” He mopped his brow again.
The truth was I hadn't given it much thought, my need to see Rachel far more urgent. Five hundred soldiers, was a number I could not imagine.
I had never seen our soldiers gathered together as a group. They kept largely to their quarters on the other side of the fort, and there was limited access between our section of the fort and the military section. I decided it would be best to train an elite group first.
Doing my utmost to appear as if I knew what I was talking about, I outlined a plan straight off the top of my head. The knowledge came from somewhere deep inside me, almost as if I was channeling my warrior ancestors.
“Here's what I propose we do,” I said to the Arbiter. First, bring me twenty of your best swordsman.
“That’s easily done,” he said, looking hopeful.
“I propose to train those men to teach their own groups of soldiers under supervision. They will be with me all day. They will train with me, practice together and watch me train the other groups. At the end of a week they will have completed basic training.”
“I like that idea.” said the Arbiter, suddenly enthusiastic. “We will have twenty experts on hand. Good man. The Prince will like that too.”
“The rest of the soldiers, will be divided up between those elite. That will give them twenty-four soldiers each, which will be their permanent training group. I will leave it up to you to decide who goes in with each group. The first few days I will spend training my elite soldiers.
