Serenity Valley

by Rocky Bills

  “Glad to hear that. How is Fulk working out? I can give you someone else; you just have to give the word.”

  “Fulk is doing a fine job. He is fitting in very well!”

  Sayer had a suspicious look on his face as he said, “All right then, just let me know of anything I can do to help!” With that, we bid our goodbyes, and the horses and I started out on our training walk once more.

  Everywhere we walked, people stopped their work and came to see the new Sirates colt. We were going by the schoolhouse when all of the children and the teacher came out in front to see him. I could hear the excited children talking. “My Papa says he’s the biggest colt in the whole world!” “I thought his mommy died.” “My brother says he won’t stay white, he is going to change color.” “Horses can’t change color, can they?” I stopped for a bit and talked to the children. I was amazed at how many questions they had and how intelligent the younglings were. Demon could tell that everyone was talking about him, and he remained in his regal stance so everyone could pay proper tribute. As we finally walked on, I said, “You know, Demon, you really are full of yourself!” Demon turned to look at me with his left eye, bent his ears back, and snorted his disgust with me. I couldn’t help but laugh, until he stepped on my foot. I know he did it on purpose! “You know, you’re not a nice horse!” Demon nickered and continued to look around and drag me everywhere.

  When we came even with the kitchen, always a favorite destination of mine, the staff emptied out the side doors to greet us. Everyone went on and on about Demon's size and how regal-looking he was. Of course, he stood in his royal pose for his due praise, just a natural show-off, I guess. Dear Basilea came up to us, and he actually allowed her to rub his nose. She started scratching behind his ear, and he even bent his head and pushed into the scratching.

  “Demon, my beautiful Lady Basilea keeps my heart!” I told him sternly.

  Basilea actually dropped her mouth and looked at me. The other kitchen ladies got quiet as if something very important just happened. The silence was broken when Demon bent over and promptly lipped her breast. Basilea stepped back in surprise, and the hens started.

  “Just like a man, he is!” I heard exclaimed. “He’s just pointing out differences is all,” I said. The crowd laughed, and I continued, “Well, he is a stud after all!” More laughter ensued. “Sorry, Basilea,” I told her quietly now, “I don’t know what got into him. I’m so sorry!”

  “It’s okay. He’s just a baby.”

  Just when things were starting to settle down, Demon bent his head down, shoved his nose in Basilea’s crotch, and sniffed loudly. “DEMON, get out of there!” I yelled.

  He snapped his head up, surprised, and looked at me as if to say, “What, what’s wrong?” Basilea and I were so embarrassed that we both turned a bright red.

  The gathering of kitchen staff started gasping and laughing and talking all at once. “Well, he’s a boy all right!” “Isn’t it just like a man?” “Guess he figured out the differences.” “Another rogue, that one is!”

  When I don’t know what to say, it’s best to just apologize. I stammered, “Sorry, I’m so very, very sorry!”

  “It’s okay, Gamel,” Basilea assured me. “He knows nothing of human manners.”

  “I’m just very, very sorry!” At the time, I had no idea how often I would be saying that during the next year. Demon was doing his best to live up to his name.

  When I got back to Demon’s stall, Fulk had cleaned it and put out fresh straw. A new water bucket hung on the wall for Mildred, as well as a feed trough. The big mare was happy to find feed waiting for her and immediately concentrated on filling her belly. The day was winding down with the setting of the bright, orange sun, which was silhouetting the rolling hills and trees to the east. The mare had finished her feed grain and then had a good long drink, which required refilling the water bucket. Demon soon started his meal, and all seemed as it should be. Fulk and I felt it safe to take a meal in the eating hall and headed out in that direction.

  The eating hall was adjacent to the kitchen and seated nearly one hundred people, if necessary. It contained its own cooking hearth, where a good-sized caldron hung. Stew of some form, probably leftovers, was always warm at the fire, along with a heavy clay pot with warm tea or cider. Bowls and mugs were stacked on a stone mantle above the hearth, and any time of day or night, a person could get something to eat and drink in the hall. Running the length of the hall were two rows of long tables, with benches on each side. The eating hall was about a third full this evening, and we found open seats close to the kitchen. A couple of the kitchen workers promptly brought large bowls of beef and vegetable stew, some fresh fruit, and mugs of hot tea. We were just digging into the stew when Basilea approached us with a fresh loaf of aromatic black bread. Steam rolled from it. It was no doubt fresh, just taken from the oven. She set the bread in front of us with a dish of butter.

  “Thank you, dear princess, we are not deserving of such fine fare,” I told her with a smile.

  Fulk looked at me and just shook his head back and forth in disbelief. “Thank you, Basilea, the bread smells great!” He said.

  “You’re welcome, Fulk,” she said. “It’s a new recipe; I hope you like it!” She then produced a huge knife from her smock and carved off two monstrous slabs of the bread and liberally buttered them. The bread was hot, and the butter quickly melted into the dark pores. I couldn’t wait any longer; I took a huge bite and chewed quickly. My taste buds erupted with ecstasy as I savored the taste. I could taste the nutty wheat flavor along with the sweetness of honey and just a hint of ginger. I wanted to compliment Basilea, but I wanted to take another bite even more, so I ignored her and went with eating more bread. Basilea sat watching me for some sign of approval, but one bite led to another until the entire piece was devoured. I looked at Fulk, who was just finishing his piece.

  “Well, boys,” she finally asked, “what do you think?”

  I just waved my fingers toward my body. “Again, again!”

  Fulk stared greedily. “Me too, please!”

  Basilea started to laugh and prepared two more giant slabs of the heavenly bread and handed them to us. We pushed our stew bowls away and concentrated on our more important task. By now, the sweet aroma was filling the hall, and others were wondering aloud where the wonderful smell was coming from.

  Basilea excused herself and scurried off to the kitchen. In less than a minute, she returned with two serving girls carrying large trays filled with steaming loaves of the delicious bread. Basilea dropped two loaves in front of us and continued distributing the bread to other tables. Now the hall was filled with the heavenly scent. A quiet ensued, and all that could be heard was guttural sounds of pleasure. I closed my eyes to enjoy the flavor even more. When I opened them once again, I was alarmed to see Lady Bella sitting in front of me. I choked a little, and she grinned. I looked at Fulk, who was staring, with a mouthful of bread.

  “I had to come and find out what that wonderful smell was,” Bella said calmly.

  “My lady, it’s Basilea’s bread,” I answered.

  “Oh, it smells wonderful!”

  I quickly cut her a large slab, buttered it, and gave it to her. She wasted no time sampling the treat. “Oh, that is the most wonderful flavor!” she exclaimed. Shortly after that, Lord Goodwin and Sayer joined us at the table and helped themselves to the bread. Basilea ran back to the kitchen. Within moments, Basilea and two helpers were setting stew and cider in front of Lord Goodwin, Lady Bella, and Sayer. Three more loaves of the amazing bread were set on our table.

  Lord Goodwin got Basilea’s attention. “Basilea, this is the most wonderful thing I have ever tasted!”

  Beaming with pride, she said, “Thank you, my lord, you are much too kind.”

  “Nonsense, girl, this is amazing. We will have to eat in the mess hall more often.”

  Similar compliments ensued from Lady Bella and Sayer. Basilea was embarrassed to the point of blushing a pe
rfect rosy hue. A sudden loud crash was heard from the opposite end of the hall. People were yelling. I could hear the sound of running footsteps and curses.

  At the end of the hall stood Demon, where a long table had been moments ago. Demon was posed in his arrogant stately stance, and was searching the hall with his eyes. When he spotted me, he began running up the aisle, Mildred right on his tail. There was no room for the big mare in the aisle, so people were climbing on top of the tables and jumping to the side as Mildred flipped tables and benches in her quest to stay with the colt. Food and furniture were flying through the air as people ran for safety. The sounds of cursing and screaming, along with the crashing furniture and shattering dinnerware, filled the hall. Demon stopped next to me and let out a loud bellow. Everyone stared with mouths open and eyes the size of plates. In obvious discomfort from the confined space, Mildred held her place behind the rebel colt.

  “Oh, no, Demon. What have you done?” I looked around and was surprised to see smiles from everyone at the table but Fulk, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

  Fina, the kitchen supervisor, appeared next to the table and started yelling at me. “Rogue Boy, get your beasts out of my hall. NOW!!”

  By now, everyone at the table was laughing, except for Fulk, who was still shaking his head. I stammered, “Of course, my lady, quickly, my lady, sorry, sorry, my lady!” Sure have been using that word a lot since the colt was born, I thought.

  I quickly turned the colt and started him back the way he came, trying to avoid Mildred overturning more furniture. Demon stopped for a moment, bent down, and picked up a whole loaf of Basilea’s heavenly bread, then continued trotting behind me. Mildred left a widening path of destruction. I could hear the lord comment, “I guess he came for the bread also!” from behind me. The entire hall erupted in laughter. I turned hot with embarrassment and quickened the pace for the door.

  Once outside, I looked at Demon fiercely and said, “You know, Demon, you are really not a very nice horse!” Demon whinnied and playfully shook his head up and down. “And give me that bread!” Demon whinnied again and stretched his head straight up so the bread was out of my reach. “All right, then; it is the best bread in the world, can’t blame you on that account.” Demon whinnied again.

  When we got back to his stall, I found the gate lying on the ground, its hinges yanked from the stall wall. “Okay,” I told him, “you stay here while I get some tools.” I ran to the storage room for nails and hammer. When I returned, I saw Demon had positioned himself at the table and had his left hip resting on one of the casks. On the table was the loaf of bread that he and Mildred were in the process of destroying. Great, now he’s going to want a table and chairs. “You know, Mildred, I can understand him acting badly, but you are the mother. You should know better and control him.” Mildred raised her head to attention hearing her name, turned an eye to me for a moment, let her ears relax to the point of drooping, then dropped her head and resumed eating the bread scattered on the table. “So, I guess I can’t count on you for any support, then.” Demon whinnied calmly and bobbed his head up and down. “Are you happy?” I asked him. “You have already corrupted her.” Demon pinned his ears back, then released them and continued eating. When Fulk got there, the horses were in the stall with Demon feeding. I was just finishing work on the hinges. Without being told anything, Fulk went to fetch feed for Mildred. We saw to the water bucket and straw, and by then, it was getting late. I told Fulk to go ahead and get some sleep while I cleaned up the horse spit and bread crumbs left on the makeshift table. I noticed the scroll containing our mini stable plans and thought how nice it would be to have proper accommodations. I looked in on the horses and found Demon snoring in the corner while Mildred made haste to finish her meal. “Mildred, please look after him. I’m going to bed now.” I withdrew quietly, trying not to wake Demon. I had cleared the stable area and felt relief. It would be nice to lie in my own bed and rest my exhausted body.

  Chapter 4

  Although the living quarters was a large dormitory style building adjacent to the stables, each living space had an oil lamp, small reading desk, storage cabinet, and bed. It is all I had known since my eighth year, having moved from the blacksmith’s quarters once the new smith arrived with his family. They had offered to keep me on with them, but I had too many sad memories of my stepparents in that place and moved to the dormitories with the other stablehands. When I reached my bed, I found the clothes Basilea had taken for cleaning. My leather breeches were cleaned, scraped, and oiled. Next to my breeches were all of my underclothes, carefully folded. Stretched out on the bed was a new dark blue shirt. It was made of good stout linen and had heavy but careful stitching. Basilea must have been working on this shirt for some time and rushed to finish it when my clothes were ruined. I thought of her now and felt a pang of torment in my chest. I never understood why I felt a sort of pain when I thought of someone I loved. It seems like conflicted emotions and was very hard to understand. I put the clothes away in my cabinet and sat on the bed to take off my boots. I needed to oil them again soon or they would lose their waterproofing. I stripped to my underclothes and relaxed on my most welcome bed. By the time I pulled up my blanket, I was sound asleep. I don’t think I was asleep very long when I began to dream of Basilea. We were sitting on grass under a tree, and the breeze was flicking her soft golden hair in my face. I reached up to touch her hair, and something soft and sticky grabbed my fingers. With my heart trying to jump from my chest, I opened my eyes and found Demon staring down on me.

  “Damn it, Demon, you scared me to death!” I yelled. Demon grabbed my blanket and pulled it off of me. “All right, all right. I’m coming.”

  By now, people were waking up and lighting lamps. There were a few ugly remarks from the sleepy inhabitants. There was also more than a little laughing and many smart-ass remarks being made.

  Fulk appeared by my bed with a smile on his face. “Do you want me go back with him?” he asked.

  “No, it’s me he wants. He’ll just come back if I don't go. Go back to sleep.” I looked around for Mildred and saw her enormous head sticking through the window. I said, “At least you didn’t come in with him.” Mildred just stared at me with her big innocent eyes. I got up and dressed quickly. I put on my new shirt so I wouldn’t disappoint Basilea the next day. I sat on the bed to slip on my boots, and Demon started to position his rear over the opposite side of the bed. I yelled, “No, no, don’t do it; don’t even think about it!” Ignoring me, Demon raised his right leg and tried to sit on my bed. The wood frame shattered, and that end of the bed hit the floor. Everyone in the dorm started laughing, including Fulk. Demon just sat there in his regal pose. I slipped on my other boot and jumped up. “Come on, then, let’s go!” I told him.

  When we got back to the stall, I noticed the gate standing wide open. I examined the latch and found it intact. “Great, now you’re an escape artist!” Demon whinnied and went into his stall with Mildred tagging along. I didn’t even bother to latch the gate. I went to storage for a bedroll and returned. Demon was already snoring, and Mildred had one rear hoof up, fast asleep. I rolled out my bed as far from the horses as possible and followed their example. After a short nap, I felt hot breath in my ear, and I reached up and rubbed Demon’s nose, then tucked my arm back under my covers. I heard him flop down next to me and begin to snore immediately.

  Demon finally let me sleep through the night. I was very grateful when I woke up rested and renewed. I rolled up the bedroll and put it back in storage, turned to leave, and found Lady Bella standing right in front of me. I gasped for breath. I couldn’t get used to her sudden appearances. I said, “Good morning, my lady, you look very stunning in your outfit.”

  The lady had her long black hair in a ponytail, and she was wearing a loose-fitted brown tunic belted by a purple sash over white linen britches. Completing the outfit were lightweight boots. She really did look great, different than normal, but great. Bella said, “I was just on a m
orning run and thought I would pop in and see how you were. I learned that you had a bit of trouble in the dorm last night.”

  “Oh, no trouble, my lady. I just need to stay close to Demon. He wants me near at night, so he came and found me.”

  The lady smiled. “Gamel, is there anything I can do to make things more comfortable for you and Demon?”

  “Nothing, my lady. We have everything we need, thanks.”

  “Okay then, but if you ever need anything, just let me know.”

  “Thank you, my lady.”

  “Well, I must be off on my run. I will see you after lunch, at the main house turnout. Your charges can busy themselves with the grass while we work on your lessons.”

  “Thank you, my lady. I will be there.”

  I walked to the front of the stable with her as she took off in a slow run. I watched her form while running. She ran gracefully, keeping her head level at all times. There was no pounding of feet. Her hands were relaxed in front of her, and her arms moved slowly in a continuous stroke that matched her stride. I had never seen anyone run so effortlessly.

  Just then, Fulk showed up and saw to the mare’s feed and water while I mucked out the stall. By the time morning chores were finished, Basilea appeared with food to break our fast. I thanked Basilea for my fine, new shirt, and was rewarded by a kiss on the cheek, and a, “You’re welcome.” We sat at our old worktable enjoying hot porridge, fresh biscuits with honey, bacon strips, and mugs of hot tea. After the morning meal, I decided to take Demon on another training walk to work on ground handling. Fulk was helping with the mares being brought in by the range riders to foal.

  It was mid-spring, and the stable would soon fill up with bulging horses. Lord Goodwin preferred to have the horses stabled when they birthed in case there were any problems with mare or foal. It was possible to let the mares foal in pasture naturally, but he found having them in close provided a better percentage of success. A good example would be Demon, who would have perished along with his mother if left to pasture. New foals and their dam were kept in large stalls for a week or two for observation. After initial observation, foals and dams were turned out on the lake pasture, where they could socialize into herd life. After records were reviewed and proper pairing of traits was completed, mares and their foals were relocated to individual pastures for selected studs. Unless it was a rest year for a broodmare, she was bred again while still nursing a foal. When foals were almost a year old, they were separated from their dam, who was usually grateful to be rid of them, and placed in one of the intermediate pastures. There, they got used to human handling and aged for training. At two years they were brought in to the training center during summer and taught basic training. Then they were released back to an intermediate pasture to continue maturing and to allow their growth plates to harden so they could bear the weight of a rider. It took between three and four years to finish a horse and have them ready for sale, and a continuous supply of foals was essential. Demon differs from the normal process in that I am charged with getting him to his third year sound, sane, and ready to breed with comely mares. The hopeful result would be large, graceful chargers with an ambling gait, the first of their kind. The new chargers would have the ability to cover twice as much distance in a day than a normal destrier. I looked at Demon as we battled our way along the path leading to the main house. He was smart, extremely smart. Already, he was improved two-fold from the previous lesson. The sign of an intelligent horse was the ability to retain training. This allowed for new training to be added on to the previous foundation. “Demon, I tell you, you’re the smartest horse I have ever had the pleasure to know,” Demon looked at me and made a low nicker. “You’re welcome.” We made our way along the path leading to the main house. After a minute, I said, “Demon, I think we should pay the kitchen another visit. A man should always take care of his stomach, aye?” Demon gave another nicker in agreement. I stopped to pick three bouquets of flowers along the path. Demon watched with great interest. I said, “Watch and learn, young man. Always praise those who feed you.” Demon gave another nicker.