Serenity Valley

by Rocky Bills

  “He doesn’t mean to live, but he will take a lot of them with him when he goes!” Fulk yelled back as he saw Gamel running full speed, screeching the stallion battle cry.

  The invaders looked at Gamel with fear in their eyes. They saw a big man with devil eyes. He twirled a demonic weapon in his right hand and a butcher’s cleaver in the other hand. The creature running at them screeched as a horse does in battle—this was not a human. The invaders wanted to run back in the woods, but men on great horses were waiting to spike them if they did. They would have to fight the creature. The creature is on them. They fight, they stab, but the creature cannot be killed. It is chopping and screeching.

  The soldier fighting next to Fulk finished his opponent with a dagger in the chest. Fulk yelled, “You know, I never wanted to live forever. Here, take this one.” Fulk hit his opponent on the head with the flat of his short sword, leaving him dazed. He was running to Gamel as fast as his legs could pump. He saw Gamel launch himself onto the group, taking eight men to the ground. Gamel was on his feet chopping before they could get up. He had a dagger stuck in his side. He pulled it out and buried it in a man’s eye socket, but he didn't slow down. He chopped like a butcher chopping racks of long ribs. Fulk could feel the thunder of hoofbeats, heavy hoofbeats. Mildred and Ivan arrived crushing, throwing, chopping. Ivan yelped like a wild dog. Demon arrived next, crushing, stomping, throwing, screeching, and kicking. The De Ferrier mounted soldiers started coming out of the trees now, some with bloody lances. Some chopped at the invaders with long swords. The chargers were crushing, stomping, kicking, and screeching. Fulk screamed the stallion battle cry and launched himself into a large group of attackers. His dagger and short sword were finding their mark. Men were falling and not getting up.

  I was wrong; these slow, stinking things are not very good. I am running out of things to end, and they haven’t ended me. I will find more things. I think Fulk is here now. I heard his scream. Demon and Mildred are here; they are ending the things also. The stinking things are foul, and they do not belong. My things are used up, and I need more. There, I see many things, more things than I can use up. They can end me before I am eaten and hollow. I am almost gone. Running now, I am a stallion now; my stallion scream is good, almost there. No, no, no! Demon is passing me.

  He will get there first. No, I want the things for me. Go away, Demon! Go play and leave the things for me. No, no, there are other horses now. Some are Siren’s foals; they are using up all of my things. Two things running away. They run to me. They are slow, but they come. Almost here, good, good. I will end them both. I block this one’s sword, I go low and spin. My kukri cuts off his leg. Let this one end slowly. This other thing stinks of piss, a foul creature. I block his sword with my kukri. I spin and bury my axe in his belly. He goes down. I will make two things from one. I put my kukri away. Two chops. I will take the top half to give to the other things. There, a group of them there. Come with me, top of thing. Running now, twirling my axe, twirling the top of the thing; it feels balanced to twirl both. Ah, things see me now. Things are stopping. These things smell of piss and fear. Fight me! I stallion scream to them. I hope they bury me with Basilea; I would like that, lying next to her forever. No, no the things are ending themselves. No, end me, you things! Stop ending yourselves. Fight me! I am sad now; all the things are gone. I am alone. I will give top thing back to them. Here, I don’t want it anymore. I will hunt now. There must be more things.

  Ox surveyed the field once more to be sure things were wrapping up. No invaders reached the defensive perimeter. What was left after Demon and Mildred passed through was eliminated by A Company. Still a lot of fighting at the other end, but the mounted soldiers were on the field with C and D Companies. Mildred with her Gypsy friend and Demon were thinning them out quick enough. Gamel, on the other hand, was determined to get himself killed. He just hadn’t found anyone up to the task yet. Ox could see a mass of hold folk running toward the festival grounds; some toted stretchers, and others water jugs. It looked like the entire hold had come running. Ox dropped his rope, slung his empty quiver and bow over his shoulder, and slid down. He hit the ground running for the other end of the battlefield. By the time he got there, it was just about over. Some small holdout clusters were being eliminated. He got there in time to see Gamel’s spectacle with the upper half of a corpse. Ox thought, There mightn't be no comin' back from where’s he’s gone, God helps 'im. Ox found Fulk resting on one knee, and with a broad grin, he said, “Oye, lad, ya be livin', does ya? Ya cut?”

  “Good to see you again, Master Ox. I can’t really tell if I’m cut yet, still high from the fight.”

  Ox grabbed Fulk and gave him a bear hug. “I’m glad ye made it, son!”

  Fulk hugged him back and said, “So, you are my father!”

  They both started laughing. When they separated, Ox said, “We got a big problem here.”

  Fulk let his gaze travel in the same direction Ox looked. Gamel was walking among the dead and dying attackers, and he would kick them to see if they groaned. If they did, he shoved the spike end of his axe into their forehead. Ox said, “Ya know, he’s havin' the right idea. Come with me, son.” Ox and Fulk went over to a group of soldiers milling about, still excited from the battle. They couldn’t stand still. Ox yelled, “You, men, come here.” Still full of adrenaline, the men ran to where Ox stood. Ox took out his dagger, walked to a corpse, turned the head to the side, and plunged the dagger in the ear to the hilt. “You men do this ta every piece a vermin on ta field. Send runners to ta nother end an' have ta sames thing done, an' don’t ferget them's been put down in da woods by da mounted.”

  One soldier asked, “If they be dead, why’s we be doin it?”

  “'Cause a had me a dead un come back ta life once, kilt me best friend, and ah gots ta blood rage likes Gamel there.” The last statement was enough to get the men moving. A couple men took off for the other end of the field, and some headed for the woods. In a short while, every invader would have one more hole in them.

  Chapter 12

  Ox looked at Fulk and asked, “Where be yer bow, son?”

  Fulk looked at the ground and said, “It’s gone. Sorry, Master Ox.”

  “How ya comes ta loose it?”

  “Well, first I broke it hitting people with it. Then I lost the pieces of it.”

  “How ya loose da pieces?”

  “Well, part of it’s in a fellow’s neck. Another part is up some guys arse.”

  Ox looked shocked. “Up he’s arse?”

  Fulk smiled wide and said, “Yeah, it came as a surprise to him too!”

  Ox let out a loud belly laugh they could have heard at the other end of the field. Fulk was laughing too. Handing Fulk his bow, Ox offered, “Here, Master Archer Fulk. Take mine.”

  Fulk said, “Master Ox, I couldn’t take your bow. By the way, I’m an apprentice archer.”

  “Ya took out two snipers hangin' upside down from a tree. Ye be the master; made me proud.”

  “Thank you, Master Ox, but I couldn’t take your bow.”

  “It mean a lot ta me if'n ya takes it, thoughts ta give it to ma son one day.” Ox was crying now; huge tears formed in his eyes. Fulk also had tears running down both cheeks. Both men looked away from each other, ashamed to have the other see them cry.

  Fulk finally spoke. “It’s a great honor for me to accept your bow. I wondered how long it was going to take you to admit sleeping with my mum!”

  Ox and Fulk chuckled and gripped each other’s forearm. A moment later, Ox broke an awkward silence. “Son, where be our girl?”

  Fulk just started walking, with Ox following. Soon they came to where Basilea’s body lay on its side, still clutching her locket. A bolt was sticking through her thigh, and another was lodged in her back. Neither man had anything to say. They just stood there and looked down at the tragic picture. Water coursed down both their faces.

  They hadn’t noticed, but Gamel had walked up behind them. He twirled his axe
one revolution and plunged the spike into the ground. He sheathed his kukri and released his axe harness, letting it fall to the ground. He unbuckled his belt and let it fall, sat down, crossed his legs, and put his arms in his lap. He spoke in a low tone, “My princess, the sunset light dances on your hair like fireflies on a June summer’s night. All the things are gone now, my lovely. I’ll just sit here with you now. Everything is going to be just fine now.” After that, Gamel didn’t speak, move, or blink his eyes. He just stared straight ahead at nothing.

  Fulk knelt down in front of Gamel. “Oye, best friend, rest now. Ox and I will take care of your girl.” Fulk looked into Gamel’s eyes. “Gamel, Gamel!” He waved his hand in front of Gamel’s face a few times, with no response.

  “He not being here wit us, don’t be sein ya, nor hear ya.”

  “What do we do, Ox?”

  “Not'in' fer now. Try gettin' some water in 'im later.”

  Ox went to his knees next to Basilea’s body. With his dagger, he cut off the feathered end of the bolt lodged in her leg. He then grabbed the pointed end and pulled it on through. Fulk got down next to Basilea, facing her body. Ox moved to the arrow in her back. Fulk held her body while Ox braced one hand on her back and pulled the bolt out with his other hand.

  When it was out, they noticed Mildred arrive with Ivan. Mildred stopped and knelt so Ivan could dismount without sliding down her side. He patted her neck. “Good girl you be, Mildred, best horse.” He walked over to where Fulk and Ox were attending Basilea’s body. Ivan asked, “Gamel? He be better now after battle?”

  “He’s not with us anymore, Ivan; he’s gone somewhere else.”

  Ox and Fulk took off Basilea’s harness and weapons belt, placing them gently on the ground. They rolled her over on her back and placed her legs together. Holding her locket, she looked like she was praying.

  “I better take the locket. If Gamel wakes up, he would want it, I think.” Fulk tried to open Basilea’s fingers, but they wouldn’t budge.

  “They just death froze, have ta pry 'em open,” Ox said.

  Fulk tried one finger. He got it open, but when he took pressure off, it snapped back around the locket. Watching closely, Ivan spoke now. “That not right to be, please, I be checking.” He got on his knees and drew his curved dagger and placed it under Basilea’s nose. The three men almost stroked out at the sight of moisture forming on the blade, evidence of short, shallow breaths. “She be living, not too much, but living!” Ivan exclaimed.

  Ox barked out, “Fulk, fetch a healer.”

  Before he could say healer, Fulk was twenty feet away at full speed. Fulk was fast, but right now was the fastest he had ever run. He pumped his arms and legs. He drew his dagger and cut his weapons belt away. He threw the dagger away and ran faster. Fulk felt the tremors, then heard the pounding as Mildred closed on him. Mildred slowed, but not much. Ivan was leaning over to the side with an arm out. Fulk grabbed the arm and jumped at the same time, with Ivan lifting. Fulk dropped in behind him on Mildred’s back, and Mildred was back at top speed in two strides. When they neared the group at the stage area where Goodwin was, Ivan steered Mildred with his legs to miss people. “Mildred, must slow now, people too many.” Mildred slowed to a fast trot.

  “Go to where Goodwin is; the best healers will be there.”

  Mildred was guided through the people and bodies until they reached Goodwin, who was sitting down on the back of a wagon. Fulk jumped off Mildred and ran to where Bells stood next to her husband. An excited Fulk raced to her. “My lady!” Bells grabbed him in a bear hug. “My lady, we need a healer. Basilea lives, barely, but she lives.”

  Goodwin bellowed, “Warin, go with them!”

  Warin sputtered, “B-b-but, my lord!”

  “You already told me I’ll live. Now get!”

  “Yes, my lord, of course, my lord.” A mounted soldier moved up with his charger. He threw his gore-covered lance to a nearby soldier and said, “I’ll take you, Master Warin.” He reached down to help Warin mount behind him. A path had been cleared, and in a few strides, the horse was at full running speed.

  Goodwin looked at Bells. “You go with them, my love. I expect updates every half hour. Send a runner.”

  “Ira!” Renald yelled.

  “Sir!”

  “You heard the man, every half hour!”

  “Sir, yes, sir!”

  A mounted soldier dismounted from a huge strawberry roan charger and said, “Ira, takes Whip; he’s only thing we got faster un you!”

  Ira mounted Whip and said, “May I give you a ride, my lady?”

  Bells looked at Terric. Terric just tapped his fingers on Screamer and nodded. Bells said, “Wait one moment, please.” She walked over to a corpse, reached down, and pulled one of her eight-inch hair pins from the dead man's ear. She wiped it off on her dress, then carefully stuck it back in her hair to complete her new comb set. “Now we are ready.” She mounted behind Ira, and they were gone in an instant.

  Terric said, “My lord, the missus is both deadly and beautiful. That one she kilt is standin' before Lucifer now tryin' ta explains how he was murdered by a woman with a hair pin!” Everyone laughed, although their hearts really weren’t in it.

  Ivan, who was still mounted on Mildred, spoke up. “I go get my Giselia, she knowing healing; she may help!”

  “Thank you, Ivan. I appreciate that,” Goodwin said.

  Ivan spoke to Mildred then. “Good Mildred, we go Giselia, take Giselia to Basilea.” Mildred trotted through the crowd. When she was clear, she accelerated to a full run.

  Watching her fade in the distance, Goodwin asked, “Fulk, how is Gamel?”

  Fulk lowered his head and said, “My lord, his body remains, but his mind is elsewhere. We don’t know if he can come back to us.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He is with Basilea and Ox. He sits next to her. He doesn’t see or hear people, just stares into nothing.” With that, all of the kitchen staff started trotting toward the other end of the battlefield. Fulk asked, “Could I get a ride back?”

  Three mounted soldiers moved forward. Renald addressed them. “Take Fulk back, and see what else might be done.” Before he finished, Fulk was mounted behind a soldier, and the three horses were gone at a run. Fulk’s horse stopped and picked up two of the kitchen ladies who were running. The other two horses picked up two kitchen staff each.

  Goodwin’s wagon slowly pulled away, escorted by a mixture of guards and foot soldiers. On either side of the foot soldiers were mounted riders. Renald walked with Terric behind the wagon. Renald asked, “Captain, what makes Screamer sing its song?”

  “When 'twas formed, defects embedded in the metal. In final polish, the defects fell out, leavin' these small holes.” Terric showed Renald, then spoke again. “The smithy was a sad one ta, informin' me he needed ta start over. I told him the small holes would be okay. So he made it scream. He almost stroked when I give 'im an extra gold.”

  “Damn fine blade, sir. It sang plenty today.”

  Captain Terric started barking out his orders. “This is the way it’s going ta be. We takes Lord Goodwin straight through the main hall to his chambers, right out the back, through the kitchen, and ta Sirates House. I want four guards at his chambers an' two inside at ta main house as a cover. Renald, I want ta woods around Sirates House swept wit mounted riders. I wantin' sneaky bastards scattered rounds da house an' surrounding area. Set up a small camp down by da brook. I want a strike force set dere, just in case a trouble.

  “How many guards do you want at the house itself, Captain?”

  “You’re competent. Set whats ya think appropriate. If'n I don’t like it, I’ll yell at ya! How’s dat appeal ta you?”

  A smiling Renald answered, “It’s nice ta know you have confidence in me, Captain.”

  Terric replied, “Confidence hell! Personal Guard an' Regular Soldier alike, it’s been an honor to step foot on ta field a battle with every damn last jackal of ya!”

  All t
he men let out a horrible battle cry. Goodwin added, “Each of you men-at-arms served your lord, hold, and home true to your oaths. Honorable men, every damn one of you!” Another battle cry rang out that could be heard for two miles.

  As the procession slowly moved toward the main house, Renald could be heard barking out his own list of orders to subordinates.

  Ox was busy trying to get Basilea’s battle gear off. Every time he tried to move her arms or hands, she resisted. He feared if he forced her, it might kill her. She must be using what strength she had left to clutch the locket. Ox used his dagger to cut the lightweight outer shirt away. When he got down to her chain mail, he had an idea. He called over several mounted soldiers and asked if they carried hoof nippers in their pack bags. He explained the problem and told them cutting the mail would ruin the nippers. Three men were dismounted in moments with the cutters in hand. Cutting the mail was tough, but they had the mail off of her by the time the healer arrived. Ox explained to Warin the problem with her clutching the locket and the fear of overexerting her by forcing her. Warin agreed that he was doing the right thing. Ox used his dagger to cut away her heavy padded shirt. Down to just the tight-fitting linen shirt, Ox slit it all the way up the back. A couple of mounted men had bedrolls tied to their saddles, so they placed one under her and one over her to keep her warm. Half a dozen men gathered wood and started a fire next to her to add warmth while the healer examined the wound. Ox thought it ironic that thirty minutes earlier, they had butchered men, and now they did all they could to save a single life. Warin examined Basilea for a long time. Ox held her up so Warin could put his ear to different spots of her back while tapping with his fingers. He examined the back wound. Ox carefully lowered her back to the bed roll. Warin lifted her shirt and listened to her lungs, tapping with his fingers again. During the examination, Bells arrived and was on her knees next to Ox. Fulk arrived with a load of kitchen staff, who clustered around Ox and Bells. Warin sat back and crossed his legs. With his head down, he began to speak. “The bolt missed her ribs and entered the chest cavity from the back. The point punctured her lung. The lung collapsed and no longer works. Air escapes into her chest, putting pressure on the remaining lung. In cases such as this, treatment is to dress the wound and see if the body can repair itself before the heart fails. The heart works harder because of lack of air, you see.”