p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The young knight was not sure whether of all times the last day of summer, before the season was followed by autumn, was really the right one to enter a new phase of his life. He actually considered that spring would be a good time for such a venture, but unfortunately he was not in a position to wait another six months to begin his service with a new lord, for by then he might have starved to death - left to his own devices. Or forced to do something he absolutely loathed. He had had to do that so many times prior to being knighted that it was more than enough to last him a lifetime, even if he would assume this could be a long one. However, he could not hope for something like that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he had embarked on this journey - after he had left Gloucester - he had not realized how close the end of summer had already approached. In the days he had spent hoping the earl would take him into his service after all, he had paid no attention to how the year had been progressing. But his hopes had not been met, and all he had finally received was a letter of recommendation to the Abbot of St. Mary's, who was evidently looking for a forester. As if he, Sir Guy of Gisburne, would know anything about that. Nevertheless, he had set out, for there was nothing else left for him to do./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Of course, everyone was assuming he could go back to his family, but before he would submit to the charity of his so-called father, he would rather put himself to the sword./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He shook his head at this thought, knowing full well that he would never go that far. After all, suicide was a mortal sin and he was already carrying the burden of all he had had to do in Normandy. Of course, he had always confessed when he returned from a fight or a battle and had always received absolution, but this had never made him believe that this was sufficient. What he had done in the war still burdened his conscience and he would have liked to forget it all. He would also be content, however, if he could only believe what the older ones among the soldiers had told him. It would eventually get to be bearable, was the credo of the mercenaries as well, but Guy had waited in vain for such a change in himself so far. This would have made so many things easier, and not only in regard to fighting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He had taken his time in going to Nottinghamshire, for he was not yet being expected. This was another of the reasons why he had not noticed which day was approaching. He would have liked to take even more time, but unfortunately he lacked the necessary means to do so. Although he was not too proud to spend the night sleeping rough, he still could not do without food. Above all, however, he had to provide for his horse. Therefore, he had eventually decided to head directly to the abbey at this point./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"But it was only when he noticed the preparations for a feast in the villages through which he rode that it dawned on him what day it must be and that the summer from which he had expected so much - and of which he had been so disappointed - was coming to an end and that autumn would soon begin. On this day, the peasants and even the serfs celebrated the beginning of the harvest season, but also the abundance and plenty it was supposed to bring them - which, of course, it did not always do - but all this had passed him by, just as it had passed him by in recent years. The last time he had been able to celebrate Lammas somewhat carefree was as a child, and at that time he had felt so sorry for himself for believing that he could not enjoy the same amount of freedom that he saw among the other children. Today he was well aware of how wrong he had been, but nevertheless he wished it could be like it used to be./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Perhaps it was this recollection of his childhood that made him stop after all, although in all likelihood he would have made it to his destination before dusk. But he was pretty sure, that within the abbey, the start of the harvest would not be celebrated, or if it was, it would not be celebrated in the manner he could remember. He had not yet committed himself to a new lord, and so on this day he was still free to do whatever he himself chose. For this reason, he hoped in one of the villages he would be allowed to join in their festivities, even if he could only contribute a few coins./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"span style="mso-tab-count: 4;" /span*************************************/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Can I be of service to you, my Lord," an older man approached him as soon as he had jumped off his horse at the outskirts of the village. His tone was polite, but also cautious and not necessarily friendly, and Guy hoped once again that he would be allowed to join the villagers in celebrating Lammas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I would like to use the possibility to stay overnight in the village," he began hesitantly. Dealing with strangers had never been easy for him, although he had acquired a certain routine in the meantime. Still, he was often accused of being arrogant when he just was not sure how to conduct himself properly, and he did not want to give that impression while here. "I can pay, too," he added hastily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The man, who was probably the village headman, observed him through narrowed eyes for a long time before answering, and Guy wondered involuntarily what he might make of him. He was aware that he would in no way appear impressive with his worn clothes and the few possessions he carried. On the other hand, this also reduced the likelihood that he would fall victim to an ambush. Even his sword, which was the most precious thing he owned, he had hidden - so to speak - in a shabby scabbard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You won't find much rest with us this evening and during the night, my Lord," the other one then objected. Apparently he had made up his mind that it would be better for the stranger to move on./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Guy tried a tentative smile, though he was not good at it. "I know," he then admitted. "Lammas. But it won't be any different in the other villages, will it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"This remark caused the man to at last stop staring at his vis-a-vis in such a dismissive manner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Here you're right, my Lord. If you want an undisturbed rest, you will have to go to an inn," he then once again attempted to convince the young knight not to stay in the village. Obviously, he feared that Guy might be trouble for them. Probably he had already made some unpleasant experiences in this regard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The young man realized that his previous approach would probably not bring him any success. "Actually, I had hoped to attend the feast. I know it's a lot to ask of the village to invite a stranger just like that, but it's been a very long time since I've had the opportunity to attend it. And I don't think I can celebrate at my intended destination." This had now turned into a longer speech than he had meant to give. However, his words had brought a smile to the older man's face, so obviously the knight had said nothing wrong./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""For a little bit of payment, you may stable your horse in the barn, my Lord, and later sleep there as well. But first I invite you to join our feast. Take a seat at one of the tables, you are our guest."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Relief spread through Guy, for in the meantime it had dawned on him how disagreeable he would have deemed it to have to arrive at St. Mary's this very day after all. He wanted to be able to spend at least this evening still at liberty, for he was well aware that once he had entered the service of the abbot, he would have to do matters as the abbot demanded of him. Since he did not know what kind of person Hugo de Rainault was, he had no idea what that would entail for him. But the fact that no one in Gloucester had wanted to tell him anything about him had filled the young man with a sense of grim foreboding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"But now he had indeed another chance to do something he enjoyed, even if he was aware that many of his former comrades, but especially the man everyone considered his father, would not understand that he preferred to celebrate with a village of peasants instead of sitting at the table of an abbot. In all likelihood, however, this was only on account of the fact that none of the other knights had known freedom only in this manner. Sir Edmund, on the other hand, would have known exactly what this was all about, and he would not have held back from showing his contempt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"As the young man took his horse to the barn, a smile appeared on his face. And he secretly hoped that his future might hold a little more freedom for him./span/p