TIME MACHINE CHAPTER ELEVEN
(Just for a change, we'll have one of the most loved characters as a total villain in this next section. Not quite Game of Thrones, but I tried.)
Sir Charles Fairhead and his family and servants sat enjoying their banquet. At least the men were enjoying themselves. The hunt had gone well and they had venison, boar and goose. Later there would be fruit and nuts to eat.
"Shame this bloody war's going to start with the Crusades, that'll stop the figs being brought for me from the Middle East", he sulked. His wife Margaret nodded, not wanting to incur her husband's wrath. Last time she had disagreed with him, she had been bruised for a week.
"Never mind, we'll have a nice little war of our own soon", Sir Charles grinned as he drank his apple cider, "When we go and sack Griffith village."
"Raze it to the ground! Kill them all!" cried the men.
Margaret made no movement of agreement. She didn't understand why a whole village had to be slaughtered because it was suspected that Sir Joshua Griffith, who owned Griffith village, had carried off Ethelfritha, Charles's sister. Ethelfrith had disappeared one night and Sir Charles was convinced Sir Joshua had her - or worse, had murdered her. It seemed totally unjust that the old and infirm, the women and children, would be burned to death. Sir Charles' men would fight those of the village, and then set fire to it before the villagers had time to escape.
She focused on what her husband was bawling, to take her mind of the villagers' suffering.
"Where are those minstrels?"
Sir Charles banged his goblet down on the table.
He always got tense before a musical performance. It could have been called pre-minstrel tension.
A nervous, grovelling servant entered.
"Sir, there are people without who wish to speak to you."
"Are they rich or poor?"
"Rich, Sir. They have precious stones."
"Bring them in."
The travellers, wearing suitable clothing for the Medieval period, approached, led by Connie.
"I don't deal with women. Which is your leader?" Sir Charles snapped.
Connie fought her urge to give him some good feminist fist, and motioned to Dylan.
"I am Sir Keogh. We have jewellery to trade."
Sir Charles appraised the jewellery and then said angrily:
"Where are those ruddy minstrels? It's too bad, on the night before we go to destroy Griffith village."
"Why should you destroy a village?"
"Because we believe that the vile Sir Joshua Griffith has kidnapped or even murdered my sister Ethelfritha, so tomorrow our army rides to the village, slays all the men and then burns the remaining villagers."
Connie put her hand over Rita's mouth, knowing her reaction to this. Ben was pale and his face was set. Not a good sign, thought Dylan. Sure enough:
"And what would you do if you if you killed all those innocent people and found that they hadn't, in fact, killed your sister?"
Only the jewellery offered as trade saved Ben from being beheaded on the spot. Sir Charles knew that these people were rich and powerful, so they needed to be murdered in secret and not executed in public.
"Where do you come from with such liberal views?" he sneered.
Dylan said:
"From a distant land where we believe in peace. But, Sir, let me make a bargain. Tomorrow I shall ride out with my squire Benjamin, my wife Constance, and our servants. If we return within a month with your sister, you will spare the village. If we return empty-handed you may do as you will with us."
At least it bought the village another month of life at least.
Sir Charles was intrigued by this plan. And there were always insolent servants to hack to death or maidens to beat black and blue to keep the court amused for a month.
"A pox upon those minstrels, I'll rip them apart…"
Sir Charles hushed his diatribe as Ben bowed and stepped forward.
"Sir, may it please you to hear me sing? I have a lovely ballad that's meant to be sung by a lovesick maiden who has heard of your exploits."
"Sing, boy. If you don't please me you won't have lungs to sing with afterwards."
"F*cking try it" thought Dylan but wisely kept quiet, as Ben sang:
"When sweet Sir Charlie Fairhead came riding through the town,
The dads locked up their daughters, and pulled the shutters down, but
Charlie is my darling, my darling, my darling, Charlie is my darling, oh how we love the man.
Charlie is my darling, my darling, my darling, Charlie is my darling, best of the Fairhead clan."
"If you come back empty-handed from your quest, I shall let you live, boy, and sing for me alone."
Sir Charles threw a gold piece to Ben, who handed it to Dylan with a bow.
Meanwhile, Cal and Ethan were actually full, having been stuffing meat and glugging beer ever since they'd been asked to join the banquet. If it wasn't for the sinister surroundings, they'd have been very contented.
The next day the travellers got another nasty shock.
"The lady Rita stays with us until your return. If you bring back my sister, she shall be returned to you whole. If you do not bring back my sister, she will be handed out to you all in pieces."
Rita, predictably, fainted. Lady Margaret and her maidservants carried her gently to a bedroom.
The impulsive Caleb spoke out:
"Please take me and spare the lady."
"No thank you" replied Sir Charles, as if he were declining a piece of fruit, "It's more fun to kill girls. They scream more."
Dylan, Connie and the others had no idea where to start the quest, but were willing to see it through for not only Rita's sake but for the lives of everybody in Griffith village.
Rita, predictably, fainted. She was carried away at a sign from the Lady Margaret.
Meanwhile, Cal and Ethan were actually full, having been stuffing meat and glugging beer ever since they'd been asked to join the banquet. If it wasn't for the sinister surroundings, they'd have been very contented.
The obvious thing to do was to start in Griffith Village itself. Ben and Dylan expected a hostile reception but were pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of the Lord of the Manor, Sir Martin of the Ashford.
"We haven't seen Ethelfritha, and I can assure you, Sirs, we did not kidnap her or harm her in any other way", said Sir Martin during yet another banquet in which only Cal and Ethan were able to eat..
"Would you know where we could start our search? We are anxious that your village is saved from slaughter", Connie asked Sir Martin, adding honestly, "And Sir Charles has my lady prisoner as well."
She tried to ignore the expression of pity that crossed Sir Martin's face at this comment.
"Well, there is one place but many are afeared to even go through the town, let alone the castle", mused Sir Martin.
"Please tell us", persisted the travellers.
"The next town is called Holby; and therein liesDenham castle which they say is haunted", Sir Martin replied. He added:
"But friends, you and your squires are surely not planning to walk there? What happened to your steed?"
Connie was used to improvising ever since she'd first taken off in the time machine, and said:
"Ah, Sir, that's the thing. My ladies, my friend and I were bathing in the river, when thieves came and stole our horses and our clothes. It was my good fortune
that I swam with a pouch around my neck which contained valuable jewellery, which I was able to exchange for shelter and clothing for us both."
Well, that excuse had worked for the guy in Puss In Boots, thought Dylan sourly.
"You are trying to save our village. The great Lord Joshua Griffith would reward you, had he not gone to the Crusades, and I gladly carry on tradition in his name. The least I can do for you is give you the pick of our stables..."
"Alas Sir", said Liar Connie, "Since the shock of the theft, I lost part of my memory and know no longer how to ride a horse."
"Fret not", beamed Sir Martin, "My groom Toby, a rough but kind lad, will teach you to ride all over again.
The travellers expected sore butts in the near future.