A Fall Through Time (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #1) (4 page)

“I will return,” he said. “Lady Margaret and Rodric will be staying.”  It was obvious Stacey was relieved that they were staying. Lord Hampton said, “Miss Stacey, I am leaving Sir Perceval to help ye in any way he can.  Should ye return to the rune stone or any place ye care to ride, he would accompany ye. I beseech ye to have a care and always take him with ye. Do I have ye promise?”

“Yes, milord, I promise,” Stacey said, as she looked down the table at Sir Perceval and said a silent, thank you, to him. From the look on the knight’s face, you could see that thank you, meant more to him than gold. Eric watched all of this wondering how she could have such an effect on his people. Even my dog prefers her company to mine, he thought.

Eric told his mother, “I will also be leaving on the morrow for a few days.  I will accompany Lord Thomas as far as Finwick keep.” 

“How long do ye think ye will be gone, son?”

“No longer than necessary, Mother. I hope to still have a castle and retainers when I return.” His mother smiled at his remark.

None of this mattered to Stacey, other than the fact that the grumpy black beard would be gone for a few days.  That sounded like a stroke of good luck to her. The next morning, before the earl of Dun-Raven started his journey, he spoke with his mother and Sir Perceval, “We know nothing of this wench.  Me thinks she be secretive and mendacious.  Do not be taken in by her,” he warned.

Sir Giles was out on the practice field with the young squires.  The earl had taken Jaron, his squire and Franklin, his body servant, Walt, his groomsman as well as other knights with their servants. As the large party rode out, Stacey felt as though she were reprieved. Once again, she was touring the castle and grounds. She was fascinated by the castle. It was an honest to god working castle. She had seen and toured Windsor castle in the twenty-first century, but Dun-Raven castle impressed her more. The castle folk were very polite, courteous and answered her many strange questions. Stacey wasn’t sure how long the black bearded one would be gone from the castle so to quench her curiosity she was ubiquitous.

Freedom rings

S
tacey had been wearing the same clothes for three days, so she asked Lady Katherine where she could bathe and wash her clothes. The clothes, which belonged to her daughter, Callie.  Stacey had met Callie at the table but did not get a chance to talk to her other than to thank her for the loan of her clothes. Stacey was looking around the washhouse when Callie came with clothes in her arms. “I have not many,” Callie said, “but ye are welcome to share what I do have.”

Stacey thanked her again and said, “What I’d really like are some boy’s clothes.”

“I am sure that will not be permitted,” Callie said.

“And why not?” Stacey asked.

“It be not seemly for a woman to dress as a man, but I will see what I can find,” Callie said, with a mischievous grin.

To pacify Stacey’s unquenchable curiosity, she wanted to have a good look in the stables before she bathed.  She had only a slight look when she and Rodric saddled the horses to ride to the meadow again earlier in the day.  As she came around the barn there was a corral with a huge gray stallion in it.  Stacey came over to the fence and started talking softly to the horse.  A stableman came over and told her that she must not get too near the fence.

“Why not?” Stacey asked. 

“This great horse be the master’s destrier.  He be a war horse that be trained to kill,” the stableman warned her.

“What’s wrong with his leg?  I see he’s favoring his right one.”

“I do not know. His leg be swollen, but he will not permit me near it.” 

“Does the earl know?” Stacey asked. 

“Yes,” the stableman said. “His lordship looked at it yester, but could find naught.  That be why he did not take him.  It be best to give him rest.”

Stacey stood by the fence and watched the big gray horse for some time.  Rodric found her there and said, “Callie tells me ye wish to wear male clothing.” 

“Yes, I do,” Stacey, said. “What will it hurt?” 

Rodric shook his head and said, “Stacey, ye have a stubborn streak in ye. When Eric hears of this there will be the devil to pay.” 

“Well,” Stacey said. “I’ve heard you can bargain with the devil, so we shall see.”

Callie brought Stacey the male attire.  Stacey bathed in the washhouse and put on the boy’s clothes.  First, she put the chausses on and tied them tight, then an old shirt with a cloth jerkin over it, which came well below her hips. That was good because she felt naked without her underwear. She washed them and took them up to her room to dry.  When the time came for the mid-day meal, Stacey did not appear.

When Lady Margaret asked about Stacey, Rodric told his mother, “Stacey said she be not hungry.”

Stacey spent the afternoon watching the sword practice and going to the stables to talk with the big gray horse. The big dog she called Scooby had gone with his master.  Without him, she felt very alone. Stacey spent much time at the stables where she felt more at home.

After watching for a while, she asked, “What treatment are you applying to the big gray’s leg?”

Wilfred, the head groomsman said, “We would like to apply a poultice, but he will not let us near him.” 

At the eventide meal, Lady Margaret said, “Miss Stacey, ‘tis not seemly for ye to dress as a young man.

“Why not?” Stacey asked.  “Who am I hurting?  As you know, I have nothing of my own. When I ride I can put my hair under a cap and no one will know I’m a female.” 

Sir Perceval agreed with Stacey. He too, thought, it a good idea.

“Very well,” Lady Margaret said, “however, when Eric returns expect to be chastised.”

Stacey really was not worried about that.  She felt sure she would be gone long before black beard returned. The next day after breaking the fast, Stacey made her usual rounds.  First, she went to the kitchen to talk with and thank Alice for the delicious food, then to the garden to talk with Henry. This morn, Stacey asked if she might have a few carrots to feed to the horses.  When she arrived at the stables, the big gray’s leg looked worse.  Stacey called him to the fence and fed him carrots.  She petted his neck and head, all the time whispering and talking softly to him.

Wilfred greeted Stacey, “Good morn, miss.”

“Will you bring the poultice and let me try to put it on him?”  Stacey asked.  She had been helping her gramps who was a veterinarian since she was very young.  Her gramps always said she had a way with animals.

“Nay,” Wilfred said. “The big gray might do ye harm miss, and the earl will have me hide.”

“Should he becomes lame; will he be happy with you then?  I’m sorry,” Stacey said. “I know I’m putting you in a difficult position.  Let us make a bargain; if Sir Perceval will say aye, then naught can be blamed on you.”

Sir Perceval was not far away watching her.  Stacey waved him over and told him what she wanted to do.  The big knight looked at her as if she were out of her mind. Stacey took both his hands in hers and said, “I promise you nothing will happen.  I promise.”

With the nod of his head, Sir Perceval became her accomplice.  Stacey took the poultice from Wilfred and slowly walked into the corral; she was watching and talking to the big gray the entire time.  He met her half way across the corral.  Stacey put her arms around his neck and petted him while whispering in his ear.  She rubbed his jaw line and his back all the way to his right hind leg.  Just about six inches above the hock, Stacey wrapped the poultice securely around his leg.  She petted his rump and neck again and then she walked him to the fence.

The castle folk were now in awe of her.  Nobody said a word when she perched herself on the garden wall to watch the jousting practice in the afternoon. The two squires practicing the joust were dressed in armor.  The jousting field consisted of fences about one hundred feet long and twelve feet wide. The men on horses with long lances would ride hard at one another. The objective of the joust was to unseat the opponent, or better yet, to break his lance.  After the joust, they practice with the broad swords; then there was an obstacle course for the young squires to master.  Stacey remembered her parents taking her to Midlevel Times to eat and watch the entertainment of the Renascence with Knights and jousting and sword practice. However, this was much different this ment life or death for the young men.

At the eventide meal Lady Margaret said, “Miss Stacey, ye are taking much upon ye self, me thinks.  Have you remembered more of where ye came from or who ye family be?” 

“Nay,” Stacey said. “Just bits and pieces, but nothing solid yet.” 

The next morning, when Stacey went to check on the big gray, Rodric went with her.  When Stacey removed the poultice, she knew what was wrong.  She asked Wilfred, did he have tweezers?

“Nay, my lady, I have no such thing.”

“Rodric, run and ask your mother to loan us her tweezers, please.” 

“How ye know she has these things?” Rodric asked. 

“Trust me, all women do.  They go back as far as ancient Egyptian times. So please make haste, Rodric.”

He was back in no time and Stacey asked Sir Perceval for the use of his dagger.  “Please don’t say nay to me now,” Stacey pleaded.  As Sir Perceval handed her his dagger, she asked everyone to please be quiet and stay back. Once again, she went into the corral talking to the horse and rubbing his neck and ears. Slowly she rubbed down to his injury, took the sharp tip of the dagger and broke the skin.  With the tweezers, she plucked out a long thorn that was embedded in his leg.  Stacey asked Wilfred to bring warm water in order to bathe his leg.  Stacey checked on the big gray morning and night and took him carrots everyday.  In three days time you could not tell he had been lame. Now when Stacey asked to ride to catch the rings and to shoot the bow and arrows, she was allowed to do so.  Sir Giles even lessened the poundage on the bow in order for her to shoot it.

Stacey was very accurate with the bow and arrows, knife and spear throwing and riding for the rings.  In exchange, she taught them what she knew about marital arts. In the beginning, the young men were afraid to touch her, but after being slammed to the ground a few times with their ego bruised; they started taking her more seriously and tried to man handle her as she did them. Their frustration was high when she so easily side stepped her opponent and they were left grabbing air. She had their undivided attention when she slowly walked them through the steps and maneuvers to outwit their opponent no matter how big or strong he may be. Many times, she revealed that a bigger opponent was at a disadvantage concerning marital arts. Strength was not the master here but stealth and cunning.

On the eighth day of Stacey’s being at Dun-Raven, she asked Sir Perceval and Rodric to ride with her to the meadow once again.  Stacey sat by the rune stone and waited.  After some time had passed Rodric asked, “For what we be waiting, Stacey?” 

“I’m not sure; I just thought that whatever brought me here might take me back.”

That night, during the eventide meal a young squire choked on a chicken bone. Sir Giles was pounding him on his back trying to dislodge the bone. Stacey could see it was doing no good, so she came around the table, grabbed the squire around the lower chest and preformed the Heimlich maneuver.  The entire hall went deathly quiet.

Sir Giles asked, “How did you perform this miracle?”

“It’s not a miracle; it’s done all the time where I come from, to save lives.”

“Where be this place?” Sir Giles asked.

“I don’t remember,” Stacey said. She knew she had made a slip. She must be more careful in the future but she couldn’t just sit there and watch the young man choke to death.

Sir Giles liked this young woman, but he was like Eric. He did not think she was telling the truth. However, why lie?  She had done no harm since she had arrived. On the contrary, she had done much good. Of course, there be one big impediment. She and Eric do not get along. Each night before bedtime, Sir Perceval would escort Stacey to a secluded spot on the river so she could bathe. Because of the ruckus yester night over the choking squire, Stacey had waited until the morn to go to the river. Stacey washed her hair and it was still wet when she went back in her room.  In her room, she slipped on her bra and bikini panties and was now drying her hair in the sunlight from the window seat, as she stepped back into the room; she leaned over and threw her hair back. When she looked up there stood black beard watching her. She hadn’t heard him come in and was astonished when she saw him standing ogling her; they both stood inertia looking at each other.

Unabashed, Stacey said, “Do you mind?  This room is mine.” 

The earl said with lust in his eyes, “No, I do not mind.” 

Stacey said, “Well take a good look, your lordship.  It will be the only one you’ll ever get.  Now get out!”

Just as quickly, Eric’s demeanor changed.  He threw her robe to her and said acrimoniously, “Cover ye self, wench. I need speak with ye.”

Stacey gave him a cold hard look as she slipped on her robe.  She could see he was angry and wondered what she had done this time to displease his lordship. Even more importantly, when the devil, had he returned?  The earl of Dun-Raven was not just angry, he was furious. With eyes of steel, he glared at Stacey and said, “Ye will no longer participate in the young squires training.  What they learn here will one day save their life in battle. They must keep their minds on their training, and not on the temptations of a wench like ye.”

Now, he really had made her angry. Stacey said through gritted teeth, “Let me understand you or ye, are accusing me of sexually tempting these teenage boys. Is that what you’re thinking?  Well, I would like to meet my accusers face to face, but I’m beginning to think this is only in your suspicious, convoluted mind. Sir Giles and Sir Perceval as well as Rodric were there, did I tempt them also?”

Stacey was standing with her hairbrush in her hand. Without thinking she threw it at him, hitting him is the chest. “Get out, you despicable sneak,” she yelled. Then she picked up the water pitcher and threw it at him. He ducked, but not in time. He was wet and seething. Next Stacey grabbed the chamber pot. He was out the door fast and pulled it closed behind him. His mother came upstairs to see what had caused the ruckus. Eric was standing in the hall dripping wet. Lady Margaret said to her son, “Well, ye lordship, me thinks ye have met ye match.”