A Fall Through Time (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #1) (6 page)

“Yes, I understand perfectly,” Stacey, said. “You’re telling me it would have been better to let the boy die than to put myself in jeopardy. Well, I disagree. You say they fear what they do not understand. That’s called ignorance. You’re their lord, why don’t you provide schools and a monk to teach them?  Then they wouldn’t be so ignorant.”

“Stacey, please,” Rodric urged, as he reached out and touched her arm. Stacey, in her anger and frustration pulled away and said, “No, I won’t please, those children have no choice to whom they were born; no more than you did. You people were fortunate enough to have been born to privilege and wealth.  Those children are unfortunate to have been born to peasants and poverty.  You, your lordship, more or less own these people.  Don’t you think it’s your responsibility to educate the children?  Have you not heard the saying, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected?’  Oh, but silly me, you did ask me if I was a witch, didn’t you?  Well, I guess the peasant doesn’t fall far from the lord around here, does he?”  Stacey was so angry her knees were shaking as she walked out. Eric turned to his mother and said, “I am sorely tempted to give her to the peasants.  Now she would tell me how to rule my fiefdom.”  Eric hit the table with his fist and said, “And naught one straight answer did I get from her.”

Rodric sought Stacey out in private to speak with her, “Stacey, ye say there are no such things as witches. How be it that ye know this for a fact?”

Stacey studied him for a few minutes trying to find the right words for him to understand modern thinking. “Rodric, there are many people that know how to do many things that other people don’t.

Take you for instance; you have an open inquiring mind. You are curious about the world, not just here in England, but the unknown world too. You are in search of knowledge. Many people, whether they can read and write or not have many skills that have been handed down from grandparents to parents to children or other family members. Because they know things that you don’t know doesn’t make them witches. When they help a sick child or a sick animal, it does not mean they used witchcraft, what it means is they have knowledge that has been handed down from others. Many people, women mostly, use herbs and know the medicinal substance for healing. That doesn’t make them someone you should fear, on the contrary, you should embrace them into society. The longer you live the more you experience and gain knowledge.

You’re young, but you already have skills and knowledge of weapons and battles. That doesn’t make you a warlock or a sorcerer, does it? I think you should welcome these knowledgeable people into the fold. Their admittance would make a stronger and healthier society for everyone.”

Rodric frowned and said, “Many men know what I know. We be taught out in the open, so it be not the same.” Stacey took a deep breathe and shook her head at him. “I do understand what ye are saying Stacey, however, many times the person admits they be witches. Last winter an old hag admitted she be a witch and had put a curse on animals and people as she was being burned at the stake.”

Stacey was appalled at the ignorance of even the wealthy and the educated. With horror, she looked at Rodric. Feeling a little ashamed, he said, “I be not a witness to this Stacey, but there be much talk.”

“You are going to be an earl someday. I hope you would put a stop to such atrocities. And of course, a normal person will admit to anything if they’re being burned, drowned or tortured.”

Stacey sat for a while with tears in her eyes and then said, “I don’t know you well, Rodric but I find it hard to believe you would stand by and let something like that happen. I think you’re too fine a man not to help the helpless and downtrodden.” Stacey kissed his cheek, walked away and left him sitting in the garden.

Early the next morning the earl of Dun-Raven went hawking. His Falconer, Riley, had heard the talk about the boy and the lady that brought him back to life.  His lordship waved it off as incidental. “The boy had merely swallowed too much river water,” he told Riley. “Let us think no more on that, we have come to hunt with these magnificent birds.”

Dun-Raven had a wide array of hunting birds.  There were goshawks, kestrels, marlins and short winged goshawks.  Eric had loved hawking since he was a young lad and his father had taught him.  He seldom thought of his sire, but when he did, he still had that ache in his chest.  Eric thought to himself, it is much the same, as when I look at her; wanting someone ye cannot have. Yes, I could take her; she lives in my keep. None would say nay to me. It be my right, he thought with a grin, but mayhap she would not see it that way.  I could end up with battle scars as Sir Perceval did.  Haa, me thinks it might be worth it.  No, he thought, when I have her, and I will have her, I want her to come willingly to my arms.

It was a warm night and Eric was acutely aware of Stacey.  She always smelled like a summer breeze.  He never saw the servants carry water for a bath to her room, so he wondered where she bathed. 

He knew Rolf and Sir Perceval were her constant companions.  He knew Sir Perceval well enough that he would protect her with his life.  Even now in the protection of the bailey, Sir Perceval kept an eye on her from afar, as she played with the children and later when she was with Rodric and Callie.  Eric had the feeling Rodric knew more about Stacey than he was telling.  On the morrow, he decided that he would speak with him again.

When Rodric was summoned to his brothers solar.  Eric came straight to the point. “What has she told ye, Rodric, that I should know?” 

“I assure ye, Eric, she has told me very little.  I am sure she be no threat to ye.  She truly does not know how she came here or how to go back.  Her greatest desire be to go back.” 

“Back to where?” Eric asked.

“To her own country,” Rodric said, “however, I do not know where, brother. I swear to ye, I do not.”

After speaking with Rodric, Eric went down his private stairs to his parlor.  He did not notice Stacey was there until he saw Rolf.  The dog came over to Eric and he rubbed his head and asked, “Where be ye new mistress?” Then he saw her curled up on the window seat, fast asleep with a book in her lap.  Eric looked at the book; it was Homer’s, ‘The Odyssey,’ in Latin.  Eric sat in his chair for a while wondering what secrets she held in that beautiful head of hers.  How he would love to get inside that head.  Eric smiled a rueful smile.  He knew if he was honest with himself, her head was not all he would like to get inside of, where she was concerned.

When Rolf sneezed, Stacey woke up, put her hand out and said, “Where are you, Scooby?”  Then she saw Eric and sat up quickly.  Neither of them said a word.  He was sitting in his chair rubbing the dogs head.  Stacey rose from the window seat and said, “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked your permission to read your books, your lordship.”

Eric’s mother had told him about her conversation with Stacey, about how she would call him, your lordship and in return, he would address her as, Miss Scott. 

Eric asked, “How be it ye read Latin, Miss Scott?” He asked with suspicion.

“I was taught,” Stacey said.  “How is it you read Latin?”

“Oh no, miss,” his lordship said.  “Ye be not turning this conversation around on me again.  I insist on an answer.” 

“What if you don’t like the answer?”

“I will have it just the same,” he said. 

Stacey stood up, straightened her bliaut and said, “I learned at the university.”

Frowning, Eric took the book from her hand, opened it, then gave it back to her and said, “Read me the fourth line on the left page.” 

Stacey read, “Odysseus was absent from his home for twenty years. When he returned he was dressed as a beggar.”

Eric took the book back, looked at the page and asked with disbelief, “What university would teach a woman?” 

Stacey started for the door and said, “I told ye, ye would not like the answer.” 

As Stacey walked by, Eric reached out and caught her arm.  Stacey didn’t say a word, just looked up at him. Eric let her arm go and she walked out the door.

After the door closed behind her, Eric sat with his head in his hands.  He wanted her so badly, but not like that.  He wanted her to come willingly to his arms. The next morn was hot and humid.  Eric had watched as Rodric and Sir Perceval rode out with Stacey.  He would speak with Rodric again.  This time he would get the truth from him.  Eric loved Rodric more than life itself.  He was the brother he never expected to have, however he expected loyalty too.

The trio was back by the mid-day meal.  At the table Eric asked, “Where did ye ride to today?” 

“We rode to the meadow,” Rodric answered. 

Eric looked to Stacey and asked, “What or who do ye expect to find in the meadow?  And do not tell me that I will not like the answer.”

Stacey smiled at him and said, “I’m hoping a big wind will blow me back where I came from, so I can go home.”

The night brought no relief.  It was hot and sticky and even the river gave little relief.  Everyone was outside hoping for a breeze.  The young people were all sitting around looking up at the sky when Stacey made the remark, “It’s so clear here you can almost reach up and touch the stars.” That started a question and answer period. “Do you know of the pyramids in Egypt?” Stacey asked. “Well, there is a theory that the three pyramids close together were built to be in line with Orion’s belt.”

One of the squires asked, “What be an, Orion’s belt?” 

Stacey explained as she pointed upwards, “See the three stars close together?  Look around them, some astronomers think that those stars look like a man.  They named him Orion, and those three stars are his belt.”

The monk that taught the young squires said, “Miss Scott, ye mean astrologers, do ye not?”

Stacey knew she had said too much, so she said, “Okay, sure, Padre, whatever you say.”  Stacey quickly told everyone good night and went to her bed before her big mouth got her into trouble.  She reminded herself she must keep in mind what year she was now living in, too much knowledge could be a dangerous thing at this time in history.  As Stacey was getting ready for bed, she remembered a television show she saw on astronomy and how with powerful telescopes they could view the universe back almost to the big bang theory. That’s back in time, Stacey thought, so maybe there is time travel.  There’s also the wormhole theory.  The scientific community doesn’t have it perfected yet, but who’s to say?  I did get here somehow so maybe there’s more to all this time travel stuff than they’re telling us.  Finally, after much tossing and turning Stacey finally fell asleep and dreamed of home.

The Storm

T
he next day was also a scorcher.  It felt as if the air stood still; the clouds were rolling in, dark and ominous looking.  Stacey hadn’t noticed the dark clouds because she was busy helping Lady Margaret with plans for Rodric’s birthday ball.  It was almost time for the mid-day meal when Stacey heard the thunder.  She looked out the window and saw it had started to rain.  A big bolt of lighting struck and the thunder rolled.  When Stacey heard the wind pick up it dawned on her, this was her chance. A storm had brought her here, now maybe this one would take her back.

Stacey kissed Lady Margaret and said, “I must go.  Thank you for everything.” Then she ran down the back stairs and through the kitchen to say goodbye to Alice.  She raced to the stables, lifted her skirts, grabbed Gray Cloud’s mane, swung herself upon his back and headed for the gate. As she rode through she yelled, “Sir Perceval is coming.” 

The guards waited, but Sir Perceval never came.  He was in the hall and was sure Miss Stacey was with Lady Margaret.  The servants were in turmoil with the storm coming in so fast and with the wind gusts swirling, nobody paid much attention to Stacey as she ran to the stables.

Lady Margaret came downstairs, looked around and then asked Sir Perceval, “Did ye see Miss Stacey come this way?”

He shook his head and said, “Nay, m’lady, I thought she be with ye.”

He hurried outside and ran into the earl. “Beg ye pardon, Sire, but Miss Stacey be missing.”

When they ran around to the front of the castle one of the guards asked, “Sir Perceval, will ye be leaving now?” 

“Why do ye ask me that?” the knight asked. 

“The young Miss rode through and said ye were coming,” the guard said.

The earl muttered an expletive and said, “Stay here, I will go.  I know where she be going.”  Eric ran to the stables, grabbed a horse with no time to saddle and headed for  the gate.  The wind and rain were blinding, the lighting was flashing and the thunderclaps felt like they shook the earth. When Stacey reached the meadow, she jumped off Gray Cloud, slapped him on the rump and said, “Go home boy, go home.”

The great horse was off in a flash.  Eric met the destrier running towards Dun-Raven.  His heart be in his mouth; he feared the beast had thrown her?  Was she laying hurt up ahead?  Eric saw no sign of Stacey until he entered the meadow.  She be at the rune stone holding on to it for dear life. When Stacey saw Eric, she motioned for him to go back.  With the noise of the wind and the pounding rain, he could not understand what she be saying.  Eric jumped off his horse and was coming closer.  Stacey was yelling and motioning for him to go back.

“Please stay back,” Stacey, warned him.  “You don’t wanna’ go where I’m going.  No, no, Eric, stay away, or it’ll take you too. You wouldn’t be happy in my world.”  Stacey held on to the stone through the shimmering light.

Eric came to the stone and pulled her away. “Ye be mad, woman?  Let us get out of this storm.”  Just as Eric pulled Stacey away from the stone, lighting struck the stone splitting it down the middle.  Stacey stopped fighting Eric, looked at the stone and fell on her knees.  She put her face in her hands and began to cry.  Her whole body was shaking.  Eric put his arms around her and softly said, “Come lass, I will take ye home.” 

“Yes, I wanna’ go home.  I want my mom and dad.  Please take me home, Eric.”

Eric caught the reins, picked Stacey up and sat her on the horse in front of him, so he could hold her in his arms better.  By the time they reached Dun-Raven, the storm had subsided and it had almost stopped raining.  Stacey was asleep in Eric’s arms.  Her body had started shaking as they neared the castle.  She did not wake as Eric dismounted and carried her up to her room.