Bloodless Knights (4 page)

I
dismounted the horse and stood a moment by Vivian’s head. “Art thou well,
m’lady?”

“No,
but I will be. Grammarcy. Now thy second question is probably going to be,
‘What shall we doest now?’ Correct?” A stressed voice meekly came through an
opening of the helmet. I realized the mask had twisted, so I set it straight. I
looked around and realized that we were definitely being watched now. Every
watchman in every tower had their eyes fixed on me and my trophy.

I
kept on with my business, whispering toward Vivian, “Well, something
like
that. Don’t be alarmed, but all eyes in the sky are on us. The only good news
is that is that none of them appear to be attached to a dragon.” I saw a sword
leaning against a wagon and lifted it to my side; it was feather-light.
Glancing again around the area, I made way toward a tent baring the same ‘eye’
that adorned Vivian’s armor. I loudly announced myself before pushing back the
flap and entering the large room. A strong rosy scent filled my nose. If I were
blindfolded, I would still recognize the scent of Vivian.

 “What
dost thou want?” A husky voice growled at me from a red-bearded mouth. There
were four men in the room and four, polished and pointed swords aimed at me.
Not at all what I was expecting, yet I didn’t know whether to be relieved or
panicked. The odds were unfavorable against me, but I had been in tougher
situations.

I
decided to peak the men’s interest before I told them anything else. I kept the
sword at my side, but walked further into the darkened room. All swords
remained in my face as I inhaled Vivian’s perfume that lightly laced the air.
“I have brought thee a magnificent gift!”

“We
were just packing up to leave so don’t play any games with us, Sir Tristen.” A
tall bald man with a thick brown moustache, stood taller when he spoke.

“Why
don’t we put down our swords? There is something we must discuss but I’m going
to get my horse; as he’s carrying some very precious cargo. I assure thee, I’m
not jesting but I must bid thee not to leave this tent, and wait a moment for
me to return. What I have to show thee may be shocking, but do not react until
ye knoweth the situation.” I backed toward the doorway and was met with
uncomfortable stares. The swords didn’t go down but I saw the expressions
lighten in curiosity.

“No
funny-stuff.” The red-haired short man called as I entered the daylight again.

I
saw Vivian hadn’t moved. She was a great pretender and I was interested to know
how she did what she did and who she was, but we didn’t have time for that now.
I had to figure out what to do next. A deep sense of foreboding weighed heavily
over me. I didn’t know how the woman planned to do it but I felt a set-up
coming on. I had to be ready for all things and vowed to keep my eyes
wide-open. I grabbed the leather straps around Flash’s neck and led him into
the tent. Of course, Vivian’s men went ballistic.

“It’s
fine! It’s fine!” Vivian’s voice rang through the stuffy tent in a loud whisper
as she looked up from her awkward position. “Be quiet! It’s fine!”

The
men quieted down when they heard her voice. All of them lowered their swords
and dropped to one knee as she rolled off the back of Flash. Her armor
“clanged” loudly as she landed on the ground, other than that her descent was
graceful.

“Raise
men.” Vivian spoke softly. The men in the room rose but continued staring at
her with confused looks, not knowing what to think or what was happening. I
wondered why they bowed to her. I was getting even more uncomfortable with this
situation but stayed alertly patient.

“M’lady,
yourn safe!” A young ruddy-faced squire I recognized from earlier in the day
approached with wide open arms. Vivian happily returned the gesture as the two
embraced.

“I’m
just fine. But I’m going to stay here for a few more days. I want ye all to go
home. I needed to give ye a message to deliver to Mr. Hat. Tell him that I need
a little more time, but when I return he shall have what he seeks.” Vivian
peeled off her armor and stood in the room wearing only a light brown tunic
with tan britches and the beautiful scarf I had seen her wearing in the church.
Her outfit seemed inappropriate for a lady, but her men didn’t seem the least
bothered, or interested in her, except one black-haired man who had remained
silent.

“Lugina,
I need a private word with thee.” The muscular and impressively tall man was
wearing a sleeveless black tunic with black britches. His hair was long and he
wore it slicked down, braided with a thick cord tied at the back. He walked
toward her and she put her hand out to stop him.

“Trave,
I bid thee to trust me. Please just deliver the message I’ve asked.” Vivian or
perhaps Lugina was her real name, reached into a dark-colored wooden clothing
chest and pulled out a boring brown dress. She covered the “man” clothes with
the dress, tied her scarf around her tiny middle and actually made the ugly
dress look gorgeous.

“Art
thou a hostage?” Trave demanded, glowering at my direction.

“No,
Trave. I’m not. I’m dead.” Vivian’s delicious smile lit up the dim room as she
handed her armor to her squire. “Put this on, Sirus.”

“Um,
what dost thou mean, ‘I’m dead’?” Trave’s authoritatively deep voice rumbled as
he shoved the cuisses from Vivian’s hands onto ground. “What is going on here?”

“Sirus,
keep dressing. Trave,” Vivian glared at the large man, “Calm down. This is
under control but I need to be dead so Sirus needs to be ‘me’ and ye all must
leave here as quickly as thou can. Please  argue not, I will explain everything
when I get home.” Trave seemed appeased.

Vivian’s
crew scurried to clean up their items and I told Vivian it was time to go. She
donned a black cloak and appeared determined to hide a strange looking,
leather-bound book beneath it. I almost said something; instead I lifted my
boot to the stirrup of Flash’s saddle and pulled myself atop the massive horse
then reached my hand toward Vivian. She put her tiny hand onto my large hand. I
tried to fathom how she had the strength to not only best my brother, but to
single-handedly injure me with the brute force of a giant. The red-headed man
helped hoist Vivian onto the back of Flash and she thanked “Sherman”.

The
instructions for her crew were that they were to display Sirus in Lugina’s
armor as being deceased. Trave told Vivian that he would make sure all believed
that Lugina was in fact slain.

I
didn’t really know what the plan was, but I knew I had to get Vivian away from
her entourage as quickly as I could. Oddly, nobody tried to stop us; they
simply let her go with me. Odder still, upon our exiting the tent no watchmen
even paid us any attention. I supposed it was because they were watching a
“parade” go down the road with a fallen knight hanging off the side of a wagon.

#
# #

After
a scenic but short ride around the south side of the mountain where the castle
was nestled, Flash carried us to the stone fence of my humble cottage. Thin
streams of gray smoke wisped from the chimney. I was proud Jadorion had done
his job.

“Welcome
home!” I basically flew off the back of the horse to open the iron gate that
was wedged between two large stones.

Vivian
smiled as I helped her off the horse. The petite gal weighed a lot less without
her armor but she was still a solid little thing. I just couldn’t understand
where she was hiding all her weight.

Her
bright teeth gleamed as her mouth widened further when we stepped onto the
yard. She seemed to be a good liar about everything. If I didn’t know any
better I would think she actually wanted to be in my home.

“What
a lovely garden!” Vivian gazed at the vast vegetable and flower garden to the
left of the property then almost ran to the front door. “What a great home.”

The
cottage was small, but the property was mine. Well, at least, father had
allowed me to have it. He said it was my payment for service. As that was
basically all he offered; I greedily took it and cared for it as it was really
my land. I had built the cottage with the help of some neighbors. They had
grumbled the entire time about how they hated my father. Then after the house
was finished, they disappeared one night. They hadn’t said goodbye and I had
never heard from them since.

When
we arrived inside, I saw that Jadorion had put a pottage on the fire. He knew I
would be hungry but too tired to cook a supper. He was proving that he would be
a great squire, just as Brendan had said. I missed Brendan again and stared at
Vivian with disdain.

“Why
art thou glaring at me in such a way, Sir?” Vivian removed her cloak and laid
it across my small pine dining table. I noticed the book she had tried to
conceal at the tent was tucked under her dress behind her back. The book was
small, but it still left an unsightly bump across her lower back.

“Since
I’m the captor I’ll bid the questions, m’lady.” I reached for the book. Her
small hand swiped at me quick enough that I barely saw it. Pain exploded
through my hand, causing me to retreat. Three thin lines of blood oozed from
the thick skin where she had ferociously scratched me. “Ouch!”

“Pardon
me, sir. Ye startled me. I assume ye were reaching for my journal and I’m not
inclined to let ye read it. That’s a very private book that I allow no one to
handle.” Vivian had stepped away from me and walked across the wooden floor
toward the large stone fireplace. She grabbed a piece of cloth and handed it to
me for my hand then reached for a ladle and stirred the soup. “Who put on this
stew?”

“I
saw Jadorion when I went to get the horse. I asked him to light the fire but he
went the extra-mile. So, ye write in a journal that ye won’t share; that is
fair. But who is Mr. Hat and why was it so important for ye to get a message to
him?” I washed my hand in a well I had installed in the kitchen then retrieved
two tin bowls from a shelf. I handed them to Vivian who served the soup. She
returned the steaming bowls to me and I placed them on the table.

“Well,
Sir Tristen, that is private business as well. However, since ye were kind
enough to take me to my camp I’ll say that Mr. Hat made an offer I can’t
refuse.” Before sitting to our food, Vivian moved her cloak from the table to
her chair. I removed my armor. We both sat and she grabbed my hands; startling
me. “Thou will say grace?” Her glossy eyes traced every inch of my face.

“Of
course!” I didn’t hesitate in thanking God for the strangely sad day and for
company in my home. I remembered to tell him that we didn’t know his will but
we followed anyway. Vivian clasped my hands tightly, causing the scratches to
hurt me. I closed the prayer and yanked my hands away from her. “Goodness
woman! Please be careful with my pain and suffering!”

“Pardon
me, sir. I forgot.” Vivian shook her lovely head, looked to the ground and
slowly sipped her soup. I realized I didn’t offer spoons and then I was
embarrassed for being a rude host. It was odd she didn’t even seem fazed by any
of it; just used her fingers to pick out meaty rabbit pieces. Before I could
get any spoons she pushed her bowl away.

“Well,
that was delicious. Thy squire can cook.” She sat back in her chair and stared
absently at me. I looked into her bowl; she only picked out all the meat and
left the vegetables.

“Pardon
the vegetables. My family doesn’t eat them either, but I enjoy them.” I sat
down with my spoon then took her bowl from the table and dumped the remaining
contents into mine.

“I
don’t like vegetables much. They are peasant food, as thou knowest. I love
juicy, bloody meat.” She paused, “May I take a bath or, at least, dost thou
have a cleaning rag I could wash with? Once I’m fresh I will clean thy cottage
and other chores ye need done.” Vivian sat rigidly in the chair as if on edge.

“First
of all, relax Vivian…or is it Lugina?” I iniquitously raised my left eyebrow. I
didn’t expect her to answer, but she pounced from the chair and leaped across
the room.

“My
name is Vivian but when my crew and I travel they call me Lugina to keep the
‘act’ going. They obviously kept up the charade with us at the tent because
they didn’t know what was going on!” Now the woman was yelling and carrying on
like a banshee.

Vivian
continued her rant. “There wasn’t supposed to be a dragon or a dead brother; we
were just supposed to get the money and go!” She turned, glanced at me and
whispered, “That’s all that was planned Sir Tristen. Naught funny, no schemes
or darkness…we had a mission and it went terribly wrong. Naught more.” She sat
on the chair again, lowering her shoulders in apparent defeat.

I
sat staring at my soup for a brief moment. The woman had completely stumped me.
I sat thinking of Brendan and the creepy dragon eye glaring into my soul. I
thought of my father and how cruel and horrible he was, and then wondered at
the same time why he offered so much
now
to get men to join our army.
Perhaps he was scared; that had to be it. I cleared my throat but said nothing.
Vivian kept her eyes on the floor but hummed the same song she had hummed in
the barn when Glory was suffering. I relaxed.

After
a while Vivian stopped humming and I found the strength to move, “Well, I have
a tub near the fireplace ye may have seen by now. It has a well pump I’ve
attached from a hot spring so ye may simply fill the tub and get in. No heating
water over the fire required.” This was a feature of my home that I was
particularly proud of. I actually wanted to soak in that tub myself, and maybe
even sleep in it, but I still had many things to do this day.