NaNoWriMo Novel 2006

1

2006-12-01T12:11:00.001-05:00

The wind off of the lake attacked Alena’s black hair, tangling the ends into a long rope down her back. She pulled her cloak more tightly around her neck, the wolf fur tickling her bare skin. The leggings she had taken from her dead husband’s trunk kept the wind off of her legs and gave her a warmth she had never known when standing by the water in winter.

“I need to begin somewhere,” she said. Her words blew away before she could hear them. She looked out onto the lake’s surface. All she saw was a deep black. The moon had passed over the mountain peaks a while ago now. It was deep in the middle of the night. The entire village lay in their beds, no doubt sound asleep with untroubled dreams. She had the decisions to make that would affect them all, but they trusted her to do what was best for them all. She had done well over the last three moons, on her own, after the early death of the man that had ruled the village for fifteen years. She wished she knew why a strong man who had only lived thirty three years would die quietly in his sleep. It made no sense that she could see. But his death had ended two wonderful years of marriage and a secure and happy life.

Now, she had to make a choice. She had inherited a small but rich village and its resources. Since she and Konrad did not have any children that she could hold the property for until they reached their majority, Roman law required that she remarry to hold her property. Celtic law allowed her to inherit and even though Roman law usually did not allow this, the governor of the Noricum region liked to keep the peace by giving in to certain native customs, up to a point. If she took a new husband before the anniversary of her husband’s death, she could continue to minister her holdings. She just needed to marry someone of her same social class or higher, so anyone she already knew was out of the question.

She spent the last three moons organizing the village and assuring everyone she would take care of them. She was glad she already had a good relationship with everyone. She knew most of the village people by name from the times she ministered to their ailments or gave them salves or teas to help them through their bodily distress. She had even delivered several of their children. It didn’t take them long to fall in love with each other.

Konrad had brought her to them two years ago when she was sixteen. Both of her parents had died somewhere in Asia Minor. Konrad brought her the news, telling her the details so quietly that she had to ask him to speak up. His gentleness surprised her in a man so large. He spent the entire spring and summer in the inn near her home.

Towards the end of the summer, Wolfram showed up at her door announcing that Alena’s father had promised her to him in marriage. No one believed him, but he was insistent, coming to her daily and trying to badger her into marrying him. A large estate was at stake. Wolfram owned the holdings next to the one owned by Alena’s parents and he wanted to extend his wealth. He told Alena flat out that he wanted Crabapple Farm and made no attempt to woo her to his wishes. He was used to getting what he wanted, by persuasion, stealth or just taking it.

Alena quietly told Wolfram no every time he asked her to marry him. She told him no every time he told her she would marry him. The last time she told him no, he had grabbed her arms and shook her, whipping her head backwards and forwards, all the time screaming at her, that she would succumb to his wishes. His dark hair hung over his enraged filled eyes adding to his crazed look.

Next thing he knew, Wolfram found himself lying on the floor, a huge bruise blossoming on his jaw. Konrad stood over him, quietly telling Wolfram that if Wolfram ever touched Alena again, Konrad would kill him. Wolfram crawled out of Alena’s life that night and she hadn’t seen him again.

That same day, Konrad offered to marry her, with no strings attached. She would continue to own her parents property and could install overseers of her own choosing. And he would not impose himself on her physically. She need only join him in his village and they would return twice a year to visit her holdings. She had agreed.

By the time they had reached his village of Deepshade, she trusted him completely. When winter was over and spring blossomed in the mountains she was deeply in love with Konrad and they had become husband and wife in all things. They had returned to her holdings for her seventeenth birthday and found them flourishing, quiet and stable.

They only saw Wolfram once from far off. He stood looking down at them from his hill that overlooked her house. He stared down at them and she felt she could feel his hatred rolling down the sides of the hill like a boulder trembling towards them. But he left her and her property alone and she thought of him no more. She and Konrad returned to Deepshade, content and happy, to pass another year.
With one moon left until her eighteenth birthday, they made plans to travel again. Konrad spent his days supervising the packing as they intended to travel the region so Alena could see some of the world.

He traveled out across the lake to reach Juvavum twice before their trip was to begin, to gather supplies they would need for their journey. He had ordered them new wardrobes on his first supply excursion along with the covered wagon she was to travel in. On his second trip, he went to check on his orders and to stage them in the city.

They would leave Deepshade by boat, as usual and pick up horses on the other side of the lake and continue to the city. They would then overnight in Juvavum, and leave from there with their entire caravan. They would not see the village perched above the edge of the lake with the Alps at its back for a whole year.

Konrad had come back from the second trip to the city over the mountain top. He said he needed to check on the salt mines before they left for so long a trip. He had seemed very quiet to her that night. She had asked him if all had gone well and he said it did. Nothing unusual or out of the ordinary had occurred. But she did not believe him. He ate a particularly light evening meal and only drank well water, instead of his usual bowl of beer.

They went to bed shortly after all was dark, with each village light extinguished and all of the fires damped. She whispered her love for him and he answered with his everlasting adoration, then he rolled over and was soon snoring. In the morning, he was dead.

She was stunned. She walked out of the house and into the square and stood there quietly until one of the village woman placed a shawl across her shoulders. Then, she collapsed to her knees and began to sob. One of the men went into her house and came back to the center with the news that Konrad was dead and cold in his bed.

And so Alena’s lovely world ended. Now, people expected her to take Konrad’s place in their lives. She was expected to make decisions for the benefit of several hundred people. A girl of eighteen who always had some one else take care of her was going to protect over two hundred people here and another seventy people at Crabapple Farm.

Her mourning of Konrad in the moon span following his death was genuine. She cleaned his body and clothed it for viewing. She did this alone, whispering to him the entire time, thanking him for the life they had shared and the love he had given her. She scrubbed the trestle table in their hall and waxed it until the wood glowed in the warmth of all of her polishing. She draped it with her best tapestry then called his closest friends to carry Konrad from his bed to the table.

On the third day following his death, he was ready for viewing. Everyone from the village came to view him. They passed through his hall in a single line, each touching him and saying their goodbyes. The men thanked him for his kind and wise rulership. Many women and children cried quietly, knowing that he had called each of them by name.

Over the next few days, outsiders braved the lake crossing to pay their respects. The Roman Governor, Victorius, arrived on day six after Konrad’s death. His visit caused an uproar, putting the village in a panic. He was unexpected and a suitable place for him to spend the night had to be found. Normally, he would stay at Konrad’s house, but it was inappropriate for him to sleep in the house of the dead. Only immediate family was permitted to remain with a dead person. Victorius ended up recrossing the lake before night came and after telling Alena that she must marry again before Konrad’s death day anniversary if she was to keep her holdings together.

On the seventh day, Alena rested. She sat at Konrad’s shoulder holding his cold hand. She laid her head on the table next to him and slept. She dreamt of herself with white hair and five young children gathered around her knees looking up at her as she told them stories of the places she had seen in her life. She awoke the next morning when Balder the Druid touched her arm.

He had come for Konrad’s body. It was now time to start the dismemberment process to remove Konrad’s head from his body. His body was be taken into the mountains on a wooden gurney and burned on a bonfire. Balder the Druid then took Konrad’s head, peeled back the skin, scraped off the flesh, removed the internal contents and placed his skull in the sun to bleach. This process took an entire moon’s cycle.

Over this past month, Alena had painted Konrad’s skull with spirals and circles and leaves, flowers and power animals. Today, she had placed his finished skull in the charnel house to rest with his ancestors. And now her life must continue. Today was the last day permitted for open mourning. At sunrise tomorrow, she would be required to come out into the light of day and begin again. Life must go on.

She would now have nine months in which to find a suitable husband. A husband she could stand in her bed, a husband that would deal fairly with the people and a husband that Victorius would approve.

She had no idea where to begin to look for a husband. Perhaps she would ask the advice of Balder and some of the village elders. That made sense to her. Balder in particular had been out in the world in his younger years before settling into a life of spirituality here in the quiet recesses of their little world. With this decision made, she walked the path from the edge of the lake to her empty house and her empty bed.

In the morning, the house was abuzz with voices. A fire burned in Alena’s fire place in her room. The smell of roasting meat reached her nostrils and she felt hunger for the first time in many months. She rose up from under her pelts, pulling back her unruly and tangled hair. She needed a bath. She needed food. She needed to get moving again. As she had these thoughts, Marta entered her room with a steaming bowl of stew. The round, red cheeked woman smiled at Alena showing her a mouth with missing front teeth.

Leni, Marta’s twelve year old daughter, followed her mother into the room pulling the copper bath tub. She dropped the end of the tub with a clang and giggled. Marta pulled a stool next to Alena’s bed and put the bowl of stew on it. She then pushed Alena forward in her bed and grabbed the pillows. She fluffed up the down pillows and stacked them behind Alena’s back and pressed Alena’s shoulders into them. Alena sat herself up straighter just in time to take the bowl from Marta.

As Alena spooned venison, potatoes and carrots into her mouth, Marta and Leni carried buckets of hot water into the room and poured them into the cooper kettle. By the time Alena was done eating, the tub was full. She put the bowl down, pulled back the covers and stepped onto fresh pelts on the floor. She wondered how she had managed to sleep through all of the changes that had taken placed in the house this morning.

Alena patted across the room, pulled her nightdress over her head and climbed into the tub. Marta came back into the room with lavender and rosemary sprigs, which she tossed in the water. Leni came in with more wood for the fire. Marta piled the wood in the fire place and stoked the fire until it was blazing. Then, she shoed Leni from the room and closed the door behind them.

2

2006-12-01T12:10:00.001-05:00

Alena leaned back in the water, resting her head on the back of the tub. She took deep breaths of the steamy scented water and relaxed. After a half hour, Marta came back with the light lavender soap that Alena made. Marta began soaping a cloth and washing Alena’s back. She then placed her hand on the top of Alena’s head and dunked her under the water. Alena came up sputtering and laughing. Marta lathered up Alena’s hair and dunked her again. Leni came back in with fresh warm water and rinsed Alena’s hair.

Alena stood and Marta rapped her in a clean soft woolen towel. She had Alena lean over the tub so the water could be rung from her hair and then her hair was wrapped in a smaller wool towel.

“Get yourself back in bed and relax while we clean up this mess, mistress.” Marta was very bossy.

“When I am done with this I will come back to comb out that rat’s nest in your hair.”

Leni giggled as she scooped buckets of dirty water from the tub and carried them from the room.

“Marta, I can comb my own hair.”

“You will do as you are told. When your strength is back, you can do for yourself again.” Marta gave Alena a sharp look. “You have lost too much weight. You will never get a good husband if you do not have any meat on your bones.”

“Yes, I suppose you are right, Marta.” Alena did as she was told and got back into bed.

“You need to be healthy for yourself, mistress.” Marta took the towel from Alena’s hair and took the towel Alena had worn. She pulled the bed pelts up to Alena’s chin and smiled at Alena. “Konrad would not have wanted you to waste away. That would not honor his memory.”

“I understand, Marta. I will not do myself any harm.” Alena leaned back into the feather pillows and closed her eyes. When she next opened them, all signs of her bath were gone from the room. She must have dozed. Marta was back with broth and a chunk of bread slathered in butter.

Alena got out of bed, put on a fresh nightdress and sat on the stool Marta had placed by the quietly burning fire. As Alena ate her bread and drank her broth, Marta gently combed out her hair. Alena felt barely a tug on her scalp; Marta was so easy on her. After getting all on the tangles out and smoothing the strands, Alena turned her back to the fire so her hair could finish drying.

While Alena sat by the fire, Marta and Leni stripped the bed, taking all of the bedding out side to air. With the bed empty, they covered the leather mattress cradle with fresh rosemary and pine needles. The room began to smell of the fresh woods. Alena was beginning to feel alive again. A clean body, a full stomach and the duties of everyday life were reviving her.

After Leni had braided Alena’s long black hair into two thick ropes, Alena changed into clothes. Marta pronounced Alena fit to be seen in public again. Alena laughed at Marta’s audacity and understood that she was trying to get her to feel slightly normal again. It was working.

Alena left her private room for the main hall. She loved this room. While it was quite small by comparison to other halls, even the one at the Crabapple Farm, it was bright with light from windows cover in glass that most other halls could not boast. The people who occupied the room were happy and jolly, laughing at each others’ jokes and helping each other with their work.

When Alena walked into the room, the people stopped what they were doing and turned to smile at her. She walked slowly around the room, checking what each person was doing. They showed her their work, pointing out details and explaining why they did certain things. After speaking to everyone present, she went out into the central town courtyard.

This was the central part of town which was shared by all because this was the one spot in their small surrounded town where the sun shown longest and strongest. In the very center of the town circle, a forward thinking person had placed a round bench generations before. It was used by people wishing to gather in sun rays and soak up the noon time warmth. Alena took advantage of the empty seat, knowing the town had left it so for her first day back to them. She sat there until the sun took its afternoon trip over the mountains at the back of the town.

The sun sent red and orange dancing lights across the water’s surface as it left for the day. And like blowing out a candle, the sun was gone in a breath. Even in summer, when the sun went down it got cold since the town sat right on top of the lake.

Alena silently thanked the town for this gentle re-emergence back to the everyday. But she knew it was over when she saw Balder and two men and two women approach her from their houses. She rose to greet them and walked silently with them back to her house. It was time to talk and plan and they knew she needed their help.
Alena sat at the head of the table. Balder the Druid sat to her right. He had left his tools at home and had dressed in a simple undyed woolen floor length tunic. The hem was unfinished and he had no embroidery anywhere on his clothing. He had pulled his long blonde hair back and tied it in a bundle at the nape of his neck. The one gray streak that ran from scalp to tips was barely noticeable in the light of the room. If it weren’t for the tattoos on his face, hands and wrists, he would look almost normally. Well, except for the wild look in his eyes. If you didn’t know him, he’d be quite scary, which Alena supposed was the point for a Druid priest. He never smiled, he just quietly stared. Until he had something he felt he must say. Then, he spoke in a low rumbling voice that vibrated through your chest and made you hang on his every word. His wisdom was well tried and found to be true. Alena was glad he was here.

Next to Balder sat Helmut and his wife, Ulrike. They were the oldest people in the village and older than anyone else’s Alena knew anywhere. Helmut was seventy two and Ulrike was seventy. They both had been born in this village. Helmut had left the village at the age of sixteen, to travel and make a fortune. This was not very unusual. But Ulrike had left right behind him because she could not live without Helmut. She was fourteen, dressed like a boy and stayed one step behind Helmut during the three years he was seeking his treasure. In a port city in Asia Minor, when Helmut was nineteen and Ulrike was seventeen, he discovered her when she could no longer hide her womanhood. Helmut rescued Ulrike from a group of men who had discovered her, too. He killed all five men, married Ulrike to her hearts delight and brought her back to Deepshade. They had been here ever since.

On Alena’s left sat Ebba and her twin brother Detlef. Ebba and Detlef oversaw the running of the saltmines and they did it so well that their village was permitted special privileges because the mines were so profitable. Unlike many people in the world, especially anyone working on a farm, the people of Deepshade only worked five days a week instead of the more normal six or seven days a week. This was all due to the efficiency of jovial Ebba and the friendly Detlef and they were loved and admired by the townspeople for their abilities. And they were both married to devoted partners who took care of the home fires in their communal home.

Alena looked around the table and felt she was armed with a smart group of advisors. Marta brought each of them an earthenware bowl of beer and placed a platter of cheese in the middle of the table. She then went of to the fires to leave them some privacy.

“I have no idea where to begin with this venture.” Alena knew these people would prefer to deal with this in a direct manner. Marriage for someone like her was a business matter. She had been lucky to fall in love with Konrad, but that didn’t happen often for people of property. She just hoped that whoever she ended up marrying wouldn’t disgust her too much.

“We have nine months in which to execute this project,” said Ebba. “That’s long enough to grow a child. Surely we can manage to find you a suitable husband.” Ebba grinned as she said this.

Detlef laughed.

“You are skinny but not too homely.” Detlef laughed again and was joined by Ebba. “I think we could find someone that would be willing to take you.”

Alena grinned back at them.

“Yes, but where will we find this person and how will we get him here?” Alena asked.

“We will, quite simply, send out messengers with messages,” said Balder. He took a sip of his beer. He looked at each of them in turn, nodding at each of them.

“That is quite simple and I see nothing wrong with the basic idea,” said Helmut.

“A very simple plan,” said Ulrike. “The question now is who do we send the messages to?”

“Perhaps we could write a general message that says we have a wench who is not too homely looking to marry and if you are interested in her riches, show up at Deepshade on All Hallow’s Eve.” Detlef got an elbow in the ribs from Ebba.

“Well, it could say something like that. And we could write it on many parchments but not put on any names. Then, we pick a few trusted messengers that will go out in the world and look for men that fit what we want.” It seemed that Detlef had already thought about this despite his silliness.

They all looked at Alena. So far she thought they made sense.

“That sounds like a sensible idea,” she said.

“A couple of months of traveling around the area should yield a good selection of candidates for us to choose from,” continued Detlef.

“You mean for Alena to choose from don’t you, Detlef?” asked Ebba.

“Well, yes, for Alena to choose from but I think we should help.”

“I would definitely need your help to choose.” She smiled at them. “I couldn’t imagine being married to anyone other than Konrad, so I will need your help to pick a partner.”

“What we would need to do is make a list of what we are and are not looking for in a man to come into our lives.” Ulrike, despite her romantic teenage years, was very practical. She had helped her children choose their mates and she had done quite well for all ten of her children.

“Excellent idea, my dearest,” said Helmut. “I suggest we all go home now and think about what kind of traits we want. Alena has done enough for her first day back with us.”

“She needs to rest some more to get those roses back in her cheeks.” They all stood as one, which caused them all to laugh, even Balder.

“You will come back here tomorrow night for the evening meal,” said Alena. “After we have eaten, we will make a list and start to write the messages.”

“Agreed,” said Detlef.

“Get back to be and have a snack. Fatten yourself up for the fall slaughter.” Ebba laughed heartily at her own joke, joined by her brother. Helmut and Ulrike shook their heads as they left holding hands.

Balder waited until Ebba and Detlef had gone, too, before he spoke to Alena.

“I know you understand how important your marriage will be to the entire town,” he said. He looked Alena in the eyes and did not look away or blink for several heartbeats.

Alena felt like she had stopped breathing while he stared into her. She thought he was about to say something very profound. Instead, he took her hands in both of his and gave them a squeeze. Then he left, too.

Alena looked around the room. It felt very empty right now. All of the servants except Marta had bedded down a while ago. Marta came over to Alena and ushered her into Alena’s room. Marta helped Alena remove her clothes and put her nightgown on. The bed had been remade. A bowl of milk sat on the stool next to the bed. Alena crawled under the covers and drank the warm milk. Alena felt relaxed and comfortable. She lay back on the down pillows and was soon fast asleep.

3

2006-12-01T12:09:00.002-05:00

The messages had been written, the qualifications defined and the messengers sent on their way. The final preparations had finished out a full week of seven days. Alena, Balder, Helmut, Ulrike, Ebba and Detlef had taken care to consider the needs of everyone at both Deepshade and Crabapple Farm. Alena was grateful they had considered her feels a great deal in the matter.

The messages were all the same:

We are seeking an unmarried man of elevated station to marry a woman of equal rank, just past the age of eighteen, with the holdings of Deepshade and Crabapple Farm. The marriage must take place by the next Harvest Moon. The management of the two holdings is to remain in the hands of the young woman and this will be part of the marriage contract. The qualified man must be at least eighteen years of age and no more than thirty five year of age, of able body and mind, with property of his own and with no previous issue. Interested parties should arrive at Deepshade on Midsummer’s Night.

They wrote out fifteen copies, five for each of three messengers. They chose three brothers for this mission, Karl, Gebhardt and Gisbert. Each man was in his early twenties, the descendants of one of the town’s founding families and with great stakes in the outcome of the process.

Gebhardt and Gisbert were fishermen. Their boats would be commandeered by younger cousins eager for the opportunity to prove themselves capable. Karl was a hunter and the town’s woodsman. He could get away at this time of year without too much ill effects on the town and his duties. The woods took care of themselves at the end of winter.
The town’s best horses were readied and provisioned for a month long trip. Each man would also go with a pack mule carrying leathers bags of Deepshade’s finest salt to be given to prospective grooms as gifts.

Gebhardt was sent east where he would encounter families that have had a greater Roman influence on the native peoples. He would find men who were Romanized Celts. This was also the territory where Victorius had his governor’s seat in the town of Noricum, the center of the district. Here they might find someone both suitable to the town and the governor. Victorius would after all have to approve the union. And if they did not choose a man from this area at least it appeared that they tried to find one.

Gisbert was sent west into the more Celtic areas, where he would meet people with more in common with the people of Deepshade and Crabapple Farm. These would be people that were more used to women who ran and managed their own property and whose customs would be most similar to their own.

Karl was sent south below the Alps. He was already known to these people from his hunting and trading trips in that direction. He knew of several men who might be interested in forging relations to the north and while these men were fully as dark of hair as Alena herself, Celtic blood ran deep in their veins. They might be Roman by law but they souls remained wild.

Now all that remained was the wait for the return of the messengers and their reports of who might be interested in their proposal. Now life must go on and daily chores attended to.
The Moon of Winds was on the wane and the village expected the return of Karl, Gebhardt and Gisbert any day now. Everyone was anxious for their return to find out who had been interested in their offer. This had been a mild winter, so travel was not as difficult as usual. Balder the Druid said the weather was auspicious for a good outcome.

Gisbert was the first to arrive back in town. He rode down the mountainside with a big grin on his face. The back of his pack mule was laden with packages. He was greeted by one and all with great cheers when he announced that all of his scrolls were accepted by five very eligible men who were quite eager to vie for Alena’s hand in marriage. All of the men knew of Crabapple Farm and Deepshade. Several had known Alena’s parents.

Gisbert was unpacked, bathed and well fed before he was called to Alena’s hall to report to the town’s council. He explained that he was well received throughout the region and he was able to find five men that qualified for the plan without difficulties. He was wined and dined by each appropriate household. He delivered the gifts of salt to each agreeable man who accepted with obvious delight. Each declared the quality of the salt the best they had seen and knew what a precious gift it was. They each gave Gisbert small tokens of their intent to bring back to the village and promised to arrive at Deepshade in time for the Midsummer Bonfires.

Gisbert listed the name of each man he had given a parchment to and described the locations of their holdings and the extent of their wealth.

Balder the Druid noted the details in their village records and the group thanked Gisbert for his efforts and good luck in completing his task so quickly and so well.

Two days later, Gebhardt rode into town after the sun had dropped below the mountain peaks. No one was in the village center to greet him as everyone was at their evening meals. He stabled his horse and mule, removed their packs, blankets and harnesses and brushed them down before seeking someone to announce his arrival to.

As his own house was dark, he assumed none of his brothers had returned before him. Their house was next to Detlef and Ebba’s family home, so he knocked on their door. It was answered by one of the many children that ran amuck in the household. It was a young girl who giggled as she ran from him. She fell into Ebba’s lap, tugging on her mother’s skirts. Ebba patted the girl on her head as she glanced at the open door.

Ebba waved Gisbert into the room and called loudly to the masses that he had arrived on their doorstep. Gisbert saw that Gebhardt was seated at their trestle eating from a deep wheat bread trencher. The brothers smiled at each other as Detlef’s wife, Cordula, ushered Gisbert in and sat him at table next to his brother. She placed a trencher filled with venison stew in front of him and one and all encouraged him to eat before speaking of his travels.

While Gisbert ate and drank his fill of beer, several of the men and women went along with Gebhardt to stoke the fires in the brothers’ home and prepare a bath for Gisbert. Some others had gone to various other homes to pass the word that Gisbert had returned. The excitement of his return spread quickly and it was announced that all had gone well, but as the hour was late, he would make a full report on the morrow.

Gisbert was permitted to sleep late the next morning and was called to a meeting for the noontime meal. He gave a similar report to the one given by Gebhardt. He gave gifts; he received gifts and was well received. The difference in his report was that Governor Victorius put forth two candidates chosen by him. Gisbert met both of the men and found neither of them wanting, which was a happy development as they did not wish to alienate the governor. Another five men’s names and their locations and gifts were added to Balder’s list and tally.

The entire town was particularly eager for the return of Karl. Everyone was very excited by the excellent outcome so far. Spring was waking in the area. Small blooms were poking their heads through the dark brown earth. Crocus, Catchfly and Phlox were making themselves known all along the edges of the mountain paths and pastures. Several young animals had been seen frolicking in the woods with anxious mothers looking on. Promise was everywhere in the air.

Men began going back into the mines to prepare for the new year’s digs. Tools were brought out of their hay beds and polished. Wagon wheels were inspected and wagon beds checked for their stability. Oil supplies were checked and lanterns cleaned of their winter debris.

Women cleaned out fireplaces, careful to keep the embers from the Winter Solstice fires burning. The ashes from the fireplaces were placed in the communal storehouse to be used later in the season to make the new batches of soap and to add to the urine to bleach the wool fabrics that would be made after the first goat shearing of the spring.

Fur pelts and down pillows and mattresses were placed out on bushes and fences to be aired and beaten and brushed. Dirty rushes were swept from houses and added to the pile that would be used for the fires of Beltane as kindling. The streets were also swept of debris and everything began to look fresh and cheerful.

It was mid-April and a full week and a half since Gisbert’s return when Karl finally entered the village. He came by boat across the lake and he came empty handed and with a gross red welt on his cheek. He looked tired and worn. His clothes were dirty and ripped in several places. The town’s people gathered around him and several men helped him home.

Alena was called to minister to his wounds after he had bathed. Cordula brought him bread and cheese and his brothers poured him several bowls of beer before anyone asked him to tell his story.

The council sat around him in his own hall, with his brothers next to him and several other friends there too. It was a crowded group, but a concerned one. Each person present waited patiently for Karl to begin. He was not known for excessive talking so it took him a while to begin. He cleared his throat several times and seemed too embarrassed to begin.

Alena leaned forward and touched one of Karl’s hands.

“Karl, how is it you came by your injuries?” she asked in a quiet voice.

Karl looked into Alena’s eyes then looked down at his hands.

“I was attacked the day before I was to enter Juvavum as I rode on the main rode.”

There were gasps from several people.

“Who would attack you there, in the open?” asked Detlef. A scowl crossed his normally happy brow. He looked quite ferocious.

“I passed a section where the trees came close to the roadside.” Karl cleared his throat again and took another gulp of beer. He rubbed his neck where a bruise could be seen.

“From both sides, I was jumped by four men on foot, dressed plain and their faces covered by scarves.” He shifted in his seat. “A fifth man stood off to the side and watched as the others pulled men from my horse and beat me.”

“This attack sounds planned,” said Helmut.

“It seemed so. When I woke, I lay in the road and the horse and mule were gone. There was no sign of my attackers.”

“These injuries you have here are all from this attack?” asked Ulrike.

“It seems so. I have no clear memory of receiving them all, for which I am grateful.” Karl grinned a bit, and then grimaced as the pain in his cheek affected him. “After slowly rising from the ground bit by bit, I managed to walk into the city to a friend’s house. He bade me to stay the night and had me make a report with the magistrate. He sent out patrols to search for the bandits. A group of thieves so close to town made everyone uneasy.”

“Was no sign of them found?” asked Ebba.

“None.” Karl shook his head. “I felt I needed to come back here the next day and let you all know I had lost everything except the promises of three men to come for the suit in the summer.”

“Another three prospects?” asked Alena.

“Yes and very eager to meet you, they are.” Karl smiled at her.

“We will take their names and other information tomorrow,” said Balder. “You are to get to bed and rest. None of the other things matter.” He rose to leave and everyone else followed him out of the house.

There was plenty for everyone to talk about in front of their evening fires as Karl slept and recovered from his ordeals. Some in the village wondered why all of a sudden a band of outlaws showed up in the area and attacked only Karl. They thought it mighty convenient that it should happen now at this time. There had been no attacks of this sort in the area for many years.

4

2006-12-01T12:09:00.001-05:00

The next day, the group met for the third time to hear and review the report made by Karl. He told them that he found three men willing to consider having a wife that would continue to own and manage her own property. He found all other men that fit their criteria unwilling to consider her financial autonomy. They had become too Roman in their thinking. But the three who had agreed seemed very eager and agreed to meet at Deepshade at the appointed time. They had presented Karl with rich gifts to bring back to Alena. He was sorely upset to have lost them to brigands on the road.

Balder made note of the new names and their estates and their gifts. Even though the articles were lost to thieves, they must still be acknowledged and thanks sent for all items given. Karl left to attend to his duties and catch up on his work. He promised to bring back news of the berry fields in the upland pastures. Many huckleberry and boysenberries would be needed for the coming guests.

The council now began their plans for the Midsummer festivities. They would need to find lodging for the prospective grooms and any retinue they might bring. Helmut and Ulrike agreed to cross the lake and speak to their counterparts in the town of Zell on the Lake. While Zell also lay near the lake as Deepshade did, Zell was a much larger town because it did not sit between the lake and steep mountains. The people of Zell would be happy for the additional and unexpected trade.

The next two months passed quickly. When tank you messages were sent to the thirteen men who had shown their interest, a request was made that each of them would send word ahead of when they would arrive. Each responded in agreement.
In the first week of June, the messengers began to arrive. The town received notices from each of the thirteen men. Seven days before the Moon of Horses rose in the night sky, the men began to arrive. It had been planned that none would be presented to Alena until all had arrived and they could meet her together. Each of the men came with only a few retainers and no family, but bearing more gifts.

Three days before the full moon, all of the men had arrived and were installed in homes in Zell. Helmut and Ulrike went to Zell to greet each of them on the first day of their arrival. After all of them had arrived, Balder the Druid went to Zell and brought all of the men together in the hall of Zell’s mayor, Count Radulf. Balder looked the men over and spoke to each in turn. He came back to Deepshade and announced that all of the men fit their requisites.

Preparations for the Midsummer Eve celebrations were complete. The thirteen men were rowed across the lake followed by many people from Zell, who would join in the festivities this year. Everyone gathered in Deepshade’s town center, milling about, waiting for the processions to begin.

Alena came out of her house, clothed in a fine, soft woolen dress, embroidered in greens and blues, with a curdle of fine silver around her waist. Seppel, the silversmith of Deepshade had spent the past two months making the fine scroll work. Alena’s hair and head were covered in a veil and was led by Marta and Marta’s sister Sascka, because Alena could not see through her headdress. Balder the Druid led the way, followed by Alena and her help maids and then the thirteen grooms and the rest of the people came behind in order of their age and importance. The procession went up the narrow town walkways to the mountain paths that led to the meadows above the town where the celebrations would take place.

It was mid-day by the time the entire group made it to their destination. Tables and benches had been set all around a central fire pit where several boar and deer had been roasting on spits since before sunrise. Fresh fruit and vegetables were piled in baskets on the tables. Barrels of beer and mead dotted the countryside.

Alena was led to the table at the head of the field and sat at the place of honor. She was flanked by Helmut and Ulrike on her left and Detlef and Ebba on her right. Balder was circling the bonfire site saying his prayers. The men who hand come to seek Alena’s hand were seated together at one table. A group of musicians and jugglers were entertaining the masses by strolling through the crowds. People were laughing and dancing, drinking and eating and everyone was having a great time, but still looking in Alena’s direction for when the important event would take place.

After everyone had their fill of the roast meats and drunk plenty for a jolly disposition, Balder called for everyone’s attention. He stood in front of Alena and announced the reason for their meeting here together beyond the normal Midsummer holiday. He called the men forward and asked them to line up as he had directed them previously. The men lined up in front of Alena and presented themselves as a fine group.

Balder began on the left and introduced each man to Alena, calling out each man’s name and home town. Each man bowed as he was introduced. After calling out the name and town of the last man, Balder asked Alena to rise. She stood at her chair. Balder shouted out her name and the names of her parents along with the place of her birth. Then Marta and Sascka removed Alena’s veil and several of the men gasped and murmured their approval of Alena’s appearance. It was clear to all that none of the men had expected her to be so comely.

Now, Balder brought his bag of runes forward to the men and asked each to reach inside and draw one out. The order of the runes that each man drew would be the order in which the men would first meet with Alena and they would begin to get to know each other. It was also the order in which they would meet with the council to answer the group’s questions and it would be the time for each man to ask his own questions.

Once each man had chosen his rune and the symbol written in Balder records, the festivities continued. Alena was the first to jump through the bonfire and then she was escorted back down the path to her house while those who wished to stay continued the party on through the night. Alena was glad she didn’t have to participate. She was exhausted and longed only for her bed.

Marta helped her remove her finery and Sascka packed it away to be used on her wedding day. Alena crawled into bed. Marta brought her a dish of chamomile tea. Alena sipped at the drink and began to feel drowsy. She finished the tea, placed the dish on her bedside stool and lay down into her pillows.

Soon she was fast asleep and dreaming of an army of suitors. She felt herself suffocating under the gifts and their attentions. She woke in the middle of the night shivering. She had kicked her blankets from her bed in her distress. Alena got up and went out to the guarderobe to relief herself. She could still see the fires at the top of the mountain burning large and bright even from this far away. Alena smiled at the town’s exuberance. Many marriages would be renewed tonight. She could not think of any new alliances that would be made. Very few of the younger people were ready to make a commitment this year. She felt sure most were celebrating on her behalf, hoping she would make a suitable and happy match.

Alena went back to bed and slept the night through with no more nightmares. She thought she remembered dreaming of a man she did not recognize, but the visions were wisps of thought that circled around her head like wood smoke. Despite waking in the night and her dreams, Alena felt refreshed in the morning. She felt ready to meet each of the men in turn and getting to know them a little bit.

She was to meet with each man for two hours for the first time, three men a day until she had seen them all. They were all hoping that after these five days were concluded that they would be able to narrow the field of prospects down to a more manageable size. Between Alena’s opinions and likes, the answers the men would give to the village elders and the wants of the men themselves, they all felt that a few of the men would be going home on their own within the week. Only those truly interested would remain.

Alena determined to dress simply and to arrange her hair in a common manner. She wanted the men to pay more attention to her and not to her appearance. She also decided to ask each of the men the same ten questions to make it easier for her to compare them. When she felt ready, she came out of her room to see how the meeting area was set up.

Two chairs were set in front of the fireplace where a small fire was burning to keep the chill at bay. A third chair was placed behind the one she would be sitting in. Balder would occupy this chair during each of the meeting to act as chaperone and to recall the conversations later to the other council members. A thick bear skin carpet covered the floor under the chairs. Bear was becoming quite rare in the mountains and the surrounding areas. The men would be impressed by the extravagance of placing the skin on the floor.

Marta had placed bread and butter on the table with a pot of clover honey. Alena sat at the table and broke her fast. She washed down the meal with milk tea. Marta remarked on how hearty Alena’s appetite was and she wondered allowed if Alena was as hungry for a new husband. Everyone laughed including Alena. She felt good to be surrounding by these people who accepted her so well. They would all be present during the meetings, too, although they would be pretending not to pay attention to what was being said and how the couple got along.

After finishing her meal, Alena took her seat by the fire and waited for the first man who could be her next husband to arrive. She did not have long to wait. Shortly after settling into her chair, there came a knock at the door. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched as Balder open the door.
The first man Alena met with was named Alan. He was twenty years old but looked even younger. His blonde hair grew long down his back and curled like a little girl’s hair. He had sweet pink lips, rosy cheeks and soft blue eyes that were round and open. He smiled at Alena from the time Marta had let him through the door and ushered him to his seat. He wore soft pink breaches and a tunic in the same pink color. He reminded Alena of new blossoms in spring time. His body was slight and feminine. Alena had a hard time picturing Alan doing any physical labor. Without even speaking to him, Alena crossed him off of her list of candidates. He would be at home in royal house but wouldn’t stand a chance on a farm or as a salt mine manager.

Alena spent a half hour with Alan and at the end of that time he realized they would be better off without each other. He told Alena he was the youngest of five sons and needed to find a place in the world but he thought a warmer place would suit him better. He was a sweet boy who told her riddles and jokes and he even sang her a love song he had written as a tribute and a way to sway her into his affections. He left practically skipping out the door like a carefree young girl in pigtails.

Alena now had a spare hour and a half in which she did some sewing on her wedding clothes. She was working on her shoes. They were made of soft kid leather that was smooth and flexible. The shoes would not be much use for walking but they would feel luxurious and look beautiful. She had finished cutting the pieces out and was in the process of embroidering the top pieces. She was using thread that had sat in berry dyes for four days so that the reds were very deep red and the blues rich and thick. She lost track of time in stitching the patterns of flowers and spirals.

Before she knew it, the next man on the list had arrived. She jumped when he pounded heartily on the door, opened it himself and called in a booming hello. He came striding in, big and jolly, with a face full of reddish brown hair, beard and mustache, bushy eyes brows and a full head of kinky hair all meeting in one unending mat of fur. His eyes were a soft brown, the color of mushrooms. He looked like he enjoyed his meat and bread and washed it down with many horns of mead. His nose was red and bulbous also attesting to his love of drink.

He towered over her when he strode to the fire place and staggered slightly before flopping into the chair. He introduced himself as Craig from Westfarm Rivers. He pronounced her appearance as good for breeding, noting that she seemed a strong girl. He needed a hard working woman to raise his two young sons as their mother had died giving birth to the second of the two. When Alena said that prospective candidates were not permitted to have current issue, he laughed it off as being a nonsense rule that couldn’t possibly apply to him. He called for a dish of beer just as Balder came with Detlef to escort him away and explain why Craig was no longer in the running as a possibility.

Since this interview did not take very long either, Marta set the table for a leisurely and unexpectedly long midday meal. Every one sat down together to enjoy roast venison, carrots, turnips, and onions followed by an apple strudel with warm clotted cream. They had plenty of time to enjoy themselves and eat in peace. Most midday meals were rushed to get back to work to finish the day’s chores, but this week was a special situation and the normal work schedule was suspended for a while.

After a quite happy meal, Alena went back to stitching on her shoes. She was now edging them in red and blue, alternating the colors to make stripes along the tops. She took her time to make each stitch the exact same length and width. People would be able to tell the care with which she had made them.

5

2006-12-01T12:08:00.000-05:00

When the sun was half way to setting for the day, the third man she was to talk with that day arrived. He knocked on the door with confidence and waited for it to be opened by Marta. Alena heard Marta gasp and she looked to see why Marta had made that sound. When she looked towards the door, Alena drew in her breath too. The man at the door blocked the light from the sun that normally shone in the doorway. He filled the space like a well built statue, the light of the sun causing shades where his well defined muscles dipped and rippled. He ducked so his head would not hit the top of the door jam.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch him. He said something to Marta that caused her to blush and to stammer some sort of response. Marta escorted him to the chair opposite Alena and asked him if he wished for some beer. He declined and thanked Marta for her offer. He then turned to Alena and asked her if he might be seated. She said yes and felt the urge to giggle.

This was Dierk of Iron Pines Hills, one of the most promising of the group. Dierk was twenty two, six foot two inches tall and broad and full of working muscles. His tunic, made of fine spun wool, fit tight across his shoulders and chest flaring out at his hips and thighs. His leggings were dyed a soft green, like the color of moss. His boots were sturdy thick leather that was worn comfortable from long use. His eyes were blue, his hair blonde, thick and smooth, tied back neatly at his neck. His face was shaved smooth, without the customary mustache.

When he spoke, his voice was deep, low and confident. He began by asking Alena about herself. He wanted to know about her life at Crabapple Farm growing up and about her parents. He seemed genuinely sorry for the loss of her mother and father and then for the loss of her husband, Konrad. He asked matter of fact information about the farm and she spent much time talking about the animals, produce and people that made up the property of that holding. He smiled when she laughed over the baby animals she had helped to deliver and her delight in how the stumbled and tumbled as they tried to walk.

Dierk asked about the town and asked her about her fellow townspeople. He asked particular questions about the number of houses and the people who occupied them. He asked about the fishermen and what they caught and how many boats they had. He wanted to know about the smithies and the carpenters. He marveled at how such as seemly small town could pack so much into such a small area. He listened intently as she explained how the houses were stack one upon another up the mountain side from the edge of the water. And he seemed fascinated by the operations of the saltmines. He commented that they seemed a very efficient and hard working bunch of people. He pronounced himself very impressed.

Their two hours had passed with Alena doing almost all of the talking. She had not asked any of her questions. Instead of knowing something about Dierk, she had told him her whole life’s story and all of the small details of both Deepshade and Crabapple Farm.

Dierk smiled at Alena as he rose to leave. He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. She stood to walk him to the door. She felt comfortable next to him. As he left and walked down to the boats to cross the lake to the town of Zell, he looked back and smiled at Alena, his white, even teeth flashing in the setting sun.

When Balder the Druid came to hear about her meetings, she realized she didn’t have much to report. Two of the men were already scratched off of the list. Their gifts would be returned and they would be sent on their way. Dierk seemed promising but Alena realized she didn’t know anything new about him. She liked the way he looked and moved. He would be able to handle any hard work but she didn’t know if he would be wiling to do that work. He made her feel special by asking her question and listening to everything she said, but she realized this could be a ploy to divert attention off of him self for some reason.

They decided they would put Dierk down for another meeting where Alena would be sure to ask all of the questions. She could not afford to allow her desires to get in the way of common sense. This was a business matter and had to be handled in the proper way.

Alena would learn from this meeting and be more conscious of her behavior in the next interviews. Balder did not tell Alena of the meeting the council had with the men they met today. They did not want to influence her thinking or her opinions. They would wait to see which men she chose as final candidates before giving their opinions.
Alena decided to take a stroll around the town before the evening meal. She felt stiff with sitting all day long. A walk would help her sleep better and get rid of some of the pent up energy she had been storing now for several days, She was used to working and all of this idleness was wearing on her. She walked briskly, swinging her arms back and forth, clapping her hands in front of her and behind her. The air was cool and invigorating. She felt the blood in her cheeks and began to feel hungry. She was glad to get back home, have a light meal and then go to bed. Tomorrow, there were three more men to meet.

Alena dreamt about Dierk. She had gone to Crabapple Farm to check on the harvest. On the road to the farm, her caravan had been attacked by masked bandits and she was carried off into the woods. They had bound and gagged her and slung her over the back of a horse in front of one of the riders. They rode through the woods for several hours, branches from the trees whipping at her back, arms and legs. Her chest and stomach were sore and bruised from the bouncing stride of the horse. She whimpered occasionally and she got a smack on the head for each of her outbursts.

By the time they stopped for the night, she fell to the ground in a pile and didn’t move, even when a piece of bread was placed in front of her. She lay still, trying not to cry out from her aches and wondered what had happened to all of the people that had been with her. Were they all dead? Was anyone able to send for help? What was going to happen to her?

Suddenly the forest was alive with the noise of men shouting and horses neighing. Torches flickered into the clearing, highlighting vignettes of drama. Swords clashed against each other and men yelled with pain when the swords struck flesh. Alena raised her head to see two men fighting fiercely by the camp fire. One of the men backed the other through the fire kicking up sparks and knocking burning logs into the brush. At one point, the fire flared up and Alena could see that the unmasked man was Dierk.

Alena felt a great surge of excitement that he had come to her rescue. He fought fiercely and Alena cheered him silently on. She willed his sword to connect with the dastardly coward who had stolen her and wasn’t even brave enough to show his face. Dierk pushed against his opponent forcing him to the ground and into the fire and coals. The man screamed in agony as his clothes burst into fire. The mask began to burn away from his face and Alena woke with a start when she saw her captor was Wolfram.

Alena shook all over and pulled her furs more tightly around her. She couldn’t imagine why now she would be having nightmares of Wolfram kidnapping her. She had not seen him in months. She told herself she was being silly and concentrated on the part of the dream where Dierk was rescuing her. Soon she was back to sleep and having happy thoughts.

The next morning, she had a vague sense of unease left over from the night but she was not sure why. She couldn’t quite remember her dreams, but she thought they had been good ones, so why the funny feelings. She felt a bit tired, too. Her nightgown was twisted around her body and her covers were all disarranged, a few even on the floor. She must have had a restless night’s sleep. There was no time to dwell on it, though. She had to get up and get moving. She had another day of interviews ahead of her.

Alena rinsed her face in the cold water in her wash bowl and scrub her skin dry. That helped her feel invigorated. She pulled all of her pelts back onto the bed and straightened them up. Marta came in and told her to stop cleaning up. Alena said she needed something useful to do.

“I need something useful to do.”

“You have your wedding clothes to finish.”

“That’s sitting down. I need to do something where I move and get some exercise.”

“Fine. I guess it wouldn’t hurt. It would save me some steps, so, if you want, you go right ahead.”

Alena went around the room, putting things in their place and even dusting off furniture. She made the bed. She restocked the fireplace with logs from the wood pile and went out to the back, in her nightdress, to get more wood for the pile in her room. Then she washed herself up again, dressed for the day, then took her wash basin out and dumped the water. She put the wash bowl back in her room after rinsing it out.

Then she undid the braids in her hair and tried to comb out the tangles. Time was running short, so Marta had her daughter Leni go over to Alena and finish combing Alena’s hair. After getting it all straight, Leni braided it back into one long braid. Leni went and fetched bread and butter for Alena to break her fast. After eating, it was time to wait for the first man of the day to arrive.

There was a knock at the door. When Marta opened it, Balder the Druid stood in the doorway all by himself. He came into the room, walked over to Alena and sat in the chair opposite her. He looked at the fire for a few minutes. Alena watched him with curiosity wondering why he was there alone. She waited patiently for him to speak. He cleared his throat and then looked her in the eyes.

“This morning, when I went to get Elsin, the man you were to meet with at this time, I knocked on his room door and received no answer.” Balder continued to look Alena in the eyes.

She felt quite disconcerted. He wasn’t blinking and seemed like he was trying to tell her something without putting it into words that he had to voice out loud. She couldn’t imagine what was going on and why she felt very afraid. Suddenly, memories of her nightmare came flooding back to her mind and she remembered being kidnapped by Wolfram. She shivered despite sitting so close to a burning fire. Balder nodded to Alena, like he was agreeing to the feelings flowing through her.

“I tried the door and it would not open. I went down to the innkeeper to see if there was a key to the door of Elson’s room. The innkeeper said none of his doors had locks so we were worried as to why the door would not open.” Balder stood up. “The innkeeper, his man and I went back upstairs to try the door again. Brian, the innkeeper, knocked on the door and got no answer either. We listened and heard no sounds. Brian pushed on the door and it did not budge. He stood back a moment and scratched his head. He pushed on the door again, this time at the top of the door. It moved in a bit at the top. He then pushed at the bottom of the door and it did not move.” Balder relayed the conversation as if they were there hearing it for the first time.

“There seems to be something blocking the door at the bottom,” Brian said. He shrugged at Balder and motioned for his man to join him at the door. “Help me push on the bottom of the door,” he told his man. The two men bent down and put their shoulders to the door. They shoved the door and it began to move. They could feel whatever was blocking the door move back as the door opened. After getting the door open enough to allow someone to walk through, they straightened up and all three men looked at the red smear on the floor. They looked at each other and looked at the floor. No one was eager to find out what this meant. It couldn’t be good.

Brian and his man were about to step into the room. Balder held them back by grabbing their sleeves.

“We should get the magistrate before we go any further,” said Balder. “This obviously is blood. If it is the blood of Elsin, we may need the magistrate to see everything from the beginning. It may be important that we let him see the room first. It may need to be explained officially.”

Brian thought Balder made sense. Brian sent, Joda, his man, to fetch Tomas the magistrate of Zell. Brian and Balder waited patiently in the hall, trying not to look at the blood on the floor. The men did not speak to each other. They had no idea what to say and did not want to think about what this could mean. They did not have long to wait before Tomas arrived.

6

2006-12-01T12:07:00.002-05:00

Tomas was a tall man and with long limbs that looked less strong than they were. People that did not know him were fooled by his lanky appearance. They were often fooled by his smiling face, too. Tomas was normally very friendly and jovial until you did something that disturbed his peace. Then he was no nonsense and all business and many a man has found himself spending the night in the ice house over night for making Tomas work.
Tomas came up the stairs, looked at both Balder and Brian and said a curt hello. Balder motioned to the door and to the floor. Tomas walked up to the door slowly and looking all around the area before getting too close.

“Can you two please move back down the hall a few paces?” Tomas waited for them to move out of his way. Then, he searched the floor, looked at the walls on both sides of the door and the wall over the door. Only then did he look down at the floor just inside the room.

“This is definitely blood. It is dry in some places but slightly wet in spots. There is a larger, deeper amount just in front of the doorway where it then smeared back into the room.” Tomas stepped into the room by stepping over the blood stains. The other three men stayed where they were in the hall. Tomas closed the door. For a few minutes all was quiet and then they could hear Tomas moving around the room. He was very quiet but they could hear the floor boards creak as he moved around.

The sun shifted to shine in the window that was in this hallway. The light shone in as a shaft that highlighted the dust moats dancing in the air. The sounds of the town were much louder with people in the streets calling to each other. There was laughter that made its way up the stairs. A woman in the first floor hall giggled loudly and the sound grated on their nerves and seemed very out of place.

Balder began to recite the creation story to pass the time. He didn’t know what Brian and Joda were thinking to help pass the time for them, but Balder was almost done repeating his story in his mind when the door to the room was opened slowly by Tomas.

“This is not something we are used to seeing here in Zell,” he said. “Before I let you in, I must tell you that there are two dead bodies in that room. Both of them are men. I will need to see if you can tell me who they are.”

“There should only be one man in that room,” said Brian. “I only let the room to one man. I only rented the room to Elsin.”

“You will need to look to see if one of the two men is this Elsin you speak of.”

“I’m not going in there.” Brian backed away from the doorway.

“I need you to try to tell me who these men are, Brian,” said Tomas.

“No.” Brian began to shake slightly.

Balder watched Brian and say a fear in his face.

“I can see if I know them,” said Balder. “I have met Elsin and I may recognize the other man.”

“That should do.” Tomas stepped to the door and placed his hand on it but did not push it open yet. “Brian, have your man get together two stretchers and three other men to help carry the bodies to the icehouse.”

Brian nodded and he and Joda left to complete their errands.

“When we go inside, try not to step in the blood,” Tomas told Balder. “There is a lot all over the room. Be careful how you move throughout the room. Watch your tunic. You may want to gather it together to keep it out of the mess.”

Tomas pushed open the door and entered the room. Balder followed him in. Balder stepped over the blood by the door and then was amazed at the blood all over the rest of the room. There was blood on the floor, the walls and the sparse furniture. It looked like a slaughter house. Balder looked beg=hind the door and he saw that it was Elsin. He saw that Elsin’s body was naked and cut and stabbed in many places. His face had been slashed about ten times in many directions. Balder had never seen anything like it. From the door area where Elsin lay in a piled up heap, pushed together by the opening of the door, a line of blood trailed back to the bed where Balder could see a bloody mess laid across it.

He walked closer to the bed and saw that this too was a man and he was also unclothed. He lay face down in the bed. His upper body was on the bed but his legs trailed onto the floor. The man’s brown hair was caked in blood but Balder could not see any marks on this man’s back, just blood.

Tomas turned this body over and Balder gasped. This man was Vix, another of the men that Alena was to meet with but not until the last day. He was the thirteenth man on the list. This was not what caused Balder’s surprise though. Now Balder could see where all of the blood had come from. Vix’s penis had been ripped off and stuffed in his mouth. He had also been stabbed in the chest several times, but Balder could not tell which injuries had come first.

“What do you say about these men? Do you know them?”

“Yes, the man by the door is Elsin, who rented this room.” Balder took a deep breath. “This man here is Vix from Land’s End.”

“So, he is another of the men in your contest?”

“It is not really a contest, but yes, he is one of the thirteen.”

“I have looked around the room and have discovered several things and have not found others which I would have thought to have found.”

“What did you not find, Tomas?”

“There is no knife in the room.”

“But there must be one. Where would it be?”

“I think there must have been another person in this room who took the knife with him. I think this was also the person who killed both Elsin and Vix.”

“What would make you say that?”

“Elsin and Vix were lovers. They did not have a fight. Their clothes were placed neatly in a pile together on that back stool in the back of the room. Their clothes are together, not in separate piles. That shows me a certain kind of closeness.”

Balder looked to the spot that Tomas indicated.

“That makes sense.”

“Their being lovers does not disturb you?”

“No, I do not find it unusual. Maybe around here, but these men were not from around here. Do you think they knew each other before coming here?”

“That is something we will look into. But I think I can safely say that Vix was attacked first based on the kind of wounds he had. Elsin looks like he was stabbed and killed trying to save or protect Vix. He moved towards the bed where Vix was killed and then he moved towards the door after he received his wounds.”

“With so much going on here, I am surprised no one else in the inn heard anything.”

“This is another thing that we must find out.” Tomas picked up the clothes of both of the men and the bag that was on the floor by the stool. “Do you know where Vix had his rooms?”

“I believe he had a room with Master Blacksmith. I think there was some sort of relationship there.”

“I will go speak with him.”

“What do you think happened here?”

“I think someone came in here and killed them both and I think he was angry when he did it.”

Alena was amazed at Balder’s story. She sat in her chair by her warm fire in her secure hall and wondered how two big men could be murdered in an inn across the lake. She couldn’t get her mind around it all. And it looked like Balder was having a hard time comprehending it also.

“Do you think this could have anything to do with the attack on Karl?” asked Alena.

Balder looked at her startled and wary.

“What would make you think that?”

“It just seems odd that all of these attacks are happening now, when nothing has happened before.”

“I think it must be a coincidence. They are very different kind of attacks after all.”

“I guess you are right. They are very different.”

“Yes, these attacks in Zell seem very personal, like the attack was against these men in particular, where the attack on Karl was a group of bandits for profit.”

“I see what you mean, now that you explain them.”

Alena and Balder sat in silence for a while. Then, Balder coughed.

“What am I thinking?” said Alena. “Marta, please bring us two bowls of beer.”

“It is awful early, ma’am.” Marta scowled her disapproval at the early hour for libations.

“Normally, I would agree, but these are special circumstances. Please, just bring us some, Marta.”

Marta brought over the drinks and noticed blood on Balder’s tunic as she set the bowls down on the table near them.

“Sir, you have blood on your shirt. Are you hurt?”

“Not I, Marta. I am perfectly fine, but there are others who have not fared as well.”

“Marta, I will speak to you later and explain.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Marta moved off back to her work.

“What do we do now?” asked Alena.

“We must go on. There is nothing we can d for these men and the living must live.” Balder drank his beer in one long gulp. “You have several hours before the next man is to arrive. Do you need something to help you through the rest of the day?”

“No, I am fine. I may just go for a walk though, to refresh my self.”

“You do that. I will go to the council and tell them what has happened.” Balder rose to go. He stumbled over his own feet in his preoccupation of thought, bumping into the table and knocking the bowl to the ground where it shattered into many pieces.

Marta and Leni rushed over to clean up. Balder stuttered his apologies to them all and left. He seemed more upset now than when he had first come to tell her about his morning activities.

While the women cleaned up Balder’s mess, Alena told them briefly and without too much detail about the deaths of Elsin and Vix. Leni gasped at all of the appropriate places but Marta said nothing until Alena was done. Then, Marta stood, fists on hips and head cocked to one side. She thought for a minute.

“That’s four out of five men gone from the list. Sort of narrowing the field, I guess.”

“What do you mean, Marta?” Alena was shocked.

“Right now there is only one man in the running. I wonder if anything will happen to knock more of them off of the list.”

“Don’t be silly. Who would kill those men just so they couldn’t place their suit before me?” Alena shivered and remembered her nightmare.

7

2006-12-01T12:07:00.001-05:00

Alena did not feel more refreshed and invigorated from her walk. She sat down in her chair, after removing her light cloak and hanging it on its peg. She tried to finish the embroidery on her wedding shoes but a great sense of listless enveloped her. She found herself staring off into space several times with now clear thoughts in her mind. She finally gave up pretending to be busy and just sat there waiting for the next person to arrive.

Felix arrived early and in such an exuberant mood that he put everyone on edge. He burst through the door unannounced and sat himself down in front of Alena without introductions. He immediately called for wine and was told by Marta in a stern tone (that he missed) that there was no wine to be had.

“No wine?” He jumped to his feet and began pacing about the room. “We certainly will need to change that. A good household should come equipped with the best of everything. Madam, how can you allow such neglect?”

“Sir,” Alena replied, “wine does not travel to our little outpost very well and we do not have the room to store it if it did.” She motioned him back to his seat. “As I am sure you noticed we certainly have no room to grow our own here.”

“Yes, now I understand.” He plopped into the chair.

“We have an excellent beer. I think you will it quite nice.” Alena directed Marta to pass Felix a bowl of beer.

Felix looked at the ceramic bowl from several angles before drinking. It was clear he found the accommodations lacking. He grimaced after sipping the beer and pronounced it fair but said he had always found beer too heavy for his taste.

Alena chuckled to herself. Felix was a big man in height and girth. It was clear from looking at him that he ate and drank well beyond his needs. His face was florid and the redness extended to his ear lobes which stuck out like the handles of a pot. His hair was the color and texture of straw and was cut in some many layers that it stuck out in many places and at very odd angles. His weight did not prevent him from bouncing around the room. He had a manic sort of energy that caused him to stand up at inappropriate times and then fall into the chair as if exhaustion had taken over for a brief moment. His speech was as erratic as his behavior and soon everyone within eye and ear shot were rubbing at the headaches they were acquiring. His clothes were very expensive but did not fit him well. They pulled in some spots and hung loosely in others. They looked as if they had been made for someone else who had tossed them to Felix without even wearing them once.

“I can tell you, this place needs a good cleaning up,” Felix announced to the room on one of his energy highs.

“I beg your pardon,” said Alena. She felt like she could barely contain her temper.

“This town, the town across the lake: they need cleaning up. I can tell you I would not put up with all of these people getting killed under my watch.” He banged his fist on the fire place mantel. “I would do away with men fornicating together. And unmarried people fornicating would be stopped, too.” He pounded his fist again. “I will instigate inspections of the inns by the magistrate to keep people in their own rooms. I’ll be buggered if I would allow these shenanigans could go on while I’m around.”

He went on to decry the behavior of Elsin and Vix in great detail. He spoke as if he knew of their relationship and he was an intimate acquaintance of both men yet he claimed not to have known they were lovers. He gave details of the death scene that were in direct contradiction to what Balder had told Alena. According to Felix, both men were found in the bed together, entwined in a lovers’ embrace and they were both stabbed in the back.

Alena did her best to look like she was listening, but she was reaching the end of her tolerance levels. She reminded herself that the council had suggested she never say or do anything to anger or embarrass any of the men as it would reflect badly on them all. If any of them needed discipline, control or chastising, she was to leave it to Balder in particular or one of the other council members. She should always appear open, friendly and impartial. She had agreed to this plan in the beginning not knowing how hard it would be to remain genial to such an oaf.

Just when she thought she could take this baboon no longer, Detlef arrived to take Felix away for a hunt. As soon as Felix saw Detlef, he forgot all about Alena and even walked away from her in the middle of a sentence he was speaking. He linked his arm with Detlef and he began chattering about what kind of animals he preferred to kill. Detlef looked back at Alena and winked as he escorted Felix out of the door.

Everyone in the room let out a collective sigh of relief and began chattering like Felix, a few mimicking his speech patterns and conversation while the others laughed heartily.

“I think he would make a fine husband,” said Alena. “He will watch our every move and chastise our behavior and then go out and kill all of our animals.” This announcement received more laughter. “Wine, wine, bring me wine,” she mimicked. She spun around and clapped her hands. On turning around she saw there in the doorway, Felix had returned for his cap. His face was a deep red and his eyes were narrowed in anger. The room became completely still.

Detlef pulled Felix back out of the door forcefully. It took him several tugs before Felix would move. He finally allowed himself to be dragged out of the house, but he remained long enough for Alena to know that she had created an enemy. He might not be very bright, she thought to herself, but he seemed like he could be quite dangerous. She had no doubts that he would broadcast his complaint loud and clear throughout the region.

Alena felt bad that she had gotten caught performing such childish behavior and setting such a poor example for her people. Yet, she couldn’t feel too bad; the man really was a fool. The question would be how dangerous a fool would he turn out to be?

All they could do now was wait and see. Hopefully, Detlef would be able to undo the damage she had caused. A few dead animals and a great deal of beer might be enough to at least convince Felix not to say anything bad about her and the towns. Alena was sure they had lost another one, though, which was good because she would never have been able to stomach Felix.

Six of the thirteen men had been initially addressed: two were dead, two were uninterested, one was intolerable and one was a good possibility. She wondered what the other seven would bring. She had one more man to meet today and several hours before she had to do so. Alena decided she needed a nap to try and get rid of the headache that threatened to take over her brain.

She asked Marta to make her a cup of chamomile tea with honey and bring it in to her. Alena went to her room, shut the door and stripped down to her chemise. She got into bed, propping her pillows up so se could sit. She wound her hair up and tied it to the top of her head with a ribbon of cloth. Marta came in with her tea and gave it to her. Alena sat sipping the tea for a few minutes then put the cup on the stool by her bed, laid her head back and fell sound asleep.

Before she knew it, Marta was in Alena’s room and shaking her awake. Alena woke slowly. She did not feel rested. While she did not remember having any dreams, she felt like her sleep was disturbed none the less.

Marta had brought in fresh cold water to help Alena revive herself. Alena slashed the water on her face, neck and chest. The brisk, wetness woke her up quickly. She put on a fresh chemise, put her gown back on and let her braids back down. She pinched her cheeks to get some color back into them and went back out into the communal hall. She sat down and picked up her embroidery just as a knock came to the door. Alena took a deep, steadying breath and nodded to Marta to open the door.

Leni dropped a ceramic bowl. One of the men cursed under his breath. Marta stood at the door with her mouth hanging open.

In the threshold of the door stood the most beautiful man any of them had ever seen. He was also a man that none of them recognized. He also had a slave’s torque around his neck. He stood in the door way, waiting, obviously used to this kind of reaction. A quirky, wry smile barely curled his lips. He waited patiently to be asked in. Finally Marta came to her senses and asked his business.

He spoke so quietly that his responses could not be heard by any one else in the room. Marta giggled. She turned around to Alena, cheeks pink, hand on her chest.

“He is come from his master to say that Georg, his master, will be a few minutes late. Georg has sent this man to tell us a story until Georg can arrive.”

“Pray, Marta, let the man enter the house,” said Alena.

Marta giggled again. She showed the slave to the chair by Alena and motioned for him to sit. He arched an eyebrow at her and she blushed.

“I do not think it would be fitting for me to sit in the lady’s presence,” he said.

Alena nodded.

“What is your name?” she asked him.

“You may call me Greydere.” He stood quietly in front of Alena, looking serenely in her eyes in a way that was very direct for a slave. “Do you wish me to tell you a story?”
“I think we could all use some distraction,” Alena said. “What kind of story will you tell us?”

“One filled with love and tragedy and comedy, of course.” Greydere stood quite still by the fireplace mantel, poised as if he were on stage. His long arms hung comfortably by his sides, his hands large but with fine even fingers ending in clean, manicured nails. His gaze took in the entire room, eyes moving slowly from person to person, mesmerizing each one until he or she had stopped moving and paid attention to him intently.

Greydere had black hair that curled around his face and at the nape of his neck, reminding Alena of the dark indigo of a raven’s wings. His eyes that held everyone entranced glittered with a cornflower blue surrounded by long black eye lashes. When he spoke, his well defined lips moved slowly and deliberately over clean white even teeth.

“Once upon a time, long before our fathers and their fathers walked the earth a giant lived within the depths of these mountains.”

The people of the hall moved closer to the fire to hear Greydere’s story. The younger ones sat on the floor and men pulled up stools for the women.

“The giant slept quietly in his den below the earth until one day when a brash young boy stumbled upon his bed.

The boy, whose name was Jared, did not know a giant slept in the caverns into which Jared had gone seeking his fortune. Jared simply searched for a treasure to bring his family out of poverty and to marry the girl he loved.

Jared packed his sack, carried with him extra arrows and flint knives and packed his fire starting coals in a pouch lined with moss. He also put extra fur liners for his leather boots in his sack along with a fur cape to line his cloth cape. He had leather covering that he could put over top of himself to keep out the rain and damp. A spare pair of leggings and two spare shirts completed his clothing supplies. He would need to keep his food supplies limited because of their weight and the space they would take up. He would have to trust his hunting and gathering abilities to keep himself fed. He would carry dried venison with him for those times, like in the caves, when he thought he might not find food. He would take some willow bark for pain, and chamomile as an antiseptic just in case he got hurt. A double thick wool cloth would serve as a blanket and an added cape if it got really cold. With these items packed, rolled and tied to his sack, he felt ready to go on his journey.

8

2006-12-01T12:06:00.001-05:00

His family stood around him at daybreak on the day he left. His mother, Falicia, old beyond her years from worry, hard work and child bearing, cried and moaned about her first born leaving her to go seek his fortune. While she hoped he would come back rich, she did not believe in a golden treasure; she only knew hard work.

Next to his mother stood his father, Pontid, crippled from a fall five years ago, hunched over crutches under each arm pit, his knees pointing in, his feet pointing out in opposite directions. He had a defeated and sad look permanently on his face, depressed that his wife and children had to keep him clothed and fed. Jared’s father had tried to kill himself three times over the last five years and had so far been unsuccessful, but he kept trying and had to be watched carefully. Jared was afraid that at some point, his mother would be too tired and exhausted to keep watch. He feared this was what his father waited for, too. Jared’s father looked Jared in the eyes and gave him a nod. Jared walked up to him and gave him a hug.

“Hold on until I get back,” Jared told his father. “It will be better, you’ll see. Do it for me.” Jared looked his father deep in the eyes, but did not get the reassurance he wanted. His father just nodded at him, again. “I will take that as your promise,” said Jared.

Jared had five brothers and two sisters. The oldest, a boy, Stebin, took after their dark father, already showing signs of a beard and with black hair and black eyes, was two years younger than Jared at fourteen and the youngest, a girl, blonde and blue eyed like their mother, named Lucia, was five. These two along with the other boys, Greco, thirteen, Donid, ten, Halbert, eight and Kenid, six and the oldest girl, Catin at eleven, stood around Jared alternating between complete silence and all of them talking at once. Jared hugged each in turn, even Stubin who wanted to leave it at a manly punch on the shoulder.

“Take care of each other and our parents,” Jared said. “I expect you to do your chores everyday without complaint and when I return, we will hire others to do the work for us.” Jared’s brothers and sisters cheered loudly at this announcement.

“We will keep the home fires burning,” said Catin. She gave Jared one of her beautiful impish grins. She took after their father in hair and eyes, both black as coal, but her skin was fair and white like their mother’s. Both of Jared’s sisters, though very different in appearance, were the most beautiful girls in the region. Jared wanted to find his treasure before his sisters’ beauty faded and died they way his mother’s had.

“We will maintain the old homestead,” said Stubin. He gave Jared a double thumbs up and grinned. Stubin had brooding good looks that radiated vitality and strength and lit up a room when he smiled. Stubin told the best jokes and always kept everyone one laughing. Jared wanted to make sure that his brother never lost his sense of humor.

Each of the children were very fetching in appearance and with money behind them, they would all be able to marry up in station, thus ensuring the prosperity of the family for generations to come. Jared himself was a more contrasting combination of his parents in both looks and temperament. He had black hair, smooth and deep as raven’s wings, like his father, along with his father’s intelligence and daring. He had his mother’s crystal blue eyes and her pixyish humor that kept everyone going even in their darkest times.

Jared was well satisfied that his brothers and sisters would work hard as always while he was gone. They were in good spirits and he hoped it was enough to counteract the dull and down faces of his parents. He promised himself he would not be gone long, so that he could get back and make all of their lives easier.

Last for “fare thee wells” was Jared’s betrothed, Rosamund. Jared and Rosamund had been friends since they were toddlers and totally inseparable their whole lives. They were the exact same age, born the same year on the same day, May first. At sixteen, Rosamund was old to be yet unwed, but no one would dream of separating Jared and Rosamund. Rosamund had thick blonde hair but she had green eyes and no one knew where the green eyes had come from. Jared always told Rosamund that she was especially bless by the Oak Gods, for green was their favorite color. Rosamund was raised by a family totally unrelated to her. No one knew who her father was. Her mother had stumbled into town one day, pregnant and already in labor. She had fallen against the first door she had come to. The good wife Sossa and her good husband Harolt opened the door to see Rosamund’s mother in agony. They carried her into their home, placed her to bed and Sossa, a midwife, helped pull Rosamund into the world while her mother died. They never knew the name of Rosamund’s mother as the only sounds she uttered were birthing screams. Sossa and Harolt, never having children of their own, buried Rosamund’s mother, had a naming ceremony for the baby girl they now found themselves with, calling her Rosamund after the Rose Moon shining that May first and raised the girl as their own. Rosamund’s mother had brown eyes.

Sossa had delivered Felicia of her first born boy three hours before Rosamund came into the world, thus making Jared older than Rosamund, a fact of which he reminded her whenever he felt the need to boss Rosamund around. Of course, she never listened to Jared, as she was head strong and determined and more often than not, right. When Jared told Rosamund that he wanted to marry her and that he needed to seek his fortune before he could do so, Rosamund told him he would be successful beyond his wildest dreams. Rosamund’s positive, encouraging outlook on life was one of the things Jared loved most about her. She gave him the courage to want to go out and slay dragons. She also believed in all of his wildest dreams making him feel like a god.

She stood bravely in front of him, on the day of his leaving, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. They just looked at each other for many minutes, memorizing their faces for the days and nights ahead when they would be alone.

They recited their usual sayings of goodbye.

“I will not be gone long,” said Jared.

“I will think of you until I see your face again,” replied Rosamund.

“I will dream of you until you are once again before me.”

“It is almost next time.”

Then they fell into each other’s embrace and held each other for a long while, not speaking.

Jared broke away from Rosamund and turned away from her before he changed his mind and decided not to leave. They had never been apart except for at night to go to their separate homes. He knew he was going to be very lonely without her. He wanted her to come with him and she wanted to come also, but they decided that since she was with child it would be best for her to stay home. At least he knew that if he did not come back, he would live on in his child, but he did not want his child to be fatherless and poor. He needed to find the fabled treasure.

He walked away from his family, waving to them as they waved and cheered him on his way. He kept looking back at them until he rounded the bend in the path that led up the mountain. Then, he faced forwarded and strode on with a determined step.

The sun was on its way to mid-day, but with two more hours to go. The day was clear and bright with little wind. Just enough of a breeze blew to keep him cool when the sun got too hot for him. He had only his shirt on right now. He wouldn’t put on any of his other close until dark and when he got further up into the mountains.

For a while, he sang and whistled a tune his mother hang sung to him as a child. Then he just listened to the birds twittering and small animals scampering through the brush. When the sun was directly overhead, Jared sat on a fallen tree trunk and sipped some of the water from the bladder he carried at his waste. At this time, he did not need to take care of his water. He knew there were several streams on the way to the opening of the caves. Right now he only need carry enough to get him up to the peaks. Before going into the caves he would fill the bladder he drank from now plus the other two that were empty right now.

From this resting point Jared looked down the mountain and he could see the tops of the village huts and houses. He could see his family’s hut on the edge of the marsh. Rosamund’s house was three houses in from his. There were twelve other homes in their village of Thorntown. He missed the village already.

Jared got up and started moving again before he had a change of heart. He started telling himself about the treasure again. Gold coins, gold and silver chains, torques and platters, uncut gems, some the size of his fist all waited for the soul brave enough to go and get it. He remembered the day the traveling story teller came to them. He told them many exciting tales and Jared listened carefully and enjoyed them. But when the man told of the treasure Jared really paid attention. When the tales were done for the evening, Jared went to the man whose name was Beando, and Jared asked Beando to tell him the treasure story again. Beando obliged, adding more details than when he originally told the story.

Beando told Jared the treasure was hidden in these very mountains that rose up from Jared’s village. They were deep in a cavern, across a saline lake, placed there by a king of long ago and then forgotten when the king died before he could retrieve his treasure. Beando told Jared that the cave entrance was at the base of the very last peak of the mountain just before the snow glaciers, where the trees stop growing and only scrub grass covered the rocks. After entering the cave, all one needed to do was to follow the single small stream that led down the natural stairs within the cave until the stream became the lake. Once someone swam across the freezing cold salt lake within the caverns, the treasure would be sitting on the other side when they got out of the water. Getting the treasure back would be easier than reaching it as it sat in the boat the old king used to put it there. And once back across the lake the boat acted as a sledge to get the treasure back down the mountain.

Jared had asked Beando why Beando had not gone after the treasure. Beando said he had no need for such riches and just as soon would leave it for a young man who had a future and big dreams. Jared told Beando, that he, Jared, was just such a man. Beando said he thought Jared just might be the one to do it. Jared wanted to know why no one else had gone looking for the treasure and Beando told him no one else believed the story. Beando also told Jared that for a silver piece now, Beando would tell Jared a special secret that would make retrieving the treasure easier. Jared thought a silver piece invested now was well worth a huge treasure for the future, so Jared ran home and got his savings and gave the silver piece to Beando. Beando leaned into Jared and whispered into Jared’s ear. Jared’s eyes were wide with astonishment and wanted to ask Beando what the secret meant. Beando told Jared he could not explain, but when the time came, Jared would know what it meant. And Beando reminded Jared to keep the secret a secret or its power would vanish when Jared needed it most.

So, Jared kept his secret but made plans to go after the treasure. At first, every one thought he was crazy. The only person that believed in him was Rosamund. The others still thought he was crazy but they became resigned to his going as he gathered the things he would need for his trip. Now here he was on his way to the last mountain peak. It would take him three days to get to the top.

He was passing the spot where the blueberries grew. There were still many on the bushes, so he stopped and ate his fill. When he had eaten enough for now he picked more to go with whatever meat he caught for the night. He filled one of his empty pouches then began walking again. This part of the mountain was fairly easy going. The path was well worn as this was the same way the shepherds went for summer pastures. They had already come down as snows were threatening to fall in the mountains.

Jared would camp at the first alpine hut tonight. It would still be light enough by the time he got there for him to place one the traps always kept there and to look for wood for a fire. By the time he got a good fire going, he should have something caught to eat. A nice mountain hare would make a great roast to go with his blueberries.

Jared was thinking himself into a good hunger so he picked up his pace. He reached the hut in record time and with plenty of daylight left. Jared placed his pack in the hut. He took one of the small game traps that hung on a hook from the hut’s wall. Jared went out into the bush and using some of the blueberries as bait, he set the trap. Then he went to the woods on the other side of the clearing to look for fire wood. There was plenty of wood to be had lying all over. Jared made four trips to get wood so that he’d have enough to cook his food and keep himself warm all night, plus there would be extra for the hut’s stores. He would burn plenty of wood tonight and stay very comfortable because he did not know how many comfortable nights he would have on this journey.

After getting a good fire roaring in the pit, Jared went back to check his trap and he had a big fat hare in the noose. Jared cut the rabbit down and took it to the stream that ran behind the hut. There he skinned the animal and skewered it on a branch. He took the hare back to the fire and put it on the spit. While the rabbit roasted, he went back and cleaned the hare’s skin then stretched it on one of the frames he found leaning on the side of the hut. He checked his fire and his roast, went back to the creek to clean his tools and himself and then went back to the hut. By this time it was dark so he sat by his fire waiting for the rabbit to finish cooking.

Jared didn’t have long to wait for his dinner. He took the rabbit off of the fire and pulled it apart. He enjoyed his fill of the hare with his blueberries for afters. He had plenty of both to break his fast in the morning. He covered the outside fire pit with dirt to put out the fire. He brought the remainder of his food inside the hut, closed the door and hooked the rope latch over the peg on the door frame.

Jared hung his leftover food from the rafters. He added wood to the gently glowing coals in the fire pit. He laid his leather cape over the relatively fresh straw in the sleeping corner, laid himself down and covered himself with his woolen cape. He was asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

9

2006-12-01T12:03:00.000-05:00

Jared’s dreams were filled with shining sun bright gold. He slept well until morning when he dreamt of being smashed under boulders being tossed at him from the top of the mountain. He woke in a fright and it took a moment for him to realize he was safe in the shepherds’ hut. He rolled out from under his covers, added wood to his fire and peeked out of the door. It was still dark without any sign that the sun was ready to rise. He got back under his cape, laid his head down and slept some more. He did not have any more dreams of avalanches.

A little while later, he woke very refreshed. He gathered his belongings together and packed up. He ate more of his cooked hare and a hand full of blue berries. He saved a haunch for his midday meal, wrapping it in leather and putting it away in his pack. He covered the fire in dirt and dowsed it with water. Satisfied that it was out, he went down to the stream and refilled his water bag. He came back to the hut and gathered his belongings. He set out up the trail on his second day of his quest.

The path got steeper on this section of his hike. Rocks and gravel made up the bed of the trail and the trees became made up more of spruce with fewer leaf trees. Jared was coming up to the part of the mountain where the cougars had their haunts. He became more cautious and kept his ears peeled for rustling in the trees and brush. He hiked through the morning without seeing any animals at all. He stopped for a break as the sun began its downward cycle towards night. He ate the rest of his rabbit and berries. He drank some of his water, splashing some on his face as the sunshine up this high made him hot and sweaty.

Jared began walking again. The incline continued to rise but he was very happy with how uneventful his trip was. If things continued in this fashion, he thought to himself, he’d be back home and rich in no time. By the time the sun began to set, he was almost to the tree line. From where he was now, he could see where the trees stopped growing and there was only scrub grass and bushes. He had about an hour to go before getting there. It wasn’t far now and when he got there another hut was waiting for him for the night. This would be the last man made shelter he would have on the trip.

While he was thinking about his break for the night, he heard a sound off to his left. He stopped to listen more carefully because he wasn’t sure if he had actually heard anything. He did hear movement in the bushes; first slow and quiet rustling, and then a rush of noise, with breaking branches and a bark.

A small black bear, probably not even six months old dashed out of the woods, running and jumping without a care in the world. Jared stood stock still, staring at it, barely breathing. The cub ran out onto the path and skidded to a halt barely ten feet away from Jared. They stood looking at each other, neither of them moving. Jared tried looking out of the corners of his eyes to see if he could find the mother. He didn’t see anything but she couldn’t be far behind. He wondered what he should do.

The cub took one tentative step towards Jared. Jared took a step back. The cub took three steps forward as Jared stepped back and fell over backwards landing on his ass and hitting his head on the ground. He passed out. He woke up to the cold and damp on his face. The cub was licking him around the mouth and on his nose. Jared yelled out in fright and surprise, startling the cub that yelped and scrambled back away from Jared. Jared pushed himself up on his elbows and then sat up. Once he was upright again and rubbing the bump on his head, he looked across the path and saw the cub’s mother just nosing out of the woods.

She came out of the trees sniffing the air. The cub sat down next to Jared. The mother bear stood on her hind legs and bellowed to the sky, raising her front legs up and waving them like she was shaking her fists at Jared. Jared tried to quietly shoe the cub to his mother but he wasn’t moving. He sat by Jared like a trained dog. The mother bounced down on all four legs and called angrily to her cub who just sat there with its tongue lolling out. Jared crawled slowly backwards, inches at a time. The cub swung its head from its mother to Jared, looking back and forth between them. Jared kept moving away from the cub and so far the mother was not moving forward.

Just when Jared thought he’d be able to get away without any more troubles, the cub moved towards him which made the mother start running towards them. Jared jumped up, dropping his sack and ran back down the path. He could hear the cub following him and the mother bear following them both. Then all he could hear was the sound of his won labored breathing. Jared turned his head to see how far the bears were behind him. He couldn’t see them so he turned the top half of his body to get a better look while he continued to run. This caused him to overbalance so awkwardly that he fell again, tumbling head over heels.

When he finally righted himself, Jared looked back up the path to the two bears ripping his back pack apart. Jared figured they could smell the dried meat he had stored in his bag. Jared could do nothing. He had to sit there and wait for them to tear his things apart and hope they didn’t destroy things too badly.

The sun was almost down when the bears left Jared’s things and sauntered off into the woods for the night. Jared waited some minutes more to be sure they were not coming back. He got up and made his way back up the path. He had lost precious time because of the bears. He had also lost very important supplies due to their attack. With hardly any light left by which to see, Jared gathered as much of his things as he could find and tried to pack them back in his pack. He had an hour trek to the next hut, but he felt it would be best to get there and start a fire and see how things really stood at this point.

He set off at a brisk pace, hurrying his way along, trying to get to the hut as soon as possible, stumbling several times on the way. He finally reached the hut and was thankful that someone had left wood in a pile out back. He put his belongings inside and then went and got two arm loads of wood. He found his flints in his pack and had to strike it many times before he got some sparks going. Finally a fire blazed in the hut’s in door fire pit. Jared was warming up and reviewing his aches and pains. His head hurt where he had fallen and hit it on the ground. He had scraped hands and bruised knees. But other than these few injuries he was relatively unhurt considering he could have been torn apart by the bear’s claws. The thing that bothered him most now that he was out of immediate danger was his hunger. He would have to go to bed with his stomach growling because he had no more rabbit and no dried food and it was too dark to try to look for berries (even though he knew he was too high in the mountains for berries) or to hunt for small game.

His ordeal made him tired and sleepy. He pulled out his leather cape a spread it out on the ground to warm by the fire. Then he went out back and hauled in more wood so at least he could stay warm all night if not well fed. Once he thought he had enough wood, he closed the door tight and put on the rope latch. He added more wood to the fire, wrapped his wool cape around himself and lay down for sleep. He would check his belongings in the morning in the light. He may even need to go back down to where he met the bears if he was missing some key items. Soon his exhaustion had him snoring away until morning.

Jared woke the next morning to the sounds of hawks calling over head. He ached all over. He put wood on the embers in the pit and got the fire going again. He sat and stretched out, trying to get rid of the kinks and tight muscles. He felt every bump and bruise all along his legs, butt and arms. Then his stomach made a very loud sound. The first thing he needed to do was to get food. Once he had eaten then he could think of where he stood.

He still had his bow and two of the twenty arrows he had left home with. He was a pretty good shot, but still he hoped that two arrows would get him what he needed. He had not expected to be in such a bad situation so early in his trip. Stringing up his bow, he went out to a clear bright morning. He looked around to get his bearings. The hawks he had heard earlier were perched atop their own trees, just looking down upon their kingdom. Jared didn’t want to have to compete with such excellent hunters, so he hoped they had gotten their fill the night before.

Jared set off into the woods, moving stealthily, watching the placement of his feet so he did not snap any twigs and scare off any potential prey. After walking about a half hour, he found a good spot to hunker down and hide in some bushes, allowing any animals to come his way so he did not have to go too far away from the hut.

He squatted down, bow and arrows at the ready and waited. Luckily he did not have long to wait. A rabbit crossed his path not too far in front of him. He took aim, pulled back and got his arm caught in a branch behind him. The arrow flew off course and the rabbit bolted. Jared knocked his second arrow quickly, aimed and shot again. This arrow nicked the rabbit in the rear, but it kept on going. Jared dropped his bow and took off after the rabbit. He was desperately hungry and that made him fast. He lunged at the rabbit and just barely got it by one of its hind legs. He pulled his flint knife from his belt and slit the rabbit’s throat. He tied the rabbit to his belt with leather thongs.

Jared followed his trail back the way he had come to retrieve his two arrows and his bow. He wended his way back to the hut. On the way back, he saw a pheasant in the brush ahead of him. He fit an arrow in his bow and let it fly. He got the bird clean in the neck. It dropped over dead. Jared now had a choice of two meats for his meals. It would still be a long while before he ate. He hurried even more now to get back to his camp.

Jared cut up part of the rabbit and skinned it. The piece was just large enough to feed his hunger now. He got it on the fire so it could begin cooking. While the rabbit piece cooked, he cleaned the rest of the rabbit and plucked the pheasant. By the time he had done all of that the sun stood high in the sky and his meal was done. He ate heartily, finally breaking his fast and no longer feeling like a starving man. Once he was satiated, he spitted the uncooked meat and placed it over the fire. He collected more wood from the edges for the forest where he could keep an eye on his food. When he had enough wood to last him until tomorrow, he looked through his belongings to see what was missing.

He had lost several things he would need. He decided he would spend another night here. Go back down to where he lost his things and see what he could recover. He would also try to catch more food along the way. He’d have to carry cooked food with him instead of the dried meat. It would not last as long, but it would be the best he could do now.

By the time he had cleaned up around the creek where he had cleaned the animals and reorganized his pack, he was very tired. The sun was getting ready to dip down to the horizon, so he thought he’d just take it easy for the rest of the night and help his hurts to heal more. When the sun went down, he covered the outside fire in dirt and went inside. He brought the fire up to burn, wrapped up in his covers and went to sleep.

He awoke just before sunrise, well rested and ready to go. He ate some pheasant, packed everything up, dowsed the fire and set off back down the path. When he found the spot from the day before, he also found many of the things he was missing. He gathered everything up, including his missing eighteen arrows and their holder. He did not want to hang around long in case the bears were still in the area. Once he had everything he could find which included everything that mattered, he headed back up the mountain. He made the hut before noon even taking time out to get another rabbit. He would have to spend another night here but he’d be back to pretty good shape even though he’d have lost two days. He may have been a little too optimistic in his eagerness for his quest, but all was not lost. He would need to be more careful in the future so as not to lose any more time.

Next morning he was ready to go. Right after sunrise he was off again ready to do the last leg to the cavern opening. He had on his wool cape as it had gotten colder over night. The path was less obvious than it was lower on the mountain. He had to do more climbing over rocks and boulders. He saw tiny blue flower growing from rock crevices and even a few of the white wooly soft flowers that were so prized by lovers. He would pick one on the way down to give Rosamund as a token of love and to commemorate his quest and success.

Jared caught glimpses of the ice glaciers further up. He kept up his pace even though it was getting more difficult to get a good breath. He had to stop periodically to catch his breath and take a rest. At noon he took a longer rest and ate and drank. He sat for a little while for a break. Then he set off again.

He reached the mouth of the cave when it was still light. He had made good time. The ice came down around the peaks and wrapped around them nudging their noses close to the cavern opening. It was quiet up hear. No animals skirmished around. No birds were soaring up here. The only sound Jared heard was a moaning that came form the cave it self. The moaning seemed to be separate from the whoosh the wind made as it came out of and got sucked back into the cave itself. Jared could not think what was groaning as if it had a perpetual ache. It made him nervous. It had to be a trick of the wind as it snaked through the tunnels.

Jared decided to set up camp here at the mouth for the night. He moved off to the side where some boulders would break the rush of the wind and afford him some shelter. There was no wood for a fire so he huddled in his cloaks to keep warm. He ate some rabbit and drank some water. He thought about how he would see in the tunnels. Somehow this problem had completely escaped his attention. There were not even any branches that he could use for torches. He would have to figure it out tomorrow. His hike wore him out and wedged between boulders he fell sound asleep.

In the morning, he woke aching and stiff. He stretched and ate standing up. Then he went off to check out the cave. He walked into it with care. It seemed that there was only one way to go and that was back and down. The only thing that bothered him was that he could see. There was a glowing light all over inside the cave. It was a soft glowing light but it was more than enough for Jared to see by. He couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. It seemed to glow like the light in corners thrown off by many candles. He had no choice no matter how bizarre he thought the light was. He had to go on.

He walked through the large cavern at the cave’s opening to the tunnel at the back. The same soft glowing light shown back here and he could see his path down into he tunnels. It looked as if there were man made steps down the tunnel path. His way was easy for him. Nothing blocked his way. He could not understand why no one had come this way before. The easy of his journey through the tunnels was making him a bit nervous and puzzled. He began to wonder if Beando had played him for a fool and taken his silver and given him a lark and sent him off on a wild goose chase. But then how could there be stairs? Why were they there and who had put them there if it were not the long ago king to hide his treasure? Still wondering, Jared went on since there was not anything else that he could do. He went further down and turned many corners, still marveling at the light and the stone stairs that he tread upon.

He turned one more corner and fell into a pile of bones. Human bones, picked clean and bleached white, covered the floor of the tunnel in front of him. It seemed that many people had been here before and not made out very well. Jared was astonished. He almost called out in his shock, but stopped just in time. There across the floor on the other side of the field of bones slept a giant.

10

2006-12-01T12:02:00.002-05:00

A giant was sleeping peacefully right in the path of where Jared needed to go. And on the other side of the giant, the lake Jared needed to cross and lo and behold on a shelf on the other side of the lake, Jared could see the treasure sitting next to the boat, with a skeleton hanging over the bow.

Many things about his situation scared Jared. He thought his quest might not be as easy as he thought he would be. He had not counted on a giant. That was a definite problem, but as the giant slept, he could sneak quietly around him. The lake turned out to be much bigger than he expected, but the skeleton suggested that it was crossable. Of course, a skeleton probably wasn’t a good sign of a favorable outcome. The treasure was real though and it was still there, so Jared had hope.

Jared walked around the giant and surveyed him from a distance. He figured going around the giant by its feet end was his best bet. He could see part of the lakes edge too and the best place to get into the lake was right behind the giant. The rock floor sloped down gently into the water. He would not need to make a splash to enter the lake. He hoped it wasn’t too cold, but he figured it would be frigid.

He put his pack near the stairs he would need to go back up to get out of the cave, and then stopped dead in his tracks. How was he going to get back with the treasure without making any noise? Well, he had some time yet to figure that out. He took only his bow and quiver full of arrows with him, strapping both high on his back to keep them out of the water. He took a good look at the giant again, hoping to get a hint of how soundly he slept.

The giant must have been thirty feet tall standing up. He looked like a man in his early twenties with a light reddish blonde beard and mustache in contrast to his blonde hair. He slept with his hands under his head and curled up on his side like he slept in a feather bed. His clothes were the colors of the deep woods, mossy greens and mushroom browns. He breathed deeply and evenly, without any snores escaping from his mouth. Jared expected to see cobwebs draped over the giant but he was clean and debris free. That disturbed Jared.

He had to do something if he was to get anywhere. He tiptoed along the cave wall down to the giant’s feet. Jared’s soft leather soles on his shoes made no sound as he walked around the feet of the giant which were a spare four feet from the water’s edge. As he round the giant’s heels, a midget jump up and out of the crook in the giant’s knees and started screaming at the top of his lungs.

Jared jerked back, tripped over a rock and fell into the lake which nearly made his heart stop. He thrashed around, splashing and bobbing, trying to get his breath. He felt himself jerked out of the water by the nape of his neck and hung in the air dripping. Now he couldn’t breathe because the giant’s fist was cutting off the air in his throat. His feet thrashed and kicked out, arrows spilled out of his quiver and he grabbed at the giant’s hand, trying to pry it loose.

All this while, the midget continue to yell and rant somewhere below him. The drone from the midget and the lack of air in his lungs made Jared pass out. He was shocked awake when the giant dunked him in the freezing lake and the tossed him across the cavern. Jared hit the wall and slumped to the floor. The midget ran up to Jared and continued to scream right in Jared’s face. Spittle flew in his eyes but he was too stunned to wipe it away. Eventually it dawned on him that the midget wasn’t actually saying any thing, he was just screaming at the top of his lungs.

The giant had come over to them. He stood above Jared and the midget, fists on hips and looked down at them. Then he punched the midget on the head. The midget crumpled to the ground and stopped screaming.

“Thank you,” Jared said to the giant.

“Uh.” The giant seemed to be a real conversationalist.

“Why was he screaming like that?”

“Scared.”

“Really? I’m that frightening?”

“Surprise see man.”

“I just want to get across the lake.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Mine.”

“What do you need it for?”

“Mine.”

“You said that. But I really need it and I’ll put it to good use. And you just leave it sitting there.”

“Mine.”

“What if I give you something to replace it, something better?”

“What?”

“I could be your friend. You and your midget could come live with me and my family. That way you’d have company, still be near your treasure and I could use it too. We would all be happy.”

“Friend?”
“Yes, help me cross the lake, get the treasure out of the cave and back down the mountain and then you can just stay with me and my family. The kids would love you two. And it is so much nicer at the bottom of the mountain; sunny, warm, happy. And there’s fish in the lake.”

At this point, the midget woke back up and started screaming again. The giant stuck a finger in the midget’s mouth. The midget started turning purple.

“Now cut that out,” said Jared. He pulled the giant’s finger. The giant farted. The midget started breathing again but did not start yelling again. Every one looked at each other. Jared began laughing. The other two looked at Jared as if he were weird. The midget shook his head, and wiggled a finger in his ear. He plopped down on his butt and sat quietly looking between Jared and the giant as they continued to talk.

“Will you help me?” Jared asked the giant.

“Can’t.” The giant shook his big head. He scratched the back of his neck.

“Why not? With your help we could be out of here and home in no time.”

“You.” The giant poked Jared in the chest. Jared nearly fell over. He stumbled back into the wall.

“I have to get the treasure myself? I have to do it on my own?”

“Yup.” The giant sat down next to the midget. The ground underneath them shook and a something crashed deeper in the caves. Ripples moved across the surface of the lake. Jared thought he saw something poking up out of the water but when he looked more closely, nothing was there.

“Don’t get, can’t keep.” The giant and the midget nodded in unison.
“I have to get the treasure myself in order to keep it. Makes sense to me. Well, I guess I better get going then.” Jared took a couple steps towards the sloping edge of the lake. He wasn’t looking forward to getting back in that fridged water.

The midget jumped up and began clapping and dancing from foot to foot. The giant turned around knocking the midget over with the toe of his shoe. Jared turned around to look at them when the midget began yelping.

“Well, here I go. My named is Jared. In case I don’t get back, remember me. I know I’m stalling, but do you two have names?”

“Me Tiny,” said the giant. “He Sparky.” Tiny pointed at the Midget.

“Tiny, Sparky. It was nice meeting you. If I really didn’t need the gold and jewels to help my family, I’d say let’s just get out of here, but we are really poor.” Jared shrugged his shoulders and Tiny and Sparky mimicked him.

“Are you sure you can’t give me a hand?” Jared looked at Tiny hopeful. Tiny looked back at Jared with a blank stare, then a light seemed to go off in Tiny’s eyes. Tiny shoved Jared in the water.

Jared sputtered and floundered in the water. Each time he broke the surface he saw Tiny grinning and Sparky clapping. Finally, Jared found a flat surface to stand on. He stood up, wiping water from his eyes and wringing his hair out.

“Very funny,” said Jared. His teeth were already chattering. He clamped them together, turned in the water and pushed off towards the opposite shore. The movement helped him warm up a bit, so he kicked his legs extra rapidly. His foot hit something. He thought the lake must be rather shallow if he could kick the bottom. He swam about a third of the way across the lake and felt himself get winded. He decided to stand in place for a minute to get his breath.

He stopped stroking and drifted to a standing position and sank under the water. He immediately began treading water to get his head above water again. He must have kicked a boulder hidden under water before. He would just have to keep swimming. He struck out again, only this time with a little less vigor to save some of his energy. He pulled his arms through the water which was getting more difficult. His muscles were feeling very heavy. On one stroke through the water his hand brushed against what must have been a big fish. He was now three quarters of the way to the other side. He stopped to tread water again and to take a little rest before his final stretch.

He turned to look back at Tiny and Sparky. Tiny waved a big hand at Jared and grinned, then waved him on. Sparky was jumping around again and pointing at Jared. Jared turned back towards his goal and began swimming again. It wasn’t long and he reached the opposite ledge. This side had no sloping ledge he could crawl up on, but a rock shelf jutting over the water. He held on to the ledge and tried to find a foot hold. As he moved his legs around a fish slithered up his leg. He kicked out to shake it off, but it kept rubbing up against his leg. Jared’s foot finally found a toe hold under the ledge and hoisted him self up onto the rocks.

Jared lay there shivering and breathing deeply. He rested for a few minutes to regain his strength, rolling over and looking at the ceiling of the cave. The gold and gems reflected light and rainbow colors that Jared watched as he rested. He had thought of this moment for so long and now here he was just laying here on the ground. He thought that if he looked at the treasure and touched it, that it would vanish. He thought it best to get it over with and see if it was real or not.

He rolled over and stood up. He took a few steps towards the boat draped with a skeleton and loaded with precious metals and jewels. It looked real from where he stood. He walked over and touched the skeleton which fell apart into individual bones and dust particles. A ring slipped off of a finger bone and rolled to Jared’s feet. He picked it up. It was a signet ring. This must have been the old king who had left the treasure here. Jared wondered why the king had died here.

Jared gathered the old king’s bones, said a short prayer and dumped the king’s bones into he water. He looked up and saw Tiny and Sparky waving and shouting at him. He couldn’t hear what they were yelling. The noise echoed around the vaulted ceiling. The sound was so loud that it affected the water, which had begun to boil and churn. That made no sense. He looked more closely and he saw something rise up out of the water. A thick broad head broke through the surface with huge round black eyes and a mouth filled with long needle like teeth. It came up and slithered above Jared its nose barely inches from Jared’s head. Jared fell over backwards in his fear. He lay looking up at the vicious long teeth of the beast. He saw that they were so long that the beast could not open its mouth to bite. In fact the teeth looked like a comb or a sieve used to winnow grains.

Jared crawled like a crab back away from the monstrous beast. As he moved back it moved forward. It followed him as he inched his way back but it never touched him. Jared banged his head into the boat, making the boat rock on its keel. The big snake like animal hovered over Jared and moaned. It whined and whimpered like a hurt puppy dog. Jared sat up leaning against the boat’s side. The ferocious looking wormy creature rested his chin on Jared’s knees and Jared saw why it was crying. One of its sharp pointy teeth stuck up through his upper jaw poking through the skin.

He reached out a tentative hand and gently stroked the animal’s nose. It made a sort of purring noise deep in its throat. The offending tooth had come loose from the worm’s jaw but was entangled with the other teeth. Jared continued to pet the animal’s snout with one hand while he grabbed the tooth from the pointy end and yanked. The beast let out a yowl, thrashed its head around and knocked Jared into the water. Jared hit his head on the edge of the rocks and passed out. He sank to the bottom of the cave lake.

11

2006-12-01T12:02:00.001-05:00

The eel dove into the water down to where Jared lay. It nudged Jared. When Jared didn’t move, it used its lips to grab a hold of Jared’s shirt and hauled Jared up out of the water and gently placed him on the ledge by the boat. It breathed on Jared, a warm steamy sort of air that brought color back to Jared’s cheeks. Then it laid its top of its long thick body next to Jared, its tail end still in the water. It closed its eyes and to a peaceful nap.

Jared woke with a start wedged between the boat’s hull and a slick smooth body the color of a hen’s egg. He thought he actually heard snoring. He rubbed his head where it hurt and found a lump the size of a hen’s egg. Gosh, he was hungry. He wished he had a hen’s egg right about now. He pushed on the boat with his feet and he pushed on the worm with his hands. This woke the worm up. It snaked its way from Jared so he could stand up. The worm watched Jared.

Jared went over to the boat. He touched a few golden coins lying at the top of the heap. They did not disappear. He looked over his shoulder at the beast. It just looked back at him with a kind of silly grin on its face. Jared thought he was going a little nuts. He fingered some stones. There were so many different colors; deep reds, mossy greens, bright blues and shiny clear ones. Jared couldn’t focus on the treasure yet. He needed to get it out of the cave and back home first.

He checked out the boat for holes. There weren’t any. It seemed very sound but it could still leak through the boards. He looked around it for oars. He didn’t see any. There was a chain hanging off of the prow of the boat. He would have to swim back pulling the boat behind him. He wasn’t sure if he had the strength any more to do it. He ached all over, he was tired, and he was hungry. He tried to move the boat towards the water. While it rocked, it would not move from its spot. He got behind it, pushing on the stern end. It still didn’t budge.

Jared got into the boat and sat on top of the loot. He hung his head, burying his face in his hands and began to cry. He felt like such a failure. He had a dream and he came so far and here he was with a stuck boat. He felt something wet and cold touch is ear. He looked up to see Wormy’s face right in front of his. Wormy nudged him under the chin as if to say chin up. This gave Jared an idea. He leaned forward and picked up the chain. He held it up to Wormy’s mouth. Wormy took hold of it in his mouth.

Jared tugged on the chain and motioned for Wormy to go in the water. Wormy got the hint. He slithered back down the rock ledge until most of his body was submerged. Jared sat back in the boat. He pointed to the other side of the lake and Wormy began to move in that direction. Jared was ecstatic that it was working. The chain got taut, the boat creaked and scraped and worked itself free of its years long resting place. Wormy continued to move through the water, swimming gently across the lake. Jared looked over and saw Tiny and Sparky wave at them, both with big grins on their faces. They got to the other side in no time without a drop of water touching Jared.

Wormy handed the chain off to Tiny who pulled on it while Wormy nudged the boat from behind. They got the boat up the sloping rock where it came to a gentle rest. Wormy rubbed his muzzle on Jared’s arm. Jared pet Wormy’s head and thanked him for all of his help. Wormy purred and slowly sank back into the water. In seconds the lake surface was calm and smooth as glass.

“I have the treasure. Will you both help me get it back down the mountain and come live with me and my family?”

Sparky bounced on his feet, clapping and smiling. Tiny nodded his head.

“Sparky, can’t you talk?” Jared asked.

“Not want,” said Tiny.

“That’s fine,” said Jared. “There’s too much jabbering in the world as it is. How are we going to get this back out? Maybe you could pull the chain and Sparky and I could push from behind.” Jared moved to the back of the boat to push while Sparky got in the boat.

“No, Sparky, we’ll push while Tiny pulls.”

“In,” said Tiny, pointing from Jared to the boat.

“You are just going to pull us?”

“In,” said Jared.

Jared was tired so he really wasn’t going argue with getting a break. He climbed in and settled next to Sparky. It felt good to rest. Tiny bent over, put both arms under the boat and lifted it like a pile of sticks. He hefted it securely against his chest and began the climb back up the stone steps. In minutes, they had reached the top of the tunnel steps; Tiny had taken them four and five at a time. Now they were at the cave entrance and in the fresh open air of the mountain top.

While Jared had been in the caves it had snowed. A thick covering of white lay all over the land and more snow fell from dark the sky. It was night. Sparky jumped out of the boat and ran around dancing in the moon struck flakes, laughing and giggling. Tiny smiled on indulgently. While Sparky played, Jared went to find his pack. It was right there where he had left it. He brushed off the snow and took it back to the boat. He looked through to see if everything was there. The only things missing were his bow and arrows which he had lost in the caves. He could afford to spend as much time as he wanted making new ones now. He could even afford to have someone else make them for him. No, he thought, that he would never do. He enjoyed making them himself too much.

The moon was full over head tonight. That meant he had been in the caves for ten days. No wonder he was hungry. He told Tiny to move the boat back in to the mouth of the cave. He went to the hut and gathered up some wood and took it back to the cave. They would need to spend the night here and start out for home in the morning. And Jared needed a fire. He was still damp and very cold from his several dunkings in the lake water. He piled all of the wood together and struck off his flints. Sparks flew over the wood and Sparky came over to watch, laughing and smiling and pointing. The wood caught and soon they had a blazing fire. They got more wood from around the hut to keep the fire going all night. Jared offered Tiny and Sparky one of his cloaks but neither of them wanted one. They were happy with the fire. Jared wrapped up in all three cloaks, laid down near the fire and fell asleep.

Jared woke the next morning to bright sunshine and a foot of snow on the ground. He jumped up and looked for the boat. It was there. It was real. He sighed a sigh of relief. He thought he had dreamt the whole adventure. Sparky and Tiny were not there though. He looked around and saw two sets of foot prints leaving the cave and going off into he woods. The sun was already up half way in the morning sky. Jared had slept late. Did the other two go off exploring or had they left him? Jared’s stomach grumbled. He would need to do something about getting food. He looked over to the woods. There was a lot of snow on the ground. That would make hunting difficult, he thought.

Just then, Tiny came out of the woods carrying Sparky in one hand and a little piglet in the other. Tiny dropped Sparky and the pig by the fire. He went back into the woods and came back with a couple of dead tree trunks, which he broke into logs and put on the coals. When they caught fire, Tiny spitted the pig on a branch and held it over the fire. The three of them sat around quietly listening to the pig fat crackle as the porker cooked. Jared’s mouth was watering. When it was finally done, they pulled it apart and chowed down. Tiny and Sparky ate like they hadn’t had food in years. After they had gotten some food in them and felt a little satisfied Jared wondered about the two of them.

“You two seem hungry,” he said.

“Miss food.”

“Didn’t you have any food in the cave?”

“Not need. Magic.”

“How long were you down there?”

“Hundreds years.”

“I bet you are glad to get out of there then.”

“Yes, happy.”

Sparky nodded his head vigorously throughout the conversation.

“I’m happy, too.”

Between the three of them, they finished the entire piglet. Sparky ate the most. Now that they were full, they needed to think about getting down the mountain. Jared figured he had been gone from home for about three weeks. Another three days and he should be home again. As long as they did not get snowed in on the way back down they should make good time.

“Are you ready to go home?” Jared asked.

“Home!” Tiny’s booming voice echoed around the rocks.

Sparky jumped into the boat.

“In.” Tiny pointed Jared to the boat. It worked well to get out of the cave so Jared wasn’t arguing. He grabbed his pack, climbed in the boat and wrapped his cloaks around him. Tiny stomped the fire out, grabbed the boat chain and began running down the mountain. The ground shook as Tiny bound down hill towing the boat behind him like a sleigh. Snow on the branches of the trees that lined the path down the mountain sifted to the ground in white showers.

They flew over the snow and Tiny never seemed to tire. They reached the next hut in two hours and passed right on by it. They got to the base of the mountain in another three hours. Tiny pulled them into the center of the village and no one was about. Everyone must be in their houses because of all of the snow. Jared called out as he ran up to his house.

The door flew open and out ran Jared’s brothers and sisters who grabbed onto Jared, hugging him and knocking him to the ground. Jared’s parents came out of the house more slowly. Neighbors peeked out of their doors to see what all of the commotion was. Rosamund ran out of her house to greet Jared home. She stopped dead in her tracks before she reached Jared though and screamed. Everyone looked at her and then looked to where she was pointing.

Someone yelled, “Giant.” And others took up the call, chanting giant around the village center. Jared got his siblings off of him and he got up and went over to Tiny and Sparky, holding Sparky’s hand and Tiny’s finger. The village people got quiet.

“These are my friends. They have come to live with me, with us. They helped me get the treasure home.” Jared looked around at the people staring at them. He looked at his parents. He looked at his brothers and sisters. He looked at Rosamund.

“Treasure,’ said Tiny. He pointed at the boat with his free hand. He smiled. Sparky jumped up and down and giggled.

Rosamund was the first one to take a few steps towards Jared, the giant and the midget. She was followed by Stebin and Catin, Jared’s oldest brother and sister. Then, Lucia, Jared’s five year old sister, fascinated by Sparky, broke free of her brothers and sister and ran to Sparky and the two of them jumped up and down laughing and dancing around in circles. Rosamund and the rest of the children joined them. The other villagers tentatively came to join them, slightly wary of Tiny, but being more comfortable as the minutes went by. Only Jared’s parents did not join them.

Jared broke free of the others and went to his mother and father who were still standing by their door way. He walked up to them and took their hands.

“Come see the treasure,” he said.

“There really is a treasure?” His father asked Jared his question in a quiet, trembling voice. His hands shook.

“Yes, father, there is a large, heavy, shiny treasure. Come see it.”

Pontid had tears in his eyes. He struggled forward, leaning on his wife. Jared guided them both to the boat. They walked slowly to accommodate Pontid. Falicia looked very tired and weary. She never really looked up as if she were afraid it was all a bad joke.

“You are not hurt?” Falicia asked her son. She looked at him sideways, sneaking looks at his clothes. “There is blood on your shirt.” She totally ignored the people around her, the giant towering in her village and the midget dancing with her youngest daughter. The boat did not even exist in her world. She reached over to Jared and tugged his shirt where it was ripped.

“Mother, I am fine and healthy and happy.” Jared beamed a huge grin at his mother. “Look at me. Do I look hurt? Look at my face, mother.”

She looked Jared full in the face and she broke down in tears. She collapsed to the ground on her knees. She sobbed into her apron, crying like an inconsolable soul.

“You were gone so long. I thought you were dead.” She got out these words between sobs and wet hiccups. “I did not want a treasure if you had died. We were fine without a treasure but we would have withered without you.” She continued to morn.

Jared bent do to her and lifted her up. He took her in his arms and hugged her.

“You can see I am fine. I have returned. I am unhurt. I have brought new friends. And I have the treasure.”

“I know,” cried Falicia, “I am so happy.” She continued to cry into Jared’s shoulder for several minutes more. When she quieted down, Jared walked her over to the crowd who parted to let her through. She stood next to Pontid, who had hobbled over to the boat by himself while Falicia cried on Jared’s shoulder. The two of them stood hand in hand, tears streaming down their faces. Everyone gathered round them, joined hands and looked at one another. They made sure that Tiny and Sparky were part of the group and then they all started singing a song of thanksgiving. It was an old song that may even have been sung by the old king who first brought the treasure to their mountains. They sang all ten verses, shouting out the chorus at the top of their lungs like drunken fools. When they were done, they were laughing and hugging each other.

Jared went up to Rosamund who was standing next to Tiny and holding his hand. She let go of the giant and moved into Jared’s embrace. They hugged each other and kissed passionately for the first time in their lives.

“I promised you a treasure and a better life,” Jared said, “and I have kept my promise.”

“I would have been happy with you alone. I did not need these other things.” Rosamund kissed Jared again.

“I wanted you to have these things. I wanted the best for you.”

“You are the best for me,” Rosamund said.

Jared took Rosamund’s hand, knelt down on one knee.

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

Jared took the old king’s signet ring from off of Jared’s finger and placed it on Rosamund’s finger. The village cheered. Every one hugged and kissed again.

12

2006-12-01T12:01:00.001-05:00

Over the next few weeks, they prepared for the wedding. The village tried to build a house for Tiny, but he didn’t want one. He said he was only staying long enough to see Rosamund and Jared married, then he would be off on a journey to find his own family. Jared didn’t want Tiny to go but he insisted he needed to be with his own kind. In the end, Jared understood. In the mean time, Tiny slept outside with a leather tarp strung between buildings for cover. He didn’t get cold. While he was still with them, Tiny helped with new building projects, hauling stone from the mountains and stacking them into sturdy walls and he put new slate on roofs and mended chimneys. He also helped fell trees for furniture projects, easily striping bark and branches. People loved having him around and by the time the wedding arrived he was speaking in full sentences.

Sparky spent most of his time with the children. He would be invited to sleep over at different houses each night. He delighted in every thing he saw and was so happy to be with other people that his happiness was infectious. Whenever he was around people were laughing and even dancing. They found out one day that he knew how to play music. One of the villagers had a wooden flute and a lyre. Sparky would play the flute and make people weep and laugh. He played the lyre while others sang. Rosamund asked him to play some special music for their wedding.

The village made lots of extra candles for the wedding. They gathered evergreen branches and wove them into wreaths and garlands that were strung around the village square. They decorated the bows with holly berries, mistletoe and pinecones. In the morning before sunrise, venison and wild pig that had been caught over the past week were spitted over big pits and roasted. Fresh fish caught from the lake were layered around the pit and covered with rocks. Crab apples were brought up from cellars and baked into tarts and fresh wheat loaves were baked in the coals.

At noon everyone gathered in the village for the big wedding feast. They all ate together sharing food and ale. Sparky played his flute while they ate and during breaks in the eating some people sang while he played. When everyone had eaten their fill, Jared stood by the village wise woman with his parents on one side and Rosamund’s adopted mother, Sossa, on the other. He stood tall and clean, his black hair tied back from his face. He wore a new tunic in a pale blue cloth made by his mother. She had embroidered it around the neck in dark greens and blues. It was mid-day and the sun still shone bright.

Harolt, Rosamund’s adopted father, walked her down the village street with rays of sun shining on them. Sparky played a low powerful music on the lyre as they walked to Jared. Rosamund had on an uncolored dress which she had made herself and she had embroidered at hem, neck and sleeves in dark blues and greens. They reached Jared and Harolt placed Rosamund’s hand in Jared’s. They promised themselves and the village that they would work together for a better life, take care of each other and love each other. Rosamund handed the wise woman a cloth Rosamund had embroider with special symbols. They wise woman tied this cloth around Jared’s and Rosamund’s clasped hands. They were now married and they lived happily ever after.”

Everyone in the room clapped and cheered when Greydere finished his story. He bowed slightly to their acclaim. He bowed to Alena.

“An excellent story with a very happy ending. You have done wonders to take our minds off of our recent troubles.” Alena waved Marta over with a bowl of beer for Greydere. He took it from Marta with a nod of thanks and drained the dish in one gulp.

“Where did you hear such a story?” asked Alena.

“It is an old story of this very village and these very mountains,” said Greydere.

“Ah, Lady, we recognized it immediately when he began, but he told it better than most,” said Marta.

“I had not heard it before,” said Alena.
“Perhaps that is because you did not grow up in this town.” Greydere held out his bowl to Marta and she refilled it. He drank from it more slowly now that his thirst had been satisfied. He looked around the room. Everyone was still watching him. His eyes passed by the door and there he saw three people who had not been there when he had begun his story.

“It seems that Georg arrived while I was entertaining you madam. I will go now.” Greydere bowed to Alena. He bowed to the room. He walked over to Georg, whispered something in his ear. Georg smiled and nodded his head. Greydere nodded to Balder the Druid and Tomas the Magistrate and passed through the door to the outside.

Tomas came into the room and sat at the table. He joined the men already sitting there. Someone poured him a bowl of beer.

Balder the Druid took Georg to meet Alena. He took her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. She gestured for him to take the chair across from her. Balder joined Tomas and the other men at the table.

“Greydere is an interesting slave,” said Alena.

A puzzled looked passed across Georg’s face briefly then he smiled a brilliant big white smile. “Yes, interesting slave.” Georg chuckled.

“From where did you get him?” Alena looked at Georg with anticipation.

“Do you wish to speak of slaves in our brief time together today?” Georg was still smiling.

Alena looked away in embarrassment, pink blushing her cheeks. She changed the subject by asking Georg what he liked to do during his days when he was home and not traveling looking for brides.

Georg laughed. His laugh was hearty without be excessive. When he laughed, he smiled, showing perfect white teeth in a tanned and healthy complexion. Hi laugh and his smile were infectious. Alena could feel the spirit of the room lift from the one of peaceful relaxation left by Greydere when he had finished his story to one of jovial conviviality. People in the room laughed out loud with one another in a boisterous way that distracted them from their work. Leni was looking back at one of the groomsmen while she carried a large kettle of stew. He was telling her a joke and she looked at him, smiling and laughing at the punch line. She tripped on the hem of her skirt, bumping into Marta, her mother, sloshing hot soup down both their aprons. Luckily only a little spilled and the groomsman rushed to help. Georg laughed as if it was a play on a stage and this forestalled Marta boxing Leni’s ears for her clumsiness.

Georg smiled and laughed at everything. Alena found herself telling him the most mundane events of her day and he smiled as if her darning was the most interesting thing he had ever heard. While she had asked him questions about himself, he never really seemed to answer her questions. He managed to turn her questions back on her and getting her to talk at length about herself, her life and her people. She found this very disconcerting and got the feeling that he was lying about something but since he never really said anything she couldn’t figure out what he might be lying about.

She decided to ask very specific questions about his age, his family and things he might like to do. She very consciously asked her questions and kept answering until she got a definite answer. If she did not get a satisfactory answer, she made a mental note of the question he evaded and how he didn’t answer it. He was very spotty on personal information. He was born in the town of Neumarkt. He currently lived in the town of Haye and his rooms were in the hall called Stagmere. He was twenty five years old. He was the second son in his family and looking for a way to make his fortune. He spent most of his days hunting, practicing his swordsmanship and touring the region. He was not much of a drinker as he found he couldn’t get up the next day for a hunt if his head was fuzzy. His favorite color was green.
Questions, for which he did not give clear answers or any answers at all, included how many brothers and sisters he had, the season of his birth and the name of his mother. He also could not give clear answers as to what he required in a wife, whether he liked children or how he planned to help run her holdings if she chose to marry him. She could not put her finger on what the problem was with his answers. He seemed to respond to her questions but they were never quite right. For instance, when asked if he had any sisters he said that sisters were a brother’s greatest joy and then changed the subject quickly by asking her a totally unrelated question. When asked his mother’s name he responded with a poetic litany of the family tree, saying the name of the mother of the second son of Stagmere was Wilamina, the most beautiful mother and woman in the entire world. When she asked him which season he had been born in, he told her that he had always liked the fall the best, with its clear sky and air and the gold leaves. It season invigorated him and he could ride all day. When she asked him how he would help her run her estates, he smiled winningly and waxed eloquent on her intelligence and abilities. Weren’t the last few months proof that she was capable and knew what she was doing, and any man would be wise to defer to her knowledge and experience?

She could not come right out and say he was lying to her or somehow evading the truth. That would have been too rude. But she would tell Balder the Druid about their entire conversation. Perhaps Balder would understand why this man would not give her straight answers.

He was charming in all ways, though. She really liked him and thought he would be a happy, easy addition to their town. He was a big man, well muscled and his physique gave proof to his assertions that he spent much of his time at physical pursuits. He would be able to help in so many ways and his affable personality would help in dealing with the people and possibly even outsiders such as traders and the Roman government.

She thought she could also stand him for herself. He was a ruggedly handsome man and she thought they could easily be partners in life, if it weren’t for the nagging questions she had about him hiding something. She like his laughing blue eyes and while he had shaved his head completely smooth, an usual thing for a man in this area to do, his beard and mustache were a very light blonde that sparkled in the fire’s light. He had a gold hoop earring in his left ear and heavy golden bands around his thick with muscle wrists. His clothes were of the moss green color he favored, in an expensive close weave that appeared to be of the softest wool. His tunic was plain without any embroidery but it was obvious that much care went into it. His leggings looked new and barely worn. When she commented on this fact, he said he liked nice things and did his best to see that everything he owned was of the highest quality possible. During the time that he sat with Alena, almost two hours, he never looked at anyone else. He rose to leave, took her hand and briefly kissed her fingers. He turned and strode out of the hall without looking at or speaking to anyone else.

So far out of the thirteen possible men that she had to choose from for a husband, seven were account for and only two of those seven, Georg and Dierk, were possibilities. Two of the seven were now dead, murdered in their lovers’ bed and three were unsuitable for several reasons. She still had another six men to interview in the coming two or three days. She hoped that several more of these would be eliminated quickly and easily.

That evening, over a roast of venison, Alena told Balder the Druid about her conversation with Georg and how he seemed to be avoiding answering certain questions in a straight forward manner. Balder the Druid said he would speak with Georg at length to see if Balder could see what Alena was referring to. Balder thought that perhaps Alena was getting tired and restless with all of the interviews. It was not after all normal for her to spend her days inside sitting all of the time. She was an active woman who liked to be out and about the town helping people where she could with their ailments or just generally overseeing things and making suggestions or asking questions. Balder the Druid decided that the next day there would be no interviews and Alena could have a free day to do as she pleased. She was very grateful for his thoughtful kindness and said so.

Alena looked forward to the morrow, thinking about what she would like to do with her day. She got ready for bed, planning different things she might do with her day. No one had come seeking her herbs or her healing help, but she could check in on a few households with small children to see how they faired in this weather. Springtime brought on some colds that could quickly turn into flu which could easily take the life of a young child or even the very old. It had been several days, almost more than a week in fact, since she had checked on the records for the mines. That was something she needed to do too but the running of the salt mines went very smoothly and if she missed even a month or two, it would not really matter. She could inspect the village stores. They had communal warehousing for imported items such as wine and spices and a certain wares like cloth and pottery, but they never changed much either and unless a thief came through totally unnoticed by every town member, there really was no need for her to do that either. In the end, just before falling asleep in her big cozy bed, she decided to wait to see what the weather brought in the morning before deciding what to do. Maybe she would spend the entire day alone. That settled she thought about the two men who could possibly end up being her new husband, Dierk and Georg. She spent a few moments comparing the two in looks, visualizing them in her mind, only to have the face of Greydere intrude upon the pictures. She shook her head, wondering why he had pop into her mind and then fell sound asleep.

13

2006-12-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

The next day was sunny and bright. The air was warmed by the sun and a lovely little breeze blew in off of the lake keeping everything cool despite the bright sunshine. Alena dressed quickly after rising with the sun. She did not want any breakfast, but instead had Marta pack her a leather flask of wine and bread and cheese in a leather bag. She tied both of these to her girdle, grabbed her favorite walking stick and went out into the town center.

She had no real idea as of yet as to where she wanted to go. She looked in all four directions that she could choose from. She looked down the south road which would take her to the lake. The fisher men were just loading their nets into their boats. They used large woven nets that they would throw between each other’s boats and scoop up the fish between them, dividing their catches evenly between all of the boats. The morning launch was always fun to watch. She went down to the lake. The men sang while they loaded their equipment, bawdy songs about the sea that none of them had ever seen. They continued to sing, even after they had seen Alena perch herself on the wall ringing the lake. Some of the men waved to her and called her name in greeting. She waved back. Once they pushed their boats off into the water and began rowing out to the center of the lake, Alena closed her eyes and faced the rising sun. The natural warmth and light felt good upon her skin. She stayed there for a little while, watching fish jumping in the lake and birds diving to catch them. The lake lapped right up against the town. The town sat at the base of the mountain on a ledge of ground that seemed to cup all of the fertile material that washed down from the mountains in years past. The town held less than two hundred people, about twenty five families and it could hold no more. Children growing up had to move to the towns on the other side of the lake or travel over the mountains to other towns if they wanted a house of their own. Most though stayed on with parents and grandparents, living in ancestral homes that had been built at this site for hundreds of years, long before the Romans came and long before anyone’s memory held. Only Balder the Druid had stories of generation after generation of families who dated back to the opening of the salt mines. The houses were built up rather than out, most having four stories. They leaned on each other for support and stepped up the mountainside until there was no room to go any further. The granite under the top soil was so thick and strong that it could support any weight.

The lake itself was deeper than anyone knew. Some people in the past have tried to see how deep it was by diving down as far as they could but at a certain point it became too dark to see and too cold to stand the temperature. Other have tried to send down a rope with a weight on the end but most ropes just kept going down, seemingly without end. While no one in resent memory has seen it, it is said that a great beast lives at the bottom of the lake. It is a protector beast which only wakes and surfaces when the town has been under threat of invasion or attack. This has not happened in hundreds of years as the town is not easy to reach, taking several days to climb down to over the mountains and men would need to be funnels through narrow streets and alleys and the lake crossing would take over an hour and the white gold it produces flows so freely out to the provinces there is no need to mess with something that works so well. Either way, an attack would be known long before anyone could reach the town and the villagers had many ingenious was of dealing with unwanted company.

As a matter of fact, the town had never been invaded. Roman diplomats had come to see the town elders when they had taken over the area and the town, in its own best interests had made a deal with the Romans and a very good one at that. For a few, the town would be left to its own devices. The fee was hefty, but not burdensome to the town. Based on what they produced, they were getting off easy but no one knew the exact workings of the mines but the towns people and they were not about to betray their families. Outsiders were shown a perfectly choreographed operation that told the outsiders only and exactly what the villagers wanted them to know.

Since the town was run in a very democratic and social way, no one complained and no one told their secrets. Life was good for everyone, in and out of the town because of the way the town was run.

Once the sun had begun climbing the sky, Alena decided to go over to the meadows and fields that sat to the right of the town. She walked down along the lake, the walk way narrowing into a path just big enough for two to stand side by side. Here there was only this narrow shelf between the lake and the mountains rising straight above Alena’s head in a shear wall. There then came a gap covered by a small bridge where there was a crevice between two mountains. Water flowed out between the mountains into the lake. No one had ever been able to figure out if this water came from under the mountains or if it was run off from the snows at the mountain peaks. The crevice was narrow enough so that a person could jump from one side to the other, but the edges were of slipper rock and many people had slipped and drowned before the little bridge had been erected. Once across the bridge, the land opened up to a green meadow field divided in half by a river that formed from the water fall that fell from the mountain tops fifty feet in the air. The water fall was magnificent, falling down in a straight drop of a watery curtain that ended in a plume of mist like a foggy morning. The land here was too soft to build on with stone and trees were not easy to come by. The trees grew up the side of the mountain and besides not being very large, the villagers had found out in generations past that if they took down the trees the mountains would soon follow. These fields were used to grow vegetables in the summer months. It was too early yet to begin the plantings so the fields were open and deserted.

Alena walked through the grass to her favorite spot that was just far enough away from the mist to be dry but yet close enough where she could see the rainbows as the sun shone on the droplets. This was a favorite spot because as the sun moved across the sky the rainbows moved too, changing colors and forms to match the plumes of water. Stone benches had been set into place along this spot because it was a favorite resting place for the field workers and for families when they had their Sunday breaks and monthly extra day off from work and chores. A shallow pool was at this spot where children could swim and frolic in the pond without danger of drowning.

Birds flew in and out of the meadows catching the insects that lived in the spring grass. Herons used the area as a stopping point to places farther away. White or blue, it was not unusual to see the birds resting on one leg in the grass. Occasionally one could even see fox or deer taking a quiet stroll through the meadows when no one else was around.

The sun had reached its zenith. Alena removed her flask and bag from her belt and placed them on the stone bench next to her. She opened up her sack and spread it out like a small table covering. She broke off pieces of bread and cheese and broke her morning and mid-day fasts at the same time. After not eating the morning meal and her walk to this spot she was very hungry. She ate all of the cheese and most of the bread, washing them down with hearty gulps of wine. This was very pleasant. The rest of the bread she threw into the water and watched the small fish wrestle each other over their unexpected treats.
The sun and the walk and the food combined with the wine were making her sleepy. It hadn’t rained in several days so the earth was dry. She decided a little nap would be just the thing she needed. She had carried her light cloak with her, not needing to wear it on such a warm day, but knowing the temperature could change so fast that a person would be foolish to go without a covering. She spread it out on the ground and lay down. The sun played on her closed eyelids. Lights flickered like fireflies in the night and the warmth of the sun soon had Alena sound asleep.

She couldn’t breath. She dreamt she was drowning in the lake, the air cut off from her lungs and a pressure weighting down her body. She struggled upward, kicking a flaying to the surface, but the water was too much for her. She opened her eyes to find a masked man covering her mouth and nose and sitting upon her rib cage. The man had his head covered so she could not see his hair or his face. The hood had slits for the eyes and mouth. He did not make any sound. Alena struggled fiercely, knocking the man’s hand from her face. As she fought, she screamed and her voice echoed across the mountain faces, bouncing back and forth. The man attempted to hit her to shut her up but she struggle so much that he missed and only got her a glancing blow on the chin. She bucked and kicked while she yelled, her screams giving her strength. She dislodged him from her body, kicking out at him, her heel striking him in the mouth and knocking out some teeth and cutting her foot. She scrambled away from him but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. He grabbed the neck of her kirtle in the back and pulled. The material came away from her body ripping down the side seams. While this exposed her back, it also gave her more room to get away from him. She crawled and scrabble on the ground, desperate to escape, but he had some how managed to get a hold on her skirts. He pulled her back to him, grabbed her legs and flipped her over. She beat at his chest and tried to push him away using her knees but her strength was giving out. She tried got a hold of his hood and pulled it off planning to scratch his eyes out. When she got off his disguise, the will left her for a brief moment because the man attacking her was Wolfram. Her little pause in her struggles was the break he needed. He had her pinned to the ground, skirts to her waist and legs spread apart.

“I will have you one way or another,” he whispered in her ear as he placed both of her wrists in one of his hands and he used the other hand to grope between her legs.

After the initial shock wore off, she got back her will and began fighting Wolfram again. She also continued to scream. She bucked and kicked and struggled so much that he could only hold on to her. Soon she got a good kick to his groin which caused him to loosen his grip on her wrists. She got one hand free and raked her nails across his face causing deep bloody welts that went from eye to chin. This angered him so much that he let go of her and punched her in the face. Stars burst forth in front of her eyes and caused tears to spring into them too. But she knew she was fighting for her life. Regardless of what else he may do, she knew he would not let her live. She struggled around, hitting him with her fists. He slammed her body on the ground and her hand flung out into the grass and her wrist hit a rock. She scrabbled around it, got a hold of it and hit it into Wolfram’s skull. He toppled over sideways, stunned. She had just enough time to crawl out from under him, stand, back away and pull her dagger. She stood there watching him trying to catch her breath. He was not dazed enough for her to make a run for it yet. And she was so winded and sore that she didn’t think she would be able to escape him.

He was already on his feet, circling her. He reached for the knife at his belt but it must have fallen somewhere in there struggles because it was not in its holder. This disturbed him for a brief moment but didn’t slow him down much. She knew she had to keep out of his reach. If he got near her again, she would not be able to fight him off. They circled each other he moving forward her stepping back. She couldn’t figure out how she was going to escape him. She had stopped screaming. It was just taking away her energy and if no one had heard her by now they were not going to hear her. She had to play for time until she could form a plan of escape. Besides stalking her, he was now taunting her with lewd words, calling her names and detailing what he planned to do to her once he caught her again. He leered and salivated, drool actually dribbling down his chin and onto his tunic. She thought he might be mad, foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. As there never was any talking to him in more sane moments, she did not even attempt to reason with him now.

She was becoming dispirited and desperate. Alena pointed to a man coming across the fields behind Wolfram. He shook his head, laughing manically. He wasn’t falling for that trick. But she had relaxed a bit and smiled. He thought she must really be a good bluffer and quite a cool cookie to act this way or there really might be someone behind him. Then he heard the whinny of a horse. He took a quick look over his shoulder and sure enough, a man on the biggest grey destrier Wolfram had ever seen was riding up to them. He came at a slow pace, picking his way in the soft earth. Wolfram wasn’t sure if the man knew Alena was in trouble but he wasn’t going to stick around to find out. Just then Alena began screaming again and pointing at Wolfram.

Wolfram took off across the field pounding into Alena as he went knocking her to the ground. She turned over and raised herself on her elbows to see Wolfram jump into the stream running across it to the other side, weaving his way through the grass. This turned out to be a smart move as the man on the horse had strung his bow, knocked an arrow and let it fly. His aim was true but he was so far away and Wolfram moving even further away that while the arrow made contact in Wolfram’s leg it did not lodge there securely. Wolfram, while hurt, was still able to keep moving. Soon he was into the mountains and it would be impossible to follow him from here on horseback.

14

2006-12-01T11:59:00.002-05:00

As the man rode up to Alena, she turned over to look at him and was stunned to see the slave, Greydere sitting atop the war beast. He sat the horse as if he had been born and raised on it. He looked down upon Alena, quietly looking over her ripped clothing and dirty, blooding and bruised face. He looked off in the distance where Wolfram had run, seeming to debate whether he should follow the culprit or if he was needed here to care for her.

Alena made up his mind for him. She told Greydere that she knew the man who had done all of this to her and they could send people after him once she was back at home. Without saying anything in response, he climbed from the saddle and helped her from the ground. He walked her over to the stone bench. The horse silently followed, munching the fresh green grass along the way.

Greydere went about the business of gathering Alena’s belongings, picking up her cloak and putting it across her bare back. In the mean time the horse had gone to the stream for a fresh drink of cool water then it had come back to where Alena sat and appeared to stand guard over her. So far Greydere had not spoken a word to her. He hadn’t so much as looked at her again after his first review of her appearance. He was really making her mad.

“Have you nothing to say to me?” Alena stood there with her hands on her hips. She looked daggers at Greydere who ignored her. “I command you to speak to me.” She was yelling at him. He packed her belongings in the bags hanging over the back of the horse. He still did not speak to her or look at her. She walked up to Greydere and slapped him in the face and immediately collapsed in a heap at his feet sobbing hysterically. Greydere knelt beside Alena, waited a moment and then took her in his arms. She could feel him shaking, his body vibrating like a plucked string. Alena looked up into his face, startled by what she felt. She looked at his face. His jaw was tight, the muscles pumping blood through his temple. He looked ready to explode. He looked into her eyes. She reached up, grabbed his head and pulled his face towards hers, locking onto his lips. At first he held back, but then he plunged into her mouth, ravaging her lips and tongue. Alena gave back as good as she got, biting Greydere’s lips, sucking his tongue.

Greydere pushed Alena from him. They both sat back on their heels looking at each other and breathing heavily. He was shaking his head. Alena was not sure if he was trying to clear his head or if he was telling her, no. Maybe he was doing both. She couldn’t imagine what had gotten in to her. She supposed it must have been delayed shock setting in and her need for human comfort after being attacked by a mad man. What would people think if they knew she had acted like a harlot with a slave? They would be disgusted at her lack of self control. Her behavior made her sick to her stomach. She had a distinctly queasy feeling some where in her lower abdomen and her legs were shaking.

Greydere was taking deep breaths and still shaking his head. He stood up, stumbling slightly, only to place his feet wide apart to balance himself. He continued to breathe deeply, his back turned to her.

“It is best if we do not speak of this moment to anyone,” he said. “Neither of us would want anyone to know what just happened.” He walked over to the horse and grabbed its bridle, leading it to her.

“Can you mount this horse to ride back? I can move him to the stone bench to make it easier.” He would not look at her.

“Greydere, I will speak of this to your master,” said Alena. “Look at me, please.”

He looked at her with confusion in his eyes. There was also some emotion there that she could not define.

“My master?” His eye brows were drawn together as he stared at her as if she spoke another language. Then his face relaxed and he smiled. “No, we would not want you to tell my master. That would not be best for either of us.” He pointed at the horse.

She shook her head.

“I’ll walk back. I do not think I can manage riding a horse that large right now.” She moved over to Greydere’s side to get out of the horse’s way. Greydere dropped the horse’s reins. It followed behind them as they slowly walked their way back to the village. They walked slowly as Alena’s injuries were starting to pain her now that she had nothing else to occupy her mind. To take her mind off of her body’s feelings and her own thoughts she began to ask Greydere questions.

“What were you doing when you came upon me?”

At first, Alena thought he wasn’t going to answer her question. He took so long to before he spoke.

“I was out exercising Brutus. He has not had much to do lately.”

“You brought him across the lake to exercise him? Surely there are better places near Zell? Why would your master want his horse brought across the water?”

“I did not bring him across the water. I brought him over the mountain and he is stabled in Deepshade; a small stable with little room. This seems to be the best place for him to stretch and an enjoyable valley in which to spend an afternoon. At least, it was until today.” He gave a crooked smile. A breeze picked up, playing with Greydere’s hair, blowing the curls slightly into his face. Alena was taken with a nearly irresistible urge to brush his hair from his face and stroke his eyebrows and cheeks. She moved closer to him, her hand brushing against his arm. He jumped away from her as if he had been burned.

“You must not,” he said. She could hear the pain in his constrained voice. He turned to her and grabbed her by her upper arms holding her tightly but not causing pain. She looked into his blue eyes and leaned into him. He held her back. His breathing had become rapid again. She held his gaze. Her mouth parted and she licked her lips. This seemed to be too much for him to bear. He pulled her to him and locked onto her mouth. Their tongues wrestled with each other as they ground their bodies together.

The horse broke them apart by nudging his nose between them. It whinnied and nodded in the direction of the town. They looked over and realized they were in easy view of anyone who may be looking in their direction. Luckily though, no one seemed to be about. Greydere pulled the horse between them and they walked back the rest of the distance in silence with the horse as a chaperone.

When they got to the bridge, Alena went across first followed by Brutus who made the wood of the bridge creak under his weight. Greydere followed across last. They had to walk back in single file and still Greydere kept Brutus between them. When they reached the square, they saw the first person since entering town. This was Leni out on an errand. She looked at Alena and screamed. Both Alena and Greydere had forgotten how badly hurt and disheveled Alena looked. Leni started to run home, but Alena stopped her.

“Leni, come here child,” Alena said.

Leni stopped in her tracks and came back to Alena.

“You must calm down. Come here by me so I can lean on you. I find I am suddenly very tired.” Alena went to put her arm around Leni’s shoulder, but before she could use Leni to rest upon, Alena passed out and collapsed to the ground.

Greydere wrapped the reins to Brutus around a fence post. He called Leni over to him. He told her to go home and let her mother, Marta, know that he would be bringing a hurt Alena home and she needed to get her bed ready and call The Druid. Leni ran off, yelling to a few people she saw along the way, the news that Alena had been hurt.

Greydere scooped Alena up in his arms and carried her home. He savored the closeness he felt with her against his chest, but did nothing that would be considered in any way wrong.

He found himself greeted at the door by many towns people trying to ask him questions about what had happened. He just shook his head and told them all later. Marta was at the door and she let out a little yelp when she saw Alena’s face, which Greydere realized was quite swollen. He hoped that everyone assumed it was from her injuries and not from the brutally raw kisses they had shared.

Marta ushered Greydere back to Alena’s bedroom. He carried her in and laid her gently atop the furs and blankets piled there. He tried to stay but he was shunted out of the way by maids bringing in cloths and fresh clothing and grooms bringing in leather buckets of hot water to fill the bath tub more quickly and extra wood to keep the fire burning hot in the grate. Marta told one of the grooms to usher Greydere out of the room. He was pushed gently but firmly out into the main hall room and shown to the seat by the fire he would not take the day before. He saw Balder the Druid pass by and go into Alena’s room. It wasn’t long before all of the men were shoed out including Balder the Druid. Then most of the maids were sent out, a couple let back in; one carrying cold water in a pitcher, another with wine and the third with warm honey mead.

Balder the Druid came to sit with Greydere by the fire. He asked Greydere to tell him what had happened. Greydere explained the scene he had come upon in the meadow. He did not know who the other man was. He had never seen him, but he said that Alena had told him she knew the man. He felt sure that when she was able to talk she would be able to identify him. Balder asked Greydere if he had fought the other man.

“No, he ran off before I could reach him. I am sorry.”

“I do not ask to chastise you. You seem to be injured. There is a bruise on her cheek and your lips appear to be swollen.”

“I fell down,” said Greydere.

“Ah,” said Balder. That one sound served to make Greydere feel very guilty. He looked at Balder and he did not think Balder believed him. As a matter of fact, he thought that Balder may actually know what ad happened between Greydere and Alena. He could not see how that was possible but Balder’s next comment confirmed his suspicions.

“Why do you not tell the truth?” Balder looked Greydere directly in the eyes. “Why do you continue with this pretense?”

Greydere jumped up, muttering something about having to take care of his horse. He left, bumping into Tomas the Magistrate from Zell. Tomas joined Balder by the fire. Balder filled Tomas in on what he knew so far, keeping any suspicions he had about Greydere to himself.

Marta had brought Alena around with a bowl of vinegar under Alena’s nose. She woke sputtering and coughing and crying out at the pain her coughing was causing her ribs. Marta scooted everyone out of the room, leaving herself alone with Alena. She gave Alena the honey mead and let her sip at it while Marta finished getting the bath ready with lavender, rue and mint. She then helped Alena out of bed, to a standing position, so Marta could help Alena off with her ripped, dirty and bloody clothes. Once Marta had Alena naked, she helped Alena into the tub. Alena laid back and began to relax. Marta checked out Alena’s clothes and decided they could not be repaired. She almost threw them into the fire in disgust then thought better of it. Maybe she should give them to Balder and Tomas as proof of the injuries Alena had suffered.

Marta took a quick look over at Alena to see that she was doing alright and not passed out in the water, then she slipped out of the room and brought the clothes to Balder and Tomas sitting by the fire.

“Has she said anything yet?” asked Balder the Druid.

“No. She just woke and I have her relaxing in the bath tub. What did Greydere tell you?”

“Only that he had come upon Alena being attacked. He only got a brief look at the man before he ran off up into the mountains. He did not follow but stayed to help Alena.”

“He did not fight the man?” asked Marta in puzzlement. “He was injured.”

“No, he says he fell and hurt himself.”

Tomas snorted into his mustache. Marta shook her head. They all knew something was not quite right with Greydere. Balder thought he might know what it was but he was not ready to say anything to anyone yet.

“You had better go back in to Alena,” said Balder. “She may need you. When she is cleaned up and dressed and in bed call me and I will look at her injuries and I will give her something to sleep. But Tomas must also speak to her so that he can start looking for the man who did this to her. And we must know exactly what he has done, too.”

15

2006-12-01T11:59:00.001-05:00

Marta went back to Alena, who had her eyes closed as she lay back in the tub. She was taking deep breaths, breathing in the scents of the herbs in her bath.

“Marta, I think I need some milk in my bath to ease the bruises and cuts on my skin,” said Alena. “I did not realize how badly hurt I was until I had gotten back to town.”

Marta called Leni and told her to bring some fresh goat’s milk for Alena’s bath. Once the milk was in the water, Alena rubbed her skin gently, testing her body for any complaints. She was sure nothing was broken, not even her spirit, by the attacked, but she would be sore and bruised for many days to some. Her face hurt the most where Wolfram had punched her.

Marta brought her a large soft cloth that had been warmed by the fire. Alena stepped out of the bath and wrapped up in the cloth. She sat by the fire while the tub was removed from the room. She felt herself stiffening up once she sat down and stopped moving. She was sure she’d be very sore the next day. She would need to get up in the morning and move as soon as possible or she would have to remain in bed longer than was necessary or healthy. She felt so secure and comfortable that she could have fallen asleep if it weren’t for the pain throbbing in her face. Marta came over and had her move so that her hair faced the fire. She would be much more comfortable sleeping with dry hair. Marta did not attempt to comb it out today though. She would leave the painful untangling for a day when Alena felt better. Finally the tub was emptied and removed from the room. Herbs were strewn across the floor so that the fire’s heat and people walking on the floor would bring the herbs scents into the air to sooth Alena as she breathed in the air. Marta helped her to stand. She took the towel wrapped around Alena and helped her into a fresh clean nightgown. Then Marta led Alena to the bed and helped her climb in. Alena lay back into her pillows as Marta covered her and tucked her in.

“I must bring in Balder and Tomas before you go to sleep,” said Marta, “so you may tell them who did this to you.”

“Yes, bring them quickly, Marta, I am sleepy.”
Alena lay back, feeling every ache and pain in her body. “First bring me some willow bark and valerian tea. I think I will need it to sleep well.”

Marta brought the tea and the two men. Balder the Druid and Tomas the Magistrate were shocked at Alena’s injuries. The look on their faces told her how bad she must appear. She told them to pull up stools and sit down. Balder asked her if she wanted him to check her over. Knowing that she was a well qualified healer herself, Balder did not push his services on her. She told him that nothing was broken and she had no open wounds. Her bruises would heal in days and she just wanted to get on with things. She was beaten but not down. She answered the question she knew was upper most in their minds.

She told what had happened and how it had come about. She told them the name of the culprit was Wolfram and she explained who he was and where he was from. Balder had some idea of who Wolfram was from conversations with Alena’s dead husband, Konrad. She let them know that Wolfram had tried to rape her, no doubt trying to use the old Celtic Bride Law to gain her as an unwilling wife and so in turn get his hands on her properties, mostly wanted Crabapple Farm, thus increasing his own property.

Tomas the Magistrate rose to go. He had enough information to have Wolfram hunted down and brought before the courts. He went out to round up men for the task. He would gather up the area’s hunters and send them out to track Wolfram down. He would also send out messengers to various towns to be on the look out for Wolfram. He would need to notify the Romans, as it would be their responsibility to search Wolfram’s holdings to see if he was hiding out at home, thinking himself safe on his own property.

Balder stayed with Alena a little while longer until she had finished her tea and her eye lids began to droop. He told her he would leave a jar of salve for her face with Marta which she should put on her face in the morning to help keep the swelling down and the bruises to a minimum. She murmured her thanks. She then said that he should take some to Greydere to help with the damage she had done when she had hit him in the face. She giggled a little hysterically and quietly asked if the salve would help on swollen lips, then she fell asleep and began snoring quietly.

Balder the Druid shook his head and grinned. Marta asked him what that was all about but he just grinned and told Marta that no matter how much planning one did, things had a way of going in a completely unexpected direction. He told Marta that if Alena needed him, regardless of the hour, Marta should have him fetched without delay.

Alena slept soundly despite her injuries, but woke feeling sore all over. It was early. The sun had not yet risen and the grooms had not stoked the morning fires yet. Alena needed more willow bark tea to ease her pains. She padded out into the hall in her bare feet to get a cup of hot water from the pot over the main cooking fire and took it back to her room where she added the powder to the hot water. The tea was bitter but strong and it did not take long for her to feel its effects.

She lay back down to relax until the rest of the household began to stir. As she lay there she could not help but think about Greydere. It made no sense to her that she was so attracted to him, especially knowing that there was no way she could ever have any sort of relationship with a slave. And her she was, ready to lie down with him in a field in broad daylight and have mad animal sex with him. She must be out of her mind. Granted he was good looking, well, very good looking. She needed to think of something else. She was getting excited thinking about him. She really had to be sick. Some how she had to find a way to block her attraction to him. She vowed that she would stay away from him as a start, making especially sure she was never alone with him. That should take care of most of the problem. Then she would also forget him, forcing from her thoughts whenever he threatened to intrude. She did after all have many other things to do.

She would begin by planning a walking inspection tour of the town. It would keep her busy, exercise the aches from her body and show the town that she was not too badly hurt and fully capable to go on. She would take today off from seeing the next men but she would go about town and see her people. It would be necessary for her to have someone with her as she went. She would engage Detlef to tour with her as she knew that he was in town today and not up at the salt mines. He was big enough to intimidate any one that may have designs on hurting her. He was certainly bigger than Wolfram. She listed all of the places she would walk to today and the things she would look for. She would visit the granary to see how much wheat and rye were left after the winter to see if they needed to do any rationing before any new grain could be purchased. She would check on the ice house to make sure it was fully loaded with mountain ice and she inventory the meat and fish stored there. Then she would go to the town’s apothecary to check on the communal supply of herbs and spices. Now that winter was over and the weather becoming more stable, they could send out people to replenish their stores. She thought she would also visit the Charnel House to check on the placement of her dead husband, Konrad’s, skull and maybe gain some solace and peace by talking to him a bit.

All of this planning took her mind off of her hurts and other things and brought her to the point of the day where the entire household began to stir. She rose and dressed, stretching out her stiff muscles as she did so. She got her polished bronze mirror out of her clothes chest. She didn’t usually use it, but she thought it a good idea to look at the damage to her face that everyone else could see so that she would be prepared for their reactions. The whole left side of her face was swollen and an evil shade of purplish blue. Her eyes were not affected but her cheek, nose and jaw look a right mess. She thought she detected swelling in her lips, too, touching them with the tips of her fingers but she immediately removed her hand as if she had been burned and tossed the mirror back in with her clothes.

She went out to break her fast and to listen to the shocked whispers of the people in the hall. Everyone expressed their concern and anger over her treatment as they waited on her. She asked one of the grooms to run to Detlef and ask if he would accompany her today on a tour of the town. If he was unavailable would he recommend someone else to join her? The groom ran off to do her bidding. He was back very shortly, out of breath, holding a stitch in his side, to say that Detlef was on his way now and not far behind him. And there he was, entering the hall now. He sat down next to her. Leni served him bread, butter and honey along with a cup of dandelion and rose hip tea. Alena nibbled on a small piece of bread with a thin slice of roast pork on it. Marta said she needed the meat for the strength of her blood to help it heal. She also sipped on another cup of willow bark tea this time with some honey added.

“Do you not think you should spend the day resting in bed?” asked Detlef. He looked at her in concern. “No one would grudge you a day of rest after your ordeals from yesterday.”

“I tried to tell her to stay a bed,” said Marta. She sniffed as she set more food on the table. Alena and Detlef stared at her surprised.

“Marta, what is wrong? You can not be so upset over my going out today?”

“No, it’s your beautiful face.” She began to sob in earnest. “Look what that monster has done to your beautiful face.”

Alena laughed.

“Marta, it will heal quite nicely. There is no permanent damage. Do not be so distressed.”

“You do rather awful,” said Detlef. He and Alena laughed, but Marta hurried away from the table crying harder than before.

“Seriously,” said Detlef. He grinned and winked at Alena. “Wouldn’t you feel better for a day of rest?”

“I feel myself get stiff already. I need to move and keep my mind busy. Sitting inside with nothing but sewing to keep me occupied is boring me.”

“You have had some very interesting visitors, lately, though, to keep you entertained.” Detlef laughed at his own joke.

“I have been highly entertained, but now I need some work and some exercise.”

“Where would you like to go?”

“I would like to inspect the granary, the ice house and the apothecary and stop at the Charnel House at the end of our tour.”

“If you are ready, I will get your cloak and we can be on our way.” Detlef rose and went to have Leni fetch Alena’s cloak. Alena began to rise and found a groom behind her pulling out her chair and another groom at her elbow helping her to stand. She thanked them both as Leni helped her on with her cloak. Detlef gave her his arm and they left for their inspection tour.

The plan Alena had mapped out would take them on a circular path around the town, turning left out the door. Everything was in order and as she had expected at each place they stopped at. She took her time going everything though to take up as much of her time as possible. She enjoyed the walk and the company. Detlef was very amusing and told her jokes between buildings and he was well liked by everyone so they had some fun conversations with the proprietors of each warehouse. She went over the plan the grainer had for sending people out to purchase more grain, planning on cheaper prices for making advanced purchases. The apothecary had already sent out people before winter set in to replenish their more rare and expensive spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. He also had plans to try to get some saffron but he was not sure if they would be able to find any that they could afford. Their native herbs, such as chamomile, dandelion and mint, were hanging from the rafters, drying in great big bunches. The apothecary was one of Alena’s favorite places for all of the wonderful smells that always filled the building.

The ice house was fully stocked with fresh ice, venison, wild pork and fish. Alena did not stay there too long as her muscles objected to the cold.

When they got to the Charnel House, Detlef stayed outside so Alena could have some private time with Konrad’s spirit. She stayed here for a little while, dusting off the skulls of the town’s ancestors and touching a few she had known briefly. She really did not have much to say to any of them. She just felt peaceful here.

The Charnel House was chiseled down into the stone base of the mountain. Three flights of twelve steps led down to the smooth stone floor. The room opened up into a cavern with high vaulted ceilings, shaped in such a way that the air vibrated and voices joined those vibrations without echoing. Into the walls were carved niches for individual skulls. After resided in a cubby hole for three generations, the skulls were placed in piles on the floor in family groups. There were hundreds of skulls in here, painted with flowers and spirals or carved with special religious symbols. Since everyone living in town, were somehow related to a founding family there was no hierarchy of place.

When Alena was done, she began walking back up the stairs and could once again feel her aches and pains and barely made it up into daylight without collapsing. Detlef saw her struggling and grabbed her arm, guiding her to a bench. They rested in the afternoon sun, as it began to dip behind the mountain tops.

“I think you have had more than enough for one day,” said Detlef. “I will tell Balder the Druid you will need one more day of rest and tomorrow you will take it easy and stay closer to home.”

“I will not argue with you this time, Detlef.” Alena sighed. “I am truly tired and sore now. When we return to the hall, I will go directly to bed even though the sun is still up.”

“If the Lady of Deepshade can not have a day abed, who can?” asked Detlef. “Shall we go back now?”

16

2006-12-01T11:58:00.000-05:00

Once again, Detlef gave her his arm for support. They set off at a very leisurely pace. The way back to the hall to close the circle Alena had started, took them past the stables. The stable was quite small by most standards. No one who lived in town had horses. Alena had horses but they lived at Crabapple Farm. The stable was maintained for the occasional visitor or trader who came over the mountains with horses or mules. The blacksmith spent most of his time doing finer work. On occasion he made swords, but usually he made some of the best daggers in the area. He was also a fine silver and goldsmith, crafting fine rings, torques, brooches, cloak pins and earrings. He was known for some of the finest scroll work and detailed figures in a variety of metals.

When Julin, the Smith of Deepshade, did his fine work, he placed his bench just outside of the stable doors, to get the bright sun light and enjoy the fresh air. He sat at his bench now, working on a gold and silver insignia for a shield. He stopped work as they approached. When Alena got near to his work table and he got a clear look at her face, he scowled darkly, making some comment under his breath that they could not understand. He showed Alena and Detlef what he was working on, quietly detailing the rest of the work he had to do to the piece. They were genuinely impressed by the artistry of the pair of dragons entwined on the face of the emblem.

As Alena listened, she looked up in to the stable and expected to see the big grey destrier stabled within, but the stable was empty. She made some sort of grunting noise which brought the attention of Detlef and Julin to her. They looked at her quizzically.

“Oh, I thought to see the horse Brutus within,” she said. “Has Greydere taken him for a walk again today?”

“The man and his horse both left town yesterday afternoon,” said Julin.

“Georg came and got his horse?”

“No, ma’am. Greydere left with his horse, Brutus. He said they were off over the mountains.”

“I wonder does his master know Greydere has left with his horse.” Alena kept at it, not sure why she was pushing the conversation.

“Who is Greydere’s master?” asked Julin.

“Why Georg, of course,” said Alena.

Julin laughed out loud, startling some children playing near by.

“Greydere has no master except maybe his father.” Julin continued to chuckle to himself.

“He said he was Georg’s slave,” said Alena. Her temper began to bubble. “He said he was a slave.”

“That man is no man’s slave. He is a fighting man. Did you not see his horse? He speaks to Brutus like a brother. Only a soldier and his destrier act like that. Take my word for it; Greydere is no man’s slave.” He shook his head then grinned at her. “Mayhap, he was calling himself your slave?” Detlef punched Julin on the shoulder and told him to keep his wild ideas to himself, but she could tell he had been grinning himself.

She turned from both men and stomped off home. Greydere was making a fool of her. She wanted to know what the hell was going on. Who was this man, telling her he was a slave, when it seemed clear now that he was no such thing and then to just leave without saying goodbye. She stopped in her tracks. Why on earth would it be necessary for him to say goodbye to her? No, she was mad because he had lied, not only to her, but to the other people in the hall. And Georg had lied, too. And this was a real flat out lie, not like those little evading lies he told her when they were talking.

First thing tomorrow morning she would send one of the pages over to Zell to have Georg brought to her, so he could explain what was going on and tell her exactly who Greydere was and what relationship Georg and Greydere had to one another. She might even hit one or both of them. She was so angry over this she was not watching where she walked and she stepped in a crack in the cobbles, twisted her ankle and fell down, skinny the palms of her hands. She started crying. She sat where she was in the street bawling her eyes out for any one to see.

Several people came to her aid wondering if she had been attacked again. Between sobs, she managed to let them know that other than a sprained ankle, she was not hurt again. She cried the whole way back to the hall. They passed her off to Marta who seemed to know what was wrong with Alena. Marta cooed to her like a baby, hugging her and patting her on the back. Marta ushered Alena into her room and spent the rest of the evening pampering Alena, bringing her teas and little bits of bread with clotted cream and honey. Marta sat with Alena and listened to Alena rant about liars and men who were no good. Marta thought Alena was talking about Wolfram as Alena never mentioned any names. Alena talked herself out and finally fell asleep. The heavy teas Marta had given Alena may have had something to do with her drowsiness. She slept peacefully all night long.

In the morning, she was still mad at Greydere and Georg. She rose and dressed quickly with out any help. She e=went into the main hall, found one of the grooms whose father was a fisherman and sent him on the errand to find Georg and bring him back to Alena. They boy was happy to be outside and on the lake. He ran off promising success. Now, Alena had to wait. She alternated between working on her wedding clothes, which she was slowly starting to hate and helping Marta with the daily chores. She decided to do some other mending because Marta told her she was in the way.

By noon, the boy had not returned. Now, she was beginning to worry. She kept poking her head out of the door every fifteen minutes on the look out for boy and man. After about the fifth look, Alena saw Balder the Druid coming up the path from the lake. Behind him, Alena could see the groom she had sent on the errand playing with other children. Alena, now with another reason to be angry, left the hall on the way to chastise the boy.

Balder stopped her on her way. She tried to tell him she needed to go talk to the boy as he was to do an errand for her which he did not complete. Balder said he knew of the errand and that the boy did as she had asked. Unfortunately, Georg had left Zell two nights ago. He had packed up all of his belongings and rode off without telling anyone except the inn keeper and the stable hand. Alena asked Balder if he knew that Greydere had also left the same night and that he was no slave. Balder said that he had heard Greydere had left. Detlef had told him. And Balder too suspected that Greydere was no man’s property.

Alena and Balder went back into the hall and sat at the table. They discussed the fact that now they were down to one good prospect for a husband for Alena. Dierk was the only contender left of the ones she had met. They decided it was best that the next day she meet with three of the last six and the other three the next day. Alena wondered out loud why Georg and Greydere had left. She even voiced the fear that they may be the ones who murdered Vix and Elsin. She was shocked at the idea. She could not believe that either man could commit such a brutal and hateful act. Balder reminded her that they really did not know either man very well and they had already proven themselves to be liars.

She went to be disheartened and a bit depressed. This whole process did not seem to be working out the way they had envisioned it. She hoped that there were a few more good men that she could choose from when all was said and done. While she liked Dierk well enough and she did find him very exciting, there was something missing and even though she knew she had no real right to expect love in marriage, a girl could hope.

She rose the next day and dressed with care. She did not worry about the appearance of her face. All of the men had already seen her and the story of her attack had been cast about broadly, perhaps being told hundreds of miles away by now. She was up earlier than usual but she wanted the time to work out the kinks, aches and stiffness she was still feeling. She had already breakfasted and was walking around the room when Balder the Druid arrived and he was alone.

Balder motioned for Alena to sit down. She obliged, wondering about the extremely serious look upon his face. It took some moments to compose his thoughts before he spoke.

“Yesterday after we spoke, I went to Zell to plan the meetings of the last six men.” He coughed into his fist. Alena offered him some wine. He sipped at it and cleared his throat. I gathered five of the men in the inn, but I could not find Makt. He was staying in the inn but there was no answer when I knocked on his room door. I checked with the innkeeper. He had not checked out but he had not been seen in several days. We called Tomas the Magistrate to the inn and had him look in Makt’s room. All of his belongings were there but he was not. Nothing seemed to be missing. There was even some gold hidden in his things. It seemed clear he had not left.” Balder drank more of the wine, more than what was needed for a dry throat and more than what was usual so early in the morning.

“We sent people out to ask questions about when Makt was last seen and to search for him. No one in town had seen him for about three days. It was hard for anyone to remember. He was a very quiet man who had kept mostly to himself.”

They searched all around town, Balder told her, circling wider and wider until some of the searchers were out on the heather. Then several of the men from town and two of the men Alena was to meet with, Handel and Otta ran in to town, in near hysterics. Balder had never seen men attack in such a way. Once they were able to calm them all down, they discovered that this group of men had found Makt stretched out on the heather and staked like a deer skin curing in the sun.

“Tomas and I went out alone to the spot the men described. We could not get any of the men to take us there. They were more upset than I had ever seen grown men to be. At first we scoffed at their behavior, but once Tomas and I had found Makt’s body, we could not blame them.” Balder took another deep steadying breath. He debated in his mind whether to give Alena any details but he knew she would insist upon knowing some of them, so he made them the bare facts.

“He had been staked to the ground, wrists and ankles tied with leathers thongs that must have been wet when first tied. The sun had dried the leather slowly cutting off the circulation in his hands and feet which had turned black. He was naked and his body showed signs off being cut repeatedly with a knife point. He also showed signs of being bitten by small animals, possibly while still alive. The look on his face told off the pain and suffering he had endured before death over took him. It was a ghastly sight.” Balder raked his hand across his eyes. “We, none of us, had ever seen anything like it.” He stopped talking and sat quietly staring at the table. Alena did not disturb him, but poured him more wine.

“We brought his body back to town and placed it with the bodies of Elsin and Vix in the ice house. Someone had come forward after we got done to say that they had seen Makt leave town three days ago with a dark haired man, but that was the only description we could get.” Balder looked up and into her eyes, and his held such sadness and pain that Alena had to look away. “We just can’t imagine that anyone we know would be capable of committing these murders. Tomas says that certain things make him think that the same person killed all three men. Something to do with the knife used and the odd shape of the cuts. He thinks that if he could get any idea of who it might be and find his dagger, Tomas could prove the man was the killer.”

Balder stood up abruptly. He began pacing around the table, circling it. He was angry because despite these killings they must continue on with their project and he had lost his heart for it. Balder was sure these killings had something to do with Alena’s future marriage but they must still go on. He was sure that Victorius the Roman Governor would not care how many people were getting killed. Alena would need to follow the law or loose her properties.

“Handel and Otta have left. Seeing Makt’s body convinced them that they are not that interested in marrying you. I suppose it is just as well. You do not need anyone who is not willing to stick around when things get difficult, although to be honest with you, I do not blame them much.” Balder sat back down.

“So, today, you must meet with the last three men, Rolf, Liedt and Klaus. You will meet with them in that order. Then tomorrow we will see how many men you will have to choose from. If anyone has any appetite, mayhap you can host a dinner for whoever is left and we can see how they do in a room together.” Balder put his head down on the table. He shook a bit as he sat there. At first Alena thought he was crying, but then she realized he shook from exhaustion.

“Balder, you must go home and get some sleep. Have you been up all night?” She touched his shoulder and he jumped.

“I’m sorry I must have dozed off briefly. I will go to bed.” He rose and drained the wine in his cup. “Make sure you are not left alone with any of these men. As a matter of fact make sure you are not left alone with any man, even one you have known all of your life.”

This comment sent a shiver down Alena’s back. Surely, these horrible deeds could not have been done by anyone she knew.

“Tomas is questioning everyone trying to get an idea of where the dead men were and with whom and who may have been missing around the time each man was killed. He figures that whoever did these things would have been covered in blood so he would have needed to be alone to clean up well before being around other people.” Alena walked with Balder to the door. “So far he has not found anyone that fit his idea of what must have happened.” He yawned widely. “I must go to bed. Do the best you can.” Balder left.

17

2006-12-01T11:57:00.000-05:00

Alena went to sit in the chair by the fire after putting more wood on to burn. She was chilled after listening to Balder. She had Marta bring her some wine. If anything called for a drink so early in the morning it was the story that Balder had told her. She could not believe these things were done by anyone she knew. And that would leave the strangers in her midst. Alena took Balder’s warning to heart.

Rolf arrived shortly after Balder the Druid had left. He was shown to the chair opposite where Alena by a groom who hovered nearby at all times. He was from an area called Hellzig, also a mountain region, but with no mines to add wealth to the people. There were only a few farms that raised goats for wool. He was about twenty, although he said he was not sure as his father was not a very good record keeper and his mother had died giving birth to her seventh child, one of Rolf’s younger brothers; he had four. He also had two older brothers. A family of seven boys would make most men happy but Rolf’s father did not know what to do with them all. So here he was, tall, thin with dirty blonde hair, a serious man would really wanted to travel the world to seek his fortune but was ordered here to attempt to fill the family coffers.

Alena asked him if he did not understand that all of her property would remain in her possession after she married and the man would have to live with her. There would be no gold to enrich another man’s holdings. He agreed that he had been told all of this and the messenger had also told his father, but they did not believe that it would remain so after the marriage. How could a woman, a wife, hold property away from her husband? Alena listened to Rolf talk to her as if she were not the one that would be that wife. She let him talk; he seemed to need it, as if no one ever listened to what he had to say. She encouraged him several times to talk about where he would go if he could travel. He talked of India, Africa, following the Spice Road to the Far East.

“You should go,” said Alena. “What could be holding you back? You could hire on to a merchant to go on the caravans. You could follow your dream and you would be relieving your father of an extra son he does not need. There is no reason for you to stay here. I will not marry you so you have no chance of gaining my holdings.”

Rolf jumped up.

“I was hoping you would say that. Now I can go with a clear conscious. I am off.” He bowed to Alena, waved to the room at large and skipped from the building. First there was stunned silence then everyone burst out laughing.

Alena took a break to go to the outhouse. She walked around the hall to the communal toilet house. This building had stalls with benches that had holes in the seats. These seats were positioned over an underground stream that remove the bodily waste from the town and deposited it deep under the lake. When she got back to the hall, she found a man with dark brown hair, brown eyes and heavy brows sitting in her chair. You could tell he had muscles and strength but these were covered by a layer of fat that spoke of his love for ale and food. He was indulging in mead as she watched him. He was also gnawing on a bone. Alena walked up to him and stood by her chair. With a mouth full of mead be pointed to the other chair.

“No, sir, you must move to that chair. You are seated in mine. Did no one tell you?” Alena knew they would have but she wanted to see what he would say. She waited for his response and none was forth coming. “Sir, please move to the other chair.”

“You can sit there for a guest, surely,” he said, “I like these cushions. This chair is much more comfortable than that one.”

Alena decided there was no point in arguing. She had already written this man off of her list. He was Liedt von Linz. He came from a relatively large town just over the other side of the mountains and a day’s ride west. He snapped his fingers to have more mead poured for him. He spoke to her in between chewing a mouth full of pork roast. Bits of meat flew from his waving hand as he spoke and gestured to punctuate what he believed to be very important information.

“You are lucky I am still here what with the dead piling up and others running away. This seems like a well off town. I think I could like it here. I would not bother you much; food, drink and sport, that is all I require and I would leave the running of things that would provide them to you.” He flicked his hand that held a piece of meat at her. A spot of grease hit her in the face. She wiped it away but he never missed a beat.

“You would not mind if I brought my mistress here would you? You are not really my type, too energetic, too efficient. I mean I will do my duty when called upon, but I must have someone more to my liking available.”

Alena could not take any more. She stood up abruptly startling Liedt out of his self-indulgent behavior for one brief moment. Alena used that time to take the cup of mead from him. She handed it to a groom who had run up to her to help. Another groom was there to take the plate of pork she pulled from Liedt’s hands. He protested the removal of his food and drink. He stood to get them back but Alena was ready for him. She began pushing him towards the door. He tried to resist half heartedly, but he found he was no match for a room full of people that stood behind her.

“Fine, I am leaving. Stop pushing me.” Liedt swatted at her.

“Get out you mannerless oaf.”

“You are missing out on the best deal you will get. I saw Dierk packing up today. He does not want to stick around and get killed. I do not think you will find Klaus much to your liking so there is no one left but me. You should rethink how you treat me.”

“Get out now!” Alena shoved him through the open door. He turned to make a final comment and Marta slammed the door in his face.

“Oh my, that was bad,” said Alena. “But do you think Dierk is really leaving?” No one could give her an answer. “We must send someone to check and to tell Balder.”

They gathered together all of the grooms and gave them instructions that sent them in different directions to find different people. One of the grooms, the youngest, Sonjit, was sent to find Balder the Druid, which should be an easy and quick task as Balder would likely be at home and still asleep after being up all night. The groom, Mortimer, who was the son of the fisherman Alena had sent on an errand previously, was once again sent across the lake, this time to look for Dierk and find out if he was leaving.

The oldest of the three grooms, Plamen, an orphan boy of twelve and the last in his family’s line, was so full of energy that he always seemed to be vibrating. Alena sent him on the longest errand. He was instructed to find all of the members of the town council and invite them to tonight’s evening meal to discuss the town’s position and its options. Plamen ran out the door almost before Alena was done speaking.

Klaus, the final man that Alena had to interview was not due until after the noon meal. Everybody helped set the table. They were having a pork stew with onions and rutabagas and bread for dunking. They sat down and were half way through the meal when Balder arrived. He looked haggard, tired and not his usual kempt self. He joined them for the rest of the meal and looked more alert and refreshed after eating.

After clearing the debris of the meal away everyone went back to their usual chores and Alena and Balder sat closer together so they could talk. Alena told Balder about her meeting with Liedt and how badly it had gone and how unsuitable he would be as a husband. She told him about the grooms she had sent out and what their missions were to let him know they were busy trying to fix the situation.

“We had so many options when we began this mess.” Balder shook his head, dejected. “Now, we are almost out of choices.”

“Do not be discouraged yet Balder. Dierk is a good choice and a very promising prospect, so as long as we can make sure he does not leave, I can marry him.” She spoke with some cheer in her voice, forcing herself to sound optimistic. “And I still have Klaus yet to meet. He could be a possibility. Liedt was not someone whose opinion I would accept.”

“I am just tired and disheartened. I do not understand these killings we have had here and it has been generations since we have had a murder. No one in living memory remembers one.” Balder rose from the table and stretched out his back. “Do not mind me today. Some days I feel my age more than others. I will be back to my old self soon enough.” He flashed her an exaggerated grin. “See, better already.”

“You will see; everything will work itself out.” Alena walked Balder to the door. “What will you do now?”

“I will go down to the lake and wait by the docks for Mortimer to return from Zell.” Balder patted Alena on the arm. “If you or anyone else needs me that is where I will be.”

Alena watched Balder walk down to the lake. She saw Klaus coming from that direction. Balder stopped Klaus and the two of them talked for several minutes. Alena watched Balder point in her direction. Both men looked and saw her standing in the doorway. Klaus gave her a tentative wave. She finger waved back to him and went back into the hall to wait for him.

It was not long before he came in to join her. He walked in without knocking pausing once inside to adjust to the darker room. The sun was quite bright today and repairs were being made on the buildings shutters so some of them were closed for fittings. Because of their contact with Roman traders, Deepshade homes had windows made of glass that allowed light into their buildings and kept drafts out. The glass was being cleaned to remove the winter dirt. Window openings used to circulate air had leather coverings that could be removed to allow a breeze in or stretch tight over the window to keep cold air out. These were also being mended or replaced as needed.

Once Klaus was used to the darker room, he came over to the fireplace where Alena was seated in her usual chair. He bowed to her in greeting and asked if he could sit. She gave her permission and he sat in the chair rather awkwardly. Klaus had very long legs and the chair was too low to the ground for him. Alena suggested he turn the chair in such a way that he could stretch his legs out in front of him. He thanked her and gladly moved the chair on an angle to hers. Alena watched him move. He was much taller than the average man, at least two heads taller than her self. His limbs were long and lean, but he moved with grace. Like the other men on the list, he was in his early twenties. He had a mass of red hair that he wore down to his shoulders and he had a matching beard a mustache. Bright green eyes sparkled within all of that hair and when he smiled at her in thanks after rearranging the furniture, his teeth flashes and his cheeks were round rosy apples. He looked like a pleasant happy man and Alena wondered if her up coming conversation with him would live up to her expectations. She asked him if he wanted any wine or beer or if he were hungry. He asked for water. Klaus told her that Deepshade had the best water he had ever tasted. In many places he would not even dream of drinking water, but theirs seemed to be so clear and clear and utterly refreshing. Alena explained that they had a special well they used that was filled by a stream that came out of the alpine mountains and ran through an ancient peat bog before getting to the well, which was actually a natural spring.

After discussing Deepshade’s water, they moved on to talking about the people. Klaus wondered how they could allow two outsiders to rule their town when it was obviously a hereditary place. She explained that the outsiders would be denied certain privileges, such as placement in the Charnel House after death or true ownership of any real property if they had no children that marry locals. Since Alena did not have any children with Konrad, she would now never be a true resident of the town. But if she had children with her new husband and those children married natives, then her children would be full town citizens. He wanted to know why she did not just marry another native of the town. She explained that the town had an ancestral law that prevented one outsider from marrying more than one town member. They thought this would prevent jealousy and greed from taking over anyone’s lives.

Klaus asked some very intelligent questions about the salt mines workings. He wanted to know how many people worked in the mines and were they all from the town of Deepshade; what kind of salt did the mine produce and how much; where were the salt products stored until they were taken to market and how often was it all taken to market; what sorts of goods did the town receive in the way of exchange for their salt products.

He asked all of these questions at once and rather quickly. His pointed questions made Alena a bit nervous; they seemed very detailed and overly knowledgeable for mere curiosity. She evaded answering by saying that she wasn’t really involved in the detailed operations of the mines and these answers could wait until if and when she married her new husband. Klaus seemed very disappointed, but hid it well and he moved on smoothly to other things.

18

2006-12-01T11:56:00.000-05:00

He mentioned to Alena how happy and comfortable the town’s people seemed to him. They appeared to be well satisfied with their lives; not harshly treated or overly worked. Alena told him the saltmines afford the town certain luxuries that other people did not have because it was a well run operation that had been operating for generations. Unlike other people, Deepshade’s’ people only worked five days a week and only ten hours a day and none of the workers were serfs, they were actually paid part of the profits.

Klaus tried to move on to questions about Crab Apple Farm, wanting to know exact kinds and numbers of livestock, the type of produce grown, the number and size of buildings. He definitely was asking too detailed of questions. Alena would make sure she brought that up with Balder and the others when they met to discuss their options. Alena deftly changed the subject to questions about him.

It turned out that Klaus was the oldest son of his father’s third wife and while his father had enough holdings to give to his eldest son from his fist wife and his eldest son from his second wife, there was not enough to give Klaus a share. His father was now on his fourth wife who was pregnant.

There would be no problem with him staying at home as there was enough work to go around, but he thought he might like to be somewhere where he was more important and could have more influence.

Klaus told Alena that he was skilled with letters and numbers in Latin and Greek. He enjoyed spending time reading scrolls written by Roman authors, historians and philosophers such as Pliny the Elder. Klaus said he had a copy of Pliny’s Naturalis Historia that he was currently studying. He thought that a place like Deepshade would suit him well. If he had limited responsibility with the day to day operations of the place, he could be free to read, write and study and perhaps make some innovative suggestions. He would like to invent some machines. When she asked what kind of machines he did not know exactly, but some kind of machines.

“I have a scroll written in Latin that I have as of yet been able to read,” said Alena. She got up and went into her room and came back with a scroll that was neatly written in Roman ministerial style. She handed it to Klaus. She had no idea why she was giving it to him, but she wanted to hear him read it. “Could you read it to me? I am unable to do so.”

Klaus unrolled it, glanced down the page, then re-rolled it and handed it back to her.

“I am not familiar with that dialect,” he said.

“I understand.” Alena left it lay in her lap, not referring to it again, but it somehow stood as a wall between them. Alena knew what was on the scroll. She could read Latin herself, although that skill was not possessed my most people. Alena was now very suspicious of Klaus. While he had appeared to be a good prospective groom at first, she was rapidly realizing something was wrong. She tried to ask him more questions about himself but he was moving the conversation to an end. He was doing it gracefully but he was definitely getting ready to leave.

Klaus stood up. Alena stood up, too, because he was so much taller than her as it was. He took her left hand in his right, covering it with his other hand. He looked down into her eyes.

“I have enjoyed my time with you,” he said. He squeezed her hand gently. “This would be a lovely place to live and I think you would be fine company. I look forward to the next step in the process.” He bowed slightly, let go of her hand, turned and left.

Plamen, the eldest groom, returned as Klaus was leaving. Plamen was in such a hurry that he knocked into Klaus as the two passed in the doorway. Plamen bowed many times and apologized profusely. Klaus just laugh, told Plamen not to worry and ruffled the boy’s hair, then went on his way.

Plamen ran up to Alena, out of breath, and stood by her bent over at the waist massaging his side. He tried to take some deep breaths and calm himself. Alena had him sit down.

“Did you run all over and back today?” she asked him.

He could not talk yet. He just nodded his head, still trying to calm his breathing. Alena laughed at his exuberant youthfulness.

“Did you find everyone?”

He nodded his head again, smiling at her.

“Did they all say they would be here for the evening meal?”

“Helmut is not feeling well,” said Plamen. “His wife, Ulrike, met me at the door, not Helmut. She had me come in and sit down. She gave me some honey candy that she made. It was very good. She gave me some to take with me. Would you like a piece?”

“No, thank you, Plamen. Keep it for yourself. What is wrong with Helmut?”

“Ulrike said he was awake all night last night and could not get any sleep. She said it was really only old age so he was napping and she did not want to wake him up. When he wakes on his own they will come. She thinks if we put off the evening meal for a couple hours then they will be able to eat with us.” He popped one of Ulrike’s candies in his mouth.

“Do you think Ulrike could use some help with Helmut? I could go over to their house now and see if she needs anything.”

“She said you would ask and offer but it is not necessary. She’s got her girls to help her and Helmut just needs some extra rest. She said he is seventy two after all and that is something.” He laughed at the thought. He could not imagine what it would be like to be that old. “She the same age as him and she was laughing about what an old man he is while she ran around her kitchen.”

“There is still plenty a person can do when they are so ancient, Plamen.” Alena laughed at him. “But I can understand your amazement. The sixty years that separate you from them are several lifetimes.”

“She has a great, great grandson who is older than I am by two years.” He could not get a grasp on how much older she was than him. “She kept bustling around the kitchen giving me things to eat. She said I was too skinny. I told her I got plenty to eat in your household; I just could not keep still.”

“We will send you back to her in a little while to see how she is doing and see if she and Helmut need any help getting here. I am sure they will be happy with your company.”

“Maybe she will give me more honey candy.”

“Did you find Detlef and his sister, Ebba?”

“I found Ebba first. She was out at the goat pen.”

Plamen had found Ebba with a young pregnant goat. It was the goat’s first pregnancy and a she was having problems. Ebba had Plamen help her with the goat. The kid was stuck in its mother’s birth canal. Ebba had Plamen hold the mother goat around her shoulders while Ebba reached inside the mother and pulled the kid out of its mother. The kid was not breathing. Ebba held its nostrils closed and breathed into its mouth. She squeezed its chest to force the air back out and breathed in its mouth again. It started kicking and breathing on its own. They spent some time clean up the mother and the kid and Ebba helped the kid learn how to nurse on its mother. After they cleaned themselves up, they milked a few of the other goats which was the reason Ebba was there in the beginning. They got two full leather buckets of goats’ milk. They took the milk back to Ebba’s house and poured it into a churn. One of Ebba’s maids used the milk to make butter.

Plamen told Ebba that Alena wanted her to come to the evening meal tonight at Alena’s hall so the group could meet to discuss the town’s plan. Ebba said of course she would be there but she had some things to do first, but she would not need Plamen’s help. He had already done enough work for Ebba this day. He asked Ebba if she knew where her brother Detlef would be at this time of the afternoon. Ebba said normally he would be up at the mines supervising the workers but today was midweek and he spent this day every week doing tallies. Those he did at his house at the top of the path that led out of town and up to the mines. Plamen knew his house was the last house that way out of town but it was also one of the biggest houses in town.

Ebba had Plamen sit down and rest a bit before going on the find her brother. She gave him a bowl of mead. This was another treat for him this day. Usually children only had watered down wine to drink but never beer or mead. Mead was the most intoxicating drink of the three. The honey in the mead produced a rich sweet drink that fermented quickly and strongly. He sipped at it and took his time enjoying it. Ebba told Lili the butter maid how Plamen helped Ebba with the birthing of the goat kid. Lili was about the same age as Plamen and while Ebba told her story, Lili took a few looks at Plamen from under her long blonde lashes. He blushed. Lili’s looks made him nervous and his hands shook causing him to spill some of the mead in his bowl down his tunic.

Ebba asked Plamen if he knew exactly where Detlef lived because if he did not she could send Lili with him to show him the way and Lili could take Detlef and his family some of the butter she had made earlier in the day. He said he sure could use Lili’s help and he would be happy to carry the butter tub for her. Ebba took over the butter churn from Lili, smiled encouragingly at both of them and shoed them on their way.

Normally a child with a lot to say, Plamen suddenly felt tongue tied. Lili was quiet at first, smiling at him when she glanced at him which she seemed to do a lot. Then she started asking him questions in a quiet sweet voice. They discovered that they were both orphans with no one to watch out for them but themselves. They agreed their mistresses were very nice and caring but it was not the same as having a family. They enjoyed their company so much that they walked to Detlef’s house slowly, taking their time.

They did eventually reach his house though. Detlef’s wife, Cordula, opened the door at their knock and ushered them inside. She was very happy to get her butter. They had finished the last of their butter that morning.

Plamen explained to Cordula why he was there. She sent him into the room where Detlef was working on his tallies. Detlef sat at a large table that sat under a large window sealed with the thinnest pieces of glass Plamen had ever seen in Deepshade. Light shone through the glass window which faced south to take advantage of the day’s sunshine. This room belonged to Detlef alone. It was a quiet room where no wife or children intruded. This was a work room. He had his wax tablets laid out in rows or stacked together and he made changes on the tablets as he calculated numbers on a piece of equipment that had five thin wire strings stretched on a frame and on each string were ten bone beads. He moved the beads around and made notes on the wax tablets.

Plamen waited quietly for Detlef to notice him. After many minutes, Plamen was sure he was being too quiet and Detlef did not realize he was even there. He shuffled his feet, no response. He coughed and Detlef jumped and spun around and paperweight in his hand and ready to throw. When Detlef saw Plamen he relaxed.

“I am sorry I startled you, but Cordula let me in.”

“Do not worry. I become engrossed in my work and then I do not hear anything. What brings you here?”

“Alena is gathering the council for this evening’s meal at her hall. She wishes me to find out if you can be there.”

Detlef walked out into the kitchen with Plamen. Here they saw Lili playing with Detlef and Cordula’s youngest child, a fat little baby of one year of age.

“Ah, I see my sister sent Lili. What did she send you with, some fresh butter, I hope?”

“Yes, sir. Her salt cellars are empty. She asked that I bring a sack back with me.”

Detlef left the house and went out back. Plamen could not see what he was doing back there. He heard some scraping and a bang and then Detlef was back with a woven sack filled with salt. He handed it to Plamen.

“Will you carry this and walk Lili back to my sister’s house?”

“Yes,” said Plamen, “I would be happy to walk Lili home.”

“Off you go then and tell Alena I will be there. I will be a little late as midweek is the day I spend in the afternoon with my children.”

“Everyone will be a little late.”

Carrying the sack of salt over his shoulder, Plamen helped Lili rise from the floor and they left Detlef’s house holding hands. They took their time walking back to Ebba’s house. When they got there, Plamen took the salt in and placed it on the table. He told them, mostly Lili, that he needed to get back to Alena’s hall to let her know everyone would attend, but just two hours later than normal. Ebba thanked him for all of his work. Lili walked him to the door and gave him a kiss on his cheek as they said good bye.

He ran all of the way home he was so happy. He was pretty sure that Lili liked him. Now he had to work especially hard to make something of himself so that some day they could marry. He would need to talk to Alena about what he could do. He would need to talk to Lili too to make sure she liked him and that she would wait for him until he could provide for her. He was so excited he ran into the man who was leaving the hall as Plamen returned.

19

2006-12-01T11:55:00.000-05:00

The table was set and the roasts were being kept warm until everyone arrived. It was a cool evening so Alena had the table moved closer to the fire to keep their feet warm. Alena sent Plamen to Ulrike to help her bring Helmut. The three of them were the first to arrive even though Helmut moved slowly leaning heavily on his cane. Alena had Ulrike and Helmut sit on the fire side so they could get the most of the heat.

Balder the Druid was next to arrive. He looked so much better after his rest today and his mood was much better. He was back to being his optimistic self with a dose of realism thrown in. Plamen was bouncing up and down next to Balder. At first Balder put it off to the boy’s usual energetic self but soon he realized it was more than that.

“What is it boy?”

“Sir, I was wondering if I might talk to you later about my future and my past.”

“You were never much interested in either before. What has brought this on?”

“I would like to speak with you in private if I may.”

“I see.” Balder regarded Plamen with new eyes. “Will tomorrow at the noon meal suit you?”

“Yes, thank you, Sir.” Plamen was satisfied that he was on his way to bigger and better things.

Ebba came in following Plamen’s conversation with Balder. She had her three year old with her and she had brought Lili to watch the child for her. Alena sent Lili and Plamen off to a corner with the baby to keep them all occupied and out of the way of the adults’ meeting.

The council, minus Detlef, was now all arranged around the hall’s table. As usual, Balder the Druid sat at the head of the meeting in Alena’s normal spot at the table. Alena sat at his right, Ebba next to Alena and Detlef, Ebba’s twin brother, was to be the last on that side of the table when he arrived. On Balder’s left sat the town’s oldest people, Helmut and his long time wife, Ulrike. Marta and Leni served everyone cups of wine and left the jugs on the table so they could help themselves when they wanted and did not need to be interrupted or overheard by any help.

They decided to eat now and Detlef could have something later when he arrived. The rest of the household sat at the other end of the table. Dinner was two hours later than usual so everyone was quite hungry. They had roast pork with turnips, chestnuts, eggs, fried fish, cheese, bread, onions and dandelion greens. They were almost done eating and quite full when the hall door was flung open by Mortimer, the groom whose father was a fisherman. He ran up to Balder the Druid and Alena, bouncing on his feet in his excitement.

The buzz in the room increased as they waited to hear what the excitement was about. He stuttered over his words and pointed at the door while he tried to make sense. He said something about his father, Konwey, Detlef and Tomas the Magistrate. They could not get much out of him that made sense and he was distracted by the food. In the end they understood that Tomas, Detlef and Konwey were on their way to Alena’s hall and they were bringing some important news. They sent Mortimer to a seat down the table and a plate full of food.

It was not long before they were interrupted again. This time by Mortimer’s father, Konwey the fisherman, who came into the hall in a much calmer state to say that Detlef and Tomas were coming and bringing a guest of sorts. Konwey had rowed Tomas the Magistrate across the lake from Zell. Tomas was coming over to tell everyone some interesting information he had discovered while looking into the murders of Elsin, Makt and Vix. Upon docking at Deepshade, they had found someone sitting by the lake waiting for a boat to take him back to Zell that had a lot to do with the situation at hand.

Tomas and Konwey were in the process of capturing this man when Detlef came down from his house along the lakeside path. He joined Konwey and Tomas in securing their prisoner as their captive was not keen on be caught. They had to knock him on the head to stun him at one point so they could tie him up. Detlef and Tomas being larger than Konwey held their prisoner between them, supporting the stunned man between them and they sent Konwey up to the hall to prepare the way. They wanted a chair and rope ready so they could tie their captive up when they arrived. It would take them a few minutes to arrive because the man was struggling so much.

Men got up from the table to get the requested supplies and set the chair in an open space where it would not be near anyone or anything. They had plenty of rope ready for when Detlef and Tomas arrived. The table had been cleared of all but the wine cups and jugs which were refilled and topped off. Marta made up a couple of plates for Tomas and Detlef and had everything else put away. Everyone was anxious with excitement waiting to see what would happen next.

They did not have long to wait. There was a kick at the door. Two men went to open it and stood back waiting to see if their help was needed. Detlef and Tomas came in with Klaus, his hands tied behind his back, between them. All three men had bloody noses and scratches on their faces. Tomas looked around the room. One of the men showed him the chair for which he was looking. Tomas and Detlef struggled with Klaus, shoving him over to the chair and forcing him to sit. They tied his arms behind the chair back. They tied his chest to the seat back and his waist to the chair seat. Then they tied each one of his legs to a separate leg of the chair. They stood up when they were done and breathed deeply. It was obvious Klaus had not been easy for them to capture. He looked around the room, his eyes finally resting on Alena and he smiled at her but there was no joy in that smile only a malice that shocked her because it was so completely different from his appearance earlier that day.

Tomas and Detlef came over to the table and sat down, exhausted. Marta brought over a bucket with warm water and cloths. Ebba cleaned up her brother, Detlef’s, face while Marta helped Tomas clean up his own face. Leni brought them each a big mug of ale which both men downed in one gulp. Alena brought them their dinner plates so they could begin eating. While everyone was very curious about what was going on they waited for the men to calm down and relax.

Tomas and Detlef ate quickly. They knew everyone was waiting for information. They finished eating and let Leni and Marta clear away their plates and refill their beer mugs. Then they sat back and looked around the table and the room. Tomas glanced at Klaus who sat tied to the chair glaring at everyone. Tomas looked at Detlef who nodded to him to tell everyone their story.

“I have discovered much over the last few days as I worked to discover who had killed Vix, Elsin and Makt.” Tomas took a sip of beer and cleared his throat. He was not used to speaking in front of so many people. He looked at Alena who nodded to him and she smiled, encouraging him to continue.

“I met Mortimer today in Zell when you sent him on his errand. His job was also one of mine so I conscripted him to my services. We went about our business and discovered what we both set out to do. This evening we were on our way to Deepshade, coming across the lake in Mortimer’s father’s boat. Konwey road us over here and all seemed uneventful and normal until we reached the docks on this side of the lake. When the boat pulled in, I saw Klaus sitting there. He was waiting for a boat to take him back to Zell so he could make his escape.

“I got out of the boat as nonchalantly as I could but I think Klaus was suspicious. He tried to stay out of my reach as I spoke to him of the weather, but in the end I had to jump him because I could not let him get away. He is so much taller than I am and despite his leanness he is quite strong. Konwey tried to help but the two of us were no match for Klaus on our own. Luckily, Detlef arrived before Klaus could escape and he helped me and Konwey subdue Klaus and get his hands tied behind his back. We sent Mortimer to you to let you know we were coming.

“Getting Klaus up the street was not easy. He struggled with us the entire way. At one point, he almost escaped. We tackled him and fought with him on the ground. He kicked me in the face and butted Detlef in the nose with his skull. That’s when Detlef punched him and I knocked him over the head. We were all bloody and bruised now but Klaus was stunned. We hauled him to his feet and had to half drag him the rest of the way here. As you saw even then Klaus continued to try to get away but he has a powerful reason for not wanting to be caught.” Tomas paused for breath. The room full of people turned as one and looked at Klaus. He stuck his tongue out at them. A few people gasped at his audacity.

“Is he the murderer?” Plamen blushed as everyone turned now in his direction. He lowered his eyes, thinking Tomas would not answer him.

“No,” said Tomas. The people’s attention moved back to him. “But he is not who he said he is.

“I sent my people out to check on all of the men who had come here to vie for Alena’s hand in marriage. It seems there is a Klaus but he is a much younger boy known to this man here.” Tomas pointed at the person they knew as Klaus. “This man’s real name is Rufus and he was in the employ of Klaus’ father and he was engaged in teaching Klaus close range fighting. It turns out that Klaus did not want to learn to fight or to participate in your husband search as his father wished so Klaus had Rufus stand in for him. This suited Rufus well. It turns out that Rufus here is part of a thieving band of men looking for ways to improve their stations in life.

“With Klaus’ blessing Rufus took Klaus’ place here to check out the possibilities for his band to steal some things of value. He even toyed with the idea of actually marrying Alena. He was not going to get far though. It seems that Klaus, when tested by his father in his fighting skills and found to be wanting, told his father about Rufus. Upon further investigation Klaus’ father discovered Rufus’ gang and an explanation for some attacks and robberies that happened near his holdings.

“I am sure most of you have already suspected that he and his gang were responsible for the attack on your woodsman, Karl, when he was on his way back from giving out his messages. Karl had delivered a message for Klaus and that is where Rufus saw him. Rufus was sure Karl had many valuables with him so that is why he was attacked. Rufus’ appearance is so unique that he would never have gotten far without being captured. His gang is already in custody in Klaus’ father’s dungeons. Rufus will be joining them soon.

“But he is not our killer. Again, his looks make him stand out and there are witnesses that put him in other places when we believe our victims were killed. Also, you will recall we are looking for a man with long black hair.”

Alena felt a shiver down her back. She did not want to think about black haired men. She became excited and scared at the same time. She pushed thoughts of crystal blue eyes from her mind.

There was a lull in Tomas’s tale as people looked at Rufus, unable to understand his actions. They had such like crime in their town that Deepshade’s citizens were stunned by the amount they found in their midst.

Alena wondered how a man, who seemed as charming as Rufus, as they now knew him, could do such dastardly things and it did not show in his every day manner. She looked at him and their eyes met. He smiled at her again. She shook her head, truly puzzled.

“I think that perhaps I will have to forfeit my place in the running for your heart,” Rufus said. “Although I think you do not have any more suitors left, so maybe I still have a chance.” Rufus laughed out loud at his own joke and the shocked looks on all of their faces.

Marta walked up to him and slapped his face.

“You do not speak to my mistress ever again.” Marta and Rufus scowled at each other but Rufus never said another word.

“This has been an ill fated project from the beginning,” said Detlef. “We need to find another solution to our problem.”

“Wait,” said Alena. “What of Dierk? He is still a good choice.” She looked at the group hopefully. “Mortimer, come here.”

The boy ran to her side and stood waiting for her to ask him questions. He was eager to be helpful.

“I sent you to Zell to find Dierk.”

“Yes.”

“Did you find him?”

“Yes.” Mortimer smiled at Alena. Alena waited patiently for him to continue. He said nothing but kept smiling at her.

“And…?” Alena was becoming very frustrated with Mortimer. His smile faded a bit.

“And … he …left…?”

“Ugh.” Alena grunted and dropped her forehead to the table covering her head with her arms.

“Perhaps I can help,” said Tomas the Magistrate. “It is true that Mortimer found Dierk and it is true that Dierk has left for home.” Tomas ruffled Mortimer’s hair and then sent him off to be with the other children.

“Mortimer did not pay attention to most of what happened in between. I had come looking for Dierk because I had heard he was loading up his horse for his return trip home. I wanted to speak to him before he had a chance to leave. I also thought I would try to talk him into staying as he seemed a very nice man and I thought he would suit your purposes very well.

“I asked him to join me in the inn for a pint of beer. As he had already made up his mind and felt he could not be dissuaded, he went with me easily enough.

“We talked about his home of Iron Pine Hill. I knew Dierk was the genuine article from my investigations. He did not have much to hide as he was truthful in most things. He said this trip was a very trying and costly one for him. He had just received news this morning that his older brother had died two days ago in a hunting accident and his father was calling Dierk back to take his brother’s place in the line of succession. Dierk liked his brother a great deal and did not wish to receive an inheritance at this price. But he knew his duty to his father and his family.

“He said he liked us all well enough. Alena he liked you too much to marry you.” Tomas smiled at the look on Alena’s face.

“What is that supposed to mean? I do not understand.” She was truly puzzled.

“Well, you will remember that we thought that Elsin and Vix were lovers since we found them dead in the same room and they were both naked. Apparently, we were misled by the scene and it is possible that the killer misunderstood Elsin and Vix’s relationship. According to Dierk, Elsin and Vix were childhood friends that grew up together. The lands belonging to their families are adjacent to one another. As a matter of fact, Alena, their lands are not far from Crab Apple Farm.”

“I remember that,” said Balder, “it was one of the reasons we thought either one would be good prospects.”

“Yes, and that is why the both agreed to come, even though Wolfram, whose holdings are near theirs, tried to talk both Elsin and Vix out of coming.”

“How do you know that?” asked Alena. “Have you found Wolfram?”

“No, Wolfram, sadly, is still on the loose. Dierk told me of the conversations both Vix and Elsin had with Wolfram. Dierk said they were more than mere conversations. As a matter of fact, Wolfram threatened both Vix and Elsin with bodily harm, if they did not stay away from here. Dierk had to pull Wolfram off of Vix when they came to blows. Dierk actually had to beat Wolfram up before he would go away and leave them alone. Dierk thought for sure that he had broken Wolfram’s jaw he had to hit him so hard.”

“And why was Dierk with Vix and Elsin?” asked Ebba. She was scowling with suspicion. Too many people knew each other in this mess that they had created.

20

2006-12-01T11:54:00.000-05:00

“Ah, well, you see, now, we come to Dierk’s secret. While Vix and Elsin were old friends since childhood and only friends, the truth of the matter is that Dierk and Vix were lovers for a long time. Dierk said they have had a relationship for almost six years. That is why he decided he must go. He is totally heartbroken at losing the love of his life and while either of them would do their duty to their families and marry, now that Vix is dead and killed in such a horrible way, Dierk could never live here and be reminded of Vix’s death everyday.”

Everyone around the table sat in silence thinking about the loss of a loved one. It was not unusual for husbands or wives to have lovers outside of marriage. Marriages were first and foremost business arrangement to improve and solidify fortunes, to increase land holdings and to form bonds of kinship and build allegiance between peoples. No one expected marriage partners to remain faithful as long as everyone played by the rules. Even most bloodlines were so mixed up that the important things were obedience and loyalty to the family not necessarily if bloodlines ran true. Men often had male lovers; they spent so much time together, hunting and fighting, training and traveling together.

“It was not easy to watch such a big man break down in tears over the loss of Vix. Dierk was truly heartbroken. Since he had told me everything, he now felt comfortable asking for a favor. He wanted to know if he could have Vix and Elsin’s belongings so he could take their things back to their families. I, of course, told him that it would be no problem and it was a good idea, since he knew their families well.

“Once I had agreed to that, he felt he could ask for more. Next he asked if he could take their bodies home with him. He knew that the families had already been told of Vix and Elsin’s deaths. He thought it would be less painful if they could bury their sons instead of waiting and grieving longer than necessary. I agreed to this also. We spent the next several hours getting a wagon, filling it with straw and hooking it to mules. We then went to the ice house and loaded the bodies of Elsin and Vix, covering them with more straw. They were fairly well frozen, so we were confident they would stay cold on the trip home.

“I rounded up Mortimer and sent him to my house to get the dead men’s belongings. He seems to have taken a couple of detours playing with the dogs that run around Zell. He tells me you have no dogs over here and so he can not resist them when he visits us. Eventually, he returned with the bundles, one slung over each shoulder.

“We finished packing the wagon with the bundles and also with Dierk’s belongings then sent him on his way.”

Tomas was tired of talking. He sat quietly drinking his ale while the others thought about what he had told them.

“Oh!” Alena yelled into the silence startling Helmut who had fallen asleep. He jerked awake and knocked over his cane which Balder tried to catch. Instead, Balder knocked over his cup of wine. It fell to the floor and shattered in many pieces. Some people scrambled to clean it up, moping up the wine that had also soaked Balder’s tunic. Others turned to Alena wondering what could cause her to exclaim so.

“I am sorry,” she said to Balder and the room at large. Her cheeks were burning pink with embarrassment.

“What was it that you thought of?” asked Tomas. A rumble of thunder was heard in the distance and as they felt it vibrate under their feet they saw the lightening flash between the cracks in the shutters and brighten the glass panes.

“It looks like you will be staying the night, Tomas,” said Balder. “I guess my wet tunic will no longer matter.” He smiled at Alena. “What were you going to say, dear?”

“It just dawned on me that Wolfram has black hair,” she said. “He knew Vix and Elsin.”

“Yes, Alena, I thought of that too, but Wolfram did not know Makt as far as I have been able to tell. Dierk says that he had never met Makt before and he is fairly certain that Elsin and Vix had not met Makt before coming here.”

Another clap of thunder sounded in the distance but closer than the last time. The lightening flashed shortly afterwards. They all knew it would not be long now before a big thunderstorm would be over their heads. Once it arrived, no one would be leaving until it moved out of the area. Thunderstorms over Deepshade were often violent and could last for hours as the storm would circle over them, hemmed in by the mountain peaks and the revolving air flows.

“I could not find any connection between Makt and the others except you and that connection was slim at best.” Tomas shrugged his shoulders. They seemed to be at a dead end as far as the killings were concerned.

Alena thought of another black haired man and quickly pushed his image out of her mind. While she knew that Greydere had lied to her and the town’s people, she could see even less of a connection between him and the others. Of course, she had not known that the others had all known each other, so her knowledge was not very good.

The storm was now directly over them. Thunder cracked and lightening streaked across the sky. Rain pelted the roof mixed with hail that pounded down the slate tiles. Alena was glad she had just had the shutters repaired.

“It seems we are back where we started,” said Ebba. She shouted over the rain and thunder. “Has anyone got any new ideas we can try? Or do you think we should attempt this process all over again?”

No one answered her and some just shook their heads.

“I have to pee,” said Rufus in the momentary silence. His statement was followed by another boom.

“No one is taking you out to the toilets in this weather,” said Tomas. “Just hold it in.”

Several huge crashes over head reverberated around the room, lightening flashed repeatedly. Some of the children whimpered and ran to adults. The door to the hall burst open on a gust of wind that whipped around the room; it guttered the fires and extinguished candles. Ran fought its way into the room along with three dark figures, soaked and falling in on the floor.

Children and women screamed. Men fought to get the door closed and the candles relit. The people gathered around the men lying on top of each other on the floor. Men brought over more candles and a couple lanterns. In a halo of light, they could see one of the men trying to scrabble out from under the other two men. One grabbed the escaping man’s ankle while they other man tackled him around the waist. All three were grunting like animals; they made a lot of noise but no intelligible sounds came out of them. No one knew what to do or who to help.

Once the initial shock was over, Tomas gave orders to grab all three men and separate them so he could figure out was going on. The men in the hall pulled the pile of bodies apart.

“Do not let him go,” yelled one of the men. He stopped struggling with those who hand a hold of him but he kept his eyes on the man he was trying to hold on to. The second man quit struggling, too, but the third man fought all the harder once he was on his feet. All three men looked starved and haggard, drenched to the skin, with cuts and bruises on every visible place on their bodies. Their clothes were ripped and worn, faces covered in dirt and unshaven beards. Despite their appearance, Alena recognized all three men. She gasped aloud.

“Greydere.” She pointed at the first man who had risen and quit struggling. “Georg.” He was the second man who had quit struggling. People looked at them with dawning recognition. They turned to the third man, who continued to fight despite the two big men that held him tight.

“Wolfram.” Alena could not believe her eyes. “Where did you come from?” She looked from one man to another, finally resting on Greydere. He had his head down, using the men who were holding him for support. He seemed totally exhausted as did the other two, but Alena really only had eyes for Greydere. She continued to stare at him in wonder. He must have felt her staring at him. He looked up and their eyes locked. Alena felt a queasy feeling in her stomach and an ache in her loins. Tingling pin pricks ran up and down her arms and legs. Everyone else in the room had disappeared for her.

Alena jumped when Balder the Druid touched her arm. He had been talking to her and she had not heard what he said.

“Alena, these men look like they need food and rest.” Balder had the men help Georg and Greydere to the table to sit down.

Tomas had another chair brought for Wolfram. His arms were tied behind his back at the wrists. He was then tied to the chair in the same way they had tied Rufus. Once he was bound, he seemed to accept that he had been caught and he was relieved to be sitting and no longer struggling. His chair was placed near the fireplace so that he could dry out. His head hung forward, chin on chest. To everyone’s amazement he was soon snoring.

Greydere and Georg sat next to each other at the table. They were brought cups of water to start. Both men gulped the water as if they had not had any in days. Once Alena had organized Marta to get them some food, she sat down at the table across from Greydere and did not take her eyes off of him. She held onto all of her questions. She would wait until they had a chance to eat and rest a bit.

Marta brought the men bowls of stew broth with the vegetables mashed up, but no meat. Meat would have to wait until their stomachs had gotten used to food again. They also got some bread for dipping and some mead for energy. Marta called the grooms over to get together dry clothes for the men. Everyone else waited patiently for them to finish eating. They finally did finish eating then went off to a side the side to put on the dry leggings and tunics.

The storm outside raged, but it did not take up anyone’s attention anymore. Rain and hail pelted the walls and bounced on the roof, but it only served as a back drop to the pent up energy inside. Greydere and Georg returned to the table, dry and more comfortable then they had felt in days. Their cups had been refilled and nuts had been placed out for them to nibble on if they got hungry again while they were telling what had happened.

Wolfram snorted in his sleep. Greydere turned and looked at him. Georg nudged Greydere in the ribs and laughed. He laughed so heartily that it became infectious and everyone else started laughing too. Everyone but Alena and Greydere.

“Why did you tell me you were a slave?” Alena asked Greydere her question quietly. Greydere looked at her sitting across from him. He did not answer her for several minutes. Georg looked back and forth between the two of them. He laughed again.

“Just tell her how it was,” Georg said to Greydere. “She will understand. Your pride has gotten us in to this mess. Now, get us out of it with the truth, brother.”

“You are brothers?” Alena asked Georg. “One of you better tell me what is going on.”

Greydere cleared his throat and rubbed his temples. He seemed to be having trouble getting started. Alena smacked the palm of her hand on the table.

“Tell me now!”

“Georg and I are brothers,” said Greydere. “I am the oldest of my father’s children but my mother’s only child. She died when I was twenty. My father loved her well as did I and we both grieved deeply but in our own ways. My father married Georg’s mother shortly after my mother’s death.”

“You are not that different in ages, maybe three years apart,” said Alena.

“We are four years apart. I am twenty nine.”

“So, Georg is your step-brother.”

“No, we are half brothers. Georg’s mother was my father’s mistress while my mother lived, his wife after my mother died. We found out we were brothers when my mother was dead even though we had known and liked each other all of our lives. I was angry with my father so I left home and went to seek my own fortune.

“I did not lie to you about being a slave. I stretched the truth a bit. While on my travels I had been captured by some slavers and sold to a sultan for a big sum of gold. I have a few skills he found valuable. He liked my storytelling and I have an ability with languages. I can read and write several languages and I am good with numbers.

“After being away from home for eight years, growing up and seeing much of the world, I escaped my captor and returned home to my father. I got back shortly before you made your plans to find a husband. I was taken for dead, so Georg had taken my place as the oldest son. Upon my return, he was moved to the side. He took it well enough. I did not want to take his place but he and my father insisted. Then your messenger came and he took his chance.

“I came along to see what he was getting himself into. Unfortunately, once I saw you I fell in love with you. Georg was willing for us to change places, but we could not figure out how to go about doing it so you would not hate us. And then men started dying and that piece of offal attacked you and you were driving me crazy.

“I knew that Wolfram would never leave you alone. Or us, if I could convince you to marry me after the mess Georg and I had made of things. So, Georg and I set off to find Wolfram. We found him on the first day we went out looking for him but soon we found out that he is completely insane. We lost our horses and all of our supplies because of him. We had nothing to bind him with except strips ripped from our clothes. Georg and I had to take turns holding on to him to keep him from escaping.

“He bragged to us about all of the people he has killed. He says he has killed many of his own people, but he also says he poisoned your husband. Before Konrad left to come back here on his last trip, Wolfram and he had a drink. Wolfram had slipped a slow acting deadly poison into Konrad’s beer. The poison quietly killed him in his sleep.

“Wolfram says he knew Vix and Elsin. He had tried to keep them away from here but they would not listen. Then Vix’s lover, who was Dierk, beat Wolfram, so Wolfram decided to kill Vix in revenge. Elsin walked in to the room while he was killing Vix, so Wolfram killed Elsin to stop him from talking. It seems that Makt was listening at the door when Wolfram killed Vix and Elsin. He tried to get gold from Wolfram. Wolfram said he would give Makt the gold. He lured Makt out onto the heath and killed him too.

“Wolfram did all of these things so that he could have you, Alena. He wanted Crab Apple Farm and he wanted you so that he could teach you some manners and respect for your betters. He hated that you told him no and wanted you to pay.”

Greydere was done talking. He was exhausted and wanted only to sleep now. He had spilled every thing out and knew he did not stand a chance with Alena. He put his head down on the table without looking at her or any of the others.

“Oh, brother, do not be sad,” said Georg. “There are other women in the world. I’m sure we can find you another.”

Greydere looked up at his brother with a ready angry retort on his lips. He saw that Georg was smiling at him. So were Alena and everyone else in the room.

“Well, it looks like you have solved all of our problems Greydere,” said Balder the Druid. “You have provided us with the answers to our questions and if I am not mistaken, you yourself will be the husband for which we were seeking.”