Year of our Lord 1295 A.D.
I managed to get a lady to take pity on me, she let me sleep in the stable, on the straw that was there, you could see in her face whether she distrusted me or not, it was more than that, she was afraid of me, to see a badly wounded guy with blood, with strange clothes, a stranger, of course she was afraid of me.
I let myself fall on the straw totally surrendered, I was all soaked, the cold was getting into my bones, I wasn't sure yet, but I think I went back in time, or maybe in another world...
-Isn't it ridiculous...
As if going back in time was a very normal thing to do, I have to find out what's going on, and more importantly I have to find out if Hero is somewhere, whatever it is please don't let it be what I'm going through.
A woman opened the stable door, she came towards me somewhat annoyed.
She was pretty, wide-hipped, but you could tell she was underfed, her long brown hair was wrapped in a white scarf, she was wearing a worn lilac dress, she was young, maybe a little older than me.
-My cousin mentioned that she let a stranger sleep here.
Yes, thank you very much.
-What a disgusting way to talk, look English, we don't want any trouble, we already have enough with your king's taxes, we'll let you sleep here so you can take shelter from the storm, but first thing tomorrow morning you're out of here.
But what's wrong with this broad?
-I apologise for the way I speak, I know it's a bit clumsy, but I'm not used to combining dialects.
-English
-You mentioned a king, could you tell me his name, and I know it will seem strange to you, but could you also tell me what year it is?
His face suddenly changed from one of hatred to one of strangeness.
-Are you kidding me, stranger?
No, seriously, as you can see, I took a blow to the head, and I don't remember some things. Obviously I was lying, I remember everything, but I need information to know where the fuck we are.
I could tell from his face that he was suspicious of me.
-Edward long legs, I might be wrong about this, but I think in the year of his God he is 1295.
When he finished speaking he spat on the ground.
Hey... 1295... I'm really in the fucking past, I don't know whether to be terrified or excited, this time is marked by the conflict between Ireland, Scotland and England, if I'm not mistaken, it's when William Wallace confronts King Edward the First.
-Are you all right?
I think I can see the mix of stress and excitement on my face.
I have to be careful what I say, she totally hates the English, I shouldn't even worry about that, hell if I somehow travel back in time anything I do could change the future, or at least my future, even with my presence I could have already changed it.
-English I'm talking to you...
-Yes, I'm sorry, I'm fine, thank you... -Yes, I'm sorry, I'm fine, thank you... Miss?
-My grace is Helen
-Thank you Helen, my name is Gran, by the way.
-Anyway, remember to get out of here by morning.
Here, I'll take the opportunity to give you this, it'll help you get through the night.
In spite of the way you speak, you are kind.
I got up to receive the blanket, but as soon as I took a step, I felt that everything was spinning, the little strength I had in my legs disappeared and I fell, or at least that's what I thought, Helen prevented my fall.
English, what's the matter with you?
-I feel very tired, my head hurts?
She put her hand on my head while still holding me.
-For the love of Dagda, you're bleeding badly, I'll carefully help you to lie down.
Strange, I thought the wound had healed, probably when I got up it opened up, I felt as if I was fading away, I heard my heart beating distantly.
-I'm dying.
-Great, I'll leave you lying here, I'll be right back.
-Wow, at last you say my name... -Great, I'll let you lie here, I'll be right back.
Things after that weren't very clear, I know Helen came back, then I felt a couple of pokes in my forehead, she said some things I couldn't understand and everything went black.
Lordship of Ireland of the English Monarchy.
Dublin 1 week earlier
-Sir Willfest of Poart, it is a flattery to have one of King Edward's most important and trusted knights come to our aid in facing these Gaelic Barbarians.
I approached slowly to the Lord of Irish, his guards were watching me with attention, they were attentive to any hostile act that I could present, I knelt before the Lord, I drew my sword, at that moment the guards did the same, but with a gesture with his hand Lord Irish stopped them.
Idiots, do you think you can fight me, I myself am between attempts at knighthood, if I had any intention of killing Lord Irish I would have killed him by now, what a bad end to these green fruits.
I took my sword in the palms of both my hands and offered it to him.
-My Lord, I am under your just words, your orders are the extension of King Edward's words, I am here to serve you by my king's orders.
-Oh, but how charming Sir Willfest, of course I will take your service, but what a pity that your name has been sullied by what happened to the Baron de Mons.
I raised my head to look him in the face, his face showed depravity itself, he even licked his lip contentedly.
-A real pity, but tell me what you were thinking when you decided to insult the baron, you would have better let the baron take your daughter's purity as he watched, tell me what you were thinking when you took your weapon against the king's younger cousin.
He continued to insult me while he laughed.
-Yes I was...
I bit my mouth for saying the following.
-I was a fool, my lord, I lost my temper.
-Hey? How detestable, my right hand here in Dublin will give you your orders.
A sinister smile came over his face.
-Very well Sir Willfest, we have problems in a village with taxes, the barbarians are a month behind with their payments and we need that money as soon as possible, and I hope that our past does not interfere with our work.
-That voice...
Damn cockroach, I'm going to kill you.
Through the door appeared a plump, toad-faced man, the Baron de Mons, his face adorned with a cloth covering his left eye, which I had cut out myself.
Skipping all protocol I decided to confront him.
-What are you doing here?
-The great Lord John of Irish requested my help a few months ago even before you adorned my face, you should be grateful that my cousin the king decided to personate his offering for your military achievements and your service to England.
-I have already thanked our king personally, but you only have to match his face.
The baron of Mons began to burst into laughter.
-Don't forget your place Willfest sans Terre, you already lost your sacred lands, your wife abandoned you, one more false step and your head will be fed to the crows.
-You son of a bitch you're gonna...
-Stop Willfest, I remind you that you stand before me, your Lord, and a Baron.
I took a long sigh to calm myself, I knelt down again.
-I'm sorry my Lord, this old dog still has some tricks brought back from the wars.
-I will forget this grave offering with an apology, just this once.
-I fully repent for my lack of composure my....
-Not me Willfest.
Lord Irsih's face became disfigured with a smile.
-To the Baron.
I ate my pride, if I didn't do as I was asked I would lose my head, but it wasn't for that I decided to apologise, it was for my children, I had sullied their future too much.
-Forgive my disrespect, "great" Baron of Mons.
-I can accept your words if you leave me your youngest daughter, Denia has blossomed beautifully....
I was sure of what had happened in that second, my most polished instincts came to the surface, years in wars had made me lose part of my humanity, it only took a murderous look for the baron to shut his filthy mouth, but my murderous craving spread throughout the room, even the guards were nervous, and the Lord's face was pale.
-I was only joking Sir Willfest, of course I won't go near your daughter... for the moment.
I decided to change the subject, because if I continued I probably wouldn't be able to control myself any more than I already have.
-My Lord, also my son and my bastardess are willing to serve you, if it is possible to ask, and forgive my boldness for this last, if they can be under my command, in my stay.
-As you please Willfest, I ask you to take care of the tax problem as soon as possible, now retire? to one more thing, we got this letter a few days ago, apparently there is an extra problem, take care of that too.
-Yes my Lord.
I quickly left the throne room.
-Lord Irish, don't you think Willfest, the king's dog will bring us trouble.
-Don't worry about that, that wretch lost all affection from our king the moment he decided to attack you, in the end your perversions came in handy Klos, tell me how old is Willfest's youngest daughter?
-Excuse me my Lord, but I can't contain myself with that angel, just thinking about her naked body, it's marvellous.
-Your carnal desires disgust me Klos, but at least this time they could be useful to us, for now don't try anything with his daughter, when the time comes and Willfest is no longer useful to us I will serve her to you on a golden platter.
-Oh, my Lord, I do not deserve such generosity.
Two of my sons were waiting for me outside the castle, Roy was tall like me, with blond hair and had a face of few friends like mine, despite that he had inherited his mother's lip, at a very young age he followed my footsteps and now at his majority (16 years old) he is a fully fledged soldier.
Next to him was Lay my bastard and first born (19 years old), unfortunately a few weeks after my marriage I had to go to war against France, I will not make excuses, in a slip of the tongue I had an affair with a French woman who saved my life, some time later I found out that I got her pregnant, she died in childbirth, and of course I took care of my daughter, it was not easy, but with time my wife accepted her, but nothing more than that, she never gave her motherly love.
Lay inherited her mother's beauty fortunately, but her look always had a mixture of coldness and sadness that was highlighted by her ashen hair, she spoke very little, she became a soldier even though she was against it, I would have preferred her to be a maid, but she managed to disobey me with the help of the prince, at least I managed to get her transferred to my squadron.
-Father, how did it go with Lord Irish?
-Let's say fine Roy, Lay tell the boys to get things ready, we'll leave tomorrow as soon as the sun rises over the horizon, once you're done with that, get Denia's things ready, she'll be travelling with us.
Lay nodded without saying a word.
-No doubt the soldiers won't be too happy to leave as soon as we arrive, but father, wouldn't it be better to let little Denia rest from the long journey?
-No, we won't leave her here alone, especially with Baron Mons hanging around.
Roy lost his composure a little.
-What do you mean, the Baron is here?
-Lord Irish asked for his help with some business.
-Fucking swine he should be on the fucking gallows.
-Father Willfest, I've hardly ever asked you for anything, but let me kill him.
For a moment I froze, that was something I had expected my son Roy to say, but Lay never did, I didn't even know how to answer him.
-Forgive me for having a useless father.