LEANDER III

Leander III

Leander III

There were armed men gathered on the trail just outside our village. I recognized many of them. It was not unusual for a few travelers to be present at any time. There was a main road that passed through our village, the Inn was rarely empty.

I was not at all surprised that they bristled at my approach, however I was bone weary, and really did not care what they thought of how they felt. I wanted to get food, and rest. Though sleep did not seem likely, still, I would have liked to lay down and relax.

Indeed, food did not seem likely either, as the assemblage roughly stripped my bag of tools from me and hustled me down the street to the house of the village elder, Carmon.

Carmon was waiting with several influential business folks. They wasted no time with pleasantries.

Carmon asked me, venomously, "Why did you awaken this terror upon our village? How should you be punished for causing the death of our good and honest friends? Who, I remind you were killed in attempt to save you from this horror that you brought upon us."

I considered my words, for reply.

The innkeeper fairly shouted, "Divide his wealth among the families injured! Banish him!"

Several others took up the cry to hang me.

Carmon motioned for silence, "Guilty as he is, with no protest of innocence, I will decide his fate this evening, after I have spoken with the men who survived once more. Until then, bind him, and put him in the street, so that others can see that we are are not impotent to safeguard our village. Be sure to bind his mouth so he cannot spread lies about his guilt. Who knows how this monster may have affected him, he could say anything."

My voice erupted then, however a strangled shout was all that I could manage, as men that I had known all my life, gagged me and bound me. Then I was placed in the street.

As I lay there, not a mere handful of village folk including the women of men who had not returned from the trek up the path passed by, and abused me. Some with sticks or rocks, others with refuse, or mere words of disdain.

I was frightened, as I could imagine that Carmon would not now hesitate to have me killed. I was certain of this now, as I had not once heard from or seen my wife. My only real hope was that she would involve herself.

I was aware, as was my wife, that Carmon had amiable intentions towards her. That she chose me, those years ago was a wonder to me and an irritant to Carmon. He made his displeasure clear, though did nothing untoward her or I.

Perhaps now, he had found an opportunity to rid my wife of her husband, to finally have her for himself. Mystie was a formidable woman, attractive, even now, after some years of age, and strong of tongue, not abrasively so, but with poise and intelligence. She often swayed opinion of the village, with balanced and insightful observations of the matters debated.

Without her support and intervention, my future looked bleak indeed. The sun was lower, I ached from the binding. The few folk that passed now ignored me it seemed. I determined that my fate was sealed, unless I could get the gag loosened enough to attempt some communication with one or two of the folks I knew had thought my treatment was rather perfunctory.

The rag had been tied in a loose knot, thrust between my teeth, then fastened with a leather thong. I had of course been working the rag knot, attempting to allow myself to breathe somewhat through my mouth as well as my nose. Now I began a methodical attempt to rid myself of the gag altogether.

One of the men obviously noticed my attempt, and kicked me fiercely alongside my head. I rolled, and avoided a second kick. Then a noise from up the street drew his attention.

A wailing fearful cry and a muttering of dismay from the group of men guarding the path announced her arrival. There on the path she strode into view. She still wore the tunic made of my blankets, and over one shoulder she carried the carcass of one of the small wild cows that wandered about.

I could see the men backing and clustering, fearful, but determined. Three of those did break, and I could see them run back, and find hiding cover. I expected a repeat of the morning, the spear thrusting and swinging, reigning over any defense.

Leander stopped, and her demeanor was no longer that ravenous violence of the morning, but instead seemed to be placating, generous in her understanding of their fear. The cow was placed on the trail, and she made a gesture of bargain, "Take this."

She stepped back. She smiled, ingratiating. Then her smile froze, and she was no longer of a visage that men would construe as placating at all. Her eyes had befallen on me, lying bound in the street. Her demeanor changed, and her posture told the entire story. Leander was entering the village. No defense would permit the village to stop that. It is amazing, still how much human meaning can be conveyed with no more than posture and expression.

Leander was not a gentle touch, but she was swift and sure, the ropes and tethers were asunder within moments of her approach to me. I stood shakily where she had lifted me, felt her hand on my shoulder. Looked in her eyes, realized that her appraisal of my condition was not of a particular interest, rather more of my imagination of a military officer appraising a mere trenchman.

Few of the village were present, though I could see some faces of the more curious peeking from behind doorways and corners. The blacksmith stood resolutely near his smoking forgeworks. A cart of grain shifted nervously near the millworks as the horse pulled at the tether holding it. There was much silence, and I found that amusing.

From the time she had awoken, I had been in abstract fear, of her. Then suddenly I had been most assured that my death was imminent, with little hope for redemption. Now, more suddenly I found comfort in the abstract fear of her nearness once again.

The noise was slight, from behind me. Her movement was bewildering, then a dust rising, with her spear extended, brightly spotted with blood from Carmon's throat, then meandering, almost playfully to my wifes hands. Displaying a gentleness she had not with me, her spearpoint disentangled fingers, and pushed Mystie's hands down from her defensive stance.

Carmon was not severely injured, the wound was slight. The meaning of the wound was poignant, his eyes registered the fact of the situation with resignation. I did not bother to look for support from my wife any longer, her lack of attire and closeness to Carmon were the tale that needs no telling.

I could feel the gaze of Leander as she accommodated the situation within the texture of her arrival. Her gaze from me, to Mystie, almost disregarding Carmon. I looked up at her, and could see in her eyes some small amused sympathy.

I was somewhat heartened by this show of empathy. I shifted my gaze to Carmon, and could see that he was puzzled, angry and extremely frightened. His position of politic was effectively suspended with the arrival of the Goddess, his fate uncertain now.

Leander turned from the small striven play of hearts, striding up the street towards the blacksmith, who still stood, with somewhat less resolution near the forge that smoldered within his shop. Her spear darted into the doorway, and with a flick scattered some coals and flames into the street. Next she indicated the carcass she had brought, then again, the fire. Without a word spoken, she had managed to strip the village elder of his authority, and demanded that the village should cook her a meal.

Her meaning was clear, though some of the villagers were taken aback by the brusque manner of the message. Most of those who were present began the attempt of getting the cow moved towards the forge fire.
One bright young girl, who worked the kitchen at the Inn, quickly took over, and began ordering the efforts, changing the destination, from the forge, to the kitchen of the Inn, which was well equipped for that sort of thing.

Leander was watching carefully, and seemed not happy about the change, the kitchen girl quickly dispatched a man to the Inn, with instructions to bring meat, and wine, already prepared, out for the Goddess. We all waited, tension rising. I tried to motion to Leander, that events were progressing as she would like them to, if she would only let the girl have her way. Leander ignored me, and I feared for the outcome.

Leander shifted her stance, and began moving towards the small group of men, outside the Inn, holding the cow, ready to take it inside, and realizing that they were not doing as the Goddess had instructed, and confused at the situation. That serving girl rose a notch in my estimation, she planted her feet, and with hands on her hips, as if talking to a rowdy customer, told Leander with expression, stance and voice, that she was doing what needed to be done, and that the Goddess would just have to back off, or the cow would stay raw.

I recall later, that girl became one of Leander's favorite girls, for play, or service. Eager to please, and quite willing to play whatever Leander could think of for amusement.

At that moment however, Leander was about to spear that tasty morsel, and likely roast her on the forge fire, just for her obvious insolence. The girl, Rhandy, was saved by the appearance of two men from the Inn, carrying a large serving board, piled with meats, cheese, breads, and another with a flagon, then two more men with a cask of wine.

I could sense the understanding of Leander, and some great fatal weight lifted from the situation. Rhandy indicated that she was right, knew she was right and was not about to let some half naked barbaric customer, Goddess or not, tell her how to run a kitchen. I'm not sure how Rhandy continued her frank and insolent behavior without inspiring the wrath of Leander. Until her tragic end, Rhandy was the favored girl.

After a brief period that Leander was consuming the larger portion of the meal that had been brought out, crouched in the street. Rhandy once again took charge, and told some of the men about to bring out some planks, and tables from the Inn. Within a short time, she had managed the construction of a table and a seat appropriately sized for the Goddess to dine.

Shortly after Leander had her meal placed upon those rude accouterments, she motioned for me to join her. I looked at the table, and was hungrily ascertaining the best way for me to comply. With a chuckle, Leander reached down, and lifted me up, setting me on the tabletop. I noticed that she shifted her spear so that I was not in a position to grab it. Then again, she motioned for me to share her meal.

To be honest there was not a lot left, a crust some small scraps of meat no cheese, but there was still a quantity of wine available. The flagon stood full, and unused. Leander had eschewed the small flagon, for the cask itself. My memory of that is indelible, her girlish expression with streaks of wine flowing down her chin.

Rhandy was on top of the affair, and within moments more loaves were brought, along with a pork stew, and apparently the remnants of the roast that had been brought earlier. Leander tore one of the loaves apart, gouged out the warm soft inside. I received the inside, and watched as she dipped the large crust bowl into the stewpot, and she offered me that as well.

I noticed as I ate stew and bread, that a large portion of our village population had gathered in groups, and scattered couples at a respectful distance. There were many mutterings, and some quiet exclamations. Leander had slowed down considerably, using the other half crust as a spoon, savoring the different tastes of the roots and vegetables, as well as the pork itself well seasoned.

My own portion of stew, large as it was, I had finished. I felt reluctant to dip into the stewpot for more. I contented myself with picking through remnants left of the roast on the serving platter and finishing the crust of loaf. As I did so, the folks around became quiet, and we all looked to see Carmon, with my ex wife Mystie approaching.

Leander seemed to be in a moderately good mood. She noticed Carmon, but her attention seemed to be more on Rhandy than on any other individual.

Carmon stepped up close to the makeshift table in front of us and in what he hoped was an imperious voice, said, "My name is Carmon, I am the village elder. I would like to speak to..."

That was all he got out before Leander motioned for him to be silent. She turned to me, pointed to my chest, "Darnal." then pointed to her own chest, "Leander", then with an obvious question, pointed to Rhandy.

Rhandy was watching, and she stepped up, with a smile, "Rhandy", touching the bodice of her dress.

Leander smiled, "Rhandy, Rhaaaandy. . ." then motioned for Rhandy to come closer.

The girl positively beamed, I was somewhat shocked. Leander reached out slowly, and gently picked her up and set Rhandy on her lap. Rhandy was blond, fairly pretty, accustomed to being appreciated, and fondled by the Inn's customers and she was the Innkeepers daughter. Leander spent a small time working on the various pins and ties that Rhandy had used to put her hair up, for kitchen work.

That process would have taken longer, but for the girl realizing almost immediately what Leander was doing. Rhandy reached up and loosened her own tresses. I have no idea how many of us had seen her with her hair loose as it was now since she was a child. I had not. This was an impressive sight. Leander was stroking the blonde like a pet, as if mesmerized by the color and texture.

I began feeling distinctly uncomfortable when Rhandy leaned into Leander, as her face was pressing into her breast. When Rhandy reached up, began fondling at that breast, both faces had an expression that left no doubt as to the likely outcome of this behavior.

Mystie had apparently seen enough, and with an uncharacteristic shrill voice addressed me for the first time, "Darnal, what have you done? Come down from there!"

Leander reached out as if to prevent me from responding. She indicated my wife, with a questioning look.

"Mystie," I said, "my wife, my ex wife now."

Leander nodded, as she repeated the name, "Mystie". Then Leander motioned for my ex wife to come closer.

Mystie shook her head, "No, I'm not your servant girl." then she backed up. She backed into Carmon, who was not moving.

Leander set Rhandy on the table, picked up her spear.

With a gasp, Rhandy exclaimed, "Mystie, DON'T, please do what she says!"

Mystie looked at me. I told her, as evenly as I could, "She will certainly kill you if you don't. I have seen her kill several men without remorse or hesitation."

It took only a moment for Mystie to reconsider. She walked up to the table. It seemed obvious that she expected the same sort of treatment that Rhandy had received. We were all surprised when Leander motioned for Mystie to clear off the leavings of the meal from the table.

Leander grinned with amusement.

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