The Call of the Mummers (1857 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.74 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by JMG114 (View user info) at 2004-10-25 10:38:25 EDT
Sir Henry Walford's tromping footsteps echoed somehow louder than usual on the stone castle stairs, leading to the grand dining room. Reflecting the light from the fireplace, the black bean soup in Lady Millicent Walford's spoon trembled.
Sir Henry's son, the chestnut-haired, 22-year-old Master Richard, looked up from his soup with a mild knot in his stomach. As his father's footsteps heralded his momentary appearance, Richard stood up from the gilded table, dropped his slim shoulders, and exhaled.
A second later, Sir Henry's broad-shouldered form filled the dining room's doorframe. He was covered head to toe in his finest fur robes, sashes of deep scarlet, and heavy boots of thick lamb's wool. His eyes were dark and small, made even smaller from years of squinting laughter. Lady Millicent joined her son Richard in standing up to greet her husband.
"Dearest love," the petite, blue-eyed woman crossed the stone dining room floor and clasped her husband's hands, "Had we known of your imminent arrival, we'd have---"
"Think nothing of it," Sir Henry's voice boomed from his gray-bearded face, "I never know when I'll return from the hunt. I'm glad that I caught you before the meat, though," he added pleasantly, "Last night's duck can go out to the dogs. I've caught a stag."
"How wonderful!" Lady Millicent clapped her hands. "Isn't it wonderful, Richard?"
Richard knelt his tall body before his father. "Father, it's good to see you. I'm glad you had a safe day at the hunt."
Henry sniffed and scowled. "The year isn't yet up, boy. You can still join me before my offer expires."
"Yes father, I know."
Millicent cleared her throat. "Dear, why don't you sit down and we can all---"
Henry took a step closer to the kneeling Richard. "How've your studies been going, boy? Still filling that head of yours?"
"My studies progress well enough, father."
"Teach me something, then. Tell me something you learned today."
"I---"
"If I didn't know of it before, you can eat with me at the table like a man. If I already knew it, then I'll know your time is wasted and you can sup outside with the dogs."
Millicent grasped her husband's arm. "Dear---"
"Shh!" Henry ordered.
Richard stood up, careful not to return his father's unflinching gaze. "Today I learned that the seed of an apple tree needs stratification before sprouting into---"
"Oh, so now you're going into orchard tending?"
"Father, I---"
"We don't even own an orchard, boy. When you're head of this household and ruler of my lands, you cannot have a head filled with all the knowledge of the world without knowing a single thing about how to administrate a fiefdom. This is why I've offered to you, each day for nearly a year, a chance to learn all there is to know about what I do and how I do it. One day, I'll be dead, the people will look to you for protection, and you'll be talking to the walls about apple trees!"
"Father---"
Henry waved his hand dismissively. "No matter. Come eat with your father. We have urgent matters to discuss."
The family sat down at the grand table: Henry at one end, Millicent at the other, and Richard between the two. Across from Richard, an empty seat gathered dust.
"Now," Henry began, "I've seen this land through bandit invasions, warrior barons, and trade disputes. Our borders have doubled in size since the time of my grandfather, and with luck," he stared hard at Richard, "Our borders will double again by the time you have grandchildren."
Richard sighed, recalling Catherine, daughter of Sir Peter Chauncery, ruler of the neighboring fief. She was famous for having sent at least three men to their deaths to prove their love for her. Richard shuddered.
Henry leaned forward in his carved oaken chair. "Mistress Catherine of the Chauncery house would be a fine wife for you, lad. If you'd just let me train you in the arts of lordship and romance, then half of England's greatest county shall belong to you! Think long and hard of that, lad. You'd have a place at the King's own table with such majesty. It's what our family has dreamed of for centuries."
The idea of sitting at the King's right hand did not seem at all unpleasant to Richard. On the contrary, his father didn't know it, but the ideas of power and lordship appealed greatly to the lad. Richard wished to be able to take his father's hand and learn all there was to learn. His heart, however, lay elsewhere.
"What say you, boy? You're your aging father's only son. I dreamed of a great land for you to rule over in my place. A land free from war, from petty regional squabbling, and a land indispensable to the kingdom."
"Father, I---"
Henry raised his palm. "You know I respect you, boy. Don't disappoint me. Come out with me tomorrow and we can begin."
Richard nodded slowly and three servants entered the dining room, each carrying a heaping, steaming plate of roasted stag. The best pieces were placed before Henry, who tore into them voraciously. Millicent and Richard smiled at each other and ate in relative silence.
Some minutes passed before Henry spoke again. "We have passing through our northern borders right now a threat, the likes of which I've dealt with before, but never in the numbers I've been seeing."
"What is it father? Wolves? Bandits?"
"Worse, in a fashion," Henry muttered, "Mummers."
Richard coughed loudly. Millicent turned to her husband. "Mummers, dear? Are you certain?"
"That's right. Good Christian lands have no use for such heathen treachery against our Lord. You'd think old Joshua would've wiped them all out in the good book, but they're still among us today."
"Father," Richard spoke softly, "Surely they mean us no harm. If we were to allow them to pass through, then---"
"Son, they use the lodging of our people. They use our own lands for their rituals. Worst of all, they teach of things above God. During my ride near the northern borders, I spied an encampment at least five score large. I was with hunting escort only, so I didn't approach them, but tomorrow, you and I will go out with a band of our soldiers to push them out of our lands."
"But father, they mean us no harm. I understand why you don't want them on our---"
"I found this on our front stoop." Henry pulled a white birch stick out from under his cloak and slammed it on the table. Its few remaining leaves had been pressed flat from the pressure of Henry's heavy clothes. Still, there was no doubt as to what it was.
Richard and Millicent eyed it for a time before Richard spoke. "It's a Mummer's greeting. They wish us peace."
Henry picked up the stick and snapped it in half. "This is an act of war. We rout them tomorrow."
- To Be Continued -
User Reviews
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2004-11-30 10:47:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very Cool
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-10-25 22:31:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cheerio, guvnah!
i just hope they're not what i expect them to be
but i am interested either way
Submitted by Julia (user info) at 2004-10-25 21:26:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I want to hear more. Somehow I doubt your mummers are what I think.
You're a great writer, JMG, but your dialog was not quite right. I know you can write terrific dialog, because you do it all the time in your J-Date series. Just avoid the "I--" interruptions, which never ever ever happen in real life.
Submitted by lessthanfour (user info) at 2004-10-25 19:16:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
GRR I AM ATTACKING YOU BECUASE I DON'T LIEK YOU JMG6969!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2004-10-25 18:56:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:48:31 (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn the proletariat.
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Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:46:30 (#)
Ranking: 2
Can't wait for the rest.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2004-10-25 18:37:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If you let this story drop, I shall kill you. I don't know how, exactly, but I will. Really.
Submitted by CoachMagirk27 (user info) at 2004-10-25 17:38:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Orla (user info) at 2004-10-25 17:08:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 Because I mummered every year until I got into high school, where I then traded mummering for collecting for UNICEF.
Stupid children.
Submitted by Ted at 2004-10-25 16:28:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
mmmmmm.... toasty.
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2004-10-25 15:30:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That wasn't fair..I hit the +2.
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2004-10-25 14:59:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
So good! More?
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2004-10-25 13:27:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
thats why you're you and i'm me.
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2004-10-25 12:50:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by drfeggphd (user info) at 2004-10-25 12:39:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is like a parade I saw in a dream.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-10-25 12:38:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-10-25 12:29:06 (#)
Ranking: 2
But what's a mummer?
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-10-25 12:29:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
But what's a mummer?
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2004-10-25 12:14:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good stuff, keep going!
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-10-25 11:36:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
So where does his heart lie?
And what are mummers - muslims?
Or should I wait for the next installment?
Submitted by Timmah (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:58:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very very original. I am looking forward to the next installment.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:50:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If you come to close to me in New York JMG you might get pricked by my thousands of needles that jut out of my back. Self defense bitches!
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:48:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn the proletariat.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:46:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Can't wait for the rest.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2004-10-25 10:43:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
dialogue jarred a bit at times but that could just be because I am English.
interested in the story though.