Dark Times

The fair Gyndolen stood watchful peering out the roundhouse window.1

Her father, Lord Macaby had  gone a good days ride with his squire to roust out a handful of roving squatters hold up in a group of deserted stone huts on his land.These were trying times. Because a local band of villagers did not agree with her fathers new law, Governing the crops they harvested from his land . Lord Macaby had always been very generous with the people that worked in his fields all along. But with the long hot drought over the last five years. He no longer was able and could  scarcely afford equal shares of one half divided between his estate and the workers. 2

She held in a firm grip of her long slender hands an amulet he had 3

given her when she was but a mere seven years old. He had been given the rare stone amulet by a mystic in his own childhood for luck and safety.4

She had begged him to take others with him for fear he might be murdered 5

by the squatters or some sneak attack by the villagers on the road. They would not dare to show their dirty deed to be so bold as to kill him in broad daylight.Knowing if seen,it would be viewed as a peasant uprising. And would risk bringing the other gentry down on them with devastating 6

results. Even more fearful of this happening was her mother.The Lady Lilith Macaby. But less inclined to show this fact for the  simple reason7

it would just be unwise. Ladies of this tine in history knew all to well,8

the danger of showing any weakness,fear included to anyone.A gentry ship 9

without a master to devotedly protect home and hearth,was most surely doomed.Not to mention her priceless daughter. So she held it all within.10

She could see the daily chores being carried out in the courtyard below.  A loyal friend and devoted servant to her family, Giles Henderson11

was rendering hogs that had been killed for food the day before. And his lovely wife Sara. Sara was baking fresh bread in the large outer stone house used during the warm season to bake due to the heavy moist rainy weather. It smelled heavenly . Somehow giving her a warm relaxed feeling12

every time it was baked. But not so much today, she held to much fear for her father.13

All at once, what ever calmness she had mustered was shaken by the 14

thunderous pounding of hooves on cobble stone. She shuddered,a cold chill15

ran from her feet on up to where she was sure her red hair was standing on ends. A great sigh of relief and joy over came her now. As she could16

see her father rounding the massive wood draw gate that lead to the court yard below. She tore down the stairs to join her tearful mother.As they both ran out to hug and greet Lord Macaby. Where he stood laughing. He17

smiled and said,have a little more faith in me,never will you have to fear,as long as I live. Mother and daughter squeezing the lord of the manors arm as they walk side by side into the great hall.               18

Suseann19