2 June 1124

　　Matilda had been at the end of her tether when she returned to her mill, suffering mental whiplash from another day of being jerked all over Holford. She fantasised about a weekend escape back to her cave. Swimming in the stream, carving a chair and enjoying the forest solitude.

　　She needed the retreat. Unexplained acts of vandalism had become increasingly frequent as more strangers arrived in Holford. Her morale was chipped away as days of concentrated toil were ruined in an instant of mindless destruction. Matilda had asked Pa and his fellow jurors to investigate but the culprits remained at large.

　　Matilda was almost back at her mill when she noticed the unexplained mass beneath a hedge. She initially thought it was a wounded animal but ran when she realised it was a person. She reeled when she discovered it was Rachel.

　　Despite Rachel`s history of antagonism, her story was heartbreaking and instantly filled Matilda with rage. Matilda`s hands shook as she cleaned Rachel`s battered face and she made for Holford the second Rachel fell asleep. Her fatigue was completely forgotten.

　　Rachel`s house was dark and completely still when Matilda arrived. She vaulted up the stone steps and threw herself against the front door until it broke. Her efforts woke Alan who was standing dumbfounded by his bed when she entered. He smelt of stale beer, sweat and vomit.

　　The pair exchanged a momentary look before Alan sneered. The single expression, so reminiscent of his father, personified everything wrong with Holford. Rachel`s bruised face. The mindless vandalism and endless work.

　　Matilda surged forward.

　　The coward tried to run, flinging objects and upending furniture in a vain attempt to slow Matilda but she took down her prey with the grace of a lioness.

　　Matilda showed Alan as much mercy as he`d shown his wife and their unborn child. She rained down punches and threw in her knee and boot. She didn`t hold back. Alan landed several feeble blows of his own which only fuelled Matilda`s rage.

　　"How dare you harm your wife?" she snarled between blows. "How dare you harm your unborn child? Scum!"

　　Alan eventually yielded and broke down in tears. Matilda landed a few extra blows for good measure before subduing him, bending his arm uncomfortably behind his back and forcing his head into the tiled floor. She smelled urine and saw a pool form on the floor tiles.

　　"You`re disgusting," Matilda hissed, jerking Alan`s arm further back to get his attention. "You lay a finger on them again and I will be back. I won`t be so gentle next time, the world doesn`t need garbage like you. Do you understand?"

　　Alan wept into the floor.

　　"Do you understand?"

　　"Yes!" he`d cried. "I won`t touch her again."

　　"You promise?" Matilda asked, pulling his arm tighter. She felt a pop.

　　"I promise," the snivelling worm cried.

　　"I`ll be watching you," Matilda said coolly. She threw him to the ground and stepped into the night without a backward glance.

　　+++

　　Matilda was dejected when Rachel was gone the following morning. She searched her mill and the surrounding buildings, hoping against hope that her guest had merely moved somewhere more comfortable or secure. But Rachel was gone.

　　A wave of weariness and remorse hit as Matilda recalled the previous night`s events. She`d exacted revenge and taken her anger out on Alan but it wasn`t becoming.

　　Eager to clear the fog from her head, she gave up her search and went to bathe in the mill pond. The cool water soothed her knuckles and the few places where Alan had landed decent blows. They hurt to touch but each flash of pain filled Matilda with vindication. Alan would be much worse off.

　　A cloud of red hair billowed around Matilda as she floated in the pond, calculating what to do next. She didn`t need to worry about Alan. He`d be feeling sore and sorry for himself, though his father wouldn`t be pleased. Rachel was Matilda`s priority. She would`ve either retreated to her parents` cottage or returned home to her abusive husband. Knowing the social expectations of the time, Matilda feared the latter was more likely.

　　Matilda needed to act fast and while the odds of finding Rachel with her parents were slim, the cottage had to be her first stop. An overly judgemental reaction from Ma could do lasting damage but Matilda hoped that a discrete discussion with the family`s matriarch might prevent any additional trauma.

　　Matilda made her way into Holford, careful to time her arrival just right. Late enough that the others would`ve departed for their regular daily routines but before Ma left to visit the local women. Matilda sneakily approached from the rear of the property to avoid any unnecessary conversations.

　　Ma was already outside emptying breakfast scraps into the muckheap. She gave a quizzical look as Matilda clambered through the vegetable patch, taking care not to trample Elizabeth`s crop.

　　"What`s wrong with the front gate?" Ma asked. "Surely you`re not that important yet?"

　　"Too many admirers out there," Matilda joked as she awkwardly unhooked herself from a blackberry bush. "Have the others left yet?"

　　"They have," Ma said curiously, staring into Matilda`s soul. "Come inside and have something to eat."

　　Matilda followed Ma indoors and graciously accepted a fresh loaf before searching for a place to sit amongst the giant loom and racks of paper hanging around to dry. Ma stared at Matilda expectantly, waiting for her to spill whatever she`d come to say.

　　"You really don`t miss a trick," Matilda said.

　　"It comes from raising a litter of rascals. What brings you here?"

　　Matilda picked at her bread as she decided how to put it delicately.

　　"Have you heard from Rachel?"

　　"She was here yesterday. Stayed for a good talk, just like old times. I gave her some pasta. She didn`t say much but I thought it was tasty."

　　"Did she say anything about Alan?" Matilda asked delicately.

　　Ma`s mood darkened. "Look, I know you two aren`t friends but you shouldn`t snoop into other people`s business. It`s not proper."

　　"I`m not snooping Emma, I promise. It`s just&Rachel slept at my mill last night."

　　"That`s&unexpected," Ma said with genuine surprise.

　　"It was for me too." Matilda took a deep breath. "I`m afraid there`s been some problems."

　　Ma didn`t look surprised. "I know, Rachel told me yesterday. It`s quite normal for newlyweds to have issues in the early months. It`s a big adjustment living with someone new. But it will be water under the bridge in no time."

　　"I`m afraid it`s more serious than that. Alan`s beating her."

　　"He never!" Ma exclaimed in disbelief.

　　"I`m afraid so. Rachel was collapsed by the side of the road when I travelled home. Well past the village boundary. Her face was bruised and bleeding."

　　Ma looked grim. "I knew he was a ruffian but I never thought him a wife beater. My poor girl, it`s started so early. What of my grandchild?"

　　"The baby didn`t seem hurt," Matilda reassured Ma. "But Rachel was gone before I woke up. I`d hoped to talk with her before she decided what to do next."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

　　Ma`s expression hardened. "You be careful there, young Matilda. Don`t you go putting dangerous ideas in her head."

　　"But..." Matilda began.

　　"No, I won`t hear it," Ma said firmly. "You`ve made some fine changes in this village, truly. But not this. Things might be different where you`re from but Rachel made her pact with God. She will stand by that boy, that dreadful violent boy, until death separates them. Don`t think I like it, I`m her mother for Christ`s sake. But a promise is a promise. We can only pray that Alan sees the error of his ways, repents and redeems himself. The Lord will judge an appropriate punishment."

　　Matilda toyed with telling Ma about her late-night encounter with Alan but thought against it. Better that someone else tell her, while Matilda was far away. Matilda knew that Ma wouldn`t be swayed.

　　"Ok Emma. I won`t tell her to leave Alan. But please, Rachel needs kindness. The life she described last night sounded agonisingly lonely. She could really use some company. Free from judgement and expectation."

　　"You`re a confident young woman Matilda," Ma conceded, shaking her head. "Overconfident, I`d say. But I appreciate what you`ve done for my daughter. For the family. The whole village for that matter. Just know that we do things for a reason. You can`t change everything."

　　The finality of Ma`s statement signalled that the conversation had ended.

　　"Now. If you`ll excuse me, I`m showing some of the local ladies how to use Walt`s loom. And Father Daniel needs this paper to print more exercises for tonight."

　　Ma got up and showed Matilda the door. Matilda left, her bread still in hand. She was still processing Ma`s blunt acceptance of Alan`s violence as she meandered onto the road. She was trying to work out what to do next when a cry came from behind her.

　　"Oi, Matilda!"

　　Matilda turned to see Joshua Miller. "Oh, hi."

　　"So glad I found you, you`re harder to pin down than a rabbit in heat. I wanted to ask about..."

　　"Oh sorry," she interrupted. "I`m actually in the middle of something. Can we talk before the meeting tonight?"

　　Joshua looked taken aback, like he`d had a prize snatched straight from his hands.

　　"I guess," he said. "It`s actually about that, and some mill stuff. Looks like there`s going to be trouble."

　　Matilda stopped in her tracks. "What makes you say that?"

　　"My new assistant said Alan was attacked last night. That Martin`s out for blood. Alan`s locked in the brewery, terrified that he`ll be attacked again. People are saying it was someone from the Council but Alan`s refusing to name them and my boy didn`t know either."

　　"Shit. Thanks for letting me know," Matilda said, already starting to run away. "I`ll drop past yours on my way to the meeting!"

　　Matilda had worked up a slight sweat by the time she arrived at Rachel`s house. At least Alan was unlikely to interrupt.

　　She knocked at the door and waited, wryly noting that she`d stood on the same spot only hours earlier. She heard shuffling from within.

　　"Rachel? I know you`re in there."

　　The shuffling stopped but there was no response. Matilda grabbed the latch and started to open it.

　　"Rachel, I`m coming in."

　　"No!" came a hysteric cry from inside and the latch slammed back down. "Go away! How dare you show your face here after what you did to my husband. I know it was you. Leave us alone!"

　　Matilda was confused. "But Rachel. What about last night?"

　　"Leave me alone!" Rachel screamed.

　　Matilda was used to Rachel`s outbursts but this was particularly manic. She wondered if Rachel had directed similar intensity at Alan or whether she railed at Matilda to vent unspoken frustrations. Either way, Matilda felt Rachel`s words lacked their usual scorn and just stood with her head against the door, letting Rachel wail until she tired herself out. Matilda let the silence settle.

　　"Ok Rachel. I`ll leave you be. Just know that there are people who want to help. Who want what`s good for you. Remember last night, you can always visit my mill if you need anything."

　　Rachel remained silent, the latch shut. Accepting defeat, Matilda turned away to start what was left of her regular day.

　　She bounced between tasks with less energy than normal, stifling yawns as she provided advice and staying on her feet lest she fall asleep. She longed for her bed and vowed to take a multi-day retreat to the cave for a long overdue break.

　　As promised, she went to Joshua`s mill before the evening Council meeting. She helped diagnose problems with the mill mechanism and offered some of the spare parts Walt had made. He hung off her every word.

　　Realising they were late for the Council meeting, the pair ran to Martin`s brewery. Matilda was apprehensive about her reception but they found everyone sitting at their assigned positions in a particularly tense silence. Pa`s jury colleagues were also in attendance. An air of intrigue hung over the table and people looked everywhere but their injured companion..

　　Alan looked miserable. Astrid was tying his arm in a rough sling and his face was swollen. Both of his eyes were black. Alan`s father was furious.

　　"You mongrel!" Martin cried the moment Matilda entered the room. "How dare you attack my son! In his own house!"

　　The Council bristled.

　　"Martin!" Pa called out in rebuke. "That`s a big allegation. And of Holford`s most outstanding citizen too."

　　"No Mark, it`s true." Matilda replied without remorse. "I did it. And I`d happily do it again."

　　The room fell dead silent and several attendees looked at Matilda as though she actually were a mangy dog.

　　"Oh," Pa said, taken aback. "Matilda, that`s serious assault. What would possess you to do something like that?"

　　Matilda looked at Alan. "Would you like to tell them or should I?"

　　Alan glared at her through his swollen eyes.

　　"Suit yourself," Matilda said with a shrug before turning to address her audience. "In addition to being a coward, young Alan here beats his wife. I found Rachel as I returned to my mill last night. She was lying in a heap by the side of the road. Her face was bloody and she cradled her unborn child as she wept."

　　There were scattered looks of disapproval along the table. Matilda was surprised by their muted response and had to remind herself of Twelfth Century norms. Pa`s reaction was most visceral, standing stone still with his jaw and fists clenched.

　　"I brought Rachel back to the mill," Matilda continued, "where she told me what had happened. Everything from her wedding until last night. It turns out Alan has been a far from honourable husband. So I went to visit him while his wife and baby rested in the safety of the mill. He showed no remorse and ran the second he saw me. Still took his fair share of swipes too. Hitting one woman wasn`t enough."

　　She lifted her shirt and chainmail to show bruised ribs before looking at each of the attendees.

　　"I came here to help improve your village, you`ve all seen this. But improvement isn`t just about farming or construction. There`s room for social improvement too. Who of you stands for Alan`s thuggish actions? For the brutal treatment of a dutiful wife? Is that the sort of behaviour to be tolerated in Holford?"

　　She cast her gaze around the table. At Pa`s jury friends. There was a general mumble of disapproval.

　　"What happens within the privacy of a man`s house is of no concern to you," Martin told Matilda. "No-one appointed you constable. Does knowing some cheap tricks entitle you to rule Holford with impunity?"

　　There were mumbles of agreement at his second statement, including from Pa.

　　"No, I am not above the law," Matilda agreed sheepishly. Humanity had a tendency to allow a privileged few to exert influence over the masses. She couldn`t allow her Council to promote that. "But you don`t deny that your son struck his wife? And their unborn child?"

　　"So you should be punished!" Martin cried victoriously. "And Alan no doubt had reason for his actions." He looked to his son for confirmation. Alan gave a slight nod.

　　Matilda couldn`t believe what she was hearing.

　　"What of the Jury? Which of you would see such an assault punished? We can call upon Rachel to provide further evidence but I fear she needs rest now more than ever."

　　Pa`s colleagues grumbled their agreement and everyone but Alan and Martin raised their hands, earning Edric a scowl from his brother.

　　"Please, just the Jury. Which of you would see Mister Alan disciplined for his cruelty?"

　　The Jury raised their hands again.

　　"And who of you," Matilda added, "feel that the punishment already served was sufficient?"

　　There was some surprise from around the table, most of all from Alan himself.

　　"I`d say you gave the boy the walloping he deserves," Walt said with a smirk.

　　There was a murmur of assent from the crowd and the matter seemed resolved.

　　"And who agrees," Pa added with a certain twinkle in his eyes, "that no-one should be taking justice into their own hands from now on?" Matilda was sure to look appropriately chastised.

　　"Very well then," Pa declared. "Assault will not be tolerated. Alan has served his punishment and the Jury will decide a suitable penance for Matilda. But for now, let`s get on with it."

　　The rest of the meeting went smoothly, though Alan and his father remained sullen and both contributed little more than grunts.

　　Everyone shared updates of their projects. Matthew and Walt had tested the saw mill on some smaller branches and waited on Matilda before they tested a full trunk.

　　Though it didn`t flush, Timothy`s first toilet had proven a great success and he`d also started shaping his finest samples of glass into lenses. He proudly withdrew a rough pair of spectacles that comically magnified his eyes. Matilda couldn`t help but laugh, exactly what she needed after such a trying day.

　　They concluded the session with a round of reading and writing exercises using Father Daniel`s worksheets. Matilda was impressed at the rate they had all picked up the skill. Even Martin kept up with the class, determined not to be outdone.

　　It was Pa who called the meeting to a close, noticing Matilda`s increasingly frequent yawns.

　　"That will do for tonight. Time to retire."

　　Matilda shot him a silent look of thanks and helped Father Daniel collect his worksheets as the rest of the Council filed out. Only Martin stayed seated and he tightly grabbed Matilda`s thigh as she walked past to collect his paper.

　　"This isn`t over," he hissed under his breath.

　　Matilda was shocked at his venom and swatted his hand but he dug his fingers in deeper. Seeing that no-one else was watching, she wrenched her leg away and flicked Martin on the forehead. His eyes went wide with shock.

　　"Yes it is. Grow up old man and realise when you`ve lost. Your time has passed and there`s a new way of doing things around here. Go with the flow and you might retain some influence. Oppose it and you`ll be swept away like the old driftwood you are."

　　Matilda gave him a sickly sweet smile and was on the other side of the table before her words had even sunk in. The Brewer hobbled hastily out of the room, his son in tow.

　　"What was that about?" William asked as they left.

　　"Nothing, just reminding him of how things work."

　　"You`re not stirring trouble again already?" Pa asked.

　　"Me?" Matilda replied sweetly. "Never!"

　　(C) Jay Pelchen 2023. All rights reserved.