26 September 1124

　　Matilda was soaking in her victory when a sharp pain suddenly exploded in her chest. She was flung from her feet and quickly lost amongst the ensuing chaos. Knights streamed towards the Earl who barked commands over the screaming onlookers, ordering his men to find the bowman.

　　Earl Robert cleared a space around Matilda and propped her up, revealing an arrow jutting out from her dress and a small pool of blood. The Earl, Baron and Bishop gathered around her, their faces etched with concern. Wasting no time, Sir Phillip ripped his knife through her dress with a practiced hand to examine the wound.

　　"Oh!" they all exclaimed in unison when greeted by the sight of Matilda`s chainmail. Even as she struggled to breath, her ribs almost certainly broken, Matilda knew that the Institute`s parting gift had saved her life. The shirt had split under the force of the assassin`s shot but it had prevented the arrowhead from tearing deeper into her skin. She pulled the arrow from the remnants of her dress, hands shaking as she registered her own blood upon the tip.

　　"There`s more to this woman than meets the eye," Sir Phillip noted with admiration. "That`s one mighty fine suit of mail you`ve got there!"

　　Matilda gave a meek smile before passing out from the shock.

　　+++

　　The sky was dark when Matilda woke. She found herself inside a tiny square cell, barely wide enough for her to lie across. She was still in the tattered rags of her dress, though someone had kindly left a change of clothes by the heavy oak door. She sat up gingerly and also saw some mouldy bread with cheese beside a goblet of wine. Matilda could guess which of her hosts had provided each element.

　　Matilda shrugged off her rags and struggled out of her chainmail, wincing at the combined pain of her small cut and at least one broken rib from the arrow`s impact. She examined the wound by the moonlight that streamed through a small barred window. It was the width of her smallest finger but deep enough that she would have liked to stitch it. Taking her wine, she cleaned the wound before draining the rest of the goblet. She passed on the bread.

　　Matilda mournfully fingered the small tear in her chainmail, wishing she had the means to repair it. Knowing it still offered protection even in its flawed state, she donned both the mail and her new dress before examining her surroundings.

　　A quartet of guards were stationed outside her door, two from Bishop Godfrey and two from Baron Walter. Matilda heard them bickering but they ignored her calls.

　　"Shut up woman," Godfrey`s guard eventually called out. "You might`ve impressed the Earl but the Bishop says you`re still his until the third day. Even if you are from the future, it`s just not natural."

　　Even Walter`s guards grunted their agreement.

　　Matilda returned to her blanket and pondered her predicament, wondering what more she could possibly show the following day.

　　Her elation at uncovering the Roman coins had been short-lived. The discovery of the Beau Street Hoard had fascinated her as a child and she had visited the coins on display in the Bath museum each summer. Her Institute friends had often joked that they were certain to be rich as there were treasuretroves to be found no matter where they were sent. Matilda was glad that such special coins could serve a more noble purpose, demonstrating knowledge that could only come from another time. She hoped that the stunt would convince people to at least consider her claims.

　　But she had no clue how to surpass the coin discovery. Without William`s reinforcements or her tools, every idea paled in comparison. She slumped down against the wall, lost in thought. Each breath brought a distracting stab of pain and Matilda was still without answers when sleep finally claimed her.

　　+++

　　Matilda woke to thundering knocks upon the heavy cell door early the next morning. She barely had time to sit up before the door crashed open and Godfrey`s rat-faced assistant strode into the cell.

　　"I beg your pardon!" Matilda exclaimed, suddenly fully awake.

　　"Get up," Peter ordered. "Quickly now!"

　　"Settle down. Why the rush?"

　　"The Earl is eager to show your treasure to his wife. And the Bishop wants you away from here without delay, before your corruption has time to spread. So move along!"

　　Matilda propped herself up and glared at the Assistant. "I`d have thought a priest would know to give a woman some privacy? Wouldn`t want to risk corruption would you?"

　　"Be quick or I`ll have the guards drag you out in whatever state they find you," he called as he left.

　　A guard sniggered from the doorway but abruptly stopped when he saw Matilda`s slightly cocked head and deadpan stare. He reluctantly closed the door.

　　Matilda dragged herself from the floor, wincing from her broken ribs. She felt surprisingly refreshed, despite her total lack of a plan. Her hands were bound once more and she was led to the now familiar cart. It was empty besides the heavy chest of coins.

　　"You take good care of that for me," the Earl said with a smile as he rode past the cart. "Though I`m sure you could just find more. You had me worried after last night`s antics but I hear you`re relatively unscathed. I look forward to seeing whatever you have in store for us back in Bristol."

　　Matilda`s stomach dropped.

　　They were just about to depart when the Young Priest vaulted into the back of the cart, a heavy sack slung over his shoulder.

　　"Sorry!" he apologised to the driver, who grunted and whipped the cart into motion. "Godfrey asked me to watch over the troublemaker."

　　He sat opposite Matilda and gave her a warm smile but gratefully didn`t force conversation. Matilda settled in for another long ride, wincing in pain as the cart went over each bump, and started concocting a plan to fill the afternoon. She hoped that William would be waiting for her at the Earl`s castle but knew she needed a contingency.

　　She was deep in thought when the priest piped up.

　　"Having the Earl take up a shovel was truly inspired."

　　Matilda stared at him vacantly, her mind still busy searching for a plan.

　　"What have you got planned next?" he asked cheerfully, reading her mind.

　　"I honestly don`t know," Matilda admitted despairingly. "Nothing seems good enough. It seems my only hope is William waiting for me at the castle."

　　The priest gave a thoughtful look. "You just need to outmanoeuvre Godfrey. It shouldn`t be too difficult, he`s not exactly dynamic. The Earl is furious with him after the foolish attempt on your life. The archer was found dead before anyone could question him but it doesn`t take a genius to guess who put him up to it."

　　The casual discussion of the attempt on her life sent a chill down Matilda`s spine.

　　"Godfrey claimed ignorance," the priest continued. "Said any number of God-fearing townsfolk could`ve hired the man. He knows the Earl can`t touch him, there`s already talk of unrest from Godfrey`s most loyal followers. So perhaps this might help with your idea?"

　　Matilda was puzzled as he reached into his sack and started to remove clothes. And then, a very familiar bag.

　　"Consider it an apology for doubting your outlandish claims."

　　Matilda wasn`t even listening. Her eyes were fixed upon her satchel.

　　"I`d appreciate if you kept this from my colleagues," the priest said in a hushed voice as he handed the bag to Matilda. "I`m sure things are missing, Godfrey tends to take whatever he wants."

　　"Th&Thank you, so much," Matilda stammered. "Thank you&gosh, I don`t even know your name!"

　　"I`m John," he said with a smile.

　　Matilda instinctively peered over her shoulder to confirm Godfrey was far away before ripping open her satchel.

　　Nothing was in its right place but simply seeing her familiar belongings was comforting. Her valuable metals and spices were missing but the first item Matilda withdrew was much more precious. The second half of her bible. She picked up the torn tome and, unable to help herself, gave it a kiss.

　　"Godfrey will be furious when he returns to Bath and finds that missing. I`d end up in chains with you. Probably worse."

　　Matilda felt a pang of concern. "True! How will you ever go back to living with the Bishop?"

　　"I`m not going back," John said with conviction. "Hostage life never suited me. I intend to witness the rest of your spectacle and then slip away into the night. So please make it worth it."

　　Matilda nodded and resumed pawing through her possessions. Everything was broken or covered in dried mud. Her grandmother`s engagement ring was missing, the emerald no doubt a magnet for Godfrey`s greedy eyes. Matilda withdrew Richie`s toy soldier, smiling at the memory of painting with him while belting out their favourite songs.

　　At the very bottom of the bag was a crumpled piece of paper and tears welled in Matilda`s eyes before she had even unfolded it. It had been a year since she`d laid eyes on her family. The photo of them all eating ice-cream by the coast was the next best thing. Her only proof that they had ever existed. It was a fond memory, though now bittersweet. Tears streamed down Matilda`s face but it was exactly the motivation she needed.

　　She spent the following hours planning her approach, one that would undercut Godfrey`s best efforts to vilify her. She flipped through her ruined bible for inspiration but each idea felt underwhelming or incomplete. The Book continually opened to her annotated anatomy diagrams, which John said had particularly fascinated the Bishop. The seed of an idea started to form.

　　The sun had just begun its descent when they arrived back to Bristol. John motioned for Matilda to return the satchel.

　　"Don`t worry," he said after seeing the scandal in Matilda`s eyes. "You`ll get it back. I promise."

　　Matilda reluctantly handed the bag to John, though she hid the photo of her family in her boot. Merely knowing that they were close filled her with energy.

　　She needed the extra motivation as there was no sign of William or anyone from Holford when the cart finally arrived at Bristol castle. To make matters worse, the local townsfolk had erected both gallows and a pyre while they were away.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　Giving Godfrey options, no doubt.

　　The Bishop rode directly to the keep but the Earl and Baron pulled up to supervise as attendants unloaded the treasure from the wagon. With everyone focused on Matilda and the chest, John and his illicit cargo slipped away without notice.

　　"I hope today is as stirring as yesterday`s exploits," Earl Robert said excitedly.

　　"There will be less treasure, unfortunately," Matilda replied.

　　"Never mind that, just prove Godfrey wrong. I want the viper gone from my castle."

　　The Earl`s men hauled the chest down from the cart and lugged it into the keep. The nobles retired indoors to show off the treasure but Matilda remained in the cart, surrounded by guards and wondering if her half-baked plan would be enough to keep her audience engaged.

　　The nobles dallied indoors, no doubt enjoying a leisurely meal. Matilda`s stomach grumbled - Godfrey`s mouldy bread a cruel memory - and after a long while, a guard delivered her some fresh crusty bread. Matilda was absentmindedly gnawing on it when she heard a commotion at the castle gate. She stood in the cart and peered towards the gatehouse, hoping against hope that William had finally arrived.

　　"Get the Earl!" a gatekeeper cried as he ran towards the keep. "There`s a mob from Bath demanding to see the time nomad! Whatever the blazes that is."

　　Earl Robert and his guests emerged from the keep and marched to the walls above the castle gate. Matilda couldn`t hear what was said but saw sweeping gestures followed by strong protest from Godfrey. After a short consultation with his steward, Robert descended the steps and marched towards Matilda and her cart.

　　"It appears yesterday`s exploits have earned you quite the following," the Earl told her. "Half of Bath followed us here to see what you`ll do next. They`ve inflamed my own townsfolk too, the streets were full for as far as I could see!"

　　"Goodness," was all Matilda could manage.

　　"They`re on the verge of rioting but setting my guards upon them would be a terrible look, no matter what the Bishop might say. He`s concerned the crowd might side with you."

　　A sudden idea struck Matilda.

　　"Let them in, like yesterday. And, give them some food."

　　Robert looked perplexed. Matilda forgot that feeding peasants wasn`t second nature for an Earl.

　　"Nothing extravagant, just bread and water. They`ve travelled far and will love you for it all the same. It will calm them down and give us time to set up my next demonstration. You`ve still got the stage in front of the keep but I`ll need a long table and three pigs."

　　"Not that fable with the wolf I hope. Or is it possible to blow down a stone structure with nothing but wind in the future?"

　　"It is actually," Matilda said absentmindedly. "But no, nothing like that. I promise it`s relevant."

　　The Earl looked at Matilda quizzically. "Madness. And pigs aren`t cheap."

　　"Do you think seventeen thousand silver coins might buy me a few pigs?" Matilda shot back with a cheeky smile.

　　Unable to argue with that, the Earl gave the order. He returned to the gatehouse and addressed the crowd directly, prompting a loud cheer.

　　"You`d better have something good planned," Baron Walter warned, making Matilda doubt herself once more.

　　The castle yard filled with servants carrying loaves of bread and rolling barrels for the townsfolk. The crowd was let in and they collected food before assembling to watch the final preparations. Three pigs were brought to the stage and slaughtered with brutal efficiency. Matilda grimaced but the crowd watched the purposeful violence completely nonplussed. A long trestle table was placed on the stage and the pigs were unceremoniously distributed along it. Blood pooled on the freshly laid planks.

　　The nobles took their seats and Matilda moved to stand beside the freshly killed pigs. She was surprised by the size of the crowd. There were easily over a thousand in attendance, with more collecting food from hastily erected stalls and a steady dribble continuing to arrive through the castle gate.

　　"Good afternoon everyone," the Earl began. "This is the second day of our hearing for Miss Matilda&" Matilda waved to the crowd. "&who was arrested by Bishop Godfrey several days ago on charges of heresy and behaviour most unnatural. Matilda argues that her actions are perfectly explainable and none can deny that she has brought prosperity to the regions she`s touched. In the name of justice, I have granted Matilda three days to plead her case.

　　"Yesterday was truly extraordinary. Claiming to be from another time, Matilda dragged us to Bath in search of longlost Roman treasure. From the time of Christ. As those of you from Bath can attest, she delivered exactly as promised."

　　There were excited whispers from the Bristol crowd.

　　"Her argument, while supremely irregular, is quite convincing. Even Bishop Godfrey has conceded that our visitor could be from another time, though his charges of heresy and unnatural behaviour remain unchanged.

　　"Today Matilda has promised a second demonstration to prove her innocence. How she plans to do that with three butchered swine is beyond me so I too will wait in anticipation. Godfrey, anything you wish to say before she begins?"

　　The Bishop angrily dismissed Robert with a wave.

　　"Very well. Matilda, if you will?"

　　Hands still shackled, Matilda strode to the centre of the stage. She was bemused to still feel a familiar pit in her stomach at presenting before such a large crowd. Thinking of Harry, she elected for a charismatic approach.

　　"Thank you Earl Robert. I see some familiar faces from the dig. Didn`t we work you hard enough yesterday?"

　　There was some scattered laughter from the crowd.

　　"As the Earl said, Bishop Godfrey accuses me of unnatural behaviour. But what he failed to mention was that the Bishop arrested me in the act of cutting up a recently deceased man. One of my good friends."

　　There were gasps from the crowd. The Earl looked shocked that Matilda would incriminate herself. Godfrey beamed with glee.

　　"I understand your horror," Matilda continued, "but please, allow me to explain."

　　Matilda knew she walked a dangerous line and risked losing the crowd. It was time for some audience participation.

　　"Are there any barbers here today?"

　　There were a pair of wary cries from the crowd and Matilda invited the two barbers up on stage. One had recently arrived from Bath.

　　"I`ll need a third assistant for this demonstration," Matilda called out. "If there are no more barbers, then perhaps someone that has experience with battlefield wounds?"

　　"I`ll help." Matilda jumped as a call came from directly behind her and Sir Phillip stepped forward.

　　"Thank you Sir," Matilda said, regaining her composure and asking him to stand beside the other two volunteers.

　　"Everyone knows that barbers provide vital services, beyond just trimming beards. Tooth extraction. Sewing a wound. Amputations. These are common procedures, no?" Matilda asked the barbers, prompting an enthusiastic nod and a nonchalant shrug.

　　"These valuable services reduce suffering for sick family members or save the lives of injured neighbours. Bishop, have you never had a tooth removed by a hasty visit from a barber surgeon?"

　　Godfrey mumbled something unintelligible.

　　"So there is nothing unnatural or heretical about these valuable services. I ask you all, is amputation not a form of dissection?"

　　The crowd`s murmurs were unsure.

　　"Understanding how the body works is key to saving countless lives. Today I hope to show you the lessons I sought to teach my village before the Bishop`s interruption."

　　Godfrey leapt up in protest. "You cannot teach these people your filth!"

　　"No, Bishop!" Matilda said firmly, the nerve of her assertiveness sending a disapproving ripple through the crowd. "I won`t let you deprive the world of an ability to save lives. Today`s work is butchery at worst. There are no human bodies so there can be no claims of desecration. Swine are not ideal but they will suffice. So let us begin."

　　Unable to find an appropriate rebuttal, Godfrey sat down in defeat.

　　Matilda set each of her volunteers behind a pig and talked them through the first steps of the dissections, using each beast to highlight a different system within the body. The volunteers handled their tasks with grit and determination, unfazed by the gory work and eager to demonstrate their surgical abilities for the assembled crowd. Matilda was holding up a pair of lungs to describe the circulatory system when she was interrupted midsentence.

　　A guard elbowed his way through the crowd and ran onto the stage to whisper in the Earl`s ear. Behind him, the trickle of townsfolk entering the castle had become a flood, complete with carts and beasts of burden. Familiar faces led the swell. At its head was William.

　　Matilda yelped in excitement and vaulted off the stage, weaving her shackled wrists through the crowd before the guards could apprehend her. She sprinted across the castle courtyard and ploughed into William, navigating her bindings to draw him into a bear hug so tight that her broken ribs screamed.

　　"You made it! You came!"

　　William grinned sheepishly, embarrassed at Matilda`s affection.

　　"Of course I did. You didn`t think I`d abandon you?"

　　"I was so worried," Matilda confessed. "I took everyone to Bath to find Roman coins so they`d believe I`m actually from the future. And I got shot with an arrow. But when we arrived back today and there was no sign of you&I thought I`d have to do this alone."

　　"Never!" William replied, looking genuinely scandalised. "It took some time to convince everyone what had happened, and given you`d told the Earl, to persuade them that you were from the future. Then when they finally understood, everyone insisted on coming along to help which took even more time! Well, almost everyone. The Brewers and their lot stayed behind. I really hope there aren`t bandits in the Quantock hills because there`s barely a soul left to protect Holford!"

　　Matilda looked over William`s shoulder and saw that he was right. They were all there, each person bearing the fruits of their year`s labour and looking weary from the hard walk. Luke Ploughman`s cart carried her metallic pod and a collection of Elizabeth`s plants. Even Father Thomas had journeyed from Nether Stowey, accompanied by the repentant large thug who`d restrained Matilda behind the ruined hut at Godfrey`s command. His weaselly friend was nowhere to be seen.

　　Seeing the villagers with all of their projects, an ingenious plan instantly formed in Matilda`s mind. She was saved!

　　"We`re going to need more pigs&" Matilda said airily.

　　The guards finally caught up to her and grabbed Matilda`s shackles. Ignoring them, she greeted her fellow villagers. Even Rachel had made the journey. Heavily pregnant, she had ridden with the recovering Roger beside Matilda`s plough in the back of Luke Ploughman`s cart.

　　"We had to stop to rest overnight," William told her, "and some of the older villagers had to take a slower pace but they should arrive by tomorrow morning. We somehow collected extra people along the way. They insisted on coming along when they heard what was happening."

　　Matilda couldn`t believe her eyes. Matthew and Ralph followed behind the convoy, large saw blades swinging wildly from their own overstocked cart. Matilda welcomed them all, urging them to grab food and to settle in with the rest of the crowd. Only then did she remember the audience that she had left waiting. She urged her guards back towards the stage, making a beeline for the Baron and the Earl.

　　Matilda took great pains to explain the significance of the new arrivals. She outlined her plans for the next day and breathed a huge sigh of relief when Earl Robert approved. She turned to address the crowd waiting before her.

　　"Everyone, your attention please! Apologies for dashing off but some very distinguished guests have arrived. We`re joined by the inhabitants of Holford, a village in the shadow of the Quantock Hills. The village I have been honoured to call my home for the past year.

　　"These amazing people have journeyed far to show you the wonders that can be achieved by ordinary folk possessing the knowledge of the future. And show you they will, for tomorrow we will hold a festival, the likes of which you have never seen. There will be food and fighting. Dancing and handicrafts. I promise it will be a festival to remember."

　　The crowd thronged with excitement and the newly arrived Holford villagers were warmly welcomed. They were instant celebrities and locals rushed to befriend a Holfordian.

　　"But before tomorrow," Matilda continued, "let me finish the demonstration I so rudely disrupted. Rest assured that these beautiful beasts won`t go to waste. At the conclusion of the demonstration, there will be a feast."

　　The crowd met this news with an almighty cheer.

　　Matilda resumed her demonstration with renewed energy, calling upon Astrid to help show how to cut out specific organs from the circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive and reproductive systems. The crowd correctly named most of the organs as the barbers removed them, getting particular bawdy with the reproductive system. Some more outgoing folk hazarded guesses at the organs` functions before Matilda described their true role, associated diseases and how to fix them.

　　The crowd was divided between those fully enthralled in Matilda`s work and others more preoccupied with socialising. Matilda completed her demonstration as the sun started to set and the Earl ordered that several spits be erected over Matilda`s pyre for roasting the pigs. The Earl supplemented Matilda`s contribution with additional pigs and even some barrels of ale. By the time the sun had fully set, the castle courtyard was full of singing and food and music.

　　The Archer family were permitted to bring food to Matilda and they sat together to plan logistics for the following day`s activities. Ever the killjoy, Godfrey insisted to Earl Robert that Matilda remained his prisoner and that she should be locked away once more. The crowd let Godfrey know they thought of his decision, pelting pork scraps in his direction.

　　Matilda didn`t care. She was elated by the arrival of her dear friends and the joy that her more recent acquaintances were taking from the spontaneous party. William, Elizabeth, Margery and John insisted on escorting her to the dungeon to spend the night together but were all shooed away at the jail entrance.

　　Godfrey followed Matilda all the way to her cell, lingering by her door`s iron bars as the jailor retreated to his post.

　　"You`ve done well," the Bishop conceded. "You have the crowd eating from the palm of your hand and Earl Robert fawns over you. Enjoy it while you can. I`ll find a way to have your head. I promise."

　　His utter determination sent a shiver down Matilda`s spine.

　　"I pity you Godfrey," she called as the old man began to slowly ascend the spiral stairs. He turned to face her. "Your lonely bishop life, with its incense, cathedrals and gold crosses. It has sapped all of the imagination and wonder from your mind. You poor little man."

　　Godfrey looked at her with a vacant stare before leaving the dungeon without a word. Matilda couldn`t know for sure but she felt that she had finally found a chink in the Bishop`s armour of arrogance.

　　She turned to her familiar cell with its cold stone walls and old rushes scattered across the floor. It reminded Matilda of her cave.

　　Matilda savoured going to sleep without the pressure of finding a new idea. She was excited for the festival. A chance to show off Holford`s hard work and allow others to participate in the spectacle. Matilda took Godfrey`s threat seriously but couldn`t help smiling. There would be no closing Pandora`s box, even if he somehow managed to take her life. Word of Matilda`s teachings would be out in the world.

　　Her mission would be a success.

　　(C) Jay Pelchen 2023. All rights reserved.