Knuckle and Pinch were both back training with the men when Peep and Shane returned to the base from the church. Peep was adamant about going to speak with Mariola before her wedding, and there was still almost two hours before lunch, so she and Pinch decided to take the archers down to the Wilson place for some target practice. They left Knuckle and Sergeant Neil to continue training the rest of the men in the courtyard. Shane and his dogs went along with Peep and Pinch.
As they left the north gate, Peep held up her hand to halt all of them. Along with her, Pinch, and Shane, there was Corporal Dom and his squad of six archers with shortbows.
“Okay,” Peep said, her voice low, “so long as we’re meant to be the sneaky ones, let’s work our way down there with some creep. Nice and slow. Keep to cover.”
The archer squad moved down the trail to the Bristle Creek. Peep and Pinch kept themselves generally in the middle of the men, with the subordinate soldiers exchanging point in pairs. As well, they now had Shane and his dogs with them. He stayed in the rear, with his dogs close to heel. Occasionally, when they had halted to take to cover and listen, we would send his dogs out to check areas around their position. His commands were quiet, as were the dogs.
“Yar dogs ever bark?” Peep ask him as they were crossing the Bristle Creek.
“Just if I’ve told em to.”
“They track, too?”
“Track. Guard. Attack. Hunt. They do it all.”
“Impressive,” Otilla said.
“Thank ye, Miss.”
Out around the Wilson Place, the Holy Fire Wailers were picking wildflowers. Two of the women were sitting in the grass just outside the cottage with Mariola, weaving flowers into her hair. Peep split off from the archers and went to sit down with them. She could not, however, begin conversing immediately, due to her followers going through their usual spasms at her presence.
Over at the short archery range, the men spread out and warmed up with some basic shooting. Both Pinch and Dom were still getting used to their more powerful deer bows. After everyone was warmed up, Shane took it upon himself to give a short clinic on shooting from cover in a forest. Tree selection was critical. For a wide field of fire, a tree at the edge of the forest was best. However, this made one more vulnerable; both easier to spot and be targeted. Further back was more secure, but with a much more limited field. Consideration for the nature of the engagement was necessary.
Then, once behind the cover of a tree, Shane demonstrated breaking that cover to take a shot. The movement of stepping back and to the side of the tree incorporated the smooth drawing of the bow upon the target. With the arrow loosed, the archer ideally should then immediately move to a different tree for cover. With his demonstration finished, Shane had the men take to the forest to practice; first drawing their bows without arrows, and then with.
While the men trained, Peep waited impatiently for the two women to settle down and continue working on Mariola’s hair. Once they had, she said:
“So, getting married, huh?”
“Yes, it seems so. I hope that’s okay with ye,” Mariola said, giving Peep a trepidatious look.
“Do ye really?”
Mariola took a moment to really think about it before nodding. “Yes.”
“Ye don’t have to do it, if ye don’t want to. Barrelmender aint got no business telling ye what to do in that regard. No one does. Not when yar with me,” Peep said.
“I appreciate that Peep, but it’s not me that he has control of here.”
Peep snorted. “Okay. Yeah, I hear that.”
“Right. So if I want Choke, which I do, then I have to marry him. He aint gonna be with me unless we’re married. The iron drunk has spoken.”
“Iron drunk. That’s a good one,” Peep chuckled. “But, come on, give yar toque a spin. Think for a second, woman. So ye want him, which is fine. I guess. And I may as well tell ye now what I already told him: I don’t wanna hear shit about what the two of ye get up to. Keep it to yarself. But if that’s what ye want, just ease back into the cut for a minute and wait him out. He’s a young man. He aint gonna be able to hold out. So ye can have him whichever way ye want here, if ye just take it easy. And if Barrelmender’s got shit to say about it, then I’ll put him in his place. So the question here aint exactly what ye want; it’s how do ye want it? Ye can have it either way, is all I’m saying.”
Mariola nodded to this. They sat in silence for a while before Peep again spoke:
“So now I’m gonna flip over the coin I just handed Choke on this. I told him this fuckin wedding aint going ahead until I’m sure that yar right with it. Not a chance. And now I’m gonna tell you: if ye do go ahead with it, I don’t ever want to hear ye pissing and moaning that ye didn’t have a choice in the matter. You go and marry him, that’s yar choice. If that doesn’t work out for ye, don’t ye go laying a trip on my friend after the fact. I won’t tolerate it. He needs his head right moving forward. I need him with his head right. So if you fuck him up, we’re gonna have a problem, you and me. Am I clear to ye?”
Mariola met Peep’s eye and flinched from what she saw there. She took a deep breath and nodded.
“So why marry him? Sell me on it, woman,” Peep said.
Mariola took a minute to think about it before responding:
“Okay. So, I’ve been thinking a lot about back when we first hitched up, you and me. After ye had me help ye kill those two men.”
At this, the two women working on Mariola’s hair paused and shifted uncomfortably. Both Peep and Mariola ignored them. They resumed working as Mariola went on:
“So, that night, after the fact, ye asked me to come along with ye. Ye said that there was something evil coming and we were gonna go right to the heart of it. That I could run away and survive however I could, and that I might survive, if I ran far enough. But that if I came along with ye, I’ll probably die, too, but that way I’d have a chance to become somebody.”
“Yeah, I remember. Ye came along. Good on ye.”
“Suppose so. And I’ve been becoming somebody. Or somebody new, anyways. At least over here with this lot. And with Barrelmender, I suppose. And now with Choke. And that’s just it. How it’s somebody new, I’m becoming. Because before I was something. We were something, me and Trapper, and the few other people with us out there. And is weren’t easy, that life, but we were proud. Free and clear, living by no one’s leave. But none of that mattered a bit. Goldy and his came through and did their thing and that was that. Nice while it lasted, I guess.”
“Yeah, that’s how it goes. So why not head south? Figure something out for yarself someplace safer?” Peep asked.
“Where would that be? How far south is far enough?”
“I dunno. Just saying.”
“Right. Ye don’t know. And then, wherever I wind up, what am I gonna do? No money. No people. No protection. Like ye said, best case is I wind up someone’s wife.”
“So what’s the difference here?”
“I’m choosing that someone. And he’s worth having. And I get to enjoy what him and me have, out in the open, free of shame. And that’s something worth having, I reckon. And maybe we don’t all die. Maybe we make it through this. And then I’ll be something in the world of these Kingdom men. An army officer’s wife. And that may not be much, but it’ll be more that whatever the hell it is I am now.”
“And why aint what ye are now enough?” asked Peep.
“Because it aint enough. Not for the men of this world. Who can take whoever they want whenever they want them. How many Father Morrenthalls are there in the world? Putting a stop to men like the Sheriff and that boss teamster. What was his name?”
“Wes,” Peep answered.
“Right. Wes. Well, someone like me is just a target for men like that, wherever we are. So, yeah, Barrelmender meddled and put his hand in. And I guess that’s what priests do, here in the Kingdom. And I’m too beat up inside to swim against the current. And, when I get right down to it, I want Choke right now. I think he’s worth having. So I’m gonna do this thing. Is that alright with ye, Peep?” Mariola met Peep’s eye with some aggression as she asked.
Peep nodded. “Yeah. I get it. Just wanted to be sure.” She then winced and shifted herself from side to side. “Okay. I gotta rip a shit. I’ll see ye at yar wedding, I guess.” Peep stood up and cuffed Mariola on the shoulder as she left.
“Yeah, okay. See ye, Peep,” Mariola said to Peep’s back. “Good talk,” she then said quietly to herself.
***
The church bell rang shortly after lunch to call the community to Choke and Mariola’s wedding. The Holy Fire Wailers had arrived earlier to garland the church as best they could. Wildflowers adorned the doors and every second pew down the aisle.
Choke stood in his nicer tabard, waiting for his bride at the altar with Pinch and Knuckle at his side. Peep was standing on Mariola’s side of the altar, with Brother Barrelmender between her and Choke.
Sergeant Neil was in attendance, and had assigned his men to the north and south gates, two on each, so that the entire platoon could be there. Word of the event had spread, so the turnout was good, with people standing in the wings and out the door onto the steps. Babs and Balan were there, along with all their children: Gabe, Dusty, Garet, and Polly. Of course, all the town’s merchants attended with their families and people: Stadnick the stablemaster, Royce the tavernkeeper, Otto the blacksmith, and the general store keeper, Bill Cornmasher. The teamster boss, Bob, was there, too, along with his man, Klim. Shasta also attended, along with her and Barrelmender’s two children, although she stayed in the rear of the church, seated in the pew closest to the door. The town’s two prostitutes, Annica and Mya, attended, as lovely as they could be. Even the goatfucker, Theon, was there with his family.
Finally, Mariola entered the church and came down the aisle, followed by the Holy Wailers. Her hair was in a lovely plait, adorned with wildflowers. In her hands was a bouquet of the same. She smiled at Choke as she reached the altar. Peep stepped aside so that Mariola and Choke could face each other with Barrelmender between them.
Brother Barrelmender raised up his hands, and a hush fell over the congregation.
“Let us pray!” Barrelmender said loudly. He turned his back on everyone to face the Wheel and dropped to his knees.
Choke, Pinch, and Knuckle immediately did just as Barrelmender: turning to face the Wheel and drop to their knees with their heads bowed. Mariola, Peep, and the rest of the congregation did the same.
With his hands clasped in front of him, and his face upraised towards the Wheel, Barrelmender knelt. For more than a minute, he knelt wordlessly, swaying slightly. Slowly, murmurs and whispers began to spread through the folk behind him.
“Silence! Pray, I said!” Barrelmender yelled.
Another minute of silence followed. Finally, Brother Barrelmender raised his hands up above him.
“Lord Stron! Look upon us unworthy creatures! Give us the strength to carry on. To do your work. To carry on the heavy burden of this wretched life. We know you shall not forgive us our weakness, for that is not your way. So when our doom finds us, let us hope we have earned remission of your wrath upon us. For we know that those sins we have not mitigated with our brave action will be cleansed by your fire, in this life, or the next. Give us the chance to die well, for your glory. Let that day of judgment fall soon, so that we may be done with it. Please, let us not fail you again. Please, Lord. Please.”
During his prayer, Brother Barrelmender’s voice had grown quieter. Still, it carried well in the fine acoustics of the church. As he finished, Barrelmender dropped his arms and slumped despondently.
A disturbed murmur rolled through the church. Peep turned to face the congregation and raised both her palms high, showing her Wheel brands.
“Amen!” she exclaimed cheerfully with a wide grin. “Oh, yeah. And Stron bless this wedding! Right?” she turned around to pointedly ask Barrelmender, still slumped behind her.
Barrelmender did not respond.
“Right, Brother?” she almost shouted.
“What?” he startled up and twisted around to look at Peep behind him. When he beheld the full church, his eyes flared. “Oh. Yes. The wedding.” Barrelmender staggered to his feet and turned to face everyone. He sighed deeply and did his best to straighten up.
“Marriage!” he shouted, his voice strong and clear. Everyone startled and looked to him attentively. “Marriage. Marriage. It is… It is… It is what you must do so that you do not… do that which we should not do when engaging in… uhhhgh,” Barrelmender groaned as he realized the cul-de-sac he had wandered down. He took some time to stare in disgust at Shasta at the back of the church before continuing loudly:
“You all know— No! Not that! Marriage! That is the topic at hand! Marriage. Marriage is the foundation of our society. Without it, we would be as animals rutting in sin. Even more so. Disgusting. Disgusting, filthy animals! Degraded in our lust. Drawn to sin like swine to the trough. By other swine, no less! Swine! Disgusting! So we have marriage. Marriage to mitigate this wretched situation. Marriage so that our simian gruntings no longer offend the Lords Altas and Stron. Apparently. Somehow. So we marry you to each other so that you may breed freely and produce more like you and this whole thing can go on and on. To what end? While only the Lords Altas and Stron know, we may well see it soon. And so we are here today to indulge lust. To marry these two sinners. Because they have left me no choice. Lieutenant Bartholomew Pekot and Mariola.”
Barrelmender stopped speaking and stared from Choke to Mariola and back to Choke again.
“Lieutenant Pekot! Speak up when you are addressed!” Barrelmender shouted.
“Yes, Brother!” Choke startled.
“And you!” Barrelmender whirled on Mariola.
“Yes, Brother. What?” she asked.
“You are here to marry each other, are you not?”
“Yes, Brother. We are,” Mariola said.
“Yes, Brother,” Choke agreed.
“So you are both here of your free will, standing in this church before the holy Wheel of Stron to unite yourselves in holy matrimony.”
Choke and Mariola looked to each other before looking to Barrelmender and saying in unison:
“Yes, Brother.”
“Very well. So be it. Do you, Lieutenant Bartholomew Pekot, take this woman, Mariola, as your wife?”
“I do, Brother. And may I just add—”
“No you may not!” hollered Barrelmender. “Do you, Mariola, take Lieutenant Bartholomew Pekot as your husband?”
“Yes, Brother.”
“So be it, then. I hereby pronounce you man and wife. You may now do whatever you like to each other, so long as I do not have to listen to it anymore. No doubt the whole wretched lot of you are going to want to have some manner of celebration. Suit yourselves. But keep the frolicking outside of the church! I am exhausted! I shall be in my chamber resting. I will thrash the legs off anyone that disturbs me! Do not test me! I am in no mood! Is that clear?”
There was a general affirmation from the flock. Barrelmender glared at them for a spell before turning to Choke:
“There you are. It is done.”
“Thank you, Brother. I appreciate everything you…” Choke drifted off as Barrelmender turned his back on him and left through the church’s back door to the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.
“Well, that was terrible. I loved it!” Peep said happily.
Barrelmender had been correct: the flock did indeed intend to celebrate. The community sorely needed it. Almost everyone had been having the dreams of goblin apocalypse for at least a week.
Tables and chairs were carried into the town square where folk brought out food to share as they finished cooking it. Earlier, Choke had paid for Royce the tavernkeeper to cook an entire pig. Choke had also bought all of Bill Cornmasher’s supply of potato wine, which began to flow as soon as the church emptied. Babs had Balan and their boys bring up two large kegs of strong ale, as well. Other folk brought out their own mead and wine. With this and a haze of marijuana smoke, Choke and Mariola’s wedding fete was soon off to a grand start.
It was good that Barrelmender had sealed himself up in the back of his church, because the celebrations took a heretical turn almost immediately. A gang of elder women and men grabbed Mya, the younger and prettier of the town’s prostitutes. They declared her, Spring, the Princess of the wedding feast. While she was decorated in garlands of flowers by more women, the elder gang located Theon and had him dragged to the middle of the square. It seemed that Theon’s proclivities had been sussed out and word had spread. He was forcibly dressed up as Randy Pan the goat boy. The costume was old and very well done. It had fine billygoat horns and goat-fur coat and pants, a necklace of small, carved wooden phalluses, and a wine goblet and flute. Of course, it also included a codpiece with a magnificent, strident erection made of luridly painted fabric overtop a wicker frame.
With Spring and Randy Pan crowned, they were married in a burlesque wedding ceremony, presided over by a crone. Her performance as priest was wickedly bawdy. Following the profane ceremony, the marriage of Spring and Randy Pan was consummated, with the rowdy audience forcing the pair into a wide variety of simulated sex acts.
Mya had been a good sport from the beginning and hammed it up marvelously. While Theon had been terrified when chosen, he soon warmed up to the role. He threw himself into the sex performance with comedic abandon.
“Yesh! Yeshhh!” he cried with each simulated orgasm for the positions he and Mya were pushed into.
What Theon’s wife and children in attendance might have made of the whole spectacle was not something anyone seemed bothered to consider.
Of course, Choke was utterly mortified. This was entirely pagan and heretical. However, with Barrelmender locked up in the church, Choke did not feel that he could do anything to stop it without causing a rift between himself and the community that had just begun to accept him. As the night went on, Choke reflected that avoiding confrontation over this fairly harmless expression of older culture was probably behind Barrelmender’s withdrawal.
Once the blasphemous wedding of Spring and Randy Pan had been properly consummated, the feast began. Of course, Mya and Theon were obliged to stay in character. Mya did not have to do anything that she would not have been doing anyway, and rather enjoyed the extra attention. Theon, however, was forced to continue with the japery.
The frolicking accelerated as the feasting waned. Choke and Mariola’s wedding celebration descended into a debauch. Thankfully, they were spared having to participate in it. Once they had eaten, the elder gang organized a party of eight men: Knuckle, Pinch, Osgar, Dom, Shane, Sergeant Neal, and Balan and his son, Garet. The men brought a bed adorned in wildflowers to the town square where they were feasting. Choke was set upon by the men and thrown into the bed, while Mariola was escorted to it by Spring and Randy Pan. Then the men lifted the bed and followed Spring and Randy Pan up Main Street, with the revelers in procession behind. The parade went to a small cottage adjacent to the army compound. The bed with its newlywed occupants was deposited in the cottage back where they had got it from.
It seemed that many of the partygoers were intent on staying in and around the cottage to watch Choke and Mariola consummate their marriage. Choke, of course, was having no part of that. He had his men clear the folk out and away with threats of violence should they try to invade the couple’s privacy. Then, Choke closed the window shutters and barricaded the door.
While there was some disappointment at this antisocial behavior, it was soon alleviated by the party that continued to rage unabated. Multiple fires had been lit in the streets, with torches, lamps, and lanterns on buildings. There was a hurdy-gurdy player, who could sing well and knew many ribald songs. Along with him were several rudimentary fiddles, plenty of flutes and whistles, a number of drums, and many improvised percussionists. The larger party atomized into many smaller ones that carried on all through the night.
Pinch did very well for himself. A number of the women who had been circling him for a while had taken note of his glum attitude. They soon got to the bottom of it. It became a competitive mission to see who best assuage his grief at having lost a lover to bandit evil.
Knuckle was not so fortunate. His position in the platoon, along with his great size and strength, certainly would have overcome the limitations of his facial scars. However, Shasta was a heavyweight in the community, and not a person that anyone would cross lightly. She stuck to Knuckle, making it clear that she had laid claim to him. Knuckle did his best to slip her and get to any of the women that were eyeing him, but he was outmatched. When he went to the army latrine behind the barracks, she followed him in. What ensued became a spectacle. Their loud, violent fucking rocked the entire multi-outhouse latrine, with a crowd of soldiers and villagers gathered outside cheering them on. The congratulations that Knuckle received when he and Shasta finally emerged were comedic and entirely disingenuous. After that, Knuckle’s potential admirers were long gone. He had been branded.
For her part, Peep avoided the entire thing. She ate her fill at the feast, but had no alcohol. Instead, she took a heavy medley of the very best hallucinogenic fungi she had in her extensive collection. When Choke and Mariola were carted off in their bed, Peep slipped away from the crowd and into the church. A small number of folk were there praying quietly. Peep sat down in the pews with them and stared at the Wheels in her palms and the one on the wall until the shrooms really kicked in. Then she went up to the church roof.
The town lit up beneath her was beautiful; a human spectacle reminiscent of, but dwarfed by, the field of stars above. The sounds of the revelers below carried well and seemed loud. But they were a babble, like that of white water. Somehow soothed by it, Peep spent her night with the stars.
Muse Vassal 