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“YOU MEAN THE BABY PRINCESS?”
“No, I mean Bubba, a stable hand. She works at the Maud!”
“When did it happen?”
She places her pipe on a tin plate at her side.
“A few days ago, she was coming to St. Benedict to bring me supplies when she disappeared. The horse came alone...”
“I see.”
“Have you heard anything?”
“I’m thinking, so don’t interrupt me.”
Janda stares into space for an occasion, pulling her embroidered shawl around her shoulders.
“I may know bandits who do such terrible things. I shall take some time out now.”
She gets up without another word, opens her caravan door and enters.
“Get up you lazy thing,” she calls out to Crystalina, who replies with a curse to her mother.
Garty hears a bang and a screech, and then it is quiet.
A gunshot? He runs to the door, and it is ajar. With one palm, he pushes, keeping behind the door.
He steps away as he sees the naked figure of Crystalina, bathing herself with a jug of water and a multicolored cloth.
“What are you doing?”
Janda’s voice startles him. She has sneaked up on him.
“Take your eyes off my child, you.”
Garty feels the heat rising into his face and head.
“I apologize, but I heard noises.”
“That was nothing! This is our way! Now, please leave me for five minutes.”
Her eyes shimmer like fire behind the black lace.
Garty retreats, finding work to do chopping tree branches with the menfolk whilst Janda has some peace to consult her crystal ball.
Crystalina enjoys her morning toilette.
Garty is becoming a little anxious when Janda calls out to him. He drops an ax he was using to chop wood..
“Go on, get yourself sorted out.”
“I think you are hurting already anyway, and we don’t need half a man.”
Garty feels relieved.
“I appreciate that, Roma.”
He heads to Janda’s caravan.
“I believe they are about four miles west of here,” says Janda.
“They will need a trade. If the person is alive.”
Why would they hurt such a gentle soul? The knight’s anger returns.
“We must take a chance. I have a purse.”
The money collected at Scatt would be a ransom.
A small price for a life.
“This is the plan, Commander.” says Janda.
“We will take our arms with us and come in two groups.”
She includes tactics to use from several directions in order to secure success. Garty listens. His own plan was a similar one, but of course, he can only approach from one angle if he is alone. It is better with more. He agrees to join in with the gypsy blood.
Crystalina comes out of the caravan and Garty’s mouth stays open. Her face is decorated with gold and silver markings. She kept her hair high on her head. Her dress is full and flowing in skirts of red, gold, and white satin. She wears a gold chiffon mask over her face, flowing over her shoulders. Her lips are painted scarlet and her eyeballs are like pools of deep water surrounded by fish. He cannot take his focus from her.
“Are you coming with us?”
She stares at him as if he is a worm.
“Of course.”
Garty takes her hand as she floats to the ground, like an angel landing.
“You are exquisite.”
She reads at him through her golden veil.
Janda strides to the pair and hands Garty wearable items.
“You must wear these so that they do not identify you!”
Garty accepts the brown felt hat, colored scarf and heavy ornate necklace from her hands. He puts them on his body as instructed.
She also uses glistening paint to put tribal markings on his face. He looks like a stranger in Janda’s shiny brass hand-held mirror.
“Put the scarf over your face once we meet them,” Janda said.
“Of course,” Garty said.
I should never disobey Janda, he muses. She was right too, indeed! Even my family would not recognize me now!
The gypsy tribe ride on fine steeds of all colors, including Brill, heading towards the campsite of the bandits. He hopes and prays that Janda has her directions correct, but he feels at peace about their discussion and plan. They ride in two groups, Garty, Crystalina, and Janda in front, followed by the gypsy bucks riding on their own horses.
All horses are decorated with gold and silver ornaments, and impress Garty well. His own horse has its mane groomed to a full shine and plaited tail, interwoven with golden thread.
“You never looked so good.”
Garty tells Brill.
Janda reads him and smiles.
Garty noticed that all her front teeth were pure gold.
“I scrub up well.”
She pulls her black veil over her face. Her long, black silk dress creates a magical form that may be described as regal. She rides a smaller horse, a bay, with her gown flowing almost to the ground.
Her bay horse, Gale, is keen to attract Brill. Garty keeps Brill on a straight track and Janda nudges and rebukes her horse, too, so they enjoy harmony as they ride neck and neck.
The three of them appear rather royal with their fine steeds dressed for the occasion. Garty concludes the females look splendid in their lavish garments and thus would bring attention to themselves. Their plan may work, thinks Garty, holding his rifle near his thigh. The gypsies have plenty of weapons and he appreciates their generosity in giving him a rifle for protection.
Crystalina raises her hand as they come near to a clump of trees and the aroma of burning firewood. She looks back at Garty and gives the signal. She sings at the top of her flawless voice. They are soon surrounded by a horde of men. They are flailing weapons of rifles, guns, swords and spears.
“Whither go thou?” Black Mack said.
Black Mack has a rifle that he raises to his shoulder and keeps by him as his words spill out.
“What have we got here?”
“We are off to a celebration of our tribe,” Crystalina says.
She is unfazed by this dreadful character with his deep voice and wild eyes.
“And we wish to pass through.”
Black Mack puts his rifle down and smiles at her, twisting his mustache as he speaks.
“We were enjoying breakfast when you came upon us. You are welcome to join us.”
“We would like that.”
Black Mack bows to her.
“We also welcome your companions.”
“Especially the fortune teller.”
They know Janda and Crystalina?
Garty follows behind Janda.
Garty thought, I am indistinguishable from any gypsy male!
A panic sweeps over him for a flash as he recalls the beating this horde gave him only nineteen days ago! He needs to calm down to resist galloping away into the distance. He holds his ground as Black Mack looks into his face. The evil faced man looks twice at Brill, but then gives his rump a whack, which sends Brill rearing for a second..
“Steady on-” Garty says to calm the horse
They are amid the camp and meet two thugs chomping on their meal. At first they ignored the visitors as their food was more interesting.
Garty and Janda trot on horseback to check out the place.
They have set up a tepee on the verge of the campground. A second tent is set a little further away with its flap on the front closed. Their horses are tied up near a large sycamore tree and their buggy is nearby. Ropes with garments are strewn about. These create good hiding places.
Janda and Garty nod to each other as they find a clearing.
Barley Rock gets up first, wiping his face with his arm. He noticed Crystalina and comes towards her.
“You must be a princess?”
She slid off the horse and into Barley Rock’s arms, turning her face towards him, mesmerizing. Black Mack comes striding towards him.
“Get the lady a drink, fool.”
“Sure, like a drink, lady? Rum or wine?”
“Wine.”
“Wine for the princess.”
Barley Rock strides to Janda and offers help as she releases the reins and slides to the ground.
He catches her around the waist and she lets out a yelp of surprise, throwing back her veil and smiling at the thug’s gory face. He holds her aloft.