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| Life and Times of Nestor Horaatio Plimsoll 9th
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The clouds gathered and the winds got up before the two reached the outer rampart wall of the castle. Nestor of course had seen ruins and some very impressive stuructures on his Journey. Now he was to enter a castle. Him! Nestor Horaatio Plimsoll! The gated doors were huge and Nestor wondered how many Knights it would take to open the door. No sooner had he thought it than he spoke it aloud. The Menzies' gave a short hardy laugh, and grabbed Nestor about the shoulder giving him a slight squeeze and the slightest turn at the same time. "Oh laddie you are as hopeful as any boy ever was.... We need'nt not go in by the great laborious gate. We are not mounted and nothing larger than ourselves approaches. He pointed then, with his polished walking stick towards a door that appeared almost invisible. Had you not already known it was there, the eye might have missed it altogether. Nestor did not know if he ought to feel relieved, dissappointed, or perhaps even foolish. Why would anyone on a common ordinary day use the great gate? He decided he was relieved. The Master of the house was a very eldery gentleman at that, of course he wouldn't want to wait and be patient while the great lifts and gears of the entryway were laboring open. Even the younger Lord Menzies was not so young.... He too might expire before the lift was complete. NO dignity in that at all! The' Menzies' rapped on the small trap of the door and a face immediatly appeared. Well, half a face. A mouth and chin asked. 'Who appraoches Castle Carlisle? 'Your Master" replied the younger Lord Menzies. A nose and two very beady eyes appeared. "Y'es m'lord opening now" the muffled voice said even as the door swung open. The elder gentleman stepped in first and as he did a streak of lighting skatted across the sky and almost simultaneously the thunder roared so that the very ground vibrated and Nestor was pelted with a mix of rain and hail even before he got himself over the threshold. Instantly two soldiers approched them and held their magnificent shields over the two of them that they walkes sheltered of the down pour. Nestor was again awed. The soldiers kept pace as He and his host hurried across the well worn stones along the walls under cat walks, and eventually across the inner court yard. They came to an archway and were met by a man and a women who had lanterns. The soldiers left off with out a word and returned to wherever they had appeared from. The underpass widened and a young boy appeared, though he seemed older than Nestor. He immediatly put his hands on Nestors' bag. Nestor was having none of it and returned the tugging of the bag to his direction. The other lad tugged harder and Nestor also tugged all the harder. Aware of the tussel the Menzies' turned and with a kindly smile said to Nestor. ""Nigh' Lad you are a guest in my home and these good people are used to looking after all my guests. Give me your trust as your mother once did and all will be well. Let yon paige take yourrr' things and get a room firrre started for you. That is his function for it he recieves his coppers everrry second fortnightm and he feels the need to earrrn it honestly. Now let us go to warming fire and good meal. You've got yourself wetted and there is not place like an old stoney structure to give a man or a lad his death of cold."" Nester pursed his lips and gave the paige an engaging stare. Then he let go of his satchel and followed on with his host and the couple still leading them.
By the light of the lanterns Nestor could see there were some words carved into the wall as they walked the length of the knave. A double door opened at the curve in the knave and they walked only a few steps more and were inside the greatest room Nestor had ever seen Surely three houses could be stacked one upon another and fit in here. He crained his head back ward to pier at the ceilings. They were a dull dunne sort of color but were trimmed all around in shields, banners, and all manner of trappings. "Now lad, said the Menzies. You shall know your first comfort of my home. The woman who had lead them, stepped over to the huge fireplace. A screen some four feet high and resting some two or three feet from the face of the fire was laden with three blankets. She fetched one over and put it on the mans shoulders as at the same time the serving man placed a warmed blanket over Nestors wet back and shoulders. He gave Nestor the slightest head nod and went his way. The woman also departed with a slight curtsy.
The Older gentlman settled himself in a chair and gestured to Nestor to also select a chair. Then he spoke again. " 'tis still a grand sight to a young lads eyes I see. With so much going near the borders and in London we don't make it too festive these days. But... some of the glory hangs on yet eh lad? Nestor just blinked and nodded. He snuggled automatically into the remaining warmth of the shawled blanket. He swung his feet as they dangled from his chair. He looked around freely. There was a huge chandelier, half its' tapers were lit. The huge fire also provided some light and there were as yet unlite torches on the walls. Over further from the fireplace a candlestick with about twelve tapers burning, sat on a round shiney table.
""Please ye' l'ordship Nestor spoke tentatively. How is it ye knew of my journey, and how t'find me? Ahhhh my boy, your dear mother wrote to me many weeks ago, and informed me you would be traveling in the area. Asked if I would keep a look out for you. I've had men out every day for a week now. I was nearly growing nervous lad. It would be a gruesome thing to lose sight of Esmeralda McGeeghons boy child. But finally a lad with a satchel and a Cornwall suit of clothes was reported on the meadows approaching the firth. I took it upon myself to walk and meet you. OHhh! Said Nestor in a voice of ponderous thought. How d'ye know then of my mother then sir... then he quickly added "if I may inquire of his l'ordship?"" The kindly smile spread across the 'Menzies 'face again.
""Let us be made more comfortable young Plimsoll before we digress to the subject of reminisce. The sentence was uttered like a sing song childs' poem. The 'Menzies' chuckled at himself. Not quite a ryhme was it boy?
Nestor shook his head and in a serious voice replied. No sir ay' do b'elieve 'twas what my school master called an 'assonance'...... ** ahem** the gentleman coughed an half chortled. Yea, laddie prehaps a bit of accent upon the first syllable for an old inept 'would be poet of no note.' Nessy puzzled a bit and decided to say only aye, m'l'ord". the Menzies stiffled a chortle. His heart suddenly warmed to this lad so much of his mothers ilk.
The paige re-appeared and he carried some folded clothing. He stood before Nestor and presented the clothing. Nestor was at a loss...'may I help you sir? He asked the paige. The paige spoke breifly. "Would mm'lords young guest care to inspect the dry cothing before wearing them? Nestor looked at the clothes and the paige and Sir Menzies. His host again graciously interveined. "I beleive Naster Plimsoll will do well by them... so to it and guide him to his rooms. I am imformed we dine in less than an hour. You must follow him to your chambers and when you are quite suitible lad we will dine. The paige lead the way out of the main hall. Nestor trailed on his heels not wanting to become lost in the large expanse of the Castle.
Presently they arrived at the foot of an enourmouse stairway. In the lantern light a shiney door knob was visible showing just exactly under the tenth step of the stair case. Whats' that fer there that door handle sir if Ay' mayt ask you.... " Master Plimsoll my name is Kurt and you 'mustent' call me sir. Aye'm a servant in the house hold, it 'tissn't right you call me sir."" His voice had been a little plantive. That room down there is where a midwife would stay...come a little early before a lady was to have her birthing time. And stay just here so as to be handy.... Nestor was quite impressed and puzzled too. A midwife had a room all to herself in a castle.? Why ? Ay'm not so sure, no baies been born here for ever so long........ well, least ways not a Lady's. Kurt slipped into that boyish commaradre' that tends to crop up when two boys share a secret. Then remembering his place and resuming some bit of protocal he answered Nessy. But ay' can find out if you likes Master Plimsoll. ""Like"" Said Nestor. "" yur pardon sir?? asked Kurt for he did not understand. Its' jus' ''like"" with out an 's' not ""likes'' with and 's' . Ye jus say, 'if you like, not ""likes"". Oh yes Master Plimsoll replied Kurt. Kurt can we see in there, whats' it like in there? Whats a midwife room like? Did ( he winced ) the babies get birthed in there? No sir replied Kurt. it's not where a Ladyship would be at all. He had resumed his air of servitude and knowledge. We should move on sir he urged Nestor up the stairs. Nestor had an attrction for secret of that little room.... he certainly did not know why but locked doors did bear intrest sometimes. At the top of the stairs the paige showed Nestor into the first room on the left. It was dark and several candles needed to be lit. There was a window that reveled the storm outside was active but not the gale it had started out to be only an hour earlier. Nestor went to the window... "ohhh he said in dissapointment I thought the firth was to be seen from here. Not from here but higher up in the ramparts yu'd be able to see it Master Plimsoll. Kurt offered. He too came to stand by the window and with his hands first on Nestors shoulders he fussed about and alarmed the boy. Wha' t'ever are ye doing? Nestor was almost horrified. Ay'm to help you out'f these things and into those things.""... Kurt indicated the folded clothing on the chair where he had set them as they first arrived in the room. "Oh! Ay'll do mey own undressing and you just help me with anything about those I might need help with. retorted Nestor! ( for a lad of twelve can be very particular about himself and his own ways... ) He indicated the folded clothes. They don't a'tall look like any thing 'A Cornwaller' would wear. Kurt eyed the younger boy.... no Master Plimsoll they don't... the lightest of light sarcasim did not escape Nestors ear.
As he pulled off layer after layer of his travel clothing... Nestor glimpsed around the room. It was stately but not ornate in the way it might have been. Though to Nestor it was the finest things he had ever seen. He wondered that his mother, had ever been content in the cottage on the mount when she had been places like this. Oh but he did'nt really know anything yet. Best stick with the facts and then be contented with them too. He was eager to learn of his mothers youth. She seldom said much about it except that it was 'just in the past.'
Nestor put on the clean fine linnen shirt, it was large but didn't fall off, and the button breeches were tightish. Then there was an odd vest of sorts and an even more odd jacket. It had a rope of silk for to tie it with, and wide quilted collars.., Kurt tried to put a small startchy kind of collor that stuck out on Nestor. No, no no, that is beastly the boy laughed for it was a comedy to him, I cannot wear it... and what sort of jacket is this? Nestor inquired. Ay'm thinkin' it is called a chamber coat Master Plimsoll, casual but suitable for informal dining. Your shoes please Kurt asked? the slippers proved to be miles to big. Nestor thought they looked like two gret beetles and was gald he could not wear them. the cuffs on the shirt he wore were hanign past his hands and he felt silly. but he was warm now and the fire was begining to roar a bit. Kurt had buit it quickly as Nestor had removed the wet things. Nestor noted he was only wet on the backs of his clothes whilst the fronts had been dry. Odd how the rain had hit only his back. KUrt gathered Nessy's clothes and having lain the across his arm he picked up a candle and led Nestor to the waiting supper.
In a room filled with books from floor to ceiling a small table had been set with cold venison and hot soup, hot potatoes and hot malts with butter and honey. "tis strong meade my boy drink and warm yourself. thougth 'tis not winter the damp makes it chill. Nestor noted a third plate set out. Who shall join us sir? The Menzies in haled and smiled a knowing smile. MY Father the Lord of the Lands here about. We set for him should he come, he is aged and does not often want company as he eats. Though he is well enough in body should he choose.
Now young Master Plimsoll let us enjoy a repast.
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Posted by lampoil on 2008-08-18 09:10:17 | Rating: | Views: 92
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As a member in good standing of the lampoil fan club, may I just say that this yarn is captivating! Another beautifully woven installment! As always, I anxiously await the next!
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Posted by BootLady
on 2008-08-22 19:14:57
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if you find a publisher I'll give you a percentage...:)
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-08-25 00:13:29
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I am loving this story lampoil! I hope you do find a publisher!
Is this boy somehow kin to the people in the place he finds himself now? I must admit I'm very interested in what's comming next!
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Posted by anotherdaze
on 2008-09-29 09:25:19
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