Read Online Brother Cadfael 16: The Heretic's Apprentice by Ellis Peters - Free Book Online
Authors: Ellis Peters
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has goods to bring with her. She'll have need of your good counsel, mistress."
Conan had said nothing at all. He had never been a talker. His eyes followed the box until the door of the press closed on it, but all he had to say throughout was said at the last, when Elave rose to take his leave. The shepherd rose with him.
"I'll be off, then, and take the pony, and see if I can find where the master is. But whether or not, I'll be back by nightfall."
They were all dispersing to their various occupations when Margaret drew Elave back by the sleeve, delaying him until the rest had gone.
"You'll understand, I'm sure, how it is," she said confidingly. "I wouldn't say anything but just to you, Elave. You were always a good lad with the accounts, and worked hard, and to tell the honest truth, Aldwin is no match for you, though he does his best, and can manage well enough all that's required of him. But he's getting older, and has no home or folks of his own, and what would he do if we parted with him now? You're young, there's many a merchant would be glad to hire you, with your knowledge of the world. You won't take it amiss..."
Elave had caught her drift long before this, and broke in hastily to reassure her. "No, no, never think of it! I never expected to have my old place back. I wouldn't for the world put Aldwin out on the roads. I'm glad he should be secure the rest of his life. Never trouble for me, I shall look about me and find work to do. And as for bearing any grudge that I'm not asked back, I never so much as thought of it. Nothing but good have I had from this house, and I shan't forget it. No, Aldwin can go on with his labours with all my goodwill."
"That's like the lad I remember!" she said with hearty relief. "I knew you'd take it as it's meant. I hope you may get good service with some traveling merchant, one that trades overseas. That would suit you, after all you've seen and done. But you will come up with us tomorrow after Uncle William's burial, and take meat with us?"
He promised readily, glad to have their relationship established and understood. To tell the truth, he thought he might have felt confined and restricted here now, dealing with the buying of stock and paying of wages, the weighing and marketing of wool, and the small profits and expenses of a good but limited business. He was not yet sure what he did want; he could afford to spend a little while looking round before committing himself. Going out at the hall door he came shoulder-to-shoulder with Conan, on his way out to the stable, and dropped back to let Margaret's messenger go first.
A young woman with a basket on her arm had just emerged from the narrow entry that led to the street, and was crossing the yard towards them. She was not overtall, but looked tall by reason of her erect bearing and long, free step, light and springy from the ground like the gait of a mettlesome colt. Her plain grey gown swayed with the lissome movement of a trim body, and the well-poised head on her long neck was crowned with a great coiled braid of dark hair lit with shadowy gleams of red. Halfway across the yard towards them she halted abruptly, gazing open-mouthed and wide-eyed, and suddenly she laughed aloud, a joyous, silver sound of pleasurable amazement.
"You!" she said in a soft, delighted cry. "Is it truth? I am not dreaming?"
She had stopped them both on the instant, brought up short by the warmth of her greeting, Elave gaping like an idiot at this unknown girl who yet appeared not only to recognize him, but to take pleasure in the recognition, Conan fallen warily silent beside him, his face expressionless, his eyes roving from one face to the other, narrowed and intent.
"Do you not know me?" cried the girl's clear bell of a voice, through the bubbling spring of her laughter.
Fool that he was, who else could she be, coming in thus bareheaded from the shops of the town? But it was true, he would not have known her. The thin little pointed face
Conan had said nothing at all. He had never been a talker. His eyes followed the box until the door of the press closed on it, but all he had to say throughout was said at the last, when Elave rose to take his leave. The shepherd rose with him.
"I'll be off, then, and take the pony, and see if I can find where the master is. But whether or not, I'll be back by nightfall."
They were all dispersing to their various occupations when Margaret drew Elave back by the sleeve, delaying him until the rest had gone.
"You'll understand, I'm sure, how it is," she said confidingly. "I wouldn't say anything but just to you, Elave. You were always a good lad with the accounts, and worked hard, and to tell the honest truth, Aldwin is no match for you, though he does his best, and can manage well enough all that's required of him. But he's getting older, and has no home or folks of his own, and what would he do if we parted with him now? You're young, there's many a merchant would be glad to hire you, with your knowledge of the world. You won't take it amiss..."
Elave had caught her drift long before this, and broke in hastily to reassure her. "No, no, never think of it! I never expected to have my old place back. I wouldn't for the world put Aldwin out on the roads. I'm glad he should be secure the rest of his life. Never trouble for me, I shall look about me and find work to do. And as for bearing any grudge that I'm not asked back, I never so much as thought of it. Nothing but good have I had from this house, and I shan't forget it. No, Aldwin can go on with his labours with all my goodwill."
"That's like the lad I remember!" she said with hearty relief. "I knew you'd take it as it's meant. I hope you may get good service with some traveling merchant, one that trades overseas. That would suit you, after all you've seen and done. But you will come up with us tomorrow after Uncle William's burial, and take meat with us?"
He promised readily, glad to have their relationship established and understood. To tell the truth, he thought he might have felt confined and restricted here now, dealing with the buying of stock and paying of wages, the weighing and marketing of wool, and the small profits and expenses of a good but limited business. He was not yet sure what he did want; he could afford to spend a little while looking round before committing himself. Going out at the hall door he came shoulder-to-shoulder with Conan, on his way out to the stable, and dropped back to let Margaret's messenger go first.
A young woman with a basket on her arm had just emerged from the narrow entry that led to the street, and was crossing the yard towards them. She was not overtall, but looked tall by reason of her erect bearing and long, free step, light and springy from the ground like the gait of a mettlesome colt. Her plain grey gown swayed with the lissome movement of a trim body, and the well-poised head on her long neck was crowned with a great coiled braid of dark hair lit with shadowy gleams of red. Halfway across the yard towards them she halted abruptly, gazing open-mouthed and wide-eyed, and suddenly she laughed aloud, a joyous, silver sound of pleasurable amazement.
"You!" she said in a soft, delighted cry. "Is it truth? I am not dreaming?"
She had stopped them both on the instant, brought up short by the warmth of her greeting, Elave gaping like an idiot at this unknown girl who yet appeared not only to recognize him, but to take pleasure in the recognition, Conan fallen warily silent beside him, his face expressionless, his eyes roving from one face to the other, narrowed and intent.
"Do you not know me?" cried the girl's clear bell of a voice, through the bubbling spring of her laughter.
Fool that he was, who else could she be, coming in thus bareheaded from the shops of the town? But it was true, he would not have known her. The thin little pointed face
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