Read Online The Butchers Funeral: A Medieval Murder by C. M. Harald - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: C. M. Harald
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away with a bit of rot, especially on things like rabbit. I've come across the odd case in the past when people have been ill in this way after rotten food or when they've eaten their meat a little too rare. But then I don't often deal with this type of illness. If you can't cut it off, it doesn't usually come my way. Maybe an apothecary could confirm what's happened to you?'
'Won't waste my time with those thieves and as for that butcher who sold me the tainted meat, I'll be giving him a piece of my mind. You mark my words; he'll think twice before he crosses a wise woman again.'
Alvin nodded his head. He had no doubt that Col Butcher would get an earful, something that would undoubtedly strike fear into the minds of everyone within earshot. You simply did not cross Anna.
Anna had missed her chance to get her revenge on Col Butcher in the tavern that evening, or the subsequent evenings. It had taken her the best part of a week to rebuild enough strength to follow Col across the city to his preferred tavern. By the end of the trek she was physically exhausted, but the anger, fuelled by days of dwelling on the certainty that the butcher had disrespected her, was boiling over. She knew she would pay for pushing herself so hard, but the anger forced her body to follow her will. Tomorrow could look after itself.
There was now no doubt in her mind now that the butcher had deliberately cheated her. As she thought back to the incident at his shop she was convinced that she had seen him swap the good piece of rabbit that she had agreed to buy. He had swapped it with something rank and already wrapped. Anna was sure she had seen him switch it under the counter, at least she was certain she had seen the movement of his hands during this trick. Or maybe it had been when the butcher had hidden in his shop to avoid the duty of the hue and cry? That would have been a perfect opportunity to swap over the meat. Every time she thought about it, her fury at the disrespect fermented, growing uglier and more demanding of vengeance. He had dared to show his contempt for her, a wise woman, a woman his wife would need to help with childbirth, a woman who had the power to hex him and let all in the city know that he was under her curse. Never mind that she was trusted by the local priests, in fact trained by them, to baptise dying new-borns to ensure their journey to the afterlife would head in a heavenly direction. Hex him she would and she would damn all the priest to hell if they admonished her. After all, did the Church not threaten damnation to sinners, excommunication in the most extreme cases.
The butcher left the tavern early and there were too many people around for her to risk interfering with her planned confrontation. She wanted an audience, if possible, but not too big an audience, one that may intervene. Not only that, he was clearly sober, or as near as. The drink would make him more malleable, and he clearly had not had enough. She was also wanting to wait for full dark, certain that the chill and otherworldliness of the night would lend an otherworldly fear to her intended threats. Having followed him home Anna settled down in a disused doorway, across the marketplace, to consider her plans. The morning would be a good time to challenge him, not as good as during the night, but if she caught him first thing, when he opened the shop, his tiredness may work in her favour. She settled further into the doorway, tiredness overcoming her discomfort, and began to doze. She did not even register the ripe smells around her.
'Wake up! Wake up!' the man was shaking her shoulder. Anna was briefly confused, wondering why a man was waking her up. The ache in her legs brought back the memory of bedding down in the shop doorway.
'What you want?' Anna put a menacing note into the question, communicating her displeasure at being woken.
'The baby's coming. Come quick! I've
'Won't waste my time with those thieves and as for that butcher who sold me the tainted meat, I'll be giving him a piece of my mind. You mark my words; he'll think twice before he crosses a wise woman again.'
Alvin nodded his head. He had no doubt that Col Butcher would get an earful, something that would undoubtedly strike fear into the minds of everyone within earshot. You simply did not cross Anna.
Anna had missed her chance to get her revenge on Col Butcher in the tavern that evening, or the subsequent evenings. It had taken her the best part of a week to rebuild enough strength to follow Col across the city to his preferred tavern. By the end of the trek she was physically exhausted, but the anger, fuelled by days of dwelling on the certainty that the butcher had disrespected her, was boiling over. She knew she would pay for pushing herself so hard, but the anger forced her body to follow her will. Tomorrow could look after itself.
There was now no doubt in her mind now that the butcher had deliberately cheated her. As she thought back to the incident at his shop she was convinced that she had seen him swap the good piece of rabbit that she had agreed to buy. He had swapped it with something rank and already wrapped. Anna was sure she had seen him switch it under the counter, at least she was certain she had seen the movement of his hands during this trick. Or maybe it had been when the butcher had hidden in his shop to avoid the duty of the hue and cry? That would have been a perfect opportunity to swap over the meat. Every time she thought about it, her fury at the disrespect fermented, growing uglier and more demanding of vengeance. He had dared to show his contempt for her, a wise woman, a woman his wife would need to help with childbirth, a woman who had the power to hex him and let all in the city know that he was under her curse. Never mind that she was trusted by the local priests, in fact trained by them, to baptise dying new-borns to ensure their journey to the afterlife would head in a heavenly direction. Hex him she would and she would damn all the priest to hell if they admonished her. After all, did the Church not threaten damnation to sinners, excommunication in the most extreme cases.
The butcher left the tavern early and there were too many people around for her to risk interfering with her planned confrontation. She wanted an audience, if possible, but not too big an audience, one that may intervene. Not only that, he was clearly sober, or as near as. The drink would make him more malleable, and he clearly had not had enough. She was also wanting to wait for full dark, certain that the chill and otherworldliness of the night would lend an otherworldly fear to her intended threats. Having followed him home Anna settled down in a disused doorway, across the marketplace, to consider her plans. The morning would be a good time to challenge him, not as good as during the night, but if she caught him first thing, when he opened the shop, his tiredness may work in her favour. She settled further into the doorway, tiredness overcoming her discomfort, and began to doze. She did not even register the ripe smells around her.
'Wake up! Wake up!' the man was shaking her shoulder. Anna was briefly confused, wondering why a man was waking her up. The ache in her legs brought back the memory of bedding down in the shop doorway.
'What you want?' Anna put a menacing note into the question, communicating her displeasure at being woken.
'The baby's coming. Come quick! I've
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