Read Online The Silver Bowl by Diane Stanley - Free Book Online Page B

silversmith, the man who made the bowl, was my grandfather.”
    He didn’t speak for a minute. Then finally, “How do you know?”
    â€œThe names, for one thing. I didn’t pick up on it at first, as Williams are so common. But the baby was called Greta, same as my mother. And that’s not all.” I pulled my necklace out from under the bodice of my gown. “I got this from my mother. She told me her father had made it. In the vision, the silversmith’s wife was wearing it.”
    â€œOh.”
    I slipped it back under my bodice. “So will you help me?”
    â€œOf course I will.” He rubbed his chin, looking away in thought. “What is their plan? What exactly will they do at the banquet?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œI mean, will they come in with an army? Or hide assassins with daggers among the guests? Or poison the king’s wine?”
    â€œI told you, Tobias, I don’t know.”
    â€œThen how can we make a plan to stop them?”
    I just shook my head.
    â€œWell, I suppose we can watch for anything that seems amiss. If the voice called you, it must believe you have the power to help.”
    â€œThen it must know something I do not.”
    â€œWe could tell someone about it.”
    â€œOh, Tobias, how would that sound: I saw it in a vision? They’ll think me mad at best, and a witch at the very worst. For sure they would never believe me.”
    â€œNo, you’re right. What if you say you overheard someone speaking . . . that wouldn’t do, would it?”
    â€œThey’d want to know who I heard, and where, and when. . . .”
    He sighed. “We’ll just have to keep an eye out at the banquet. Watch the king like a pair of hawks, and the crowd, too. If something suspicious happens—”
    â€œWhat? What can we do?”
    â€œWe could shout a warning.”
    â€œThat’s true. It’s better than nothing.”
    We sat quietly together, feeling hopeless.
    â€œOh!” Tobias said, reaching into his bag. “I forgot. I have something for you. It’s only a bit of frippery I got at a country fair; we passed it on the way to the vineyard.”
    He brought out a couple of blue ribbons, somewhat rumpled, and laid them in my hand.
    â€œOh, Tobias,” I said. “You went to a fair and spent your pennies on me? You should have bought something for yourself.”
    â€œWhy? What would I buy?”
    â€œI don’t know. Sweets.”
    â€œI wanted ribbons. I thought they’d look nice in your hair.”
    I felt tears spring to my eyes as I looked down at my little gift—a small thing, really, but proof that affection and kindness were still abroad in a troubled world. I broke down entirely, then, and wept like a fool.
    â€œYou’re welcome, Molly,” Tobias said.

Chapter 11
    A Wonderful Evening
    I DRESSED IN MY NEW TUNIC, the one the king had given me in the spring. (He gave clothing to all his dependents, not only me. It was part of our keep, along with food, and shoes, and bedding.) I had put mine aside for just this occasion and had not worn it yet. It was nothing out of the ordinary, just a servant’s gown made of coarse stuff, allover the color of dust. But at least it was clean and didn’t reek of the kitchen.
    I’d washed my hair the night before. Now Winifred offered to arrange it for me. She was the oldest of seven girls and knew sommat of plaiting hair. She gave me two fat braids, right at the temples, weaving the ribbons into them as she went and tying the loose ends with a bow. Then she stood back to admire her handiwork.
    â€œWill you look at that!” she said. “How is it I never noticed afore? You’re a perfect beauty, you are—and not just on account of the ribbons, neither.”
    â€œNonsense,” I said. “My own father told me many a time what a homely brat I was.”
    â€œWell, you must