Brother Cadfael 03: Monk's Hood

man?"
    "So can many things," said Cadfael, "used wrongly, or used in excess. Even wine, if you take enough of it. Even wholesome food, if you devour it beyond reason. And are your household content with their dwelling?"
    "It's early yet to say," said the young man guardedly.
    What age would he be? Twenty-five years or so? Hardly more. He bristled like an urchin at a touch, alert against all the world. Unfree, thought Cadfael, sympathetic; and of quick and vulnerable mind. Servant to someone less feeling than himself? It might well be.
    "How many are you in the house?"
    "My master and mistress, and I. And a maid." A maid! No more, and his long, mobile mouth shut fast even on that.
    "Well, Aelfric, you're welcome to make your way here when you will, and what I can supply for your lady, that I will. What is it I can send her this time?"
    "She asks for some sage, and some basil, if you have such. She brought a dish with her to warm for the evening," said Aelfric, thawing a little, "and has it on a hob there, but it wants for sage. She was out. It's a curious time, moving house here, she'll have left a mort of things behind."
    "What's in my way she may send here for, and welcome. Here you are, Aelfric, lad, here's a bunch of either. Is she a good mistress, your lady?"
    "She's that!" said the youth, and closed upon it, as he had upon mention of the maid. He brooded, frowning into mixed and confused thoughts. "She was a widow when she wed him." He took the bunches of herbs, fingers gripping hard on the stems. On a throat? Whose, then, since he melted at mention of his mistress? "I thank you kindly, brother."
    He drew back, lissome and silent. The door opening and closing took but a moment. Cadfael was left gazing after him very thoughtfully. There was still an hour before Vespers. He might well go over to the infirmary, and pour the sweet sound of Welsh into Brother Rhys's old, dulled ears, and dig the monk's-hood oil deep into his aching joints. It would be a decent deed.
    But that wild young thing, caged with his grievances, hurts and hatreds, what was to be done for him? A villein, if Cadfael knew one when he saw one, with abilities above his station, and some private anguish, maybe more than one. He remembered that mention of the maid, bitten off jealousy between set teeth.
    Well, they were but newly come, all four of them. Let the time work for good. Cadfael washed his hands, with all the thoroughness he recommended to his patrons, reviewed his sleeping kingdom, and went to visit the infirmary.
    Old Brother Rhys was sitting up beside his neatly made bed, not far from the fire, nodding his ancient, grey-tonsured head. He looked proudly complacent, as one who has got his due against all the odds, stubbly chin jutting, thick old eyebrows bristling in all directions, and the small, sharp eyes beneath almost colourless in their grey pallor, but triumphantly bright. For he had a young, vigorous, dark-haired fellow sitting on a stool beside him, waiting on him good-humouredly and pouring voluble Welsh into his ears like a mountain spring. The old man's gown was stripped down from his bony shoulders, and his attendant was busily massaging oil into the joints with probing fingers, drawing grunts of pleasure from his patient.
    "I see I'm forestalled," said Cadfael into Brother Edmund's ear, in the doorway.
    "A kinsman," said Brother Edmund as softly. "Some young Welshman from up in the north of the shire, where Rhys comes from. It seems he came here today to help the new tenants move in at the house by the mill-pond. He's connected somehow - journeyman to the woman's son, I believe. And while he was here he thought to ask after the old man, which was a kind act. Rhys was complaining of his pains, and the young fellow offered, so I set him to work. Still, now you're here, have a word. They'll neither of them need to speak English for you."
    "You'll have warned him to wash his hands well, afterwards?"
    "And shown him where, and where to stow the bottle away safely when he's done. He understands. I'd hardly let a man take risks with such a brew, after your lecture. I've told him what the stuff could do, misused."
    The young man ceased his ministrations momentarily when Brother Cadfael approached, and made to stand up respectfully, but Cadfael waved him down again. "No, sit, lad, I won't disturb you. I'm here for a word with an old friend, but I see you've taken on my work for me, and doing it well, too."
    The young man, with