Brother Cadfael 05: Leper of Saint Giles

measured pity, respect being so much greater an encouragement and support. Moreover, he came and went here so regularly that his visits were a part of a patient and permanent routine like the services in the church. He had dressed more and viler sores than he troubled to remember, and discovered live hearts and vigourous minds within the mottled shells he tended. He had seen battles, too, in his time in the world, as far afield as Acre and Ascalon and Jerusalem in the first Crusade, and witnessed deaths crueller than disease, and heathen kinder than Christians, and he knew of leprosies of the heart and ulcers of the soul worse than any of these he poulticed and lanced with his herbal medicines. Nor had he been greatly surprised when Brother Mark elected to follow in his steps. He was well aware that here was one step beyond, which Mark was predestined to take without his example. Brother Cadfael knew himself too well ever to aim at the priesthood, but he recognized a priest when he saw one.
    Brother Mark had seen him approaching, and came trotting to meet him, his plain face bright, his spiky, straw-coloured hair erected round his tonsure. He had a scrofulous child by the hand, a skinny little boy with old, drying sores in his thin fair hair. Mark teased aside the hairs that clung to the one remaining raw spot, and beamed down fondly at his handiwork.
    "I'm glad you're come, Cadfael. I was running out of the lotion of pellitory, and see how much good it's done for him! The last sore almost healed. And the swellings in his neck are better, too. There, Bran, good boy, show Brother Cadfael! He makes the medicines for us, he's our physician. There, now, run to your mother and keep by her, or you'll miss all the show. They'll be coming soon."
    The child drew his hand free, and trotted away to join the sad little group that yet would not be sad. There was chattering there, a morsel of song, even some laughter. Mark looked after his youngest charge, watched the ungainly, knock-kneed gait that stemmed from undernourishment, and visibly grieved. He had been here only a month, his skin was still tissue-thin.
    "And yet he is not unhappy," he said, marvelling. "When no one is by, and he follows me about, his tongue never stops wagging."
    "Welsh?" asked Cadfael, eyeing the child thoughtfully. He must surely have been named for Bran the Blessed, who first brought the gospel to Wales.
    "The father was." Mark turned to look his friend earnestly and hopefully in the face. "Do you think he can be cured? Fully cured? At least he's fed, now. The woman will die here. In any case - she has grown indifferent, kind enough, but glad to have him off her hands. But I do believe he may yet go back whole into the world."
    Or out of it, thought Cadfael; for if he follows you so assiduously he cannot but get the savour of church or cloister, and the abbey is close at hand. "A bright child?" he asked.
    "Brighter than many that are brought up to the Latin, and can reckon and read. Brighter than many a one who goes in fine linen, and with a nurse coddling him. I shall try to teach him somewhat, as I can."
    They walked back together to the doorway of the hospital. The hum of expectant voices had risen, and along the highroad other sounds were gradually drawing near, compounded of the jingling of harness, the calls of falconers, conversation, laughter, the muffled beat of hooves using the grassy verge in preference to the naked road. One of the bridal processions was approaching.
    "They say the bridegroom will be the first to come," said Mark, stepping from the open porch into the dimness of the hall, and leading the way through to the corner where the medicine cupboard was kept. Fulke Reynald, a steward of the abbey and superior of the hospital, had one key; Brother Cadfael held the other. He opened his scrip, and began to stow away the preparations he had brought. "Do you know anything about them?" asked Mark, succumbing to curiosity.
    "Them?" murmured Cadfael, preoccupied with his review of the gaps in the shelves.
    "These gentlefolk who are coming to marry here. All I know is their names. I should not have paid so much heed," said Mark, shame-faced, "except that our people here, who have nothing but their sores and maimings, have learned more of it than I have, only God knows how, and it is like a spark warming them. As though anything bright that shines on them is more aid than I can give. Yet all it is, is a wedding!"
    "A wedding," said Cadfael