Brother Cadfael 09: Dead Man's Ransom

yet?' asked his neighbour with careful sympathy.
    'No,' said Eliud shortly, and continued working vigorously on the bright bay hide.
    'The castle's the far side of the town, they'll have kept him there until they were sure of our man. They'll bring him. He'll be at dinner with us.'
    Eliud said nothing. At this hour the monks themselves were at their meal in the refectory, and the abbot's guests with him at his own table in his lodging. It was the quietest hour of the day; even the comings and goings about the guest-hall were few at this time of year, though with the spring the countryside would soon be on the move again.
    'Never show him so glum a face,' said the Welshman, grinning, 'even if you must be left here in his place. Ten days or so, and Owain and this young sheriff will be clasping hands on the border, and you on your way home to join him.'
    Eliud muttered a vague agreement, and turned a forbidding shoulder on further talk. He had Einon's horse stalled and glossy and watered by the time Brother Denis the hospitaller came to bid them to the refectory, newly laid and decked for them after the brothers had ended their repast, and dispersed to enjoy their brief rest before the afternoon's work began. The resources of the house were at their disposal, warmed water brought to the lavatorium for their hands, towels laid out and their table, when they entered the refectory, graced with more dishes than the brothers had enjoyed. And there waiting, somewhat in the manner of a nervous host, was Elis ap Cynan, freshly brushed and spruced for the occasion, and on his most formal behaviour.
    The awe of the exchange, himself the unwise cause of it and to some extent already under censure for his unwisdom, or something else of like weight, had had its effect upon Elis, for he came with stiff bearing and very sombre face, who was known rather for his hearty cheerfulness in and out of season. Certainly his eyes shone at the sight of Eliud entering, and he came with open arms to embrace him, but thereafter shoved free again. The grip of his hand had some unaccountable tension about it, and though he sat down to table beside his cousin, the talk over that meal was general and restrained. It caused some mild wonder among their companions. There were these two inseparables, together again after long and anxious separation, and both as mute as blocks, and as pale and grave of face as men arraigned for their lives.
    It was very different when the meal was over, the grace said, and they were free to go forth into the court. Elis caught his cousin by the arm and hauled him away into the cloister, where they could take refuge in one of the carrels where no monk was working or studying, and go to earth there like hunted foxes, shoulder warm for comfort against shoulder, as when they were children and fled into sanctuary from some detected misdeed. And now Eliud could recognise his foster brother as he had always been, as he always would be, and marvelled fondly what misdemeanour or misfortune he could have to pour out here, where he had been so loftily on his dignity.
    'Oh, Eliud!' blurted Elis, hugging him afresh in arms which had certainly lost none of their heedless strength. 'For God's sake, what am I to do? How shall I tell you! I can't go back! If I do, I've lost all. Oh, Eliud, I must have her! If I lose her I shall die! You haven't seen her? Prestcote's daughter?'
    'His daughter?' whispered Eliud, utterly dazed. 'There was a lady, with a grown girl and a young boy... I hardly noticed.'
    'For God's sake, man, how could you not notice her? Ivory and roses, and her hair all pale, like spun silver... I love her!' proclaimed Elis in high fever. 'And she is just as fain, I swear it, and we've pledged ourselves. Oh, Eliud, if I go now I shall never have her. If I leave her now, I'm lost. And he's an enemy, she warned me, he hates the Welsh. Never go near him, she said...'
    Eliud, who had sat stunned and astray, roused himself to take his friend by the shoulders and shake him furiously until he fell silent for want of breath, staring astonished.
    'What are you telling me? You have a girl here? You love her? You no longer want to make any claim on Cristina? Is that what you're saying?'
    'Were you not listening? Haven't I told you?' Elis, unsubdued and unchastened, heaved himself free and grappled in his turn. 'Listen, let me tell you how it fell. What pledge did I myself ever give Cristina? Is it her fault or mine if we're tied like