Brother Cadfael 09: Dead Man's Ransom

tethered cattle? She cares no more for me than I for her. I'd brother the girl and dance at her wedding, and kiss her and wish her well heartily. But this... this is another matter! Oh, Eliud, hush and hear me!' It poured forth like music, the whole story from his first glimpse of her, the silver maiden at the door, blue eyed, magical. Plenty of bards had issued from the stock to which Elis belonged, he had both the gift of words and the eloquent tune. Eliud sat stricken mute, gaping at him in blanched astonishment and strange dismay, his hands gripped and wrung in Elis's persuading hands.
    'And I was frantic for you!' he said softly and slowly, almost to himself. 'If I had but known...'
    'But Eliud, he's here!' Elis held him by the arms, peering eagerly into his face. 'He is here? You brought him, you must know. She says, don't go, but how can I lose this chance? I'm noble, I pledge the girl my whole heart, all my goods and lands, where will he find a better match? And she is not spoken for. I can, I must win him, he must listen to me... why should he not?' He flashed one sweeping glance about the almost vacant court. 'They're not yet ready, they haven't called us. Eliud, you know where he's laid. I'm going to him! I must, I will! Show me the place!'
    'He's in the infirmary.' Eliud was staring at him with open mouth and wide, shocked eyes. 'But you can't, you mustn't... He's sick and weary, you can't trouble him now.'
    'I'll be gentle, humble, I'll kneel to him, I'll put my life in his hands. The infirmary, which is it? I never was inside these walls until now. Which door?' He caught Eliud by the arm and dragged him to the archway that looked out on the court. 'Show me, quickly!'
    'No! Don't go! Leave him be! For shame, to rush in on his rest...'
    'Which door?' Elis shook him fiercely. 'You brought him, you saw!'
    'There! The building drawn back to the precinct wall, to the right from the gatehouse. But don't do it! Surely the girl knows her father best. Wait, don't harry him now, an old, sick man!'
    'You think I'd offer any hardihood to her father! All I want is to tell him my heart, and that I have her favour. If he curses me, I'll bear it. But I must put it to the test. What chance shall I ever have again?' He made to pull clear, and Eliud held him convulsively, then as suddenly heaved a great sigh and loosed his hold.
    'Go, then, try your fortune! I can't keep you.'
    Elis was away, without the least caution or dissembling, out into the court and straight as an arrow across it to the door of the infirmary. Eliud stood in shadow to watch him vanish within, and leaned his forehead against the stone and waited with eyed closed some while before he looked again.
    The abbot's guests were just emerging from the doorway of his lodging. The young man who was now virtually sheriff set off with the lady and her daughter, to conduct them again to the porch of the guest-hall. Einon ab Ithel lingered in talk with the abbot, his two companions, having less English, waited civilly a pace aside. Very soon he would be ordering the saddling of the horses, and the ceremonious leave, taking.
    From the doorway of the infirmary two figures emerged, Elis first, stiffly erect, and after him one of the brothers. At the head of the few stone steps the monk halted, and stood to watch Elis stalk away across the great court, taut with offence, quenched in despair, like our first forefather expelled from Eden.
    'He's sleeping,' he said, coming in crestfallen. 'I couldn't speak with him, the infirmarer turned me away.' Barely half an hour now, and they would be on their way back to Montford, there to spend the first night of their journey into Wales. In the stables Eliud led out Einon's tall bay, and saddled and bridled him, before turning his attention to the horse he himself had ridden, which now Elis must ride in his place, while he lingered here.
    The brothers had roused themselves after their customary rest, and were astir about the court again, on their way to their allotted labours. Some days into March, there was already work to be done in field and garden, besides the craftsmen who had their workshops in cloister and scriptorium. Brother Cadfael, crossing at leisure towards the garden and the herbarium, was accosted suddenly by an Eliud evidently looking about him for a guide, and pleased to recognise a face he knew.
    'Brother, if I may trouble you, I've been neglecting my duty, there's something I had forgotten. My lord Einon left