Brother Cadfael 13: The Rose Rent

stolen out of their world. How can they be expected to deal capably at last with something as strange and daunting to them as dragons? Sooner or later a woman must cross their path, terrible as an army with banners, and these wretched children without arms or armour to withstand the onslaught! We wrong women, and we wrong these boys, to send them unprepared into maturity, whole men, defenceless against the first pricking of the flesh. In defending them from perils we have deprived them of the means to defend themselves. Well, no more now! Those who enter here henceforward will be of manhood's years, enter of their own will, bear their own burdens. But this one's burden falls upon me.
    He turned back into the room. Eluric knelt brokenly, his smooth young hands spread painfully to cover his face, and slow tears sliding between the fingers.
    "Look up!" said Radulfus firmly, and as the young, tortured face was turned up to him fearfully: "Now answer me truly, and don't be afraid. You have never spoken word of love to this lady?"
    "No, Father!"
    "Nor she ever offered such a word to you, nor such a look as could inflame or invite love?"
    "No, Father, never, never! She is utterly untouched. I am nothing to her." And he added with despairing tears: "It is I who have in some way besmirched her, to my shame, by loving her, though she knows nothing of it."
    "Indeed? In what way has your unhappy affection befouled the lady? Tell me this, did ever you let your fancy dwell on touching her? On embracing her? On possessing her?"
    "No!" cried Eluric in a great howl of pain and dismay. "God forbid! How could I so profane her? I revere her, I think of her as of the company of the saints. When I trim the candles her goodness provides, I see her face as a brightness. I am no more than her pilgrim. But ah, it hurts..." he said, and bowed himself into the skirts of the abbot's gown and clung there.
    "Hush!" said the abbot peremptorily, and laid his hand on the bowed head. "You use extravagant terms for what is wholly human and natural. Excess is blameworthy, and in that field you do indeed offend. But it is plain that in the matter of this unhappy temptation you have not done ill, but in truth rather well. Nor need you fear any reproach to the lady, whose virtue you do well to extol. You have not harmed her. I know you for one unfailingly truthful, insofar as you see and understand truth. For truth is no simple matter, my son, and the mind of man is stumbling and imperfect in wisdom. I blame myself that I submitted you to this trial. I should have foreseen its severity for one as young and unpractised as you. Get up now! You have what you came to ask. You are excused from this duty henceforth."
    He took Eluric by the wrists, and hoisted him firmly to his feet, for he was so drained and trembling with weakness that it seemed doubtful if he could have risen unaided. The boy began to utter stumbling thanks, his tongue lame now even upon ordinary words. The calm of exhaustion and relief came back gradually to his face. But still he found something to fret him even in his release.
    "Father... the charter... It will be void if the rose is not delivered and the rent paid."
    "The rose will be delivered," said Radulfus forcibly. "The rent will be paid. This task I lift here and now from your shoulders. Tend your altar, and give no further thought to how or by whom the duty is undertaken from this day."
    "Father, what more should I do for the cleansing of my soul?" ventured Eluric, quivering to the last subsiding tremors of guilt.
    "Penance may well be salutary for you," admitted the abbot somewhat wearily. "But beware of making extravagant claims even upon punishment. You are far from a saint - so are we all - but neither are you a notable sinner; nor, my child, will you ever be."
    "God forbid!" whispered Eluric, appalled.
    "God does indeed forbid," said Radulfus dryly, "that we should make more of our virtues or our failings than is due. More than your due you shall not have of, neither praise nor blame. For your soul's ease, go and make your confession as I have ordered, with moderation, but say to your confessor that you have also been with me, and have my countenance and blessing, and are by me delivered from the duty which was too heavy for you. Then perform whatever penance he may give you, and beware of asking or expecting more."
    Brother Eluric went out from the presence on shaky legs, emptied of all feeling, and dreading that this