Brother Cadfael 14: The Hermit of Eyton Forest

me.'
    'And he did not commission you to argue further in the matter on his behalf? You do not want to add anything?'
    The eyes opened still wider in astonishment. 'I, my lord? How could I? I only run his errands.'
    Prior Robert said superciliously into the abbot's ear: 'It is not unknown for an anchorite to give shelter and employment to a simpleton. It is an act of charity. This is clearly one such.' His voice was low, but not low enough to escape ears as sharp, and almost as pointed, as those of a fox, for the boy Hyacinth gleamed, and flashed a crooked smile. Cadfael, who had also caught the drift of this comment, doubted very much whether the abbot would agree with it. There seemed to him to be a very sharp intelligence behind the brown faun's face, even if it suited him to play the fool with it.
    'Well,' said Radulfus, 'you may go back to your master, Hyacinth, and carry him my thanks for his concern and care, and for his prayers, which I hope he will continue on behalf of us all. Say that I have considered and do consider every side of Dame Dionisia's complaint against me, and have done and will continue to do what I see to be right. And for the natural misfortunes that give him so much anxiety, mere men cannot control or command them, though faith may overcome them. What we cannot change we must abide. That is all.'
    Without another word the boy made him a deep and graceful obeisance, turned, and walked without haste from the chapterhouse, lean and light-footed, and moving with a cat's almost insolent elegance.
    In the great court, almost empty at this hour when all the brothers were at chapter, the visitor was in no hurry to set out back to his master, but lingered to look about him curiously, from the abbot's lodging in its small rose garden to the guest halls and the infirmary, and so round the circle of buildings to the gatehouse and the long expanse of the south range of the cloister. Richard, who had been lying in wait for him for some minutes, emerged confidently from the arched southern doorway, and advanced into the stranger's path.
    Since the intent was clearly to halt him, Hyacinth obligingly halted, looking down with interest at the solemn, freckled face that studied him just as ardently. 'Good morrow, young sir!' he said civilly. 'And what might you want with me?'
    'I know who you are,' said Richard. 'You are the serving-man the hermit brought with him. I heard you say you came with a message from him. Was it about me?'
    'That I might better answer,' said Hyacinth reasonably, 'if I knew who your lordship might be, and why my master should be concerning himself with such small fry.'
    'I am not small fry,' said Richard with dignity. 'I am Richard Ludel, the lord of Eaton, and your master's hermitage is on my land. And you know very well who I am, for you were there among the servants at my father's funeral. And if you did bring some message that concerns me, I think I have a right to know about it. That's only fair.' And Richard jutted his small, square chin and stood his ground with bare feet spread apart, challenging justice with unblinking blue-green eyes.
    For a long moment Hyacinth returned his gaze with a bright, speculative stare. Then he said in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone, as man to man and quite without mockery: 'That's a true word, and I'm with you, Richard. Now, where can we two talk at ease?'
    The middle of the great court was, perhaps, a little too conspicuous for lengthy confidences, and Richard was sufficiently taken with the unmistakably secular stranger to find him a pleasing novelty among these monastic surroundings, and meant to get to know all about him now that he had the opportunity. Moreover, very shortly chapter would be ending, and it would not do to invite Prior Robert's too close attention in such circumstances, or court Brother Jerome's busybody interference. With hasty confidence he caught Hyacinth by the hand, and towed him away up the court to the retired wicket that led through the enclave to the mill. There on the grass above the pool they were private, with the wall at their backs and the thick, springy turf under them, and the midday sun still faintly warm on them through the diaphanous veil of haze.
    'Now!' said Richard, getting down sternly to the matter in hand. 'I need to have a friend who'll tell me truth, there are so many people ordering my life for me, and can't agree about it, and how can I take care of myself and be ready for them if there's no one to