Brother Cadfael 14: The Hermit of Eyton Forest

detailed Brother Jerome's directions, that man who wanted his villein back, and certainly meant him no good if ever he got him, would still have to find his way and sort out the woodland paths as he came to them, but Richard knew every track, and could ride by the shortest way, and fast, if only he could get his pony saddled and smuggled quietly out at the gatehouse before the enemy sent a groom to saddle his own tall horse. For he was hardly likely to do it for himself if he had a servant to do it for him. The thought of the twilit woods did not daunt Richard, his heart rose excitedly to the adventure.
    Luck or heaven favoured him, for it was the hour when everyone was at supper, and even the porter at the gatehouse was taking his meal within, and left the gate unwatched while he ate. If he did hear hooves, and come out to see who the rider might be, he came too late to see Richard scramble into the saddle and set off at a round trot along the Foregate towards Saint Giles. He had even forgotten that he was hungry, and felt no pang at going supperless. Besides, he was a favourite with Brother Petrus, the abbot's cook, and might be able to wheedle something out of him later. As for what was to happen when his absence was discovered, as it surely must be at bedtime even if it passed unremarked at supper, there was no point in giving any thought to that. What mattered was to find Hyacinth, and warn him, if he was indeed this Brand, that he had better get away into hiding as fast as he could, for the hunt was out after him, and close on his heels. After that, let what was bound to happen, happen!
    He turned into the forest beyond Wroxeter, on a broad ride which Eilmund had cleared for the passage of his coppice wood and trimmed poles. It led directly to the forester's cottage, but also provided the quickest way to a side-path which continued to the hermitage, the obvious place to look first for Cuthred's servant. The forest here was chiefly oak, and old, the ground cover light and low, and the deep layers of the leaves of many autumns made riding silent. Richard had slackened speed among the old trees, and the pony stepped with delicate pleasure in the cushioned mould. But for the hush, the boy would never have heard the voices, for they were low and intent, and manifestly the one was a man's, the other a girl's, though their words were too soft to be distinguished, meant only for each other. Then he saw them, aside from the path, very still and very close beside the broad bole of an oak tree. They were not touching, though they had eyes only for each other, and whatever they had to say was earnest and of high importance. The shout Richard launched at sight of them startled them apart like fluttered birds.
    'Hyacinth! Hyacinth!'
    He rolled and fell from his pony, rather than dismounted, and flew to meet them as they started towards him.
    'Hyacinth, you must hide - you must get away quickly! They're after you, if you're Brand-are you Brand? There's a man has come looking for you, he says he's hunting a runaway villein named Brand... '
    Hyacinth, alert and quivering, held him by the shoulders, and dropped to his knees to have him eye to eye. 'What like of man? A servant? Or the man himself? And when was this?'
    'After Vespers. I heard them talking. Brother Jerome told him there was a young man newly come into this country, who might be the one he's looking for. He told him where to find you, and he's coming to look for you at the hermitage now, this very night. An awful man, big and loud-mouthed. I ran to get my pony while they were still talking, I got away before him. But you mustn't go back to Cuthred, you must get away quickly and hide.'
    Hyacinth caught the boy in his arms in a brief, boisterous embrace. 'You're a true and gallant friend as any man could have, and never fear for me, now I'm warned what can harm me? That's the man himself, no question! Drogo Bosiet thinks highly enough of me to waste time and men and money on hunting me down, and in the end he'll get nothing for his pains.'
    'Then you are Brand? You were his villein?'
    'I love you all the more,' said Hyacinth, 'for viewing my villeinage as past. Yes, the name they gave me long ago was Brand, I chose Hyacinth for myself. You and I will keep to that name. And now you and I, my friend, must part, for what you must do now is ride back to the abbey quickly, before the light's gone, and before you're missed. Come, I'll see you safe to the edge of the