Ashes of the Elements by Alys Clare Read Free Book Online Page B

valuable books, Helewise gave permission.
    From then on, Peg could be found most mornings, seated on a bench in a corner of the Chapter House, poring over one of Sister Bernadine’s manuscripts, with Sister Bernadine tutting and sighing close by. Peg would, Helewise thought, have read all day, had she been allowed to; but, both for Sister Bernadine’s peace of mind and because no nun, especially a postulant, could be permitted such a luxury, Helewise limited Peg’s study time to the short period between Sext and the midday meal.
    One morning, curiosity overcoming her, Helewise stopped by Peg’s bench and looked down over the girl’s shoulder to see what she was reading. It was an ancient and, to Helewise, almost incomprehensible manuscript on tree lore.
    *   *   *
    When Peg’s year as a postulant was up, she renewed her request to take her vows and be admitted to the community. Helewise, still dubious, could find no valid reason to refuse; in the midsummer, when Peg was fifteen, the girl took the veil and became the youngest novice that Hawkenlye Abbey had ever had.
    When Helewise was preparing her for her first vows, Peg had said, ‘Abbess, may I be known by another name?’
    Initially surprised, Helewise quickly understood. Or thought she did. ‘Yes, Peg. Sister Peg, I do see, is not the most harmonious of epithets, is it?’
    Peg smiled. ‘No. But it’s not that. My foster parents chose according to their own lights, and I have never complained. It’s—’ She stopped. Then asked, ‘Need I give a reason, Abbess?’
    Helewise, who reflected that she was usually prepared to accept unquestioningly what every other new nun chose to call herself, saw no justice in making an exception now. ‘No, Peg. I suppose not. What name do you wish us to call you?’
    Peg said, ‘Caliste.’
    *   *   *
    Sister Caliste had spent the past year as a willing and obedient novice. In much the same way, Helewise thought, as she had probably spent her early years as a dutiful chicken-tending peasant child. What troubled the Abbess was that, just as the life of a peasant could have utilised only a fraction of Caliste’s potential – only a fraction, apparently, of her soul – the same could be said of her life as a novice nun.
    There is no complaint I can make against her! Helewise repeatedly told herself. She is always punctual, always diligent, always does her best to please. Never complains – which was more than could be said for many of the sisters – even when the most arduous tasks are laid on those straight young shoulders.
    Why, then, did the Abbess feel so uneasy about Caliste?
    *   *   *
    Helewise rose from her knees, suppressing a groan of pain; she had been praying for an hour, foregoing the midday meal in the hope that offering her hunger to God might please Him, as a fair return for beseeching His help.
    Quietly closing the great west door behind her, Helewise left the church.
    Oh, but I do not feel any easier! she thought miserably as she crossed the cloister and made for the privacy of her room. I still cannot decide what to do, although that indecision itself makes me feel that the girl’s final vows must be postponed, at least until this present and deeply unsettling business has been—
    ‘Abbess?’ called a voice.
    Helewise turned. Sister Ursel was hurrying towards her, a broad smile on her face.
    Helewise, crushing the thought that a long conversation with the porteress was the last thing she wanted just then, arranged her own features into a corresponding smile and said, ‘Sister Ursel. What can I do for you?’
    ‘Abbess, you’ve got a visitor!’ Sister Ursel said. ‘Sister Martha’s just seeing to his horse, and he’s having a bit of a natter with her, but then he says he’d like to come to see you, if that’s all right? Only I said I thought it would be.’
    Helewise waited patiently for her to finish. Then said, ‘And who, Sister Ursel, is “he”?’
    ‘Oh, didn’t I