The Boy's Tale by Margaret Frazer Read Free Book Online Page B

Claire's present authority was imposed on her, not desired, but that did not save her from her responsibilities nor excuse any of them from obedience to her. She regarded them wordlessly. Impatient to begin, they looked back at her, amusing Frevisse by how their faces gave away so much of who they were and what they were thinking. Or not thinking, as the case might be. Dame Alys was surly, ill-tempered as always against the world but more particularly today because of the present intrusion into the cloister. Sister Emma and Sister Amicia, shallow as a pair of plates, leaned toward one another, stifling nervous giggles of anticipation in their sleeves. Sister Lucy, Sister Juliana, and Dame Perpetua were on their dignity, attempting to show they were noticing neither the would-be gigglers nor Dame Alys's swelling ire. Only Sister Thomasine was, as usual, apparently oblivious, seated on her preferred stool well to one side and to the back, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes downcast, ready for whatever was to come.
     
    "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
     
    They crossed themselves and bowed their heads for the prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance and blessing on the meeting. That done, Father Henry read the portion of St. Benedict's Rule designated for the day, first in his halting Latin and then in English, followed it with a brief platitude meant to serve as commentary, blessed them, and left with rather more haste than dignity, probably sensing what was about to come.
     
    But Dame Claire forestalled them all again by saying, "To calm and settle ourselves, unsettled as we are by these present matters, we will do a silent paternoster now."
     
    Dame Alys visibly swelled with indignation. A fragment of a giggle escaped Sister Amicia despite herself. Without bothering to look at her, Dame Claire said, "A score of aves on your knees before the altar before Compline." Everyone's heads bent quickly and the room was quiet for a parternoster while until a tiny, uneven stir of fabric marked each of them crossing themselves as they finished.
     
    Subdued but undeniable, expectation still showed on most of their faces.
     
    "I suppose," Dame Claire said, "our first business must be the matter of our sudden guests and the satisfying of your curiosity over what happened yesterday."
     
    Nods more eager than judicious agreed with her.
     
    She turned her gaze on Frevisse. "You know as much of this as anyone, and I believe you spoke with Master Naylor at the end yesterday. There's been no word else since then, to change matters, so would you tell us what you understand happened and what Master Naylor had to say, Dame Frevisse?"
     
    All their attention turned toward Frevisse who, keeping her tone and expression neutral, said, "A party of travelers was attacked near here, by outlaws it seems. The two women and two children among the travelers fled here and were so frightened of being followed they were given refuge in the cloister rather than the guesthall. Of the men with them,   two were unscathed and one wounded. They're presently in the guesthall. Two others of their group were killed and so were all five of their attackers." Heads bowed and breasts were crossed among murmured prayers for their souls. Frevisse paused until everyone, except Sister Thomasine who was always longer at her prayers than anyone else, had looked up before she said, "With all their attackers dead, there is apparently no more need for alarm."
     
    "Apparently?" squeaked Sister Amicia, unwilling to give up the exciting possibility of being frightened.
     
    "Since all the outlaws are dead," Dame Claire said quellingly, "I think we can be said to be reasonably safe from them."
     
    "And. in any case Master Naylor has had the gates shut and a guard set, as well as sent for the sheriff and crowner," Frevisse said. "And the village has been warned of what happened. If there