Cloud Walker, All Fools' Day, Far Sunset (12 page)

When they had gone, Brother Sebastian entered the cell. ‘Your father has a strong voice,’ he said carefully.

Kieron smiled faintly. ‘A strong mind and a strong right arm also. He is a good and simple man.’

‘Yet he utters dangerous words.’

‘My father is an honest man, as all in the seigneurie know,’ retorted Kieron calmly. ‘He deceives no one, commits no sins. His honesty is his armour.’

‘What do you mean by that, boy?’

‘Only, Brother Sebastian, that you have one bird in your trap. You will not snare another from the same nest.’

Petrina came to visit him also, accompanied by her father, which was proper.

Sholto, a huge man of few words and great good will, was tongue-tied. Petrina, buxom and ripe for the marriage that would only have been months away, did most of the talking.

‘Kieron, you look dreadful pale. Do you have enough to eat?’

He smiled. ‘Truly, women are alike. My mother’s first thought was for my stomach.’

‘There are certain differences,’ flashed Petrina, ‘which presently you will perceive.’

‘I am sorry. I did not mean to rebuke you.’ Kieron turned to the smith. ‘Sholto, it was kind of you to come, and to bring Petrina. I am grateful. Neither I nor my father will be offended if you now wish to dissolve the contract.’

Sholto shuffled his feet awkwardly, and looked at the floor, at the walls, at the ceiling, as if seeking divine guidance. None came.

‘Kieron, boy, I like you well. This is a sorry matter which, in truth, I do not understand. I understand how to work iron and steel, but not much else. Solvig, my wife, deals with other affairs.’ He cast an anxious glance at his daughter. ‘And now, alas, so does Petrina. At the forge, I am master.’ He shrugged. ‘But with women, who can argue?’

‘Dissolve the contract!’ exploded Petrina, tossing back her hair, thrusting out her firm breasts. ‘Do you wish to dissolve the contract, Kieron-head-in-the-air?’

Kieron was baffled. The child he had known was now demonstrably a woman. He had assumed she would wish to be quit of a heretic, who would likely burn. But one should never assume with a woman.

‘I did but think to save you some unpleasantness.’

‘You think but little,’ snapped Petrina. ‘Otherwise, you would not have thought to construct stupid kites and hot-air balloons. And you would not have thought to embroil yourself with the Fitzalans.’

‘Petrina, speak carefully,’ said Kieron, mindful of Brother Sebastian’s ear at the door. ‘These walls are thin. Voices carry.’

‘Poof!’ said Petrina. ‘So voices carry. Everyone knows that Alyx Fitzalan is besotted with you.’ She gave a faint smile. ‘Even Brother Sebastian has ears.’

‘Brother Sebastian has excellent hearing,’ confirmed Kieron. ‘Even in this cell, I suspect, our conversation does not pass unheard.’

‘No matter,’ said Petrina calmly. ‘There is nothing to be hid. Do you wish to be released from the contract?’

‘No, by Ned Ludd. I would wed with you, Petrina. In happier circumstances, I would wed with you joyously.’

Petrina smiled. ‘Then there is no problem, Kieron. I would wed with you. So be it.’

‘You are still convinced that the astrologer Marcus foretold truly?’

‘Yes, I am convinced. Besides, Kieron, whatever else Holy Church may do, it acknowledges the validity of contracts. This I have discovered, at some effort.’

‘So?’

‘So, Kieron, if we are both willing, the Inquisitor General may be petitioned to suspend punishment until I am with child – or until it is seen that I cannot conceive.’

Kieron was dumbfounded. ‘You would do this for me?’

‘You are my contracted husband. Could I do less?’

Kieron laughed. ‘The astrologer Marcus may yet win the day.’

‘Do not mock men of science.’

‘But how do you know this – about punishment being suspended?’

‘It does not matter how I know. Also the thing is not certain. Much depends upon the pleasure of the Inquisitor General. I know only that it has happened before.’ She smiled grimly. ‘Holy Church even has power to advance the contracted day of marriage so that the day of punishment shall not be over-delayed.’

‘How, then?’ Kieron was perplexed. ‘I would be allowed my freedom until I had got you with child?’

‘No, stupid. I would be allowed to share your cell. There are limits to benevolence.’

‘You would wed with a heretic and live in a prison? You would be branded for ever.’

‘I would also be widowed for ever. But that is my choice, Kieron. Do you complain of it?’

‘No, I – that is, Petrina, my dear, it is too much to ask of you.’

‘So. No one has asked it. Let your conscience rest easy.’

Shoko rubbed his hands nervously. ‘Argue not with a female, Kieron. You will have the worst of it.’

‘Do you still wish your daughter to wed with me?’

Sholto scratched his head. ‘A contract is a contract, for good or ill.’ He glanced at his daughter. ‘What a woman wants, that she will get, as I know to my cost.’

Petrina said: ‘Let us not waste time. It is settled. That is all there is to it … Kieron, many will speak for you; and it will carry weight that I am still willing to wed with you.’ She moved close to him and whispered: ‘Can you feign madness?’

He looked at her, aghast. ‘Can I—’ She placed a hand over his mouth. ‘I am told,’ she whispered, ‘that a plea of temporary madness might be acceptable to Holy Church – particularly if there were those who testified to such fits.’

‘You are well informed,’ said Kieron softly. ‘You are well informed about many things. Who has spoken to you, Petrina?’

She put her mouth to his ear. ‘A lady came riding. Need I say more?’

Alyx! Alyx Fitzalan cared about him enough to persuade Petrina. His head was in a whirl.

The gaoler knocked on the door.

‘We will come again, Kieron,’ said Petrina. ‘I am sure my father will wish to escort me here tomorrow. I will bring a bacon and egg pie, hot from the oven, and I will watch you eat it.’

‘Petrina, I would kiss you.’ Kieron glanced hesitantly at Sholto.

The smith laughed. ‘Kiss her, then, boy. Kiss her well. It is the only way you will ever beat a woman.’

Somewhat later on the same day, Hobart came, a shawl round his shoulders, racked by coughing, clutching a flask of spirit.

‘Kieron, my dear son, how do they treat you?’

‘Well enough, Master Hobart. I am alive and healthy, as you see.’

‘You are thinner. You are pale.’

‘I do not crave for weight. My only lack is sunlight.’

‘You shall have it, my dear son, you shall have it. I have signed a statement and had it witnessed that it was upon my insistence that you constructed the hot-air balloon. I required its construction for a painting, and that is the truth. I required to have a sketch of the castle from the air.’

Kieron was near to weeping. ‘Father, you cannot do this thing. You shall not put yourself at risk in such a manner.’

With some effort, Hobart drew himself up straight. ‘And who shall prevent me, boy? You have called me Father, of which I am proud. And is it not the duty of a father to protect his son, even if that son be not of the flesh but of the spirit?’

‘A son – a spiritual son – also has a duty,’ Kieron pointed out. ‘I beg you to destroy the document. It is dangerous.’

‘Dangerous! Poof!’ Master Hobart took a sip of spirit. ‘Forgive me, Kieron. This physic is necessary for an old man who has outlived his strengths and skills … All my life, Kieron, I have lived safely – and in fear. In fear of those who employ me, in fear of the loss of my poor talent. There comes a time when a man desires to rise above fear. Such a time is when he wishes to protect one he loves … Forgive me. I am not courageous. Forgive me for deriving courage from a flask … But, I have been in the presence of greatness. I am content. Do you understand? I have seen you make brush strokes that have a wild and savage beauty. I know that you will travel far … I wish you to paint, for in that you have a great gift. But if it is your pleasure to reach for the stars, I will accept it. I cannot understand it. I cannot say more. But I accept it. Do we understand each other?’

‘We understand each other, my father.’

‘Well, then, there is no more to be said.’ Hobart took a deep draught of the spirit. ‘I have outlived my strength and my skills, but I have not entirely outlived my usefulness. The document will stand, Kieron, though I fall.’ Hobart smiled. ‘Once I tried to buy you from your parents. You did not know that. Now, I do not wish to buy you. I am content only to pay a very small price for your freedom.’

Kieron could no longer hold back the tears. ‘Sir, you destroy me with love.’

Hobart smiled. ‘I have watched you grow with love. I have tutored you
with love. I will not destroy you with love … Kieron, I doubt that I shall visit you again. My health, you understand?’

‘I understand.’

‘Therefore, kiss me, my son. It is but little to you. It means much to me, because I am a foolish old man.’

Kieron drew close and kissed him on the forehead.

‘On the lips, my son.’

‘So be it. On the lips.’

‘Now we are truly united in resolve.’ Hobart seemed happy. ‘Farewell, Kieron. You will not burn. Rest easy.’

‘Then I shall live to complete my apprenticeship,’ said Kieron lightly.

Hobart gave a faint smile. ‘Your apprenticeship ended with
Mistress Fitzalan’s Leap.
It is a great painting. I can teach you no more.’

Master Hobart took some more spirit. Then he left the cell. Two days later he was discovered dead, hanging by the neck from a beam in his chamber.

In times to come, Kieron recalled the last few days he spent in the House of Correction almost with pleasure. They were the last days of the world he had known, the last days of order and security, the last days of peace.

Gerard and Kristen came to visit him again. So did Petrina and, with some apprehension, Aylwin the miller’s apprentice.

Aylwin knew nothing of the measures being taken to defend Kieron. He looked upon his friend with much pity, as if the smell of smoke were already in his nostrils.

‘So, Kieron, it is in a sorry condition that I find you.’

Kieron laughed. ‘Not so sorry as all that. I have food, I sleep well, my friends and loved ones do not neglect me.’

Aylwin nodded towards the cell door, fully aware that there was a patient listener. ‘I have not broken my bond word, Kieron.’

‘Good, my friend. Neither have I. Nor will I. Let us each rest easy.’

Aylwin seemed relieved. He had no wish to be noticed in any way by Holy Church. ‘Many will be willing to speak for you. I among them, if you require it.’

Kieron noted the unhappiness in Aylwin’s eyes, and knew that it had cost him much to make the offer. ‘Aylwin, I thank you. I do not despise your kindness, yet I think that stronger voices may be heard in my favour.’

‘If the worst comes to the worst—’ began Aylwin.

‘It will not.’ Kieron also nodded towards the cell door. Then he said prophetically: ‘I will live to bury some who bear me small good will. This I swear.’

Aylwin shuffled his feet. ‘I must go now.’

‘Do not neglect the skills you have learned. You have some talent, as I know.’

Aylwin shrugged. Where now would he obtain the materials and instruction he needed? ‘We are each called to our destiny, friend. I will come again.’ He held out his hand. ‘Also, I will think much upon you, Kieron. You are my true friend.’

But Aylwin did not come to the House of Correction again; and when Kieron next saw him, he was less a hand – the painting hand. And his black hair was streaked with white.

Alyx Fitzalan was the last visitor Kieron received. She was accompanied by her father’s bailiff, who by his demeanour made plain his hearty disapproval of the encounter.

‘Be upstanding in the presence of Mistress Alyx Fitzalan,’ he intoned. An unnecessary command, since Kieron was already standing.

‘Kentigern,’ said Mistress Alyx with some tartness in her voice, ‘go and keep company with the good Brother Sebastian, whose heavy breathing informs me of his nearness. Discuss with him whatever is dear to you, and benefit from his pure and learned mind.’

‘But, Mistress, Seigneur Fitzalan commanded me to remain within your hearing.’

‘Do that, then. My hearing is excellent. I can hear the good Brother Sebastian shaking like one afflicted. Perhaps he has received a vision. Enquire of him if this be the case.’

Kentigern retired, discomfited. For a moment or two, Kieron heard him exchanging words with Brother Sebastian on the other side of the cell door.

‘Well, Kieron?’

‘Well, Mistress Alyx?’

They gazed at each other, each resisting the impulse to come close and hold close. It would not do. The witnesses at the keyhole would report what they saw.

‘So you stole a book from my father’s library. At least, that is what I am told.’ But her eyes said: Thank you, my love, for protecting me.

Kieron signified his understanding. ‘I am bitterly sorry, Mistress Alyx. I intended to borrow it for a short time only.’

‘Did you know that it contained heresy?’

‘No, Mistress. Being simple, I thought only to take a book to read. I intended to restore it at the first opportunity.’

‘My father thinks you are a fool, Kieron. A fool without malice.’

‘So I am, Mistress. Definitely a fool. But I have no malice.’

‘So I will testify,’ said Alyx. ‘You have a great talent for falling off gentle horses, Kieron. The talent of a fool. Nevertheless, I am capricious enough to defer my wedding so that I may speak for you. Perhaps I am foolish also.’

Kieron knelt and kissed her hand. He would have kissed her lips and felt her breasts against him. But he was mindful of the watchers and the listeners.

‘Mistress, you are indeed foolish to concern yourself with my predicament. Though I am nothing to you, I am most grateful for your interest in my case.’

Alyx smiled sadly. ‘Stand, Kieron. The artist knows his subject. The subject knows the artist. Between them, formality is tedious.’

‘Mistress, I—’ Kieron glanced at the cell door.

‘Yes, I know. The ears flap. Master Kentigern grows red in the face, and the good Brother Sebastian breathes hard. It is of little importance … My father bids me thank you for removing the book from his library.’