The Copper Sign (57 page)

“But if Isaac has the approval of the guild, how can Conrad tell the abbot that there is no master in the smithy?” Jean shook his head in amazement.

Ellen shrugged. “It’s always the same thing!” she said angrily. “Isaac can’t work at his vocation any longer, and I am a woman. It’s just as simple as that. Conrad knows my work and knows as well as you and I do that I should have been a master long ago.”

“Then how did you get the contract?”

“The abbot asked how our work had been in the last few months. The monks were very happy and praised our reliability. The abbot dismissed Conrad, then said to me, ‘If there is no master working in your smithy, then you can’t demand the same prices as members of the guild. But if you can deliver at a better price, I’ll be willing to at least give you an order for two hundred lances.’ ‘But then the guild will expel us once and for all,’ I replied. The abbot looked at me with his sharp eyes and said, ‘Let me worry about that. I have many orders to give and must save where I can. The guild will have to accept that.’ Those were his final words. We must deliver the lances before Christmas.”

“Ellen, that’s wonderful news,” Jean replied, patting her on the shoulder.

“Yes, if you don’t take into account that I had to cut the prices to the bone and that the guild will always have a grudge against us!” She sighed. “If we had an order for just one sword, we’d have less work, more profit, and could do more for our reputation.”

They finished the first hundred lances in just three weeks.

The monks were surprised when all three of them came to deliver the first half of the order and asked for another payment.

In the evening they enjoyed the soup Rose had made from broad beans.

“Your work was really good!” Ellen told Jean, who was now her first assistant again.

Peter took it hard at first to be put back in last place, but he quickly accepted the fact and decided to make the best of it.

“Don’t you think we’ll have to add on a room before winter comes?” Ellen said, turning to Jean and Rose. She broke off a piece of bread and dunked it into the soup before eating it. “You can’t always sleep in the smithy,” she said, still chewing.

Rose beamed.

“If Peter can help me a bit, it certainly won’t take long,” Jean added enthusiastically. “But we’ve got to get some wood and clay, and enough straw from one of the farmers.”

“If you want a window, you’ll also have to make some wooden shutters,” Ellen said, and enjoyed seeing how thrilled the two seemed to hear that. “So can you take care of everything?”

Jean nodded, his face beaming with excitement.

Ellen fetched her leather purse and gave Jean a few silver coins she had received that morning from the abbot.

“Here. If you need more, come to me.”

“Thank you, Ellen,” Rose said, squeezing her hand.

In the evening, Rose and Jean lay cuddled together on the straw mattress in the smithy and made their plans for the future. “Can you make us a real bed with a mattress and curtains like ones fine people have? That would make me very happy.”

Jean nodded and drew something on the hard-packed dirt floor. “Here’s the wall of Isaac’s house, and we’ll build on here. If we set up our bed in the corner there, then the walls will protect it from drafts on three sides. And if you want, you can also have a curtain. What do you think?”

“That’s so wonderful, Jean!” Rose was beaming. “Do you think you could make a bed as a wedding present for Ellen and Isaac next year? They are the masters of the house, and if they have to marry even though they don’t love each other, don’t you think they should at least sleep like kings?”

Jean laughed and gave her an affectionate bump on the nose. “You are right, as always. That’s a good idea. I’ve been thinking for a long time about what I could do to make Ellen happy. I’ll buy a little more wood, get a better price, and then we can be sure the wood for Ellen’s bed will be dry. I have another idea… Rose?” Jean looked at his wife, who had fallen asleep in his arms. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically. He looked at her belly and couldn’t believe there were two children on the way. How would they ever find room in this delicate little body? She had often told him to put his hand on her stomach when they kicked, but as soon as he touched her, the kicking stopped. They were just like little animals that played dead when danger was present, he thought, smiling. Suddenly her belly moved again. Tenderly he put his hand on it, and this time they kept on kicking! Jean was proud and happy when he thought about becoming a father, and he gently kissed Rose on the cheek before drifting happily off to sleep.

Jean had finished the addition to the house before the end of summer and was able to offer his family a roof over their heads that was all their own. The room had a proper oaken door that opened onto the yard. At this time of year, when the sun was still high in the sky, sunlight flooded the interior through the open shutters, bathing the room in a wondrous light. But the best thing about it, according to Rose at least, was the bed set in a niche in the wall with a curtain in front of it. In the corner next to the little hearth was a cradle Jean had built, taking advantage of the warm summer evenings to finish it. He had made it wide enough for twins, if that should really be the case.

Since Ellen and her helpers had finished the lances long before their due date, the abbot also gave them an order for a few simple swords for the soldiers. She earned far more making swords than lances, but here, too, she had to make a concession on the price. In return they promised not to say anything to the guild about it. The swords were in no way comparable to Athanor because for the most part they were all built the same way and with less extravagance, but they were an ideal opportunity for Jean to practice forging and quenching swords. Such simple swords were made with just one kind of iron and were folded fewer times. Nevertheless, they were heat treated just as conscientiously as all the weapons Ellen made. They had no decoration, and the hilts were wrapped in ordinary linen. The order did not include any scabbards. Such common soldiers’ swords were delivered all together in a simple wooden box. Ellen decided to add another forge and two new anvils in their smithy so that in the future both Jean and she could make swords at the same time.

“Three anvils? Isn’t that a bit too many?” Peter asked in astonishment.

“Not after you become a journeyman!” Ellen replied, with a mischievous smile. “But maybe you’ll want to go somewhere else then…”

“Oh, no, I’m not an idiot!” Peter burst out, then blushed. “Excuse me, I mean…”

“Very well!” Ellen said, grinning.

“I’m hoping to receive more orders from the monks soon, and after that I’ll try to get work from the noblemen in our region. Who knows, perhaps later we’ll even have an apprentice.”

Isaac did not know anything about all this. He showed no interest in the smithy or the house, hardly spoke with anyone, and spent most of the time alone in his room dozing. He didn’t even pay attention to the children anymore.

“Jean!” Rose shook her husband gently. “Jean, please wake up!” she said, a little louder. Half asleep, Jean looked around. “What is it? Time to get up?”

“It’s starting! Quick! Go and get Ellenweore and the midwife.” Rose took a deep breath and breathed out again, moaning.

Jean jumped out of bed, pulled on his chausses, and ran out of the house. “Ellenweore! Ellenweore! It’s Rose!” he cried out, hammering on Ellen’s door with his fist.

In no time Ellen was at the door. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all. “I’ll heat up some water right away. Yesterday evening I filled another bucket with fresh water—I must have suspected!” she cried, stirring the fire. “Just give me a moment to hang a kettle over the fire, and then I’ll come and have a look at her. You go and fetch the midwife. We’ll be able to handle this!” She lit a torch, gave it to Jean, and pushed him out the door.

The girls and William also were awakened by the hammering on the door.

“Go back to sleep. I’ve got to take care of Rose—the child is coming!” she said abruptly, and pushed Marie and Agnes back to their bed.

The girls began to cry. “Will she die now, too, just like Mother?” Marie asked anxiously.

Ellen shook her head. “Rose is strong. Pray for her, then go and lie down to sleep a little more,” she said quickly before hurrying out.

Rose was already experiencing strong labor pains, but she was brave.

“I’ve been pregnant so many times, but I’ve never had a child,” she said breathlessly between two contractions. “If God really gives me two children and they are healthy, then I know He has forgiven me.” She let out a loud moan.

“Everything will be fine,” Ellen assured her gently, while Rose’s face contorted in pain. Ellen used a wet towel to wipe the sweat from her brow.

Rose suffered until daybreak. The midwife and Ellen stayed with her, while Jean lay down with William. Through the wall he could hear Rose’s muffled groans. He couldn’t sleep, but prayed fervently until finally he heard little whimpering cries, and shortly afterward someone opened the door.

“You’re a father, Jean!” Ellen beamed at him as he rushed over to her. “Come and see your sons!” She took him by the sleeve and led him into the other room.

“And Rose, how is Rose?” he asked anxiously.

“She’s fine, don’t worry!”

Rose was sitting up in bed looking like the happiest person in the world—rather tired, but wide awake and overjoyed at the twofold blessing.

The midwife had already wrapped the two boys tightly so they looked like two little bugs in a rug. “Have a good look at this fellow—he’s your father. You’ll respect him and do what he says, do you hear?” she said a bit strictly to the two little bundles. Then she took one, placed him in Rose’s arm, and handed the other to Jean.

He picked up his tiny son and looked at him closely. The child’s head was smaller than the palm of his hand. “He’s got so much hair!” Jean said, astonished, as he stroked the little boy’s fist with his finger. Then he went over to Rose, sat down on the edge of the bed, and showed her the child. “Just look how tiny he is!” he whispered.

Rose nodded. “Just like his brother!” she said and handed him the second child.

“And they look like two peas in a pod,” Jean said in amazement.

“They’re twins!” the midwife said, laughing. “That happens quite a bit—perhaps they will always look alike.”

“They’re so small and delicate!” Rose whispered anxiously. “William was much stronger. I only hope they are not too weak!” Rose looked at the midwife pleadingly. “Please baptize them today. I’ve already lost an unbaptized child.”

“I wouldn’t worry about the boys. I’m sure they will be big and strong. Twins are always smaller, and these two seem to be in the best of health,” the midwife declared. “Just the same, I will baptize them so they are cleansed of all sin. Do you have names for them yet?”

Rose and Jean looked at each other questioningly.

“What was your father’s name?” Rose asked.

Jean furrowed his brow for a moment. “Raymond.” He pronounced the name as in French, and Rose repeated it.

“A nice name, don’t you think, Raymond?” giving a kiss on the nose to the child in her arm. The child opened his mouth a little and mewed like a kitten. “It seems he likes it!” Rose said, moved.

“And your father?” Jean asked. He liked the idea of naming the children after their deceased grandfathers.

“He died while I was still very young. My mother spoke of him only once, but she never mentioned his name.”

Jean shrugged his shoulders regretfully and stroked Rose’s cheek.

“But one comes to mind just the same,” Rose said.

Jean listened carefully.

“How about Alan? That was the name Ellen took when she was young.”

Jean grinned and looked at his son. “Alan?” The boy yawned, and everyone laughed.

Ellenweore, who had been listening to it all, swallowed deeply. She felt a big lump in her throat, and her eyes filled with tears.

“Very well, then I shall baptize the children now,” the midwife said. “They look strong for twins, but you never know what will happen, and we should not put their little souls in any danger.” She fished a crucifix and a rosary out of her bag, took some holy water she was carrying with her in a bottle, and sprinkled the first boy with it. “Creature of God, I baptize you herewith with the name of Raymond in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” She had difficulty pronouncing the nasal sound at the end of the French name. “You should call him Ray,” she suggested. After the second child was baptized, she told Jean he would need to take the children to church along with the godparents the following week to complete the baptism with the priest’s blessing.

After Rose had nursed both boys and they had fallen asleep exhausted, the midwife put the children in the crib together. Then, with cordial but firm words she asked Jean and Ellen to leave and told the young mother she would have to rest a bit also.

As soon as Rose had closed her eyes, she left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. In the house next door she collected her fee from Jean, which was twice as high because of the twin birth. She pronounced a blessing on the family, gave them a few more instructions, and said good-bye.

When Eve arrived at the smithy the next morning and heard the news, she immediately rushed in to see Rose. “Please don’t worry—I’ll take care of everything until you have your strength back,” she promised.

“I’m glad you know your way around the house so well,” Rose replied feebly. The tensions between the two that had flared up occasionally in the last few months were gone.

“I wasn’t always nice to you, and I’m sorry,” Eve said softly. “I was afraid you would dismiss me once the child was here.”