help.’
Abraham found Thomas’s arm, and laid his hand upon it. ‘And you shall have it. Tomorrow morning I’ll take you to meet the king, or rather you’ll take me as I shall need your arm for guidance, and then we’ll talk. It’ll be just like it used to be.’
‘Only a little more serious.’
‘Yes. A little more serious.’
Outside they heard the clatter of boots on cobbles, the clash of sword and armour, voices raised, orders being given. Thomas rose and gazed out of the window. ‘Who would have imagined it?’ he asked, as much to himself as to Abraham. ‘Pembroke College a soldiers’ billet. Our beautiful place of learning turned into this.’
‘I still awake some mornings having forgotten what has happened. Then I hear the war outside my window and it all comes flooding back. Is it as bad out there as it sounds?’
‘Worse. The college is in ruins. I haven’t seen a scholar since I arrived, and there are soldiers everywhere.’
‘So Silas tells me. He found you a room, I trust?’
‘He did, and thank you for your help. I gather theprevious occupant was less than happy at being asked to leave. A nasty beggar, Silas called him.’
‘So I believe. I had to enlist the help of Tobias Rush to have him removed, but he was one of the few with a passable room to himself, so he had to go. We couldn’t have the king’s crypto grapher sleeping on a bench.’
‘Who is Tobias Rush?’
‘He’s an adviser to the king, perhaps his most trusted adviser. Not a man I would invite to dinner, but useful to know if you want something done. You’ll meet him tomorrow, I expect. Call for me at ten.’
‘I will, Abraham, and it’s a joy to see you again.’ Thomas rose to leave. As he did so, he saw the old man’s eyelids droop. He was asleep before Thomas had closed the door.
Thomas, too, was tired. Four days in the saddle and three nights away from his own bed were taking their toll. His shoulders ached and his backside was sore. But his legs needed stretching, he wanted to see the old sights again, and he was famished. In his room he splashed his face with water from the ewer, adjusted his dress, carefully locked the door behind him, and then went to find Silas Merkin.
Silas was in his little room by the college entrance. His guardroom, he called it. From there, he could see the courtyard and all its comings and goings. Thomassmiled at the memory of trying to slip past him unnoticed with a willing girl from the town. It had not worked. Silas had pounced, the girl had been sent on her way and Thomas had slept alone.
‘Ah, Master Hill. How did you find Master Fletcher?’
‘His mind is still sharp, Silas. Would that his eyes were too. Old age can be a terrible thing.’
‘I do take care of him, sir. Make sure his food is how he likes it, help him with washing and dressing, that sort of thing.’
‘I know you do, Silas, and I thank you for it. He’s a good friend and a fine scholar. Now, I’m hungry. Where shall I go for my dinner?’
‘I can easily have the kitchen prepare something for you, sir. No need to go foraging.’
‘Thank you, Silas. But I need to walk off the stiffness in my back, and I’d like to see something of the town.’
Silas was a little put out. The kitchens came under his control, and he liked his scholars and visitors to use them. ‘As you wish, sir, but do take care. The town is much changed, as you may have noticed. The Crown in Market Street still serves well. You could try there.’
‘I will, Silas. And I’ll take care.’
Leaving the college, Thomas made his way downthe lane and up St Aldate’s towards Cornmarket. In the streets, soldiers jostled with townspeople, and at Golden Cross a noisy crowd had gathered to watch a woman in the pillory being pelted with muck. It must have been stony muck because blood dripped from her mouth and cheek. ‘What did she do?’ Thomas asked a young soldier.
‘The old hag tried to steal a trooper’s breakfast. She’s
Abraham found Thomas’s arm, and laid his hand upon it. ‘And you shall have it. Tomorrow morning I’ll take you to meet the king, or rather you’ll take me as I shall need your arm for guidance, and then we’ll talk. It’ll be just like it used to be.’
‘Only a little more serious.’
‘Yes. A little more serious.’
Outside they heard the clatter of boots on cobbles, the clash of sword and armour, voices raised, orders being given. Thomas rose and gazed out of the window. ‘Who would have imagined it?’ he asked, as much to himself as to Abraham. ‘Pembroke College a soldiers’ billet. Our beautiful place of learning turned into this.’
‘I still awake some mornings having forgotten what has happened. Then I hear the war outside my window and it all comes flooding back. Is it as bad out there as it sounds?’
‘Worse. The college is in ruins. I haven’t seen a scholar since I arrived, and there are soldiers everywhere.’
‘So Silas tells me. He found you a room, I trust?’
‘He did, and thank you for your help. I gather theprevious occupant was less than happy at being asked to leave. A nasty beggar, Silas called him.’
‘So I believe. I had to enlist the help of Tobias Rush to have him removed, but he was one of the few with a passable room to himself, so he had to go. We couldn’t have the king’s crypto grapher sleeping on a bench.’
‘Who is Tobias Rush?’
‘He’s an adviser to the king, perhaps his most trusted adviser. Not a man I would invite to dinner, but useful to know if you want something done. You’ll meet him tomorrow, I expect. Call for me at ten.’
‘I will, Abraham, and it’s a joy to see you again.’ Thomas rose to leave. As he did so, he saw the old man’s eyelids droop. He was asleep before Thomas had closed the door.
Thomas, too, was tired. Four days in the saddle and three nights away from his own bed were taking their toll. His shoulders ached and his backside was sore. But his legs needed stretching, he wanted to see the old sights again, and he was famished. In his room he splashed his face with water from the ewer, adjusted his dress, carefully locked the door behind him, and then went to find Silas Merkin.
Silas was in his little room by the college entrance. His guardroom, he called it. From there, he could see the courtyard and all its comings and goings. Thomassmiled at the memory of trying to slip past him unnoticed with a willing girl from the town. It had not worked. Silas had pounced, the girl had been sent on her way and Thomas had slept alone.
‘Ah, Master Hill. How did you find Master Fletcher?’
‘His mind is still sharp, Silas. Would that his eyes were too. Old age can be a terrible thing.’
‘I do take care of him, sir. Make sure his food is how he likes it, help him with washing and dressing, that sort of thing.’
‘I know you do, Silas, and I thank you for it. He’s a good friend and a fine scholar. Now, I’m hungry. Where shall I go for my dinner?’
‘I can easily have the kitchen prepare something for you, sir. No need to go foraging.’
‘Thank you, Silas. But I need to walk off the stiffness in my back, and I’d like to see something of the town.’
Silas was a little put out. The kitchens came under his control, and he liked his scholars and visitors to use them. ‘As you wish, sir, but do take care. The town is much changed, as you may have noticed. The Crown in Market Street still serves well. You could try there.’
‘I will, Silas. And I’ll take care.’
Leaving the college, Thomas made his way downthe lane and up St Aldate’s towards Cornmarket. In the streets, soldiers jostled with townspeople, and at Golden Cross a noisy crowd had gathered to watch a woman in the pillory being pelted with muck. It must have been stony muck because blood dripped from her mouth and cheek. ‘What did she do?’ Thomas asked a young soldier.
‘The old hag tried to steal a trooper’s breakfast. She’s
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