“You are daft!” Lia shouted at him. “The old man does not tell us anything interesting.” She finally managed to jerk her arm free.

His face scrunched up with anger. “If you have lied to me again, I swear by Idumea you will regret it. The sheriff’s men offered a reward to the one who finds the soldier. I am getting that reward. You remember that. The Aldermaston is a fool if he is risking hiding him. A true fool.”

Lia held the tears back until she made it inside the kitchen.

CHAPTER TWELVE:

Winterrowd

Pasqua ground some peppers in the pestle with vigorous strokes. “Carry the meal to the Aldermaston, Sowe, before the old niffler starts grumbling again. He has been in high dudgeon since that sheriff left.”

“I will do it,” Lia offered. Sowe pouted, and Pasqua noticed her frown.

“Both of you go then. The looks you give each other lately are wont to bring an early winter. Quickly now. Do not dawdle at the manor. Whitsunday is near enough. There is much to prepare, and we need to count the stores to be sure there is enough. Laziness from either of you and I will be tempted to bring back the switch.”

“We are not lazy,” Lia said under her breath as she hefted the tray. Sowe opened the door for her and followed her out.

“You never like carrying food to the Aldermaston,” Lia said to Sowe. “Why do you care if I should do it twice?”

“We should tell the Aldermaston,” Sowe said softly.

“You are thinking like a goose. The king is coming. The Aldermaston would be in trouble if he knew.”

“Then why are we helping him get in trouble by hiding…him?”

“He has a name,” Lia said with a smug feeling.

“Which he has only shared with you.”

“And you are jealous that he did?”

“I am not jealous. I am worried.”

“You are always worried, Sowe.”

“You should be worried too! The trouble is that you are not worried enough. If the Aldermaston finds out that we lied to him, he will punish us. I do not want to be sent to the village.”

“He will not send us away,” Lia said, though not totally sure of herself. She was about to tell Sowe to open the door to the manor, but she did it on her own. They walked in uncomfortable silence to the Aldermaston’s chamber and Sowe knocked timidly.

“Knock harder,” Lia said with frustration. “You knock too softly.”

Sowe knocked a little harder then pulled the handle and opened it, and Lia entered first.

“Thank you both,” the Aldermaston said. “It has been a calmer day for all of us. Ah, the soup smells wonderful. Very fragrant. Give my compliments to Pasqua.”

“We will,” Lia said and Sowe turned to go, but Lia lingered.

The Aldermaston paused before the steamy bowl and gave Lia a quizzical look. “Yes?”

Lia swallowed. “They say that the king’s army is coming. That there may be war.”

“There may be. Do not be concerned about it.” He raised his spoon to sip.

“But if there are soldiers, they may come to the abbey. The sheriff said…”

The Aldermaston interrupted, “I would not regard anything the sheriff told you.”

Lia clenched her teeth, tried not to frown, and glanced at the chimneypiece on the side wall. It was a quick look, the slightest glance, just to be sure it was still on the mantle. It was.

* * *

Lia, with Sowe fidgeting alongside her, returned for the tray and dishes after sunset. She knew the Aldermaston would be discussing the events of the day with the teachers. His personal chamber was usually empty at that time.

“What are you doing?” Sowe asked as Lia approached the chimneypiece. “You are not supposed to touch…Lia, what are you…Lia!”

On the mantle, beneath a leather wrap, there was a shiny metal orb, its rim decorated with intricate markings. The bottom half was made out of solid gold or aurichalcum. Two spindles suspended on a round inset. The top half of the sphere was made from gold stays that joined at the top to a sculpted design. It reminded Lia of the kitchen roof and how the beams arched upwards and supported the weight of bricks and shingles. The orb was heavy, but not unexpectedly so, about the size of a large apple.

“Put that away!” Sowe whispered, looking back at the door. “If the Aldermaston saw you…”

“If you are so nervous, then listen at the door instead of whining at me. I need to see if it will work for me.”

“Work for you? That is more valuable than the ring you stole, Lia. Do not tell me you are going to steal it. Put it down, please!”