not touched his belief in divine goodness. In fact, the Holy Land had brought him a deeper, richer vision of God.
There, for the first time, he had truly believed that Jesus of Nazareth had existed - not the glorious lord of the manuscript pictures, but a man, like other men. As a child He had played with friends in the dust of Bethlehem as Galeran had played at Brome. As a youth He had set out to take up His place in the world. As a man He had died in Jerusalem as Galeran had nearly died.
The Christ had built and mended things, laughed and cried, loved and been betrayed by his closest friend. He had suffered temptation and doubt both in the desert and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Though He had never fathered a child, Christ had grieved for Lazarus in the grave. He, if anyone, could understand Galeran's pain, and light a path through the dark.
* * * * * The next day they went on their way, still wary. The expedition proved peaceful, however. Day after day the sun blazed from a clear blue sky, but God granted His children the boon of puffy white clouds and breezes to relieve the heat. Even Raoul began to think more kindly of the English climate.
Everywhere, insects, animals, and people labored against harsher times, and the workers in the fields both blessed and cursed the life-giving sun.
On the moors the sheep were glad to be free of their heavy fleece. In the valleys the peasants rejoiced as the first hay was formed into stacks. Cattle grazed stoically on thick grass whilst back in cottages and manors their rich milk became butter and cheese. Little armies of geese, chickens, and ducklings swarmed from spot to spot under the command of children, fattening for the autumn slaughter.
The countryside was bursting with food, and Galeran's hawks regularly brought him tasty birds. Each evening the men and hounds chased rabbits and hare for the pot, and for the joy of the sport.
This was his land, this was his life, and Galeran found its health and welfare healing.
He didn't forget Jehanne's warning, however. In every hamlet he asked about strangers, but consistently he was told that none had been seen.
Gradually, he relaxed his vigilance. At this busy time it would be hard for armed men to move though the country unobserved, and it offended him to ride on his own land as if among enemies.
In each village and hamlet he made it known that he was home, and available to his people. He was greeted with heartwarming joy and offered new cheese, ripe fruits, and fresh-caught fish.
Yes, it was sweet to be home even if he felt surrounded by a silent question. And what does this mean for the Lady Jehanne?
No one mentioned Gallot. Perhaps it was too difficult a subject, or perhaps it seemed a sorrow too long past Children died. It was no great event.
Except to the parent.
The parent who had never known the child.
He heard no direct complaints about Raymond of Lowick, and it was clear that in general Lowick had managed matters well enough. It was also clear, however, that he had ruled with a heavy hand and had not been above taking more than Heywood was entitled to.
That was not so uncommon in Rufus's England, but it wasn't Galeran's way.
As the days drifted by, and the journey took them farther from Heywood, Galeran found that the simple people had heard little of events at the castle.
Though they knew there had been trouble, they knew nothing of Jehanne's infidelity. If they'd heard of her second child at all, he was congratulated about it. Presumably they couldn't count months, or had no idea how far away he had been.
Doubtless they thought the Holy Land was somewhere not far beyond Wales.
Sitting on the ground beneath a tree, earnestly discussing just where one village's fields should end and another's begin, Galeran could almost envy these people their simple lives. But then a case would be brought before him for judgment, and he'd realize that in their way a village's problems were just as complex as his own.
Biddy of Merton was a thief, the people of Threpton said, who had no right there anyway now that her man was dead. It seemed to be so, but looking at the defiant young woman, with her sneering mouth and cocked hip, Galeran saw someone alone and frightened. How was she to survive all alone without stealing?