Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,69
horses, and returned to Belaset. She stood in the middle of the room, her arms outstretched to Judith, her eyes full of tears.
"My daughter," she said. "You are safe you are safe!"
She could say no more. The tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. Judith went to her and they hugged each other, hard. Aaron looked at Jervis, who was taking a sudden interest in his foot.
"Perhaps we should leave them for a while," he said, in a low voice.
Jervis nodded, still without raising his head. Soundlessly, they began to back out of the room, but Judith had seen them, and released her mother, to come to them.
"No, no!" she said, smiling though her own eyes were bright with unshed tears. "You must not go away before I have had a chance to praise your bravery and thank you for your guidance."
Belaset was right behind her, wiping her eyes on a kerchief.
"Certainly not," she said. "And you must eat...!"
She was interrupted by a chuckle from Judith.
"Now I know I am home!" she said. "My mother is insisting on providing food!"
The teasing broke the tension of the moment. Belaset left the room, and they could hear her chivvying the servants calling for the maid to bring some hot food for her daughter and her guests, without delay. Hurriedly plates and cutlery, all of silver, were placed on the table. A bowl of hot water and cloths were produced, and the three washed their hands and dried them. By this time the food had appeared, and Belaset returned with it.
She stood behind a chair and gestured to Aaron.
"Will you say the blessing, Aaron?" she said, gently.
He spread his arms and closed his eyes, repeating the ancient Hebrew words for them all.
"Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth," he said.
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"And who brings Thy children safely home," added Belaset, devoutly.
* * *
In the morning, they gathered in one room to discuss what they should do next. When Judith appeared, dressed in a long gown instead of her squire’s clothes Jervis, perched on the edge of the table, raised his eyebrows and nodded in admiration, but had the sense to say nothing. He swung one leg thoughtfully for a moment, before opening the discussion.
"Sir Roger is a problem which only we can solve," he said. "Only we know of his treachery."
"As far as you are aware," interjected Aaron. "And he is more than a problem he is a danger, especially to all of us, since he knows that Judith is a messenger for Henry, and that we are with her."
"How can he be such a danger for Jervis?" said Belaset. "Surely, he cannot risk harming someone who is for the King. He will show that he is not."
"Not if he claims that Jervis’s absence was in order to take Judith to de Montfort’s people in London," said Aaron. "Jervis left Lewes under a false pretext, and Sir Roger has only to reveal the ’true reason’ for his absence."
"And who would believe a squire’s word against that of Sir Roger de Tourney?" said Jervis. "We have to find some other way of dealing with Sir Roger one that preferably does not directly involve any of us."
He stood upright.
"In the meantime," he went on, in a brisker tone, "I must bid you all good-day and return to the Castle, showing proper annoyance at the loss of my falcon!"
He smiled wryly at them all, and sketched a mock bow. Then, his face serious again, he stood in front of Belaset.
"Madam," he said, "I knew little of your people until a few short days ago. I see that I have been misled by our priests and leaders. You are strong and courageous, and as kind and true as any that I know. I hope that you will all permit me to think of you as my friends."
He took her hand and bent over it. Belaset, her eyes full of tears, patted his shoulder, as he straightened up.
"Now, now," she said. "You are carried away by the emotion of the moment. Our peoples do not mix easily. We are friends for now, shall we say?"
"For longer than that," said Jervis, firmly.
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He pulled his cloak around him, bowed to them all, and left the room. A few moments later they heard the sound of his horse, trotting up the street towards the town gate.
Nobody moved until the sound had faded completely.