custom, animals bawling, dogs barking. Bran paused and surveyed the comely chaos for a moment. “Good,” he said, “there are enough people about that we should not draw undue attention to ourselves. You all know what to do?”
Brocmael and Ifor nodded grimly. Bran opened his purse and fished out a few pennies. “This should be enough,” he told them. “We are not clothing him for his coronation, mind.”
“We know what to do,” said Ifor.
“Then off you go. Return here when you are finished and wait for us.”
When they had gone, Bran, Tuck, and Alan commenced their own particular quest. “Have you given any thought to my idea?” asked Bran as they began to stroll among the stalls and booths of the busy market.
“That I have,” Tuck replied.
“And?”
“Oh, I think it should work—although I am no dog-handler. It seems a simple enough matter, does it not? We will require a little oil and perhaps an herb or two to mix with it—something strong, but not too offensive. No doubt if Angharad were here she would know better.”
“But she is not here, so we look to you now,” Bran said. “What do you suggest?”
“Essence of angelica for the oil,” Tuck answered after a moment’s consideration. “It is light, yet easily stains a cloth. Get it on your skin and it lingers long, even after you wash.”
“Excellent! Just the thing,” said Bran. He gazed around at the seething crowd of people and animals. “What do you say, Alan? Will we find what we need here?”
“I expect so, my lord. I know of a ’pothecary who comes to market most days.”
“And the herbs?” he asked. “What are we looking for?”
“There are several—any one of which will suffice,” Tuck mused aloud. “Lavender is strong, but not unpleasant. It is distinctive and not to be mistaken for anything else. There is also thyme, marjoram, or sage. Any of those, I think. Or all of them, come to that.”
Bran commended his cleric happily. “Splendid! One day Alan here will laud your native Saxon cunning from one end of this island to the other.”
“Lord help us, I don’t want to be lauded,” Tuck told him. “I’d as soon settle for a month of peace and quiet in my own snug oratory with nary a king or earl in sight.” He paused, considering. “I think about that, do I not?” He caught Bran’s expression and said, “I do! Sometimes.”
Bran shook his head. “Ah, Tuck, my man, you were born for greater things.”
“So you say. The world and his wife says different, methinks.” The three waded into the busy square and made short work of purchasing the items required. Alan prevailed upon the apothecary to mix the lavender and angelica oil for them, and add in the herbs. This made a fairly sticky concoction with a strong odour which seemed right for the purpose. They also bought a stout hemp bag with a good leather cord to close it, and then wound their way back to meet their two young companions and see how they had fared.
“We bought these,” said Brocmael, offering up the bundle of goods they had purchased. “Not new, mind, but good quality.” Still looking doubtful, he added, “I would wear them.”
“It cost but a penny,” Ifor explained. “So we bought a cloak as well.” He shook out a hooded cloak and held it up. It was heavy wool of a tight weave, dyed green. It had once been a handsome thing, made perhaps for a nobleman. It was slightly faded now and patched in several places, but well-mended and clean. “No doubt he’d choose a better one,” Ifor admitted, looking to Bran for approval, “but needs must, and this is better for hiding.”
“He will be glad of it,” Bran assured him. “You’ve done well—both of you. So now”—he looked around with the air of a man about to depart for territories unknown—“I think we are ready at last.”
With that, the party began making their way back to the castle. The day had turned fair and bright; the breeze coming inland from the sea was warm and lightly scented with the salt-and-seaweed smell of the bay. They walked along in silence as thoughts turned to the danger of what lay ahead. All at once, Bran stopped and said, “We should not go on this way.”
“Which way should we go?” Alan said. “This is the shortest way back to the castle.”
“I mean,” Bran explained, “it will not do to rouse the wolf in his den.”