crowd,
Alan-at-Gate saw them from the gatehouse. The draw-bridge was lowered and the portcullis raised, and just inside the whole company of the household stood to receive them. Sir Peter was in the center with his sons and the two pages. Near him was Lady Constance with her women and little Alison. D’Ath whimpered joyfully beside Brother Luke.
Sir Peter held out his arms and helped Robin to the ground, placing the crutches to support him. Then, placing his hand upon Robin’s head, he spoke solemnly.
“Now, before God and this company,” he said, “I do hail thee Conqueror and true son of thy noble father.”
Lady Constance embraced Robin and the women made much of him. D’Ath was too well bred a dog to push himself forward, but his eager prancing and wriggling finally brought him to Robin’s side, where he thrust his long, cold nose into Robin’s hands.
John-go-in-the-Wynd was called forward. He was given a holding of land for his own and a portion of sheep. With it went certain rights for hunting and fishing to be his and his heirs forever.
Brother Luke gave Robin his blessing and went with him to his chamber.
“It seems long since I left here,” said Robin, lookingaround as if he expected things to be changed. But there was the cross over his bed, and there on the workbench the little harp just as he had left it, waiting for the strings to be fastened to the keys.
“Much hath happened in this one day,” said Brother Luke. “I should like to hear how thy journey went. By thy look, thou hast fared well, except for needing a good wash and a sleep. Off with thy borrowed clothes and once more I shall care for thee.”
Sleep overtook Robin even before Brother Luke had finished.
The days grew short and very cold. Everyone went about with a red nose and a cloud of frozen breath. Robin was glad of the woolen gloves made for him by Lady Constance. They were snug and warm and decorated with needle-work on the back.
The river ran more slowly now, and ice began to form along the edges. Robin stopped swimming and took his exercise in other ways. He spent a great deal of time with Adam Bowyer shooting at a mark, and was already at work again in the carpentry shop making a viol such as Piers Nitingale used.
The harp was finished. Robin had learned how to tune it by tightening the strings and could play it a little. Brother Luke was teaching him to sing a carol, because it was near to the Feast of Christmas. There would be singing and caroling in the Hall and Robin remembered his father’s letter and hoped that Christmas would bring his father and mother to the castle.
One day before the Feast of Thomas the Apostle, and after the Feast of St. Lucy (the thirteenth of December), Robin was with Sir Peter in the armory. The coats of mail, the helmets, the lances, pikes, bows and arrows were beingput in order, and the great two-handed sword hung on the wall.
“See you here,” said Sir Peter. “This is where the blow struck my helmet. There is a dent as large as a basin.” He rubbed his head where the helmet had been thrust in.
Robin ran his fingers around the ugly cavity, imagining how it would feel to be struck with a mace. He was thinking of his father and wondering whether he, too, had been wounded.
“Will the Scottish wars have ended, think you?” he asked.
“I have had no word directly,” answered Sir Peter. “There have been rumors about that troops of returning soldiers have been seen. Some were going southward along the highroad. John-go-in-the-Wynd might tell us if he were here, but he has not been nigh the castle for weeks. I dare say he is busy building shelter for his new flocks and gathering wood for the winter that his old mother may be warm.”
Robin said no more, but after that he went often to the top of the keep to scan the countryside for signs of horsemen. Sometimes he could see nothing for fog or rain. Sometimes the air was crisp and clear, and he could see far beyond the hills.
Alan-at-Gate saw them from the gatehouse. The draw-bridge was lowered and the portcullis raised, and just inside the whole company of the household stood to receive them. Sir Peter was in the center with his sons and the two pages. Near him was Lady Constance with her women and little Alison. D’Ath whimpered joyfully beside Brother Luke.
Sir Peter held out his arms and helped Robin to the ground, placing the crutches to support him. Then, placing his hand upon Robin’s head, he spoke solemnly.
“Now, before God and this company,” he said, “I do hail thee Conqueror and true son of thy noble father.”
Lady Constance embraced Robin and the women made much of him. D’Ath was too well bred a dog to push himself forward, but his eager prancing and wriggling finally brought him to Robin’s side, where he thrust his long, cold nose into Robin’s hands.
John-go-in-the-Wynd was called forward. He was given a holding of land for his own and a portion of sheep. With it went certain rights for hunting and fishing to be his and his heirs forever.
Brother Luke gave Robin his blessing and went with him to his chamber.
“It seems long since I left here,” said Robin, lookingaround as if he expected things to be changed. But there was the cross over his bed, and there on the workbench the little harp just as he had left it, waiting for the strings to be fastened to the keys.
“Much hath happened in this one day,” said Brother Luke. “I should like to hear how thy journey went. By thy look, thou hast fared well, except for needing a good wash and a sleep. Off with thy borrowed clothes and once more I shall care for thee.”
Sleep overtook Robin even before Brother Luke had finished.
The days grew short and very cold. Everyone went about with a red nose and a cloud of frozen breath. Robin was glad of the woolen gloves made for him by Lady Constance. They were snug and warm and decorated with needle-work on the back.
The river ran more slowly now, and ice began to form along the edges. Robin stopped swimming and took his exercise in other ways. He spent a great deal of time with Adam Bowyer shooting at a mark, and was already at work again in the carpentry shop making a viol such as Piers Nitingale used.
The harp was finished. Robin had learned how to tune it by tightening the strings and could play it a little. Brother Luke was teaching him to sing a carol, because it was near to the Feast of Christmas. There would be singing and caroling in the Hall and Robin remembered his father’s letter and hoped that Christmas would bring his father and mother to the castle.
One day before the Feast of Thomas the Apostle, and after the Feast of St. Lucy (the thirteenth of December), Robin was with Sir Peter in the armory. The coats of mail, the helmets, the lances, pikes, bows and arrows were beingput in order, and the great two-handed sword hung on the wall.
“See you here,” said Sir Peter. “This is where the blow struck my helmet. There is a dent as large as a basin.” He rubbed his head where the helmet had been thrust in.
Robin ran his fingers around the ugly cavity, imagining how it would feel to be struck with a mace. He was thinking of his father and wondering whether he, too, had been wounded.
“Will the Scottish wars have ended, think you?” he asked.
“I have had no word directly,” answered Sir Peter. “There have been rumors about that troops of returning soldiers have been seen. Some were going southward along the highroad. John-go-in-the-Wynd might tell us if he were here, but he has not been nigh the castle for weeks. I dare say he is busy building shelter for his new flocks and gathering wood for the winter that his old mother may be warm.”
Robin said no more, but after that he went often to the top of the keep to scan the countryside for signs of horsemen. Sometimes he could see nothing for fog or rain. Sometimes the air was crisp and clear, and he could see far beyond the hills.
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