Cedric, the Saxon thane, or franklin, was worried. Gurth had not turned up, which meant that the herd might have fallen prey to marauders. Also, Wamba, his fool, had gone with Gurth, and Cedric wanted his favorite fool. He wore a gold collar around his neck, with gold clasps on his sandals and bracelets of the same on his wrists. His robe was trimmed with fur, and he sat in the chair reserved for him as the master of the house. His ward would occupy the other chair when she came down to supper. The Lady Rowena was by no means to be called plain. In fact, she was quite the opposite. She was not so tall as to call attention to it, but not short enough as to be called so.
But now to the chain of events. There was a knock at the gate, and when Cedric asked who it was, he found that the Prior Aymer was at the gate, in the company of one of the Knights Templar, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Cedric was under a vow not to take more than three steps from his dais in meeting other than people of Saxon blood. The Prior made a rather foolish speech, and then they had supper. The Prior did not obey the rules of his order, but rather acted as if they were made to be broken. He partook in no temperance of the wine, pledging his host in a full cup. The chapters close with a Jew asking and getting admittance.
More soon!
Bell
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