Anais had hidden for the whole day. At last it was getting dark and with rain to discourage her pursuers.
She carried no sadness from slaying the dog.The children of the fisherman had betrayed their word and though she had shed tears, she heard the voice of her father and brother assuring her that God would forgive her . Anais touched the slender hilt of her Spanish blade under her skirt as thanks, crossed herself and began her journey towards London. She had an inner voice that promised it was there that she would find peace.In London she would revenge the killing of her father and brother at whatever price.
The rain had turned the shore at Wapping into a series of eager rivers and the river Thames swelled on the flood tide with more rubbish and filth than normal. The far bank was almost invisible in the curtain of rain as Thomas led his horse through puddle and stream- scattering ducks and geese and hens that flitted and poked at every inch of the ground. The cramped and narrow alleys , strung all about with a profusion of ropes and twines had caused him to dismount or be garrotted. A fate not without irony he thought after surviving five years fighting against the French. His reflections would have contnued bar an old hag who suddenly poked his side with a rake, half taking out his breath,
"You! Bugger off!" she said
Thomas almost laughed at her audacity and courage-as she was barely half his height and could see she was old enough for the grave. She prodded his side again though this time Thomas grabbed the rake and deflected it, countering her with maximum charm,
"And who are you, my dear lady?" he threw back with a smile
She looked at his bundle and mount, before replying,
"Where did you steal that horse?"
Thomas was again put onto the back foot- it started to rain harder and a thunderclap made the horse leap and kick- sending two towers of wicker baskets spinning into the mud. Thomas could not reason with the beast and it dashed away pulling down ropes and nets as it went.,
"I was right- horse thief" she said as she turned and disappeared into her hovel of rough planks and old sail canvas. Thomas was both amused and angry-he had lost his horse but felt he had met a remarkable woman whose insight might prove of worth in finding his sister's whereabouts. Thomas laid one hand on his dagger as precaution and ducked into the passageway.
The stench of fish was only made better by the warm fire and refuge from the rain. The sail cloths that served as the roof were admirable-the hag appeared with a bucket of swirling black eels which made Thomas jump back and fall into a heap,
The old woman found this very funny and as she cackled and coughed and spat, she deftly poured out the slithering contents of her bucket onto a simmering cauldron.
"What? have you never seen an eel? They are good eating-none of that poncy flabby stuff what they eat over there." She waived towards the Tower of London, on the north shore. She stirred the eels with a stick and told Thomas to take off his wet cloak to dry.
"So apart from stealing horses what use are you?" She waited his answer. He saw her gaze fall upon his bow, still wrapped against both the weather and stranger's eyes.
"I am a bowman back from the wars-I am looking for my sister who works at an inn ".
She did not answer but took his wet cloak and hung it on one of many weblike twines that criss crossed the area above the fire.
She stirred the eels,
"Fetch that bowl"
Thomas obeyed.Like it or not, he found her orders comforting.She was like his grandmother of his childhood. He ate the eels readily-and apart from one bone that went like a lance into the roof of his mouth, thought them indeed as wholesome as the old lady preached.Thomas nursed the wound in the roof of his mouth but felt the meal worthy of an explanation,
"I did'nt steal the horse..a man owed me it as debt."
She was'nt convinced of course and Thomas knew it-but she was wise enough to see he had honour and manners from a good upbringing.
"I have ale and dried damsons" she offered, "but I need a favour before you leave ". Thomas saw the ale and agreed.
As Thomas drank ale, she drew the eels out into a series of pots. She asked more of his sister. As Thomas described his life story rather than anything useful about his sister's whereabouts, he realised he had let the ale go to his head-and fearful , felt for his dagger. Of course, the old lady had given him ale to loosen his tongue. As he made himself more alert, she too realised their meeting was over. She took the almost dried cloak off the line and began directions to help him on his way. Thomas was to go to the ferryman and ask for the bear-pit.
The bear- pit was where everyone and everything could be found-at least south of the river.
"Thank you," he said, " but what did you want from me for the?
"How many young men as dashing and handsome as you do you think walk through my door? she giggled like a girl,then coughed and spat,
" What I want a kiss!"
She saw Thomas' horrified expression, then as he puckered to obey her wish, she waived him away and almost laughed herself into a choking fit,
" Hah! Go find your sister- before I have no food or drink left!"
She laughed again until she coughed and spat.
Thomas smiled and thanking her, left with a promise to return with his sister. Thomas followed her directions down to the riverside. The rain had eased to a drizzle now and ahead he saw more activity on the waters. Many lanterns had appeared upon the small craft that plied to the north shore.
He approached two men waiting by a small row boat,
" Can you take me to the bear-pit?"
The larger of the two men nodded silently to the other and he pushed the boat deeper into waters.
The other man looked Thomas up and down before demanding money. The rate was obviously adjusted to the customer's outward signs of wealth. Thomas later found out he had been charged the going fare-which made him feel better but as he soon learned, in London appearance counted for more than it did in the shires. Being a plainly dressed longbowman, especially now war was finished, carried little worth. With fewer coins in his bag, Thomas knew he would have to master new survival skills- and the bear-pit was about to teach him some hard lessons..
