Thomas's borrowed horse had picked up a stone in her foreleg. He was now only a mile from home.
He led her to water in the chalk stream that led into his hamlet and watched her drink, thankful of her service. He could hear small children laugh in the distance and let his eyes close in the sun.
He awoke with the shock of cold water on his face. A boisterous group of children ran screaming as he jumped up, dagger drawn. A calming voice of a young woman brought the children from hiding places as he realised he was in no danger. Thomas squinted and adjusted his shirt and breeches as he saw a vision before him. She was his own age, with large eyes and fine, pale features,
" I 'm Thomas"
" I am Ruth" she said with a blush that she felt -and that Thomas saw.
Thomas gushed too much in his desire to let this vision of beauty know everything about himself. They With the children under her care, they walked homewards with his horse following and in doing, arrived outside Thomas' home more old friends than strangers.
Ruth of Bretagne now greeted Thomas' mother like a daughter ( or future daughter in law) if one could have seen Thomas' thoughts..
The three went inside with the joy of family reunited. From the other side of the clearing, Thomas' uncle chopped logs and wondered at the change in the widowed Matilda- firstly the virtual adoption of the stranger from a foreign land who called herself Ruth, with her tale of noble birth and on a quest- then the prodigal son Thomas himself ,who within the space of a walk now appeared to welcome Ruth like they were brother and sister. The uncle scratched his beard and wondered what was the fate of Thomas' sister Anne in London? He would be sure to find out come evening round the fire..
The Bear Pit Inn started to get rowdy at sundown. Men who worked the river drank like they had crossed the plains of Hades and the inn promised more than drink. Girls and gambling and the chance to buy stolen goods from across the kingdom made the inn infamous.It was truly a den of thieves and brigands at all stages of their career-the older ones, too feeble to commit crimes advised the young men bent to promises of quick riches and everything to satisfy greed and lust. At the top of the pile was one man who many feared and admired-Geraint of Swindon. Thomas' sister gained the respect of many as Geraint's woman-and now she carried his baby this gave her the security and comforts that she had always dreamed of in the hamlet. Thomas was not made to share her existence in London and now he had departed, it was a weight from her mind-along with the guilt of leaving her mother.
Geraint burst through the door with gifts for her- ordered food and drink for all-and kissed her long and lustfully. Anne felt his strength and the feeling of safety she used to feel when her father was alive. But he was dead and so was her eldest brother-Thomas now home from the war was to complete his destiny and care for their mother in the hamlet.
As Anne surveyed the raucous scenes inside the inn as dusk turned to the blanketing comfort of night and revelry to come, life looked good. Anne soon forgot about Thomas' warnings against Geraint, for she was free of the stifling poverty in the hamlet and the smell of pigs and rain leaking onto her bed.
Here with Geraint she had warmth and food and fine clothes-and silver pieces of her own.
Geraint never told Anne where and how his money was earned of course-but it was always tainted with blood and bad deeds that would reap their own reward- and that day was approaching..
Back in the hamlet deep in the Sussex woods, the hearth fire was slowly fading as Thomas bid his uncle and cousins goodnight. It had been a long story to tell-and though sad in the retelling of that day when his father and older brother had fallen in battle, it had been good to honour their names.
Ruth and his mother had cried together. Ruth laid his mother down and wiped her brow.Now in the red glow that made soft shadows on the walls, Ruth appeared and Thomas found his heart pound. Ruth looked at Thomas and asked if there was anything he wished before she retired.
Thomas was dry mouthed and felt almost dizzy.His crotch was betraying his desire for her and he moved awkwardly-Ruth raised her eyebrow and moved one step nearer. They seemed to float nearer and nearer-and then they kissed.. The fire cracked once and fearing intrusion they broke away. The next embrace brought the denied desires from both in a rush of kisses and probing hands and fingertips. The bed straw was deep and they sank into it -drawing in the musty aroma of meadow and sunshine and wild flowers.
Dawn broke with a hundred birdsongs.The sun fingered its way through the sackcloth curtain and played onto Ruth's face. She awoke with Matilda looking down at her naked breasts-and then Thomas' arm about her neck. Matilda was silent and Ruth covered herself with the blanket.
Thomas stirred. Matilda said they needed some meat and fresh pails from the stream. Then she left the two lovers alone. Today would bring much for Thomas. His new love was truly a double edged sword. Ruth of Bretagne had many secrets of which the worst he could never imagine or condone. Ruth of Bretagne did not exist- she was one more lie in the mind of Anais the killer of children -and anyone else who the voices in her head commanded. It would not be long before Ruth vanished and Anais would appear-and death would follow.
