The Angry Boy Chapter 13
In the summer of Bredin's eleventh year, just after Count Wyeth and his regiment had gone south once again to fight against the Tedrels, Bredin found himself before a Herald.
Countess Lora had come to Bransat to escape the heat and was staying in the manor with her children. Kensie had fumed about not being allowed to go south with his father, but Count Wyeth had refused to permit his son to go. Next year, if the war lasted that long, Kensie would join his father.
One morning Lady Lora came into the town with her maidservant, Sylvie Owen, in the custody of two of her bodyguards. Lady Lora claimed that Sylvie had stolen a small purse containing money and several valuable rings.
As evidence that Sylvie had stolen the purse, Lady Lora pointed to a new lace bodice that Sylvie wore, saying it was far too valuable for Sylvie to have bought from her savings. In addition, a search of the maidservant's room had turned up a pouch with coins amounting to several crowns.
Sylvie maintained that she had made the bodice herself and that the money was what she had saved over her years working for Lady Lora and gifts that the family had given her for her help.
Magistrate Gustav Rains questioned Sylvie as to the nature of the 'help' she had given to members of the family, Sylvie flushed and became evasive, speaking vaguely of minor items she had done. Kensie looked worried when the magistrate asked the questions.
When Magistrate Rains ruled that the preponderance of evidence was on Lady Lora's side, Sylvie said she wanted to appeal the matter to a Herald. Sylvie declared she would prove her innocence under the truth spell. The judge placed Sylvie in the town gaol in the meantime.
Fortunately for Sylvie, even with so many Heralds drawn to the South to fight against the Tedrels, they still passed through Bransat almost daily. A Herald Courier arrived in town just before noon that day. No sooner had Herald Tobias Abdiel alighted for luncheon than he was accosted by Gustav Rains.
After losing his left arm at the battle of Redruth, he had been sent back to Haven to recuperate. In his early thirties and still very fit, Tobias had spent a frustrating winter recovering his strength in Haven. Weaponsmaster-second Alberich had given him special instruction on fighting with only one arm, which Tobias practiced with dedicated ferocity. Once he had healed, Tobias was assigned as a Herald Courier and sometime circuit rider on the circuits closer to Haven, where he would be less likely to have to fight.
To the misfortune of several bandits who had thought the withdrawal of most of the guards and Heralds to the war in the South would make it easier to commit crimes, Herald Tobias proved as deadly with one arm as most soldiers with two.
Despite his bone weariness – Tobias had been riding since a candlemark before dawn – the Herald listened to the Magistrate carefully as Gustav told him of the accusation against Sylvie.
"Very well, Magistrate, bring the girl to me along with her accuser, I will hear her appeal under the truth spell. Be quick though, I must be back in Haven tonight." Tobias knew that King Sendar would probably have another urgent dispatch in the morning. "I can spare you a candlemark to hear this. Go and bring the accused and accuser to me at the inn. I will have luncheon while you gather everyone."
As Magistrate Rains hurried off, Tobias turned to his Companion, Irian, and loosened her girth. The stableman of the inn was already bringing her water, hay and grain.
::You don't have to do this, Chosen.:: Irian said in his mind. ::This is not your circuit.::
::Yes, I do love.:: Tobias answered the same way. ::The girl could languish in gaol for months before the next circuit Herald came through. She deserves quick justice.:: With so many Heralds pulled away to fight the Tedrels, those left behind were stretched thin. Tobias and others like him had to fill in whenever needed.
::You already think she is innocent.:: Irian said. ::I didn't know you had the gift of Judging the Unseen.:: She teased her Chosen.
Tobias smiled and patted Irian's neck. ::No, beloved, I don't. But Magistrate Rains convicted that girl on rather flimsy evidence.::
::I noticed that.:: Irian put in.
::I don't want to accuse the man of pandering to his patron, but he is a County Magistrate, not a King's Magistrate. He may have been loath to anger the wife of the man who appointed him.:: Tobias finished.
::Ah, yes. I agree. Meanwhile, you sit and enjoy your meal. You need some rest. Maybe you can have a leave day tomorrow.:: She plunged her nose into the grain bucket and began to eat.
::I wish, love. But you know that there is always another urgent dispatch. How long since we have had a leave day?::
::Do the three days when we were stuck in Gillhold by that blizzard count? Before that, we had two days' rest last Sovran.:: Irian sounded as weary as her Chosen.
::Gods, I wish this war would end.:: Tobias sighed heavily.
::Don't we all love. Don't we all.::
The innkeeper appeared with Tobias' luncheon and the Herald sat down to eat.
By the time Tobias had finished his meal, Magistrate Rains had returned with Sylvie. Countess Lora, visibly annoyed by the summons, arrived as Tobias got up from the table. Bredin, drawn by the presence of a Companion, was among the crowd of onlookers.
Tobias quickly summarized the case as he knew it. All agreed that Tobias' summary of the case as presented was correct in the essentials. Sylvie protested her innocence once more and appealed for the Herald to examine her under the truth spell.
Tobias glanced at Lady Lora, whose anger had cooled since the morning. "If I have been over-hasty in my accusation," the Countess said, "I would be glad to know the truth."
Tobias nodded and told Sylvie to stand in front of him. He closed his eyes briefly. A blue glow appeared around Sylvie. There was a soft gasp from the crowd.
"Sylvie Owen, did you steal Countess Lora Poldara's purse?" Tobias asked.
"No." Sylvie replied. The blue glow remained steady.
Countess Lora blushed and opened her mouth to speak. Tobias waved her to silence.
From his own field experience, Tobias knew that a single answer to a simple question could be deceptive. He went on. "Did you move it someplace since the Countess last had it?"
"The last time I saw it is when Milady was in the milliner's the day before last. I haven't touched it since then." Sylvie said. The blue glow remained steady.
Lady Lora nodded thoughtfully, recalling the visit to the milliner's herself.
"Did you help anyone steal the purse?" Tobias was determined to remove all doubts.
"No."
"Do you have any idea who might have stolen the purse?"
"No."
"Did you make your lace bodice yourself?"
"Yes."
"Was the money found in your chest your own money?"
"Yes."
Tobias noted the expression of alarm on Kensie's face as he asked this question. He decided not to ask Sylvie exactly what favors she had done to earn it. Instead, he asked "Was the money your own savings from your work and from rewards given to you freely for services done?"
"Yes." Sylvie said. Tobias noted that both Sylvie and Kensie were becoming more anxious. He left the matter there.
The truth spell glow around Sylvie had not wavered throughout Tobias' questioning, Releasing it, he announced "I find Sylvie Owen innocent of stealing Lady Lora's purse. She is free."
Lady Lora closed her eyes briefly, then stepped forward. She looked at Sylvie. "Child, I have wronged you and I am truly sorry. Will you forgive me?"
Sylvie blinked back tears. "Yes, Milady." She said.
"If you are willing, I can offer you back your position as my maidservant. Will you come back?"
Sylvie curtsied. "Oh yes, Milady!"
To everyone's surprise. Lady Lora embraced Sylvie. "Thank you, my dear. I should not have been so quick to accuse." She looked at Tobias. "Thank you as well, Herald Tobias."
Tobias smiled back. "I am glad to have been of service. I hope you find your purse soon."
The Countess sighed. "As do I. My betrothal ring was in the purse. It has been passed to the wife of each Count Poldara for two hundred years. Its value goes far beyond the gems. I am most anxious to find it."
"I think I know where it is." A voice piped up from the midst of the crowd.
"Who said that?" Herald Tobias demanded.
Hesitantly, Bredin stepped forward. "I did, Herald." Bredin was already cursing himself for speaking. What had made him say that? He'd just had a sudden vision of the purse where it was hidden and, somehow, he had had to blurt it out.
Before Tobias could say anything, Kensie snarled at Bredin. "Stinking peasant, how dare you interfere with your betters? How could you possibly know where the purse is?"
Standing before the Countess and the Herald. Bredin stammered out. "I – I don't understand. But – but I think I kn-know where it is."
"Did you steal it, peasant?" Kensie sneered.
"N-no." Bredin said.
"Then…" Kensie began. His mother placed a hand on her son's arm, silencing him.
"Peace, my son. Let us hear." She nodded to Herald Tobias.
::Chosen, don't dismiss the boy.:: Irian said. ::There is more going on here than meets the eye.::
Startled, Tobias glanced quickly at his Companion before turning back to Bredin. "What is your name, lad?" Tobias asked gently.
"Bredin Kase, Milord Herald."
Tobias quirked a smile at the 'milord' before asking. "You say you did not take it, Bredin. How do you know where it is?"
"I just know, milord Herald. I just saw where it was when Countess Poldara spoke about the ring." Bredin said
"Where is it, then, Bredin?" Tobias asked.
"It is in a big white bed with curtains all around. It is between the mattress and the board at the top of the bed." Bredin tried to describe what he had seen.
"A big white bed…" Kensie began scornfully. Herald Tobias held up a hand to silence him. Countess Lora looked thoughtful.
"You mean the headboard?" Tobias asked.
"Is that what it's called? Yes, between the mattress and the headboard." Bredin said.
The Countess interrupted gently. "Bredin, can you describe the bed?" Kensie fumed visibly while Bredin was questioned.
"The cover is white, with a picture of a jumping red deer surrounded by a bunch of leaves in a circle. The bed has four posts around it holding up a roof and there is another picture of a red deer on that. There are curtains around the bed. They are red with silver things along the edge." Bredin said. He wrung his hands nervously while he spoke.
"I see." Lady Lora said. She turned back to Herald Tobias. "Herald, the boy has just described my own bed, including the leaping hart of Poldara on the coverlet and canopy. Now that I think about it, the last time I saw the purse is when I came back from the milliner's. I sat on the bed and put it down beside me."
Tobias turned back to Bredin. "Have you ever been in the Countess' bedroom, Bredin?"
Tobias winced at his own phrasing. Several in the crowd snickered. Irian snorted and laughed in her Chosen's mind.
"No, Milord Herald. I've never been in the house at all." Bredin said, oblivious to the double meaning of Tobias' question.
Tobias sighed. "Well, I guess we should check what young Bredin says. Would someone please go and see if the purse is where he says it is?"
Countess Lora looked at her son. "Kensie, would you please go? No one will question you entering my suite."
Kensie turned to go. Before he could leave, his mother said. "And Kensie…" He turned back to his mother. "…finding the ring is more important than your annoyance." She flicked her eyes significantly at Bredin.
Kensie flushed and nodded. He mounted his palfrey – his stallion was too fractious to be brought into the village and left to stand – and raced back to the manor.
While they waited, Tobias looked at Bredin. "Have you ever 'seen' where lost things are before, Bredin?" He kept his voice as casual as possible.
"No, Milord Herald. I don't think so." Bredin said.
Tobias smiled. While reminding Bredin that he was just 'Herald Tobias', he sent a query to Irian.
::Possible. I can't say for sure. Taver could tell. Felara and Jaracin thought he had potential.:: Irian said.
::He's been noted before?:: Tobias asked.
::Twice. But neither Felara nor Jaracin saw anything that looked like a Gift.::
::What do you think of his 'finding' the purse?:: Tobias asked.
::Let's see if his finding proves true, first. I think it will. It has the right feel to it.:: Irian said.
While they waited for Kensie to return, Tobias questioned Bredin about his family and his life as an amicus in the temple. The Herald kept his misgivings about Enro's treatment of the boy to himself, though he decided to make a note for Heralds visiting Bransat in the future to keep an eye on him.
Kensie returned in half a candlemark. The crowd cheered as he presented his mother with her purse.
Lady Lora smiled as she held up the ring. She presented Bredin with a crown as a reward for his help. Bredin's eyes went wide at the golden coin. He bowed low and thanked her with a stammer while Kensie glowered from the side.
Lady Lora also gave Sylvie two crowns as a token of remorse for her accusation against the maidservant. The girl was nearly as flustered as Bredin.
The matter concluded, the crowd began to move away. A few moved towards Bredin to congratulate him. It occurred to Tobias that Bredin's finding might bring trouble on the boy. He waved his hands and called for the crowd's attention once more.
The crowd fell silent. As carefully as he could, Tobias explained that a gift for 'finding' was very chancy and might happen only once. While Bredin looked uncomfortable to be the center of attention, Tobias tried to emphasize that 'pushing' Bredin to find something could cause the gift to disappear. "Let young Bredin come to you. Do not" – Tobias almost shouted the two words – "go to Bredin to demand he find what you should find yourself." Tobias knew enough of people to realize that Bredin would still be bothered, he hoped that his warning would keep some away.
Done, he called Bredin over once more along with the Reeve Dane and Magistrate Rains. In the presence of the two officials, Tobias told Bredin that, if he ever again had a vision of where some missing thing or person was, he should come to one of the two men, but only if he was very certain about what he felt. Bredin nodded and Tobias sent him off home.
Turning to the two men, he told them to note anything that the boy 'found' as well as not to blame the boy if his vision proved false, emphasizing that, if the boy did have a gift, it would be very chancy. It was important to encourage the boy to try and not blame him for failures. He also charged the two men to do their best to see that the boy was not pestered by people seeking his help. They must not let the gift become a curse.
Tobias was almost done. Lady Lora came forward to thank him once more. Noting a healer at the Countess' side, Tobias ostentatiously rubbed the stump of his left arm and mentioned the pains it caused. He begged a moment of the healer's time.
Drawing the healer aside, Tobias said. "Excuse the misdirection Healer …" He paused and looked at her inquiringly.
"Mavis Tyrall." The Healer supplied.
"…Tyrall." Tobias went on. "I noted some hesitation on Sylvie's part when I asked her how she had earned her rewards. The boy, Kensie, also seemed a little anxious while I was questioning her. I think it might be wise if Sylvie knew how not to become a mother, if you catch my drift." Tobias arched his brows as he said it.
The Healer grinned and laughed. Her eyes looked mischievous in her wrinkled face as she answered. "I wasn't born yesterday, young man. I was watching for that from the moment I saw the boy start looking at women. I made sure the girl knew how to see that there were no Fitz-Poldaras coming out."
Tobias grinned back at the Healer and thanked her.
Two candlemarks past noon, Tobias and Irian were off back to Haven. Tobias thought he could make it before Mero closed the kitchen. If not, he could raid the pantry.
::Taver says you can have leave until after Rest Day. Sendar's direct order.:: Irian told her Chosen.
Four day's leave! The thought of resting in his own bed for five nights was balm to Tobias spirit.
::I don't want to ask how you arranged it, love, but thank you.:: Tobias leaned forward and kissed the silky neck as Irian galloped on.