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“It’s nearly
sunset,” Simon, one of William’s fellow stable boys, stated.
William ignored the boy and kept
forking hay out of the loft so Simon could feed it to the animals. He was in no
mood to be reminded of the time of day. If Alditha wasn’t here in the next hour
or two, he would die before the stars were fully out. He had trusted Alditha;
he had been so sure that she would come back, that she wouldn’t lie. He was
sure that she wouldn’t stay with her family when it was time to come back to
save his life, no matter how much she wanted to stay. Perhaps he had been
wrong.
“Wasn’t she supposed to be here
yesterday?” Simon seemed not to understand how grave the situation was.
“Simon! Just feed the horses and
don’t speak again!” William was in no mood to talk, either. Yes, Alditha should
have been back yesterday. Why had he been so stupid? His sister would now be
without anyone to protect her, and for what? So Alditha could go back and live
with her mother for her last few days on earth? It didn’t seem like a fair trade
to him.
Why,
God? Why did You let this happen? Why didn’t You bring her back in time?
As he prayed, the words the family
priest had often quoted came back to him: Do
not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will
strengthen and help you.
“William? William, are you here?”
Bane’s voice penetrated his thoughts.
“Coming, sir.” William tossed the
pitchfork aside, wondering if he would ever pick it up again.
“Perhaps they will only put you in
the dungeon,” Simon said optimistically.
William chose to ignore Simon as he
leaped down from the loft to the earthen stable floor.
“Come, William, I haven’t got all
day.” Bane seemed almost bored, ready to be over with this everyday occurrence
and on to more interesting pursuits.
William walked out of the stable
and turned to face the steward and the two soldiers he had brought with them.
He squared his shoulders, preparing himself to die like a man, as his father
had done, knowing that God would be with him.
