Alinor Read Free Page A

"Torturer."
    "You will feel much better when I am done," Alinor remarked without the slightest sympathy. "Now, what other news is there?"
    "None I care to tell—oh, yes, one thing. There is a rumor that the queen is at last with child."
    "Poor thing," Alinor commented. "With such a father and mother, I wonder what it will be."
    Ian laughed. "Do you expect horns and a tail? Do not be so harsh. There is good blood on both sides. The child need not be exactly like to the parents, although God knows yours are like enough. And now I think on it, there was something I wanted to ask about. Did you forbid Beorn to teach Adam English?"
    "Forbid it? No."
    "Did Simon?"
    It was the first time Ian had said his name. It had slipped out quite naturally, but he tensed, fearing Alinor's reaction. There was none.
    "I cannot imagine why he should. Why do you ask?"
    "Because I think—ouch! Alinor, leave me what little skin I have. Give over a minute. Let me rest." He turned to the side so he could see her. "I think Adam wishes to learn, and it is no bad thing to understand what those beneath you say."
    "Of course not. It is most necessary. I understand English myself, although I cannot speak it. Thank you for telling me. I will speak to Beorn. Sometimes he is overcareful."
    "There is something else. Beorn is a good man, but—" Ian's voice checked as the sound of childish laughter came in the doorway.
    "Oh, you are here, are you?" Alinor called. "Come in then. You might as well be of some use. Ian, lie flat again. Adam, hold this pot so I do not need to bend for it each time. Joanna, look you here. See how I clean this. It is not proudflesh, which must be cut away, as I showed you aforetime. When the wound is of the skin, rather than of the flesh, wide and not deep, it must close all at once rather than from the inside. It is needful to be most gentle or the new, tender growth will be torn. See, here, where the shield strap rubbed? There is no mending this. It will heal hard and shiny—and belike tear again."
    "Were you wounded in the siege?" Adam asked excitedly. "Tell, Ian. You promised to tell."
    "Mother, look here. What is this?" Joanna asked.
    "Pox take it! That is an old scar torn open. That will need to be cleaned deeper."
    "Ian, you promised," Adam insisted louder.
    "Yes, in a moment," Ian gasped, stiffening as Alinor directed Joanna to spread the lips of a pus-filled sore so she could clean it thoroughly.
    "Adam, be still!" Alinor snapped.
    "But Mother— Oh, Mother, may we sit at the high table for dinner? May we?" the irrepressible Adam demanded, jiggling up and down.
    "May we, Mother?" Joanna echoed, unwisely looking up from her task so that a finger slipped and Ian jerked and groaned.
    "Joanna, you careless girl! Adam, stand still! Sooner than reward you both, I will send you dinnerless to bed."
    "Alinor," Ian said sharply, "do not punish them the first day I am here. They are excited. If you will be quiet, Adam, I will tell you at dinner."
    "I am sorry, Ian," Joanna whispered.
    "Never mind, love," he soothed, "it is nothing. Just do as your mother tells you. Do not be frightened. I will not die for a prick."
    "One more sound from either of you and all Ian's pleading on your behalf will be naught. If I must speak to either of you again, I will make good my first threat and add a whipping to your dinnerless state," Alinor warned.
    With her helpers properly subdued, Alinor finished her work quickly. Over the medicinal creams she spread a thin layer of grease to prevent the bandages from sticking to the sores, told Adam to pack the pots carefully and take them away, and instructed Joanna in wrapping Ian firmly but not tightly in soft, old linen. Then she sent the girl away also. Ian started to get out of the bed.
    "For Mary's sake," Alinor exclaimed irritably, "lie down and sleep until dinner. If you show your face, those little devils will be at you."
    "I do not mind," Ian said pacifically, then smiled. "It pleases me that they love