The Bayeux Embroidery (The Chronicles of Brother Hermitage Book 13) by of Warwick Howard

Author:of Warwick, Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Funny Book Company
Published: 2019-02-14T13:00:00+00:00

Caput XIV

A Dressing of Nuns and Monks

‘A band of wandering nuns and monks?’ Wat asked, incredulously. ‘Where on earth are these people going to find sixty nun and monk habits in the middle of an island? It’s all very well saying we’ll go in disguise, but you have to think about the practicalities.’

Cwen looked at him askance. ‘Is that really our main worry at the moment? Where the murderous band of mad people is going to get its clothes?’

‘The monk’s habit is simple garb,’ Hermitage put in. ‘It’s hardly a tailored garment. Just a simple piece of rough cloth cut to shape.’

‘There you are.’ Wat was triumphant. ‘Cut sixty habits before high tide? I don’t think so.’

‘Maybe it won’t be a very good disguise,’ Cwen said fiercely. ‘Can we perhaps discuss getting ourselves untied and escaping from the island, instead of what the modern assassin is wearing these days?’

‘Please yourself. I’m only saying that I don’t think they’re going to get far. If they don’t actually look like monks and nuns, Odo is hardly likely to welcome them with open arms, is he?’

Hermitage had to admit that was a good point.

‘Even if they take their uniforms off, they still don’t look much like monks or nuns. And if they’re all carrying weapons, I think even a Norman will get suspicious.’

‘Hm.’ Cwen grunted her disappointment that Wat might be sensible after all.

‘You know what the Normans are like with large gatherings. They like to make them smaller by any means possible. The first encounter with a Norman or two will see the whole plan collapse, mark my words. They’ll be running back here as fast as the mud will let them.’

With his argument made, Wat leaned back with a rather satisfied air.

He was disturbed by thin Osred, who entered the hut and considered them all. ‘Ah,’ he said, peering down his nose at Hermitage. ‘Would you come with me please, Brother?’

‘He’s a bit tied up at the moment,’ Cwen said with an angry snort.

Osred considered her as if she were a talking cat; remarkable and unexpected, but with nothing to contribute to any conversation. He went over to Hermitage and helped him to his feet, loosening the rope at his ankles so he could walk.

‘Erm,’ Hermitage didn’t like to ask why he was being singled out. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t like the answer. ‘Where are we going?’

‘We just need to get you some new clothes,’ Osred said, which was not at all what Hermitage had been expecting. Perhaps it got cold on the island at night and they wanted to make sure he was all right. ‘We need to borrow your habit, for our monk, you see?’

‘Borrow my what?’

‘Habit,’ Osred repeated disdainfully, as they walked through the door. ‘Osgifu has her nun’s habit and we have yours. We tend not to keep a stock of monks’ habits on the islands. The rest of our band will wear their work clothes and be postulants on their way to their monasteries and abbeys.

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