The Physician's Tale by Ann Benson

Author:Ann Benson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2006-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

My dearest love,

You are gone now three weeks.

Guillaume has become quite melancholy in the last day or so; I think he has taken on my mood, for I miss you with all my heart. I have spoken with him, hoping to discover the cause of his distress, but he will not confide in me. I will watch him carefully to see that he does not sink too deeply into the pain of your absence.

But now I will speak of joy, not melancholy. I expected my menses several days ago; they have not come.

Chaucer found the clearing with far more ease than Alejandro had the day before. With no knowledge of what lay beneath the soil, he rode hard across the meadow and straight toward the oaken gate.

Witchcraft, indeed, he thought as he approached the passage between the oaks. He slowed his horse but did not stop him completely. No sooner had they plunged through the passageway than the horse reared up, nearly throwing him. When his hooves hit the ground again, the animal pranced about wildly.

“Whoa,” Chaucer said as he pulled in the reins. “Steady!”

But as soon as this command left his lips, he began to feel as if all his normal senses had taken leave of him. The horse’s legs seemed to drift to the ground, ever so slowly, and made no sound when they touched. He got down off the horse and stood on the path with the reins in his hands, though he could not say why he felt compelled to do so at a time when moments were precious. He stared at his forest surroundings as if he were in a daze. Somehow he found the will to move forward, though his steps were slow and measured, and as he progressed through the underbrush, pulling the horse behind him, he glanced from side to side, expecting to see a gremlin or a fairy. Even in the thin and rarefied air, he began to sweat. With each step, his wonder increased, until he finally stopped and stood still.

He had no notion of time having passed until—out of the corner of one eye—he saw a movement. He turned his head in the perceived direction and saw to his great surprise a figure that appeared to be a woman. She approached him with steps so light that he thought she must be floating. The folds of her gossamer gown lifted and fell in the light forest breeze. She was young and quite lovely, with deep-red hair and fine, pale skin.

She stopped a few paces away. When she spoke, her voice was soft and refined; wisps of her remarkable hair blew playfully around her face. “He is within,” she said. She waved with her hand in the direction of the cottage.

“The physician?”

She did not answer his question but said only, “Tell him that he must take care of himself.”

And with that, the woman began to drift backward. After a few seconds, she began to fade, and then she was gone.

Chaucer stood, entranced, in the same spot for some time, though he would not be able to say just how long.

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