The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Author:Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

They spread the hides out upon the floor, and Maren fetches a knife to score them at the right points. She must reach about Ursa with string to measure her, and even this makes her flush. She slices the hides into various shapes, and as Ursa watches her, Maren can feel she wants to say something.

‘Is the Wednesday meet a regular occurrence?’

Maren stops slicing, rests on her heels.

‘The Wednesday meet Kirsten spoke of,’ says Ursa. Maren can barely recall any of Kirsten’s visit. It feels a great distance away. ‘Is it just the two of you?’

‘No. Many of us meet, in Fru Olufsdatter’s house.’

‘She is our neighbour, yes? I perhaps could come. I should like to meet some people outside of kirke.’

Maren flinches.

‘I won’t mention any of this to them if you do not wish it. I could pretend not to know you at all.’

Maren knows she says it in jest, but still she is too slow to hide the hurt in her face. ‘You may do as you like.’

Ursa rises and goes to her cherrywood chest.

‘Aniseed?’ Ursa tips two smallish seeds onto her palm, holds it out to her. ‘You place them on your tongue. They taste strange, but good.’ She takes one and puts it in her mouth, sticks her tongue out to show it. ‘If you do not like it,’ says Ursa, covering her mouth, words slightly stilted by the aniseed, ‘you can leave it.’

Maren takes it from Ursa’s hand, closes her lips around it.

‘It is good, yes?’

‘I have never tasted anything like it. From Bergen?’

‘Asia. Captain Leifsson, who ran the ship that brought me. He gave me some.’

They set to work again, Maren bringing the sleeve pieces together to the table for them to stitch, one each. She makes holes with a pointed bore, shows Ursa the cross-stitch she must use to make them strong.

‘I hope you do not mind me asking about the Wednesday meet,’ says Ursa. ‘I should understand if I were not welcome. It is only that I have so enjoyed this day together, and I should like to meet some others, if they are all as kind as you.’

How can Maren explain the knot in her chest at the thought of Ursa becoming friends with others? It is childish to feel jealousy over such a new friendship. And there is the complication of having the commissioner’s wife in such an informal atmosphere. She trusts that Ursa will not tell anyone about Kirsten’s trousers, but what else will she hear?

‘I understand I am a stranger here,’ prompts Ursa, ‘but I should dearly like not to be.’

‘Come, of course.’

‘Will you fetch me? I should not like to arrive unannounced the first time.’

Maren can do nothing but nod.

‘Good,’ smiles Ursa. ‘It’s settled.’ She turns her attention back to her work. ‘Now, where have I gone wrong here?’

The answer is immediately, and Maren helps Ursa unpick her work, shows her more slowly so she can follow along. The fire burns down twice before they are done.

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