“I have to ask, on behalf of another. Do you serve roast meat here?” I sipped at my ale. It was good.
Hild ran a hand over her face in a gesture of frustration. “We should do! My cook is unwell today, so I only have the meat and cheese platters you see. If you want something more I can have my daughter make a platter up for you? Cold food only though.”
Waelden suddenly looked more hungry. “Well that will do me. A cheese and meat platter. Yllfa?”
“Just some bread and meat for me.” I whispered ‘I thought you were full from dinner,” to him. He winked.
But Hild had said something else of interest. “You have a daughter?” I asked, mindful that Ethel had not yet found anyone near her own age to associate with.
“Aye, Brona. She is my only child.”
I tilted my head and nodded to Waelden.
Waelden was listening, though he continued drinking his ale, and leant against the bar in his ‘ settling down to let the women talk while I relax’ manner. But now he had to comment.
“Mm...how old is she? I have a daughter, almost a young woman now.”
“She is a good girl, my Brona.” Hild was a touch lost in thought a moment. “She helps in the kitchen when Seldis, the cook, is away, and she looks after the chickens and cows. She is fine with a needle too….oh...she is fourteen now. We will soon be thinking of finding her a husband most likely.”
I drew a deep breath at her last words. But I, ...we could not tell others how to live their lives.
“Our Ethel is thirteen,” I corrected Waelden.
“Aye, she is.” Waelden made a small smile, and nodded towards me, taking another sip of his ale. “I am sure she will be glad to find more folk near her age here.”
“Are there many younger folk in the village?” I picked up on Hild’s open conversation, while watching her talk to someone (Likely Brona) about our food, through a small hatch in the wall.
“Not many,” Hild returned to the bar, again sweeping a tendril of reddish blonde hair from her face. “There a couple of lads that dwell at the top of the hill. A new one came in yesterday, visiting family it’s said.
Walden nodded in understanding, though I could almost hear him thinking of ‘Lots of young lads, aye, but none a match for my Ethel’. I smiled knowingly at him.
Not busy, nor in a rush to end the conversation, Hild moved on to cleaning the top of the bar.
“It’s all good for my girl then. She can probably find new friends here.”
‘Our girl, I thought again, my fingers moving to the thin silver bracelet about my wrist. Ethel had given me that because she wore an identical one. ‘They were meant for a mother and daughter’ she had told me. But old habits and thoughts take time to change. Waelden would likely always refer to Ethel as his girl.
“We are not exactly overrun with young folk,” Hild continued. “ Many of the boys leave for Edoras or Aldburg by the time they are fifteen. Some of the girls follow, looking to find work in service, and a husband. But there are some here. I can ask Brona to go speak with your Ethel soon, if you like?”
“Aye, I know well how it is,” Waelden mused.”Young men find no path to glory in their birth towns.”
At that moment the second of the pipe-smokers in the corner called over “You should come here earlier in the day. Hild does a rare roast dinner. Meat just falls off the bone. Lots of vegetables too, for those who like them, and a sauce...mead and meat. Aye.”
“Mutton and mead,” chimed in the first man. That with a thick piece of bread to mop up the juices. You haven’t lived till you have tried that.”
I turned to bob my head to the men in the corner.
Waelden replied to Hild: “If your daughter would like that, then of course. But don’t pressure her in any way. My Ethel is a curious sort, and wouldn’t mind a guide around the area, but only if your Brona wants to.” He then turned and lifted his mug to the two guards.
Hild chuckled, waving a hand to the men. “Two of my regulars. They wouldn’t know a good meal if it wasn’t for me and Saldis. But I will speak with Brona tonight.”
Both guards raised their mugs in turn, then went back to their pipes and conversation.
“That’s fine. We are not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.” Waelden added.
I moved to stand nearer to Waelden, leaving my mug on the bar and wrapping an arm round his. Maybe this village would work out for us? Maybe the folk here were mostly a friendly sort who welcomed outsiders once they got to know them?
“You are settling here then? Hild asked directly.
