With a hand raised to shield her eyes from the unexpectedly bright sun of the early winter’s morning, Hertha watched as her cousin, Thilwend, approached the doors to the Armoury and, with a court nod and a ‘Fair day to you,’ passed on her way to her office. But another, much smaller figure wasn’t far behind the sergeant. Her lightness of step and cheerful expression caused the Smith to smile a little. She knew Brona had had a narrow escape from freezing to death just a few weeks earlier. It was good to see the girl up and about again.
“Excuse me, Master Hertha,” Brona said cheerfully. “Is Ethel here? I need to have a quick word with her.”
Swiftly lowering the corners of her mouth to her favoured look of professional scrutiny, Hertha shook her head.
“Ethel won’t be here for a while yet. She always helps out Ymma in the shop first, this day of the week. You could go and find her there, or leave a message with me, if it’s not too long.”
Brona ran a hand through her loose light brown hair, and thought a moment. Her face has a good colour to it, Hertha noted. She almost had her usual rosy cheeks back.
“I will go down to the store. Thank you Master Hertha. Oh…. and thank you for helping out when I was unwell. I haven’t had a chance to say that to you before.”
That did it. Heartha’s best small smile was back on her face. The girl has good manners, she thought. “You’re welcome. I would have done such for any folk in Bancross. Try not to fall on cold floors again, eh!”
That should have been the end of the short exchange, but as Hertha turned back to the Armoury doors herself, Brona continued.
“It’s just that mama could do with some extra help, if Ethel has time tomorrow. We are having a Mutton and Mead evening for the village. Mama seems to have got it in her head that everyone loves her Mutton Stew and Mutton on bread. It is tasty, but you know...”
The Smith cocked a brow. Brona was pleasant enough, but she didn’t need all the details.
“...and Ethel is such a good cook! “
“Ethel is also a very promising smith. It is her free day tomorrow, but you need to speak with her personally, not tell me.”
Brona’s mouth twitched slightly, but she still hadn’t quite finished. Her eyes widened just a little.
“I also saw a group of men, six of them, ride in as I was nearing the gate. The guards let them pass, so I suppose they are alright. They all looked quite… well..rougher sorts to me. I mean rougher than the ones who come to Papa’s ehh club. Should I report it to Captain Denholm?”
Pausing, with one hand on the edge of the door, Hertha shook her head.
“I am sure he knows already, Brona. But I will tell Sergeant Thilwend of your concern. She is in her office. Now I must be about my own tasks. I will bid you a good day.”
“Mama is hoping some musicians may come to the Dragon tomorrow. We used to have really nice evenings there when I was young, with tales and poems and… oh...”
Hertha’s stern gaze encouraged the girl to halt. With a small curtsey, Brona turned away, and ran across the fields, past the guards and barricades, on her way to Northgyth's house.
And with a sigh about young folk, Hertha headed to her forge. She would mention Brona’s observation to her cousin when both were free. That, and the fact she had caught that rogue, Criba, down near Waelden’s house again.
