Disclaimer: This is not the final version as it will be available from the usual e-book sellers and eventually, bookstores. Rather, it should be seen as an (almost) final draft. If you are interested in becoming a beta reader, or you have any comments, suggestions or thoughts that you feel I should consider before publishing please drop me a line using the contact form.
The Bull of Thetwick
The sword had made her even more curious about her heritage. Even though it was dead in the middle of winter, Ala went to see ‘The Bull’s’ descendants at their farm. She waited for a break in the weather and took one of the young destriers for an exercise ride. The horse breeder where she went to get the horse was a little surprised but seemed to be confident in her abilities as a rider that his valuable horse would be fine. It was still deathly cold, with snow on the ground, but the skies were only partly cloudy and the sun was out.
The people of Thetwick referred to the farm she intended to visit as The Bullstead. Ala was certain it must be because of the family’s famous scion. It was a very large farm building by Thetwick’s standards. It was of the customary design, a single building occupied by the family at one end and the livestock at the other. The building was a rectangle of low stone walls covered by a great thatched and hipped roof. Considering that it had to be at least a century old, the stone walls attested to the Bull’s standing and wealth when it was built. Even the enclosure surrounding the building was a low, well built stone wall. Almost nothing had been built out of stone a hundred years ago, though the ruins she liked to visit in the woods were far older and had once been keep made of stone too.
As she approached, she saw smoke billowing from the hole in the roof. The mistress of the house was outside, a middle aged woman and wearing a simple though think kirtle over her chemise, with a hide cloak with a fur lined hood and a linen headscarf. Her breath causing white clouds to form as she fed chickens. Ala knew her by face, she came into town sometimes on market days to trade. The woman came to see what Ala wanted as she slid off the big horse’s bare back.
“Well met there, girl. Hell of a weather to be out ridin’ in. Yer from the town, ain’t ya? I think I seen ya ridin’ around on them big horses.”
“Well met, mistress. I live in town, I do the Captain’s housekeeping.”
“Right, right. You’re that half-elf, aren’t ya?”
She said it as if it were a mysterious profession, like a priest of a dubious god.
“Yes mistress, that’s right… they call me Ala…”
“So whaddya want with us?”
“I was wondering whether I might ask you a question, mistress, about one of your ancestors? William the Bull?”
The woman eyed Ala, apparently trying to decide whether she ought to be suspicious. After a moment her look softened a little.
“The Bull? He was me husband’s great granda. He’s long, long dead girl. Way back when… must be nigh on a century now. Was a good man though, I’ve heard. Proud man and a good fighter. The Duke’s man through and through.”
“Mistress, they say that he was with the patrol who found me and brought me to the village when I was small. When I came to Thetwick… you know. Do you know anything about that? Maybe stories that you’ve told your children?”
“Really.. you’ve been here that long?” She looked shocked. “But… you’re just a child…”
“Half elves age more slowly than humans, mistress.”
“That’s unnatural!”
Ala quickly tried to calm the woman down,
“It’s not, mistress, truly, I’m a half elf… we live… and grow a lot slower than humans… it’s nothing special… just takes longer.”
The woman appeared to consider this, her scowl softening again before she continued.
“I dunno, girl. I guess I’ll take yer word fer it. Ya seem normal enough.”
“Do you know anything else at all about William the Bull? I’m trying to find out where I came from.”
The woman clearly considered for a moment whether to continue the conversation.
“I s’pose there’s no harm in talkin’ to ya. It’s possible I guess that he was the one who found you then, if ya grow so slow. I know he rode with the Duke’s army. Famous soldier in the Regiment. That’s also how he died… servin’ the Duke. Guess that sort of explains how you wound up in Thetwick, I s’pose?”
“The lady who adopted me, Palady. She was married to William’s half brother, Jack.”
“It’s an awful long time ago lass, I really know nothin’ of the Bull’s family.”
“Palady said I may have been found somewhere near Seraphim keep?”
“Never been there. Don’t know it.”
“Please mistress, if there’s anything else you know… I’m… I’m trying to find out if I might have any family, or anything at all about myself… I know nothing of my heritage.”
“T’ is the first I’ve heard of it, lass. Suppose I understand wantin’ to know where ya hail from, but sorry, lass, don’t know anythin’ that might help ya.” She turned to her husband, who had come to see what was going on, “what about you, da? Know anythin’ about the Bull that might help her?”
Her husband was a thickset man with a bushy brown beard. He looked like he might be in his mid forties. He’d been silently listening in, he just shook his head and made a sound that might have been a grunt.
Ala tried not to let her disappointment show too much.
“Thank you, ma’am, master. Sorry to have bothered you.”
“Take care girl, hope ya find what yer lookin’ fer, not knowin’ who my kin were wouldn’t sit well with me either,” the woman said. “Though maybe wait for better weather ‘fore ya go ridin’ again.”
The man just grunted again as he nodded his head.
Ala hadn’t really believed William the Bull’s descendants would know anything, but she was still disappointed. Somewhere she had had a hope that the whole story would come gushing out. No one knew anything at all, it seemed. Her only hope was the magnificent sword. She would have to travel, one day, she decided. Surely there were elves or half-elves somewhere who could tell her more?
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