Stunned, Aelfric made his way down the porch steps, turning to wave to Sil before she turned and went inside the house. He made his way down the road to meet his ride, thinking of how her soft body had felt.
Pressed against him, and wondering how he would keep from kissing her the next time he saw her lovely, inviting face.
Coldus and his brother picked him up about a quarter of an hour later, at the end of the road. He climbed into the carriage, dazed and exhausted from what he now knew to be the best day of his life. Coldus was grinning ear to ear, ” Met Sil then have you?”. He was smug. ” She’s quite the creature, now, isn’t she?”. Aelfric knew he was a boy among men, so he replied, ” She’s an outstanding teacher.” He wouldn’t abide these men making lude remarks about Sil. ” Is she now? “Coldus laughed. Aelfric blushed Crimson. ” Just having a little fun there Aelfric, I’m sure she’s a pure soul with a heart of gold.” Aelfric felt a little less angry and answered, ” she is.”
The ride back to the citadel seemed to take forever. Aelfric inquired with the brothers as to where he might find suitable lodging.” Arcus hasn’t offered you the spare bed?”. Aelfric thought back.” No, but regardless, I feel I’d benefit from my room, a desk, and some privacy to study”. Coldus and Dorthus looked at each other knowingly.
” The inn near Branford crossing has rooms. You’ll have to share bathing quarters, but the matron who runs it is very tidy and no-nonsense. It would make a good home for a student.”
“Thank you, Dorthus. That sounds just right. Could you drop me there on our return to the city?”
” Very well, said Coldus, and in twenty more minutes, Aelfric was stepping down to the street near Bradford crossing. The road was smooth and tidy, and he crossed the span to the building in front of him. As he looked up, there on top of the cottages, he saw a great, carved wood sign reading:
” Mrs. Shiff’s Standard Inn. No drunkards, no salesman, and absolutely no rudeness.”
This sounded perfect to Aelfric. Though he was young and poor, he would prefer a living quarter free of drunkards and rudeness. He supposed the salesmen would be equally annoying, although he couldn’t think of any valid reason why. He entered inside and saw a small office-like room. He approached the office, taking in the flower boxes on the exterior, the soft chairs, and the large chestnut desk. From behind the desk, he saw a small circular bun bobbing about.
Excuse me”, he said politely. A woman’s quite skinny yet severe face popped over the desk.
“G… Good evening, Ma’am. Do you have a room fit for a student to rent?”
“I suppose I do! Did you see the sign?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Give me a minute.” She flipped through the pages of the long notebook on the table. Aelfric assumed it was the lodgings register. While he waited, he continued to skim through the decorations in the office.
“Name?”. A distracted Aelfric turned to find the woman, probably in her early 50s, standing at the other side of the desk. He was too taken into the aesthetics of the surrounding that he didn’t notice her move. She had brown hair and wore a white gown with a pink checked apron tied around her neck and waist.
“Aelfric. Aelfric Simbal”. He answered as he noticed she had wrinkles on her face, an unmistakable sign of old age. “This establishment seems most pleasing to my needs. I am a student of Arcus The Healer. The Hostel has proved too crowded and noisy for my studies. I heard your Inn would be more suitable.”
The old lady’s face melted into a smile. A bright and cheerful one as she said the next thing. “Oh, you are Arcus’ boy. The one who’s learning under him. Did he send you? Arcus is such a good man, and I hope you grow to be like him. I mean as a skilled healer, yes, but as a man of way too few words, No.” They both laughed. “It’s nice to have a new lad around here. A helping hand for Arcus.” She continued. “Such a dear man cured me of a terrible cough, you know! I am fifty-one, thanks to that man. Not many women can say the same! I don’t drink the ale, I have minimal worry, and I am never rude! It keeps me healthy, you see.
She began fetching parchment and quill, sorting brass keys and wincing at them with her grey eyes. Aelfric felt awkward. Arcus hadn’t sent him. It had been Dorthus. He didn’t want Arcus to look bad, but if Mrs. Shiff mentioned it to him…
“The brothers Dorthus and Coldus referred me. ” He said apologetically.
“Well, of course, they did. Arcus never sends anybody, does he? He offers them the spare bed, but most of his students don’t last very long, so he must have high hopes for you! Will you need breakfast?”
“No, I eat breakfast with my master.”
“With Arcus? Does he eat with you? How interesting. You must be of high birth to afford an education and lodging! My word, shall I address you as m’lord, or sir?”
“Pardon me? No! my mother is a weaver, and my father was lost at sea long ago. I will pay with my weekly earnings.”
He put his few coins on the tall counter.
“My word!” Said Mrs. Shiff. ” is he paying you already? And so much? I could supply you with a fine room with this! Private! And with coin to spare for herbs, and clothing, and the odd ale if we’re well behaved.”
“I do not need ale,” said Aelfric. ” I would inquire, however, to your policy on female visitors. My teacher, you see, is a woman, and should she chose to visit… I assure you, nothing untoward would occur. However, she is one of my mentors, and I should like to know the standing all the same.”
At this, Mrs. Shiff smiled. ” Met Sil, have you? What a beauty, what a pure and loving creature she is”. ” Urgh Yes”, said Aelfric.
“She is always welcome here. She would never suffer any untoward behavior, and she can certainly take care of herself with the likes of you. However, if I see maidens plenty coming and going from your quarters, you will be thrown out! And no refunds! So you best keep your wits and your manners about you.” She finished sternly.
“I assure you, Mrs. Shiff, I seek only a quiet room to conduct my studies and confer with my mentors.”
“Very well,” said Mrs. Shiff,” here are the keys to room 7. It has a large bed, a desk, a bedpan, and the lavatory is across the hall. Miss Jolly will change your space once per week and clean it every day around noon. Do not be tricked by her name, and she is not to be trifled with! You will keep your room tidy, and she will keep it clean”.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Aelfric, taking the key and looking about.
“Don’t forget your change!” Cried Mrs. Shiff, handing him back eight copper pieces, three silver, and one of the gold coins he had given her.
“I’ll be expecting payment promptly in a month.” She said fiercely.
“That paid for a month?” He asked, thinking she’d made a mistake.
“Oh yes! And I’ve added the daily housekeeping service and access to the library,”
“You have a library?”
“Why yes! We are quite civilized here! No salesmen allowed as you can see! Mostly alchemists, practitioners of medicine, magic, law, and the odd wealthy farmer. You will encounter many friends in the lounge, where miss Jolly serves Ale and liqueur in the evening, but you must partake responsibly! I’ll have no drunkards here!”
“I understand.” said Aelfric, heading to the stairs marked ” ROOMS 5-12″. ” Thank you very much, Ma’am.”
He couldn’t help but notice that Mrs. Shiff was not at all as strict as she would have the world believe.
“You’re welcome, dear! Just mind you behave like a gentleman, and you’ll do fine”.
Aelfric couldn’t believe he had a coin left over. His room, with a desk and money to spend. It was a relief because after meeting Sil, he certainly wanted to look more presentable. If the room had taken up all his money, he’d be wearing the same ratty old clothes forever.
He settled into his new lodgings nicely. The desk even had parchment and quill. Its legs were sturdy wood, and his bed was large enough that he could lay like a starfish.
“This is what it means to be a man,” he thought. He sorted his few belongings into appropriate nooks and crannies. The books he placed on the small shelf, his laboratory on a table near the window. He undressed and folded himself into the soft bedding with one of his healer’s manuals and nodded off to sleep with the small book open on his chest.
Morning came swiftly. The fresh air and excitement from the day before had awarded Aelfric with the most peaceful sleep. Asleep teaming with dreams of red-gold waves and soft, plump anatomy.
He arose feeling rested, dressed, and headed on foot to Arcus’ home. He arrived and knocked on the rickety door. Arcus answered in his beadshirt.
” Oh, Aelfric, do come in,” he said swiftly, waving him inside.
“Are you unwell?” Aelfric asked him, wondering why in the world he wasn’t dressed yet.
” Quite! But if you refer to my attire, it is the Seventh-day, and Seventh-day is a different sort of day.”
“How do you mean, Master? Do we take a rest today?” He was hoping.
” Not entirely, on the Sixth Day, a healer makes different concoction for his daily patients, and so, those patients will not see me today. Only those in absolute need of my services will see me today. I tend to start the day a little later.”
“Very well,” said Aelfric, wondering what they were going to do this morning.
” For my students, this is indeed a day of rest. You may brush up on your reading, complete assignments I have given you, spend the day as you like. I am thrilled to see you for breakfast, however.” Arcus finished, placing some toast and preserves on the table.
“Please, I tell me about your day at the farm. Did you enjoy your first experience?”
Aelfric jumped into telling Arcus how he’d thought Sil would be a man, and how embarrassed he’d been, and how she’d giggled and tried to reprimand him, failing terribly due to her good nature. Arcus laughed.
“Such a lovely girl, Sil, and very intelligent.”
“Yes, she is,” said Aelfric, not wanting to seem too eager.
“How did you get on with the planting?” Arcus asked.
“Very well, Master. I was amazed at how quickly my seeds began to sprout. I thought it would be at least a whole week before they make the kind of progress they did in a day. You cannot imagine my shock when I saw it. I’m looking forward to seeing their progress next week.”
“And was Sil pleased with your work?” Arcus asked, glancing at Aelfric over his cup of hot tea.
” I believe so, Master.” He didn’t want to tell Arcus she’d hugged him. For some reason, that felt private and special to him. Although he felt his cheeks heat up just thinking about it. Even though he could imagine Sil often gave out hugs, she was a charming person. It still made him jealous to think about her hugging other people.
” A little difficult to be formal with her, isn’t it?” Arcus asked knowingly, drawing out of his sea of thoughts.
” A little,” Aelfric repeated, unable to help the smile that broke out on his face when he thought about her.
” That girl has never called me Master Arcus. When she was a child, she called me Barky. As she got older, it became Barcus, and now she will call me Arcus out of respect, but never Master anything.”
” And you let her?” Aelfric asked. Arcus gave him a shot of voiceless speech, saying,
” How do you tell sugar to stop being sweet?”. Aelfric knew precisely what he meant. He knew for a fact that he would never be able to say no to Sil. She was too reasonable and sweet and perfect.
” Now, my young apprentice, I have a few books here for you to borrow. Please take them, and admit them to memory. You will need this information in a few weeks. Also, I trust you have some coin left for clothing.” Aelfric nodded.
“Perhaps a visit to Bastet’s Stitchery over on Tempest crescent. Tell him who you are, and he will outfit you nicely.”
” Thank you, master,” Aelfric said as Arcus ushered him from the kitchen to the doorway, handing him the books and a piece of parchment with the Stitchery’s address.
“Until tomorrow Aelfric,” said Arcus as he waved him off and shut his door.
Aelfric couldn’t believe his luck. He was alone in the marvelous Citadel, with coins to spend and time to spare. He did put one silver and three copper coins in a pocket inside his tunic. He would save this for an emergency, or perhaps a Sunday trip to Melses’ Farm.
He made his way to the Stitchery. Mr. Bastet fussed about taking measurements and told him to come back before supper to collect his cloak, two pair of new trousers, and tunics. The whole lot cost him one silver piece, and he ate lunch in the Lounge at Mrs. Shiff’s Inn.
After a lunch of rich rabbit stew with a thick creamy sauce and freshly baked rolls, he went up to his room and put his new books on the shelf. He did a little reading in ” Words of Power, the art of nonvocal communication” and marked out a few chapters in ” Healing Hands, A healer’s guide to mending tissue and bone.” He left ” Lifeforce, awakening healing magic” and ” The Healer’s compendium of fatal afflictions” for next Sunday’s reading.
After deciding on his reading schedule, Aelfric made his way back to the Stitchery to fetch his new clothing. His trousers and tunics were plain and intelligent, but his robe was special. All healers wore burlap cloaks lined with animal skins, furs, or wool. His Burlap had died Darkest blue, and inside the hood was lined with soft lambskin. The lining of the cloak itself was warm and light, offering protection from the wind and cold. Mr. Bastet told him it had been enchanted by a witch to keep one comfortable in any weather. Aelfric was amazed at being able to afford such a luxurious item. Still, Mr. Bastet assured him it would come in very handy for a healer, who may have to travel many miles in any season, and that he’d applied Arcus’ discount. After thanking Mr. Bastet, he hurried home to don some new clothing, wash his old ones, and then descend to the lounge for supper.