Notwithstanding, the prioress received them bleakly. “I must obey the bishop’s command,’.’ she said. “Nevertheless, the saints bear witness that this is most irregular. Know I shall be praying that you do not succeed in bereaving us of our fairest jewel.”
“That’s not our aim, reverend mother,” Niels Jonsen avowed in his mildest tone. “You’ll recall from the correspondence that we twain are paying a debt of honor.”
“Little enough have I been given to read, and that as it were a palimpsest,” the prioress snapped. “I am not so innocent that I cannot tell when there has been conniving-bargains struck, pressure brought to bear, temptations dangled-yes, even among lords of the Church.”
“Those are grave charges, reverend mother,” Ingeborg Hjal-marsdatter warned. Realizing that she had indeed said too much, the prioress paled. Ingeborg smiled. “I understand. The girl has become dear to you, right? Then surely it should please you that now she’ll have a choice which was not hers before, and if she chooses to stay here-as well she may-it’s because her devotion is freely given.”
“You speak of devotion, you? I’ve had inquiries made. Your presence besmirches this house.”
“I’ve always heard as how anger is amongst the deadly sins,” Niels said, his own brow flushed. “Shall we get on with our business, reverend mother?”
Thus the episcopal will was done. Niels and Ingeborg were led to the courtyard. Nobody else remained to listen, though doubtless several peered from windows beyond earshot.
Margrete, whose flesh had been Yria, came out into the cloister arcade and halted. Not yet a novice, she was attired in a gown and wimple that suggested the black Augustinian habit. While she had gained inches and the shapeless raiment could not entirely hide waxing fullness of breasts and hips, it was still as if a child stood there, huge-eyed in the delicate face, lips timidly parted.
Ingeborg advanced to take her hands, “Margrete, dear,” she greeted. “You know us not, but you know of us. We’re your friends, come to help you.”
The girl shrank back. ‘They told me I must see you,” she whispered.
“Ha! What else have they told you about us?” Niels snorted.
“You’re a prize they’ll not gladly yield. The pilgrim trade-“
Ingeborg frowned over her shoulder. “Hush,” she said. “This is no time for bickering.” To Margrete: “All we wish of you is that you listen to us, and ask whatever questions you like. It’s in private because some persons might be harmed, did the tale go abroad. You must swear you’ll breathe no word of it yourself, unless you hear something wicked that you’d sin if you kept hidden. You won’t, I promise. The tale is of those who cared for your wellbeing enough to stake their lives in the cause-your brothers and sister, Margrete.”
“I haven’t any,” the maiden stammered. “Not any more.”
“Would you disown them? Why, you’d be in the sea today,
unless you’d died the way an animal dies, save that they brought you ashore. Sit down.” Ingeborg urged Margrete to a bench. “Pay heed.”
A flaw of wind swooped into the court, raw and boisterous.
A cloud passed overhead like a white banner. Crows laughed.
The story of the merman’s children was soon told, for Niels and Ingeborg softened it much. Margrete’s pallor grew more deep at first, but later blood coursed visibly through her cheeks.
“The upshot is this,” Niels finished. “The lords temporal and spiritual who’re concerned know only that I’d fain honor a pledge to a comrade, and that my confessor gives me leave. The bishop of Roskilde has supported me stoutly throughout; we’ve become friends of a sort. Besides, donations in my name, made in. . . hm . . . thankfulness to the saints. . . they bring more of the gold to the Church as a whole, without drawing dangerous remark. Also, he agrees it’s right you should have an inheritance from your kin-for of course he’s aware by now that they, the halflings, led that faring, though I’ve held back from letting out more to him. “Well, a fortune awaits you in Copenhagen. Bishop Johan’s found a family-the man’s a rich merchant-who’ll be glad to adopt you, see to your upbringing, make you a fine marriage. You’re welcome to ride thither with us, if you want.”