"You did not remember quite all the spell," said Yolanda, "or you would have commanded the hornets to assail the troopers only. Still, my lad, you did surprising well."
Eudoric thought of pointing out that, had not Yolanda insisted the beasts be taken upstream and tied up in sight of the bridge, they might have avoided discovery by the soldiers in the first place. But he thought it better not to bring up the matter. Instead, he said:
"Baldonius warned me against my squire's attempts to play the wizard; but this time it was lucky that he did. Forthred, help us on with our garments. We are too sore from our stings to dress unaided."
This time, Yolanda said nothing about exposing herself to a baseborn churl, but gratefully accepted Forthred's help. Eudoric said: "We must find some safe place where we can lie up to recover. Can either of you propose such a refuge?"
Yolanda said: "I have a minor spell, to detect the presence of magic. Could I locate some country wise-woman, she were more like to give shelter to a fellow practitioner than would the local folk."
"Good!" said Eudoric. "Have at it!"
Half an hour later, Yolanda had set up her tripod, whence rose a plume of smoke. Then, kneeling, she held a crystal ball in cupped hands and stared into its depths. Slowly she turned to face all the compass points. At last she straightened up and pointed northwest.
"The vibrations come strongest thence," she said. "Belike our goal lies beyond those low hills."
It took the rest of the day, with three more halts to work Yolanda's directional spell, before they located a cottage in the woods near the village of Carnutis. The house looked like any other modest Franconian country dwelling, the sort a farmer, neither rich nor poor, might keep; but it lacked such a freeholder's barns, byres, and other outbuildings. Yolanda said:
"If I mistake not, that is whence come the vibrations."
Leaving Forthred to hold the animals, Eudoric and Yolanda approached the door. Eudoric knocked, then stood aside to let Yolanda talk.
A woman opened the door, saying: "Good-afternoon. What would ye?"
Eudoric had the impression that all female magicians were either young and beautiful like Yolanda, or withered and old like Svanhalla of Hasselbourne. This one was neither. She was a robust rustic good-wife in well-preserved middle age, plump and rosy-cheeked, with blond hair lightly streaked with gray. She must, Eudoric thought, have been a pretty girl, and she was still attractive.
The woman and Yolanda exchanged a long series of greetings and responses in an unfamiliar language. At last Yolanda said:
"Eudoric, this is Riguntha of Carnutis, the local healer and seeress. Mistress Riguntha, I present my husband Sir Eudoric of Arduen and his squire Forthred. I have explained our plight."
"Come in," said Riguntha cheerfully. "I have a few simples for your stings and can harbor you for a few days. I can also feed you, provided your man go to the village to buy extra provender. Come in!"
An hour later, Eudoric and Yolanda were seated on a settle in the witch's parlor, while Riguntha dabbed ointment on their stings, talking the while: "... and when ye opened the door, methought ye were the fabled giants made of bladders, so swollen were ye. I'll be bound if your swellings have not already begun to shrink: but I misdoubt ye'll be in fettle to travel again on the morrow. Now then, I'll help you dress.
"I see, Princess, that ye wear those newfangled linen undergarments. When they're worn out, ye can sell them to the makers of that new parchmentlike stuff called paper. As for you, Sir Eudoric, how is't that ye do not the same? All Franconians of gentle birth use linen nowadays, whilst ye go about with rough wool nigh unto your skin."
"I fear," said Eudoric, "that in this matter the Franconians be ahead of us of the Empire. I must try out this novelty in Letitia."
"Aye, aye. 'Tis the same with us countryfolk, being too poor to afford this practice. It reminds me of the time when my husband lived, he went out one day to catch a fish for our supper ..."
Eudoric listened politely, although he found the story of little interest, and he had to pay close attention to follow Riguntha's country dialect. When the anecdote had run its course, he said:
"Tell me, Madam Riguntha! As a child I heard that, for the practice of magical arts, one should forswear the pleasures and pains of intimate commerce with the other sex. Back home, I know an eminent adept: Svanhalla of Hasselbourne. I understand that she has lived celibate all her life, the evidence being her assistance to me in capturing a unicorn. But 'tis plain that this stricture has not applied to you ladies. Explain, pray."
Riguntha giggled nervously. "A shrewd springald! Know, O Eudoric, that 'tis a matter of degree. An ye'd ascend to the very pinnacle of our profession, such as were needed for feats like flying on broomstick, or inflicting mortal ills upon a foe, or living over a hundred years, such self-denial indeed is requisite.
"But I lack such lofty ambitions. Happy am I to attain some modest success in predicting storms, and alleviating diseases of man and beast, and warning the folk against bands of brigands or Duke Sigibert's tax collectors. Not that there's a muchel of difference betwixt the two! If the Triunitarian bishops persuade the Duke to outlaw all magic within the dukedom, save that which they themselves command, the poor folk of Carnutis will lose even the slight succor I can afford em. Have some more beer!"
She smiled charmingly at Eudoric. "And now, good my sir, tell me somewhat of the Empire and thy adventures therein." (Eudoric noted the change to the familiar form of address.) "For mine arts do inform me that thou have undergone enough of such for a man of thrice thine age. Here in Carnutis, we get but little news of the world without, aside from what I can glean by mine arts. Therefore I shall hang upon thine every word!"
Flattered, for the next hour Eudoric told of his journey to Pathenia, of his hunt for the spider Fraka, and of his capture of the unicorn.
When Riguntha carried the plates to the sink, Eudoric cocked an eye at Forthred, murmuring: "Water!"
The apprentice hurried out, hoisted the pail out of the well by the windlass, and brought in a bucketful. Eudoric took a towel to dry dishes. Yolanda sat looking uncomfortable. At last she said:
"Riguntha, can—may I help?"
" Tis good of you to ask, Princess. But tell me: How oft in your life hast washed and dried dishes hitherto?"
"N-never; I was never taught such tasks. But if Eudoric, a dubbed knight, can do such menial work ..."
"Then I fear that your aid, however well-meant, would cause more grief than would its absence. These are my only set of crockery; if they be broken, my next guest must dine on wooden platters. But fear not; I shall have other household tasks for you, if ye can gird up your spirit to tackle em."
Eudoric suppressed a smile. He was pleased to hear his arrogant, class-conscious princess offering to turn a hand at commoners' tasks. Perhaps, he thought, there was hope for her after all.
The couple's bed was an oversized pallet spread on the floor of the main room. Riguntha had the only bedroom; Forthred took a smaller pallet to the pantry. Before Riguntha closed her door, she said:
"Pleasant dreams, ye twain. An ye want aught, hesitate not to call on me."
She threw Eudoric a dazzling smile, as she and her candle disappeared. Yolanda murmured:
"I am loath to complain; but meseems, were I in her shoes, I should have given my visitors the bedroom."
"Have you seen her bed?" Eudoric held up his hands two feet apart. "We could never have slept therein unless intertwined like serpents. Of course, if she gave you the bedroom, she and I could make do here—"
"Eudoric! That is no proper jest!"
Eudoric laughed. "Then be glad for what we have. Good-night, my dear."