The Queen of Rosefield

Chapter 3

    The villagers were gathered around in small groups speaking to each other in whispers as they watched Gwen speaking to a strange man that had ridden into the village an hour before with pack horses loaded with expensive gifts.  On his back, the man carried a bundle and inside the bundle were several large books that he had taken out and placed upon a table Gwen had under a tree.  As he spoke to Gwen, Malana walked from the house and looked at the people gathered around in bunches.  She was a well dressed little girl of five years old and her black hair had a blue shine to it when the sunlight struck it just right.  This was one of the few things that she took from her real mother.

    Her blue eyes were bright when she walked up to her mother and the man.  "Mother, what are those things?"  She asked as she looked at the books on the table.

    "They are called books and Vicar brought them."  She said and looked down at the small girl she called her daughter.

    "Who do they belong to?"  She asked and looked up at her mother before she turned to look at the books again.

    "They're yours."  The man said before Gwen could answer her.  "They're a gift to you so that you may be schooled by a tutor.  You'll be able to read and right."  He told her and watched as her small face went blank for a minute.  "Mistress, what is wrong with the child?  Her eyes have just gone blank."  He said and stepped back as he watched the girl he was to teach.

    Gwen went pale and reached down to touch Malana on the shoulder and give her a small shake.  "Malana, you mustn't dream now.  People are watching."  She said sharply when Malana didn't pay any attention to her.  She shook her shoulder harder and spoke sharper as she knelt to face her daughter.  "Malana!  Stop your day dreaming and pay attention to me now."  She said and Malana looked into her eyes.  "I don't want you to do that again, is that understood?"  Gwen asked and gave her daughter a shaky smile.

    "I cannot help it Mother.  I have to listen when He speaks to me."  She said and in her blue eyes was a light the young man knew well.

    "Mistress don't scold the child."  He said gently and smiled down at her.  "I was also a dreamer when I was a child and I also had to listen.  I knew what I had to do and I did it."  He knelt down in front of her and spoke directly to her.  "My dear sweet child, I am called Vicar, and you may call me by my name."  He told her.

    "Are you going to be my friend?"  She asked and the young man looked at her mother.  "I want to know, not my mother."  She said and watched as the young man turned back to face her.  "Well, are you going to be my friend or not?"  She wanted to know.

    "Yes, I'll be your friend."  He said and held out his hand.  When Malana took it, she smiled brightly.  "Now I have another friend besides Nurse."  She said as she looked up at her Mother.

    "What is this?"  The Master Swordsman asked as he stepped from his swords shop and saw the villagers gathered.  "Go on about your business and leave ours alone."  He said sharply and headed toward his wife and daughter, and the man that was holding his daughters hand.

    "Jonathon, this is Vicar.  He has brought some books for Malana."  Gwen said as she hurried toward her husband.  "Is that not grand?"  She asked as she placed her hand upon her chest.  "I never dreamed that our child would be able to learn how to read and write like the boys of the village."

    "I would say you have a very privileged child here Mistress."  Vicar said and stood to his feet.  "An unnamed benefactor sent me here to teach your daughter."

    "Do you know who this person is Vicar?"  The Master Swordsman asked.

    "Of course I know who he is."  Vicar said and stood up as he looked the Master Swordsman in the eyes.  He then looked at the whispering villagers before he turned to look at the man and woman who were watching him.  "But I'm not at liberty to discuss this around the child or anyone other than the two of you."  He said and looked from Gwen to the Master Swordsman.  "If I did, the king himself would take off my head and where would I be then.  Dead."  He said and the couple relaxed.

    "It is well that you know the truth."  He said and motioned for Vicar to follow him.

    "Mother, is it true that I will learn how to read the words in these books and also how to write like the boys in the village?"  Malana asked with a smile.

    "Yes, it seems to be true."  Gwen said and went to kneel in front of the child.  "But you must listen to me Malana."  Gwen said and took both of Malana's hands in hers.  "I don't want you to be dreaming when you are with other people."

    "But Mother, I cannot help it when I dream.  I hear God talking to me and He tells me things."   She said and looked into her mothers eyes.  "I'm supposed to listen to God, am I not right?"

    "Yes, you must listen to God."  She said and nodded her head in understanding.  "But promise me you'll not dream in front of the villagers or any strangers.  They may take it wrong and you will be hurt."

    "But Mother, if God tells me to do something, I have to do it no matter what."  She said and in her yes was an understanding that even most adults couldn't comprehend.

    "Oh child, I couldn't bare it if something were to happen to you."  Gwen said and she took Malana into her arms and held her tightly.  "You are what makes me stay young."  Gwen said before she Malana loose.  "Now you go play."

    "May I go to the swords shop with Father?"  She asked.

    "Yes, but don't get in the way.  He has business you know."  Gwen said and watched as her daughter ran to her fathers sword shop.

    "Gwen, why is that man here?"  One of the village women asked as she hurried up to Gwen.

    "He is here to teach Malana how to read and write like the boys."  Gwen said and smiled.

    "But she is a girl, she cannot learn how to read and write."  Another woman said as she walked up.

    "But she can learn.  Malana can learn to read and write."  Gwen said and reached for one of the books on the table.  "These are books for her.  That's what Vicar said when he pulled them from his pack and put them on the table."

    A man wearing a long black robe pushed through the people gathered around Gwen and stopped when he saw the books.  "What are those?  Who has brought those heathen books to this village?"  He demanded of Gwen and reached for one of the books.

    "There is a stranger that has arrived and brought the books.  He's in the swords shop with the Master Swordsman."  One of the women said and smiled at the priest as she hoped to gain the favor of the priest.

    "Bring this man to me."  The priest ordered and one of the village men headed toward the swords shop at a run.

    "Jonathon! Jonathon, you must get the stranger out of here quickly!"  The man said as he hurried into the swords shop where the Master Swordsman and Vicar were talking.

    "What is it Mark?"  Jonathon asked as he saw the look on Marks face.

    "The priest.  He wishes to speak with your guest.  He doesn't like the books he has brought."  Mark said and pointed at Vicar just as the man quickly left the swords shop and headed for the Master Swordsman's house.

    When Vicar saw the priest looking at the books he had brought with him, he hurried toward him even faster.  "I see you're admiring the latest purchases of the king."  He said and the priest dropped the book on the ground.  "Oh do be careful of those.  King Charles will be wanting them back when the child is finished with them.  They'll be placed in his library."  Vicar said as he stopped in front of the priest and bent down to pick up the books.

    "Why are you here with those heathen writings?"  The priest asked and stepped back from Vicar as if he had the plague.

    "I was sent here to teach the daughter of the Master Swordsman and his wife Gwen how to read and write."  He told the priest.

    "Girls are forbidden to have any schooling such as the boys receive in any village I minister to."  The priest said and tried to stare Vicar down.  "They should only be taught what their mothers can teach them."

    "Not this one."  He said and never waivered.  "She is to be taught by order of the king himself."

    "Never!  I will protest this myself to the king."  The priest said and puffed up his chest.  "I say you are lying."

    "No, I don't lie."  Vicar said.  "I'll teach the girl what I was hired to teach her."  He said and turned to see Malana edging closer to him.

    "And I say girls should have no schooling except what their mothers can teach them about running a household."

    "You're wrong about this one."  Vicar said.  "There is a benefactor of some means behind her and his wishes were brought before the king, and by order of the king, the girl Malana will be taught to read and write as well as other languages that pertain to a highborn daughter."

    "She must be the spawn of one of the lords then."  One woman said and looked at Malana.

    "No, she is not some spawn of one of the lords, she is my daughter and that is who she will always be."  Gwen said and looked at the women who were supposed to be her friends.  "And if you cannot keep your mouths shut about who you think her parents are, then I don't wish to see you in my home again."  She said and spun around pulling Malana with her as she headed inside the house.  Only Nurse followed Gwen inside because she knew the truth of Malana's birth.

    "Why should she be a privileged child and get to learn when no other girl will be taught anything."  One mother asked.

    "You know Malana has always been spoilt.  Why else would she wear silks and satins when the rest of us wear homespun wool."  Another woman said.  "They raise her like she has money."

    "If she be a lords daughter, then he would want her to be took care of."  A man said in the back of the crowd.  "Let the child be.  When she grows she'll be no different than the other children in the village.  Her benefactor will eventually tire of her expenses and she marry one of the village boys at some point."

    "No, I don't think so."  The Master Swordsman said and looked at the villagers.  "My daughter will never marry any man in any village.  There are those that are not common in each one, but Malana will not be for anyone but the one she chooses."

    "I still say a girl shouldn't learn to read and write."  The priest said and crossed his arms.

    "Then go to the king."  The Master Swordsman said.  "Go now and get his answer."

    The priest turned and began to walk from the village.  He stopped and turned to look at the people.  "When I return, I'll put a stop to this outrageous claim of the king granting a girl the right to learn."