31
Those Who Fly
Inside the barn the young lad Heafoc mucked out the stalls. As Matthew and Thomas waited for Godric, a young girl approached, herding three fat geese. She was around ten years old, with ruddy cheeks and tangled black hair tucked under her head scarf. Her stained dress was torn and patched, her face pale and pinched.
Just then, Godric came into view around the corner of the hall, walking with nonchalant ease.
The girl saw him, too, and stopped. She watched his approach with wide-eyed wonder, the muttering geese momentarily forgotten.
Godric saw her regard and came to a halt in front of her, sketching a courtly bow. His brightly coloured harper’s cloak swung elegantly around him as he straightened up. “Greetings, my lady,” he said solemnly.
The girl’s cheeks pinked eve
