Absalom nodded.“All the spices in the world won’t help a bad cook.”
“I was afraid of that,” Hew said, saluting him with an oatcake.
Absalom gave him a nod of farewell, then called out to a man at another table before joining him.“Bernard.”
Bernard.Hew glanced at his list.There was a Bernard who sold parchment to the monastery.Could it be the same man?
He didn’t dare confront Bernard while he was sitting with Absalom.That would be too suspicious.No doubt the alewife was already wondering why this stranger with an axe was asking so many questions.
As he leaned back against the alehouse wall, he closed his eyes briefly, waiting for Bernard to leave.By the time he started awake, the man was gone.
“Did ye have a nice wee nap?”the alewife teased.
Shite.How had he drifted off?And how long had he been asleep?
“Can ye tell me where the parchment shop is?”he asked.
“At the far end o’ the village,” she said, adding pointedly, “downwind.”
He thanked her, snatched his plaid, and hurried out the door.
He understood what she meant when he reached the end of the lane and entered Bernard’s shop.The air was heavy with the stench of greasy sheepskin.
The proprietor furrowed his bushy brown brows at him.“Aren’t ye the fellow who was snorin’ at The Bell?”
Snoring?Hew didn’t snore.At least he didn’tthinkhe snored.It was hard to know, since he was asleep.
“I was at The Bell, aye.”
“Huh.”He waved his arm at the goods stacked on shelves.“Ye need parchment?”
“Nay.”
Bernard licked his lips and eyed his axe.“Then what are ye here for?”
“A few questions.”
Bernard’s gaze flitted nervously to the door.“Is this about the laird’s daughter?”he blurted.“I only sold her parchment.I swear.If anyone said ’twas anythin’ else…”
Hew lifted his brows.Was everyone entangled with Lady Carenza?“Nay.”
“Oh.”Bernard’s shoulders dropped in relief.“What is it then?”
“The local prior told me you provide parchment to the monastery.”
“Aye.”
“You take it there yourself?”
“I do the delivery, aye.”
“Directly to the prior?”
He shrugged.“Sometimes the prior.Sometimes a monk.”
“You go to the scriptorium?”
He shook his head.“They meet me at the gate.But why do ye want to know all this?”
