Page 34 of Under a Spanish Sky

She nodded her agreement, keen to rest her weary feet. He pushed the door open and they slipped into the big room and made for the corner. They were only halfway across the floor, when Luc heard a booming voice.

‘Well, hello again, Luc. We thought we’d lost you.’

He wheeled around, his left hand pulling Aimée tightly to him. His right reached for the carving knife. Mercifully, he had not pulled the weapon out when he recognised the owner of the voice.

‘Friar Laurent. How wonderful to see you again.’ He squeezed Aimée’s hand encouragingly, as he relaxed his right. ‘When did you come over the pass?’

The friar smiled broadly and pointed along the table. Amongst them Luc recognised the peasants from Champagne, the pessimistic stonemason and the baker, together with his family. He couldn’t, however, see any trace of the snooty nuns.

Friar Laurent came over and the two men embraced.

‘Ah, Luc, we were truly blessed. The snow stopped just as we reached the top. We were able to make it up and over to the valley beyond without stopping. But what about you? We wondered if something had happened to you in Oloron.’ His expression was benign, but his eyes were watching shrewdly.

Luc’s immediate reaction was one of relief. The group hadn’t stopped at Santa Cristina. That was good news, because there was every likelihood that the tale of his escape from the king’s men would have been common knowledge to anybody going through the hospital for weeks, if not months, to come.

‘Let me introduce you to Aimée. She’s a good friend of mine.

’ He was racking his brains for a reasonable explanation for why he had left the group.

In the end he opted for a version of the truth.

‘I had to go and look for Aimée. I was told she was in the area. The problem was, I wasn’t given specific directions how to find her.

I do hope you didn’t waste time waiting for me. ’

‘Not at all, Luc. As it was, we got held up for hours by the army. They were looking for some criminal or other.’

Luc’s ears pricked up as the stonemason from Beauvais chipped in.

‘Looking for one of those damned Templars, they were. Bastard escaped the medicine all the others were getting. They were trying to catch him before he disappeared off across the border like a scared rabbit.’

He turned his head and spat into the fire. He missed, reached out absently with his boot and smeared the spittle into the tiled floor. Friar Laurent winced. He gave Luc a look that indicated graphically that the mason had not developed into any better company.

Luc and Aimée settled down on a bench with the rest of the group.

They drank gratefully from the jug of wine that the friar pushed across to them.

The baker’s wife gave him a bright smile, while his daughter gawped at Aimée with disbelief.

Surely a blind woman wouldn’t be able to undertake this long and arduous journey?

Luc reached for Aimée’s hand under the table.

As she leant towards him, he put his mouth up against her ear and whispered.

‘I think we’re all right. If they’d been told about us, it would show, I’m sure.’ He drew away again and spoke in a normal voice. ‘What would you like to eat?’

‘Isn’t this your chance to have a hot meal, Luc? I’ll have what you’re having, but less of it.’ Her voice was tired.

He smiled and got up. He went off to look for the landlord. He found him just coming out of the kitchen with half a roast chicken on a plate. It was the work of a moment to ask for the other half. It was brought to their table along with bread and wine and they enjoyed an excellent evening meal.

‘Will you join us when we set off in the morning, Luc?’ The friar sounded keen. Through her tiredness, Aimée realised why he wanted Luc’s support. This would further strengthen their chances if bandits should descend upon them.

‘We’ll be pleased to, Brother.’ Luc glanced across at Aimée. She looked half asleep. Her cheek was on her forearm, and her eyes half closed. ‘What time are you setting out?’

‘First light, or as soon after as we can manage. I’ll ask the landlord to wake us when he rises. All right?’ Luc nodded and took Aimée’s hand, leading her to the next room. It was a communal dormitory. Straw-filled mattresses were scattered across the floor.

‘At least there’s one advantage to being among the first pilgrims this year.’ He lowered his voice. ‘The mattresses look clean and well filled. We should get a good night’s sleep.’

‘I feel so tired, I am sure I could sleep on a stone floor.’ She sounded it.

With the help of the baker’s wife, Aimée had no trouble in locating the latrine.

It felt strange, and very reassuring, to have female company once more.

It came as a relief after months in an all-male environment and, although she was tired, she enjoyed the opportunity to chat.

Beatrice, the baker’s wife, was a cheerful soul, who was only too happy to help.

Finding Luc again in the crowded room, scattered with sleeping bodies, would have been difficult, but Beatrice led her across to him.

She squeezed Aimée’s arm before leaving her.

‘We’ll be travelling with you all the way to Compostela, Aimée. You can count on me.’

Aimée thanked her, her spirits buoyed by the simple friendship. Luc was delighted to see the smile on her face.

‘Here, there’s space for us over here in the corner.’

He had picked the spot well away from any door. It was within easy access of a window, in the event of their having to make a break for freedom in the course of the night. They lay down close to one another and rolled up in their blankets and cloaks. His hand reached out and brushed her face.

‘Sleep well.’

She caught the hand and held it tightly, wishing she could be more to him, closer to him, forever.