Chapter Twenty-Six

Sitting on Eva’s bed, Lamorna sang softly to her brother who lay in front of her. Having unwrapped him from his swaddling cloths, she giggled at how he kicked and stretched his miniature limbs. Her thoughts kept returning to Sewell’s words – how he’d tried to assure her that not all priests were like Hilmer and that she and her brother would be safe here.

She’d learnt a lot in the last few days. She was still struggling to understand the hurt Eva had suffered at her husband’s hands. She also had to accept that not all soldiers were ‘bad’; after all Sewell was a soldier, and she did feel protected in his presence.

“May I enter, child?”

Lamorna started at the sound of Merrick’s voice at the open door. She quickly got to her feet. “Master–”

He chuckled. “I am no master, call me Father as everyone else does. May I come in?”

“Yes, of course, Mas-I mean Father Merrick.”

He shuffled in, leaning against a stick and made his slow way to the bed. Leaning over the infant, he laughed softly when a small hand grabbed his finger. “I never tire of a baby’s touch; so soft. Have you settled in, my dear?”

Lamorna nodded before realising that the priest still had his back to her. “Yes, Father, Mistress Eva has been most kind.”

“She is a kindly soul. Will you be staying with us then?”

“Staying?”

He turned to face her, both hands on the stick now as he leaned forward on it. “Yes. I hope you are settled enough here to consider making this your home. You will be safe here, there is nothing to fear; I am sure Sewell has assured you of that.”

She looked away, fearful that she might somehow betray herself. “But my mother’s folk–”

“You do not even know if they are where you think they are.” His tone was gentle. “A young girl, travelling alone with a baby; I could not let you continue, my conscience would not allow it. If anything were to happen to you...”

She frowned. “But you barely know me, I am nothing to you.”

His eyes widened. “Nothing to me? Oh, child, how wrong you are. The moment we met, the moment you came under the protection of this village, I have prayed for you. And that has made you dear to me, like everyone in this village is dear to me.”

Lamorna fidgeted, not knowing what to say. This was akin to re-learning so many aspects of life and she was starting to feel overwhelmed by it all.

“May I call you Lamorna? That is your name, yes?”

She nodded quickly, only in that moment becoming conscious of the fact that she had not told him her name; he must have spoken to Sewell. Lamorna wondered what else the man had told the priest.

“Come then, Lamorna, bundle your brother up again, you can accompany me on my walk through the village.”

As she moved slowly, hesitantly towards the infant, Merrick asked, “The priest in your home village, what is his name?”

“Hilmer.”

When he repeated the name, Lamorna closed her eyes, asking the question she feared the answer to. “You know him?”

“I have never met him, but I have heard of him. Very ambitious. I hope you do not believe that all priests are like him. Many of my brethren... mind you, the ones I know are all old men now. But many of us do not think in the same way he does. Neither, I believe, do many of the younger ones coming up, like Wystan. It is easier for those of us who are away from the lords, away from the temptation of power and all its trappings. It is assumed that we are above that which influences people but are we not people ourselves?”

Cradling the dressed baby, Lamorna continued to frown at his words.

“It is all down to one’s strength of will and desire to hold true to the teachings of our god.” He sighed and shook his head. “I have seen how greed can corrupt; greed for power, for more riches. Many have lost sight of the truth of our god’s words; he speaks of love, faith, peace, forgiveness. Instead they believe that wealth and power are more important.  And to conceal their own faults, they twist god’s teachings to suit them.

“But there are still enough of us who uphold the truth of our faith, Lamorna, and we willingly share that with the people. And let me assure you that there is no place in our faith for evil nonsense whose sole purpose is to frighten the people and keep them in their place; like the nonsense about babies being born sinners.” He snorted.

Lamorna held her breath; her body tense.

“Are they not the purest form of god on earth?” He looked directly at her.

“Are they?”

His eyes crinkled as he smiled, deepening the creases on his lined face. “You must ask? All you have to do is look at them – so small yet so perfectly formed, and so filled with love because that is the feeling that is awakened in us when we care for them. Is that not so?” He reached out and patted Lamorna’s cheek.

She stared at him. If only he had been their priest. Her mother would have been treated with dignity and her father… he would still be with her, still alive. A tear rolled down her cheek.

“Lamorna, what is the matter? Have I said something to upset you?”

“I wish; I wish you were our priest then...”

He grasped her shoulder. “We cannot change the past. But let us look ahead yes, together? Will you walk with me?”

She nodded and followed him out.

At first, Lamorna found it difficult for it had been a while since she’d been amongst people; she unconsciously stepped closer to the priest, as if to hide behind him. Yet she was amazed at how friendly the villagers were towards Merrick. They greeted him as he went past and happily stopped to exchange pleasantries. When he introduced Lamorna, they welcomed her warmly and fussed over the infant. No details were given, only that Sewell had found them and brought them to the village. Soon, enough of a crowd had gathered around them and they had to stop.

Lamorna looked around at the number of young children in the village. What she found most astonishing was how they all clamoured for Merrick’s attention. They did not fear him and he was like a kindly grandfather with them.

“Father Merrick! Father Merrick.”

They turned at the sound of a young girl’s voice. Skipping up to them, she seemed to be about Lamorna’s age but was auburn-haired and slim. Lamorna’s heart skipped a beat as sudden thoughts of Janina washed over her.

“Alina, the very person.”

Grinning widely, she came to a stop directly before him and held out a small basket.

“Ah, more oatcakes?”

“This time I made them myself without any help from Mama.”

“If they taste as good as they smell...”

She giggled and turned to Lamorna. “Hello. My name is Alina.”

“I am Lamorna.”

“What a pretty name.”

“She is newly come to us, Alina,” said Merrick, “and I was hoping you would help make her feel welcome.”

Her brown eyes twinkled as her smile widened. “Are you the one Master Sewell rescued from–”

Merrick cleared his throat and frowned slightly; Alina abruptly stopped.

Lamorna nodded in reply to her unfinished question.

“My family’s house is there. Where are you staying?”

“With Mistress Eva.”

“You must come and visit–oh, a little baby.” She promptly leaned closer and began cooing at him.

“He is my brother.”

“Then you must come soon. Mama will not rest until she has seen this little one. I have a sister but she is already walking and Mama keeps pestering Papa for another baby–”

“Alina.”

“Sorry, Father Merrick. But you will come soon?”

“Yes, I will.” Lamorna returned the girl’s smile. As she and Merrick walked away, she glanced back. Her smile widened as Alina waved before returning to her home.

“I think you and Alina could become friends, yes?”

Lamorna glanced at Merrick, raising her brows at his knowing smile. “She seems nice.”