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Friday 30 November 2012

27/100 The blacksmith's wife [31]




Beckoning from beyond the ditch a dirty rag-beswagged beldame who raven-croaked ‘Have pity,  maid.’

Thinking any mishap to have been deserved I would have ignored but Gabriel, sobered from a pail of water and aiming to both delay due retribution and convert me to a charitable frame of mind, said to take her food and ale.
Reaching up she grabbed my wrist.   Fingers over-strong.   Fractionally faster than suspicion, mouldering hag became Mathias, hauling me a-sprawl.    
‘The Earl’s new baby’s wet-nurse took fancy to me, unlocked my chains.’    Knife against my throat, laughing, ‘I said to tell them it was you.’

This is part 31 of 'The blacksmith's wife'.   The whole is a prompt-led serial  which began on the Friday Prediction, in March  and continued, one hundred words at a time, for forty-one episodes.   One of my aims in this 100 days project is to complete the illustrations for each episode and publish the tale in book form.    The  story can be read in its entirety here.

Thursday 29 November 2012

26/100 The blacksmith's wife' [30]



He swaggered.
Brushed off the cinders, righted his breeches, staggered towards me and smiled, the second-hand stink of raw spirits announcing the currency the landlord’s fat wanton had tendered.   'Ish a mishap’ he slurred, mispronouncing. ‘Mishtake  to take sho much drink.’
Behind him she screeched, skin scarlet-speckled where cinders had stuck.   ‘A mistake to think you could take it!   I’ve had more success converting churchmen to cuckolds than you!’
My lip curled.  ’Only the blind and the desperate – and churchmen are, by definition, both – whereas your concupiscent spouse seeks other amours almost nightly, rather than lie twixt your gnarly thighs!’  

This is part 30 of 'The blacksmith's wife'.   The whole is a prompt-led serial  which began on the Friday Prediction, in March  and continued, one hundred words at a time, for forty-one episodes.   One of my aims in this 100 days project is to complete the illustrations for each episode and publish the tale in book form.    The  story can be read in its entirety here.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

25/100 The blacksmith's wife' [29]



Fearing malevolence, and assuming I could thwart it, the earl insisted on my presence at the birth.
His lady gave no flicker of acknowledgement, too sharp-speared with labour pain, the like of which, before winter, would be mine to suffer too, but I trusted my son would not appear so goblin-like as this wizened little red-haired gnome, the image of its father.  
Having been three days away I hastened home, to find Gabriel speared between the goblin-gnarled, lard-flickered thighs of the tavern-keeper’s wife, but could not judge who screamed loudest from the shovelful of still-hot cinders I emptied over them.

This is part 29 of 'The blacksmith's wife'.   The whole is a prompt-led serial  which began on the Friday Prediction, in March  and continued, one hundred words at a time, for forty-one episodes.   One of my aims in this 100 days project is to complete the illustrations for each episode and publish the tale in book form.    The  story can be read in its entirety here.

Tuesday 27 November 2012

24/100 The blacksmith's wife' [28]



The earl himself came to solicit my presence citing some Court Leet summons from atop his horse.  
I curtsied, black-dragged hem suggesting slatternly submission, tight-laced bodice fresh-plumped engulfing flesh.
 ‘My lord?’   Eyes mocking-meek.
 ‘Your brother-in-law Mathias attests you hold illegally letters belonging to the state.’
‘He lies.’
‘He lies indeed, within my cellar.   You have the means of his release.’
‘Letters, for his safety?’
‘Letters mandatory.   His safety for …’
His eyes, having noted Gabriel’s absence, drifted downwards to my bosom.  
Sharply, ‘That of your unborn son?’
‘Son?    You threaten?   You know it is a son?’
I smiled.   ‘I know.’



This is part 28 of 'The blacksmith's wife'.   The whole is a prompt-led serial  which began on the Friday Prediction, in March  and continued, one hundred words at a time, for forty-one episodes.   One of my aims in this 100 days project is to complete the illustrations for each episode and publish the tale in book form.    The  story can be read in its entirety here.

Monday 26 November 2012

23/100 The blacksmith's wife [27]



‘What wants the earl with you, do you suppose?’
‘Letters, information.   Another fuck.’
‘Another?’
He had me when I was but fourteen.  Small and ginger as I recall, and an awkward corkscrew twist.’
‘Not again.’
‘Not unless the moon is full.’
I teased;  Gabriel was unappreciative.  
‘He has a wife, currently with child,’ I reassured.
‘Then he is the needier!’
‘Of an heir.   And I can guarantee its health, its sex, even its survival.’
‘You can?’
‘He’ll believe so.   What payment think you I should ask?’
‘Timber, labour, a reduction in the rent?   You’ll give him the letters?’
‘Not yet.


This is part 27 of 'The blacksmith's wife'.   The whole is a prompt-led serial  which began on the Friday Prediction, in March  and continued, one hundred words at a time, for forty-one episodes.   One of my aims in this 100 days project is to complete the illustrations for each episode and publish the tale in book form.    The  story can be read in its entirety here.