To Love Again - Bertrice Small [117]
Her admission startled him, for she had never complained about her solitude before. Aspar had never considered that she might be weary of being companionless.
Several days later Zeno was sent to the city, and when he returned, he brought with him a young girl with large, frightened blue eyes, and flaxen braids.
“The master thought you would like a young maidservant to keep you company,” Zeno said, smiling. “We are all so old here, but you, lady, are like springtime, and need a fair flower to serve and amuse you. She speaks no language I can understand, lady, but she seems pleasant and biddable.”
Cailin smiled at the girl and then asked, “From where does she come, Zeno? If I knew, perhaps I might find a language in which we could communicate. If I cannot speak with her, then all my lord’s good intentions are for naught.”
“The slave merchant said she comes from Britain!” Zeno said triumphantly. “Surely you can communicate with her, my lady.”
“Yet she speaks no Latin,” Cailin mused to herself. She turned to the young girl. “What is your name?” she asked in her own native Celtic tongue. If the girl didn’t speak Latin, she must speak Celtic.
“Nellwyn, lady,” the girl said slowly.
“Are you Celt?” Cailin said.
The girl shook her head. “Saxon, lady, but I understand the tongue you speak. I come from the Saxon shore, and there are many Celts there.”
“How came you to Byzantium?” Cailin continued.
“Byzantium?” Nellwyn looked confused. “What is Byzantium, lady?”
“This place, this land. It is called Byzantium. The city that you were in is its capital, Constantinople by name,” Cailin explained.
“Northmen raided our village,” Nellwyn told her. “My parents and my brothers were slaughtered. My sisters and I and the other women who could not escape were carried off. They took us to Gaul first, and then we traveled by sea again to come here. Many died on the way. The sea was horrible!”
“Yes, I know,” Cailin said. “I came to Byzantium almost two years ago from Britain in a similar fashion. My home was near Corinium.”
The girl’s eyes grew wide. “Are you a slave, too?”
“No longer,” Cailin replied.
“Is this your house, lady?” Nellwyn recognized quality when she saw it, and this beautiful woman was obviously nobility.
“No,” Cailin told her. “It is the house of Flavius Aspar, Byzantium’s most famous warrior, and a great nobleman.” There was no need to explain anything else. Nellwyn would soon figure it out, if indeed she had not already. “My lord has brought you to be a companion to me, Nellwyn. You are safe now, and need fear no longer. Do you understand?”
“Yes, lady,” Nellwyn replied, kneeling before Cailin. “I will serve you loyally, I swear by Woden!”
“I am pleased to hear it,” Cailin said. “Now get up girl, and go with Zeno, who is master of the servants in this house. He will show you where you are to sleep, Nellwyn. You will have to learn the language spoken in this land, or it will be difficult for you, I fear. The tongue is called Latin. Many spoke it in Britain.”
“I have heard the words of that tongue,” Nellwyn answered. “I have a good ear, my father always said, and learned Celtic quickly. I am sure I will learn Latin as well, lady, and make you proud of me.”
“Good! Now, whatever Zeno tells you to do, you must obey him,” Cailin explained to the girl. Then she turned to her majordomo. “She has some words of Latin, and claims she can learn quickly, Zeno. See she is given a bath. She smells like a stable. Then give her fresh clothing and a sleeping space. She may come to me in the morning, and I will assign her duties and begin to teach her myself.”
The elderly servant bowed and, signaling to the girl, led her off. Very shortly he returned, however, and said bluntly, “She will not let us bathe her, my lady. She screams like a rabbit in a trap.”
“I will come,” Cailin said, and followed him to the servants’ quarters, where Nellwyn, naked now, stood sobbing piteously. “Come, girl, you must wash,” Cailin scolded her. “In this land we bathe with regularity. Your pretty hair will be crawling with lice, I’ve not a doubt,