Wish I Could Help/3

It was almost sunset when the train stopped at Eweshire. It was a small, pleasant, country town--an open square lined with a chapel, a pub and a few shops, a ring of comfortable houses and then the barns and pens for the livestock. Beyond the town were rolling hills where huge flocks of sheep grazed in meadows between scattered patches of woods that were just beginning to turn to fall colors. The station had been built quite a distance from the town itself and the road to it passed by a large, fortified, stone building.

Wilfort looked around and smiled. "This is a very beautiful place, Mistress Grone. I miss clear, autumn days like this in Tweedon."

Herberta nodded. "Yes, it is nice here...if you can stand the smell."

Wilfort sniffed loudly. "Now that you mention it, I do notice a little odor."

"You do not need to be so polite, Mister Hobnoster. Everyone here admits this place stinks.  They say there is something in the grass that makes the sheep smell so bad, but they say it is also what makes their wool the best in the world."

"The smell really does not seem that bad to me, but I do not have a very good sense of smell."

"Consider yourself lucky for that while you're here, Mister Hobnoster. Everyone in our family has an unusually sensitive nose.  And tomorrow, we'll be picking stenchberries.  They're even worse than the sheep." Herberta wrinkled up her nose at the thought of it. "We'd better start walking if we want to get to our house before dark."

"What is that building over there, Mistress Grone? It looks ancient."

"That's Eweshire Abbey. It's been here since before the empire was established.  I guess things were not so peaceful here, then.  We'll be stopping there.  Grandma send along a package for one of the monks."

The entrance to the Abbey was a pair of huge, wooden doors with a massive, iron knocker on one of them. Herberta pulled the knocker back and let it strike, making a noise so loud it sounded like someone was trying to batter the door down. After a few moments, the door groaned open and an elderly monk looked out. "May you know the way of the Nameless One and follow it well. What do you seek?"

Herberta bowed slightly. "I bring a package, sir, from Eldone Grone for Brother Fideles."

The monk nodded and opened the door farther. "Please, come inside and wait here. I will inform Brother Fideles you have come."

When the monk had gone, Herberta whispered to Wilfort, "The monks do not believe in using magic. They were Grandma's best customers when she lived in Eweshire, even though they tend to be very healthy.  There's no medicine-maker left in Eweshire, so she still sends them medicines when they need them."

Even wearing the loose, gray robes of his order, it was obvious that Brother Fideles was a large, muscular man. He gave Wilfort a stern glance when he noticed his wizard's staff, but he smilled at Herberta. "Mistress Grone, I was not aware you were back in Eweshire. Will you be here long?"

"Only a couple days, Brother Fideles. I need to gather stenchberries for a medicine my grandmother is preparing.  She told me to give you this package."

"It must be my sleeping medicine. I still have enough for several weeks from her last shipment, but Madam Grone must have thought to save the delivery cost by sending this with you.  I give my thanks to you and your grandmother, Mistress Grone."

"We are happy we can help, Brother Fideles." Herberta tilted her head towards Wilfort. "And this is Mister Wilfort Hobnoster, a wizard from the city of Tweedon. Grandma thought I had to bring someone along to protect me."

"I am pleased to meet you, Brother Fideles"

Brother Fideles frowned at him. "This abbey is consecrated ground, Wizard. You know your magic will not work here."

"I know, and I would respect your beliefs and refrain from using it here even if I were able to."

Herberta decided it would be best if they left. "Umm, I'm afraid we need to hurry, Brother Fideles. I want to get to my mom's house while it is still light out."

"Of course, Mistress Grone." Brother Fideles looked at her and smiled again. "May you know the way of the Nameless One and follow it well."

Like most of the buildings in the village, the house Herberta's family lived in was made of gray-brown brick and topped with a green copper roof. While the shutters on the other houses usually depicted sheep in some way, here they had a complex leaf pattern carved in them. Herberta led Wilfort around to a door on the side of the house.

"My mom'll be making supper now, Mister Hobnoster, so we'll go in through the kitchen."

"Are you certain your family will not mind if I stay here, Mistress Grone? Perhaps it would be better if I stayed at the inn."

"There isn't any inn in Eweshire. There aren't too many people who want to visit here.  You'd have to go all the way to Oakbrook and we have plenty of room right here.  And don't worry about the food, either.  Mom always makes more than enough."

Even with his not-so-sensitive nose, Wilfort could not help noticing the delicious aromas that filled the kitchen when they entered. A woman who looked like a somewhat older and heavier version of Herberta was stirring a huge kettle of mutton stew. She looked at them and smiled warmly.

"Herbie! I didn't know you were coming."

"Grandma just decided yesterday to send me out here to get berries for some medicine, Mom."

"Well, it doesn't matter. You're here now and that's good.   And you've brought a gentleman with you."

"Oh yes, this is Mister Hobnoster. He's the wizard who wanted Grandma to make him the medicine."

Herberta's mother stopped stirring a moment and bowed slightly. "Welcome to our home, Mister Hobnoster."

Wilfort bowed in return. "Thank you, Madam Grone. I am very grateful for your hospitality."

She resumed stirring and waved her other hand towards the cupboard. "Get those dishes on the table, Herbie. And be sure to give Mister Hobnoster the good plates."

Herberta handed Wilfort a stack of dishes from the cupboard and motioned for him to follow her into the dining room. While they were setting the table, a large man with a weathered face came into the kitchen from outside, with a nearly fully-grown boy behind him. "That does smell good, Cambelle! If only sheep smelled half that good while they were alive."

"Guess who's here, Tory? Herbie!  And she's brought a gentleman with her--a wizard.  They're in the dining room."

Tory hurried into the other room and hugged Herberta, effortlessly lifting her off the floor. "Who said you could come back here?" he laughed. "Did you get tired of that big city?"

"No, Uncle Tory. I just came for a couple days to get stenchberries for Grandma.  I do miss you, though."

Tory set Herberta back on her feet and looked at Wilfort. "You must be the wizard. I'm Istor Grone and I welcome you to this house."

"I thank you for welcoming me here, Mister Grone. I am Wilfort Hobnoster from the city of Tweedon."

"You've already met my sister Cambelle and of course you know my niece Herbie, so that just leaves my nephew, Steward." He shouted into the kitchen, "Boy, get out here and greet Mister Hobnoster!"

Steward came into the dining room and bowed a bit awkwardly, "Pleased to meet you, sir."

"It is my pleasure as well, Youngster Grone."

The doorbell rang and Herberta answered it. There she was surprised to find Brother Fideles.

"Pardon me for disturbing you, Mistress Grone, but it seems your grandmother has included an item of hers in that package by mistake." He held out his hand and showed her a medalion on a chain.

"That's Grandma's alright, Brother Fideles." She took the medalion from the monk's hand. "Thank you for bringing it. I know she'll be very happy to get it back."

"I will not take any more of your time, Mistress Grone..."

"Nonsense!" said Cambelle, who had come in from the kitchen when she heard the bell. "No one comes to my house at suppertime and leaves hungry. I insist you join us, Brother Fideles.  Herbie, fetch another plate for Brother Fideles."

"It seems that is the way the Nameless One has set before me, so I shall follow it. I will be happy to join you, Madam Grone."