When I had finished eating she marched me outside to the small, enclosed yard behind her cottage and ordered me to strip. Then she helped me wash all over, from my hair to my toes, rinsing me with fresh, cool water in which rose petals floated. She wrapped me in a length of linen and proceeded to comb the tangles out of my hair. When it was almost dry, she deftly plaited it and coiled it round my head. I struggled into a clean under shift and then she fetched one of her own gowns and helped me put it on over the top, fastening a pretty girdle around my waist.
She stood back and inspected me. Then, at last, she smiled. ‘You look fine, Lassair,’ she said. She had something in her hand and now she stepped forward and held it out. On a length of leather hung a round disc of fine, smooth wood, into which was etched the sigil for protection. The sigil showed up deep, dark, brownish-red and I knew that it had been coloured with her blood.
She put the leather thong over my head and tucked the amulet inside my under tunic. Then she gave a nod of satisfaction. ‘You’ll be all right,’ she said.
I believed her.
They came for me in the middle of the morning.
There was a sharp rap at the door and as Edild opened it I saw four of Lord Gilbert’s men. They did not say anything — they did not need to — and I stepped outside and took my place between them, two in front of me and two behind. I saw Edild walking beyond the guards on my right and Hrype appeared out of nowhere and took up the same place on my left.
Their silent presence was immeasurably reassuring.
Protected by my escorts, we set off up the track. I kept saying under my breath, Boots of ice. I will not be harmed. Once or twice I put up a hand and touched the amulet hanging on its thong between my breasts.
So many villagers had gathered, lining the track on either side and milling over it, that I felt the fire pit before I actually saw it. Its heat came at me in waves, beating against my face. Then the people parted and I saw what lay ahead of me.
Edild did not give me any time for the fear to race in. She bent down and, sweeping up the skirts of my gown, twisted them deftly and tucked the end in my belt. I almost laughed then because, amid the vast presence of the fire pit and what I must now do there, I was more worried in that instant that everyone could see my bare legs. Well, I told myself, at least they’re not fat and hairy with thick chunky ankles like Goda’s. .
Lord Gilbert stepped forward, flanked by more of his men. Behind him stood Baudouin de la Flèche, his black eyes fixed on me. Lord Gilbert squared his shoulders and, after one anxious glance at me, stared over my head and said in a booming voice, ‘I call on those here present to witness the trial by ordeal of Lassair of Aelf Fen, here before you. She claims that Sibert, accused of the murder of Romain de la Flèche, is innocent of the charge because she was with him at the time of the murder. Baudouin de la Flèche, the dead man’s uncle, has brought forth a witness who says he saw Sibert commit the act of murder. Lassair agrees to walk the glowing coals and avows that God will prove that her word is true by protecting her from harm, and the priest here present’ — for the first time I noticed the black-clad figure, frowning his disapproval as if he would have liked to stop proceedings there and then — ‘will inspect her wounds after three days.’
Her wounds. .
I quailed. Beside me Hrype hissed, ‘Boots of ice! You will suffer no harm!’
There was no more time. Lord Gilbert nodded to the guards and their captain shouted, ‘Proceed!’
I stepped forward. Edild walked on my right, Hrype on my left, although they were too far away for me to touch them even with my outstretched fingers.
I do not need to touch them, I told myself. They are with me, their strength and their will supports me.
I closed my eyes for an instant, fiercely bolstering my energy until I sensed it flare up bright-hot, white-hot within me. I am made of fire, I told myself. Fire is my element.
Fire will not harm me.
Then I stepped on to the red-hot coals.
Walk quickly but do not run, Hrype had instructed. Keep up a steady pace. Look ahead.
His words echoed loud and strong in my ears. One pace, two, three. The coals were very, very hot and I could feel their threat. But my ice boots protected me. Your feet are pleasantly cool, I heard Edild say calmly inside my head. Take your time for you will not be hurt.
Four steps. Five.
I was still staring straight ahead but out of the corners of my eyes I could see Hrype and Edild. It was odd because although of course I recognized them, sometimes they did not look like themselves. Or, rather, they did but at the same time they looked quite different and I could have sworn that a silver fox paced on my right and a great brown bear padded on silent paws to my left.
I felt so safe, so secure, that I knew it was going to be all right.
Six steps, seven, eight, then, quickly now, nine, ten, eleven and twelve, then one foot was out of the pit and then the other, the fresh grass cool and welcome.
There was a stunned silence — I had been aware as I walked the fire pit that nobody was making a sound — and then a great roar rose up. Edild and Hrype stood panting either side of me, both of them drenched in sweat; Hrype had bluish cords standing out on his temple and neck. I spun my head this way and that, trying to see what was happening, trying to look in every direction at once, but then suddenly I was dumped down on my bottom on the grass and Edild was plunging my feet into very, very cold water that smelt of lavender.
She must have only recently fetched the water from the well, for the chill bit as the fire had not done and I cried, ‘Ouch! That’s cold!’
She did not hear, or if she did she gave no sign. One by one she raised my feet out of the icy water, closely inspecting each one before plunging it back again. She did this three times and I saw a slow smile of satisfaction spread over her face. I was the only one who could see, however, since she was bent over me, her face hidden. Then Hrype was there too, and wordlessly she lifted up my feet once more and showed him.
His smile was wide and triumphant. They looked at each other for a long moment and almost imperceptibly she nodded.
He stood up.
Lord Gilbert was elbowing his way through the throng, pushing open-mouthed, avid-faced villages out of the way in his fervour. ‘Well?’ he cried. ‘Well? Is she all right? Is she burned? What has happened?’
He saw Edild’s tranquil face and a grin twitched at his mouth.
‘See for yourself,’ Edild said. She lifted my feet up to show him and I was tipped over inelegantly on to my back, struggling to hold down my skirt to preserve what was left of my modesty.
He stared, shook his head in disbelief and stared again. The grin now splitting his face like a slice out of an apple, he called out, ‘There is no need for bandages or priestly inspection after the prescribed three days, for Lassair has taken no injury!’ The last words were delivered at the top of his voice. Then, in a far more controlled tone, he said, ‘I declare that, by virtue of the trial by ordeal, Lassair of Aelf Fen has proved that she tells the truth. God has protected her,’ he pronounced gravely.
I felt like throwing back my head and crowing. I felt like getting to my cold but unblemished feet and dancing. I turned to look for Baudouin de la Flèche, already edging his way quickly to the rear of the crowd, and I screamed, ‘Yaaaaa!’
It was pretty meaningless but it seemed to sum up what I was feeling. I saw him scowl at me with furious malice, then he spun round and hurried away.
Lord Gilbert, as if he had suddenly recalled the reason why we were all gathered there, was looking grave. He glanced after Baudouin de la Flèche, a frown creasing the puffy flesh of his forehead, then looked back at me. ‘It has indeed been demonstrated without doubt that you have God’s protection, and therefore we know that you speak true when you say Sibert is no murderer,’ he said. Then, with a sigh, he added, ‘The man Sagar, produced by Baudouin de la Flèche as witness, must be mistaken.’ His frown deepened; clearly he was thinking hard. Then he turned to the captain of his guard and said simply, ‘Go and release Sibert. The charge against him is dropped.’