OCR Text |
Show Page 68 "It is good to take a task to heart," he replied with a chuckle, "but it is not meet that one takes it too much to heart." Much as I coaxed, he would say no more. Having no wish to speak with Richard, I called Twig to me and turned to leave. Gathering my skirt in one hand so as not to dirty the hem, and holding tightly to the pipkin with the other, I started toward the muddy track leading from the fort past the compound and on toward the river. I soon was aware that Twig was not following and I turned back to him. "Do not dally, Twig. Master Davidson awaits you." It was then I noticed Twig's eyes were a-goggle at the sight of Richard in his armor. "Be that the new lieutenant?" he asked, his voice full of awe. "Aye,"I told him. "And if you don't come along with me now, I'll ask him to apply the flat of his sword to the seat of your breeks." Twig knew I spoke in jest, for he rolled his eyes back in his head and pulled a face at me. "Perhaps I will be a soldier when I gain my freedom and am man-grown," he confided when he reached me. "Methinks it would be even more fun than being a potter or a sailor." "Methinks 'twould of a certain be more fun than being a thief," I chided. I saw him look at me from the corner of |