Post of the Month 

~ December 2011 ~

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Nasir/Joshua de Talmont ~ Written by Gwyn. Posted on the HoS Yahoo group December 2010.

From a shadow of a doorway further along the crowded narrow cobbled street, Nasir watched.

His swords were hidden out of sight under a thick felted cloak and ragged cowl - they gave him the appearance of being a hunchback, but that was only further accidental disguise to serve him. He and Much had left their bows in a hollow tree in Sherwood before leaving the forest and moving onto the Nottingham Road, to walk the final few miles like any ordinary travellers.

Yet ordinary travellers they were not.

He leant idly against the doorway, just seeming to pause for a while whilst he sorted a stone from his boot, but his eyes were alert and directed to the house at the end of the street.

It was the better end of the street - the wider end, the cleaner end. The house he was interested in stood on the corner and had a high walled toft which led down to a wide stony stream. He knew because he had already circled the house casually once. He knew that the back of the house through the toft would be the best way to enter, rather than draw attention to himself by knocking on the door of a Jew.

He and Much had arrived in Nottingham at first light, and had entered then. They had parted at the Angel alehouse, arranging to meet there at noon. Much had gone on his way to Henry Searle the lame potter in the hope of seeking information about the mysterious Potkin, and Nasir....Nasir had headed for the small Jewish quarter to seek out Joshua De Talmont.

He had been watching the front of the dwelling for some time. A young lad had come out - a lad of perhaps twelve or thirteen. Although five years had passed, Nasir recognised him as Samuel, Joshua's only son. He had looked healthy and happy enough, and had had all the appearance of being sent on an errand. A maid had swept rubbish from in front of the house, but then had gone back inside again. There had been no sign of Joshua, and Samuel had not returned. Nor were there any soldiers around,

Nasir decided it was time to make his move.

He left his place by the doorway, and walked up the street, and casually circled the house again. He walked along by the bank of the flat wide stream. Here were the back of all the homes in this row. There was a door in the high wall which encircled the de Talmont's toft, but it didn't Nasir very long to secure a foothold on the crumbling stone and climb the wall. He dropped down lightly on the other side, now on the de Talmont's property.

Where he stood, screened by the leafy trees, he surveyed the back of the house. There was a girl sitting there in the sunshine by the door, and her head was bent over some mending.

Nasir surveyed her carefully for a moment and then quietly walked up the length of the toft.

Here was the scent of damp earth and sweet flower perfume, fresh grown herbs and ripening berries. He wended his way through the sparse plum trees and through the pea vines, past a bed of frilly carrot tops, and past a tangle of daises and lungwort.

The girl saw him as he approached.

She visibly froze and stared at him. Big dark eyes wide. Nasir recognised her. Esther, de Talmont's middle daughter. She had been but ten or eleven the last time he had seen her - just a child. Now she must be fifteen or so. Her hair was neatly parted and divided into two long braids, the ends of which were lapped in ribbon. She was no longer a child, she was a young woman. Doubtless she would soon be married.

"You remember me," he said quietly.

She nodded, still staring at him.

Nasir sat on his heels in front of her, to make himself less imposing. "Then you will know I will do you no harm."

She found her voice at last. "What are you doing here?"

"Where is your father?" Nasir asked quietly.

"Within..." she stammered.

Nasir rose to his feet and made his soft request. "Take me to him."

***

The door to the de Talmont's main living chamber swungs open easily on well-oiled hinges. Beyond, the chamber's stone walls had been disguised by wood paneling, and the floor was laid with worn redbrick tiles. One far corner of the chamber was partioned off with heavy cloth hangings, dusty and dull green and Nasir glimpsed a bed beyond it - in another corner on a chest stood the Menorah. The long heavy carved table ran half the length of the chamber, a bench on either side, and candlesticks and pewter goblets were clustered there.

Esther de Talmonts soft footsteps echoed on the redbrick tiles as she walked the length of the living chamber, past the table to where Joshua de Talmont sat at the head of it, looking over account scrolls, quill and ink and sealing wax to hand. Nasir followed. aware of the stare of the woman servant in the corner of the chamber who sat by the light of the window mending a garment. He was loathe to cast off his cloak and reveal the swords on his back. He suddenly felt out of place, and very uncomfortable, and he questioned himself for coming here. Still, there was no going back now - and they needed help. Information. De Talmont would know what was happening inside Nottingham Castle...and even if he didn't know, he would know of someone who did.

"Father?"

At her soft voice, loathe to disturb as though she knew his work was important, Joshua glanced up from his accounts, and then his face changed as he recognised Nasir.

Nasir paused before Joshua de Talmont as the man rose from his seat at table and bowed his head in greeting

"It's been a long time, my friend." Joshua's rich warm melodic voice was welcoming, and Nasir felt some of his unease fade. He took the hand offered and shook it, and met the man's eyes.

Joshua hadn't changed. Maybe a few years older, but everyone grew older, Nasir thought, aware that grey was beginning to speckle his own dark hair.

"Please, sit," Joshua indicated the bench at the table, and Nasir sat. "Esther," he turned to his daughter, but she had second-guessed him, gone into the adjoining room and now approached bearing a large jug. "You will take ale of the weakest draw?" Joshua asked, conscious of Nasir's beliefs, and Nasir just nodded. Water was not safe to drink in England lest boiled first, and so drinking ale of the weakest draw was by far preferable to falling prey to fatal disease. Sometimes, compromises had to be made. Esther poured ale into a goblet in front of Nasir and placed before him a platter. Then she brought out bread and cheese.

Joshua took up his own goblet of ale and regarded Nasir curiously.

Five years ago, we left," he said in conversation, "and for a while Lincoln was our home. Sarah married Aaaron - and I am grandfather of two, now, you know," Nasir allowed the twitch of a smile in acknowledgement, knowing how much the continuation of his line meant to the elderly Jew - it had been the same with his own father. It did not matter what religion you were, the continuation of your bloodline was all-important.

"Tuck said you had returned to Nottingham," Nasir said.

Joshua nodded thoughtfully. "You have come requesting help of me?"

"I need news from inside the Castle," Nasir said. "Who comes. Who goes." His eyes met de Talmont's "Who is held there against their will."

"Who is it you seek?" de Talmont asked.

"Robert of Huntingdon."

"Your leader?" de Talmont was surprised.

"We think he is held there."

"You think?"

"We have reason to believe."

"I see." de Talmont rose and walked over to the window in deep thought, arms folded; Nasir watched him

"I have never met your new leader," said de Talmont, "but I owe his men still a debt of gratitude for rescuing Sarah from Gisbourne's attentions five years ago. That wretched man is still ensconced so firmly within Nottingham Castle that I begin to believe nothing will shift him. As for the Sheriff, the less I speak of him, the better..."

Nasir watched him.

Joshua turned back from the window and looked at him. "The Sheriff is not in Nottingham at the moment. He left for London before Easter, upon the bidding of King John."

"We know," Nasir answered.

"However...I've heard gossip that he is due back in Nottingham any day soon." He fingered the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. "Robert de Rainault borrowed a sum of money from me before he left forWestminster. The loan falls due in three days time. He may be back by then, and I will have the opportunity to visit him within the castle. If you were able to wait..."

Nasir considered the situation. Three days in Nottingham were three days too long, in his opinion. But who knew what Much could find out from Henry Searle. They might even be able to track down this Potkin and demand some answers from him.

Joshua was watching him. "I understand that you do not feel safe. We have a loft space, under the beams of our roof. Reachable by a ladder and a trapdoor...there are boards laid down there. It would be comfortable enough. You have come alone to Nottingham?"

"No. There is the youth Much with me."

"Then you and he are both welcome under my roof - literally." Joshua's face creased in a smile. "If you need a place to stay whilst you wait for my visit to the castle. Who knows - the Sheriff may even arrive by then. But I will find out what I can for you. Whether Gisbourne has your leader, or not."

Nasir considered things for a moment longer. Then he looked up at Joshua and gave a nod.

"Thank you," Nasir said.