“That’s only ten sacks,” said the merchant.
“I told you there was only ten,” the novice said to the chief monk.
“This is the eleventh,” said the chief monk, and he put his hand on Aliena’s sack.
She stared at him in astonishment.
The merchant was equally surprised. “I’ve offered her half a pound,” he said.
“I’ve bought it from her,” the monk said. “And I’ve sold it to you.” He nodded to the other monks and they dragged Aliena’s sack into the shed.
The merchant looked disgruntled, but he handed over the last pound bag and twelve more pennies. The monk gave the money to Aliena.
She was dumbstruck. Everything had been going wrong and now this complete stranger had rescued her—after she had been rude to him, too!
Richard said: “Thank you for helping us, Father.”
“Give thanks to God,” said the monk.
Aliena did not know what to say. She was thrilled. She hugged the money to her chest. How could she thank him? She stared at her savior. He was a small, slight, intense-looking man. His movements were quick and he looked alert, like a small bird with dull plumage but bright eyes. His eyes were blue, in fact. The fringe of hair around his shaved pate was black streaked with gray, but his face was young. Aliena began to realize that he was vaguely familiar. Where had she seen him before?
The monk’s mind was going along the same path. “You don’t remember me, but I know you,” he said. “You’re the children of Bartholomew, the former earl of Shiring. I know you’ve suffered great misfortunes, and I’m glad to have a chance to help you. I’ll buy your wool anytime.”
Aliena wanted to kiss him. Not only had he saved her today, he was prepared to guarantee her future! She found her tongue at last. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said. “God knows, we need a protector.”
“Well, now you have two,” he said. “God, and me.”
Aliena was profoundly moved. “You’ve saved my life, and I don’t even know who you are,” she said.
“My name is Philip,” he said. “I’m the prior of Kingsbridge.”
