It had been her intention to ask Elias where to find her sister, but in the end she did not. He said he knew the falconer they sought, a very good man, well-regarded by all. She did not want to ask him where to find a common whore who shared Nan’s looks. Not in front of his son, in this house his grandfather’s grandfather had built.

They took their leave of him, following his instruction to climb the street past the cathedral and then follow the lane behind the castle. They would find the falconer near the west gate. She watched the Welshman walk with ease up the steep street. He was strong now. There was no more need to journey at a slower pace and rest often, nor keep away from busy roads and crowded inns for his peace of mind. He flinched less and slept more. He was easier among people now.

He was recovered – not entirely, but enough that it would not pain her to leave him.

They reached the great cathedral and stopped to look at its grandeur. Seeing it from the road this morning had caused memories to rush in, the distant days of her girlhood when they would work in fields close enough to see it etched on the horizon. Bea had begged to come here when their mother was dying, sure their prayers would fly to God faster if said in such a place. Even from the outside, it seemed to soar straight into heaven. Though Nan had since seen many great castles and manors and churches, there still was nothing else like it.

“Will we go in?” The question slipped out of her, to her own surprise. “To give thanks for a safe journey. And it’s a sight to behold, though you’ve seen such sights before, to be sure.”

The Welshman blinked at her. He had been staring at the immense size of it, at the many pilgrims milling about, and the merchants hawking medals and trinkets.

“Never have I seen anything like this,” he answered, looking again at the expanse of stone, his eyes following the spires up into the sky.

To think that he, who was so worldly, had never seen such a magnificent thing. It made her feel suddenly like she possessed a great wealth. It was different than the other things she had given him – food and shelter, her protection and her words. Those were given because they were necessary for his survival, but this could be given only for joy.

She signaled to the Welshman that he should go ahead of her toward the cathedral. Some in the crowd cast a curious eye at the lump of the falcon’s cage still beneath his cloak, and she meant to safeguard it from any mischief. Near the great arched door, she signaled Fuss to stay outside to wait, and they stepped inside.