Wreathed In Friendship

As winter closed around the convent, Sister Ursula made a curious discovery in the woods...

THE angelic murmur of her fellow nuns practising plainsong drifted through the cloisters on a pleasant echo to where Sister Ursula, little infirmarian of the wooded convent of Langlois, was weeding round the fountain that formed the heart of her cloister garden.

In these last days before the joyful pageant of Christmas, Ursula was one of the only nuns to embrace the cold.

She loved how the nip of the season put such colour into her cheeks! Constantina, the lady of Becenan manor, had sent word of their return from a court visit.

Ursula smiled.

She'd missed her elegant and entertaining friend.

But their reunion arrived sooner than expected.

The nuns, streaming forth from church at the close of Terce, hugged the courtyard walls as clipped steel sounds of horses were heard, and a moment later, riders entered Langlois.

Two were noble siblings Alain and Constantina De Gael, who administered the estate of Becenan.

In their shadow rode tall blond constable Magnuss the Dane, imposing astride his large black destrier.

His appearance was softened by the flaxenhaired girl tucked before him in the saddle.

Bringing up the rear, a groom rode a sedate mount to allow for pannier baskets and Magnuss's merry wife, Estrid.

"My dear Ursula!" Constantina glided forward, gloved hands outstretched.

"We had provisions to bring your prioress, and I couldn't wait to see you." "Wonderful! Come to me when you can, I'll have a fire burning." Ursula watched as lord and lady preceded groom and panniers up the fanned steps leading to Prioress Osyth's chambers, transferring her smile to the youngest of the Dane family's two daughters.

"Good morrow, little Runa. What brings you to Langlois?" The girl held up a bundle of beribboned greenery.

"Yuletide decorations for your church," Estrid translated.

Runa rushed off with her armful.