27th August 1103

“Well Kelgar lad, yew have the look of a man who’s not been treated to a good fuck for weeks,” Elbran roared over the drunken sounds of the tavern.

Christ how did he know?

“No… I mean… yes… I mean… oh fuck Elbran, how in Christ’s name did yew know yew uncanny bastard?”

“Cause if yer dick’s anywhere near as droopy as yer smile then we’ve got serious problems.”

“My dick’s not droopy,” he replied, a grimace replacing his droopy smile.

“Oh don’t yew worry Kelgar my dear friend. I know what it’s like. My wife’s been that fat with child before I couldn’t even get my cock anywhere near her. An’ yew know, my cock’s got a rather long reach,” he sniggered and Kelgar joined with a half-hearted laugh.

Aylric was stonily silent.

“Eh Aylric… and no one gets swollen up with a child like that wife of yer’s. Goodness, her tits are so big I’m surprised she manages to lace em up tight in that bodice of hers. Though she’s that nice she probably thinks of other ways to attend to yew I guess she does.”

“Don’t talk about my wife like that!!!” Aylric cried, struggling to rise to his feet.

“He’s just jesting Ayrlic lad, don’t yew listen to him now,” Kelgar soothed, putting a hand on his friend’s shoulder and pushing the drunk man back into his chair.

“Ye’ve got to use it Kelgar… otherwise it’ll fall off,” Elbran chided.

“Yew gentleman be needin’ anything?” a crooning voice from behind him almost made him start from his chair.

He turned around and came face to face with the ample bosom of the tavern keep’s wife, Netty. She would have been plump even had she not been with child, her face disconcertingly childlike atop her voluptuous body.

“Ah, no, thank yew,” he mumbled. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Elbran raising his eyebrows.

“Suit yerself then,” she purred, turning to stir the rich stew bubbling over the fire.

Her round rump brushed against Kelgar’s arm as she bent and he felt a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the fire being stoked behind him. He saw the blacksmith was listening intently to their conversation.

If only it had just been the pregnancy, but Illewen had been cold toward him since the day of their marriage. The baby was not due for another three months and Kelgar knew that such a state was no deterrent for many women. But Illewen had barely let him touch her since she had told him the news. He was miserable, utterly miserable. Kelgar had resolved to remain faithful to his wife but it was proving a far more difficult task than he had imagined.

“Goodness me, it’s certainly being hot in here,” Netty purred, fanning her face.

A trickle of sweat ran down Kelgar’s brow.

“An’ yew lads are certain yer not needing anything? Anything I can get yew then Kelgar.”

“No, no thank you,” he spluttered taking a hasty gulp from his ale.

She sashayed away and Kelgar sighed in relief.

“I know just the thing fer yew Kelgar lad,” Elbran was saying enthusiastically.

“What?” he asked cautiously.

Aylric scowled.

“Yew need a night or two with our lovely Netty,” he said, his voice a little more hushed, “Lord knows she’s a good one. Do things to yew yer wife wouldn’t dare.”

“Uh… I don’t know Elbran, I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Kelgar protested.

“Sure it is, Netty’s a fine lass an’ yer wife doesn’t need to know. What happens in the tavern stays in the tavern eh?” Elbran winked.

“But Wen will be waiting,” Kelgar muttered.

“And he’s a married man Elbran!” Aylric cried, “to our good friend Vance’s widow, God rest his memory. Or had yew forgotten her.”

“Christ Aylric, who needs a priest when I’ve got yew to remind me what’s a sin and what ain’t? Of course I remember Vance, but nothing Kelgar does tonight’s going to hurt him or the lass.”

He turned to Kelgar, “Don’t yew worry yerself listening to Brother Aylric here. He’s got a supple wife at home who does his every bidding. If yer finding yers a little chillier then ye’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. How long has it been anyway?” he asked a little softer.

Before Kelgar could answer Aylric stood abruptly.

“I don’t want to hear any of this talk so I’m off home to my wife and children, God bless their innocent souls. Kelgar, yer a good man, I know yew’ll do what’s right.”

“Kiss yer wife for me,” Elbran called as Ayrlic tramped out the door slamming it shut behind him.

“Somehow I don’t think that wife of his is as innocent as he thinks,” Elbran chuckled, “So how long’s it been?”

Kelgar couldn’t help the crestfallen look that crossed his face, “Actually, it’s been months, many months.”

“Oh Kelgar lad, that really isn’t good,” Elbran regarded him with some sympathy, “then yew simply must have Netty tonight. She’s that sweet on yew she is, only has eyes fer yew tonight.”

Perhaps he should do it, Illewen didn’t need to know and Netty did seem to be taking an interest in him. And Lord knows he was desperate for any kind of affection, however feigned.

“It’s not many a man that stays faithful to his woman Kelgar, and it’s not fer everyone. Besides, if yer not spending the night with Netty our friend Firman, the blacksmith over there is sure to. Burned bastard’s been sniffing around her all night. Save her from bending over fer that brute of a man and yew’d be doing her a favour.”

That did it. Kelgar would be Netty’s tonight then and he would treat her kindly. Lord knows the poor girl deserved a kindness or two.

“Er, Elbran… how do I, yew know. Go about asking?” he asked softly.

Elbran smiled, detailing the discrete method that the tavern keep had fostered to avoid embarrassment in such a tiny tavern.

Kelgar nervously approached the tavern keep, a rotund man with hair slick with animal grease and smoke. Rinan Kerswell had a rat-like face, pointy teeth that poked from his mouth when he leered and an unpleasant blotchy complexion. Rinan was the sort of man who would have sold his own children if he thought it would get him a copper or two. Perhaps he would, if they were girls. Kelgar remembered the tavern keep had one son, and he found himself hoping that the one on the way was also a boy.

“I’d like some of yer fine honey mead,” he whispered awkwardly.

“Certainly, yew’ll find a jug of it upstairs,” Rinan replied with a smirk.

“Oi, Rinan yew dirty fuck, get me another,” Grimm the furrier snarled.

“Yew wait yer turn or yer out on yer arse,” Rinan growled, while at the same time reaching out a discrete hand for Kelgar to put the money in.

He nodded to the ladder in the corner and Kelgar gingerly climbed, feeling the heat of blacksmith’s glare as he went.

The room was small and dirty, stinking of boiled lard, cooking smoke and unwashed men. He heard a small toddler whimpering in its sleep behind a ragged curtain that split the room in two. He sat heavily on the straw bed, feeling it creak and rustle beneath him, head in his hands. He waited for Netty but he was thinking of Illewen.

He had failed her.

Other families, Shildfrith