But now her brother and his wife, childless after all their years of marriage, had sent for her. I must not judge Isleen by that one visit, Elf chided herself silently. Still, they could have surely afforded the expense of a physician. Yet she loves my brother, and has taken good care of him. It must break her heart that God has not blessed them with sons and daughters. I must greet her as my sister, and as if it were the first time we met. I will love her because she loves Dickon. Has not our dear Lord said we must love one another as we love Him?

"You have not yet taken your vows?" Saer de Bude spoke again. "Do you really wish to be a nun, and do you never consider the joys of marriage, lady?"

"I have never wanted to be anything but a nun," Elf answered him honestly. "I bless the day my brother brought me to St. Frideswide's, although at the time, I was frightened, and confused. I had just lost my mother and never knew my sire, you see. All I had were Dickon and my old nurse, Ida. The nuns, however, mothered me and taught me. And one day I realized how happy I was in their company, how happy I was that I should join their ranks and have the privilege of serving God forever."

"I can understand," he told her. "I always wanted to be a knight, and fight in the king’s service. I am happiest when doing it."

They rode on in silence for a time.

"Do you think you could go a bit faster?" he finally asked her.

"I think so," Elf responded, "but if I become frightened, will you stop, sir?"

"Aye." He grunted, and kicked his own animal into a gentle canter.

The mare followed, with Elf leaning forward just slightly into the faster gait. She was quite surprised that she could do it, for she had only cantered a few times, but it was not unpleasant at all. She could feel a light wind on her face, and there was a freedom about it that was positively exhilarating. Sister Cuthbert was always teasing Elf that joy was not forbidden within the order, for Elf had a great tendency to be quite serious. Finally after a time she began to grow tired and called to him to stop.