The first problem was size; even the largestcloak of the first few I tried barely made it to mid-thigh, butthere was also an issue of quality. My purse had been returned tome, so money was not an issue, and as is the case with every marketI have ever been in no matter where, the best locations arereserved for those selling the highest quality goods. In mydefense, I did try to find something suitable without having tomove to the row of stalls; at least, I did my best to appear tomake an effort, but after shaking my head at the last offering, Imade my way in that direction, although I started at the oppositeend from Bronwen’s stall. I could feel Matugenus staring at me ashe walked behind me, but then he sent Meriadoc to a spot directlyacross from Bronwen’s stall, where he leaned his back against thewall of the building at the edge of the square facing my direction.The message could not have been clearer, and they could not havedone a worse thing than that. I actually found a cloak, black,which was not my first color choice, that was thick enough, andmore importantly, made for a tall man, at the first stall. I made ashow of shaking my head, and aided by the fact that I could notunderstand what the man offering it was saying to me, which judgingfrom the tone was not complimentary, I walked leisurely down theline, stopping at the stall next to Bronwen’s. She had seen mecoming, and I sensed how nervous she was by the manner in which shewas twisting her hands, even as she spoke to another man who waseyeing a silver ring of some sort.
Like the first of the stall merchants, thisone, another woman with iron gray hair drawn back and a seamed facedominated by a prominent nose made more so by the large wart on theside of it, smiled at me, and I had the strong impression that thiswas not something to which her face was accustomed. I nodded,offering the greeting I had learned in Parisii, which she returnedthen as she extended a hand towards a half-dozen cloaks hung onpegs pounded into the side of the stall. To my disappointment,there was nothing in any shade of red, but there was a cloak of adeep, rich blue that caught my eye. When I indicated it, she noddedwith obvious pleasure, and I would not have been surprised if shehad started drooling at the prospect of taking advantage of thisRoman barbarian; it would be a thought that I would castigatemyself for holding in the very near future. She was too short toplace it around my shoulders, but I did the same thing I had donewith everyone else and squatted down to enable her to do so. When Istood up, I saw that it was just about mid-calf, but it was how itfelt between my fingers as I measured the thickness that mattered.It was not fur-lined, but I had not seen anyone besides Cogidubnuswearing any kind of garment trimmed with fur. I made sure to nodand smile to let her know that I was pleased, but when I reacheddown to my purse, the woman became alarmed, thrusting both handsout towards me as she shook her head, and I was completelybaffled.
Surely, I thought, thatcunnus Matugenus will blame her as Iturned to ask Bronwen, “What is she saying?”
I should have been more alert to Bronwen’sreaction because she clearly heard me, but before she opened hermouth, I saw her eyes go past me to where Matugenus would have beenstanding.
I had been certain that she heard me, butjust when I was opening my mouth to repeat myself, she finallyanswered, “She says she cannot take your money…Centurion.”
I should have noticed that she used my rank,but I was more puzzled about the first part, and I asked, “Whynot?” I even held the purse up and jingled it, having long sincelearned that this sound is music to a merchant’s ears no matterwhat they are selling. “I have plenty of money.”
Bronwen spoke to the woman, but she shookher head again, and whatever she said made Bronwen smile; Iwondered later if this was the beginning of what caused everythingthat was going to take place in the immediate future. Not, I wouldadd, that I spent much time contemplating it.
“She said,” Bronwen was still smiling,and
