38

The heavy, sweating animal between his legs warmed his

body against the crisp chill of the mid-December day. He

was not a good rider. Stonecutters were used to slow speeds

in an ox-drawn cart. He gripped the reins tightly, pressed his

knees against the belly of the beast and held on as best he

could. The horse was a healthy animal that the monastery

kept stabled on the mainland, just for this kind of purpose.

A ferryman had rowed Ubertus from the shingled beach of

Vectis to the Wessex shore. Josephus had instructed him to

make haste and return within two days, which meant the

horse must be made to canter.

As the day wore on the sky turned slate gray, a hy.

to the rocky face of the coastal undercliffs. He rode

through a frosty countryside of fallow fields Pace

walls, and tiny villages, much like his own. Occasionally

akin

de at pace stone

he passed dull-looking peasants, trudging on foot or ridt

lethargic mules. He was mindful of thieves but in truth h:

only possessions of value were t