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Page 90
man's forehead or horns sprout from his head.
"My men are fit. You have given order that no bread be eaten until new grain is brought in, have you not? Then, if what you say is true, they will not fall ill. I will not stay here. I am afraid." Joanna's voice rose to a thin cry of terror and her hands fluttered uncontrollably. "I am afraid," she repeated, panting in her effort to suppress another burst of untimely mirth. "I will not eat or drink anything at all tonight or tomorrow morn. Before the prime, I will go with my men. If you do not come with me, you are cruel. I am afraid."
With that, Joanna fled again to consume (in the privacy of her chamber) cold goose, roast pork, and large slabs of delicate manchet bread washed down by copious draughts of sweet wine. When, presumably, she had been soothed to sleep, Edwina stole down to Sir Henry's bed to gossip about the foolish timidity of her mistress and then to engage him in a far more interesting activity. Not long after this absorbing play began, the "sleeper" crept silently down the stairs and out into the bailey. Knud and Beorn, on the watch, came to her at once. She asked first how the sufferers were progressing. No one had died, she was told, nor was likely to. The visions were decreasing in intensity, but bowels were still gravely disordered.
"Good," Joanna replied unsympathetically, although she was relieved that there had been no deaths. Let the cooks prepare the 'medicinal' draught I orderedbut only Sir Henry's men are to be given that. Our people must have an infusion of chamomile and pennyroyal. It will be just as bitter but do more good. And if any think it strange that our people mend while the others do not, let the answer be that our people are better accustomed to the air and water here, which are tainted by the sea."
"How long are they to be kept disordered?" Beorn asked.
"Tomorrow and the day after. Then they are to be given the chamomile and pennyroyal. It will take them another

 
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