Witness Testimony recorded by Lucien
CITY OF NARBONA
Esclarmonda: fifty-two; married wife; living
with her invalid husband outside the city
rom Tolosa? You’ve come a long way.
There was a time when I liked to roam about too. I used to visit my sister, south of here, along the lagoon. Her husband fished it, before he died. I haven’t seen her in years. These aged feet of mine won’t let me travel. She’s still there, last I knew, eating what her son drags up from the sea.
You are looking for a girl?
I have seen no one of that description, Friar. Dolssa is a curious name.
Oc, yes, there are tozas aplenty, but local ones, all of them running about chasing the tozẹts, priding themselves on their hair and their round, red cheeks. Their turn will come. A man will woo them, babies will delight them and break their hearts in turn. Like my son, Niot. What good is he to me now, dead in the wars? Such a curly-headed babe he was!
I have seen no one like the donzȩlla you describe.
You want to ask my husband? Ask him if you like, but his wits are no longer his own. He keeps to his chair. He will have seen nothing, nor could he tell you if he had seen your donzȩlla.
Oc, I might have missed her, but I watch the road and the river. Ever since the aching took hold of my feet. I sit here and watch the world pass by, since I can’t go greet it myself anymore. I can’t swear she hasn’t been here, but I can say I’m fairly certain she has not. Are you sure she came this way? Might the angels already have taken her?
What will you do now? Keep looking?
There is a convent just up the road, in Narbona, Friar . . . Lucien? Friar Lucien. Listen! Those are their bells ringing, even now, for prayers. If you follow the river, you will come to it eventually. The Brotherhood of Sant Esteve. Perhaps they could help you there with your search. If nothing more, they would welcome and feed you.
Try the village, then, if you want to ask others.
Oc, oc. If I see any sign of a girl such as the one you seek, I will send you word at the convent.
God speed you on your errand, and may you find the girl you seek. God protects and keeps his own, does he not?