Rubbing His Face

“…That was the first time I gave livestock to the steward, and then… then I became a cattle hand.”

“Ah…” Caught off guard by this answer, his son found himself at a loss for words that could express his feelings.

Why, when he was a child and was beaten by his cousins, had his father never stood up for him?

Why, whenever his aunts came to borrow wheat, had his father never pointed out that they never returned a single grain?

Why had his father often led the oxen to weed and fertilize his uncles' plots, yet never once seen a smile on their faces?

At this moment, all the questions that had accumulated over the years—questions his father had always refused to answer—suddenly found their resolution.

“At that time… you couldn’t even walk yet, and your younger brother had only just been born…”

His father continued, “Then… then… since that day I brought livestock to the steward and became a cattle hand, all these years, I’ve had only you and your brother.”

“Your uncles, hmph, and those people in the village, all quietly whispered it was a punishment from the Lord… but I’ve always thought it was a blessing! When you and your brother weren’t home, I often told your mother how wonderful it was to have only two children. When I grew old, or… if I died as suddenly as my own father did…”

“That won’t happen…”

“Dean, no one knows what tomorrow will bring. My father didn’t know, nor do I, and you won’t either…”

He lifted his hand to halt his son’s consolation, and continued, “Think about it: when I die, it will be just you and your brother. There’ll be no division of the household, the whole family can always stay together, working as cattle hands, and life can go on just as well as it does now… Even if, after a few years, you both have children and there are more mouths to feed, life may get harder, but you’ll still get by. At least… at least it will be far better than your uncles’ families…”

“…Like this… like this…” At that, Arvis turned away, shielding his face from his son and furtively wiped his eyes with his elbow. “The two of you will never have to sneak out at night to take livestock to the lord again.”

After he spoke, Arvis fell silent for a long while. Beside him, Dean’s eyes were red as well.

“Dean, I never wanted to tell you these things… But now it’s different. You and your brother both have new paths before you… Dean, would you want your brother to live as your uncles do?”

“Of course not!” Dean answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“…Good, I knew you wouldn’t. The steward said, as long as you go to Eclay to work, no matter what becomes of me, your brother will always be the cattle hand of Floran… The priest also said, once you’re in Eclay, just do your best. If you learn the craft of treating cattle, when you return they’ll arrange an easy job for you… Even if you don’t learn it, you and your brother will still be cattle hands together.”

“Father, of course I want to learn the craft of treating cattle… But I’m only going as a hired hand, and no one would teach their craft to a hired hand unless he’s an apprentice…”

“Then just consider yourself an apprentice!”

“Consider myself an apprentice…” The very thought of this, in the sweltering summer, sent a cold shiver through Dean.

Apprentice.

How dreadful it was to be an apprentice.

Dean remembered well how the village cooper, the widower Boris, had taken on two apprentices.

From the very first day, the two boys lived in the livestock shed. Even in the depths of winter, they had to beg for a few handfuls of straw, huddling with the animals for warmth.

They had to rise in the dead of night to tend the cooper’s livestock, and when they finished, scarcely catching their breath, they’d plunge into the black woods to gather firewood, listening to wolves howl in the distance. On returning, they had to fetch water and cook the thin gruel, and only after the cooper was fed could they have whatever scraps remained. Then came endless labor from dawn till the moon was high—only then could they crawl back to the shed for rest.

So it went, day after day—working for the commons, for the family plots, for the cooper’s household, and sometimes even for their own families. Only after three full years could they begin to learn the trade.

And through those three years, and after, an apprentice dared not even think of offending the cooper. Even a slight sluggishness at work would earn them a bruised face by the next morning.

Just last prayer day, after the church service, another father had led his son before the villagers and the priest, and what he said left a deep impression on Dean, one he would never forget:

“I, April Arnold, this is my son, Cindy Arnold. My harvest was poor, and I cannot feed this boy any longer. I am willing to let him serve as an apprentice for four years in the house of Duke Eden, the plowman. During these four years, whatever work is to be done in the plowman’s house, in his fields, if the plowman gives the word, my son must not refuse. As an apprentice, my son will eat whatever the plowman gives him, be beaten however the plowman wishes, and need not inform me. If my son quits or runs home, I must pay the plowman two bundles of wheat. If, during his apprenticeship, my son falls ill or dies, it is no concern of the plowman. In the holy presence of the Lord, I ask you all to remember, and the priest to bear witness.”

“Don’t worry, you don’t need to be so afraid…”

As if reading Dean’s thoughts, Arvis comforted him: “I’ve asked the priest; the whole Mossmore family has only ever tended two or three oxen at once. They certainly don’t know how to manage a large herd, so they’ll have much to learn from you, and will need your help to become a real cattle hand family. Also, our priest will send a letter to the priest of Eclay to ask him to look after you. So, your days there will not be too hard…”

“But, even so, you must remember to think of yourself as an apprentice, and do whatever Mossmore tells you. Always, always remember! Never, ever take it lightly just because Moss is young! Do whatever he tells you, eat whatever he gives you! Even if he beats you, you must endure! How much can a child’s blow hurt…”

“…No, that’s not right! If he tries to hit you, don’t let him! I’m not worried about you being hurt—I’m worried you’ll hurt his hand! …Hmm… Here’s what you’ll do! If he wants to hit you, quickly kneel down and rub your face against his wooden shoes until he’s satisfied! Do you understand?”

At this, Arvis’s tone became stern.

Dean nodded vigorously, moved beyond words. “Yes, Father, I’ll remember!”

“Good…” Arvis looked his son up and down for a long moment before nodding in satisfaction. “When you get to Eclay, do you know how to teach the craft of cattle handling?”

“I know—when I get there, I’ll immediately teach Mossmore how to care for the herd, teach him whatever he wants to learn, tell him every trick he asks about, and never hold anything back…”

“No, no, don’t do that…” Arvis shook his head slowly.