A Tinn’s tale

o! That can’t be!’

Robyn just told her parents the Earl was named Optima. Which was quite some news, but she hadn’t expected her mother to gasp and her father to slam his fist at the table. He only was this angry when it had something to do with the Church..

 

‘Why not? What’s with it?’ Robyn looked at them both, but Jantine shook her head.

‘We shouldn’t tell-’

‘Yes we should! It’s better when they know.’

 

‘Well then, tell me.’ Robyn smiled. ‘Why are you two so upset about his name?’

Dorus cleared his throat. ‘In bygone days, Robyn, we lived in Applevalley,’ he began. ‘It is a nice village, but in those days I already couldn’t hold my tongue. I thought, well, you know my opinion about the Church. So I got problems. Your mother lived there too and, well, we were in love. It was all a bit blown up, so we had to flee and got here..
‘Now there was an Earl, there in Applevalley. He had three sons and a daughter. The youngest was about our age. His name was Quinten, Quinten Optima.’

 

 

‘How well I remember how Quinten looked at me from his fathers side. The stupid brat.. I didn’t like him and from the looks he gave me, he didn’t either. I was pleased he was only the third son. But now he’s moved to Tinn and he rules. The darn bastard.’

‘He’ll certainly recognize you as the stubborn villagerboy,’ Jantine confirmed. ‘You are both grown up, but if you start acting like before and he gets to know.. Be careful what you’re saying.’

 

 

It was a Tuesday and therefore, everyone went back to work after this break. Dorus went back to his chandler-workshop and Robyn helped Jantine, who was repairing Luc’s winter coat.

 

‘I can hardly believe.. Things are getting more difficult with the day,’ Jantine muttered to herself.

‘But mother, Robyn interrupted her with a clear voice, ‘as long as father holds his tongue, it’s allright, isn’t it?’

‘Never ever.. even in Applevalley.. but with this history- what?’ she looked confused.

‘When father keeps his mouth shut, it’s okay, right?’

‘Yes, yes ofcourse!’ Jantine put the coat away and looked her in the eyes. ‘But the problem is, the temptation to tell the world what the Church is up to, is getting worse and now we have this Optima that rules Tinn and immediately will act as your father does tell.’

 

 

Suddenly, the door flung open and Frank rushed in.

‘You have to come and help! He’s gonna die!’

His sad-looking behaviour made the women go with him. He quickly carried them along to his house, and seemed very upset. Robyn and Jantine exchanged curious and compassionate looks. What was this all about?

 

Inside, it was cosy and warm. But Robyn saw no one. She turned to Frank and asked: ‘Who’s gonna die?’

‘My father,’ he said, his head down. ‘He’s sick.’

 

 

Franks father lay in his bed, sleeping. He looked very pale. His mother, Karline, sat right beside him, sobbing. She didn’t know what to do.

‘I brought Robyn a- and her mother with me, mother,’ Frank said in an unsteady voice.

‘O-oh, if they can cure him, thank heavens.. Maybe in Applevalley they knew more than in L-locksley..’