the relic seller
also known as Jew, perhaps-Jew, little man, pale little man
The relic seller was an old, tired man with black hair and green eyes who peddled dubious holy artifacts from a cart. He was accused of being a Jew, pilloried by a mob, and later freed by Delphine, to whom he gave a mysterious wooden tube.
Story so far
He sold items with elaborate claims: a vial of Magdalene's oil, Joseph's carpenter's plane that made beams fireproof, and Saint Christopher's hair in a reliquary. Noticing the priest's need for wine, he pointed out a vintner. When a hostile group approached, he tried to flee but was seized. To the sergent, he declared 'I am a Christian' and pleaded he was a convert before being taken to the pillory. Delphine later freed him. He recognized her mysteriously, asking 'Is it time?' and, upon her negative reply, urged Thomas to take her home. After his release, he explained the mob had looted his cart but not taken everything, then gave Delphine a hinged wooden tube on a rope from around his neck, calling 'When?' after her as she left.
Appearance
- hair: Very black hair · revealed ch.11
- eyes: Very green eyes · revealed ch.11
- demeanor: Seemed to smile at everything · revealed ch.11
- condition: Looked very old and very tired · revealed ch.11
Actions
- Sold religious articles from a cart · revealed ch.11
- Said the clay vial was the oil the Magdalene used to wash Jesus' feet · revealed ch.11
- Said 'No, actually' to Thomas about the mallet, then produced a carpenter's plane, claiming it was used by Joseph · revealed ch.11
- Said any beam planed with the holy plane is proof against fire and no two such beams might ever be separated · revealed ch.11
- Said to Thomas 'No, my lord, you look as though you knock them down and none can stop you. But surely you will want a fine house built one day, and you may lend the carpenter this holy thing.' · revealed ch.11
- Fished out a lock of Saint Christopher's hair in a horse bone reliquary, claiming the horse was Constantine's · revealed ch.11
- Said riding with the relic would make your horse never stumble in a river nor throw a shoe save near a farrier, and Saint Christopher would lead your horse by the nose · revealed ch.11
- Said to the priest 'Perhaps you seek the vintner' and pointed out a vintner selling wine from Auxerre · revealed ch.11
- Told the priest 'You want wine so badly you’re gray from it. Your upper lip is sweating.' · revealed ch.11
- Said 'You seem lost, brother. Perhaps you need something to point the way for you. Perhaps something very dear.' · revealed ch.11
- Scrambled into his cart and tugged out a cedar box with Greek letters, opening it to reveal a leaf-shaped spearhead worked with ivory · revealed ch.11
- Said the spearhead went to Alexandria for a time and oliphants from Africa gave their tusks for it · revealed ch.11
- Suggested the word 'Poverty?' and 'Humble means?' when the priest struggled for an inoffensive word · revealed ch.11
- Said 'The child is wise' and 'Heavenly treasures and earthly ones are not the same.' · revealed ch.11
- Shut the box with a loud snap and fastened the latch, looking anxiously past the priest · revealed ch.11
- Hastily began to pack his goods away when he saw the approaching group · revealed ch.11
- Said 'Yes, perhaps you should go' to Thomas · revealed ch.11
- Packed away his things sloppily and pulled at the spars of the cart to get it going · revealed ch.11
- Was pushed down by a man who put his hand on his face · revealed ch.11
- Said nothing when the sergent asked his name · revealed ch.11
- Said simply 'I am a Christian' when the sergent asked again · revealed ch.11
- Pleaded 'I’m a convert' and began to say a Pater Noster but was shoved to the ground · revealed ch.11
- Was helped up by the sergent, who pulled his pants up and took him away to the pillory · revealed ch.11
- Said to Delphine 'I know you' when she came to the pillory · revealed ch.11
- Asked Delphine 'How do you know me? From today?' and she said 'No' · revealed ch.11
- Said 'I just do' when Delphine asked how he knew her · revealed ch.11
- Called Delphine over, saying 'Girl. Look at me. In the eyes.' · revealed ch.11
- Asked Delphine 'Is it time?' · revealed ch.11
- Nodded and closed his eyes when Delphine said 'Not yet' · revealed ch.11
- Said 'Get her home. Now.' to Thomas · revealed ch.11
- Said 'You wanted something?' to Delphine after being freed · revealed ch.11
- Said 'They got the one I showed you. Not this one.' about his cart · revealed ch.11
- Pulled a hemp rope from around his neck with a hinged wooden tube about the size of a short flute case and gave it to Delphine · revealed ch.11
- Called after Delphine 'When?' as Thomas carried her away · revealed ch.11
Nothing has been revealed about the relic seller yet at this point in the book.