The Fifth Knight(104)

“You didn’t set out to kill anybody,” said Palmer. “You were trying to save your life, your mother’s life.”

“Sir knight, while my daughter showed great fortitude in defending our lives, she has nonetheless put the gravest of marks on her soul,” said Amélie. “She must make her confession as a matter of urgency. Otherwise she runs the risk of condemning her soul to hell for all eternity.”

“The only one going to hell is him,” said Palmer. The woman’s refusal to comfort Theodosia with reason enraged him.

Voices came from the door, cutting him off. He looked around to see Edward enter with Brother Paulus.

The elderly hostel monk stopped dead and crossed himself with determined vigor. “Who is that poor wretch?”

“A violent vagabond,” said Edward. “He attacked the two sisters here when Palmer and I were at the market, and during his attack, he fell on his own sword.”

Brother Paulus looked over the scene and turned to Edward with raised eyebrows. “I can’t see how that happened.” He sniffed the air. “For a start, his face is burned to naught with my lye. Moreover, his hands are cut. From trying to pull the sword out.” His lips pursed and made his thin face even sharper. “I think you need to call the constable, Brother Edward. I’m not sure the women’s account is true.”

Palmer read Theodosia and Amélie’s panic. He shared their fear. Bringing in the law could cost them their freedom, maybe even their lives.

“There will be no constable, Brother Paulus,” said Edward.

“I’m in charge of this establishment,” said Paulus, “and I’m saying it’s necessary.”

Palmer’s look went to Edward. Any inquiry, even if they walked free, would mean missing their sailing. They couldn’t afford that, now they knew the ferocious Eleanor was behind this terrible chain of events. They needed to get to Henry, and fast. “Let the brother know a bit more,” he urged.

“Brother Paulus, under normal circumstances I would agree with you,” said Edward. “But believe me, there is more to this than you can possibly imagine.” He gestured to Fitzurse. “What you see here is a man who was involved in the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

“Never.” Brother Paulus gave the corpse a look of open loathing.

“Indeed he was,” said Edward. “I’m afraid I can tell you no more. As you’ll appreciate, it’s a matter of great delicacy.”

“Then I’ll see to him,” said Paulus, “and he won’t be receiving the blessing of hallowed ground neither.”

“Thank you, Brother.” Edward’s relieved glance met Palmer’s. “Now, Sir Palmer, can you help the good brother here?”

Palmer nodded. Disposing of Fitzurse for good would be no sorry task for him.

“Sister Theodosia, while they do that, I believe you have a confession to make?” Edward extended a hand to usher her to his room.

“Go, my blessed.” Amélie kissed her on the cheek and loosed her hold.

As Palmer bent to assist Paulus in lifting the corpse, Theodosia walked past him to follow Edward, head bowed.

“You acted bravely, Theodosia,” said Palmer. “Like a knight.”

But she didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, she walked out after Edward, shoulders bowed in sorrow, without a backward glance.

♦ ♦ ♦

“In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.” Sat on the side of his bed in his room, Brother Edward crossed himself with the familiar gesture.

Knelt before him on the hard wooden floor, Theodosia also made the sign of the cross. The familiar gesture felt so odd in the strangeness of this place. She joined her hands and bent her head to them. “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been…” She paused to work it out. So much had happened, it felt like a thousand years. “It has been…been...” Dear God, she didn’t know. For the first time ever. “A long time since my last confession.”

“What sins have you committed in that time?”

“I have committed mortal sin.” She knotted her fingers tightly together.

“Tell me, my child.”

May the Lord bless Brother Edward. It mattered not that they held this sacrament in a strange room, away from the church, that she was a sinner. He was there for her useless, sinful soul, to bring her back to God, to everything she was promised to. “I have killed a man. Taken his life from him.”

“The gravest of sins, Sister.” His voice was steady, measured.

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry, so very, very sorry. I will never, ever commit such a deed again, even if my life were to depend on it.”