The Fifth Knight(117)

Theodosia flew at him. “Just get Benedict, get him out of there. You must, you must. Do you hear me?”

“Hey.” The captain pulled her off. “You’re not helping, Sister. Let us do our job. So why don’t you do yours, and start to pray?”





CHAPTER 31

Barely afloat in the freezing blackness of the ocean, Palmer tried to wrestle the monk from him. The ship, already several yards away, pulled them along on the tightened rope. But Grim clutched his neck in a deadly embrace.

“You madman, Palmer. You’ve killed us both.”

Palmer’s breath came in high, fast heaves of his chest — too fast, but the cold wouldn’t let him slow. “As long as I’ve done for you, I don’t care.” He flexed his shoulders and prepared to break the monk’s hold. “Now get off me. I don’t want you taking me to hell with you.”

“The only one going to hell is you.”

The razor appeared inches from Palmer’s eyes.

“I’m cutting that rope from your arm, Palmer. I will have it instead.” His actions matched his words.

Cut suddenly adrift, Palmer turned over in the water once, twice.

Grim was pulled away, the rope wound round his hands. “You’re a fool, Palmer. I thought you should know that.”

Screams, shouts, and lights came from the ship.

“A search party already,” called Grim. “I’ll send them to look for your corpse. While I see to that wanton and her mother.”

Palmer flailed his arms, treaded water, a terrible numbness already in his legs. Grim was right. He was a fool. He’d gambled. And lost. Worse, he’d delivered death to Theodosia and her mother as sure as if he’d landed the blows himself. His shoulders, knees stiffened with cold. Even the small movements of staying afloat became difficult now.

“The ship’s stopping. Pity they won’t find you!” Grim was now a bobbing form on the surface of the starlit water.

Was it confession time? Probably. He’d already begun to feel drowsy.

“Palmer!” Grim’s panicked scream cut through his sleepiness. “Palmer! Come and help me, man. My robes! I’m sinking. Help me, for God’s sake!”

Of course. Palmer started to laugh. When the ship had been sailing forward, its momentum had kept Grim afloat. Now that it had stopped, the monk in his heavy wool cassock became a dead weight.

Choking coughs sounded from Grim. “You have to help me! Please!”

Palmer didn’t bother to reply. His numbness spread through his whole body, and he felt almost warm.

Final screams and gurgles came from Grim. Then a blessed silence settled over the sea.

Peace. Calm. This was how death should be. He brought Theodosia to his thoughts. That was how he’d leave this world, holding her in his soul. His wonderful, brave Theodosia. His beautiful Theodosia. Beautiful with her foolhardiness, her wits. Her clear gray eyes. He looked up at the stars. Soon he’d be amongst them. If that was where heaven was. His eyes slid closed. Heaven was with her, that was sure enough. One day, she’d come to join him. Please, God.

♦ ♦ ♦

“The rope’s gone loose!”

The call that came from the front of the ship pierced Theodosia’s heart as well as the night.

“Oh, dear God, Mama. Benedict’s not tied on anymore. But I saw him. Why? What’s happened?”

“I don’t know, my blessed.” Mama’s voice was fearful.

Hanging over the wooden deck rail, Theodosia squinted at the night ocean as she tried to track the progress of the little rowboat that had put to sea, her last hope now for Benedict. The weak moonlight meant she could see little.

Her mother squeezed the back of her hand but said nothing.

Theodosia knew what the gesture meant. “It’s been too long, hasn’t it?” Anger built in her throat. “It’s too cold. The water will be like melted ice.”

The ship, head to wind, sat listlessly in the water, the proud square sail moving in a slow, useless flap.

Dead in the water. Like her Benedict. “What have I done?” Her cry echoed across the silent ocean as she dug her fingernails into the rail. “I let Edward guide me where it should have been Benedict. If I’d made the right choice, Benedict would still be alive.”

“No one could have guessed what Edward was really up to,” said Amélie. “Remember, I also trusted him. Followed him like a meek little lamb, when all the time he was plotting against Henry.”

“But I should have — ”

A hullo came from the water.

“That’s my crewman,” said Donne.

Theodosia gasped as the rowboat emerged from the darkness, low down in the water.