Covenant With Hell

Chapter Twenty-four

Father Vincent looked over his shoulder and saw the monk and wine merchant running toward Master Larcher’s house. Terrified they would see him, he fled into a narrow alley.

Pressing his back against a wall, he prayed he would not faint. Were he to do so, and someone found him, he would be hard-pressed to explain what he was doing in this part of town. There was no one living here whom he had any cause to visit, except the craftsman Larcher, and that was the last person he wanted anyone to think he had just seen.

Why was he so cursed?

His head spun. Sweat ran down his back and sides. Even he could smell the sour fear oozing out of him. He whined and groaned, then muttered a prayer to God for forgiveness. Realizing he had spoken aloud, he glanced around, hoping no mortal was close enough to hear him.

There was no one around.

Easing away from the wall, he slowly peeked around the corner toward the place he had seen the two men.

No one was seeking him, or at least not yet.

Feeling a modicum of hope, he hurried down the short alley and emerged into an adjacent street.

He longed to run but knew he was wiser not to do so. If a man passed him by, he might remember that haste. If nothing else, the person might be a pious soul and stop him to ask if he could help. Why else would a priest be running unless there was a dire illness or impending death?

Again God showed His favor, and Father Vincent escaped from his questionable route and into the main road to the shrines. If anyone saw him, they would assume he was returning from worshiping at one of them.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he slowed his pace even more. Now that he was safe from pursuit, he could take the time to arrive at Ryehill Priory with the welcome news that they need no longer fear anything Master Larcher might say or do.