Wine of Violence

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sister Matilda screamed.

Brother Thomas held the cross in a tight grip, both hands stretched rigidly in front of him. Ralf stood behind him, eyes as unblinking and dry as if they had been painted on his face.

Eleanor pulled the wild-eyed nun into her arms, pushing her head into the curve of her neck so she could no longer see the body.

“Hush, sister! There is nothing to fear. Brother Thomas has the Evil One at bay with the cross in his hands. We are safe.”

“It is the very Devil who burst from the earth. He has found me!” The nun’s cries were muffled, but Eleanor could feel her body shaking with terror.

“He is powerless against you, bound as he is in the chapel near the altar, sister.” Eleanor gestured to Thomas to follow her out, then turned and pulled the trembling nun away with great gentleness. “We shall leave, and I promise you will never see him again.”

Sister Anne was waiting outside the door as the four emerged into the fading light. She helped Eleanor seat Sister Matilda, then gave the nun, whose eyes were now tightly shut against the sight of any further horrors, a drink from a cup she had close at hand.

“She needs to sleep, my lady,” Sister Anne whispered. “I will have someone sit with her tonight in case she wakes from evil dreams, but with this potion I think she will sleep well.”

Eleanor, short as she was, took the sitting nun’s head and pulled it close to her breast and gently rocked her. “You did a brave thing tonight, Sister Matilda. I believe you will rest now, and, in the morning, we will walk together in the garden after chapter and speak of your return to grace from this penance you have endured.”

Sister Matilda turned to look up at the prioress, her eyes already unfocused from the draught the sub-infirmarian had given her. “Penance, my lady? I did penance?”

“You did indeed! Remember? It was for your pride. Now that you have done this thing tonight, I believe you may be relieved of your work in the garden.”

The nun sat up and swayed, her face filled with blissful relief and joy.

“Say nothing more, my child. It is your duty now to sleep. We will speak in the morning.”

Sister Anne gestured, and a lay sister came out of the shadows. They whispered together for a moment, then the lay sister and Sister Matilda wobbled away in the general direction of the hospital.

“I will stand just there until you need me,” Sister Anne said, gesturing to a yew tree a little distance away.

Eleanor turned to Brother Thomas. “You look shaken yourself, brother.” She meant it kindly, but she saw him stiffen. “It is one thing to cross swords with a human enemy, but yet another to face Satan himself,” she added quickly. “Your courage was impressive.”

“I faced a corpse, not Satan, my lady.” His expression was unreadable.

“You did not know that when I asked you to protect us against a possible demon.” Eleanor wanted to reach out, take his hand, and clutch it to her as she had the terrified nun. The sweet pain she felt at the thought of his hand on her breast was less than chaste. She dropped her gaze, and there was silence between them.

“As you will. I am here to serve and am pleased if I served as you wished.”

“You served well, brother.” Eleanor took a deep breath and looked up. “I have one thing more to ask of you.”

Thomas bowed his head in silence.

“Should you see or hear anything of note in the matter of this death as you perform your tasks, I would hear of it, and hear of it first. Anything unusual. Anything out of place. We are both new here, but I have learned that you are a thoughtful and observant man. Crowner Ralf can only search the outside world for signs of this murder and that of Brother Rupert. I need your skills for noting anything untoward within our priory, especially amongst the monks and lay brothers.”

“Aye,” Ralf said. “I concur, good brother.”

Had the light not so failed that his face was in shadow, Eleanor might have seen Brother Thomas turn pale before he nodded agreement.