The Book of Fires (30 page)

Garman just stood, Ave beads wrapped around his right hand as he rubbed his mouth with his left. Athelstan was immediately struck by the similarity between this priest and Lady Anne: that same hard, unfaltering gaze of a zealot, of a soul totally locked in its own purposes.

‘Your daughter …?’

‘If she was my daughter.’

‘Isolda was condemned to a brutal death.’

‘I could do nothing.’

‘Except allow Lady Anne to give her Ave beads?’ Athelstan pointed at those wrapped around Garman’s finger. ‘Though Isolda’s beads were not for prayer.’ The chaplain did not reply.

‘And afterwards,’ Athelstan stepped closer, ‘did you suspect who the Ignifer was? You knew Anne Lesures. You were once close to her as she was to you – that’s one of the reasons she visited this prison, to sustain a relationship begun decades earlier.’

‘I hear what you say, Brother, but,’ he shrugged, ‘what are suspicions? Anne Lesures and Isolda never confided in me. I was a mere spectator. Moreover, I am dedicated to causes more noble, more important than the wicked doings of this person or that. I pray, I strive for a better world. The building of a New Jerusalem, God’s Commonwealth here on earth.’

‘Parson Garman, you frighten me, you truly do.’

‘Why, Brother?’

Athelstan shrugged and turned away. ‘You still have duties, Parson Garman. You should see to Anne Lesures’ corpse and soul. I must meet Nicephorus.’

‘Brother Athelstan, I asked you a question. Why do I frighten you?’

‘Oh, because you make me wonder. Do we priests, who claim to love everybody, do we, in the end, really love anybody?’ Athelstan raised a hand. ‘Good day, Parson Garman.’

AN ANCIENT EVIL
A TAPESTRY OF MURDERS
A TOURNAMENT OF MURDERS
GHOSTLY MURDERS
THE HANGMAN’S HYMN
A HAUNT OF MURDER
THE MIDNIGHT MAN *
The Brother Athelstan Mysteries
THE NIGHTINGALE GALLERY
THE HOUSE OF THE RED SLAYER
MURDER MOST HOLY
THE ANGER OF GOD
BY MURDER’S BRIGHT LIGHT
THE HOUSE OF CROWS
THE ASSASSIN’S RIDDLE
THE DEVIL’S DOMAIN
THE FIELD OF BLOOD
THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS
BLOODSTONE *
THE STRAW MEN *
CANDLE FLAME *
THE BOOK OF FIRES *

*
available from Severn House