Other than the most needed remedies, and the simplest to make, only she and I made the cures. And lest you fear that a truly lethal item might be used accidentally, let me assure you that this was not possible. The toxic roots, seeds, leaves, and flowers are kept over here, well out of the way.”
The nun led Gracia to a large covered chest and raised the lid.
Gracia peered in. There was a strange smell coming from the chest. It made her uneasy. She drew back.
“You can see that a poison could not be sent by accident, even by one of us. We were not allowed to touch the dangerous ingredients, not even I, although Sister Anne had promised to train me in those skills.” Sister Oliva flushed with pride. In an older woman, this might be called a sin. In one of the nun’s youth, it was an innocent display of joy.
Gracia clapped her hands with pleasure. “How wonderful to be chosen by Sister Anne to learn from her!”
The nun bowed her head. “I am humbled by her confidence,” she said, “and have atoned for my conceit.”
“Surely it is no sin to be grateful that God gave you the ability to learn this astonishing craft, Sister. Since I have taken no vows, I shall be proud for you!”
Laughing, the nun kissed the girl on the cheek. “You are good to say so,” she said.
As the pair went back to the place where the nun had been working, Gracia considered what she should ask next. “Poor Sister Anne,” she said, “but surely her tale that someone was sent by the priest can be proven.”
Sister Oliva shook her head as she picked up the pestle and ground away at the toothache treatment. “None of us saw anyone. We have discussed it. It grieves us all that we cannot offer proof that she told the truth.”
Gracia gestured to the hospital. “None of the healthier patients witnessed a hooded man near the hut?”
“Most look only to God, my child. One pilgrim with a sprained ankle was questioned. He sleeps on a mat near the chapel. After he asked many questions to aid his memory, he still denied seeing anyone.”
“I was there when Sister Anne told Father Etienne that she would send the remedy with a lay brother who could give instructions. After we had left, she told Brother Thomas that the cure was a simple thing.” Gracia blinked with a suggestion of confusion.
“It is. And I was here soon after she was arrested. Nothing had been mislaid. Everything was put back on the shelf. All looks as it should.”
“I have heard a rumor that what killed the clerk was autumn crocus.” She pointed to the large chest. “I assume it would be in that?”
“It is a noxious thing. Most certainly it would be there.”
“Was it often used?”
The nun ran her finger through the mixture she had been grinding to check the consistency. “Rarely. Sister Anne was using it to treat our sub-prioress’ gout. A few courtiers come here with the complaint, and she has used it on some, but not all.” She laughed. “Courtiers do not always wish to remain out of the king’s sight long enough for that cure to work, and it is too dangerous for them to use without close observation.”
“Will you show it to me?” Gracia’s eyes sparkled with interest. “I am curious to see this extraordinary thing.”
They went back to the chest. Lifting the lid, the nun reached in, then hesitated. With a puzzled expression, she bent to look deeper into the chest. After a moment, she straightened with a frown. “It isn’t here.”
Gracia walked to her side and stared inside at the stored jars and boxes. “There are not many in there. It cannot have fallen into some hidden place.”
Now the nun’s face was pale. “It could not.” She rushed back and carefully looked at every item on the shelves. “I cannot find it!” Her voice rose in panic.
Looking around, Gracia knew that the room was too small for something to be easily hidden. All looked neat. It would be hard to lose a container, and the nun had checked to see if it had been
The nun led Gracia to a large covered chest and raised the lid.
Gracia peered in. There was a strange smell coming from the chest. It made her uneasy. She drew back.
“You can see that a poison could not be sent by accident, even by one of us. We were not allowed to touch the dangerous ingredients, not even I, although Sister Anne had promised to train me in those skills.” Sister Oliva flushed with pride. In an older woman, this might be called a sin. In one of the nun’s youth, it was an innocent display of joy.
Gracia clapped her hands with pleasure. “How wonderful to be chosen by Sister Anne to learn from her!”
The nun bowed her head. “I am humbled by her confidence,” she said, “and have atoned for my conceit.”
“Surely it is no sin to be grateful that God gave you the ability to learn this astonishing craft, Sister. Since I have taken no vows, I shall be proud for you!”
Laughing, the nun kissed the girl on the cheek. “You are good to say so,” she said.
As the pair went back to the place where the nun had been working, Gracia considered what she should ask next. “Poor Sister Anne,” she said, “but surely her tale that someone was sent by the priest can be proven.”
Sister Oliva shook her head as she picked up the pestle and ground away at the toothache treatment. “None of us saw anyone. We have discussed it. It grieves us all that we cannot offer proof that she told the truth.”
Gracia gestured to the hospital. “None of the healthier patients witnessed a hooded man near the hut?”
“Most look only to God, my child. One pilgrim with a sprained ankle was questioned. He sleeps on a mat near the chapel. After he asked many questions to aid his memory, he still denied seeing anyone.”
“I was there when Sister Anne told Father Etienne that she would send the remedy with a lay brother who could give instructions. After we had left, she told Brother Thomas that the cure was a simple thing.” Gracia blinked with a suggestion of confusion.
“It is. And I was here soon after she was arrested. Nothing had been mislaid. Everything was put back on the shelf. All looks as it should.”
“I have heard a rumor that what killed the clerk was autumn crocus.” She pointed to the large chest. “I assume it would be in that?”
“It is a noxious thing. Most certainly it would be there.”
“Was it often used?”
The nun ran her finger through the mixture she had been grinding to check the consistency. “Rarely. Sister Anne was using it to treat our sub-prioress’ gout. A few courtiers come here with the complaint, and she has used it on some, but not all.” She laughed. “Courtiers do not always wish to remain out of the king’s sight long enough for that cure to work, and it is too dangerous for them to use without close observation.”
“Will you show it to me?” Gracia’s eyes sparkled with interest. “I am curious to see this extraordinary thing.”
They went back to the chest. Lifting the lid, the nun reached in, then hesitated. With a puzzled expression, she bent to look deeper into the chest. After a moment, she straightened with a frown. “It isn’t here.”
Gracia walked to her side and stared inside at the stored jars and boxes. “There are not many in there. It cannot have fallen into some hidden place.”
Now the nun’s face was pale. “It could not.” She rushed back and carefully looked at every item on the shelves. “I cannot find it!” Her voice rose in panic.
Looking around, Gracia knew that the room was too small for something to be easily hidden. All looked neat. It would be hard to lose a container, and the nun had checked to see if it had been
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