him into the very image of himself. How will our beloved Lusara fare with another King who cares nothing for her people?’
‘But Kenrick is also Lusaran. Perhaps he will not be like his father.’
‘Selar will make it so, believe me – we have his father to thank for that. A vicious bully will always sire another. Selar’s father was the making of him. Where does that leave my little boy?’ Rosalind paused and brushed a strand of hair from Galiena’s eyes. ‘I should have worked harder to keep Selar’s favour. Back in the beginning when I had the chance. Dunlorn was the perfect example of what could be achieved by those methods. If I’d had any wits, I would have done the same. But I was young and innocent, with no knowledge of survival. Now it’s too late for me to do anything to stop Selar.’
‘Perhaps you won’t need to,’ Samah replied, searching forhope. ‘Perhaps the people will rise up against him. They would – if somebody they trusted would lead them.’
Rosalind shook her head. ‘There’s only one man they would follow – and he’ll never break his oath. And even if they did remove Selar – where would that leave my beautiful son?’ Squeezing Samah’s hand, Rosalind sighed, ‘No. I fear there is no hope for any of us.’
*
Godfrey wandered out of the cloister on to the sun-warmed grass. With slow footsteps, he reached a stone bench and sat, by habit bringing his hands together within the sleeves of his robe.
Hilderic was getting worse. Even now, an hour later, Godfrey could still hear his angry ravings about Brome’s discourse at mass. He’d spoken about the evil of treason in the wake of Blair’s execution – enough cause to send Hilderic into a flaming rage. More than a few of their brothers had heard the curses and threats as they’d echoed through the corridors. It was now only a matter of time – and very little time at that – before Hilderic would find himself arrested. That once-formidable mind was now entirely consumed with a hatred that would in turn consume him.
And there was nothing Godfrey could do to stop him. The more he tried to calm Hilderic, the colder the distance grew between them. After today it was unlikely Hilderic would even speak to him.
Godfrey sighed and tilted his head back to gaze at the frail clouds streaked across the sky. If only there was some way to get McCauly free – but there’d been no word from Payne yet and even if there had, Hilderic couldn’t be trusted.
Damn him! Why, after so many years battling Selar alongside Domnhall, did Hilderic choose this moment to falter under the strain?
‘Forgive me, Deacon. I’m sorry to disturb you.’
Godfrey turned to find Father John standing behind him, quiet and tentative.
‘Is something wrong?’ Godfrey murmured, waving him closer.
John came around the bench and stopped before Godfrey,his hands clasped together. He paused before speaking, as though trying to sort his words. ‘No, Deacon. But . . . Father Hilderic. He’s causing some concern amongst the brethren. I’m worried.’
Godfrey nodded. ‘Me too. You know I’ve tried to stop him – and he won’t listen to me, let alone anyone else. In some ways, I think he’s courting disaster deliberately. Guilt will do that to a man.’
John frowned. ‘Is there no possibility that Selar will release McCauly? After all this time, without charges being brought against him, Selar could believe Brome sufficiently secure in his position not to worry about opposition from McCauly.’
‘Opposition is not the issue, John. The simple fact is that McCauly was anointed Bishop and legally holds the position until he dies. There’s nothing Selar can do to change that. The best he could hope for is for McCauly to voluntarily renounce his vows of priesthood, and we all know he’d never do that.’
‘Then why hasn’t Selar done something before now?’
Godfrey shrugged. ‘Because he doesn’t need to. Why stir up the pot when it’s
‘But Kenrick is also Lusaran. Perhaps he will not be like his father.’
‘Selar will make it so, believe me – we have his father to thank for that. A vicious bully will always sire another. Selar’s father was the making of him. Where does that leave my little boy?’ Rosalind paused and brushed a strand of hair from Galiena’s eyes. ‘I should have worked harder to keep Selar’s favour. Back in the beginning when I had the chance. Dunlorn was the perfect example of what could be achieved by those methods. If I’d had any wits, I would have done the same. But I was young and innocent, with no knowledge of survival. Now it’s too late for me to do anything to stop Selar.’
‘Perhaps you won’t need to,’ Samah replied, searching forhope. ‘Perhaps the people will rise up against him. They would – if somebody they trusted would lead them.’
Rosalind shook her head. ‘There’s only one man they would follow – and he’ll never break his oath. And even if they did remove Selar – where would that leave my beautiful son?’ Squeezing Samah’s hand, Rosalind sighed, ‘No. I fear there is no hope for any of us.’
*
Godfrey wandered out of the cloister on to the sun-warmed grass. With slow footsteps, he reached a stone bench and sat, by habit bringing his hands together within the sleeves of his robe.
Hilderic was getting worse. Even now, an hour later, Godfrey could still hear his angry ravings about Brome’s discourse at mass. He’d spoken about the evil of treason in the wake of Blair’s execution – enough cause to send Hilderic into a flaming rage. More than a few of their brothers had heard the curses and threats as they’d echoed through the corridors. It was now only a matter of time – and very little time at that – before Hilderic would find himself arrested. That once-formidable mind was now entirely consumed with a hatred that would in turn consume him.
And there was nothing Godfrey could do to stop him. The more he tried to calm Hilderic, the colder the distance grew between them. After today it was unlikely Hilderic would even speak to him.
Godfrey sighed and tilted his head back to gaze at the frail clouds streaked across the sky. If only there was some way to get McCauly free – but there’d been no word from Payne yet and even if there had, Hilderic couldn’t be trusted.
Damn him! Why, after so many years battling Selar alongside Domnhall, did Hilderic choose this moment to falter under the strain?
‘Forgive me, Deacon. I’m sorry to disturb you.’
Godfrey turned to find Father John standing behind him, quiet and tentative.
‘Is something wrong?’ Godfrey murmured, waving him closer.
John came around the bench and stopped before Godfrey,his hands clasped together. He paused before speaking, as though trying to sort his words. ‘No, Deacon. But . . . Father Hilderic. He’s causing some concern amongst the brethren. I’m worried.’
Godfrey nodded. ‘Me too. You know I’ve tried to stop him – and he won’t listen to me, let alone anyone else. In some ways, I think he’s courting disaster deliberately. Guilt will do that to a man.’
John frowned. ‘Is there no possibility that Selar will release McCauly? After all this time, without charges being brought against him, Selar could believe Brome sufficiently secure in his position not to worry about opposition from McCauly.’
‘Opposition is not the issue, John. The simple fact is that McCauly was anointed Bishop and legally holds the position until he dies. There’s nothing Selar can do to change that. The best he could hope for is for McCauly to voluntarily renounce his vows of priesthood, and we all know he’d never do that.’
‘Then why hasn’t Selar done something before now?’
Godfrey shrugged. ‘Because he doesn’t need to. Why stir up the pot when it’s
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