The Confession of Brother Haluin

Read The Confession of Brother Haluin for Free Online

Book: Read The Confession of Brother Haluin for Free Online
Authors: Ellis Peters
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective
comfort from Haluin’s fondly resolved atonement, or still be nursing any
profound recollection of him, after eighteen years. But if the pious intent
gave the lad courage and determination to live and labor and be fruitful again,
why discourage him? So all he said was:
    “Well,
let’s first mend all that can be mended, and put back some of that lost blood
into you, for you’ll get no leave to go anywhere as you are now.” And
contemplating the right foot, which at least still bore some resemblance to a
human foot, and had a perceptible and undamaged ankle-bone, he went on
thoughtfully: “We might make some sort of thick felt boots for you, well padded
within. You might get one foot to the ground yet, though you’ll need the
crutches. Not yet—not yet, nor for weeks yet, more likely months. But we’ll
take your measure, and see what we can fashion between us.”
    On
reflection, Cadfael felt that it might be wise to warn Abbot Radulfus of the
expiation Brother Haluin had in mind, and did so after chapter, in the privacy
of the abbot’s parlor.
    “Once
he had heaved the load off his heart,” said Cadfael simply, “he would have died
content if it had been his fortune to die. But he is going to live. His mind is
clear, his will is strong, and if his body is meager it’s wiry enough, and now
that he sees a life ahead of him he’ll not be content to creep out of his sins
by way of absolution without penance. If he was of a lighter mind, and could be
coaxed to forget this resolve as he gets well, for my part I would not blame
him, I’d be glad of it. But penitence without penance will never be enough for
Haluin. I’ll hold him back as long as I can, but trust me, we shall hear of
this again, as soon as he feels able to attempt it.”
    “I
can hardly frown upon so fitting a wish,” said the abbot reasonably, “but I can
forbid it until he is fit to undertake it. If it will give him peace of mind I
have no right to stand in his way. It may also be of some belated comfort to
this unhappy lady whose daughter died so wretchedly. I am not familiar,” said
Radulfus, pondering the proposed pilgrimage warily, “with this manor of Hales,
though I have heard the name of de Clary. Do you know where it lies?”
    “Towards
the eastern edge of the shire, Father, it must be a matter of twenty-five miles
or so from Shrewsbury.”
    “And
this lord who was absent in the Holy Land—he can have been told nothing of the
true manner of his daughter’s death, if his lady went in such awe of him. It is
many years past, but if he is still living this visit must not take place. It
would be a very ill thing for Brother Haluin to salve his own soul by bringing
further trouble and danger upon the lady of Hales. Whatever her errors, she has
suffered for them.”
    “For
all I know, Father,” Cadfael admitted, “they may both be dead some years since.
I saw the place once, on the way from Lichfield on an errand for Abbot
Heribert, but I know nothing of the household of de Clary.”
    “Hugh
Beringar will know,” said the abbot confidently. “He has all the nobility of
the shire at his finger ends. When he returns from Winchester we may ask him.
There’s no haste. Even if Haluin must have his penance, it cannot be yet. He is
not yet out of his bed.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    HUGH
AND HIS ESCORT CAME HOME four days after Epiphany. Much of the snow was gone by
then, the weather grey, the days short and somber, the nights hovering on the
edge of frost, so that the thaw continued its gradual way, and there was no
flooding. After such a heavy fall a rapid thaw would have seen a great mass of
water coming down the river and draining from every drift, and the Severn would
have backed up the Meole Brook and flooded the lower part of the fields, even
if the enclave itself escaped inundation. This year they were spared that
trouble, and Hugh, kicking off his boots and shrugging off his

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