Read The Devil's Seal for Free Online Page B

choice.

CHAPTER THREE

    E adulf had seen the dead and slain before, but there was something curiously pathetic about this body that had been crouched in a praying position with its throat cut.
    The flickering candles illuminated a man of similar age to Eadulf: thin, almost gaunt-looking, with fair, lanky hair and the tonsure of Rome. He was clad in nondescript woollen robes that were midway between white and grey – the dirty colour of undyed wool. In Eadulf’s eye, this identified him as an adherent to the Rule of the Blessed Benedict, which Rome, at the recent Council of Autun, had decreed all religious should follow. Those adhering to it believed they should use only what they found in nature without adornment in their clothing, and that they should follow the simple life of work and prayer.
    There was no doubt that this was Brother Cerdic – and now he would no longer be able to answer any questions.
    Eadulf reached forward and touch the man’s neck. It was still warm. He sprang up, suddenly alert, because he now realised that Brother Cerdic must have come by his death only moments before he himself had entered the chapel. He peered quickly round into the dark recesses of the interior. There was no sound save the drip of tallow falling on the stone floor from one of the tall candles.
    Eadulf moved swiftly to the chapel door and, opening it, saw the aged Brother Conchobhar, together with a younger man, at the far side of the courtyard. He glanced around but no one else was about.
    ‘Brother, a moment of your time,’ he called.
    Brother Conchobhar raised his hand and then made his way to the chapel door with his companion following. The latter was a stranger to Eadulf – a fellow clad in a bright multi-coloured cloak. He had well-formed, handsome features, a pale skin and long black hair that held a shimmer of blue when the pale sun glinted on it. Yet it was the eyes that held Eadulf’s attention: they were of a curious light blue that seemed restless, like the waters of some ocean which threatened to draw Eadulf into their fathomless depths. It was almost an effort to draw his gaze away.
    ‘You look worried, my friend,’ the stranger said. When he spoke, the timbre and cadence of his voice were such that Eadulf knew that others would fall silent on hearing its haunting quality. It was not often that he had such a reaction to people.
    Brother Conchobhar introduced him, saying, ‘This is Deogaire, a relative of mine. He is right. Something
is
worrying you, friend Eadulf.’
    ‘Have you seen anyone emerge from the chapel while you have been in the courtyard?’ Eadulf asked.
    ‘I saw no one,’ answered the old apothecary. The young man also shook his head. ‘Who are you looking for?’
    Eadulf simply beckoned the two of them to follow him inside the chapel. Without a word, he pointed to the body lying before the altar.
    Brother Conchobhar went directly to the corpse and bent down. His experienced gaze took in the injury and the mottling of the skin tone now visible even in the flickering light.
    ‘What happened?’ he asked.
    ‘Frankly, I do not know,’ Eadulf replied. ‘I came into the chapel moments ago in the hope of speaking with this man. I found him crouched here and touched him on the shoulder, thus causing him to slip on his side.’
    ‘There is no sign of a weapon,’ Deogaire said, gazing about thoughtfully. It was a statement, not a question.
    ‘I saw none,’ agreed Eadulf.
    ‘Yet death was caused almost instantly,’ Brother Conchobhar announced, rising to his feet. ‘I would say a slash across the throat which prevented him from crying out, and then a single blow to the heart which caused immediate death.’
    Eadulf’s lips compressed a moment. ‘It indicates that whoever did this was skilled in the use of weapons.’
    ‘With knowledge of anatomy,’ Deogaire added dryly.
    ‘He is not long dead,’ Brother Conchobhar said. ‘Is that why you asked if we had seen anyone leave the chapel