Crowner's Dilemma - Part Three

[ismenin]

Karin's Lovely Pic!!


Hello, my friends! Yes, another beautiful Sunday in Welsh Wales, and I am ready for my lunch. :D

But before that, I must post to you the latest part of my story, which I hope you will all enjoy. Well, we live in hope, do we not?

Anyway, hugs and all nice things to my dear friends here.





Thanks, as ever, to ladysunrope for her beta and encouragement. :D



Part Three


Dom and Elijah were still a-bed when Andrew knocked at the door. He called his master's name, and Elijah opened the door a crack, making sure no-one else was outside.

He let Andrew in, and re-bolted the door, as Dom woke and raised himself on an elbow, still looking as if he was half asleep.

Andrew wasted no time. "There has been another murder at the abbey, my lord - another young nun, the messenger said. The abbess wishes you to come, immediately."

Dom got up and went next door to dress, whilst Elijah looked meditatively at his servant. "Does she, indeed? Well, I think we should break our fast before we set off. If another poor girl is dead, our haste will not help her. Go and inform his Grace of it, Andy, then come back to me."

Dom had disarranged the bedclothes in his room, and washed quickly in the basin of cold water on the stand, but when he returned to Elijah's room, his lover was still sitting naked upon the bed, deep in thought. He raised his head and smiled at Dom, and Dom kissed him, just before Andrew returned followed by Vincent, clad in his nightshirt, dishevelled, round-oathed and mightily disturbed.

"God's Boots! What a nest of vipers it is, to have two young maids killed within it in two days! It is not to be borne!"

Elijah knew well his brother was not at his best before break-fast, and told him they would eat before departing. Vincent, slightly mollified by the thought of lean boiled bacon and peppered cabbage, returned to his room to dress.

A maid brought hot water to the door, and Andy, fetching it, poured it into a bowl whilst Elijah stretched and yawned. There were marks of love upon his body, and Dom blushed to see them, but Andrew, pearl of a servant that he was, affected not to notice them, although he could not have failed to observe the red smudges at his master's neck, and breast, and groin.

Elijah, following Dom's lead, wore black. Although the weather was warm for velvet, Elijah seemed not to be so greatly affected by the heat as was Dom. It seemed only right, as a funeral was to be held that morning, and now there would be another murder to examine.

Both Red and Ben wished to accompany them to the abbey, but Vincent said it was not seemly, with two dead nuns lying within its walls. However, Elijah unbent sufficiently to allow the lads to search the other side of the stream for any signs of activity, or a murder weapon. He told them exactly what to look for, and trusted they would make notes on anything they found or observed.


"Do not approach the abbey," he told the boys as they later mounted their horses. "After you have searched the area thoroughly, wait for us by the mill. I know Mistress Miller will be glad to share her excellent honey-cakes with you until we come."

He gave Red a penny, for the cakes and other refreshments, and smiled as the lads chattered behind them as they all rode off. No, the abbey was not the place for two lively lads - not this morning.

The four men rode sombrely into the abbey courtyard, halting as the two ostlers came out to tend to the horses. Andrew saw the one who had come earlier with the message now sported a large red mark on his cheek. He nodded to Elijah, who saw it, and pressed his lips firmly together. His aunt had always had a hard hand; he remembered it well from his childhood. However, he said nothing. No good would come of it, if he interfered with her rule in this place. Only Vincent could do that, and Elijah hoped that he would.

Sister Aefre came out to meet them. "The Venerable Lady is in the chapel with the family of Sister Odilla, your Grace - my lords," she said, curtseying to them all. "She said I was to take you to see the body of Sister Claudia. If you will follow me."

The body lay in the same room as had Sister Odilla's, but, apart from being covered with a sheet, the body had not been touched.

"The Abbess thought it best that we remove the whole bed to this room, so that you could better see how things were," Sister Aefre said, in a low voice. "I would not have left her so, but the Abbess insisted."

As the nun removed the sheet, Elijah saw that the knife that killed the girl was still embedded in her chest. There was blood, but not as much as would be expected if the knife had been removed.

He saw, also, that the girl's leg was still in its splint. This was the girl who had pulled the sheet over her head as they had passed through the infirmary the day before.

Elijah nodded at Andrew, who carefully pulled the knife from the young girl's chest, and wiped it before handing it to his master.

It was a plain, thin bladed knife, with a cream bone handle. Well-honed and, therefore, extremely sharp.

Elijah wondered why the murderer had left this piece of evidence there to be found.

He waited until his brother had finished his prayer, and had excused himself to organise the obsequies of the young novice now lying in the chapel, before he spoke.

"Do you recognise this knife, Sister Aefre?" Elijah asked, softly.

The nun shook her head. "It is not one of the abbey kitchen knives, my lord. I checked. The handles are all different. And Sister Wilfrida, in charge of the kitchens, has said she is not missing any of her knives. I believe her - she takes great care of them, as she says a cook's best tools are her knives. I checked with the sister in charge of the gardens. None of the knives in any of these places have cream handles."

Elijah then put the knife in his scrip, and asked who had found the body, and when.

"Sister Conna, one of my trainee assistants, had gone to her just after dawn, as I had instructed her to do each morning. She knew Sister Claudia could not rise from her bed to use the common office, due to her leg being bound, and she was taking her a pot."

"The three other sisters were fast asleep, and she found her, just as we see her now. Poor Sister Conna is a nervous girl at the best of times. I had to give her a composer, and now she is sleeping in the infirmary. I doubt if she will wake if you try to rouse her. Perhaps later..."

Elijah nodded, absently. Dom wondered what he was thinking.

Elijah picked up one of the girl's hands and looked at it - then the other. He sighed. "We shall attend the funeral, and then set to work."

Sister Odilla's family - a grain merchant, and his wife and son - were overawed, despite their grief, at the presence of the archbishop, and sat dumbly as he conducted the ceremony, and then later blessed the grave. They could not be persuaded to stay for a meal, but insisted on returning home to their small town where murder was a rarity, and imposing archbishops completely unknown.

Elijah watched the family ride off into the noon-day heat, and determined to seek out his aunt before eating.

Dom wondered what sort of childhood relationship caused such a squaring of shoulders, and the deeps sighs that Elijah evinced before meeting with his formidable relative.

The Abbess Gertruda met with her nephew and his brother in her office. Dom was allowed, grudgingly, to attend. It seemed to him that the lady used the desk that stood between them so she had not to endure a physical closeness to her nephew, a closeness which seemed repugnant to her.

She did rise when Vincent came in, but he motioned her to be seated, as Elijah fixed his aunt with a level gaze.

"Is there anyone in the abbey whom you know disliked Sister Claudia enough to kill her, Aunt?" Elijah asked, his voice calm and cool.

She glared at him. "This is a house of God, nephew! I know of no-one who lives within these walls, who harbours hatred for any soul alive or dead!"

Dom grimaced. I can think of one who does!

"Unless, Noble Lady, you believe an intruder broke into a locked building, whose windows and doors are barred shut at night to keep out the night's foul humours - yes, I checked with Sister Aefre that this is so - I must conclude that it was someone inside the building who murdered the young girl."
Elijah's voice cut through the air like ice, and the abbess stared at her nephew, shock apparent in her eyes.

"Someone inside...? No, Elijah, it is not possible! I cannot believe it!" Gertruda whispered, her voice raw with grief.

Elijah's voice softened. "Aunt, it must be so. Common sense must tell you it cannot be any other way, unless someone inside let another in to commit the crime. Surely you see that?"

Vincent had been uncharacteristically silent through this interchange, but now he spoke. "I agree with Elijah, aunt. We walked all about the outside of the building before we came to you this morning, and there is no way in but the three doors, all locked and barred each night, and every window, too."

"Unless," Elijah said, his tone drawing all eyes, "unless there is someone who sleeps with the window open, careless of the poisoned air of night."

The Abbess Gertruda gasped. "Holy Virgin!"

"I am sorry, Aunt. I remember well, that in my childhood, you refused to let Wenna close my window against even the foulest weather, saying that fresh air was very good for a child… even if the snow piled up in drifts upon that child's bed, and caused him great discomfort."

The Abbess Gertruda looked down at her hands. "I do believe that fresh air is better than the stale smell of sweat and urine."

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "Even for a feverish five year old child, in the middle of a snowstorm?"

Dom ground his teeth, but Elijah moved on. "This conversation is to little purpose, Aunt. If someone came in through your window, I would like to see how he or she made their way to the infirmary. Have I permission to go to your chamber?"

The abbess nodded. "I will take you myself," she said.

The room was upstairs, the last chamber at the end of a long corridor. She opened the door, and let Elijah and Vincent in.


Dom and Andrew had wisely stayed behind in her office, and both let out a sigh of relief. "What an old crow she is!" Dom snapped, "Elijah must have had an unhappy childhood if she was at the centre of it!"

Andrew grinned sympathetically. "It wasn't so bad, sir. Rowenna and Vincent shielded him a lot from her odd humours, and she was not there that often to spoil things. Not until his mother died, at least. She was with us half a year, then. But the call of religious life was greater than her brother's claims on her, and she was not so often there, after that, thank the good Lord!"

It was not long before the three returned, and the group took their leave of her, promising to return later.

"I cannot imagine what use you will be in finding out what has been going on here, Elijah, but you may believe me when I say that I am extremely grateful that you are expending your energies on discovering what you can. Good day to you...Vincent...Sheriff!" and with that, she was gone.

"Praise, indeed, my brother!" Vincent remarked as they made their way out of the abbey grounds. There had been no sign of Red and Ben on the far embankment of the stream, so they made for the mill, to pick up the boys there.

Both were bursting with news, but Elijah made them wait. "Not now - I am as hungry as a horse. You may tell us later, whilst we eat."

There was fine roast mutton - over which Dom winked at Elijah, causing him to laugh - and rabbit, with wine-currant sauce, and capons with roasted parsnips and other vegetables and meats. Dom ate heartily, whilst Red and Ben did justice to every dish before beginning their story.

"We took notes," Ben said, as he and Red attacked the cherry pie, and the almond milk rice that concluded the meal.

"Well, spill it out, lads. You've waited long enough!" Dom grinned as Ben reached for his scrip.

But Red had no need to read from Ben's list. He had a very good memory.

"We approached the area carefully as his lordship said, and there was much flattened grass there, both under a tree and leading towards the stream. There was a cloth there, too - which we brought with us - and some scraps of food, which we left there. The mouldy crust of a pie, some apple cores, and a flacon of what, by its smell, had contained mead."

"Yes," Ben added, quickly scanning his list. "I thought there had been some sort of midnight feast under the tree, such as we used to have in the cathedral, if we could get our hands on any food. We searched around for quite a large area, my lord, but could find nothing else. There was nothing that we saw that could be used as a weapon. The few stones we saw were still embedded in the ground, and there was nothing in the way of wood, except a few rotten branches. But there were none with blood upon them, and it has not rained to wash any off."

Elijah smiled at them. "Well done lads! That was carefully observed. You may leave, now, as there is an afternoon of enjoyment to be had in the woods. Astin tells me the hounds are being taken out ratting, if you would care to go."

The boys signalled their delight at the prospect, and stuffing a couple of last year's apples in their scrips, bowed and left the men to talk.

Vincent sighed as he put down his mazer. "Do you think this latest death has anything to do with the earlier one, Elijah? For if it does, I cannot see a connection."

Elijah rose from his seat and stretched his back, which had become tense during his interview with his aunt, and Dom longed to rub the knots out of it.

"I do not know, as yet. There seems nothing, at this stage of my inquiries, to connect them, but it seems odd to me that two young novices should be killed within a day of each other, do you not think? Dom?"

Dom pursed his lips. "I would think it odd if these deaths should be unconnected, Elijah. We must find out if the girls were particular friends - what secrets, if any, they might have shared with the other novices."

"But first, an hour of ease. I need Andy to massage my leg. It is a trifle stiff. Or..."

Elijah looked at his love.

"I will gladly do it for you, Elijah. Come, let us go upstairs," Dom smiled.

Vincent said he would retire to the castle's small chapel for an hour's contemplation and prayer, and Elijah told him that he and Dom would ride to the abbey later, to ask a few questions.

"For you will frighten the young girls half to death, brother, with your purple and your commanding height and presence. We two are unexceptionable creatures - they will talk to us."

The archbishop laughed, and said he would be glad to re-acquaint himself with the castle environs, as it had been several years since he had returned there.

Andrew quickly brought the salve with which to massage Elijah's leg, but Dom sent him away, saying it would be a pleasure for him to perform such a service for his master. And so it proved. Soon Elijah's satisfied groans of pleasure became groans of a different kind, and Dom, sure that the doors to both rooms were bolted, feasted himself on the pleasures to be obtained of his lover's body.

Two hours later, when the heat of the day had lessened, Dom and Elijah rode to the abbey. In truth, they could have walked - it would have taken them no more than an hour - but the day was too warm to permit such things, and the horses were quicker.

Arriving without ceremony, they asked the first nun they saw where the novices could be found. However, she was unwilling to usher two personable men into their presence without sanction from the abbess.

She went off to obtain it, and the men sat on a bench in the hallway, contemplating the stonework, until the sister appeared and asked them to follow her. She led them to a room where the young girls were all engaged in sewing, supervised by two elderly nuns, who were informed that the abbess had given permission for the girls to be interviewed.

The girls seemed hesitant at first, but both Dom and Elijah had had experience of talking to young maidens, and soon they were all set at their ease.

It seemed that the two dead girls had been close friends. "More like sisters than friends, they went everywhere together," volunteered a freckled girl with rabbit teeth, and a shy smile.

All the girls seemed anxious that the fate of the two murdered novices might fall upon them, for none could think why the two girls had been marked out for death. One sensitive soul started weeping, then, and the others rushed to comfort her.

A tall girl with flaming red hair, raised her eyes at Elijah, indicating that nothing more would be got out of the group that day, but a further movement of her eyes indicated that she would see them outside in a little while.

They left, and waited under the window, and presently, the girl came quietly to them, and drew them aside, away from the building.

"I do not know much, sirs, but I do know both of them sometimes left the abbey at night. And they stole food from the kitchens, for I saw them. Whether they went together on the night Odilla died, I do not know, but it was on that night that Claudia claimed to have fallen on the stairs, and broke her leg."

The fresh, honest face held a puzzled look. "But she was nowhere near the stairs, sirs, that is the odd thing - for I found her under the window in the hall. It was open. That is all I know - I hope it helps find those who killed my friends."

She looked around anxiously, saying she had excused herself only for a few moments, and must return to her duties.

The two men took the opportunity of looking about the abbey for any clues that might present themselves, but nothing did. Elijah had brought the knife that killed Sister Claudia with him, but no-one recognised it.

Sister Wilfrida, in charge of the kitchens sniffed when she examined it and said it looked more like a man's weapon to her, and not a kitchen implement. "A good stabbing knife, I'd say, my lords," she pronounced, "or a butcher's slaughtering knife. My father had one very like it, and he was a pork butcher."

They went outside, again, and visited the stables, but neither of the ostlers there had seen it before. Both men had knives in their belts, plain, serviceable brown-handled knives, for cutting meat or string, or other such necessities.

"A powerful sharp object, that, my lord," offered the man who had come to the castle to report the murders. "I don't recognise the bone the handle is made of, either. It ain't usual for these parts, that I know."

Dom, who had not before closely examined the weapon, was intrigued, so he took hold of it, and subjected it to some scrutiny. Elijah was still speaking to the ostlers, and did not see Dom grow pale, and lean against the wall for support.

He felt ill. How came this knife to be here? He made an excuse to Elijah that he needed to piss, and went quickly out into the fresh air, breathing deeply. He stood leaning against the wall, staring at the object in his hand.

It had been many years since he had last seen this knife, but he could not fail to recognise it, although it was a plain object, without embellishment. There was a faint circle inscribed on the handle, near its tip, that was scored through by a cross.

He knew how and when it had been scribed, for this was his own knife, and he himself had put the mark upon it.

Comments

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Wow! What a discovery re the knife! You are a great story-teller and weaver of yarns, dearest Issi... I do enjoy your tales of intrigue and all the details such as what they ate. Boiled bacon and peppered cabbage for breakfast, yum :-)

Thanks so much for another chapter in your new series. You have me hooked and gripped and looking forward to the next part when you are able to post, dear friend.

The sun is shining here, too, although the frost remains in the shadows. How is your back today? Are you still taking the painkillers?

Love you lots
XXXX

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Yup, still swallowing pills. All go! Hope I get a good snooze - I'm off to do that, now. Big hugses. Glad you're enjoying! :D xxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Hope those pills are helping and you have a good snooze this afternoon.

*big hugses back*
XXX

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

Oh! Now there's a twist! Thanks for another chapter. : )

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoyed it, my love! It's all go! ;D xxx

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

You know I did! In fact, I think when you posted it this morning, you woke me up! It was about 3:40AM, (sometimes I wake up quite early) and my first thought was "I wonder if Issi has posted her story yet?" I finally got up about 4AM, and sure enough when I got into LJ, there it was. So happy! *hugs ya*

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

Oh, Dom's knife! Is someone trying to set him up to be the killer? But if he hasn't seen the knife in many years... There's no telling what's going on! Well, until you decide to tell us. :D

I must agree with Auntie Abbess Gertruda, that fresh air is better than "the stale smell of sweat and urine" but she took it much too far. Poor young Elijah, with snow on his bed. *tsks* Gertruda is an odd one, no doubt about it.

I hope your pain level is a bit better today and that you had a good lunch and a good nap. :) *hugs*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I had a nice snooze, thank you, my love. I did! And am watching FOTR, which is lovely all over again. :D

You will certainly find out hat is going on, and very soon, too. Poor Dom in trouble - again! Bless. ;D xxx Hugs back.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Oh, my gosh! Dom's own knife? What a shock that was. The chapter is great. It's like being there to see it all unfolding. But I'm really intrigued about that knife. Can't wait for the next chapter.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my dear. I'm glad you're intrigued. Plenty happening in this tale, I tells ya! :D Hugs xxx

[tristanpaulus.livejournal.com]

Well the girl with the splint I suspected has been decidedly eliminated as a suspect!

Hmm Elijah found it odd that the killer left the murder weapon to be found, and now it turns out to be Dom's knife! Is someone trying to frame Dom? But who there would even know Dom?

If Dom comes to be suspected as the murderer, could this be the Crowner's Dilemma? It would be a most...difficult...situation for Elijah if the investigation led to his lover! I trust Elijah would not believe Dom to be guilty, and I hope Dom will confide in Elijah about the knife.

[foxykc.livejournal.com]

oops

[verangel.livejournal.com]

What the hell kind of woman is Gertrude?!! The image of a child being treated as she treated Elijah hurt me. Windows left open, snow on him, 5 years old and freezing and sick in his room. *shivers*
The praise she offered was shocking and deserved. There is more behind her cruelty. *still imagining that big blue eyed child being treated this way and hurting* Thank God for his guardian angels who watched over him there in Wenna and Vincent.
I knew that massage would be a good one! Imagining those moans changing.
This is a wonderfully intriguing tale. I have no idea what is going on. But OMG! Dom's knife!! This is scary. He could be implicated. I don't like that at all.
Hugs you and glad you are resting. xoxooxoxxo I can't wait for next week. xoxoxoxo v

[aprilkat.livejournal.com]

I was enjoying the masterful description and unwinding of the evidence and then - pow! Dom's in for it again! Can't imagine what's coming up!

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry I wasn't able to comment earlier - finally had a chance to catch up with your new fic - and WOW!!

I love that Dom is discovering more about Elijah while they stay in his home (and just want to kiss Andrew for being so discreet!!) - and I love more mysteries!! I have always loved reading mysteries - even if I'm horrible at solving them. But having Dom's own knife as the murder weapon - what a twist. I can't wait to read more!!

You must know by know that I ALWAYS enjoy your stories - you are such a masterful weaver of words into such amazing stories. I am so thankful that you share them with us through all your ups and downs. I sure hope you are feeling better - *BIG HUGS*

[escapist-art.livejournal.com]

I have been greatly enjoying this tale, and everytime I see a new chapter up I get excited. In between I've been reading, "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett, which I just finished. You might enjoy reading it too, it's a historical novel.

I can't wait for your next chapter!