Brother Cadfael 13: The Rose Rent

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    Once they were all in their stalls in the choir, and Brother Anselm was launched into the liturgy - how could a man past fifty, who spoke in a round, human voice deeper than most, sing at will in that upper register, like the most perfect of boy cantors? And how dared he! Jerome again began to count heads, and grew even happier in his self-vindication, for there was one missing, and that one was Brother Eluric. The fallen paragon, who had actually won his way into Prior Robert's dignified and influential favour, to Jerome's jealous concern! Let him look to his laurels now! The prior would never demean himself to count or search for defections, but he would listen when they were brought to his notice.
    Prime came to its end, and the brothers began to file back to the night-stairs, to complete their toilets and make ready for breakfast. Jerome lingered to sidle confidentially to Prior Robert's elbow, and whisper into his ear, with righteous disapproval: "Father, we have a truant this morning. Brother Eluric was not present in church. Nor is he in his cell. All is left in order there, I thought surely he was before us into the church. Now I cannot think where he may be, nor what he is about, to neglect his duties so."
    Prior Robert in his turn paused and frowned. "Strange! He of all people! Have you looked in the Lady Chapel? If he rose very early to tend the altar and has lingered long in prayer he may have fallen asleep. The best of us may do so."
    But Brother Eluric was not in the Lady Chapel. Prior Robert hurried to detain the abbot on his way across the great court towards his lodging.
    "Father Abbot, we are in some concern over Brother Eluric."
    The name produced instant and sharp attention. Abbot Radulfus turned a fixed and guarded countenance. "Brother Eluric? Why, what of him?"
    "He was not in attendance at Prime, and he is nowhere to be found. Nowhere, at least, that he should be at this hour. It is not like him to absent himself from the office," said the prior fairly.
    "It is not. He is a devoted soul." The abbot spoke almost absently, for his mind was back in the privacy of his parlour, facing that all too brittle devotee as he poured out his illicit and bravely resisted love. This reminder came all too aptly. How if confession and absolution and the release from temptation had not been enough? Radulfus, not a hesitant man, was still hesitating how to act now, when they were interrupted by the sight of the porter coming down from the gatehouse at a scurrying run, skirts and sleeves flying.
    "Father Abbot, there's one here at the gate, the bronze-smith who rents the Widow Perle's old house, says he has dire news that won't wait. He asks for you - would not give me the message -"
    "I'll come," said Radulfus instantly. And to the prior, who would have made to follow him: "Robert, do you have someone search further, the gardens, the grange court... If you do not find him, come back to me." And he was off at a long, raking stride towards the gate, and the authority of his voice and the vehemence of his going forbade pursuit. There were too many interwoven threads here - the lady of the rose, the house of the rose, the tenant who had willingly undertaken the errand Eluric dreaded, and now Eluric lost from within, and dire news entering from without. A woven pattern began to appear, and its colours were sombre.
    Niall was waiting at the door of the porter's lodge, his broad, strongly boned face very still and blanched with shock under its summer brown.
    "You asked for me," said Radulfus quietly, viewing him with a steady, measuring stare. "I am here. What is this news you bring?"
    "My lord," said Niall, "I thought best you should know it first alone, and then dispose as you see fit. Last night I lay at my sister's house overnight because of the rain. When I came back this morning I went into the garden. My lord, Mistress Perle's rose-bush has been hacked and broken, and one of your brothers lies dead there under it."
    After a brief, profound silence Radulfus said: "If you know him, name him."
    "I do know him. For three years he came to the garden to cut the rose for Mistress Perle. He is Brother Eluric, the custodian of Saint Mary's altar."
    This time the silence was longer and deeper. Then the abbot asked simply: "How long since you discovered him there?"
    "About the length of Prime, my lord, for it was nearly the hour when I passed the church on my way home. I came at once, but the porter