The House of Shadows

pot and a trancher with some stale crumbs. He had vanished along with his weapons. Athelstan scratched his head. He didn’t want to shout the Misericord’s name or raise the alarm. He was surprised, yet slightly relieved. How had the rogue managed to escape? Once again he searched the church, sending Brother Malachi out to walk the perimeter of the cemetery and visit God-Bless snoring in the death house. The Benedictine returned shaking his head.
    ‘Gone,’ he said, ‘like the snow in spring. Neither hide nor hair of him.’
    ‘We’ll not raise the alarm,’ Athelstan declared. ‘Not until I’ve celebrated Mass.’
    They busied themselves preparing the altar, lighting the candles, filling the cruets with water and wine. Athelstan vested and celebrated his Mass alone in the small chantry chapel, whilst Malachi did the same at the high altar. Athelstan tried to think only of what was happening, of the Great Miracle, of bread and wine changing into the body and blood of the unseen God, but as he confessed to Malachi afterwards, he was distracted by another miracle. How could a criminal like the Misericord vanish from his church, walk through a ring of armed men ever vigilant to catch him, without let or hindrance?
    ‘Well,’ Athelstan crossed himself, ‘I might as well proclaim the good news for all to hear.’
    He walked down the nave, opened the main door and, ignoring the protests of Pemel and Cecily the courtesan, who had been waiting for Mass, though they confessed they had arrived late, called across the Judas Man from his usual position by the lychgate. This hound and scourge of criminals came swaggering across, sword slapping against his thigh.
    ‘Good morrow, Brother.’
    ‘Good morning to you, sir.’ Athelstan forced a smile. ‘I must inform you that our sanctuary man, the Misericord, has disappeared.’
    ‘What?’
    The Judas Man bounded up the steps, almost knocking Athelstan aside, and throwing back the door with a crash ran up into the sanctuary. Athelstan followed, protesting. The Judas Man took the small horn hanging from his belt, opened the corpse door and blew three long blasts. Soon the nave was filled with men milling about, Pike, Watkin and other parishioners included. Athelstan decided to let them have their head. Once again the church was searched but no trace could be found. The Judas Man, chest heaving with fury, came and stood before Athelstan, sweat coursing down his unshaven face, the smell of wine heavy on his breath. He went to poke Athelstan but the Dominican pushed his hand away. The Judas Man stepped away at the threatening murmur from Athelstan’s parishioners.
    ‘For God’s sake, man,’ Athelstan urged, ‘think about where you are! This is a church; I am its priest. I have nothing to do with the escape of your prisoner. You know that.’
    The Judas Man opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself just in time. He brushed by Athelstan and stormed out on to the porch, shouting at the others to join him.
    ‘An exciting start to the day,’ Malachi murmured.
    ‘Aye, and it’s only begun.’
    Athelstan returned to the house, where he and Malachi broke fast. Athelstan was still distracted and puzzled by the Misericord’s disappearance. He excused himself and returned to the church, where Pernel the Flemish woman was trying to place a chaplet of flowers on the statue of the Virgin in the Lady Chapel. Athelstan helped her. The woman stepped back, fingering her strangely coloured hair, tears running down her parchment-coloured face.
    ‘Father, will you hear my confession?’
    ‘Oh no, Pernel, not again,’ Athelstan said.
    ‘But I’ve slept with men, dozens of them!’
    Athelstan grasped her face in his hands, staring into those wild, frenetic eyes.
    ‘Pernel, it’s all your imaginings. You are a good woman.’
    ‘Do you think I’ll go to heaven, Father?’
    Athelstan let her go. ‘Well, if you don’t, Pernel, no one will.’
    ‘The ghost has been back at the squint hole.’
    ‘What?’ Athelstan said.
    Pernel pointed down the church.
    ‘Go outside, Father. When I couldn’t get into church this morning I walked round to have a look. She must have carried a candle.’
    Athelstan, intrigued, left by the sacristy door and went along the side of the church. He found the diamondshaped squint hole, crouched down and peered through. He could see Pernel standing at the entrance to the rood screen, and his fingers touched the piece of wax on the edge of the