Salvation by the Sea: The Tale of the Innkeeper's Maid (Fairetellings Book 4) by Kristen Reed

Author:Kristen Reed [Reed, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2017-07-10T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

The next day, Muirigan roused before breakfast arrived and avoided another awkward encounter with the servant. In fact, she welcomed her with a smile and friendly banter instead of a scowl and a candlestick holder. Rather than dawdling in her room while she waited for lunch, Muirigan crept down to the palace chapel and sat down in a dark corner in the back pew.

With her Bible open, Muirigan alternated between reading and praying in attempt to cast away the dark thoughts that often plagued her by filling her mind with God’s truth. After continuing her diligent devotion for nearly two hours, the maid lifted her head to massage her aching neck and froze upon realizing something.

She wasn’t alone.

An old man wearing the vestments of a priest stood at the altar with his aged eyes fixed on her. Seeing that the object of his curiosity was aware of his presence, the priest smiled. Soft as they were, his footsteps still echoed in the empty chapel as he walked down the aisle to speak with her. When the priest reached Muirigan, he bowed and introduced himself.

“Hello, my lady! My name is Father Ruben. I don’t believe I’ve seen you in here before. Are you new to the faith or to the palace?”

Though Muirigan easily could have lied about her familiarity with the royal home, she felt compelled to be truthful with the priest.

“Neither, Father, but I haven’t been here in years.”

“Then what brings you to the chapel today? I witnessed your fervent reading and praying. I don’t often see that kind of desperation for the Lord during what’s usually a less liturgical time for the palace residents.”

“I’ve been struggling with my past,” she confessed. “I committed some abhorrent sins when I was younger, but time hasn’t lessened the weight of my shame. I would have rejected the prince’s invitation because of it if my guardian hadn’t intervened.”

The priest’s cataract clouded eyes widened in wonder as realization dawned on him.

“You’re the young lady who saved Prince Halvard’s life.”

Muirigan nodded.

“Do you mind sharing with me what you did to inspire such shame?”

The maid fixed her eyes on the stained glass window of Christ on the cross, which cast a colorful array of patterns on the floor and pews thanks to the late morning sunlight, and beseeched God for the strength to honestly share her transgressions. After a moment, peace flooded her heart, and she knew she had to tell the whole truth. Even though the Seal of Confession didn’t protect whatever she divulged to the Protestant priest, she suddenly felt like she could trust the old man with her darkest secrets.

“After my parents died, debtors seized everything I owned to settle our accounts. They left me homeless and without an øre to my name. I tried to find employment, but to no avail. Then, I begged on the streets to feed myself, but few people were generous. While I never stole to provide for myself, I sometimes resorted to unthinkable acts to keep from starving.

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