The Bone Fire by S. D. Sykes

Author:S. D. Sykes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Epub3
Publisher: Pegasus Books

I locked the door to our chamber that night, tucked Hugh into bed and then tried to sing the boy a lullaby. I felt tense, and my son picked up upon my apprehension, tearfully begging for Filomena instead. When I finally managed to find sleep, it was restless and disturbed, and did not prepare me for the horrors of the next day.

Chapter Seventeen

I was woken at first light by a thunderous bang at the door to our apartment. I rose quickly from bed, pulled on my cloak and opened the door, to be greeted by the ashen face of Alice Cross.

‘What is it?’ I said.

‘You must come quickly, my Lord,’ she replied. She was out of breath and could hardly speak. ‘It’s Lord Hesket. He’s dead.’ Before I could ask another question, she added, ‘He’s been murdered.’

For a moment I felt the blood rush from my head to my feet. ‘Where is he?’

‘In the stables.’

I stepped into the passageway and half closed the door behind me. ‘Does anybody else know about this?’ I asked her.

‘Only one of the maids,’ she answered. ‘The girl went to feed the horses this morning and she came across his body.’ She paused. ‘It’s a terrible sight, my Lord. Lord Hesket has been . . .’ She took a deep breath and put out an arm to lean upon the door frame. ‘His body has been sullied.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I cannot describe it,’ she replied. ‘You must come and see for yourself.’

I told her to wait in the passageway while I quickly dressed, deflecting Filomena’s stream of questions, as I pulled a thicker tunic over my head and then tightened my belt. ‘Just lock the door behind me,’ I told her. ‘Don’t open it to anybody.’

This advice did nothing to calm her. ‘What’s wrong, Oswald? I demand that you tell me the truth.’

‘Very well then, Filomena,’ I said. ‘Hesket is dead.’

My wife raised her hands to her mouth and gasped. ‘What?’ she said in disbelief. ‘Was he murdered?’

‘Just make sure to keep this door locked,’ I said. ‘I’ll be back shortly.’

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