The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi

Author:Megan Campisi
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

Once the rain lets up, I go out of the scroll door and cross the courtyard. A gaggle of messenger boys plays marbles just outside the castle gate. The game knocks off when they see me, and they call out a whole list of names. But I just walk on towards home. The taste of the second deer heart is still on my breath, and I’ve remembered one thing that still might help with my muddle.

My door creaks threateningly in its poorly repaired frame. Inside my house, Paul, Brida, and Frederick are just waking. I find the Sin Eater’s book and go to the foot of Frederick’s stretching body.

‘Why, she’s in a fluster, now,’ announces Brida, pushing herself up with her one good arm.

‘And must we wait upon her fluster?’ asks Frederick, unwilling to look my way.

Brida just says again, ‘She’s in a fluster.’

‘Then we’ll play at pantomimes to guess,’ Paul mutters from under a cloak he’s using as bedclothes.

‘Tell her to leave us in peace,’ Frederick directs Brida. I throw the book onto Frederick’s chest. ‘Oh-ho! Beware, we have been trained in broadsword and epée,’ Frederick warns. ‘At least the simulacrum.’

‘Well enough to be the Queen’s own players at her glorious festivities for the Norman envoy,’ says Paul.

‘Just read the book again, will you?’ pushes Brida.

Frederick sighs. He pulls himself up to sitting and looks to Paul. ‘Might I have a cup of ale to whet my stone?’

‘Brida?’ suggests Paul.

‘Paul!’ scolds Frederick.

Paul fetches the drink while Frederick opens the book. ‘We were at the D’s, was it?’

It will take too long. I point to the book and pat my chest to indicate a heart.

‘She wants to tell us something,’ Brida interprets. Paul and Frederick keep their eyes on Brida. ‘She’s beating her breast.’

‘Pantomime it is,’ calls Frederick. ‘Arms and fingers are marvellously expressive if you use them properly. Sweeping gests, please. No fiddling-at-your-hems mummery.’ He’s certainly mocking me.

‘Is Frederick to read or not?’ asks Paul.

‘She’s quite cross, as much as I can tell,’ says Brida. Her gaze is fixed just to the side of my body. I pat my chest again and point to the book.

‘Her chest,’ Brida says.

‘Love,’ Paul guesses. ‘She would like Frederick to read about the sins of love?’

‘Passions,’ sings Frederick. ‘A sin of passion. Seduction. Adultery.’

‘You’ve covered adultery. Dried raisins,’ reminds Paul.

Brida asks, ‘Is it a sin you wish him to read of?’

I shake my head.

‘Yes? No?’ Frederick looks to Brida.

‘A food, then?’ Paul asks.

Yes! I smile wide.

‘I believe that’s right,’ Brida says. ‘Oh, she’s happier now.’

‘And which food would that be?’ asks Brida.

‘A heart, it would seem,’ says Frederick, finally grasping my meaning.

‘I was going to guess a heart,’ calls Paul.

Brida lowers herself onto her back before the fire.

‘Are you unwell?’ Paul looks her over closely.

‘Time for a rest is all,’ she sighs.

‘We’ll get you a bone broth,’ says Paul. ‘A nice, hot bone broth.’

‘Sounds nice, that,’ sighs Brida.

Frederick reads through the pages, his thumb marking each line of words as he searches for sins that warrant a heart.

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