The Sin Eater's Prince by Keta Diablo

Author:Keta Diablo [Diablo, Keta]
Language: nld
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

"Hear ye, hear ye, the Quarter Sessions is now in order."

Andras scanned the packed courtroom, his gaze lingering on the angry expressions of those in attendance. They reminded him of jackals about to rip apart a dead carcass.

Seated to his left, Carys's face looked ashen against her brightly patterned gown of pink roses and the deep plum half-circle cloak enveloping her shoulders. She wrung her hands before folding them in her lap and offered him a tentative smile. Bellamy flanked his right in blatant, albeit unusual, support of the young sin eater he'd come to admire.

The noisy chatter in the room evaporated when Tibbett entered through a side door with Owen. Dressed in a pair of ash-colored trousers and matching linen shirt, his hands were shackled at the wrists. Tibbett escorted the alleged murderer to an oak table in front of the raised dais where the justices and a jury of his peers were seated, then joined his comrades.

Geoffrey remained standing and addressed the silent crowd. "In accordance with an act of Parliament, the Wales and Berwick Act of 1746, all laws applying to England will likewise apply to Wales." Tibbett looked to Owen. "Owen Rhys, you've been charged with the murders of Glynnis Hale, daughter of Edward Hale, the cordwainer of Abergwaun, and Bronwen Carnes, daughter of the widow Carnes of the same village."

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Andras glanced toward the source of the hysterical outburst after the girls' names were declared. Standing side by side, the widow Carnes and Glynnis's mother embraced, their gut-wrenching sobs stirring the crowd.

"Order," Tibbett proclaimed, slamming down his gavel.

"The Sessions will call forth witnesses before hearing the sin eater's plea. I remind you we must have total silence during the hearing. Now then, the Court calls Tomas Evans."

The young man rose from a section of pews near the front and walked solemnly toward a table parallel to the one Owen occupied. Andras didn't know Tomas well, but from his dealings with the man, he'd never known him to fabricate the truth. Nor was he the type to bend his elbow in one of the taverns while spinning wild yarns.

Something was amiss, yet Andras couldn't pinpoint the source. He'd spoken to Tomas several times, and the man insisted he saw Owen Rhys's face before being knocked unconscious. He'd also examined Tomas's head shortly after the incident and little doubt remained he'd been knocked senseless, apparently during the time Bronwen had fought desperately for her life.

Tomas eased into the chair at the table and looked up at the panel of Justices and jury, his face somber.

Tibbett rose again and addressed him. "Now, start at the beginning, lad. Tell the Sessions what you were doing at the old Caffyn Manor that eve."

A deep blush crept up Tomas's neck and stained his cheeks. "Passing time 'tis all we were doing. Bronwen had a yearning to gather cowslips and bluebells and knew of a patch 112

The Sin Eater's Prince

by Keta Diablo

growing along the boundary of the old manor house.

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