Unhallowed Rites by Martine Marquand

Author:Martine Marquand
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780753529096
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Chapter Ten

DOWN IN THE underground chamber below the chapel, an alarming scene awaited Allegra. Once again the sisterhood was gathered below the huge fresco of the Philomastrix, their pale faces suspended like masks in the gloomy candlelight. But they were not alone. The birching block which Allegra anticipated kneeling upon was already occupied. In a moment she had discerned the figure was a young girl. Then, slowly lifting her head, the girl turned to Allegra, imploring her with wild eyes. It was Celina; her mouth and limbs were bound but her eyes fiercely struggled to communicate some secret message. Immediately, Allegra attempted to comfort her friend, but with a harsh tug, Sister Ino held her fast by the arm.

‘Ah, Sister Almoro. You have decided to join us?’

How she hated that name now. With an expression of loathing, she turned to the Prioress. Summoning a tremendous effort for Celina’s sake, she feigned submission and threw herself down on her knees.

‘I have indeed returned, Holy Mother. I beg your forgiveness for my absence. It will not happen again.’

‘Indeed it will not. For your friend, here, has told us a great deal of your affairs. The opportunity will never arise again.’

Hurriedly, Allegra tried to remember what it was she had told Celina of her purpose in visiting the city. She had said almost nothing. That was good, she told herself, as she studied the tiles on the floor and waited for the official pronouncement on her crimes. It was not long coming.

‘Sister Almoro, your behaviour alarms and disappoints us. The list of misdemeanours already inscribed upon your slate would be enough to frighten almost any other novice into surrender. And yet – what do you do? Do you then decide to follow the paths of modesty and submission laid out before you? Do you submit to the iron rod of discipline? You do not.’ The Prioress rose stiffly from her chair, and those gathered around her murmured a little and drew back. For the first time, Allegra felt a shiver of apprehension. Across the smooth stone floor, Celina watched her companion with eyes large with fear, her position rendering her completely powerless.

‘Do you submit?’ the old woman cried, her voice grown surprisingly strong with the power of her passion.

With her head still bowed to the floor, Allegra spoke. The atmosphere in the room was sultry and oppressive; she was desperate to be out of this place, and to free Celina too. ‘I do.’

‘Then you must prove it. For in submission there is love, and in correction, mercy.’

Allegra prepared her body for pain. Whatever whip or birch was laid upon her, she would bear it. It was physical pain only. Her mind was her own.

‘The punishment I decree,’ the old woman began in a loud and resonant voice, ‘is a hard one. Triplefold it is, to test the will, the spirit and the arts. There are three parts to this riddle, and all parts must be accomplished. For the first part, you must solve this riddle: “As you beat, so you beat, man and woman both.

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