A Wolf at the Gate (Orkneyinga Murders Book 2) by Lexie Conyngham

Author:Lexie Conyngham [Conyngham, Lexie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Kellas Cat Press
Published: 2019-07-03T04:00:00+00:00

When they pushed open the church door, Father Tosti leapt to his feet. He had evidently been sitting on the bench Ketil and Sigrid had perched on last night, but when he saw them a look of profound relief passed across his youthful face.

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ said Sigrid, ‘were you at prayer?’

‘Yes – sort of,’ said Tosti, then gave a rueful grin. ‘Well, not quite. Though I was giving thanks for a few minutes’ peace.’

‘Oh!’ Sigrid did not want to go, but she was about to leave when Tosti waved a hand at her.

‘I don’t mean … I mean all this interpreting is quite … a great privilege, you know. And a joy to use Latin in everyday language, and not lose that skill. And to spend time with the Abbot – such a very clever man. I’m honoured.’

‘But you could do with a break?’ asked Sigrid. Ketil gave a little snort, clearly sympathetic.

‘I wouldn’t put it quite … just a very short moment of peace, when I don’t have to find answers to all his questions, all the details he wants, all the … A very great privilege, of course, but I fear my poor head is not up to his level. It’s spinning!’

‘And here we come with more questions,’ said Ketil. Tosti glanced up at him, anxious.

‘Oh, no. Is this to do with poor Steinar Valison? It’s his funeral tomorrow, isn’t it?’

‘I believe so.’

Tosti sank back on to the bench, folding his hands into his sleeves as if he could form a barrier to protect himself from unwelcome thoughts.

‘What is it you need to know?’

‘Well, first, I suppose, what did you know about him? I suppose you knew him.’

‘I did, yes. I married him to Svanhild, and I married Thorgunna and Ubbi, too, and baptised both of the children.’

‘He and Svanhild were married first, weren’t they?’

‘Oh, yes, by quite a few years. But the children are the same age, roughly. Svanhild lost one or two before her boy was born, but this is Thorgunna’s first, I believe.’

‘A big christening, then? Lots of family there?’ Sigrid asked. It was a pleasure asking easy questions for a change, and she had realised that she knew little of Steinar’s family outside the longhouse where he had lived.

‘Well, two christenings,’ Tosti corrected. ‘Thorgunna and Ubbi had some of her family at theirs – she’s from Skaill direction and some of them walked along for the day. I don’t think Steinar has any family near here, and Ubbi and Svanhild are the only ones left of theirs.’

‘Was Steinar home for the christenings? For the births?’

‘No, he wasn’t. That was when he was off in Colonia.’

‘So what do you think of him?’ Sigrid ignored Ketil’s scowl: presumably he wanted to get on to the more dramatic subjects.

‘He was a good man. A bit – well, a bit severe, sometimes. He was one for following rules, regardless of their effect on people. You know the kind.’

‘I heard he was a gentle man.’

‘Oh, yes, I believe he was.

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