Nightshade by Lake Keri

Author:Lake, Keri
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

39

Lustina

“It is with great urgency that I, and the love of our Holy Father, call upon you good people this day. A young man has gone missing, and his mother fears what may have become of him.” Bishop Venable stood at the pulpit in the monastery’s courtyard, where a crowd had gathered. Fingers curled around the edge of the carved wood, he spoke with fervency, his eyes seemingly directed and fixed on Lustina. He’d already conducted days of inquisition with her, in his search for Drystan, through which she’d held her tongue, even as he incorporated small punishments. “I believe we have a murderer among us.”

The crowd gasped at his accusation, and he raised a hand to quiet them.

“One who stands to face the judgment of our righteous and just Holy Father, lest he, or she, finds the courage to come forward and confess the whereabouts of young Drystan. His mother, as a gracious and pious example of our merciful Lord, has asked that there be no punishment for he who divulges the boy’s state. I vow the confessor shall be protected, their dignity upheld.”

“And what of a reward?” someone shouted from the crowd behind Lustina.

The bishop’s eyes burned with malice. “Does the Lord ask for reward when He grants mercy on your soul?”

“I will offer a reward.” Lord Praecepsia stepped forward and turned to face the crowd. “For anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the boy’s offender.”

Lustina followed the path of the elder Van Croix’s gaze, toward where the baron stood beside him, his face a cool slate of no emotion.

After she’d left the undercroft, heard the screams, Lustina had watched, but neither the baron, nor Drystan, had emerged. Only days later had she brought herself to investigate that horrid room, where she’d feared what still lay within its walls, but there had been no sign of Drystan. Not a single shred of evidence that he’d ever been injured.

A discovery which left her just as baffled as the bishop.

“The witch’s spawn!”

Another voice from the crowd broke Lustina’s musings, and she turned to find an older woman, face red with scorn, pointing at her. “Only she could have accomplished such a thing without anyone seeing!”

The few sounds of agreement from others sent a wave of panic through the girl, and she snapped her gaze toward the bishop.

Chin lifted high, he stared down his nose at her, his lips twitching with what she surmised as pure arrogance. “I can assure you, I have made every effort to reveal the truth. Her dark and deceptive nature cannot rival the glory and immeasurable light of our Holy Father. However, if it is proven that she deludes us, she will suffer unimaginable consequences.”

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