Wine of Violence by Priscilla Royal Read Free Book Online Page A

sisters and succor the dying at our hospital."
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    Simeon thumped Thomas' shoulder with such enthusiasm that the young man staggered. The older monk's face might have beamed with jovial greeting, but his dark eyes studied the younger with grim intensity. "You have just arrived from Grovebury then, brother?"
     
    "Yes, my lord." Thomas wanted to rub his aching shoulder, but he had been through such silent examinations before and knew when he was being appraised. This might be a world dedicated to God, but the unspoken rules were no different from the secular one. Acceptance at Tyndal was crucial to his success with this first assignment given by his grim new master, and he knew better than to show weakness of any kind. The ache in his shoulder receded.
     
    A flicker of approval passed over Simeon's face, and then he nodded to the porter. "Brother Andrew, bring some wine to wash the dust from our new brother's throat."
     
    "I would be most grateful for it, my lord," Thomas replied with calculated courtesy. As he smiled in thanks, he would have sworn the short, bald monk winked at him before dropping his eyes modestly and limping dutifully toward the wine pitcher. Brother Andrew slopped some deep red liquid from the ewer into a gold goblet and handed it to Thomas.
     
    He gazed down at the object in his hand. It was an unusually opulent thing to find in such a remote house, Thomas thought.
     
    The priory's uncharacteristic financial downturn had tweaked the interest of some high churchman, at least enough to use it to test Thomas' investigative skills, yet clearly its members had not felt sufficient distress to sell any of its valuable plate. Despite its plain design, the goblet was still gold and well-crafted. Then he glanced at the table and noted four similar goblets. Odd too that such rich possessions would be brought out for daily use, and by the prior, who was not even responsible for the entertainment of important guests under normal circumstances. He wondered what quality of plate the prioress had in her lodgings.
     
    Thomas sipped the smooth and mellow wine. It was of supe rior quality as well. If Tyndal had a generous patron who guaran teed a good supply of fine wine to make diminished wealth more palatable, Thomas' human raven had failed to mention it. Or perhaps he didn't know about such a benefactor. Or perhaps he was misinformed about the entire situation. Ignorance of what really happened in places or amid people deemed to be of minor or no importance was not unusual amongst those at the pinnacles of power. Thomas remembered some of his former masters with mild derision and enjoyed another sip of the wine.
     
    "You elevated me beyond my station, however." Simeon’s words were humble, but as Thomas looked up at the tall monk's expression, he knew he had quite pleased the man.
     
    "I am Brother Simeon, receiver and sub-prior of Tyndal."
     
    Thomas bowed graciously.
     
    Simeon gestured to the man at the head of the table. "Prior Theobald leads us."
     
    "My lord." As Thomas humbled himself once again, he noted the prior s blinking eyes and aimlessly fumbling hands. A pathetic and ineffectual old man, he decided, and hardly the real center of power here. That, he concluded, was Brother Simeon, whose formidable size and vitality overwhelmed the room.
     
    With a sharp stab of pain, Thomas once again missed Giles. In the old days, they would have made Theobald into prime fodder for parody. Now there was no one with whom he could later mock such a feeble, aged master in the time-honored tradition of young clerks. Then with some surprise Thomas realized he felt sorry for the old prior. Maybe the days were past when he could find joy in mocking men whose manhood existed only in memory. He snorted quietly. Was he much different himself from this impotent prior? Thomas lowered his head to keep his moist eyes from public gaze.
     
    "Excuse me, brother, but I did not hear your name?"
     
    Thomas