It was a young man dressed in blue and red. Faucon frowned a little, recognizing that color combination from the inquest, but not the household that used it.
The journeyman stopped beside him. “Sir Crowner, I come to you from Richard, son of Alwyna. He bids me tell you that, much to his surprise, he finds himself in need of your assistance. He reminds you of the bargain you two made.” The young man paused, his face filling with confusion. “He says I should tell you that two dead men travel to the abbey and Master Richard is need of a cesspit.”
Faucon stared at the man, beyond surprise. Two days? This, when Temric had seemed so certain he’d never see his repayment.
At his reaction, the journeyman shook his head and lifted his hands. “I know, his words seemed mad to me as well. But I vow to you, that’s exactly what he said to me. He said I was to say his words back to you in the same way. You should know that he’s injured with a broken rib,” the young man added, “so perhaps his mind is affected by pain.”
That stirred a quiet laugh from Faucon. “Dead men making their way to the abbey? Now that’s something I need to see. Do they walk or ride? On which road do these corpses make their gruesome journey?”
“Master Richard didn’t say,” the soon-to-be tradesman offered, sounding flustered. “But the master and his wife were traveling to Bristol when they found these dead men.”
Faucon blinked. Temric FitzHenry wasn’t married, or at least he hadn’t been when last Faucon visited Graistan. And if Faucon’s guess was right, chances were those traveling corpses had been breathing men when Temric first encountered them. This story got more interesting by the moment.
“Then I expect the Bristol road is where I’ll find these wandering corpses,” Faucon said with a nod, then laughed again. “Dead men traveling. Tell your Master Richard he can rest easily. I’ll find him his cesspit.”
I have broken all the bonds that should hold me. On this day, when I should be with my own family, chanting prayers for the dead, begging our Lord to lift the countless hapless souls trapped in Purgatory into Paradise, I am here, watching her. But is she not also lost here, trapped in this earthly Purgatory? Do I not have the ability to give her heavenly Paradise? These are the lies I tell myself. My Master bade me stay my hand, but, sinner that I am, I cannot bear to do so, not when I know the corruption that awaits her. I have the power to save her.
Hidden in the barren branches of a coppiced tree, I watch her race around her family’s fine home. Even in play, our Father’s light streams from her, once again calling to me. Her features are fine far beyond the crudeness of her life. Her skin is flawless, her hair a glorious golden-red.
I cannot fail her. She will have her heavenly reward.
Thank you for reading this second book of my new mystery series. I hope you enjoyed Faucon and his second investigation as his shire’s new Crowner. If you liked the book, or I suppose even if you didn’t, consider leaving a review. If you’ve found any formatting or typographical errors, please let me know by email at [email protected]. I appreciate the chance to correct my mistakes!
I have to admit I once again totally enjoyed following Faucon, Colin and Edmund on their most recent next investigation. For anyone wondering, the idea of Alina and her 'woman's' trade, I read about the women’s guilds of Paris, which included embroidery as a trade. After looking at so many manuscript illustrations and Medieval paintings showing intricate designs on tunics and gowns, it occurred to me that Paris and nunneries weren’t the only place where women were making their living with a needle. Thus the purchase of embroidery ribbons by the dowager Queen Eleanor created by her namesake, Mistress Elinor.
I couldn’t resist adding just a peek into Sir Alain’s mind in this book. Truth be told, when I first conceived of this series, Alain’s voice was the one in my head. Then Faucon came along and everything changed.
By the way, you’ll find Temric of Graistan, Oswald de Vere, Brother Colin and Bishop William in my Seasons series.
Medieval Mysteries
Season of the Raven
Season of the Fox
Lost Innocents
The Seasons Series
Winter's Heat
Summer's Storm
Spring's Fury
Autumn's Flame
A Love for All Seasons
Or, if you want you can buy all five books at once a box set: The Seasons Series
The Children of Graistan
I've started a new series of stories based on the children of my characters in the Seasons Series
Perfect Poison, a novella
The Lady Series, although two doesn't quite a series make. There were supposed to be more. Hmm, I wonder... .
Lady in Waiting
Lady in White
The Warrior Series
The Warrior's Wife (previously The Warrior's Damsel)
The Warrior's Maiden (previously My Lady's Temptation)
The Warrior's Game
Or, if you want you can buy all three books at once a box set: The Warrior Series
My only Regency era book and my only Western.
I'm afraid these are one-offs. These periods are just too modern for me. I'm better off back when guys just bashed each other with hunks of steel.
Almost Perfect
An Impetuous Season, a novella
Monica Sarli's Memoir Men-ipulation
And then there's Monica Sarli's memoir which I co-wrote. Men-ipulation is a memoir of addiction and recovery. After fifteen years abusing Cocaine, Crack and (her personal favorite) Heroin, Monica chose on August 4, 1986 to clean up and hasn't looked back-even though cleaning up cost her everything she valued in life. For anyone struggling with addiction or who loves someone suffering with addiction, this is a book you won't want to miss. (And, yes she really talks like that all the time.)
Table of Contents
Cover
Praise for the Servant of the Crown Mysteries
Apologies
Dedication
Horarium
St. Osyth’s Day
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
All Souls Day
A Note from Denise
Other Books
Copyright
SEASON OF THE FOX
Copyright © Denise Domning 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1508676614
ISBN-10: 1508676615
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the publisher’s permission is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. To use material from the book (other than for review purposes), obtain the publisher’s prior written permission at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
EDITED BY: Martha Stites
ORIGINAL COVER ART:
Ms Sloane 2435, f.85 ‘Cleric, Knight and Workman representing the three classes, illustration from 'Li Livres dou Sante' (vellum), French School, (13th century)/ British Library, London, UK/©British Library Board. All Rights Reserved/The Bridgeman Art Library
COVER DESIGN: Denise Domning
Printed in the United States of America, First paperback edition: March, 2015
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Season of the Fox (A Servant of the Crown Mystery Book 2) Page 17