Chapter Four
Mercy stared at the boys as they slepton the straw mattress tucked in the corner. So peaceful, not a care in the world. She was envious.
Abbey clutched Mercy’s hand tightly across the table. “Simon is not going to like that you rejected Lief.”
Mercy squeezed her hand. “Nor that I pulled a dagger on him.”
Abbey giggled softly. “That was a sight!” She grunted. “Serves him right. I wish I had the courage to draw a dagger on him. And on all the rest of those cowards in the village.” She leaned forward. “Do you really think the knight will defend us?”
Mercy cast a glance across the room toward the door and the barn beyond. “He doesn’t remember who he is. Or what he’s done. I should have told him that he killed the Archbishop.”
Abbey sat back. “What good would it have done?”
“It’s not right to keep his identity a secret. He deserves to know.”
Abbey leaned forward again. “Tell him.”
“Tell him what? What he’s done?” Abbey nodded and Mercy continued, “And then what?”
“He can stand against the bishop. He can defend us. Protect the children. Lord knows the men of Goodmont won’t do it. We need a man of honor!”
Mercy raised her eyebrows in surprise. “He killed the Archbishop. He isnota man of honor.”
“He stood up to the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
“Hekilledthe Archbishop of Canterbury.”
“Maybe he should kill Bishop –”
“Don’t say it.”
“You’re thinking it. I am too. We’ve talked about it. It’s the only way.”
Mercy sighed softly. “Another bishop will be assigned to take his place. He might take our children, too.”
“And he might not. Do you really believe the orders come from above the bishop to steal our children? What would the church want with young boys?”
Mercy didn’t know. She didn’t know what the bishop did with the children.
“Bishop Devdan rips the children away from their mothers, their families. We never see them again. Something is very wrong with that.” Abbey shook her head. “The knight is already excommunicated. Surely, he would kill a man of the cloth again to save my boy, to save an innocent child.”
Mercy knew what Abbey was going through. She was feeling the same thing. Desperation. She had to save Kit. She had to find a way. They had talked quietly about killing the bishop previously. It was desperation. They would never do it. It was a sin. But could a man who was already guilty of such a crime do it? Still, Mercy was against killing. She was a healer. “The knight cannot even stand. How would he fight the bishop’s men?” There had to be another way. “We can hide Luke.”
“They’ll look for him. And Simon will help. You know he will.”
“We can hide him in the forest. Deep in the forest. No one would find him!”
“Forever?” Abbey shook her head. “No. I would have to leave him alone and I wouldn’t do that.”
“You could hide him in our barn.”
Abbey looked grateful, but she shook her head. “If Simon or the others found out, you would be in trouble. I wouldn’t do that to you.” She tightened her hand around Mercy’s. “Kit’s time is coming, too.”
Mercy’s heart skipped a beat. Yes, they would come for Kit a week after Luke. If they couldn’t save Luke, how could she hope they would save Kit?
Mercy arrived for the meeting the village men held before every child turned five summers. She followed Walter and Abbey inside the inn. It was crowded, every seat taken by a man from the village. She acknowledged Frederick the blacksmith, with a nod, and Roger the farmer. She passed Simon without a glance. Walter led them to three chairs at a table in the back. Bartholomew, the innkeeper, lounged against one of the walls, his face twisted in a grimace.
Mercy and Abbey were the only women in the room, something Mercy had grown used to since Dean had died. Only landowners were allowed in these meetings.
