For a moment, Abbey did not move. She stood as still as a rock.
Mercy climbed to her feet, wishing Abbey had the strength to deny him. Hoping that Abbey would not give up her son.
“Give him the boy, Abbey!” Simon shouted.
Mercy glanced up at Simon clutching his hoe before him as if he were ready to use it on Abbey. His brown eyes were narrowed, his lip raised in contempt.
Abbey squeezed her son, and slowly, slowly lowered her hands from him, staring him in the eye.
The bishop reached out and took the hand of the boy. The boy simpered, his eyes on his mother. “Come, child.”
Abbey’s shoulders slumped. She knelt before the bishop; her arms empty. Defeated.
Mercy stepped up to Abbey’s side, drawing the gaze of the bishop. “Why would God do this? Why would he demand all our boys?”
The bishop looked at her, his dark eyes resting on her. His mouth quirked to the side. “Mercy, isn’t it? I do not pretend to know the motives of the Lord.” His eyes narrowed slightly.
A chill ran through Mercy.
“Perhaps in atonement for a sin. Perhaps to test you. Pray.” He lifted his hands to the sky. “Pray, all of you! Pray for salvation.”
Shivers shot through Mercy. Salvation. Eoos was her salvation. He was the answer to her prayers.
“Where is your beautiful boy?” the bishop asked Mercy.
Shocked, Mercy could not move. She was frozen to the spot.
“He is a beautiful child. I look forward to seeing him.”
Mercy recoiled. How did he remember Kit?
He cast one last look at Mercy.
Her eyes narrowed, and her teeth clenched when his gaze touched hers. She quickly looked down at Abbey, placing an arm around her shoulders. When she looked up again, the bishop was walking away, Luke’s hand in his.
Simon approached them. “Stupid woman,” he grumbled. “You almost brought the wrath of God down upon us.”
“You just stood there,” Mercy whispered, helping Abbey to her feet.
“I’m not risking that. If my crops fail or there is a drought, that will be the end for all of us.”
“I won’t believe that God has demanded our children,” Mercy stated, rubbing Abbey’s arm. She cast a glance over her shoulder at the bishop. “This smells of humanity.”
“You doubt the Bishop?” Simon demanded.
Mercy shook her head. She needed to bide her words. There were too many listening who would run to the bishop. “No. But I think we should stand together.”
“We are!”
“You have no children. You don’t know how it is to give one up. To make that kind of sacrifice.”
“Your boy’s the next sacrifice, isn’t he? I’m not listening to anything you say. You are just looking out for yourself and your child.”
“I am going to pray for salvation,” Mercy whispered. “Because it will not come from you.”
She moved past Simon, supporting Abbey.
They had walked halfway down the road, away from the other villagers, when Abbey yanked herself free from Mercy’s hold. “You just stood there. He took my son and you just stood there.”
