“Bishop Devdan.”
At the bishop’s name, the boy’s eyes grew large. He began to pull savagely at his arm again. “Let me go!”
“He lives on his lands in a castle, near the cathedral.”
“So what?” the boy snapped. “I never saw ‘im. Let me go!”
His reaction was so intense and severe that Mercy knew the boy knew the bishop. “Have you been to the cathedral? Are there boys there?”
The boy scowled fiercely. He still pulled at his arm, trying to break free of Richard’s hold. “I don’t know nothin’.”
“Don’t lie, boy,” Richard warned.
“I ain’t no liar!” he proclaimed.
“Have you ever been to the cathedral?” Mercy asked, trying to squash the desperation she felt growing in her breast.
“No,” he snapped, pouting and eyeing Richard with animosity.
He was obviously scared and dishonest. “Have you seen any boys at the cathedral?”
“No. There are no boys there. Only those monks.”
“How do you know if you’ve never been to the cathedral?” Richard demanded. “Looks like youarebeing untruthful.”
The boy’s lip curled in disdain.
Mercy took a deep breath. She held up her hand to Richard in a plea for lenience. She knelt before the boy. “Please. The bishop took my son. I’m looking for him.”
The boy scowled.
“Let the child go.” The voice ordered from down the corridor.
Mercy lifted her gaze to see Father Stephen approaching. Richard held the boy’s arm for a second longer before releasing him. The child raced to Father Stephen who laid a calming hand on his head.
“I think there are some peas growing on the vines in the back. Go and pick some. And bring some to the others.”
The boy nodded, cast a glance back at Mercy and Richard, and then ran away down the corridor.
Mercy wanted to run after him. She was certain he knew more than he was saying. But at Father Stephen’s disapproving frown, she stayed where she was and try to make amends. “We weren’t going to hurt him. We’re sorry if we alarmed him.”
“Thomas has had a difficult life. He has no home but the church. No one to watch over him.” He stopped before them. “What did you want with him?”
“Where did he come from?” Richard asked.
“Come from?”
“Where are his parents?”
“I don’t know. I found him in the village, starving. Afraid. I didn’t ask him about his family.”
“You said there were others. Other children?” Mercy wondered.
“Yes. There are four children that I know of. Dunford is a larger village than Goodmont. The children sometimes go unnoticed. Thomas is one of the oldest. He helps me look out for the others.”
“Are they all boys?” Richard asked.
Mercy felt tingles along the nape of her neck.
