A Mortal Bane(78)

“Did you know what she had done?” he asked, his eyes wide. “How did you know? I only discovered the theft less than a quarter candlemark ago.” He turned on Magdalene, shouting, “Whore! Thief! How dare you touch a holy vessel of the church?”

“But I am not touching Father Benin,” Magdalene said, completely bewildered by the accusation and trying to make some sense of it. “I might kiss his hand in gratitude for his kindness, but I have not—”

“Liar!” Paulinus bellowed. “What have you done with the small golden pyx? Give it back! I will—”

“Brother Paulinus,” Father Benin said, “calm yourself. What are you talking about? I know nothing of the small golden pyx. What small golden pyx?”

“The one that was left here by the sisters. It is gone. Stolen. By this whore! You knew it. You summoned her to answer for her crime.”

“She is here to tell me what she knows about the death of Messer Baldassare.”

[page]“I explained all that to you,” the sacristan said; then, turning on Magdalene again, he shouted, “You filthy whore, how dare you come here and spew your lies into the holy father’s ear?”

“I told him no lies.” That was true enough, Magdalene reassured herself. She had been very careful what she said to Father Benin. She had left out quite a bit, but told no lies. She met the sacristan’s furious gaze steadily and added, “You are correct in one thing at least, that I would never dare lie to Father Prior. Even a whore can tell the truth when it is to her advantage, and the more truth that is known about Messer Baldassare’s death, the safer I will be. I deal in the joys of life, never in death.”

“The death of the soul is the fruit of your joy!” He turned from her to the prior and said, “How can you allow that whore to contaminate your private chamber—”

From the mingled expressions of chagrin and impatience, just tinged with shame, that Magdalene saw flit across the prior’s face, she suddenly realized why she had been taken to his private chamber instead of being interviewed in the room devoted to business below. Father Benin had hoped Brother Paulinus would not know she had been invited to explain.

Magdalene laughed, knowing it would infuriate the sacristan and hoping to draw his attention to give the prior time to gather his forces. “Rest at ease, Brother Paulinus,” she said. “Whoredom is not something you can breathe in and catch like a fever from the night air. Unless you desire it and seek it out, it will not touch you.”

“Me?” Brother Paulinus bellowed, raising his hand.

“Nay, Brother Paulinus,” the prior said sharply. “Even with such as she, we do not practice violence.” His countenance once more placid, Father Benin shook his head at her and she bowed hers in response. He turned to the sacristan again. “Magdalene is in my solar to keep her out of the way of the younger brothers, who often come to my secretary with problems.” He smiled slightly. “At my age, I hope I am safe from her no matter where I choose to speak with her. Now, what is this about the small golden pyx being stolen? Are you sure it is missing, Brother Sacristan? It was very small and never used. Could it not have slipped back into the dark, or even into another of the vessels?”

“Of course I am sure. As you know, usually we clean the church plate on Friday so that it will be perfect for Sunday, but we have been all turned around by Brother Knud being questioned, so the work was not completed Friday. Today, when Brother Knud was about to finish that task, something moved me to examine the safe box, and I counted over every piece. The pyx was gone.” His face contorted as if he were about to burst into tears. “I have failed my trust. And” —he whirled about and glared at Magdalene— “it is her fault. She stole it!”