Free A Gift of Sanctuary by Candace Robb

be privy. And I doubt he will pay us much heed. His only concern is that I do indeed make this journey so that he might enjoy the privacy of my home while I am away.’
    ‘A Cistercian who travels alone and stays in a private home?’
    ‘Brother Dyfrig is a singular monk, it is true.’
    They moved inside, where the dark, windowless room proved brighter than Owen had expected, with a multitude of candles and oil-lamps.
    ‘Sweet Jesu, I shall pay dearly for this extravagance,’ Edern muttered. ‘I had lit these to pack. Dyfrig interrupted me.’ He moved round the long room, blowing out all the candles. ‘Oil is dear enough, but candles . . .’ He shook his head. ‘You think nothing of such things, I suppose, being Lancaster’s man.’
    ‘When not on a mission for the Duke I have my own household in York,’ Owen said. ‘I know the cost of such forgetfulness.’
    Now there were only four oil-lamps and a small fire in the middle of the room. Dyfrig had pulled a stool close to the fire, and sat warming his hands and feet.
    Edern motioned Owen to a bench across from the white monk. He filled a wooden bowl from a pitcher, offered it to Owen. ‘Welcome to my home, Captain.’
    Owen took the bowl, drank. A strong, sour ale.
    ‘You have a wife?’ Edern asked as he settled beside Owen. ‘And children?’
    ‘I do.’
    ‘It must be difficult to be so far from them.’
    ‘It is. If we arrive quickly and safely in Cydweli I shall be well pleased.’
    ‘The first I can almost promise, God willing and our strength holding. But the latter is partly yours to ensure, Captain. You and your men.’
    ‘I spoke of floods and hobbled horses, not danger from thieves. The roads seemed free of them – or at least of thieves desperate enough to attack armed men.’
    ‘I am glad to hear that,’ said Edern.
    Enough of this dancing round one another. ‘Why did you offer to escort us to Cydweli?’
    Dyfrig glanced over, frowning. Edern shook his head as if warning him to be silent. The vicar took his time replying. Hands on thighs, he stared into the fire with a peaceful expression. Then, in an almost sleepy voice, he said, ‘For reasons I never knew, I was made to feel unwelcome in Cydweli by most of the men. John de Reine was one of the few who befriended me and attended Mass, sought me out to hear his confessions. I would see him safely delivered to his father, properly buried.’
    Brother Dyfrig listened to this explanation with eyes closed, head bowed. When Edern had finished, the monk rocked back and forth slightly, as if nodding his approval.
    It was plain to Owen that Edern lied.
    ‘You must excuse me if I find such selfless devotion doubtful under the circumstances,’ Owen said. ‘It is not pleasant, travelling with a corpse already foul.’
    With a sigh, Edern shifted and crooked his left leg on the bench, so facing Owen. ‘You are a wary fox, Captain. And I am glad of it, considering our mission. I thought myself clever. I thought I might convince you I was an honourable soul. So be it. My selfless devotion, as you call it, is half the tale. I have a favour to ask the bishop. Undertaking this mission for him should assist my cause.’
    ‘The favour?’
    Edern bowed his head, raised his folded hands to his forehead, as if considering the question. ‘I have told you what you have a right to know,’ he said softly.
    ‘Did you leave Cydweli of your own accord?’
    Edern glanced up, puzzled. ‘By order of the bishop. I came to take up new duties as vicar choral here at St David’s.’
    Owen nodded. ‘You say you were not welcome at the castle. What about John Lascelles? How did he behave towards you?’
    ‘With courtesy. He is a man who respects a man of God.’
    ‘And the constable?’
    A snort. ‘Burley respects no one but himself and the man who holds him at knife point, Captain.’
    ‘You never gained his respect?’
    ‘No. More’s the pity. I should have liked to draw his blood.’
    ‘I am told that