Free Martyr's Fire by Sigmund Brouwer

When he reigned over Magnus, he would order a man’s tongue to be cut from his mouth with the same lack of hesitation he would display when requesting another flagon of wine.
    “The earl’s son sent for representatives from the king. Directed by the son, they found letters from the earl, in the earl’s handwriting, and sealed in wax with the earl’s symbol, in a pouch to be delivered to other earls and lords across the entire kingdom. These letters requested help in overthrowing the king.”
    Lord Mewburn scratched methodically at his chin through his wiry beard, a habit that Isabelle found irritating. He nodded.
    “These letters, of course, and the wax seals were counterfeits, an easyenough task for us,” Isabelle continued. “The earl protested his innocence, but based on the testimony of his own son, he was immediately thrown into his own prison.”
    As she spoke, she wondered if her irritation was rising because of her unhappiness with the situation. Michael, son of the Earl of York, had been placed in a temporary position to oversee the earldom, and soon enough, after the official letter of gratitude from the king, he would be pronounced the new Earl of York. Sacrificing his own ear had indeed been a small price. Betraying one’s father—well, that was a higher price, if a man had a conscience, but she doubted Michael did.
    Of more concern to Isabelle was that she was expected to wed Michael once he became the new earl, giving her one of the highest places of nobility in all of England. A perfect place for a woman to be able to influence events on behalf of the Druids. Power and wealth would be hers, something she had been bred to desire. But without Thomas at her side …
    “Go on,” Lord Mewburn said.
    “In Magnus,” she said, “as we have heard by other messengers, Thomas has gone into hiding from the Priests of the Holy Grail. A bounty has been placed upon his head.”
    He shall escape , she told herself. She couldn’t bear the thought of discovering that Thomas had been captured and tortured, as the earl had been, here in York. This was wrong, she knew, to be hoping that Thomas would escape the power of the Druids.
    “And he shall escape,” Lord Mewburn said.
    For a moment, she wondered if she had spoken her thoughts aloud. She found herself blinking in surprise.
    “He shall escape,” Lord Mewburn repeated, “because events are unfolding as planned. It will do our battle no good for Thomas to be in a prison in Magnus or hanging from a rope. We want what he has hiddenfrom us. Magnus has only been taken from him to drive him toward us again.”
    “How can you be so certain he will come here?” Isabelle asked, doing her best to hide her emotions at the thought of seeing Thomas again.
    Lord Mewburn steepled his fingers and smiled at her. “Because for centuries we have always been proven correct. But as part of your education, I will explain why in this situation. Thomas will have heard about the earl’s imprisonment, and he will be convinced that the earl must be an ally. Thomas will guess that those who have overthrown York are those who have overthrown Magnus. He will want to learn what he can from the earl and, I would also guess, want to try to assist him. It means, of course, that sooner than later, Thomas will arrive here.”
    “Yes, Father,” Isabelle said.
    “When he arrives,” Lord Mewburn said, “let’s make sure you are in a position to offer Thomas what he wants. Are you capable of that?”
    Isabelle made sure that she did not show any of the joy that came with the quickening of her heart.
    She simply repeated her words. “Yes, Father.”

S PRING , P ARIS , F RANCE —AD 1313
    Katherine startled as a shadow crossed the pages of her open book. “I’m sorry, my child,” a soft voice reassured her. “The thoughts I interrupted, they must have been enjoyable. Your face showed such pleasure. And I was clumsy to—”
    She blushed. “ Frère Dominic, it is I who should