Chapter Ten #2
Andressa knew that wasn’t why Maxton had come to St. Blitha, but she didn’t want to explain that away, so she simply remained silent.
Still, there was something to what the Mother Abbess was saying – there was great contention between the king and the Holy Father, though she really wasn’t sure why the woman was bringing it up.
Almost as if she were confiding in her, which was starting to confuse Andressa even more than she already was.
She thought she had been brought into the Mother Abbess’ solar for punishment, but now it was turning into something else.
“I am sure anything is possible, Gracious Mother,” she said. “And it saddens me to think that our king’s behavior towards the Holy Father could turn his subjects against the church. Without the church, there is no civilization. We would all be animals. Lady de Courtney said so.”
The Mother Abbess smiled faintly. “It pleases me to hear you say that,” she said. “It warms my heart to know that I am making the right decision about you.”
“What decision is that, Gracious Mother?”
“The decision to bring you into my fold.”
There it was again; that declaration of possession.
It wasn’t simply that Andressa was to become a nun at St. Blitha, but more than that – a personal attendant, as the Mother Abbess had phrased it.
Frankly, Andressa was repulsed by the idea, terrified that this evil woman wanted to bring her closer but knowing there was no way for her to prevent it.
She had no choice.
The expression on her face must have been interpreted as confusion because the Mother Abbess continued quietly.
“For many years, I have served the Holy Father, as have the Sisters Dymphna, Agnes, and Petronilla,” she said.
“We have all known each other since we were children. We are all orphans, like you, and we also have a strong desire to serve God, much as you do. But we are not getting any younger, Andressa. There are things we do for the Holy Father and those most loyal to him that we must pass to younger women. It is a great honor to become part of our sisterhood because we carry out work for God that no one knows of, nor will they ever. What we do is secretive and vital. You must become part of what we do and learn our ways, and how important our service to God is, so that you can assume our mantle when we have gone to our heavenly reward.”
It seemed to her that the Mother Abbess was talking in riddles. Andressa still wasn’t entirely clear on what was expected of her but she tried to sound cooperative. “I am willing to do whatever you wish for me to do, Gracious Mother,” she said. “Teach me and I shall learn.”
The Mother Abbess leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table and folding her hands, as one would while praying.
“I shall, child,” she said. “I shall teach you everything. From this moment onward, you are part of us. You will become one of us, meaning our secrets, our knowledge, will become yours. Do you agree to this?”
Andressa nodded. “I do, Gracious Mother.”
“You will vow before God that you shall never go back on your word to me, Andressa, and that you shall keep to yourself everything I teach you. Will you do this?”
“I swear it, Gracious Mother.”
“Good. Because if you do, you shall know the pain of The Chaos first-hand.”
Andressa’s belly lurched, sinking straight down into her ankles.
She’d gone from frightened, to confused, and back to frightened again during the course of the conversation.
A deadly threat had just been delivered in a kind voice, as kind as any tone she’d ever heard.
Such vile words, so softly spoken – that were pure evil, and there was no doubt in her mind that the Mother Abbess meant them sincerely.
Her knees began to quiver again.
Oh, God…
“I will not go back on my word, Gracious Mother,” she said steadily. “I only wish to serve God and be obedient to you.”
The Mother Abbess’ smile turned into a grimace. In truth, it was still a polite smile. But to Andressa, it was a gesture of wickedness and horror. “You are a good girl,” the Mother Abbess said. “Sit down and listen to me. We have much to discuss.”
Andressa quickly sat down in one of the fine chairs around the table.
Across from her, Sisters Dymphna, Agnes, and Petronilla also sat, their collective focus solely on her.
Andressa felt as if she were being scrutinized down to her very bones.
She further wondered if those three nuns ever felt the same fear and horror of the Mother Abbess that she did.
She doubted it.
“It is important that you understand we have been given a great mission by the Holy Father,” the Mother Abbess said. “Do you recall two days ago when a man was in our chapel and he shouted at you? He wanted to know who I was. Do you recall this event?”
Andressa nodded unsteadily as she remembered that day and that moment. A dirty man had been standing before the Mother Abbess and he had screamed at her across the room, a Scottish accent demanding identification of the Mother Abbess. She recalled it clearly.
“I do, Gracious Mother.”
“He was a messenger from the Holy Father,” the Mother Abbess said seriously.
“He had come to deliver a message to me personally. It is a message that will change the destiny of England, Andressa. Since you are to be part of us, you must know what has been asked of us. God has asked it of us, child. A directive from the Holy Father is a directive from God. Do you understand?”
Andressa bobbed her head. “I do.”
“And we are servants of God. We do what He asks us to do.”
“Aye, Gracious Mother. Always.”
That was the response that the Mother Abbess evidently wanted to hear.
“As we carry out the Holy Father’s wishes, you will help us,” she said.
“You will see what we do and how we do it, and we shall teach you what you need to know because you will carry on our work after we are gone. Do you understand?”
Andressa was afraid to say that she didn’t, but the truth was that she didn’t. She was so terrified of the consequences of failure that she needed to be clear.
“I do not completely, Gracious Mother,” she said honestly. “What am I to learn?”
The Mother Abbess’ gaze was intense. “You are to learn true service to God,” she said. “You are to learn what it means to accomplish a great and important task.”
“What is the task, Gracious Mother?”
“To kill the king.”
Andressa thought she hadn’t heard correctly. She sat there a moment and stared at the woman before her face flickered with confusion.
“To kill…?”
“John. Our directive from the Holy Father, and from God, is to kill King John.”
Andressa simply stared at her as the reality of what she was being told sank in.
Much to her credit, she didn’t react outwardly.
But inside, she was screaming. She wanted to run as far and as fast as she could, for now she understood why the Mother Abbess had sworn her to secrecy.
A directive had come down from the Holy Father to murder a monarch and the nuns believed they were doing God’s work because of it.
She could see it in their faces.
Andressa was very bright; she understood what it would mean should she refuse to participate.
Death awaited her, and God knew, she didn’t want to die.
But she also didn’t want to be party to regicide, which was what these nuns were plotting.
Andressa knew the Mother Abbess was capable of murder; God help her, she knew it.
But to kill the king? Andressa knew her reaction to what she had been told would determine whether or not she lived or died.
She wanted to live.
Bracing herself, she spoke.
“If God has demanded it, then we must obey the holy command,” she said, praying she didn’t sound as shaken as she felt. “I am anxious to serve our Holy Father.”
Oh, but it was a lie coming out of her mouth. She didn’t want to help. She didn’t want any part of it. But self-preservation was flowing fast and heavy through her veins. She had to make it out of this alive. She watched the Mother Abbess for her reaction, praying it would be one of approval.
Praying she was believed.
Her prayers were answered. The Mother Abbess was evidently pleased, or at least encouraged by it, because she sat back in her chair with an expression of approval on her face. The dark eyes glittered.
“Is that all you have to say to this?” she asked. “You are English, Andressa. Our command is to kill your king. And you have nothing more to say to that?”
She does not believe me, Andressa thought with panic.
Quickly, she struggled for a believable response.
“Should I?” she said. “My father supported Richard, not John. In fact, he fought for Richard in his wars against his own father. My family has no love for John. But if he is removed, then who shall take his place?”
The Mother Abbess waved a dismissive hand. “Our Holy Father has already made that determination,” she said. “Suffice it to say he shall be better than what England has with John. We are saving England, Andressa. There is great honor in this.”
There was no honor in it. It was murder, but the Mother Abbess was trying very hard to convince her otherwise.
She also alluded to the fact that there was already a replacement for the king, ready and waiting, someone clearly chosen by the Holy Father.
It was already planned, all of it. Now, it was simply a matter of executing the plot.
Andressa was so frightened that she simply went along with it.
“There is great honor in serving God,” she said, “and I… I am honored that you would trust me into your sisterhood. I shall not disappoint you, Gracious Mother.”
The Mother Abbess studied her a moment longer before looking away, rising from her chair. As she did so, the three sisters also rose, and Andressa took the cue and also bolted to her feet. The four of them watched as the Mother Abbess wandered over to the oriel windows overlooking the cloister.