Page 44 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

Chapter 14

Lionel sat in the pew of St. Mary’s Church next to Rachael and with the rest of his family on Good Friday, feeling as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. Then again, he hadn’t really. He’d fallen in love with Rachael, and only wanted to feel like he truly was her husband. He was still moving from the bed and sleeping on the floor every night, and it was driving him mad. He felt his resolve crumbling and his stomach grumbling. He’d been fasting in one way or another for nearly six weeks now, and it was pure torture. He just could not live this way anymore.

The only thing keeping him going was that he knew in two days’ time he’d be able to make love to Rachael. Then, they would finally consummate this farce of a marriage and truly be husband and wife.

The church was dark on purpose for Good Friday, as it was meant to seem dreary to symbolize the dying of Jesus on the cross. It was considered a Black Fast day and no eating of food was allowed at all. Lionel looked out at the sea of purple cloths, covering the statues, the color reminding him of grapes. His empty stomach growled. He’d never really noticed so many statues in the church before, but supposed the purple made them more noticeable since it only reminded him of food.

He studied Father Anthony with watchful eyes as the man stumbled over his words, almost sounding drunk. Lionel didn’t know Father Anthony well since the man recently replaced old Father Ezekiel who died in his sleep a few months ago. He thought Father Anthony just had a stuttering problem all this time, but was realizing he just might not know the words since the masses were usually said in Latin. Father Anthony had started saying the masses in English lately, saying it was the new way to do it so more people could understand.

Rachael told Lionel that Gilly was really the one being used by his uncle – Father Anthony, that is. Still, Lionel had a hard time believing it. After all, accusing a holy man of the cloth of stealing, with no real proof was going to be risky. Then again, it would make sense since Father Anthony seemed to be doing things to get on Lionel’s good side, trying to make Lionel trust him. Lionel should have known it was too good to be true when the priest didn’t want a bribe but still granted him permission for his entire castle to eat a meal on the Day of Ashes.

If only they could find his last missing shipment, it would make things so much easier to find proof. He was sure the goods were long gone by now.

The mass ended, and everyone left the church, gathering on the front steps, talking. Father Anthony excused himself and disappeared inside.

“Winifred,” said Lionel, still getting the cold shoulder from his daughter. “Do you know much about Father Anthony?”

“Why would I tell you?” the girl answered snidely.

“Winifred, please. Your father is trying to help you. And Gilly,” Rachael whispered.

“What do you want to know?” asked the girl with a roll of her eyes.

“Do you know how long Gilly’s uncle has been a priest?”

“How would I know?” she asked. “I thought he was a dockworker until I saw him saying mass one day.”

“A dockworker?” asked Lionel. “Did you ever see him on the docks?”

“Sure. Lots of times,” she answered with a shrug. “Even now as a priest, he is always down there talking to the workers.”

“He is, is he?” said Lionel, his eyes flashing back up to the church. “I’ll be right back,” he said.

“Where are you going?” asked Rachael.

“I think I just realized where my latest stolen shipment is.”

“In the church?” asked Rachael.

“Right in front of our noses.” Lionel smiled, knowing in a minute he’d have the evidence he needed to prove that Rachael was right about the man.

He ran up the stairs and entered the dark church, sneaking up to the pulpit, trying to be quiet.

“Lionel, what is it?” whispered Rachael. “What are you doing?”

“Unless I’m mistaken, this church never had so many statues before.”

“What do you mean?”

He walked up to one of the purple cloths and pulled it off, exposing several barrels stacked up on top of each other.

“And there’s my missing shipment – the herbs and spices.”

“Lionel, look,” whispered Rachael, tapping him on the shoulder and pointing across the church where Father Anthony and a half-dozen men were stacking barrels atop small carts and moving them toward the secret tunnel.

“I’m going to stop this once and for all.” His hand went to the hilt of his sword.

“Don’t be a fool,” she whispered with her hand atop of his. “You can’t fight off half a dozen men by yourself.”