Page 74 of The Herald's Heart
“No. I think she asked someone she trusted to get those weeds for her. Someone who may not even have known why she wanted them.”
“That is ridiculous.” The abbess snorted and strode toward the gate.
“I don’t think so.” He hurried to keep up with her. “She must be tried in the king’s court.”
“No.”
“’Tis the only way to prove her innocence.”
“No, I say.” The abbess turned on him with surprising vehemence. “Even were she able to be tried, as a holy woman, that duty would fall to a church court. Since she is dead to the world, God can be her only judge. Earthly kings and laws hold no sway over the dead.”
“I doubt King Edward would see it that way. He takes a dim view of murder and a dimmer view of those who hide behind holiness to accomplish it.”
“Then write to your king and ask him. Meanwhile, I will write to the archbishop and the pope. We will see if Edward Plantagenet wants to risk excommunication over the issue.”
Talon couldn’t believe that one woman held sufficient influence to have the king of England excommunicated. But what if she did? What if he’d underestimated the abbess? Edward must be warned. Since he was needed here, Amis would have to go. Then Talon would do what he could to decipher Mother Clement’s advice and restore himself to Larkin’s good graces.
