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Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1) QUOTES

Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1) QUOTES

1 " The reason was not hard to discern. The head of the body was also shaven with the tonsure of Columba. What remained of his clothing proclaimed it to have once consisted of the habit of a religieux, though there was no sign of the crucifix, leather belt and satchel that a peregrinus pro Christo would have carried. The leading traveller had drawn near on his mule and gazed up with a terrified expression on his white features. Another of the party, one of the two women, urged her mount nearer and gazed up at the corpse with a steady eye. She rode a horse, a fact that signified that she was no ordinary religieuse but a woman of rank. There was no fear on her pale features, just a slight expression of repulsion and curiosity. She was a young woman, tall but well proportioned, a fact scarcely concealed by her sombre dress. Rebellious strands of red hair streaked from beneath her headdress. Her pale-skinned features were attractive and her eyes were bright and it was difficult to discern whether they were blue or green, so changeable with emotion were they. ‘Come away, Sister Fidelma,’ muttered her male companion in agitation. ‘This is not a sight for your eyes. "

― Peter Tremayne , Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)

2 " The young woman continued to frown, displaying her irritation. ‘You would continue on and leave one of our brethren in this manner? Unblessed and unburied?’ Her voice was sharp and angry. "

― Peter Tremayne , Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)

3 " Sister Fidelma raised an eyebrow. ‘The beggar seems to be one of our countrymen, Mother Abbess,’ she said. The Abbess Étain moved forward to join her. ‘A beggar. They suffer greatly from the arrogance of a crowd.’ ‘But listen to what he says.’ The two women strained to catch the rasping tones of the beggar. The voice was raised loudly. ‘I tell you, tomorrow the sun shall be blotted from the heavens and when that time comes there shall be blood staining the floor of this abbey. Beware! Beware, I tell you! I see blood in this place! "

― Peter Tremayne , Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)

4 " I have need of a knife to cut our brother down,’ she explained. ‘We must pray for his soul and accord him a Christian burial.’ The others cast uneasy glances at each other. "

― Peter Tremayne , Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)

5 " Half-a-dozen men had emerged on foot from the woods on the far side of the road. They were led by a man mounted on a horse – a burly man with long unkempt hair curling from underneath a polished bronze helmet and merging into a great bushy black beard. He wore a burnished breastplate and carried himself with some authority. His companions, clustered behind him, carried an assortment of weaponry, mostly staffs and bows with arrows strung but not drawn. Sister Fidelma had no knowledge of what the man shouted, but it was clearly an order, and it took little guessing that it was an order for her to desist in her task. "

― Peter Tremayne , Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1)