A Parliament of Spies by Cassandra Clark

Which pope will Beaulieu decide to follow? England's future depends on it, and who better than Hildegard to discover Beaulieu's allegiance? But to question such powerful forces brings only death and danger - and even her two militant monks may not be enough to save her. The Cistercians are split between the pope in Rome - supported by King Richard - and the pope in Avignon, an ally of the king's French enemies. The Western Church is in Schism, with two popes battling for power. But there is a more urgent and secret purpose for her mission. What could be more pleasant than to join a betrothal party, especially as she will be accompanied on the long journey to the New Forest by the two monks militant, Gregory and Egbert. Hildegard is given a special assignment by the Prioress of Swyne to escort a young heiress from Beaulieu Abbey to the northern stronghold of Sir William atte Wood. All she knows for certain is that a storm is coming, threatening to cut the priory off from the outside world and trap them with a killer. Hildegard isn't sure whether to believe him, but when a body is discovered near the priory, she's soon plunged into a dark and dangerous puzzle where nothing is as it seems. But before Hildegard can investigate, she's forced to deal with a new problem: the arrival of a mysterious stranger in the middle of the night, claiming his life is in danger. The Prioress gives Hildegard an order: search out the cause of this unrest, and put a stop to it. The new novices whisper in corners, spreading malicious rumours and sharing dark secrets. Can nun sleuth Hildegard solve the murder of a lay sister before the rising flood waters trap her with a cunning killer?Īutumn, 1394.

A Parliament of Spies by Cassandra Clark