AVIGNON March, 1348 AD
Marius woke at first light. Dominique was already sitting at the table, Fabien in her arms. She fed her son soup from a wooden bowl. In between mouthfuls, he gurgled contentedly, a healthy, young boy.
“How did you sleep last night, Marius…well, I"d say, you were maudlin from drink?”
“So I was,” came the sheepish reply.
“You must tell me about your new responsibility, as you called it.”
"Can I believe my liaison with Alice?" He thought. "Surely, it"s but a dream…but no! And there"s no doubt I"m blameworthy – for Alice and my unfaithful act."
“You"ve heard about deaths in the town over the last week…well, the Magistrate asked me to carry two deceased sailors from the docks to the cathedral. It was a case of me being there at the time and he requesting a favour. I
