was told. Several times she glanced back as if she was praying that somehow we would have vanished, but we had not.
If I paused or hesitated for more than a moment, I felt the point of the dagger prick into my back and heard Vítor’s growl to keep walking. While I kept trying to convince myself he wouldn’t kill me, his threat to mutilate the falcons reminded me that there are worse things a man might do with a knife than commit murder. The Inquisition was, after all, well versed in the art of crippling a man for life without actually taking that life even if their victims begged their tormentors to do so. And the thought of being left out here maimed, in agony and alone was enough to make me keep walking.
The cold air rising up from the ice only increased my pounding headache, and my shoulder ached so much I was beginning to fear that one of the bones had indeed been cracked.
But finally Isabela stopped. ‘I can’t go any further. There’s a crevasse in front of me. It’s too wide to get across.’
‘Is that so?’ Vítor sounded almost pleased by the news. ‘And is it deep?’
Isabela must have realized at the same moment I did why Vítor had brought us here. She clasped her hand to her mouth, looking terrified, but said nothing.
‘You, Cruz, take this length of line, which Isabela has so helpfully provided. Tie her hands behind her.’ Seeing me hesitate, he added, ‘I am sure she would want you to do it. She knows what will happen to her precious birds if you don’t co-operate.’
Isabela stood still as I tied her as loosely as I dared. Her hands were trembling.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I whispered. But she gave no sign that she had heard me.
Vítor pushed past us and peered down into the crevasse. It was deep, so deep that several men could have stood on one another’s shoulders and still not reached the top. The bottom was strewn with jagged shards of ice, but the sides were as clean and smooth as polished glass.
He straightened up and gave a smile of satisfaction. ‘Do you recall the first night we spent on this island when that drunken peasant of a farmer was telling us his hunting stories? Now, what was it he said? Ah yes, I believe he told us how dangerous the rivers of ice could be. How if a man fell down into one of the crevasses, he would never be able to climb out again. It is a lesson you would do well to remember, Cruz. It is always wise to remain sober whilst others are in their cups, you never know what useful information you might acquire.
‘You’ve chosen your grave well, Isabela. God has been more merciful to you than a heretic deserves. The cold will probably kill you before you starve to death or die of any injuries you might sustain in the fall. I understand dying of cold is not an unpleasant death, just accept it. Don’t fight against the sleep and it will be over quickly. But while you wait down there for death, Isabela, I urge you to think of your sins and repent of your heresy. Use the time you have left well. Spend it in prayer to our Blessed Lord and the Holy Virgin, begging for their mercy. That is all the Church wants, all she has ever asked for, the full and humble repentance of heretics.’
He turned from her, jabbing the point of his dagger at me.
‘Now is the time, Cruz, to fulfil the vow you made before my brothers, the oath you swore by the Virgin Mary and all the saints. Push the girl in. Do it and I will take you back to Portugal to live a life of luxury and pleasure. I will even generously divide the price I receive from the white falcons with you.’
Isabela had shrunk back from the edge. Now she looked up at me, her mouth set bravely, but I could see, behind the defiance, the terror in her eyes. ‘Look after the white falcons, Marcos … don’t let him hurt them … they’re so beautiful.’
I had expected her to plead for mercy. I would have been grovelling pathetically on my knees, but I should have known she would never beg for her own life.
Vítor impatiently gestured with his dagger. ‘Do it, Cruz. You are making her suffer more by hesitating. Come now, quickly, put the