Mark McPherson

The Conquest of Foy Mark McPherson

Superstition and Furta Sacra (relic theft) not only make their way into the 1066 Norman conquest of England story but steers its course. More importantly, it's a story of how King Harald Godwinson's stubborn heart is slowly changed by something greater than himself.

11th century CE.
Monastery superiors often dispatched monks to discover new relics to draw in wealthy pilgrims. But cathedrals and abbeys across the empire were filling up with unknown or fake relics, and so pilgrims became fussy and fastidious. Bishops needed a more aggressive approach if they wanted a famous saint in their abbey.
One particularly jealous bishop could stand it no longer and dispatched his most trusted thief.
Posing as a novice monk, the thief joined a rival monastery and waited.
For ten years, the thief remained humble, obedient, gradually gaining the trust of his new superiors until his opportunity finally came. He was granted access to the sacred relics of Saint Foy.

Discovered before he could escape, the thief was left with no choice but to kill. As the thief returned north to his monastery, the relics became heavier with each step. It seems Saint Foy will not forgive.

Before long, the relics were in the hands of a powerful Frankish Duke.
Will Saint Foy lead him to his greatest desire?
Or will he be forever cursed?