‘She was not my wife, Sir Baldwin. Only a woman whom I adored. I had thought she was perfection, and I even considered taking her and running. Consider! I was prepared to leave the Church, renounce my oaths, and live as a felon with her.’
‘What happened?’
‘I heard that she had already taken another man. At first I didn’t believe it, but then I laid a trap for her. I waited in her chamber, resolved to offer myself to her, and if she refused me, I thought I would run away. But when she entered the room, she wasn’t alone. While I watched, he and she … did as a man and woman will. So I took my sword, and I killed him.’
The simple restatement did not do the scene justice, he thought. That terrible headless body marching towards him like a devil’s plaything, then stumbling and falling against him, the penis still erect, he afterwards recalled, the arms reaching as though to clutch at his own life, the blood springing up and blinding him. And he knew that he had lost her for ever.
The long, long months of a penitent’s cell, the shame of the Bishop’s court, and finally the sailing boat which had brought him here. All were so clear in his mind. It still seemed strange and marvellous that any acquaintance of the Abbot’s should not have known of his crime.
‘What happened to the lady?’
‘Sara went on to become a nun until she died,’ Cryspyn said sadly. ‘I killed him with my sword, but I fear that I inflicted a worse wound on her. It turned her mind completely.’ He sighed. ‘So that is why I am here. Men like Luke and me are sent here because of our sins.’
Simon had risen now, and genuflected before the altar as Baldwin asked quietly, ‘What of William? Has he also committed a grave sin?’
‘Why no, I do not think so. I believe he adored these islands when he once came to visit, and chose to remain.’
‘Really?’ It was odd that all the other members of the community, from what Cryspyn implied, should have been sent here because of some crime they had committed, and William alone was innocent. He resolved to speak to the elderly priest again.
Isok was preparing his boat for departure when she found him.
‘Isok? I am sorry. Truly sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault, is it?’ he said as he loaded the water into the boat. ‘God didn’t want us to be together, and that’s all there is to it.’
‘I wanted you, you know that, don’t you? I’m so sorry all this has happened.’
‘But being sorry didn’t stop you cuckolding me, did it?’ he demanded harshly, stopping a moment and staring at her. The blush was all he needed as confirmation. ‘So, that’s all there is to say.’
‘It’s not all my fault!’ she asserted. ‘What of you? You never told me that you’d never managed to lie with a woman before.’
‘Some people aren’t fornicators,’ he said coldly.
She looked away. ‘What will you do now?’
‘I will go away,’ he said, staring out to sea. ‘I’ll find peace somewhere.’
‘But how? Do you have the Prior’s permission to leave his demesne?’
‘No. So you can go and tell him, if you want. Tell him to kill me to punish me and keep me here.’
‘I wouldn’t do that.’
‘No. You’d only betray me to men with ballocks, wouldn’t you?’ he said nastily.
She hung her head. Then looked up resolutely. ‘First …’
‘What?’ he demanded.
She was fearful, he saw, and licked her lips nervously. ‘Just this … Isok, tell me, truthfully, did you murder him?’
‘Who, Luke?’ he sneered. ‘The pretty fellow was killed by the pirates, wasn’t he? Wasn’t that what the good Prior said?’
‘Not him. You know who I mean.’
‘Oh, your tax-collector? You know, it’s a shame you sank that low. Not many women would have done so. Most would have been happy with a scavenger, or a shit-collector, but not someone who steals what we all earn.’
‘He wasn’t like that.’
‘No? What – so the stories about him murdering a man are untrue?’
‘He did it to save another. He told me. He said that the only people he had killed were those he had fought in order to protect others. He wasn’t evil.’
‘Really?’
‘So – did you kill him?’
‘No.’ He stopped his work and stared at her. ‘I’d feel better if I had, but no. You may like to think about that after I’ve gone. You’ve lost me, your lover’s dead, and the murderer’s still here somewhere. Think on that!’
She stood aghast with clenched fists while he pushed his boat out to sea, then sprang aboard, and she was still standing there when his boat disappeared around the northern rocks of the channel. When she looked down, she saw that her nails had stabbed deep marks in her palms.
Simon was unable to concentrate at the table. His stomach, for once, had betrayed him. The foods laid out so temptingly for them all were unappealing. All he could see as the others ate, was the slight, battered form lying so still in the church, the nervous smile forever dimmed. He reached for the jug of wine more regularly as the meal progressed, letting the wash of wine through his belly warm him in a way that the food could not.
In celebration of the victory over the pirates, the Prior had brought out the choicest titbits from his undercrofts. In reality these were few, but those about his table had not been in a position to enjoy good food for some days. Simon saw that Baldwin was eating sparingly as usual, but Sir Charles, on the Prior’s left hand, was grabbing at everything that passed within reach. Paul was sitting farther down the table with some monks, where they shared four to each mess bowl, but up on the top table, Sir Charles, Baldwin and Simon had one bowl per pair. Simon was supposed to share with William, but the priest had no more appetite than Simon. The Prior himself had a small plate of bread and plain meats to himself, and he dabbed at his face with a linen cloth, concealing his little burps and coughs.
Simon could feel Baldwin’s eye upon him occasionally, but he paid no heed to the conversation that flowed about the table. All he knew was an enveloping misery that felt like a premonition of some kind.
It was only when Sir Charles sat back with a contented belch that rumbled in his throat like water sinking down a pipe, that Baldwin asked, ‘How many knew of the sands which connect the islands?’
‘Almost everyone here, and most peasants elsewhere. It’s only the men at La Val who knew nothing of them,’ Cryspyn said.
‘Curious that they could be kept secret from the men at Ennor.’
‘Most of them would be pressed to find their arses with both hands,’ William grunted.
‘Perhaps, but some are intelligent enough,’ Baldwin said musingly. ‘I should like to speak to the Sergeant of Ennor, Thomas. And to David and Isok as well.’
‘Why?’ the Prior asked as he motioned to his steward to remove the emptied bowls.
‘Because surely one of them can help us to learn who was the murderer of Robert the gather-reeve. His death troubles me. I cannot see why he should have been killed. And to be stabbed in the back without defending himself … there is something peculiar about this.’
‘What is peculiar?’ William asked. ‘The man was a hated rent-collector. Anyone would have shoved a dagger in his back and thought it a good deed.’
‘I find it hard to believe that Luke was killed by pirates, either,’ Baldwin continued as though William had not spoken. ‘I did think that he had died because the pirates wanted to conceal their hiding-place, and knowing that there was a priest there might have given them a problem. They could have killed him just to hide their presence. Certainly they were more than capable of murdering him, but something about it strikes me as odd.’
‘They saw him, they killed him,’ William said off-handedly. ‘I see no problem with that.’
‘Do you not? Yet if I was trying to conceal my presence, the last thing I would do would be to proclaim it by removing a very significant person. The first man to be missed in any community
would be the priest. And if the priest was gone, surely everyone would try to find the body? The death of Luke could have resulted in a widespread search of the islands. These pirates, after all, were experienced mariners. They must have raided plenty of islands and little hamlets before now. Usually they would install a spy on high ground to ensure that their ship was safe. It would be better than killing a man like Luke, no matter what we think of him.’
‘So you feel that he was murdered by an islander?’ the Prior asked heavily. ‘I know you have had a series of unfortunate experiences here, but surely you can trust me when I say that most of our people are decent, good men and women?’
‘You expect me to accept that? It seems certain that your people can turn to piracy, Prior,’ Baldwin pointed out.
‘What of the sand banks?’ William asked casually.
Baldwin looked at him with lowered brows. ‘Yes. That is a problem. You can see why?’
‘I have not the faintest idea, no.’
‘I was in the water, and I wore my sword. Yet when I was found, my sword had been taken from me and left not far from Robert’s body. That means that either someone took off my sword and dropped it there, perhaps intentionally to make me look like the murderer, and then carried my body to this island; or, more likely, someone found me on St Nicholas Island, took my sword, and carried that back to Ennor. Either way, it must have been someone who knew of the path beneath the sea. And they would have had to go all the way to Bechiek first,’ Baldwin added.
‘Perhaps they used a boat to cross over?’ William said.
‘Perhaps – but a boat was more likely to be seen, or missed from the beach,’ Baldwin said musingly.
‘It would be difficult to carry you all the way from Ennor to St Nicholas,’ Cryspyn joked, eyeing his solid frame.
Baldwin gave a dry grin of agreement. ‘I am no lightweight. Nor are the passes easy, as I learned myself in the company of William last evening. The ways are treacherous. That is why I am sure that the second is the more likely explanation. I had thought that the man who would most benefit from Robert’s death, the new gather-reeve, Walerand, must surely be the murderer, but he is too slight to carry me, and if he were to steal my sword, that must mean that he was already on the island of St Nicholas. Yet he apparently didn’t know about the sands. And I don’t think I mistook his disgust. He hated the very thought of walking in the sea. The idea of him walking to St Nicholas and back strikes me as unlikely.’
‘So he sailed?’
‘If he came by boat, he would have been seen, most likely,’ Baldwin argued. ‘And denounced since no one likes him.’
‘So you think it was someone who was able to make that walk, but who took your sword rather than carrying you?’ Cryspyn said.
‘Yes. Somebody killed Robert, I think, and then found me a little while later, and thought that the sword would be an ideal weapon to point to guilt. Perhaps the First Finder would think me guilty of murder, and then I should perish. Which means someone must have found me and left me to die, took my sword, placed it by the dead Robert, and then went home. The way between Ennor and here is only a half-mile. Unless …’
‘What?’
‘I just thought: suppose someone found me, and left me there, thinking I was near to death, and simply sought to steal my sword, and then was accosted by someone, so threw away my sword, and couldn’t find it again in the dark? That too is a possibility.’
‘Who would leave a man to drown like that?’ Cryspyn said. There was an edge to his voice, and Baldwin noticed that he was staring at his plate as though deep in unpleasant thoughts. When he glanced at William, he saw that the priest’s face had reddened, and he too avoided Baldwin’s eyes. Baldwin found all this very interesting.
Chapter Thirty-One
Tedia heard the men calling for David and Isok, and when she saw the two men marching towards the priory with David, she ran to Mariota and explained what had happened.
‘Best be going to the priory, maid. See what they’re saying about your man,’ Mariota said grimly. She stood, heaving up her massive bust and shaking her shoulders to settle her breasts. ‘Come on. I’ll support you.’
‘Thank you,’ Tedia said thankfully. ‘I don’t dare on my own.’
‘Since you rattled that knight, you mean?’ the older woman asked, and cackled at the sight of Tedia’s confusion. ‘Thought you’d kept it secret? I think we all know. He’s a good catch, if you can net him. Mind yourself, though. He looks like one who could bite back.’
Her words made Tedia smile to herself as they hurried after David. They reached the priory just as the reeve was disappearing into the hall. Although the larger abbeys and priories on the mainland would refuse to admit women beyond the visitor’s chambers at the gatehouse, on a small island such rules were not considered necessary. The new gatekeeper waved them through, and Tedia went to stand at the back of the hall to watch.
The Prior sat at his table, while on either side of him sat the two knights; her man Baldwin at Cryspyn’s right hand. Nearby was the Bailiff, who looked as though he had partaken too liberally of the Prior’s hospitality. Next to him was William, looking very pale-faced.
Baldwin stood as David came before them. He caught sight of Tedia, and she saw his expression lighten. A short while later, the Sergeant Thomas arrived, angrily snatching his elbow from the hand of the man who had fetched him, a brawny sailor from Ennor, who smiled lazily and crossed his arms at the door as though threatening Thomas to try to escape. He saw Tedia, and winked.
It warmed her, that wink. With the colour rising to her cheeks, she listened to Baldwin questioning the men.
‘We have doubts as to whether Luke was murdered by the pirates or someone else on this island. The good Prior has instructed me to investigate the Brother’s death, just as you, Thomas, instructed the Bailiff here to enquire about the homicide of Robert. That is why you two are here. Where is Isok?’
‘I don’t know,’ David said gruffly. ‘His boat’s gone. Perhaps he’s fishing.’
‘Perhaps he is.’ Baldwin scowled. If the man had run off, there was little they could do to capture him. He shrugged. ‘Thomas – we know that you saw Luke. What actually passed between you?’
‘I told you. He demanded a passage from the islands.’
‘And you refused him?’
‘Of course.’
‘But you said he offered you a bribe?’
‘He offered me some money, yes.’
‘How much?’
‘He held out a purse. I didn’t look. I didn’t need to; I merely refused.’
‘He threatened you, didn’t he?’
Thomas held his gaze angrily. ‘He knew about my ship, yes, and he said that if I didn’t take him, he’d see to it that Ranulph found out.’
‘Where was all this?’
‘On the headland at Penn Trathen. Where, before you point it out, the man’s body was found.’
‘Why should we point it out?’
‘Because that bastard saw me there,’ Thomas said, pointing at William.
‘Is this true?’ Baldwin demanded.
‘I was there and saw him, yes. I had been up at my flock,’ William admitted. ‘When the rain started, I thought I’d get off home, but then I saw the two men. They were exchanging angry words, and I went to see them; I exhorted them to cool their tempers. It worked. Then I left them.’
Thomas nodded, smiling thinly. ‘So you have another suspect,’ he sneered.
Baldwin was closely observing William. ‘Mere proximity doesn’t make a man a suspect.’
‘Why should I have killed Robert?’ William demanded hotly. ‘I had known him for years.’
‘And you always hated him for his arrogance and greed. That was the basis of your complaints to me, was it not?’ Thomas asked nastily. ‘Perhaps you decided that it was high time you paid him back for his treatment of your pet islanders, eh?’
Baldwin was looking at David. ‘What about you? You told us you were
at your boat. Who saw you there? You already mentioned that you saw Luke that night. You told me that when you were at the beach with Tedia and me.’
‘I did see him. He was off towards the sea.’
‘Yet Thomas says he saw Luke before the storm, is that right?’ Baldwin asked.
Thomas nodded and William said, ‘It was some little while before the main storm struck, but the wind was building. I think that was why Luke was desperate to get back, before the waters could grow too violent.’
‘Yet you hated the gather-reeve too, didn’t you?’ Baldwin said to David.
‘Who didn’t? He was a murderous bastard.’
‘So the tales say,’ Baldwin agreed.
‘No!’ Simon said. He drank some more wine and narrowed his eyes, staring at Thomas. ‘Ranulph told me you started spreading stories again about him, how he’d killed a man happily. You started the rumours to make the people quiescent when the next demands for money came.’
‘Tell us the story,’ Baldwin commanded.
‘There is little enough to tell.’ Thomas shrugged. ‘He was a runaway from a vill because he’d killed a man, and I found him in a tavern in Dartmouth. That night, I saw him stab a man in the side and the neck, oh, must have been sixteen, seventeen times, and all because this fellow was feeling up some woman Robert found attractive. He was always getting into trouble with women. The point was, he was petrified. I could see it in his face: he was smiling, you know? A big grin of terror on his face. I told everyone he was a berserker to scare them and make him safer, but in truth he was no fighter.’
Baldwin could see a nodding head, and was not surprised to see that it was Sir Charles. Returning to Thomas, he said, ‘This story of his enjoying killing was well enough known on the islands?’
‘Yes. He was a wanted man for the murder of Jack of Carkill.’
Simon frowned. There was something about that name that was familiar … No. The thought was gone.
Baldwin was speaking to David again. ‘So who else could have been out there that night?’
‘Isok, I suppose. He walked to Mariota’s house once his wife rejected him again.’
The Outlaws of Ennor: (Knights Templar 16) Page 39