Mercia paused outside the gate, looking across at the field where the multitude was now milling in groups, each absorbed in its own discussions. At the far end of the field, Percy was staring at the ground, Nicholas behind him, as if composing himself. In the midst of all, Lavington was talking with Thorpe and Humility, the grand cut of his cloak standing out against the simplicity of the townsfolk’s general attire.
‘No, I cannot see Standfast,’ she said. ‘Or Nathan. We should find them.’
They ducked back inside the palisade, separating at the meeting house where Mercia headed south and Amery north. Moments later she heard running behind her and her heartbeat quickened. She turned her head, ready to leap inside the smithy to snatch a heavy tool, but it was only Amery come back.
‘I just saw Nathan, standing in the northern gate,’ he said. ‘You go that way and I will look down here.’
She nodded, returning past the meeting house to catch sight of Nathan, now framed in the gate, but he was not alone. Remembrance was leaning against the palisade beside him, laughing at something he had said. She could have sworn she had seen her in the festival field, but with everyone in front of each other it was difficult to be sure who was who.
She tapped Nathan’s arm. ‘You have to come. Percy has found another code.’
The smile on his lips vanished. ‘By the Lord. Who?’
‘Nobody. At least, nobody yet.’
His eyes widened. ‘Then he could still strike?’
She looked through the gate; at the meadow’s edge, a deer darted from the trees, disturbing a flock of birds that took umbrageous flight. ‘I fear so.’
‘Jesus, Mercia.’ Nathan’s hand reached down to his side. ‘I will make sure you are safe. Both of you.’
‘Never mind that. Have you seen Standfast or the constable? We cannot find them anywhere.’
‘I have,’ answered Remembrance, turned as white as Percy. ‘I saw Standfast on that fallen tree by the wood. Only five minutes ago. I was walking round the palisade to fetch some balls of twine. He seemed restless, fiddling with his hands all the time.’
‘Restless?’ Her eyes darted about. ‘Nat, everyone is gathering at the field. We had better walk Remembrance there and then go after him, fast.’
He nodded, gesturing to Remembrance to walk ahead. Once she was safely through the western gate, they doubled back to the other side of town. They were now quite alone in the abandoned streets.
‘I am sorry,’ he said, matching her speed. ‘I should not have left you.’
She quickened her pace. ‘Nathan, what about Standfast? If he is acting strangely, and Percy has found a new code …’
‘By God’s truth!’ He looked at her. ‘You don’t think …?’
She halted at the eastern gate. Sure enough, Standfast was near the fallen trunk, but he was no longer seated. He was standing at the edge of the forest, his hand covering the mole on his neck, pacing up and down as though thinking.
‘What is he doing?’ she whispered.
‘I don’t know, but—what is that?’
‘What?’
He pointed to Standfast’s left. ‘That movement, there.’
Seemingly oblivious, Standfast stopped his pacing, before making up his mind and disappearing into the forest.
And then a second figure emerged from an unseen hiding place, following him into the wood.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mercia put her hand to her mouth. Even at a distance, she could tell the figure following Standfast was not much clothed.
‘That was Sooleawa! I thought she would have shunned the festival. What is she doing here?’
Her whirling mind assembled the fractured pieces within its jumble, trying to make sense of all the component parts. Then a realisation grabbed her, the Indian woman’s talk of vengeance bursting through the rest. Was that why Sooleawa had come to see her that night – as a form of confession?
‘By our Lord!’ She tugged on Nathan’s arm. ‘We have to go after her! Standfast could be in danger.’
‘Standfast?’ A moment, and then – ‘Hell’s teeth, you think the Indians are behind all this? That he is their next target?’
‘I have no idea. Sooleawa seemed sincere when she claimed to be Clemency’s friend, but … she is strong enough, and determined.’
‘But the codes, Mercia? And their powwow? He was one of the victims, it seems.’
She danced on the spot in agitation. ‘All I know is that right now, someone may be in danger. Whatever the reason, we have to follow.’
He frowned, clearly unconvinced. ‘Perhaps, but—’
She gave him no time to finish. She sped towards the forest, pausing at its edge to survey the territory ahead. In the shadow of the deep trees, she could make out two figures nearby, Standfast and Sooleawa, in earnest discussion. But instead of nervous shouts or defensive gestures, they were standing close together, apparently at ease. Then Standfast pressed his hand against Sooleawa’s back and the two disappeared further into the wood.
‘Surely not,’ she muttered, as Nathan fell in beside her.
‘Surely what?’
‘No matter. We have to be sure.’ Breathing hard, she turned to him. ‘I don’t suppose you have a weapon?’
He pulled back his jacket to reveal a doglock pistol tucked into the top of his breeches. She arched an eyebrow. ‘Since when did you carry a gun?’
‘Since we came here. Which way did they go?’
She pointed in the direction Standfast had vanished. ‘That way.’
‘Right. Now stay behind me.’
It was dark in the wood, and close; maintaining pace with Nathan was tricky, especially in her heavy dress. She began to slow, her boots dragging in the twisted undergrowth. But she kept up as best she could, tracking his stealthy progress through the trees, her ears alert for warning sounds behind. Then she saw him slow up, coming to a halt behind a distended birch, its twin trunks splitting the one from the other at its gnarled base. Quietly, she fell in to crouch beside him.
‘Why have you stopped?’
He raised a cautious finger. ‘Look.’
In front of them, Sooleawa and Standfast were standing in a large clearing, its blackened earth testament to a scorching in the past. Standfast turned to his companion, holding up his hands as if in question. In response, she reached to the knife at her side. Nathan tensed to rush forward, but Sooleawa merely patted the sheath.
‘What do you think?’ said Mercia. ‘Should we walk in?’
Nathan shifted his head left and right, his searching eyes sharp. He opened his mouth to respond but then a loud crack in the forest drew their swift attention, and another figure emerged from the trees. A shining rapier swung low against his jerkin.
‘Godsgift Brown!’ she whispered. ‘What is going on?’
‘Why am I here?’ called Godsgift, his voice strong in the quiet wood. ‘You said you wanted to see me, Standfast. But why have you brought … that?’ He flicked a wrist towards Sooleawa, not looking her in the eye, and spat on the earth.
‘Constable.’ Standfast’s tone was scathing, devoid of any respect. ‘How pleased I am that you have come.’
‘What do you want, Standfast?’ Godsgift folded his arms. ‘There is a commotion in town. You said you had something to tell me about these murders, but if you do not, I shall have to go back.’
‘Murders?’ said Mercia, nearly losing her footing. ‘But I thought he didn’t believe—’ She clutched Nathan’s arm. ‘By the Lord, what is Standfast doing?’
In the clearing, Standfast had pulled out a gun. His eyes pulsating with hatred, he raised the barrel, pointing the weapon at Godsgift’s chest.
‘What is this?’ barked the constable. ‘I have no time for your ridiculous games.’
Standfast laughed. ‘This is no game, Constable. This is revenge.’
‘Jesus,’ swore Nathan.
Godsgift was standing very still, showing no sign of fear. ‘So it is you, is it? Killing all
these people? I should never have thought you so capable.’
Standfast narrowed his eyes. ‘Of course not. And it is not me you should be worried about.’ He stepped aside, allowing Sooleawa to approach. ‘It is her.’
Sooleawa came forward, an arrow pulled taut in her bow. Swapping places with Standfast, she raised her aim as he lowered his own.
‘I knew you were too weak.’ Even now, Godsgift did not seem afraid. ‘You employed this … filth … to carry out your vile work for you.’
‘Are you listening, old man?’ Sooleawa’s bow was perfectly steady. ‘This is nothing to do with Standfast, or the murders. Nor even my tribe. It is my revenge I will have. Mine alone.’
Godsgift scoffed. ‘What new confusion is this?’
‘She means,’ said Standfast, ‘that your secret is revealed. And God will judge you for it.’
‘You realise I will have you punished for this insolence. You have no hope of becoming minister now.’
Standfast jangled his gun. ‘That decision is not yours to make.’
‘Besides, you will not be telling the town a thing.’ Sooleawa stalked still closer. ‘You will be dead. I have searched a long time for you, Matthew Brown. It is time to pay for what you did.’
Finally, Godsgift turned his head. ‘Your words are hollow, savage. I have no idea what they mean.’
‘Do you not? You may have changed your name since but I know who you are.’ She pulled back on the bow, the muscle in her bicep beginning to tighten.
‘Now, Nathan!’ said Mercia.
Without waiting, she broke cover and called out. The sudden action was enough to surprise Sooleawa into breaking her focus from Godsgift: an instant only, but sufficient for him to seize his chance and jump towards the cover of the woods. But not enough to evade Standfast. The young preacher raised his loaded gun and fired. The ball flew through Godsgift’s leg, sending him tumbling to the ground.
‘What are you doing?’ seethed Sooleawa, even as she swung her attention, and her bow, back on Godsgift. ‘This is not your concern.’
‘So people keep saying.’ Nathan raised his own weapon towards her heart. ‘I suggest you point that thing away. And you, Edwards. Reload that gun and I will shoot you likewise.’
Sooleawa creased her face into a contortion of disgust. ‘Shoot me if you like. You English are all the same. You claim to have friendship with us and yet you choose your own each time. But I thought you might be different, Mercia.’
‘I know your people want vengeance for the friends you have lost.’ Mercia took a tentative step forward. ‘I understand. But I cannot let you kill anyone, not even for that.’
‘You understand nothing.’ Sooleawa tautened her bow; to her right, Nathan’s finger pawed the trigger of his gun. ‘And you listen even less. Were you here when the English burnt our lands, killed our families? When we welcomed men like this and received deceit in return?’
Mercia dared to walk closer. ‘You know I was not. Tell me of it.’
‘In the war,’ she hissed. ‘Do you recall that, Matthew Brown? The war against my mother’s tribe, the Pequot people. It was twenty-seven years ago, and its memory burns yet, in the spirits of all those you murdered.’
Godsgift was writhing on the ground, clutching at his leg. ‘Take that bow from her, Keyte!’
‘Wait.’ Mercia held up a staying hand. ‘I want to hear what she has to say.’
‘There is little to say.’ Sooleawa’s eyes were fixed on Godsgift. ‘This man was a warrior in his youth. When the enemies of my tribe persuaded the English to join them in attacking us, he was one of the most ready. He fooled a young woman into thinking he was kind and he betrayed her, burning her village and murdering her tribe, forty men and women killed as they woke. But some escaped, including me. I was just a babein-arms then, so of course I did not remember. But last year, the woman’s sister was released from a vow she had made her, and she confessed to me the truth. And I swore then that I would find the demon who had done this to my birth tribe and I would slay him for us all. So you see, you will have to kill me, if you want to stop me from killing him.’
Slowly, Mercia faced Godsgift. ‘Is this true?’
‘It was war.’ The constable burnt with contempt. ‘A real war. Not muskets and castles, not roundheads and cavaliers as in England. It was survival. It was us against them, it was Christian against heathen, it was the blessed of heaven against the Devil’s own brood.’ He spat, gripping his leg to staunch the flow of blood. ‘They are savages. They are nothing. And in war, there are things men do to the nothingness of their enemies to make them suffer for their slaughter and their insolence. I do not expect you to understand. Not even you, Keyte.’ His eyes dropped. ‘But if this woman she speaks of is the woman I knew, then pretending that I fooled her proves the justice of my acts.’
‘The tales of your past do not lie,’ said Sooleawa. ‘They are scattered everywhere you have walked, telling their truths of the man that you are, fouling the woods with your deceit.’
‘Sooleawa,’ said Mercia. ‘If this man has killed innocents, he will be held to account. But please. Not in this way.’
‘It is my way.’
‘He can be brought to trial and—’
Sooleawa laughed. ‘No, he will not. You do not know this place at all, do you? Your kind never pay for what you have done. Not even for a crime committed yesterday, so there is no chance he will be made to answer for this.’
Godsgift growled. ‘The only one who will answer is her.’
She thrust back her head. ‘As Keme answered?’
‘Keme?’ said Nathan.
‘The farmhand. The boy. Whose name you clearly never took time to learn.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘I do not know it was this man who killed him, for Standfast has never said. He is just like the rest of you. But I can guess.’
‘Sooleawa!’ Standfast’s face clouded in pain. ‘You cannot think I am like him.’
‘Why not? You are all alike.’
‘But I thought—’
‘That I wanted you? Then you are a fool. But I am not, for I could tell it was never love that you desired.’
‘Sooleawa, I—’
‘Be quiet, Standfast, and live up to your name. So few of you do.’ She lowered her bow. ‘But maybe you are right, woman from over the waters. Maybe I should not kill this evil spirit here, in the privacy of the forest. Maybe I should wait to do it in front of everyone, and then all will know my birth tribe is avenged, and that it was I who did it, and they can go to the south-west in peace. But you will not deny me one shot.’
Before Nathan could stop her, she lifted her bow and fired. The arrow pierced Godsgift’s other leg, and he cried out in pain, turning speedily white.
‘Beware, old man.’ Sooleawa backed towards the wood. ‘I will come for you yet. These people stand witness.’
She vanished into the trees. Godsgift slumped on the ground, finally unconscious.
‘I thought she loved me.’ Standfast was blabbering to one side, his voice growing higher as he spoke. ‘She said she loved me.’
‘If she did, she was using you to get to him,’ said Nathan. ‘I am sorry.’
‘Pick him up,’ said Mercia. ‘I do not much care, but he will die if his bleeding is not staunched.’
‘You do not mean that.’
‘I damn well should do. I had no idea he was so – murderous.’
Nathan stooped to the ground. ‘Men do things in war, Mercia, things they would never think of at any other time. And he is right, we do not know what it was like.’
‘Are you trying to excuse a massacre?’ She stared at him. ‘Do you say the same about all those farms, those villages, razed in our own war back home?’
‘No.’ Nathan put his arms around Godsgift’s chest. ‘But this is not the time for such a debate.’ He heaved him up. ‘By the Lord, he is heavy.’
She glanced down. ‘’Tis that armour he always wears.’
‘It may not have done much
had she fired at his chest.’
She looked towards the forest. ‘Why do you suppose she called him Matthew?’
‘I have no idea.’ He fell back. ‘Standfast! I need your help.’
Standfast walked across in a daze. ‘She said she loved me. I cannot believe—’
‘We can deal with your heart later,’ said Nathan. ‘For now, we must get him back to the town.’
Mercia watched as Standfast bent to assist. ‘Standfast, how did she know he was the man she wanted?’
Aiding Nathan was helping Standfast collect himself. ‘She did not at first. She merely knew a man from the Pequot war was living in Meltwater, and that he had changed his name since.’
‘Why?’
‘We don’t know. But she knew he was called Matthew, and of course Matthew means gift of God, so once she … confided in me this summer … I was able to help her find the truth. She thought to confront him today in the wood, while everyone was at the festival.’
‘But we intervened.’ She shook her head. ‘When you drew your gun, we feared you could have been the murderer, and the constable your next target.’
He frowned. ‘Mr Lavington says there have been no murders.’
‘Oh come, Standfast!’ She was in no mood for this. ‘If you opened your eyes, maybe you would not have been deluded by Sooleawa either.’ She sighed. ‘I am sorry. That was not a pleasant thing to say.’
‘But it is the truth.’ While Nathan lifted Godsgift’s torso, Standfast shuffled to drag him up by the legs. ‘Ow, he is heavy. Can we carry him all that way?’
‘I hope so.’ Nathan turned them sideways, shifting his arms to bear the load. ‘We are not far into the wood.’
They set off, struggling under the weight of the unconscious man. Mercia tried to support him in the middle, but the bulkiness of her dress made such assistance impractical, so she walked on ahead, thinking to get help.
She was not far out of the wood when a huge explosion resounded from outside the southern part of town. Chunks of wood rocketed into the sky, multiple clumps of grass powering upwards in their wake. She stopped, amazed, uncertain how to react. And then another explosion followed the first, shaking the ground.
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