by Shel Pais
The two of them followed Cyrus into the main hall. Donald approached the barons and bowed.
“My lord, you sent for me?”
“Yes. This is Abbot Hubert of Hedgestone Priory. He has made a serious allegation against you.”
So, this is the Hubert of the message, David thought. I must be very cautious, since I have not prepared myself to be discovered like this, and I am not aware of what this abbot may know or not know.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know you, Abbot.”
Hubert grunted. “No, but I know your uncle Baruch. You’re a Jew.”
David hid his shock. If he can tie me to my uncle, my family may be in danger.
“You’re wrong, Abbot,” Alycia said. “He’s not a Jew. He’s my lover, and I can attest to that.”
The hall became silent. David stared at Alycia, completely surprised by her defending him.
“Alycia. Is that true? Have you given yourself to him?” Henry asked.
“Father, please don’t be angry. It’s not Donald’s fault.”
Hubert also was stunned by her confession. “My lords, she’s trying to protect him. I swear to you he’s a Jew. Check for yourself.”
Henry became incensed. “How dare you challenge my daughter? Geoffrey told me what a liar and immoral person you are. Get out of here now before I run you through.”
“It’s true! I swear it on Jesus’ name.”
Geoffrey called for his guards. “Throw this scum into the street and instruct every man-at-arms if he tries to enter the castle again, they have my permission to kill him.”
Hubert screamed as the guards dragged him out of the castle. Andrew could not help laughing under his breath as they pushed Hubert onto the dirt.
“Donald, come here.” Geoffrey said.
“Do you have any idea why Hubert would make such an accusation?”
“No, my lords. I never met him before. We stopped at Hedgestone on a stormy night when we were taking Lady Alycia to London, but he wasn’t there and they wouldn’t let us in because of her.”
“Donald, you’ve been almost like a son to me,” Henry said. “Tell me the truth. Are you a Jew?”
David knew there was only one answer he could offer. “I swear on Our Lady I am a Christian.” He then crossed himself.
Henry nodded. “What about you not being from Coby Hollow?”
“I never meant to deceive anyone. I’ve lived in several places and simply decided to tell everyone I was from there. I didn’t want to be seen as an outsider in this shire.”
“That’s good enough for me.” Henry turned to Alycia. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
Alycia looked at David as she left the hall with her father. David still could not get over what Alycia had done. She had told everyone she was no longer a virgin. Even though David had not slept with her, why would she so quickly defend him, and in such a way? Could she have believed Hubert and did it to save him? Why would she save a Jew? If so, she truly must love me, and perhaps this was her way for us to be lovers. As he tried to figure out her motives, Sir Michael patted him on the back.
“Donald, Baron Henry asked me to look after you. He told me what just happened. How absurd. Jews are not warriors and are forbidden to have weapons. The abbot is an idiot. The thought that you’re a Jew.” Michael laughed.
“Sir Michael, I have no idea why the abbot did that. I don’t even know him.”
“Geoffrey has instructed Walter to find out. Walter will be talking to the sheriff as well, but Baron Geoffrey has ordered him not to talk to Hubert, since we can’t trust anything he says, and we can’t let anyone, even a churchman, falsely accuse our fighting men, especially one that should be knighted soon.”
David nodded. “He must be mad. It’s the only explanation I can think of.”
Henry struggled with what to say to his daughter.
“Alycia, how could you say that in front of everyone? Have you no shame?”
“I’m sorry, Father. I needed to stop that awful abbot from hurting Donald.”
“Donald easily could have proven his Christianity himself. You didn’t even give him a chance.”
Alycia looked at her father. “I couldn’t help it. I love him and will do anything for him.”
“I believe you do love him. I won’t ask you any details of your tryst. I also won’t punish Donald, although I am disappointed in him.”
Alycia was relieved her father did not question her again about her confession. She could not tell him the truth. While she was certain Donald was a Christian, she did not want to plant even the slightest seed of doubt in his mind. “Come now, Father, mother told me about the two of you before you were married.”
“Oh, she did? While I don’t condone what you did, I can understand it.”
“You never told me what happened in London.”
“No, with what happened, I didn’t. The king understood why you left, and while he said I should punish you for not asking permission, you don’t have to return. But Donald cannot yet be knighted. He needs to prove himself on the battlefield, or by performing a great deed for the king. Then, hopefully, he can be knighted and you can be wed.”
Alycia expressed her joy at not having to return to London, but her disappointment at still having to wait. “Thank you, Father. I guess that’s the best I could hope for right now.”
Later that day, Alycia sought out David. She found him sitting at a table in the barracks, sipping a mug of ale.
“Alycia. You shouldn’t be here in the barracks. Let’s find a place to talk.”
They proceeded to the alcove where they could have some privacy.
“So, are you happy with me?” she asked.
“Why did you tell everyone in the hall we are lovers?”
“Donald, I believe you are keeping some secret from me, but I don’t believe you’re a Jew. This was the only way I could think of to silence that evil man, and it worked. Besides, it’s only a matter of time before we are lovers.”
“Your father will have me flogged or worse for what you said.”
“No, Donald, he told me he will not punish you.”
“I’m glad. Still, I must apologize to him.”
“No, you don’t have to. He was young once himself, and I know he and my mother didn’t wait either.”
David caressed her left cheek. “I don’t mean to keep anything from you, but I’m afraid that for the time being at least, I must. I hope you won’t hold that against me.”
“I love you, Donald, with all my heart. I know when you’re ready, you will tell me everything.”
They kissed, David feeling the push of her breasts against his tunic, and his passion swelling as their tongues met. Then reality returned. What will she say when she does learn the truth? he wondered. What am I going to do? What will the barons do to me?
Hubert was livid. Not only was he made to look like a fool, the barons did not even try to verify what he said was true. They also did not summon Baruch or his brother, and they did not say they would question them or his family. He would have to redeem himself by proving Donald is indeed David, a Jew. He would let Father Zachariah in York do it for him. Baron Henry would listen to Zachariah, and since this David was training at York, perhaps it made more sense for him to be exposed there. He called for Brother Dominic, who appeared with Alwyn, Ambrose, and Bartholomew.
“What are all of you doing here? I only summoned Dominic. The rest of you I have no use for, as you are all against me.”
Dominic stepped forward, holding the parchment Hubert had given him. Hubert noticed it had been opened, and therefore read.
“Hubert,” Bartholomew said. “We are all against you. Brother Dominic brought us the parchment, and we read it. We never believed you would stoop so low, accusing Baron Henry’s man of being a Jew to stir up resentment against the Jews because your plans were thwarted.”
Hubert was astonished. “No, that’s not true. Baron Henry’s man is a Jew, Baruch’s nephew. Alwyn, you know
that. Tell them!”
Alwyn shook his head. “I know nothing of the sort.”
“You lie. You were here with Baruch, his uncle, and both of you threatened me.”
Alwyn addressed the others in the room. “See, he is mad. He continuously makes up stories. Abbot, I am afraid you need a long rest. We must inform the bishop of your condition.”
Hubert lunged at Alwyn and began choking him. “I’ll kill you, Alwyn!” he screamed. The others quickly pulled him off and tackled him to the ground.
“Get some rope and tie him up until he calms down,” Bartholomew said.
Dominic and Ambrose held Hubert down while Alwyn tied him up. They gagged him as well since he did not stop yelling.
“What do we do now?” Ambrose asked.
“We get word to Bishop Basil of Hubert’s madness. Until then, we will lock him in the cellar,” Bartholomew said.
John de Oxenden left the castle after speaking with Sir Walter. So, Hubert accused this Donald of being a Jew. Baruch’s nephew. Walter confirmed what I discovered that Donald is not from Coby Hollow, while Lady Alycia defended him. Walter told me his explanation for lying about where he was from, but is that the real reason? All this is very strange. The sheriff was convinced these events, including the missing weapons and the murders of Tom and Ralph, were all connected. But what ties them together? Is it this Donald? John first went to Baruch’s house to question him.
“Sheriff. Please do come in,” Baruch said.
“I’m sorry to barge in on you, but I must. I have some questions to ask you.”
“Certainly. May I offer you some wine?”
“No, thank you. Tell me. Do you not have a nephew David?”
Baruch knew what was coming next. He and Mordecai had prepared a story in the event of something like this happening.
“Yes, I do. He used to live in Northampton, but he left quite some time ago to study in Germany. We have not heard from him since.”
The sheriff believed he could gauge a man’s honesty by his eyes. “I see.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Abbot Hubert told Baron Geoffrey and Baron Henry that one of Henry’s men who calls himself Donald is really your nephew David.”
Baruch laughed. “Abbot Hubert, I am afraid, is going mad. First of all, how could a Jew become a man-at-arms? Secondly, Hubert has continued to try to borrow large sums from me, but without the proper collateral, I refused him. He may have made up this story to try to get back at me. Things have not been going well for him, I believe. I understand he has run the priory poorly, and the monks are all against him. This must have affected him.”
“Do you remember a few years ago there was a forester found dead in the forest, and his weapons were missing?”
“Of course. I believe you were investigating it.”
“Did your nephew go to Germany, as you say, about the time that happened?”
“Sheriff, I assure you he is not the one you are looking for. My nephew was not a good student, and my brother sent him to Germany hoping the yeshiva there would turn him around.”
“Yeshiva? What’s that?”
“It’s one of our houses of learning, especially for older children. Come now, you don’t seriously believe he or any Jew could be the culprit, do you?”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just so maddening to me. The missing weapons, the two men murdered.”
“Two men murdered?” Baruch asked.
“Did you not know two of de Montfort’s old soldiers were murdered one night? This Donald had been drinking with them just before, but he denied any part of it.”
“No, I did not know about this. I had been away in York for a while. I hope you find out who did it.”
“Thank you, Baruch. I intend to.”
The sheriff left. David must have found out these men had something to do with his mother’s death and killed them, Baruch thought. It makes sense. John de Oxenden is a smart sheriff. If he can tie any of these things together, David will be exposed, and Hubert proved correct. That would be a disaster. I must prevent that from happening.
Baruch hurried to his brother’s house.
“Baruch. Is something wrong?” Mordecai asked as his brother entered.
“Hannah, Mordecai, I must speak to you. Send Benjamin and Rachel upstairs.”
Rachel began to obey, while Benjamin resisted. “Why can’t I stay? I’m not a child.”
“Please, Benjamin,” Baruch said. Benjamin then agreed and followed his sister, staying out of sight while trying to listen.
Baruch told them everything that happened with Hubert and the sheriff. Hannah took her husband’s hand as she saw the worry on his face.
“What can we do, Baruch? David is here, but we cannot get to him. That only would raise suspicion. How can we silence Hubert and stop the sheriff from finding out everything? Even though some believe Hubert mad, if he is proven right, his credibility will be restored.”
“I believe we can take care of Hubert. Bishop Basil ordered him to obtain a large sum from the Jews. While I had to loan him one thousand pounds, I refused his demand for two thousand more and told him I had liquidated my assets. Father Alwyn told me when the bishop finds out Hubert has failed, he will send him away. Hopefully, that will solve that problem.”
“We need to get word to the bishop.”
“I will speak to Father Alwyn. He is also against Hubert and will certainly help.”
“Very well. But what about the sheriff?”
“I have no answer for that. We can only hope and pray he does not find out anything and gives up.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Baron Geoffrey stared at the two small clay jars of poison Mordecai had provided.
“Geoffrey,” Baron Henry, said, “I think Hubert’s humiliation is a better punishment than his demise. It seems he has gone mad. Bishop Basil will no doubt relieve him of his duties.”
“Yes, that does appear so. Although I was truly hoping to kill him for what he did to my brother.”
“Where did you get these poisons?”
“From Mordecai, the apothecary who Hubert said is this David’s father.”
“Geoffrey, this entire situation is quite curious.”
“How so?”
“Just think about it. It started with the missing weapons, did it not? Then my life is saved by this boy Donald, who said he was from a nearby village, and now it’s clear he is not from there.”
“What are you saying? That Donald may not be who he says he is?”
“What if Hubert is right?”
“Henry, your daughter’s confession. Doesn’t that satisfy you?”
“Alycia loves Donald, of that I am sure. But I am not convinced they are lovers.”
“Why?”
“Because Donald is too honorable. He seems so different from our other men. I have no doubt Alycia has tried to lure him, and she has not been with anyone else. Even though she said what she did, I don’t think she has ever seen his cock, and that surely would give him away.”
Geoffrey listened to his friend. “Henry, your daughter is extremely attractive. You know the men all stare at her, and we can only imagine what they are thinking. Donald is a handsome, virile young man. I think it would be difficult, if not impossible, for him to resist her advances.”
“Perhaps you’re right. Besides, it’s all so improbable. A Jew becoming a man-at-arms. I’ve observed them at York, and they are quite different from us. Donald does not act like them at all.”
“Henry, I don’t need these poisons anymore. Will you take them?”
“I doubt if I would have a use for them, but one never knows.”
Geoffrey handed him the jars. “Just be careful. I would not want them to kill the wrong persons.”
“I will be. Geoffrey, I need to return to York. If you don’t mind, we’ll leave tomorrow.”
“Of course,” Geoffrey replied. “We’ll help you prepare.”
AS OCTOBER BECAM
E NOVEMBER, DAVID felt the winds biting into him even more. He drove the carriage sitting next to Alycia, charged with her protection. Henry rode at the head as usual, while his men followed closely under the watchful eye of Sir Michael behind them. They traveled through Salcey Forest without any trouble, meeting only a few merchants on their way to Northampton. David noticed one of them was a Jew, who some of the men-at-arms made fun of. David said nothing, seething inside as he heard the insults.
They stayed at a small inn the first night, the baron and Alycia getting their own rooms, while David, Michael, and the men-at-arms shared two small rooms. After a light breakfast, they continued their journey. A cold, light rain fell, making the trip quite uncomfortable. Alycia tightened a thick, woolen cloak around her. She and David glanced at each other at various times but did not speak.
As they approached a section of the road later that afternoon, Henry became suspicious. He turned around and rode back to the rest of the group. “Keep a sharp eye out, men. I fear some evil may be about.”
Suddenly ten men jumped out from behind rows of bushes and surrounded them. They carried swords and crossbows, although no one attacked. Then David saw him, and Henry did as well.
“Tell your men to drop their weapons!”
“Edgar. How dare you!” Henry yelled.
“Tell them, or they’re dead.”
Henry looked back at Michael and his men. “Do as he says.”
They obeyed, and dropped their swords, shields, and crossbows. Edgar’s men gathered the weapons and put them in the back of the carriage.
“And you as well, Baron.” Henry unsheathed his sword and dropped it. It was placed with the others.
Edgar bowed slightly. “Hello, Baron Henry. Lady Alycia. I see you still have that young arse with you.” David stared at Edgar.
“What do you want?” Henry demanded.
“I want my betrothed.”
Alycia started to stand, but David put his hand on her shoulder and held her down.
“She’s not your betrothed,” Henry said. “I’m sorry she ever was.”