The bedraggled and damp figure of Alan was soon with them, sitting near the fire so that his damp woollen clothing gave off the odour of wet dogs. His eyes were hunted; he jumped at every sound. Once the fire crackled, and although he was staring at it, he lurched to his feet and stared fearfully over his shoulder.
‘Sit, boy! Tell us what happened to you. Where’s your companion?’ Coroner Roger rumbled.
‘It was Esmon again. We were riding back, taking the little lane that comes from Throwleigh, and we met him with a small company. They got Saul, but his horse blocked the road, so I jumped off and bolted like a rabbit. One of them came after me, so I ducked into the woods to get away. He couldn’t follow me when the undergrowth got too thick.’
‘This is an outrage!’ Coroner Roger said with slow menace. ‘What of my men?’
‘They were with him. I suppose they were taken as well.’
‘They were taken as well, were they?’ Coroner Roger repeated. His voice swelled and grew as he absorbed this news. ‘Taken as well. The servants of a King’s Coroner were captured and taken by a feckless, witless boy no better than the son of an Exmouth whore AND A BRETON PIRATE!’
Simon shot him a look. Coroner Roger had always been a calm man, sometimes dry to the point of cynicism, at other occasions caustic, especially when discussing his wife (when she was not present), but Simon now, for the first time, was seeing his friend angry, and the sight was impressive.
The Coroner was not tall, and although he was comfortably padded, his constant travel all over the wilds of Devonshire had kept his body firm and muscled. Now he appeared to expand like an enraged cock-bird when its feathers are ruffled. Sir Roger’s chest swelled, his face hardened, his eyes grew flinty and unblinking, his normally smiling mouth became a thin bloodless gash in his blanched visage, and his whole body appeared to still, as though he was so furious his entire energy must be constrained by the focus of his anger.
‘Coroner,’ Simon said hesitantly. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get the men back for you.’
‘Get them back? I’ll say we’ll get them back! And not by paying some ransom to a Godless, thieving, renegade knight whose only means of income is the robbing of his neighbours,’ Coroner Roger declared at the top of his voice. ‘That miserable dog’s TURD! I’ll cut out his heart and lungs and FEED THEM TO THE HOGS! I’ll hamstring the bugger! Aye, I’ll–’
‘You will sit, Coroner, and calm yourself,’ Baldwin said soothingly, taking the sputtering man by the elbow, ‘so that we can plan how to bring about the release of your men.’
‘Release? We’ll release them by pulling down his damned castle! You’ve heard the evidence against this knight and his mewling kitten, haven’t you? This fellow here,’ Coroner Roger said, grabbing Alan’s shirt-front, ‘says Esmon, Sir Ralph’s son, captured my men, don’t you?’
‘Yes, sir!’ Alan squeaked with alarm.
‘And he led the gang who killed Wylkyn.’
‘Yes!’
‘Who killed Wylkyn? Esmon! Who took all the men from the convoy back to the castle?’
‘Esmon.’
‘Did he release you?’
‘Yes…’
‘But?’ Coroner Roger snarled.
‘He demanded ransom from all of us.’
Coroner Roger met Sir Baldwin’s gaze. ‘Sir Baldwin. You are Keeper of the King’s Peace, with authority to pursue felons with the posse comitatus. I here declare that I believe Esmon, son of Sir Ralph of Gidleigh Castle, has feloniously captured, ransomed and murdered travellers on the King’s highway. I accuse him of seizing the servants of a King’s Coroner, and of taking them against their will to his castle. I demand that the posse be raised to force him to submit to the law.’
Baldwin nodded, concealing his true feelings. His belly was in a turmoil, and it was more because his hands would otherwise tremble like a drunkard’s that he kept one thumb hooked into his belt, the other fist resting upon his sword’s hilt. ‘I have never before been asked to assault a noble knight in his own castle.’
‘I doubt you have ever before heard of such a series of felonies committed by one man,’ Coroner Roger grated.
Baldwin nodded. He looked across at Simon, for perhaps the first time since his appointment as Keeper, doubting his own judgement. No coward, still Baldwin would prefer to avoid being forced to arrest a man so powerful as Sir Ralph or his son, but the accusations made by Alan were uncompromising. The decision was fearsome, yet he knew what he should do, no matter that it might mean his own destruction.
That was all that was uppermost in his mind, he suddenly realised in disgust. Here he was, one of a small number of men who had survived the atrocious destruction of the Knights Templar, who now trembled on the brink of a decision that could save future travellers simply because it meant that he could endanger his own position! If more people had refused to consider their own safety, he knew, his companions from the Templar Order would yet live. Fewer perhaps would have been crippled by the brutal tortures meted out to them in order to force them to confess to ludicrous accusations.
If he arrested Sir Ralph and his son, they must accuse him of crimes against them, crimes which might well be upheld by their powerful friends the Despensers, the King’s own friends. If Baldwin set his face against Sir Ralph and Esmon, his future must be endangered, and not only his own: his wife’s happiness depended upon him, his daughter’s safety too. He had to gamble with their lives.
He knew what he must do before all these thoughts had passed through his mind.
‘I shall not assault his castle until I have spoken myself to Sir Ralph and heard his response to these accusations.’ He cut off the Coroner’s interruption before Roger could draw breath. ‘In the meantime, you will sit here, Coroner, with your clerk, and write down all the accusations, the reason why we believe Sir Ralph is guilty, and his son, and when you have done so, you shall send messengers to South Tawton and to Chagford to ask for their help.’
‘I will come with you,’ Simon said.
‘I would prefer you to wait here for my return,’ Baldwin said with a pale smile.
‘Perhaps, but I’ll not leave Hugh in that nest of vipers if I can get him out.’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When Esmon returned, he dropped from his horse and saw to it that Saul and the other two men were installed in the room off the gatehouse where the carters had been incarcerated the previous week. Once they were safely locked away, he sent a man to fetch him a jug of strong wine while he seated himself near the stable.
His father was going to be livid when he heard about this. He was angry enough when Esmon had killed Wylkyn, but that had almost been a relief after his earlier enervation. It was all since the death of the wench from the mill. Mary’s murder had torn the soul from his father, as though Sir Ralph himself felt guilt…
Esmon slowly came upright. Of course! That was it! That was why he had been so pathetic and feeble ever since; that was why he had tried to prevent Esmon from catching young Flora afterwards! Sir Ralph was consumed by guilt, having made his use of the young stale and then killed her in a fit of fury. It was little wonder that he was so upset. No wonder he was keen to see the priest convicted, too! That would protect him.
Well, if he wanted to have people forget his crime, that was one thing. For Esmon, his father’s crimes were of no concern. Perhaps his own behaviour might reflect badly, but that was nothing for him to worry about. While they had their friends the Despensers, they were safe from all but a random arrow!
It was infuriating that he’d missed Osbert, though. The bastard should have been back at his home, but when Esmon had reached the place there was no sign of the poxed badger’s cub. It was all in stillness, without even a faint spark in the hearth to show that anyone had ever lived there. Osbert had escaped him for now, but he couldn’t run away for ever. Esmon would catch him, and when he did, he’d make that whoreson regret his little outburst.
Esmon could move the fingers of his hand,
and he was reasonably confident that the bones weren’t broken as he’d originally feared, but the bruising would be appalling, of that he was sure.
It was curious. Esmon still had that feeling of lust for the girl, but it was subsumed now by his hatred of Osbert. If he could but ravish Flora, it would give him the additional satisfaction of ruining Osbert’s life. He was sure that was the meaning behind the odd look in Osbert’s eyes as he protected Flora. Osbert loved her and wanted her for himself.
He sipped at his wine. It was fortunate, perhaps, that his father wasn’t here. Apparently he had ridden off some little while before, heading towards Chagford. No one seemed to know why he had gone there, except one of the servants had overheard a messenger saying that Surval wanted to see him. Curious, Esmon thought to himself, sipping at more wine. Was his old man going off his head?
If he was, that would be no bad thing. Esmon could have him locked up in the castle, somewhere nice and quiet, away from others, and Esmon could come into his inheritance.
That was how the idea was planted: a random feeling of contempt for his father’s apparent collapse after the death of his wench. That very collapse was a sign of mental feebleness, proof that Sir Ralph was no longer capable of running the vill and the castle.
Esmon was capable. More than that, he had the men to succeed. With Brian and the others, he could hold both castle and vill, and if it appeared that there were richer pickings elsewhere, why, Esmon and his men could move on. This place held no real significance for him. His father had jealously desired it for years, but that was nothing to Esmon. He wanted a bigger, better place than a small rural castle.
It was a foolish dream, though, he told himself. Simple plans always looked simple until put into action, and his father wasn’t truly mad. Just a bit enfeebled for some reason.
‘So?’ asked a small, quiet voice at the back of his mind. ‘If he recovers, you could release him then, couldn’t you?’
All he would need was a strong-minded clerk or lawyer to declare that his father was mad, and he could take over the place. Get his mother out, install himself in the great chair before the hearth, and enjoy the life of the free.
His father would be insane with anger. Perhaps it would stir him from his lethargic mood. Since Mary’s death he’d been in a stupor.
Scut, said that quiet voice. There was a man whose integrity was negotiable.
No! It was mad even to think of such a thing. Quite out of the question. But he could, he supposed, sound out Brian. See what the leader of his men reckoned. And then maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Scut. See what the clerk had to say about such an idea. He could ask Scut to look at his hand, then spring the question.
He drained his cup, flexed his hand a few times to test his fingers, and then nodded, satisfied, and walked out to find Roger Scut.
When the door suddenly opened, Surval didn’t bother to turn from his contemplation of the cross before him.
‘So you came at last.’
‘What do you want, old man? Your messenger asked me to come – why?’
Surval crossed himself as he rose to his feet. ‘Yes, I am old. And so are you, my Lord. Look at us both: there are almost a hundred years between us. But I declare that there are also differences between us. I have learned by my mistakes; you have not.’
‘Ah yes?’ Sir Ralph curled his lip as he approached the fire. He didn’t sit, but stood with his back to the wall, the safest position for a man on his own in unwelcoming territory. ‘What lessons do you have to give me?’
‘You are a fornicator.’
‘Many are,’ Sir Ralph laughed. ‘You have no balls. That’s not my fault.’
‘I choose not to use them.’
‘But you have in the past, though, haven’t you?’ Sir Ralph sneered.
‘I saw the miller last night.’
‘So? What’s it to do with me? He’s just a serf. Where is he?’
‘I do not know. Perhaps on his way to Exeter to find a new life; perhaps he is going to the coast to board a ship.’
‘It’d be better if he does,’ Sir Ralph muttered, relaxing slightly.
‘All your fine clothes: velvet hose, crimson tunic, bright cloak of fur-trimmed wool, a man of power and authority – and you start at the slightest noise. You should copy me, my Lord,’ Surval jeered. ‘Join me here in my little chapel and help me serve the poor travellers you once fleeced.’
‘You mock me, hermit!’
‘Keep your hand from your sword, my Lord. I wouldn’t want you to have another death on your conscience.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘We both know, don’t we? Wylkyn had to die because he found out the truth.’
‘You pathetic little man, you know nothing!’
Surval smiled coldly. ‘Calm your ire, Sir Knight. You have much to mend, and little time to do it in.’
Sir Ralph had pulled his sword half from the scabbard, and now he thrust it back home with a muffled curse and sat down. ‘What am I to mend?’
‘You are sinful, Knight! You should be on your knees begging God’s forgiveness, not ranting at me, a mere humble spirit whose sole duty is to see God’s will done.’
‘Mere humble spirit, my arse! You were a priest who had a good position in the world, who could have been a great magnate in the Church, but no! You had a woman, didn’t you? And you killed her.’
‘Yes, and there isn’t a day I don’t sit here and plead with God to take me to Him so that I might see her again and beg for her forgiveness,’ Surval said, casting a longing look at his little altar. ‘If I could, I should depart this miserable life this moment, and thank my executioner.’
‘You ask me to murder you?’
‘No, I ask you to make good the sins you have committed. I am here, wallowing in guilt and yet trying to make amends. You, though, you sit in your fine castle and think so little of others that you see them slaughtered to save your name and conceal your guilt.’
‘I have nothing to be ashamed of.’
‘Your guilt will result in the ruination of your family. Your children will die, Knight.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Gilda told me of your crimes against Huward. You have ruined him utterly.’
Sir Ralph felt a sudden shock of weakness attack him. For a while he sat silently, scarcely breathing, merely listening to the blood hammering in his ears, and then he faced Surval once more, but all the boldness was gone from him. In its place was a quiet alarm, like a man who can see a runaway cart heading towards him in a dark alley, but who knows there is no escape.
‘Yes,’ Surval said quietly. ‘Huward knows how you cuckolded him!’
‘How could he have learned?’
‘Your wife told him. She is, I fear, horrified at what you have done.’
‘She will learn to be silent!’ Sir Ralph said with a flare of his passion. ‘Christ! The bitch knew what she was doing.’
‘Of course. You have stolen his life, Sir Ralph.’
‘Sweet Jesus! By God’s own pains, he could…’ Sir Ralph felt fear like a fist clench about his heart, and he thought he must die, but the sensation only lasted a moment, and then his sight cleared and he found himself staring at Surval. ‘He might kill them!’
‘Brother, I do not know,’ Surval said.
‘You bastard! You keep me here talking while he’s planning their death? You delay me… I shall return, and when I do, you shall have cause to regret your part in all this, you bastard whoreson!’
Surval set his jaw. ‘You would insult our own mother, brother? Begone from here, and I pray that you save their lives, but don’t look to return here unless you can be thankful to our blessed mother, and thank me for warning you!’
Baldwin and Simon soon reached the castle.
To Simon’s eyes it was curious. For the first time since they had seen it, the place seemed quiet, as if there had been a death and a thrill of horror had affected all the men inside. For once there was no one at the
gate itself, and the two passed straight through and into the main court. There they waited, Simon feeling that something was terribly wrong.
It was a relief, when he glanced over towards the hall, to see Hugh walking out with Thomas behind him. Simon and Baldwin crossed to meet them.
‘How’s the head, Hugh?’ Simon asked.
‘I’m all right,’ Hugh said gruffly. It wasn’t exactly true, because he still had a powerful headache, which he was attempting to cure with Sir Ralph’s best strong wine, but the wine itself was making him more comfortable. ‘Just a bit tired.’
‘He’s been sleeping all day,’ Thomas grumbled behind him.
‘Not all day. I spoke to that fat fool of a clerk, didn’t I?’
‘Much good it did.’
‘It did some good,’ Hugh declared firmly. He was quiet a moment, and when Simon followed his gaze, he saw Roger Scut appear in a doorway near the gate. Simon glanced back at Hugh, who was assuming once more his customary glower. ‘Don’t like him.’
‘What did you learn from him?’ Simon asked.
‘He was at the prison, looking at where the monk was kept.’
‘Looking at it?’ Baldwin said.
‘He had a candle, but he dropped it when he heard us.’
Simon turned back, but Roger Scut had already disappeared. ‘And? I assume there’s something you’re bursting to tell us.’
Hugh made a play of drinking his cup of wine, belched softly, and yawned. ‘Only one thing…’
‘The monk was set loose on purpose,’ Thomas said, his eyes on Baldwin.
‘Show us.’
Hugh and Thomas led the way to the trap door, and stood watching while Simon and Baldwin crouched, peering.
‘Certainly it doesn’t look as though it’s been forced,’ Simon admitted.
‘No. This bolt fits neatly into the staple in the floor,’ Baldwin said, drawing the bolt back and forth a few times. ‘And it moves silently, too. No one would hear it opening. Only the prisoner.’
‘In which case, who released him? Could it have been Scut?’
The Mad Monk of Gidleigh Page 35