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‘He’s right, Da,’ said Jasper. ‘When Dame Janet was departing with Dame Olyf she said as much, she would speak with the mayor and aldermen on the morrow, see that they offered you whatever you asked to solve the two murders.’

So everyone connected the deaths of father and son, even before hearing of the clawing.

Tom greeted them at the tavern door with a request to send Bess home. ‘She went to warn Lucie why you would be late home.’

Owen was grateful. In the confusion, he had forgotten she would have at least expected Jasper to return earlier.

Tom nodded. ‘She went for a favor and stayed for herself, it seems. I’d be grateful if you would tell her I want to lock up now.’

It was wise to lock up tonight. The city gates had been locked hours ago. Bartolf’s murderers were near, within the walls.

Geoffrey bid them goodnight and disappeared into the tavern. ‘He’ll tell you all he’s learned for the price of a pint of your best,’ Owen told Tom. ‘Though you might want to wait for Bess, else he’ll insist on two.’

Owen felt a weariness descend as he and Jasper crossed the tavern yard toward home.

5

Between the Wolf and the Dog

An oil lamp placed between them on the window seat illuminated the two friends, Lucie slender and upright, her long braid a plumb line down her straight back, Bess sitting cross-legged in a nest of cushions, her sleeves pushed up to reveal muscular arms, a beribboned white cap insufficient to contain her wiry and abundant red hair, some escaping to curl against her damp neck. The two keeping watch together – a familiar sight. They both turned as he and Jasper stepped into the hall.

‘My prayers are answered.’ Lucie rose to embrace first Owen, then Jasper. ‘You are both home, safe and sound.’

Bess bade them good night, saying she must see to Tom. Now the tavern was shut for the night he must get some sleep, morning would come soon enough with all the chores to do for those biding at the inn and those who would gather early to hear the latest about the night’s tragedy. She made a face at Jasper’s offer to escort her through the yard. ‘And how would you defend me, I wonder, with you about to topple with fatigue? Perhaps it is I who should escort you to your chamber above the shop.’

But the lad was hungry, as was Owen, and Lucie sat with them by the kitchen fire while they ate bowls of stew Kate had warmed for them. Lucie assured them that Bess had told her enough for now, best that they save the rest for the morrow. ‘It is sleep you need now, not stirring up.’

But Owen had a question for Jasper that could not wait, for the lad might forget details by morning. ‘When you came through the yards, did you see anyone?’

Jasper rubbed his eyes. ‘Two drunks coming from the York Tavern, holding each other up.’

‘Who?’

Yawning, Jasper shrugged. ‘I paid them no heed. They were pissing drunk, and it was dark.’

‘You had a lantern. Think, son.’

Jasper shrank into himself. ‘I didn’t look at them. How could I know it might be important?’

‘I did not expect it of you, son, I merely hoped. What of Alisoun? Do you think she might have noticed?’

‘She asked if I’d marked how they smelled. Like drunks!’ Jasper rolled his eyes, but then he seemed to think more of it. ‘To be honest, I tried not to smell them. But Alisoun did. And then she seemed uneasy the moment she entered Fenton’s garden, long before I smelled anything. Now I wonder – did the drunks reek of blood? I did not ask her.’

‘I will.’

Jasper nodded. ‘There is something – but I might just be telling tales.’

‘You can trust me,’ Owen urged.

Jasper raked a hand through his fair hair. ‘Before you send someone round to the barbers, you might talk to Alisoun again. I think she lied to you, Da.’

‘About what?’ Owen asked. ‘The salve?’

‘At least the pouch. It’s hers. I recognize it.’

‘Alisoun’s? How do you know?’

‘I was with her when she found the piece of leather. We competed for the best story about how it came to bear that mark.’ Jasper suddenly looked stricken by his betrayal. ‘Perhaps you asked about the salve, not the pouch?’

‘Is that true?’ Lucie asked Owen. ‘Might she not have noticed it?’

‘I can’t recall,’ Owen admitted. ‘But one of Hempe’s men went round to the barbers today. No one admitted to preparing that particular salve. I will talk to her again. Thank you, son.’

Lucie rose to rub Jasper’s back, massage his shoulders. ‘Is this why you snubbed her tonight?’

A shrug and a nod.

She kissed the scar on his right cheek. ‘Best be off to bed. We’ll have a crowd in the shop in the morning, hoping for gossip.’

‘I’m sorry I paid no heed to the drunks,’ Jasper said as he stumbled to his feet.

‘We don’t know they were of importance,’ said Owen. ‘You were a great help tonight. You were patient, kept your ears pricked. I’m grateful. You deserve some sleep!’

Lucie smiled to see how much that meant to Jasper. He seemed his usual self as he left the hall for his bedchamber over the shop next door.

Owen took Lucie’s hand and led her up to their bedchamber.

‘If what Jasper overheard is true, that Janet Braithwaite is petitioning the mayor for my help, I’m going to need Alfred to guide the bailiffs’ men in my methods. But I’ve sent him and Stephen off into the forest.’

‘About that.’ She told him of Alisoun’s complaint. He winced as he settled on the bed to remove his boots, clearly acknowledging his transgression. ‘Perhaps when you apologize to her you might find a way to show her the pouch,’ she said.

‘I will. Though she will realize what I’m about and be angry all over again.’ Owen set his boots by the door.

That was the way with Alisoun. And yet … Lucie paused as she was about to climb into bed. ‘If she lied, she might be apologetic.’

Owen slipped his hands around her waist and kissed the back of her neck. ‘Alisoun? I would like to see that. But I admit she was a help at Bishopthorpe Palace when Thoresby was dying, and she seems good with Dame Muriel and her mother.’

‘I’m glad to hear that.’ Lucie turned in Owen’s arms. ‘What if Alisoun is lying because she fears the person for whom she prepared it? She might be in danger.’

‘You are assuming much, my love. What if she dropped the pouch on the track, and fears someone will accuse her of murdering Hoban?’

‘Oh, surely they would not think that.’

He’d removed the patch he wore over his scarred, blind eye and she could see a slight twitch. Magda called the twitches and showers of needle pricks on the scarred eye his gift, a knowing. Lucie guessed that he worried Alisoun was somehow implicated.

‘I pray it is easily explained,’ she said softly, sorry to have mentioned it before sleep.

‘Nothing is easy with Alisoun,’ Owen muttered as he climbed into bed.

‘No,’ Lucie agreed, remembering his account of their first meeting, climbing up a ladder to a loft where young Alisoun stood, aiming an arrow at him. He and Magda had been on a mission of mercy. A fisherman had earlier seen Alisoun on the riverbank shouting for help. In the house they had found her family, siblings and parents, dead of the pestilence; Alisoun had retreated to the barn, where she stood ready to defend herself, her horse, her farm. ‘If she dispensed the salve, the person might return to Magda’s house. Perhaps it is just as well you sent Alfred and Stephen there.’

‘Unprepared.’ He grumbled into his pillow.

‘I had been thinking that some of Kate’s siblings might be willing to watch Magda’s house.’ Kate and Tildy’s many brothers and sisters were a treasure trove of hard, honest workers. ‘Rob and Rose? One of them would be there while the other came to me with messages.’ They were twins, fifteen years old. ‘Though now that we fear for trouble …’