10
Despite the winter season and the normal unsuitability of its weather for travelling, Geoffroi and the Lombard journeyed the short distance up to the coast, and then across the Channel, without mishap. The wind strengthened and turned round to the south-west as they took ship for England, which, while making the crossing rough enough for both men to succumb to seasickness, also had the effect of speeding up the ship’s progress and so lessening the time spent at sea.
Neither man having set foot in England before, they had no idea where Lewes might be. They were relieved to be told it was not much over a day’s ride away from the port — there were inns, apparently, where they could put up overnight if necessary — and that the way was easy to find. Follow the track that runs along the top of the downs, they were told — up there, on the cliffs; it would be drier and easier at this time of year than the road that ran along the foot of the downs — and descend into the valley of the Ouse river once you have passed Firle Beacon and the Caburn.
They had no idea what these last two features would look like, and they set off trusting to their luck that the landmarks would prove unmistakable.
They were entranced by the track along the cliffs. In that cold, frosty December, they seemed to have the land to themselves, and they rode along together in good spirits. They knew somehow, without having been told, that the way they trod was ancient, perhaps dating back to the very first inhabitants of this green and misty land; for one thing, the track was etched deep in the chalky soil, and for another, there were strange and puzzling relics which suggested earlier populations that had now vanished. There were the remains of stout walls; built so close to the cliffs that their outer sections had vanished, they had fallen away, as the very cliffs themselves had crumbled, into the restless, hungry grey sea below.
Who had lived there? Why had they felt the need to build so close to the cliff edge? Against whom had they felt driven to defend themselves?
There were signs of magic, too. Signs that those early inhabitants of Britain, whoever they were, had worshipped a very different God. In a grove of mighty oaks on the top of a summit they saw balls of mistletoe, and into the aged trunk of the host tree was carved a small figure that looked like a pregnant woman. And, close by, there was what appeared to be a broken stone altar.
Early on the second day they saw, on the hillside away to their left, the figure of a white giant. Hugely tall, he held spears in each of his outstretched hands. There was a faint hint of facial features — the giant looked stern, solemn — and he seemed to be wearing a plumed helmet.
‘Who is he?’ Geoffroi asked in an awed whisper, as if the giant might overhear and resent the question. Resent Geoffroi’s ignorance. But the Lombard merely shrugged.
The Caburn was a prominent, rounded hill with the marks of ruined, circular walls. Firle Beacon was covered in humps that suggested ancient burials. Both locations made the travellers edgy, so that they looked uneasily over their shoulders and seemed to feel unseen, secret eyes on their backs.
It was a relief to come down off the lonely cliff-top track and follow the road that led along the Ouse to Lewes.
The town was bustling, and there was any number of people of whom to ask directions. Herbert of Lewes? Ah, yes, brave knight that he was, he lived down that-a-way. Follow the stream, over the bridge, on for a while and you’ll see his manor up on the rise.
The manor was a compact stone house, its outer courtyard wall decorated with bisected flint stones, whose greyish sheen made a pleasing contrast with the reddish-gold of the stonework. A wooden gate stood open; Geoffroi and the Lombard rode through it, drawing rein just inside.
Two men, one young, one old, were bending over a brindled hound that lay on his back at their feet. The younger man was scratching the hound’s belly, making the dog wriggle and howl with pleasure.
Geoffroi called out, ‘Good day to you both! I seek the household and kin of Herbert of Lewes. Am I come to the right place?’
The older man instantly stood up — as far as his bent spine would allow — and said, his face suddenly grave, ‘Aye. This is Sir Herbert’s house. And just who might you be?’
Geoffroi slipped from his horse’s back; the Lombard held out his hand and took the reins.
‘I am Geoffroi d’Acquin,’ he said. ‘I would speak with Sir Herbert’s family.’
The old man studied him for a silent moment. Then, with a brisk nod, he said, ‘Follow me, please.’
Geoffroi turned to exchange glances with the Lombard, who shook his head minutely and said quietly, ‘You go in alone — it was you who knew the man. I will wait here.’
Geoffroi followed the old man up a shallow flight of steps that led to the entrance to the house. The main living accommodation seemed to have been arranged at first-floor level, over an under-croft. Inside, they entered a wide hall with a fire crackling in a hearth at the far end. The furnishings were few — a table pushed against one wall, on which stood some rather elegant candlesticks; a chest or two; some benches — but they were solidly made, from good English oak, Geoffroi guessed, with the deep shine that comes from many years of diligent polishing.
Three people sat on a bench facing the fire, their backs to the entrance. Two were women, one a boy. The younger woman had just said something — in a pleasant, light-toned voice — that had set them all laughing.
The old man cleared his throat and, having gained the trio’s attention, said, ‘Here is a visitor, my lady. He is called Sir Geoffroi of Acquin, and he comes seeking the kin of Sir Herbert.’
Instantly, the mirth faded from the three faces.
The older woman stood up and approached Geoffroi. She said, ‘I am Ediva, wife to Sir Herbert. What tidings do you bring?’
There was the shadow of pain in her blue eyes, and her handsome face seemed suddenly to have taken on downward lines. Stepping towards her and taking her outstretched hand — held out in greeting or to ward off whatever he was about to say? — in both of his, Geoffroi knelt before her and said, ‘My lady, I was with Sir Herbert in Outremer, and I fear to tell you that I bear grim news. He was-’
But already she was nodding. ‘He is dead, yes, sir knight, this we know. Have known, indeed, for many months, since his kinsman returned home and told us.’
Much of the tension left Geoffroi. Feeling himself slump, he bowed his head.
The woman hurried to crouch beside him. ‘Sir Geoffroi? Are you sick? What ails you?’ Her voice was kindly, solicitous.
Quickly raising his head, he said, ‘Nothing, my lady, nothing!’ He managed a smile. Looking up into her concerned face, he added frankly, ‘I must admit to being relieved, that is all. Throughout the journey I dreaded breaking the news of Herbert’s death to his widow and his family, and here you are already aware of it.’
The other woman and the boy had crept over as well now, and they, too, knelt down on the floor beside Geoffroi and the older woman. The boy said, ‘Have you come far, sir?
‘He has come from Acquin,’ the younger woman said; hers was the sweet-toned voice. Glancing at her, Geoffroi took in that she was young — fifteen, sixteen? — and had her mother’s bright blue eyes.
And that she was extremely lovely.
He would have liked to extend the glance into an all-out stare, but the lad was plucking at his sleeve.
‘I know that,’ he was saying, ‘but I don’t know where Acquin is. Do I?’ he turned to hiss at the girl. ‘I suppose you do, miss know-it-all,’ he added in a cross whisper.
The older woman — surely the mother of what just had to be a sister and brother — said mildly, ‘Enough, you two.’ Then, still kneeling on the floor, she called up to the old man, who had retreated a respectful distance and was now hovering by the door. ‘Symond? Will you fetch refreshments, please?’