‘First, the Owlman is a recent arrival in Ashdown Forest, as you are. Secondly, the Owlman must be someone who can move around with impunity. Ergo, he must be someone who lives in the forest and is acquainted with its paths. More importantly, he must be able to travel around undetected, not only because he’s disguised, but also because of the help and succour another provides. You are that person, while your friend and helper is Brother Cosmas of the Church of St Oswald’s-in-the-Trees. Thirdly, the Owlman is not a common outlaw, or even a poacher. He has the opportunity to slay Lord Henry, or at least wreak considerable damage, but he does not. He simply tells him to remember the “Rose of Rye”. Fourthly, the chain linking Lord Henry to the Owlman is centred on that tavern. As far as I know, such a connection cannot be placed at the door of anyone I have met in Ashdown. There was one exception, Mistress Jocasta, but she has purged herself. Her relationship with Lord Henry was honestly explained.’
Corbett spread his hands. ‘By simply eliminating what is possible from what is probable,’ he pointed at Odo, ‘you bore the brunt of my suspicions. You pretend to be a hermit, living out at Dragon’s Mouth cave. You would find that easy. What are you really, master hermit? A Franciscan priest, a lay brother? Your role as a hermit would not conflict with this. You can hide behind such a charade. No one would suspect a devout man of God whose hands are so injured he can hardly lift a spade, never mind draw a bow. You leave your hermitage and go to a secret place where you keep a cloak, a mask, a bow, a quiver of arrows, quill, parchment and ink. Like all Franciscans, you are not an unlettered man.’
Corbett paused. The hermit kept his head down. Brother Cosmas had moved a little closer as if to offer reassurance and support.
‘You had a grievance against Lord Henry,’ Corbett continued. ‘But you are not a killer at heart. You were acting like a priest. You didn’t want to punish Lord Henry for his sin but to stir his soul, make him remember, perhaps excite his remorse and contrition. You did that by sending messages, which does not concern me. What I want to know is, did your patience snap? Did you become tired of playing a game and, instead of reminding Lord Henry of God’s justice, decide to take God’s vengeance? Are you a murderer, Odo? Are you guilty of Lord Henry’s death?’
‘You have no proof.’ The hermit glanced up. ‘True, I bandage my hands but that can be to excite compassion. If the truth be known, Sir Hugh, there are many in Ashdown with a grievance against Lord Henry.’
‘I mean you no harm,’ Corbett replied. ‘Who you are or where you come from is not a matter of concern to me. But I can order your arrest, have you chained and taken into London. You can be lodged at Newgate, the Fleet or the Tower while the King’s clerks do a careful scrutiny, close questioning of your superiors in London. Brother Cosmas here will have to join you and, in the end, the truth will come out.’
Brother Cosmas was about to protest but the hermit tapped him gently on the back of the hand.
‘I saw you ride through the forest.’ He half-smiled. ‘The King’s clerk and his assistant come to do justice because the great Lord Henry Fitzalan has been killed. I was angry. When a great lord of the soil is murdered the King makes his power felt. However, when a young woman hangs herself, and her husband out of grief follows, it causes as little stir as a sparrow falling from the sky. I shot those arrows out of anger as well as to divert your suspicions.’ He waved a hand. ‘No, no, that’s not the full truth, God forgive me. When Lord Henry was killed, I almost believed that I was responsible. In a way, I would scarcely object if the guilt was laid at the Owlman’s door.’
‘But that’s not true!’ Brother Cosmas broke in harshly.
The hermit gazed at him in surprise.
‘It’s not true,’ the Franciscan repeated softly. ‘Odo, you could not kill anyone. I shall tell you the truth.’ The Franciscan hurried on as if anxious to divert Corbett’s attention. ‘You know about the story of the Red Rose of Rye? A tavern on the outskirts of the town and the fate of its owners, Alwayn and Katherine Rothmere?’
Corbett nodded.
‘Odo was their young son. After his parents’ death, he was sent to kinsfolk in Essex. He was raised by people very similar to those who live in Ashdown. He became a royal forester, later a soldier. Only as a young man did he learn the full truth behind the tragic death of his parents.’
‘At first I swore vengeance.’ The self-styled hermit took up the story. ‘But my kinsfolk were kindly people. They raised me to fear God and the King. Since my youth I had a vocation to become a Franciscan. I entered the House of Studies at Canterbury where I met Brother Cosmas. We became firm friends: true brothers in every sense of the word. He told me about his soldiering days. I recounted my past. How I’d love to take vengeance on the Fitzalan family. Brother Cosmas was like some potion you take to ease the pain of an old wound. I became a Franciscan priest.’ He fought to keep his voice steady. ‘I worked for God’s poor, travelling from parish to parish, preaching the crucified Christ. You see, Sir Hugh, I felt a deep sadness at the way my parents had died. The Church’s teaching on suicide is very bleak. And my mother. .’ His eyes filled with tears. ‘Let’s be honest, clerk, my mother committed adultery, which brought about her death and that of my father. I thought by living a life of penance, I might atone for their sins. That Christ would purge them, lead them into Paradise. But, sometimes, at night, or when I saw a powerful lord ride through the town, banners and pennants flying, trumpets shrilling, I’d think of Lord Henry Fitzalan, the true cause of their sin. I heard how he waxed fat and rich, favoured by both King and Church. I travelled back to our house in Canterbury. It must have been a year last Easter. Cosmas was also there. He told me how he was working in Ashdown Forest.’
‘We had a friendship,’ Brother Cosmas broke in. ‘Now bonded by a hatred of Lord Henry Fitzalan and all he stood for. Believe me, clerk, he was a wicked man.’ Cosmas glanced at Alicia. ‘He was cold and selfish. When you talked to him you felt his soul, behind the mask, was mocking you.’
‘I persuaded my superiors that I go preaching in the shires south of London,’ Odo continued. ‘God forgive me, I came here to kill Lord Henry. I pretended to be the hermit. I was trained in archery and venery. Brother Cosmas showed me the paths and trackways of Ashdown Forest. He gave me food and sustenance.’ Odo breathed in noisily. ‘He also begged me not to exact the vengeance I wanted. I tell you this, Sir Hugh. Time and again I had Fitzalan in my sights. Time and again I could have put a shaft through his heart.’
‘And did you?’ Corbett asked. ‘That morning in Savernake Dell? Did your lust for vengeance overcome your call to grace?’
‘I was nowhere near Savernake Dell,’ came the sharp reply. The hermit’s eyes glowed. ‘But I shall confess to you, royal clerk, and may Christ have mercy on me, I danced when I heard he had been killed.’
‘And the arrow last night?’ Ranulf asked. ‘The one which shattered the window at Ashdown Manor?’
The hermit chuckled. ‘Believe it or not, clerk, it was my farewell. I would have stayed a week, ten more days and taken my leave. Sir William is of the same rotten stock but I do not hold him guilty of any sin against me.’ He sighed. ‘I am sorry for loosing the arrows at you.’
Corbett scrutinised both the hermit and Brother Cosmas. On the one hand he felt the hermit was telling the truth but, on the other, he felt a slight unease. What if Brother Cosmas was the killer, using his friend as a pretext, a catspaw? Like many friars, both were practical men. Strong, vigorous, with a passion for justice, could this have clouded their priestly training?
‘What now?’ Brother Cosmas asked.
Corbett glanced at Ranulf but he seemed distracted. He was drawing something on the side of the piece of parchment, which Corbett recognised as the capital ‘A’. Corbett got to his feet. He was aware of Alicia standing behind him while Verlian, sitting deeper in the sanctuary, must have also heard everything.