‘They violated forest law but they did not deserve the treatment which was handed out to them.’
‘No man deserves to suffer that butchery.’
Gervase forbore to point out that it was the chaplain’s master who had been responsible for the summary execution of the two men. Brother Gerald’s position at the castle made for a slight awkwardness between them. While he had shown great compassion to two young people in a dire situation, his loyalty was owed to Earl Hugh. In. the circumstances, Gervase found it 65
Edward Marston
very difficult to express himself as freely as he would have wished.
He chafed in silence.
Brother Gerald seemed to read his mind. Glancing across at Gervase, he nodded sadly.
‘Earl Hugh can be harsh at times,’ he admitted.
‘This went beyond the bounds of harshness.’
‘He realises that now.’
Gervase was surprised. ‘Does he?’
‘I believe so.’
‘Do you have any proof of that, Brother Gerald.’
‘Not in the sense that you would understand it,’ replied Brother Gerald. ‘But I am closer to the earl than anyone. I will not betray the secrets of the confessional but this I can tell you. Earl Hugh is no stranger to feelings of contrition.’
‘Such feelings come rather late in the day.’
‘Granted.’
‘Two men died because of his anger.’
‘He is learning to control it.’
‘How many others have been victims of his rage?’
‘I am his chaplain and not his keeper, Gervase. There are some areas of his life in which I have no right to interfere. Earl Hugh is a fearless soldier and brutal action is sometimes necessary in combat. He would not have established peace on the frontier if he had not been such a forceful commander.’
‘Are you trying to excuse him, Brother Gerold?’
‘No,’ said the other. ‘I merely point out that he has been forced to behave with a degree of savagery by the situation in which he finds himself. The same might be said of the King himself. What you call rage is often no more than a soldier’s bold response to danger.’
‘That was not the case yesterday.’
‘Perhaps not.’
‘You saw those bodies,’ Gervase reminded him. ‘Those men were not assassins who threatened his life. They were simple souls whose only concern was to provide food for their family.
Hanging them was a barbaric enough punishment. Why did they have to be mutilated in that way?’
‘It was reprehensible.’
‘Supposing that Gytha or her brother had found the bodies in that state? What effect would it have had on them?’
‘A disastrous one.’
‘Their lives have been shattered as it is,’ said Gervase. ‘Think how much worse it would be for them if they had to carry such gruesome memories inside their minds for the rest of their days.
It would be unbearable.’
‘You were right to cover the bodies, Gervase.’
‘I could not disguise the fact that they were dead.’
‘Or the cause of that death.’
‘Yet you claim that Earl Hugh is contrite?’
‘I say that he is not as uncaring as he may appear. Yes,’
Brother Gerold added with a wry smile, ‘I know I am trying to defend what you consider to be indefensible but there has been marked progress. Earl Hugh is a God-fearing man. That may not always be the face which he offers to the world but it is there.’
It was an extraordinary claim to make. Gervase suppressed the cynical comment which rose to mind and spoke instead in a judiciously neutral tone.
‘I will have to take your word for it.’
‘You may see direct evidence in time.’
‘I am bound to doubt that.’
‘In your position, I would feel the same.’
‘My position imposes certain limitations on me.’
‘Limitations?’
‘Earl Hugh is our host,’ said Gervase apologetically. ‘It is not really my place to accuse him.’
‘Those two dead bodies were an accusation in themselves. I sympathise with your feelings and admire your restraint. Do not worry, Gervase,’ said the chaplain, turning to look at him. ‘I will not carry tales back to the castle.’
‘I never thought that you would, Brother Gerold.’
They rode on in silence for a while. When the city finally came in sight, the chaplain was jerked out of his meditations, and fished gently for enlightenment.
‘What did he tell you?’ he asked.
‘Who?’
‘Beollan.’
‘Very little.’
‘I saw you take him behind that tree to talk in private. The boy knew far more than he pretended. Did you contrive to draw any of it out of him?’
‘I need more time to win his confidence.’
‘I think you did that extremely well, Gervase. Come,’ he said in an almost jocular tone. ‘There is no need for you to protect the boy. I will not harm him.’
‘I never thought that you would.’
‘Do you fear that I might betray him to Earl Hugh?’
‘No, Brother Gerold.’
‘Then why hide from me what I can already guess?’
‘And what is that?’
‘Beollan was involved,’ said the other. ‘When his father and brother went poaching, they probably took him along as their lookout. That is what the boy strove to conceaclass="underline" the fact that he was there yesterday.’
‘He should have been there,’ said Gervase.
‘But?’
‘He became scared and ran away.’
‘Who could blame him for that?’
‘He blames himself, Brother Gerold.’
‘Did you assuage his guilt?’
‘Only partially.’
‘What else did he tell you?’
Gervase hesitated for a moment then plunged straight in. ‘He saw someone else sneaking away from the scene.’
‘An archer?’
‘Yes. The one thing he does remember is the bow.’
‘Did he describe the man?’
‘He barely got a glimpse.’
‘But he saw enough to exonerate his father and brother. They would never have been so foolish or audacious as to kill Earl Hugh’s favourite hawk. He doted on that bird.’
‘He made that clear.’
‘Two human lives are not a fair exchange for the death of a hawk. Especially when the two men in question were innocent of the charge. They paid dearly for someone else’s crime.’ He became brisk. ‘I will not divulge this intelligence to Earl Hugh.
He would immediately send for Beollan to question him more rigorously and the boy would not withstand such scrutiny. It would be wrong to subject him to it. Beollan is quite safe. Tell him that.’
‘Tell him?’
‘When you next visit their cottage.’
‘I have no plans to do so, Brother Gerold.’
‘Oh, I think you have.’
Gervase blushed. The chaplain had read his mind again.
Ralph Delchard left Earl Hugh still brooding in the hall and made his way down to the bailey. Torches had been lit to ward off the dusk and there was a smell of acrid smoke. His men were lodged in some of the huts used by the garrison and Ralph sought out his captain to discuss a number of matters with him. Some of the men were leaving the castle in search of pleasure in one of the city’s many inns. Ralph waved them off. In earlier days he might have gone with them, but marriage had mercifully ended that rudderless period of his existence when he was hopelessly adrift. Golde had given him a purpose in life. It was one of the many things for which he was indebted to her.
When he found his captain, they needed only a few minutes to complete their business. The man had overheard the gossip from soldiers who had accompanied the hunting party that morning and Ralph listened to it with keen ears. He was given a slightly different perspective on events from the one which the earl himself had provided, though the central facts did not alter.
Everyone believed that the assassin’s arrow had been destined for Hugh d’Avranches.
Ralph was making his way back across the courtyard when a strident voice hailed him from behind.
‘My lord! My lord!’
Recognising the voice, Ralph quickened his pace at once.