‘Wait for me!’ howled Idwal. ‘My lord!’
Ralph tried to ignore him but the Welshman would not be denied. Breaking into a trot, he overhauled the other and stood directly in front of him with a broad grin.
‘Do you remember me, my lord?’ he asked.
‘Only too well!’
‘Idwal, Archdeacon of St David’s.’
‘You were at Llandaff when we last met.’
‘I have been called to a higher authority.’
‘Then do not let me hold you up,’ said Ralph, trying to push past him and finding his arm seized in a strong grip. ‘What are you doing, man? Release me at once.’
‘Only when you agree to help me, my lord.’
‘Help you?’
‘In the name of friendship.’ Idwal let go of Ralph’s arm and grinned inanely. ‘There — I knew that you would agree.’
‘I have agreed to nothing.’
‘All I ask from you is one little favour.’
‘There is one big favour I would ask of you, Idwal.’
The archdeacon cackled. ‘You still have your sense of humour, I see. Diu! It is good to see you again after all this time. I have already met Canon Hubert and Brother Simon. They could not believe their good fortune when I popped up in front of them. Is Gervase with you still?’
‘Yes.’
‘A studious young man. I admire him tremendously.’
‘So do I.’
‘As much as a Welshman can admire a foreigner, that is.’ A sly smile touched his lips. ‘While we are on the topic of admiration, my lord, what happened to that charming lady whom we met in Hereford? What was her name?’
‘Golde,’ said Ralph.
‘That was it. Golde. A woman of independence.’ The smile spread itself. ‘Though I suspect that she may no longer enjoy quite so much independence.’
‘She is now my wife.’
Idwal clapped his hands. ‘I knew it! I saw the first stirrings of interest on both sides. I sensed that there was a deep bond between you. I am never wrong about such things. Praise the Lord! These are wonderful tidings! You have my warmest congratulations, my lord.’
‘Thank you,’ said Ralph uncomfortably.
‘I know what it is to enjoy connubial bliss.’
Ralph refused to accept that Idwal’s wife would say the same.
‘My only regret is that this romance did not burgeon in Hereford itself. Then I could have had the privilege of joining you and Golde in holy matrimony.’
Ralph was appalled at the suggestion. Instead of blessing their union, the garrulous archdeacon would have put a curse upon it.
He became brusque.
‘You spoke of a favour.’
‘Yes, my lord,’ said the other conspiratorially. ‘It concerns Hugh, Earl of Chester.’
‘In what way?’
‘He refuses to speak to me.’
‘I can understand why,’ muttered Ralph.
‘He will not even admit me to his presence and it is vital that I see him as soon as possible. I need his permission to speak with the prisoner.’
‘Gruffydd ap Cynan?’
‘The same, my lord,’ said Idwal, suddenly frothing with righteous indignation. ‘Apart from anything else, I wish to protest against the irreverent treatment of the Prince of Gwynedd. Royal bipod flows in his veins. Yet he is kept in a dungeon like a wild animal in a cage.’
‘He is held hostage, Idwal.’
‘That does not mean he has to be so abused.’
‘How do you know that he is?’
‘There is little that affects a Welsh prince that I do not learn about sooner or later. Please, my lord. Speak on my behalf to Earl Hugh. Plead our case. All I am asking is an hour alone with Gruffydd ap Cynan.’
‘Then you ask in vain.’
‘Why?’
‘He would never leave you alone with a prisoner,’ said Ralph.
‘No more would I or anyone else who exercised simple caution.
Any visit would be carefully supervised. If you were left alone with Gruffydd ap Cynan, you might supply him with a weapon or plot his escape.’
Idwal was shocked. ‘Would I do either of those things?’
‘Given the opportunity, you would do both.’
‘Calumny!’
‘Common sense!’
‘I am a man of honour.’
‘The word has a wholly different meaning in that gibbering nonsense you call the Welsh language.’
‘Gibbering nonsense!’ Idwal was outraged. ‘Welsh is an ancient and beautiful language, my lord. Our word for honour is anrhydedd and it carries great significance in my country. It stands for integrity, for allegiance to moral principles. Celts are the most honourable people on earth.’
‘That would not stop you trying to rescue the prisoner.’
‘It would never cross my mind.’
‘Why else go to see him?’
‘To talk to him, comfort him, pass on messages of support.’
‘And take out orders for members of his army.’
‘Never, my lord.’
‘You are wasting your time, Idwal.’
‘Then you will not act as my ambassador?’
‘There is no point,’ explained Ralph. ‘Earl Hugh does not look favourably upon the Welsh nation at any time but, at this precise moment, he is more prejudiced against it than ever. When he was hunting in the forest this morning, someone fired an arrow which only just missed him. He believes that the would-be assassin was a Welshman.’
Idwal’s ears pricked up. ‘Was the earl injured?’
‘Not physically. But his pride was badly lacerated. He is certainly in no mood to grant favours to anyone from across the border. My advice would be to delay your request until he has calmed down again.’
‘Sage counsel. I’ll obey it.’
‘Then I can be excused.’
‘Not so fast, my lord,’ said Idwal, plucking at his sleeve. ‘Our paths have not crossed for such a long time. I would like to know what has befallen you since we parted in Hereford. Apart from your fortunate marriage, that is. And you, I am sure, are anxious to hear my news.’
‘I dream of nothing else,’ said Ralph sardonically.
Idwal beamed. ‘In that case, I’ll begin …’
‘Another time.’
And Ralph fled the field like the most craven deserter.
Darkness was starting to fall with more conviction by the time they reached the castle and they needed the help of the flaming torches to pick their way across to the stables. Ostlers took charge of their horses. They stretched themselves to ease their aching limbs. As he walked across the bailey with the chaplain, Gervase Bret had to stifle a yawn.
‘Thank you again, Brother Gerold,’ he said.
‘I was glad to be of assistance,’ said the other. ‘And it was a pleasure to see Father Ernwin again, albeit in such sad circumstances. He will sustain Gytha and Beollan through this desperate period.’
‘And the bodies will be buried in consecrated ground.’
‘Father Ernwin gave us his word.’
‘I was much reassured after speaking with him.’
‘He will know what to do.’
Gerold came to a halt near a torch and studied his companion’s umbered face with shrewd eyes. Gervase became slightly self-conscious.
‘What is the matter?’ he said.
‘You look pale and drawn, my friend.’
‘I am fine.’
‘This has been a strain for you. Go and rest.’
‘I could say the same to you, Brother Gerold.’
‘Grief is an almost daily element in my life. It does not oppress me in the way that it did when I was younger. I have learned to withstand its crushing power and to lessen its hold over the minds of others.’
‘That is a rare gift.’
‘I am always happy when I can use it,’ said Gerold.
‘Gytha was profoundly grateful to you.’
‘She should have been thanking you instead, Gervase.’
‘Me?’
‘You were the one who listened to her plea.’
‘I was moved by their plight.’
‘So was I,’ said the chaplain, ‘but I would have been unable to relieve their minds without Gervase Bret. He was my passport.’
‘Passport?’
‘To that stricken family. Had they known that I was chaplain at the castle and in the service of Earl Hugh, they would not have let me within a hundred yards of them. It was the earl who caused those two deaths. I would have been tainted with his actions.’