Now he had Simon’s attention, Rob spoke quickly. ‘They told me of a rumour while we played last night — it’s said that thebishop doesn’t trust the sheriff. Thinks the sheriff might be disloyal to the king …’
‘Quiet!’
‘It was this one, sir. He’s called Ben.’
Suddenly both his attackers were running away, swift as only rats or city-bred churls could go, Rob thought to himself.
Simon started as though to chase them, but then he stopped and looked back at Baldwin, then both stared down at Rob.
‘Are you sure of this?’ Simon frowned.
‘Why else would they run like that?’ Rob demanded reasonably.
‘Why should they?’ Baldwin asked. ‘All they need do was deny your story. It is foolish, perhaps, but not an offence to seea lad hanged, telling a tale like that.’
‘They got nervy when I asked them how they knew,’ Rob recalled. ‘It was when I asked whether the bishop had a spy in the sheriff’shouse. They went quiet then.’
Baldwin nodded. ‘I doubt not that the good bishop has an ear in every important house in the city. Yet that is interesting. Yes, Simon, it is enormously interesting! If the good bishop felt that the sheriff was actively plotting something, he wouldhave done all in his power to warn the king, would he not? And what better means than to send a messenger with a private,verbal message?’
‘But what could the sheriff be planning all the way down here?’ Simon said sceptically. ‘The king is many leagues away.’
‘Maleficium is supposed to know no bounds of distance,’ Baldwin mused. ‘I wonder if that is what they planned? To have the king assassinatedfrom insignificant little Exeter?’
Simon was eyeing his servant doubtfully. ‘You are sure of this? How drunk was the lad?’
‘Ben? He was the one with the face like a ferret and the smell of a fox on heat. I don’t think he was drunk last night. Heseemed all right.’
Simon looked at Baldwin. ‘Should we go and ask the bishop?’
‘I do not think so. The news that his affairs are common knowledge may not please the good prelate. No. Perhaps it would bebetter were we to keep this information private for now.’
Simon nodded, although he would have preferred to have asked the bishop about his concerns. Politics were becoming a mess,and Simon was trying still to see a way through. As a mere bailiff to the abbey of Tavistock, he was not involved, thank God,in national politics, but every man had to be aware of the currents of power. If a man were to upset even the lowliest servantof a man like Sir Hugh le Despenser, he could find himself either in a very painful place or dead. ‘Does that mean that thebishop’s loyalty is being tested?’ he wondered aloud.
Baldwin threw a casual look at Rob, and, seeing he was far enough away, drew nearer to Simon. ‘Old friend, do not even wonderaloud about such things. Simply listen and draw your own conclusions. This country is grown too dangerous for musings in public. For now, assume that his lordship the bishop will stay loyal to Despenser and the king, for it is in his interests to remain so. His star has waxedwith the Despenser’s, and Despenser has grown fat on the largesse of the king. Yet there are many who do now question theking’s management, and who detest the overweening arrogance and greed of Despenser. Perhaps this sheriff is one such? I donot know.’
They had reached the Palace Gate, and Baldwin nodded at the porter as they entered the bishop’s precinct again. And I hope I learn to read the signs correctly too, he said to himself.
Exeter Castle
Will was appalled to see how the girl was thrown to the floor. ‘Wait! Don’t hit her! She’s been raped!’
‘Sorry, man, but this little innocent slaughtered another maid from the castle yesterday,’ the coroner said. ‘She’s not assweet as she looks.’
‘I didn’t kill her,’ Jen said. She spat in the direction of Lady Alice. ‘She’s right there!’
‘You killed your own friend, maid!’ Sheriff Matthew stated. ‘You killed Sarra.’
‘Me? I couldn’t have hurt her! She is my best friend.’
‘It was witnessed by many people,’ the coroner said calmly, bending to pick up her knife.
‘She was asleep in my hayloft,’ Will said stupidly. ‘I just thought she’d been attacked and went there to hide.’
‘You did well to bring her here,’ the sheriff said.
There was a note of dismissal in his voice, though, which Will recognised. He nodded sadly, walking to the doorway. Yet hecould not help but turn and give her one last look before leaving. She was so much like the girl his daughter might have grown into, and the thought made him want to weep.
The Bishop’s Palace
‘A good day to you,’ the bishop said as he marched into his main chamber. He peremptorily demanded wine from his waiting steward,and sent him on his way. Rob scuttled after him in a hurry, knowing when it was best to make himself scarce.
‘My lord,’ Simon said hesitantly, ‘you seem a bit vexed this morning. Do you prefer that we leave you for a little, or comeback tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow? Hah! It is all well and good for a bailiff to suggest work on the Sabbath, but for some of us that day is alreadythe busiest in our week. No, Simon, I am not rebuking you — do not look so pained. Tomorrow is the feast day of Saint Catherineof Alexandria, though. I shall officiate at the mass to her honour, although God knows well enough that I could do with aday of rest myself just now. I am too old for all this bickering!’
This last was said with a particular fervour, and Baldwin smiled. ‘You are not enjoying a peaceful time just now?’
‘Just now? Just now, you say? Sir Baldwin, I am hedged in upon all sides. There is the master mason who looks daggers at me because I refusedto agree to order thirty cartloads of marble when he admitted to me that he should only need twenty-three. My labourers areall complaining that there is not enough light for them to work, and, of course, they won’t do a thing when it rains! My… but I can see that you are not very interested in the affairs of a bishop with the rebuilding of his church. At least I have my throne made and ready. It fits me perfectly. And a good thing too.’
Baldwin smiled, but politely did not mention the reason why the Bishop had demanded so extravagant a seat. Some assumed it was onlyto make sure that the bishop went one better than his peers, but in reality it was in order that he should be as comfortableas possible. He was a prey to haemorrhoids.
‘So! You are here to bring me more news? What can you tell me?’
‘Little enough,’ Baldwin said. ‘There was another murder last afternoon, when an innocent man was killed. We assume that hehad surprised the assassin, and had his throat cut for his pains.’
‘Who was this? Anyone of importance?’
‘I do not think so … although his past appears to be rather a mystery,’ Baldwin admitted.
Simon knew that the bishop knew many in the city. ‘His name was Walter, my lord. Walter of Hanlegh. He came here recently,so we understand.’
‘I know of him, yes,’ the bishop said. ‘Hmm. He was a worthy man in the king’s service. I knew him before …’
‘Is it true that he was an assassin?’ Baldwin asked bluntly.
‘Yes. He was one of those who in past times would remove obstacles to maintaining the king’s peace. If a man sought to upsetthe king’s equanimity, this Walter might sometimes be sent to chastise him. And occasionally, I fear, simple words were notenough.’
‘We have spoken to Robinet, who was once a messenger like James, and who appears to hold the same regard for Walter.’
‘Sir Baldwin, do not judge the man entirely by your own code of chivalry. In God’s name, I can swear that there are many dangerous men in the realm who would do the king harm if they but had the opportunity. Walter saved the king, very likely,and possibly that could have impacted on your life too.’
‘He worked down here, then?’ Simon asked.