Michael nodded. ‘Although we prefer independent witnesses, rather than friends who owe each other their loyalty. But if that is all you have, we shall have to make the best of it.’
‘You were ensconced in here together all morning?’ pressed Bartholomew, suspicious of Heltisle’s aggressively defensive answers.
‘Yes,’ said Heltisle shortly.
‘No,’ said de Wetherset at the same time. He gave his Vice-Chancellor an exasperated glance. ‘You know we were not – you went out to buy parchment and you were gone for quite a while.’
‘Because there was a long queue in the shop,’ said Heltisle, struggling to mask his annoyance at the revelation. ‘Then I had an errand to run for my College.’
‘But I stayed here, and I am sure some clerk or other will confirm it,’ said de Wetherset rather carelessly. ‘Just ask around.’
‘Your theory is wrong anyway, Brother,’ said Heltisle, launching an attack to mask his discomfiture. ‘Paris and the others were not dispatched by the same hand. How could they be when there is no connection between them? No wonder you have failed to catch the killer – you cannot see the obvious.’
‘I am afraid I agree, Brother,’ said de Wetherset apologetically. ‘Your premise is indeed flawed.’ Then he grimaced. ‘We were too lenient with Paris. Plagiarism is a terrible crime, and we should have made an example of him, to prevent others from following suit.’
‘Quite right,’ nodded Heltisle. ‘The next culprit should be hanged.’
‘Unfortunately, plagiarism is not a capital offence,’ said de Wetherset ruefully. ‘Much as we might wish it were otherwise. There is nothing more vile than stealing an idea and passing it off as one’s own.’
‘But as it happens, you no longer need concern yourself with Paris,’ Heltisle went on, smugness restored. ‘As you have failed to catch his killer, Aynton will investigate instead.’
‘Impossible!’ snapped Michael. ‘Only proctors have the authority to–’
‘We have amended the statues to say that he can,’ interrupted Heltisle, positively overflowing with spiteful glee. ‘Aynton will succeed where you have let us down.’
‘I am sorry, Brother,’ said de Wetherset; he sounded sincere. ‘But I feel the case requires fresh eyes. The unsolved murder of a scholar is causing friction with the town, and we need answers before it becomes even more problematic. I hope you understand.’
‘Aynton mentioned nothing of this when we met him just now,’ said Michael stiffly.
‘Perhaps it slipped his mind,’ said de Wetherset charitably, although Bartholomew suspected that the Commissary’s courage had failed him and he had opted to let someone else break the news. ‘But look on the bright side: it will leave you more time for your peacekeeping duties.’
‘I have ideas about how to improve your performance there, too,’ said Heltisle, before Michael could respond. ‘For a start, you can order Tulyet to impose a curfew on all townsfolk. If they are indoors, our scholars can wander about where they please without fear of assault, and the town will be a much nicer place.’
‘I hardly think–’ began Bartholomew, shocked.
Heltisle cut across him. ‘However, this curfew is the only matter on which you may converse with him. For all other business, you must refer him to us. The University has made far too many concessions over the last decade, and it is time to seize back the rights that you have allowed him to leech away.’
‘Then thank you very much,’ said Michael with a sudden, radiant smile. ‘It will be a great relief to lose that particular burden. You are most kind.’
‘Am I?’ said Heltisle, smugness slipping. ‘I thought you would object.’
‘Oh, no,’ replied Michael airily. ‘I am delighted. After all, why should I be blamed when the town takes umbrage at all these harsh new policies, and takes revenge by placing the instigators’ severed heads on a pike?’
Heltisle paled. ‘Severed heads?’
‘I have been walking a tightrope with the town for years,’ said Michael, continuing to beam. ‘So I am most grateful to pass the responsibility to someone else.’
Heltisle was so angry that Bartholomew edged towards the door, afraid the Vice-Chancellor might fly at them with one of his sharp metal pens. De Wetherset swallowed hard, and glared accusingly at his Vice-Chancellor.
‘Perhaps this is not the best time to–’
Michael went on happily. ‘But now the onus of dealing with the town lies with you, it should be you who informs the Sheriff about the curfew you want. Good luck with that! However, you might want to exempt bakers, or our scholars will have no bread to break their fast. And brewers who need to tend our ale. And dairymaids who–’
‘We do not need you to tell us what to do,’ snapped Heltisle, struggling to hide his dismay when he realised his solution would be impossible to implement.
‘Yet the town must learn that we are not to be trifled with,’ said de Wetherset thoughtfully. ‘So we shall put on a good show at the butts tonight. Then they will see we are a force to be reckoned with, militarily speaking.’
‘Not tonight, Chancellor,’ Michael reminded him. ‘It is the town’s turn to practise.’
‘I know that,’ said de Wetherset. ‘It is the point – they cannot witness our superior skills unless they see us in action, and the only way to do that is by joining them.’
‘That would be a serious mistake,’ warned Bartholomew. ‘We cannot have armed scholars and armed townsfolk in the same place. It would be begging for trouble!’
‘How dare you argue with the Chancellor!’ snapped Heltisle, then glowered at Michael. ‘Moreover, this would not be an issue if you had secured the University a good bargain at the butts. I shall summon Tulyet here later, with a view to renegotiating.’
‘You can try,’ said Michael, ‘although I doubt he will respond to messages ordering him to report to you. Besides, the butts are town property, and he lets us use them out of the goodness of his heart. Be wary of unreasonable demands.’
‘I know what I am doing,’ retorted Heltisle tightly, not about to lose another battle to Michael’s greater understanding of the situation. ‘And I will prevail.’
‘Incidentally, Heltisle has hired another half-dozen beadles for you, Brother,’ said de Wetherset with a conciliatory smile. ‘Do not worry about the cost, as we shall pay for them with the funds set aside for sick scholars.’
Bartholomew was shocked and angry in equal measure. ‘And what happens to students who fall ill or suffer some debilitating accident? How will they survive until they are back on their feet again?’
‘Their friends will have to bear the burden,’ replied de Wetherset, and turned back to Michael before Bartholomew could remonstrate further. ‘Increasing our little army will show the town that we are not to be bullied. You can teach them their trade, and Bartholomew can help you.’
‘Me?’ blurted Bartholomew. ‘But I have classes to take.’
‘If that were true, you would be lecturing now,’ sneered Heltisle. ‘But you are here, so they cannot be that important. Besides, you only teach medicine, which is a poor second to theology and law.’
‘I am training physicians,’ said Bartholomew indignantly. ‘Who will be a lot more useful than theologians or lawyers when the plague returns.’
‘They were not very useful last time,’ retorted Heltisle. ‘At least lawyers could make wills, while theologians knew how to pray. Besides, I do not believe the Death will return.’
‘I do,’ said de Wetherset, and crossed himself. ‘So did Suttone, which is why he left us.’