When he left the church of St George’s-in-the-Castle, he saw a young man walking towards him across the bailey but he paid no heed to him. Gervase Bret, however, took an instant interest in him.
Guessing at his identity, he quickened his stride to intercept the visitor as the latter untethered his horse.
‘My lord Wymarc?’ enquired Gervase.
‘Who are you?’
‘My name is Gervase Bret,’ said the other politely. ‘I believe that you have met my colleague, Ralph Delchard. We sit in commission together.’
‘Ah, yes. I remember. He rode out to Woodstock and I showed him the exact place where the murder occurred.’ A sour note intruded.
‘When my back was turned, he sneaked on to my land without permission and searched for evidence.’
‘I was his accomplice in that search,’ admitted Gervase, ‘but I am not ashamed to own it. Our investigation resulted in the release of an innocent man. Would you have preferred your slave, Ebbi, to have died for a crime he did not commit?’
‘No, I would not.’
‘Then our trespass was justified.’
‘Why did you not come to me first? I would not have forbidden you entry. I could have helped you in your search.’
‘I am hopeful that you may be able to do that now, my lord,’ said Gervase. ‘This is not an appropriate time to raise the matter, I know.
I offer you my sincerest condolences.’
‘Thank you,’ mumbled Wymarc.
‘I can appreciate the enormous strain you must feel.’
‘It is crushing me, Master Bret.’
‘The chaplain has spoken to me of your distress.’
‘Arnulf has been wonderful. Both at my house and here in the castle when my fury got the better of me. The man is blessed. He gentled me.’ He glanced over his shoulder. ‘That is why I came to his church this morning. To give thanks and to seek further guidance.’
‘I trust that you found that guidance.’
‘What is this help you spoke of?’
‘The murder remains unsolved,’ said Gervase, ‘and the sheriff fears the killer may have fled far from here.’
‘That is my fear as well.’
‘It is not ours, my lord. We believe that he is a local man. Only someone who knew the area well could plot that killing and plan his escape so cunningly. And who else would know Walter Payne but those in the vicinity?’
‘True.’
‘How well did you know the fellow?’
‘Only by sight and reputation.’
‘Reputation?’
‘His skill as a horseman was well known,’ said Wymarc, ‘and I saw far too much evidence of it myself. But the fellow also had a reputation for wild behaviour.’
‘My lord Ralph mentioned that.’
‘Walter Payne and his friends went on drunken rampages from time to time. They would pick fights, cause damage to property and even assault womenfolk.’
‘Did nobody complain?’
‘Nobody whose protest carried any strength,’ said Wymarc. ‘Bertrand Gamberell would simply laugh and refuse to discipline his men. They were entitled to their pleasures, he would say.’ His jaw tightened.
‘Bertrand sets great store by pleasure.’
‘How did Walter Payne come into his service?’
‘They are birds of a feather.’
‘My lord Bertrand is not known for drunken behaviour.’
‘He spreads his destruction by more subtle means.’
A spark of anger came into his eye but it soon died. The conversations with Arnulf and the early morning visit to the church had quelled his urge for vengeance.
‘This Walter Payne,’ continued Gervase, probing tenderly. ‘You had no personal grudge against him, then?’
‘Indeed I did! He cost me a small fortune. Every time he rode Hyperion to victory, he made a fresh hole in my purse. I would not have thrown the dagger that killed him but neither will I mourn his death.’
‘Who would have thrown it, my lord?’
‘How do I know?’
‘You might be able to suggest names.’
‘Of whom?’
‘Those harassed by Walter Payne and his fellows,’ said Gervase.
‘One of your manors is contiguous with my lord Bertrand’s land. Were any of your subtenants the victims of their wild misconduct?’
‘Occasionally.’
‘Who bore the brunt of his roistering?’
‘None of my people,’ said Wymarc. ‘Walter Payne let them off lightly.
Most of his prey were on Milo’s land. He ran riot across it a number of times. Milo’s subtenants were always protesting about Walter Payne.’
‘Did those subtenants include Ordgar?’
‘Probably. Why?’
‘I ask out of idle curiosity, my lord,’ said Gervase. ‘Nothing more.
Thank you for giving me your time. I will intrude on your grief no longer. Farewell.’
As Wymarc rode out of the castle, a pensive Gervase watched him leave. A chance meeting had yielded much of value. Instead of going into the church, Gervase went off to report to Ralph.
The room was small, bare and featureless with only the most meagre portion of light coming through the tiny arched window. The stone walls and floor gave off a chill that was not relieved by the single flickering candle in the alcove. A mattress lay in one corner with a stool beside it. On the wall above the mattress was a wooden crucifix.
Bristeva was thrilled with her accommodation.
‘This will be very suitable,’ she said gratefully.
Arnulf was apologetic. ‘It is a mean chamber, I fear.’
‘Not at all.’
‘I sought to find you an apartment in the keep,’ he said. ‘But all are reserved for the guests. When the bishop arrives with his train, the castle will be filled to bursting. You will have to make do with this humbler lodging next to the church.’
‘I will be quite content here.’
‘Good.’
‘I am comforted to know that you are nearby.’
‘Yes,’ said Arnulf, pointing a hand at one wall. ‘I am in the adjoining chamber and Brother Columbanus is further down the passage.’
‘Brother Columbanus?’
‘He travels with some important visitors who have come to Oxford and serves them in the office of a scribe. You will like him, Bristeva.
In spite of his cowl, he is a jolly man.’
‘I am always a little afraid of monks,’ she confided.
‘Why?’
‘I do not know. Their holiness frightens me.’
Arnulf smiled. ‘Does my holiness frighten you as well?’
‘Oh, no!’
‘I am relieved to hear it.’
‘You are different, Father Arnulf.’
‘Thank you.’
He gazed at her with fondness and reached out to adjust the edge of her wimple. Singing at the banquet would be a supreme test for her but he had every faith in Bristeva.
‘I need to ask a special favour of you,’ he said.
‘It is granted before it is even asked.’
‘Talk to nobody inside the castle.’
She was confused. ‘Not even you, Father Arnulf?’
‘Nobody except me,’ he clarified. ‘Whenever I can I will stay close by you, but there will be times when you are alone. Keep to this chamber. Too much scurrilous gossip floats around a castle and I do not want your young ears corrupted by it. Give me your word, Bristeva,’
he said, taking her gently by the elbows. ‘Do not speak to anybody.’
‘Not even Brother Columbanus?’
‘I was forgetting him.’
‘You said a moment ago that I would like him.’
‘Why, yes. I did,’ he recalled. ‘And he would certainly cause you no harm. Let me speak to him first. Brother Columbanus might help to stave off boredom for you.’
‘I could never be bored when I am here with you.’