Michael Jecks - A Friar's bloodfeud

‘No,’ Baldwin said flatly. ‘I shall speak to him alone.’

‘I could make you move,’ Sir Geoffrey growled.

‘I could demand the support of Sir Odo.’

Sir Geoffrey glanced up at his neighbour, and hesitated. ‘Very well,’ he said with as much grace as he could muster. ‘If you wish to speak to him, so be it. The coroner will be here before long, I expect. He was only a short way from here, I believe. Surely your prisoner will be taken off your hands as soon as possible.’

‘Perhaps,’ Baldwin said. ‘And now, Simon, Edgar, let us speak to this unfortunate man.’

Nicholas watched them walk in with the terror of a man who knew he was facing death. He couldn’t stop his arms from shaking, and as he gripped the altar cloth with his fists, kneeling at the side of it, the golden cross reflecting the light from the candles and bathing him in a rich glow, he felt none of the calmness that the Church used to offer him.

He knew who was outside. There was no mistaking that rough, coarse voice. Anyone who knew Sir Geoffrey would recognise that mixture of bullying and swearing. The row made by the horses and men arriving had been one thing, but listening to his old master threatening the knight in the gateway, that was another. And finally he’d heard more horses, and that was when Nicholas knew he was dead. He was convinced that it was a second force of Sir Geoffrey’s men. It never occurred to him that it could be Sir Odo — someone who might save him.

But the thought of saving him was far from anyone’s mind in here, he saw as he took in the expressions on Baldwin’s and Simon’s faces. The two men walked in, Edgar waiting near the doorway, and even as Nicholas glanced at the priest nearby, he was already sure that these men would see him destroyed. Foreigners wouldn’t trust his word. Why should they?

‘Father,’ Baldwin said quietly. ‘I have kept those men all outside for now, but until there is more sensible protection, do you mind if I remain here myself?’

‘Of course not.’

Jeanne was at the rear of the nave, and she walked down to the altar now, a jug of wine in one hand, four cups in the other. ‘I hope a little wine will refresh you?’

‘Jeanne! What are you doing here?’

‘I saw this man arrive, husband. I was able to help him a little. Don’t worry, Richalda is at the inn.’

‘With Emma?’

Jeanne smiled. ‘With Jankin’s wife. She is good with children and Richalda is playing with someone her own age. For the first time in a while she isn’t bored.’

Baldwin glanced at the priest as he took a cup from his wife. ‘The coroner will be here before long, I hope, but for now, do you object to my questioning this man?’

Matthew shook his head and waved his hand as though to invite Baldwin to begin. Jeanne passed him a cup too, and soon the men were all drinking from their cups, except for Nicholas. He sat with his head hanging, eyes wide with fear.

Baldwin faced him. ‘Your name?’

‘I am called Nicholas le Poter.’

‘You have come here to seek sanctuary?’

‘They’d kill me else! You can see that.’

‘They say that you murdered this Lady Lucy of Meeth.’

‘It was nothing to do with me! I don’t think I ever saw her, let alone harmed her! Sir, you must believe me! What would I do with a woman like her? I’m just a man who lives by his hands, nothing else. She wouldn’t even look at a man like me.’

‘She was taken on the road from her manor when she had a man with her. The person who killed her is responsible for two lives,’ Baldwin said. ‘I am Keeper of the King’s Peace, and I must learn who did this. Also, we know that Ailward was murdered, and the family of Hugh Shepherd from near to this place. I would discover who might be responsible.’

‘You want to know who was responsible? Ask Sir Geoffrey. He could have desired Lady Lucy. Perhaps he tried to make her wed him? And the man Hugh, he died on the night that Sir Geoffrey had led his men against Sir Odo’s sergeant, Robert Crokers. Maybe he sent some other men up to this man Hugh’s house and killed them?’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘Because he’s terrified that he’s going to be removed from the manor! A stronger man will soon take the notice of Lord Despenser. If someone was to replace him here, what would happen to Sir Geoffrey? There’d be nowhere for him to go. So all he can do is try to remove anyone who shows an ounce of initiative, and then take over their ideas to increase the wealth of the manor. He’s done it before, and he’ll do it again. I have no doubt.’

Simon rasped ‘What of the man Hugh?’

‘Him? He was up here on Sir Odo’s lands, wasn’t he? If Sir Geoffrey wanted the favour of the Lord Despenser, he’d increase the lands he controls. If he could, he’d take this man Hugh’s lands in the name of his master. Just as he’d take Lady Lucy’s.’

‘A mere bully trying to increase his master’s estates by theft?’ Baldwin murmured.

‘It has been known,’ Edgar said.

Something in his tone made Baldwin and Simon turn. There, in the doorway, facing Edgar, was Sir Geoffrey. A short distance behind him stood Sir Odo.

At the sight, Nicholas felt he must choke. The expression on Sir Geoffrey’s face was adequate proof of his mood: he was in the blackest temper imaginable. There was no escaping those small, keen, grey eyes. Nicholas tried to look away at Sir Baldwin, but he found the Keeper’s eyes too intense too, as though he trusted no one, and that by merely looking at Nicholas he had seen through to the depths of his soul. The man with him, the bailiff, was hardly better, with his pale complexion and staring eyes. The only man in the church who looked on him kindly was the priest — and Sir Odo. Nicholas knew why, though. ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend,’ he had once heard Sir Odo say, and it made good sense. That was the sort of rule that he could understand. Now Sir Odo looked at him in a friendly manner, which was in sharp contrast to the expression he wore as he turned back to Sir Geoffrey.

‘This is outrageous ! I demand that you leave this man alone until the coroner is here!’ Sir Geoffrey blustered.

‘There is no need. I am only asking some questions,’ Baldwin said.

‘There is every need. The interrogation should take place in front of the jury.’

‘In your back room?’ Sir Odo asked with a cynical lift in his eyebrow.

Sir Geoffrey stared at him. ‘There is nothing out there I need be ashamed of.’

‘Of course not,’ Sir Odo agreed suavely. ‘No, no! It would be terrible to suggest such a thing.’

‘I demand that you leave this man here now. I shall post men to guard him through the night to be sure he is held until the coroner comes. If he wishes to abjure the realm and save us all a lot of time, he can do so then. For now he should be kept quiet and secure.’

‘I agree,’ Baldwin said. ‘I shall remain here with him.’

‘That would be much better, Sir Baldwin,’ Sir Odo said, adding simply, ‘and this is my parish, my manor. I shall decide, Sir Geoffrey, who shall remain here to protect the man.’

‘I didn’t say “protect”,’ Sir Geoffrey snarled.

‘No. But I did,’ Odo said, this time a little more pointedly. ‘I see it as my duty to keep him safe and alive until the coroner can question him. That is what I shall do. So, with your leave, Sir Baldwin, I shall go and seek some men who can guard this place. You will not object to more men to back you up?’

Baldwin smiled. ‘Not at all.’

‘Do you accuse me of something?’ Sir Geoffrey asked.

‘Not I,’ Baldwin said mildly.

‘What of you?’ Sir Geoffrey said, staring straight at Nicholas.