Michael Jecks - The Outlaws of Ennor

‘Yes, one expects seamen to make money from farming the fish, and sometimes to earn a little from salvaged goods or wrecks, no matter how legal it may be,’ Thomas said, and he was now fiddling with a reed. He paused and met Simon’s eyes. ‘The trouble is, sometimes they will decide to make wrecks for themselves. There are men here who would not hesitate to lead a ship onto the rocks so that they could steal her cargo; or they might attack and destroy a ship, taking all they can before sinking her — or take their ships to a rival town or port, and steal and burn and rape. This is the sort of man who lives here. They were moderate enough in their needs, I believe, but the famine changed that. Now they are more … unstable.’

Simon knew what he meant. The great famine of 1315 and 1316 had caused untold horrors, and few men were free of the fear of a recurrence. ‘What did you mean, they might decide to make wrecks?’ he questioned.

‘A wreck is only a wreck if all on board are dead,’ Thomas said, and he watched as the words sank in. ‘Not all men are honourable.’

Simon nodded. ‘Even in Dartmoor there are people who have been driven to murder,’ he said quietly. Pirates were no different from felons who preyed on travellers on a road. Both stole and killed. In Devon Simon had met enough killers to know that even his pleasant county had its own madmen and outlaws.

‘That is why we have to treat them with caution, Bailiff. Some of these folks are a little wild. There is a vill on St Nicholas which … Well, I shall merely say that I should not wish for a friend of mine to be left there.’

‘I understand. So you think that one of those men could have been responsible for the murder of the tax-man?’

‘It is likely. Those idiots think that all we do here is live in luxury on the money we prise from them. As if the amount we collect in customs from them for using our port or market could pay for a castle like this and all the staff we need! It is ridiculous. But it goes to show what sort of people we are dealing with here.’

‘Quite.’ Simon glanced at Walerand, who hawked and spat noisily before casting a contemptuous look in Simon’s direction. There was so much hostility in that look that it put Simon on his guard. When he returned his attention to Thomas, his expression remained bland, but his mind was whirling.

‘That, Bailiff, is why I would be grateful if you could investigate this matter on our behalf,’ Thomas said.

‘Why do I feel you had decided to ask me to help before I entered this room and offered?’

‘You heard Ranulph. He wishes to learn who killed his gather-reeve. You are independent; you are unknown. You will create fewer problems than if I were to ask another man to do this task.’

Simon was somehow certain that the man who would otherwise be asked to perform this duty was also in the room with him; he felt just as certain that Walerand was perfectly capable of igniting a full-scale war if diplomacy were required. He had the sort of brutish face that spoke of ignorance and bigotry. ‘I would be pleased to help,’ Simon said, ‘but I would first have to ensure that my friends were released from their gaol.’

‘That is difficult,’ Thomas countered. ‘They drew weapons against my master.’

‘In a confused situation,’ Simon said firmly. ‘They had recently all but succumbed to a pirates’ attack, and then a storm, and when your Lord appeared, they had no idea who he was.’

Thomas nodded slowly. Then he took a deep breath. ‘Very well. But I shall have to confirm my decision with my Lord. I shall ask him at the very first opportunity.’

Simon had seen such prevarication before in his dealings with clerks. ‘When would that likely be?’

‘Very soon,’ Thomas said smoothly.

‘Excellent.’ Simon rose. ‘Let me know, and as soon as my friends are released, I shall begin my investigation.’

‘I would prefer you to begin now, Bailiff,’ Thomas said politely.

‘And so I shall … as soon as my companions are free,’ Simon said with equal civility.

Thomas eyed him bleakly. ‘You are a hard man to bargain with. Very well. You may count on it that they will be released immediately. Now please go and investigate this crime. Walerand here will go with you and ensure the compliance of the population with your inquest.’

Simon grunted and stood. ‘It is a bargain. I shall also need a sword. I left my own on the ship. Perhaps your men have already found it?’

Thomas smiled at the sarcasm in his voice. ‘Walerand will lead you to the armoury. Choose what you wish.’

‘There is no need. This sword will be fine.’

‘You cannot have that. It may be the murder weapon.’

‘What, to kill the gather-reeve?’

‘Of course.’

‘It couldn’t. The stab wound in Robert’s back was too shallow.’

‘There is blood on the blade.’

‘Where?’

Thomas pointed to a large dark stain near the quillons.

‘To have blood there the sword must have run through the man,’ Simon said reasonably. ‘Robert was killed by a dagger, not a sword.’

‘You seem very certain,’ Thomas observed.

‘I am. And I need a sword.’

Thomas had stood as the two men left his chamber. Now he sat back and chuckled to himself. The Bailiff was so entirely predictable and easily led.

Ringing the bell that sat at his right hand, he bent his head over the Anne ’s documents once more. The ship had been carrying plenty of wine, thank God. Some of it was good Cretan, too, which was that bit stronger and sweeter than the Guyennois varieties. That was good; Ranulph liked his Cretan wine.

A servant tapped at the door. ‘Ah, Oliver — go to the gaol and tell the men to bring that knight and his squire up to the chamber off the main hall and leave them there. They are to be locked inside in case they try to escape.’

The man went to do his bidding, and Thomas settled back in his seat. The poor Bailiff would be unhappy when he heard, but if he wanted men accused of treating the Lord of the islands in a cavalier manner to be released from custody completely, he would have to do more than bargain over an investigation. He would have to find a culprit.

In the meantime, it was good that the dullard had not spotted the weakness of his own position. He might now have a bright blue sword to wear, but he was one man against the castle’s garrison. Hopefully he would soon conclude that the men of the vill had been responsible for Robert’s death.

Yes, thought Thomas. All in all it had been a good morning’s work.

Where was that damn ship, he wondered yet again with a slight frown. The Faucon Dieu should have docked by now. It was one thing to deflect the Bailiff with tales of murderers so that Simon didn’t enquire too deeply about Thomas himself, but the real problem in Thomas’s mind was the missing ship.

There was a knock, and he harshly commanded the man to enter. It was the Bailiff.

‘Thomas, there is one last thing,’ Simon said mildly. ‘What were you doing out on the night Robert was murdered?’

‘Me? Who says I-’

‘Someone saw you. All I wanted to know was, what were you doing and did you see Robert?’

Thomas felt his chest tightening. ‘I was out to see others. That is all you need to know.’

‘Can I see your dagger?’

Thomas silently stared at him. Slowly he pulled his dagger from its sheath and passed it to Simon.

‘Ah. As I thought: no blood,’ Simon said, passing it back.

‘So I am to be considered innocent?’ Thomas asked sarcastically.

‘No,’ Simon said. ‘You’re bright enough to wash a weapon after committing murder.’

He left without speaking further, and now Thomas felt less comfortable about selecting Simon as his investigator. As he sat tapping his teeth once more, the two worries nagged at him: the investigation into Robert’s death and his ship.