Michael Jecks - The Outlaws of Ennor

And Thomas had failed .

Now was the time to think about Thomas’s replacement. Thomas had persuaded Ranulph of the need for an attack on the island of St Nicholas to pursue the pirates there, but Ranulph had to decide what to do when that attack was completed. Somehow he had to find a man who was capable of taking over Thomas’s place. That wouldn’t be easy, he reckoned, as he glanced over some of the faces in the yard about him.

Thomas had joined him on the walls now, and was fawning at him like a hound who’d been kicked once too often. The man often did so, and it annoyed Ranulph no end; he was a servile fellow, and that was all there was to him. It was irritating, but not, as Ranulph told himself, for much longer.

‘Well? Have you done all I told you?’ Ranulph barked.

‘Yes, of course,’ Thomas smiled. ‘And when they heard that there was a chance of having their revenge upon the pirates, they leaped at the opportunity.’

‘How many are there?’

‘Fifteen from the Faucon Dieu and the Bailiff and three from the Anne. That should be enough, together with our twelve. That is thirty-three, with you and myself added.’

‘Who was the man with you just now on the steps?’

‘Him? Just the master of the Faucon Dieu. He appears happy to assist us for a chance of getting at the pirates.’

‘A shame we couldn’t have the knight join us,’ Ranulph said grimly.

‘What could you do? The man drew a sword on you as though you were yourself a common pirate! He deserves his fate.’

‘We shall have to have a court as soon as we have succeeded in destroying that nest of adders,’ Ranulph said. It was curious that in an island like this, where there were no serpents, the men living there became more snake-like themselves. Ranulph had suspected them of piracy before now, but the arrival of the Anne had confirmed his worst fears.

Over the last years he had repeatedly warned the Prior to keep them under control. If they didn’t stop raiding shipping, he would be forced to attack them, but they hadn’t listened, had they? And now they were going to suffer for their crimes. It was the least he could do as guardian of the castle. His true position was a curious mixture: in part the protector of the realm’s farthest western territory, in part the King’s official. As tenant-in-chief, he was Keeper of the Castle, but also Coroner, now that the fool le Poer had been sent back to the mainland with his tail between his legs. He had tried to pull a fast one, but Ranulph had soon shown him his mistake. Ranulph was the master of this manor, and he wouldn’t let anyone else take advantage. This was his and his alone.

Now the pirates who lived under the wing of the priory thought that because they lived on Cryspyn’s island, they were safe. Ranulph would show them that they weren’t. He was going to make them realise that when a Blancminster made a threat, it was serious. He’d kill them all, if he had the opportunity, and then, he smiled to himself, then he could control all the islands.

The beauty of it was, the Bailiff would help. In part because he wanted to defend his friend, but also because he hated the men who had attacked the Anne. So he would help Ranulph win over St Nicholas against the priory, even though Simon’s own Master would be furious to hear that St Nicholas had been stolen.

Simon was Ranulph’s defence. If any accused Ranulph of highhanded action, he could point to Tavistock Abbey’s own Bailiff. And while the dispute raged, he would consolidate his position on St Nicholas Island.

He could become the Lord of all the islands.

Baldwin was relieved to see that Isok had brought the boat up beside a small ladder built against the wall of a quay on Ennor. He climbed from the boat and up the ladder, holding out a hand to help William to follow him. Isok threw a rope and Baldwin caught it and thrust it tightly through a large steel ring set into the moorstone floor. Only when it seemed secure did Isok join them.

‘Are you going to come with us?’ William asked.

‘No. I must collect some provisions. When I have them, I shall be gone, back to St Nicholas.’

‘I have to get back there, too,’ Baldwin said. ‘Will you wait for me?’

‘Find your own way,’ Isok snarled, and was off along the quayside before Baldwin could recover his senses, he was so shocked at the rudeness. As a knight, Baldwin was unused to being treated in so abusive a manner.

‘Don’t listen to his growling. His bite is non-existent,’ William said gently. ‘How would you feel if you knew that there was to be a public test of your manhood?’

Baldwin knew that he had no right to feel anger at Isok’s attitude to him. Although Isok didn’t know it, Baldwin was acutely aware of his guilt. To molest the man’s wife in his own bed! The guilt of that encounter tore at him.

‘So, Sir Knight. Do you really wish to question this man Hamadus? I know him well enough because he is my sexton. He’s the man I was going to introduce you to to learn about Thomas’s activities. Perhaps I could take you to speak with him?’

‘Yes, if that would be possible, I am sure that your company would be most useful,’ Baldwin said, and then all thoughts of the investigation fled. ‘But I must find my friend Simon first. It is intolerable to think that he has no idea of my survival.’

‘Absolutely! And as soon as it is safe, we shall arrange for him to visit you on St Nicholas — but not now. I discussed that with you earlier. I do not think it would be safe for you to go to the place yet. Not while they harbour suspicions about you.’

Baldwin nodded grimly. He was unhappy to think that he was not free to see his friend, but he could understand that William was probably being sensible. Baldwin felt very far from home — in some ways these islands were more disturbing to him than his pilgrimage to Spain. At least there he had been excited because of returning to a land he had known in his youth, and all strangeness was understandable because it sprang from the foreign languages and habits of the people. Here, on an island which was supposed to be English, he felt the differences between this and his home more keenly. It was alarming to think that he could be viewed as a felon.

Before long the two were padding up the road past the vill of La Val. It was here that Baldwin had his first real sight of the castle standing on its little crag. ‘That is an unpleasant-looking fortress,’ he remarked.

‘The worse for its owner,’ William grunted. ‘Ranulph de Blancminster is a harsh master to his people here. If it were only possible to remove him and install a more moderate man, I should be glad.’ He surveyed the castle and walls for a moment, then sniffed. ‘Ah! There he is now.’

Baldwin looked up and saw a dark-featured man staring out towards the north. He was dressed in a light linen shirt and simple green jack like a peasant, and had a short grey riding cloak draped over his shoulder.

At his side was a shorter figure, a man who wore a more ostentatious dress. He had a thicker woollen cloak, a fur-trimmed coat with high collar, and his head was warmed by a hat with a broad brim.

‘Which is Ranulph?’ Baldwin asked.

‘The man on the left, with the riding cloak.’

‘He looks less interested in money than his companion.’

‘Yes, well, his companion is his damned clerk. That is Thomas, the man who’s behind much of the unrest on the islands. I wouldn’t trust him further than I can spit,’ William said and demonstrated. ‘See? Not very far. I hate that bastard. If it weren’t for him, my life would be a lot easier.’ He shot Baldwin a look. ‘When they have a complaint against the castle, the peasants usually come to me first, to whinge about the way they’ve been treated. It takes me hours each week, trying to deal with all the problems. I’ve got other things to do, as well as see to the pastoral side of life here. Damn it all, I have a smallholding to run!’