Michael Jecks - The Outlaws of Ennor

‘They saw him, they killed him,’ William said off-handedly. ‘I see no problem with that.’

‘Do you not? Yet if I was trying to conceal my presence, the last thing I would do would be to proclaim it by removing a very significant person. The first man to be missed in any community would be the priest. And if the priest was gone, surely everyone would try to find the body? The death of Luke could have resulted in a widespread search of the islands. These pirates, after all, were experienced mariners. They must have raided plenty of islands and little hamlets before now. Usually they would install a spy on high ground to ensure that their ship was safe. It would be better than killing a man like Luke, no matter what we think of him.’

‘So you feel that he was murdered by an islander?’ the Prior asked heavily. ‘I know you have had a series of unfortunate experiences here, but surely you can trust me when I say that most of our people are decent, good men and women?’

‘You expect me to accept that? It seems certain that your people can turn to piracy, Prior,’ Baldwin pointed out.

‘What of the sand banks?’ William asked casually.

Baldwin looked at him with lowered brows. ‘Yes. That is a problem. You can see why?’

‘I have not the faintest idea, no.’

‘I was in the water, and I wore my sword. Yet when I was found, my sword had been taken from me and left not far from Robert’s body. That means that either someone took off my sword and dropped it there, perhaps intentionally to make me look like the murderer, and then carried my body to this island; or, more likely, someone found me on St Nicholas Island, took my sword, and carried that back to Ennor. Either way, it must have been someone who knew of the path beneath the sea. And they would have had to go all the way to Bechiek first,’ Baldwin added.

‘Perhaps they used a boat to cross over?’ William said.

‘Perhaps — but a boat was more likely to be seen, or missed from the beach,’ Baldwin said musingly.

‘It would be difficult to carry you all the way from Ennor to St Nicholas,’ Cryspyn joked, eyeing his solid frame.

Baldwin gave a dry grin of agreement. ‘I am no lightweight. Nor are the passes easy, as I learned myself in the company of William last evening. The ways are treacherous. That is why I am sure that the second is the more likely explanation. I had thought that the man who would most benefit from Robert’s death, the new gather-reeve, Walerand, must surely be the murderer, but he is too slight to carry me, and if he were to steal my sword, that must mean that he was already on the island of St Nicholas. Yet he apparently didn’t know about the sands. And I don’t think I mistook his disgust. He hated the very thought of walking in the sea. The idea of him walking to St Nicholas and back strikes me as unlikely.’

‘So he sailed?’

‘If he came by boat, he would have been seen, most likely,’ Baldwin argued. ‘And denounced since no one likes him.’

‘So you think it was someone who was able to make that walk, but who took your sword rather than carrying you?’ Cryspyn said.

‘Yes. Somebody killed Robert, I think, and then found me a little while later, and thought that the sword would be an ideal weapon to point to guilt. Perhaps the First Finder would think me guilty of murder, and then I should perish. Which means someone must have found me and left me to die, took my sword, placed it by the dead Robert, and then went home. The way between Ennor and here is only a half-mile. Unless …’

‘What?’

‘I just thought: suppose someone found me, and left me there, thinking I was near to death, and simply sought to steal my sword, and then was accosted by someone, so threw away my sword, and couldn’t find it again in the dark? That too is a possibility.’

‘Who would leave a man to drown like that?’ Cryspyn said. There was an edge to his voice, and Baldwin noticed that he was staring at his plate as though deep in unpleasant thoughts. When he glanced at William, he saw that the priest’s face had reddened, and he too avoided Baldwin’s eyes. Baldwin found all this very interesting.

Tedia heard the men calling for David and Isok, and when she saw the two men marching towards the priory with David, she ran to Mariota and explained what had happened.

‘Best be going to the priory, maid. See what they’re saying about your man,’ Mariota said grimly. She stood, heaving up her massive bust and shaking her shoulders to settle her breasts. ‘Come on. I’ll support you.’

‘Thank you,’ Tedia said thankfully. ‘I don’t dare on my own.’

‘Since you rattled that knight, you mean?’ the older woman asked, and cackled at the sight of Tedia’s confusion. ‘Thought you’d kept it secret? I think we all know. He’s a good catch, if you can net him. Mind yourself, though. He looks like one who could bite back.’

Her words made Tedia smile to herself as they hurried after David. They reached the priory just as the reeve was disappearing into the hall. Although the larger abbeys and priories on the mainland would refuse to admit women beyond the visitor’s chambers at the gatehouse, on a small island such rules were not considered necessary. The new gatekeeper waved them through, and Tedia went to stand at the back of the hall to watch.

The Prior sat at his table, while on either side of him sat the two knights; her man Baldwin at Cryspyn’s right hand. Nearby was the Bailiff, who looked as though he had partaken too liberally of the Prior’s hospitality. Next to him was William, looking very pale-faced.

Baldwin stood as David came before them. He caught sight of Tedia, and she saw his expression lighten. A short while later, the Sergeant Thomas arrived, angrily snatching his elbow from the hand of the man who had fetched him, a brawny sailor from Ennor, who smiled lazily and crossed his arms at the door as though threatening Thomas to try to escape. He saw Tedia, and winked.

It warmed her, that wink. With the colour rising to her cheeks, she listened to Baldwin questioning the men.

‘We have doubts as to whether Luke was murdered by the pirates or someone else on this island. The good Prior has instructed me to investigate the Brother’s death, just as you, Thomas, instructed the Bailiff here to enquire about the homicide of Robert. That is why you two are here. Where is Isok?’

‘I don’t know,’ David said gruffly. ‘His boat’s gone. Perhaps he’s fishing.’

‘Perhaps he is.’ Baldwin scowled. If the man had run off, there was little they could do to capture him. He shrugged. ‘Thomas — we know that you saw Luke. What actually passed between you?’

‘I told you. He demanded a passage from the islands.’

‘And you refused him?’

‘Of course.’

‘But you said he offered you a bribe?’

‘He offered me some money, yes.’

‘How much?’

‘He held out a purse. I didn’t look. I didn’t need to; I merely refused.’

‘He threatened you, didn’t he?’

Thomas held his gaze angrily. ‘He knew about my ship, yes, and he said that if I didn’t take him, he’d see to it that Ranulph found out.’

‘Where was all this?’

‘On the headland at Penn Trathen. Where, before you point it out, the man’s body was found.’

‘Why should we point it out?’

‘Because that bastard saw me there,’ Thomas said, pointing at William.

‘Is this true?’ Baldwin demanded.

‘I was there and saw him, yes. I had been up at my flock,’ William admitted. ‘When the rain started, I thought I’d get off home, but then I saw the two men. They were exchanging angry words, and I went to see them; I exhorted them to cool their tempers. It worked. Then I left them.’