Edward Marston - The Foxes of Warwick

He did not know whether to save the monk from the indignity of imprisonment or to protect the woman from being hunted down.

Instinct had made him shield Asmoth. If he suspected that she provided Boio with the means of escape, the constable of Warwick Castle would not let her gender restrain him from a merciless interrogation. Gervase was still agonising over the situation when Ralph rushed up.

‘Has the whole place gone mad?’ he demanded.

‘Boio has escaped, Ralph.’

‘I guessed that.’

‘There is bad news you will not have guessed.’

‘Oh?’

‘Brother Benedict has been placed under arrest.’

‘What!’

Ralph exploded with anger and it was not assuaged by Gervase’s account of what had happened. The only thing which prevented Ralph from charging off to the dungeons to demand the release of his scribe was the disclosure that the monk was in custody for a crime which Asmoth had probably committed during her visit to the castle.

‘Except that I do not see it as a crime,’ added Gervase.

‘She aided the escape of a prisoner.’

‘No, Ralph. She saved an innocent man from his death.’

‘If, indeed, he was innocent,’ said the other, stroking his chin as he reflected on the turn of events. ‘I begin to wonder, Gervase.

Attacking the guard and fleeing the castle. Are these the actions of an innocent man?’

‘Yes,’ said Gervase. ‘An innocent man pressed to the limit.’

‘Limit?’

‘Had he stayed in that dungeon, he would have been hanged later on today for a murder which he did not commit. Boio had no choice but to flee. It was his only option. As for the guard, why did Boio not kill him when he had the chance? A man with nothing to lose would not have stayed his hand. Yet the guard was only overpowered and tied up. That tells us much about the blacksmith.’

‘I prefer to keep an open mind on the subject.’

‘Would you rather he stood trial and was hanged?’

‘No, Gervase,’ said Ralph. ‘Not if he is innocent. But the prospect of a death sentence is stronger than ever now. When the lord Henry runs him to ground he may not even bother with the niceties of the law. The trial may take place on the spot and the nearest tree will act as a gallows.’

‘At least he now has a chance.’

‘Of what? Freedom?’

‘Of clearing his name.’

‘How can he do that?’

‘In the first instance, by finding the man with the donkey.’

‘Boio would not even know where to start looking for him. He told Benedict that he had no idea where the fellow was.’

‘Boio may not know — but Asmoth does.’

Ralph was about to reply when he saw Philippe Trouville bearing down on them. Their colleague brought additional details of the escape.

‘You have heard the news?’ he said. ‘I have just been talking to one of the guards. It seems that Boio was not as stupid as they all thought.’

‘How did he get out of the dungeon?’ asked Ralph.

‘By setting the straw alight. When the guard opened the door to put out the fire he was knocked senseless. Two men should have been on duty but one deserted his post to lie in the arms of his mistress. Ha!’ said Trouville with disgust. ‘The fellow will be lucky if the lord Henry does not castrate him.’

‘When was the escape discovered?’

‘Not long before dawn. When the second guard returned to his post. Unable to find his colleague, he sensed trouble and raised the alarm. They could not find the key to Boio’s cell so they had to batter down the door to get in. Once he was released from his bonds, the man left alone on duty was able to explain how the prisoner got away.’

‘Did he say at what time the escape took place?’ asked Ralph.

Trouville nodded grimly. ‘Boio was gone for several hours before they realised he was no longer in the dungeon. The lord Henry was livid.’

‘I know,’ said Gervase. ‘I spoke with him.’

‘But how did the prisoner get out of the castle itself?’ said Ralph.

‘They would hardly unlock the gate for him and let him walk out.’

‘That is precisely what they did do, my lord.’

‘I do not follow.’

‘The blacksmith outwitted the sentries,’ said Trouville. ‘When they heard a splash in the river, they thought someone had dived over the wall and into the water. So they opened the gate and went to investigate. While their backs were turned, Boio must have sneaked out.’

‘What caused the splash in the water?’

‘Some heavy rocks. When the castle was first built, they kept a supply of them on the ramparts to hurl down on any attackers.

Boio used some to cause a diversion. The sentries checked the pile of rocks and found some missing.’

Ralph had to suppress a smile of admiration but Gervase was more heartened by the news that the fugitive had a good start on his pursuers. Even on foot, he would have been miles away before his absence was discovered. Trouville took a different attitude to the escape.

‘They should hunt him down like a wild boar and kill him!’

‘Every man deserves a fair trial, my lord,’ said Gervase.

‘Not this one,’ said Trouville. ‘He has surrendered that right.’

‘Boio the Blacksmith is not the only prisoner whose fate concerns us,’ noted Ralph. ‘Brother Benedict now stands accused as well.’

‘This is the first I have heard of it.’

‘The lord Henry suspects him of taking the file into the dungeon to give to the prisoner,’ explained Gervase. ‘It is an absurd charge but our host was too choleric to listen to reason. Benedict must wait until his rage has cooled.’

‘He would never even think of doing such a thing,’ said Trouville with sudden loyalty. ‘Benedict has a Christian purity. It is one of the things about him which irritates me the most,’ he added with a lift of his eyebrow. ‘He should not be locked up. I will plead for his immediate release when the lord Henry returns.’

‘So will I,’ said Ralph. ‘I will insist on it.’

‘We may have a long wait,’ said Gervase. ‘In the meantime, we have to sit in session at the shire hall without our scribe. The lord Henry talked of finding a substitute for us but he will not do that while he is charging around the countryside at the head of his pack.’

‘We must have a scribe,’ said Trouville. ‘It is vital.’

‘We already have one,’ announced Ralph, pointing towards the dungeons. ‘Brother Benedict. He would feel hurt to have his role usurped by another. Besides, there is too much of interest going on here for us to miss it all. We will suspend our work at the shire hall forthwith,’ he decided. ‘Ednoth the Reeve can inform all concerned.’

‘It is the wisest course of action,’ said Gervase.

‘Yes,’ agreed Trouville with a glint in his eye. ‘It means that I am free to join in the hunt. I just hope that the lord Henry does not catch his prey before I get there!’

Trouville bounded off towards the stables, yelling for his own men to saddle their horses. Ralph and Gervase watched him go.

Suspending their work meant they were now able to take part in the search for Boio as well, though they wanted to find the fugitive in order to help him establish his innocence. They walked towards the keep to discuss their plans and to tell Archdeacon Theobald that he was being spared a tedious morning session with an intractable dispute.

‘What about Brother Benedict?’ said Gervase with concern.

‘He will not be going anywhere.’

‘Must he remain in that stinking dungeon?’

‘Benedict is an ascetic,’ observed Ralph with a smile. ‘He believes that suffering ennobles. He may not deserve to be locked up in that hole but there is one compensation.’