Edward Marston - The Wildcats of Exeter

‘But you have told me nothing to console me.’

‘That was not the purpose of my visit to Tavistock.’

Ralph left him mouthing protestations and lurched wearily across the courtyard. When he reached the keep, he needed to put a steadying hand against the wall as he ascended the stairs.

He opened the door of his apartment and gave his wife a tired smile.

‘Ralph!’ she said, struggling to get up from the bed.

‘Rest, my love. Think of your ankle.’

‘It is fine now. I can walk on it again.’

She threw herself into his arms and kissed him warmly. After a long embrace, she led him across the chamber so that he could sit down. Ralph slumped heavily into the oak chair.

‘You look exhausted,’ she said solicitously.

‘Then my looks do not belie my condition.’

‘Was the journey worthwhile?’

‘I believe so.’

‘What happened?’

‘I will explain at another time,’ he said. ‘When I have strength enough to do so. First, tell me what has been going on here. Has the sheriff made any headway in his investigations?’

‘Not as far as I know.’

‘What of Gervase?’

‘He told me that he was going to the lord Nicholas’s manor house.’

‘Why?’

‘He did not say, Ralph.’

‘Gervase rarely does anything without a good reason.’ He removed his helm and she took it from him. ‘Now, my love. Let me hear about your accident again.’

‘But that is old news, Ralph.’

‘Not since I spoke with Walter Baderon. Where was it that the horse threw you? Near the East Gate?’

‘Yes. Berold will confirm the exact spot.’

‘I will make him take me there, Golde.’

‘For what purpose?’

‘To satisfy my curiosity.’

‘About what?’

‘I will tell you when I have been there. Remind me, my love.

Your horse took fright and suddenly reared, you say?’

‘Yes, Ralph.’

‘Did it hear a noise or see something which frightened it?’

‘I do not know. It happened so quickly.’

‘And Berold came to your rescue?’

‘Immediately.’

‘Yet I seem to remember your telling me that he was not pleased to take you to view the siege tunnel. Why was that?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘Then I will ask him directly,’ he said. ‘Before I do that, I need to shave this beard from my face and put some food into my belly.’

‘What you most need is some sleep.’

‘That will have to wait.’

‘But you are sagging with fatigue.’

‘I cannot sleep while there is a murderer at liberty,’ he said, making an effort to sit upright. ‘Hervey de Marigny was a good friend. I owe it to him to keep on the tail of his killer and I cannot do that if I am slumbering in that bed. I merely wanted to let you know that I had returned before I go to find Baldwin.’

‘That was very considerate,’ she said.

‘I wished to see my wife.’

‘Well, she is delighted to see you safely returned.’ She hugged him again and he revived enough to rise to his feet. Holding her by the shoulders, he gave her a kiss on the forehead.

‘What has been happening in my absence?’ he wondered.

‘Very little.’

‘No more visits from Bishop Osbern?’

‘He is far too busy at the cathedral.’

‘So what have you been doing, Golde?’

‘I have spent most of my time in here.’

‘What about the lady Albreda? Has she been to see you again?’

‘No, Ralph. I was able to visit her apartment.’

‘Why did you do that?’

A look of guilt came into her eyes. Ralph saw it at once.

When he returned to the city, he sent his escort back to the castle and headed straight for Saewin’s house. Gervase Bret was in time to catch the reeve as he was coming out of his front door.

He remained in the saddle as he spoke to him. ‘One moment, Saewin. I need your help.’

‘I will be happy to give it to you, Master Bret.’

‘Does Engelric reside in the city?’

‘Only until this dispute is settled. He is too old to ride back and forth to Exeter so he chose to stay here with a friend.’

‘Do you know the place?’

‘Very well.’

‘Advise me how to reach it.’

‘I will do more than that,’ said Saewin obligingly. ‘I will conduct you there myself. It is difficult to find and you may well get lost.’

‘Then I accept your offer,’ said Gervase, dismounting to fall in beside him as they set off in the direction of the High Street.

‘Have all the claimants been advised of the delay?’

‘Yes, Master Bret.’

‘Did you speak with them personally?’

‘Only with three of them.’

‘Who were they?’

‘The abbot of Tavistock, the lady Loretta and Engelric’

‘You did not call on Asa, then?’

‘No,’ he said smoothly. ‘I sent a man to deliver the news to Asa and a second one to explain to Tetbald why the proceedings were postponed.’

‘I know. I have just visited him and the lady Catherine.’

‘You saw her?’ said the other in surprise.

‘We conversed at some length.’

‘Why did you ride all that way, Master Bret?’

‘To ask a few questions of her and her steward.’

‘In connection with the dispute?’

‘Indirectly.’

Saewin was worried. ‘Does that mean that you and the other commissioners have already come to a decision?’ he said. ‘Were you visiting the lady Catherine in order to give her some sort of unofficial confirmation?’

‘That was not the purpose of my errand.’

‘But her claim must surely be the strongest. I dare say Tetbald presented it to good effect at the shire hall yesterday? I am told that he is an able speaker.’

‘By whom?’

‘Tetbald himself for one,’ said Saewin with a smile. ‘He is not the most modest of individuals. Did he impress you with his advocacy?’

‘Why do you wish to know?’

‘No reason, Master Bret.’

‘Then I have no reason to answer your enquiry,’ said Gervase with a meaningful glance at him. ‘Let us put Tetbald aside for a while and turn to Asa. You did not see her yesterday, then?’

‘No. I told you. I sent a messenger.’

‘Did you call on her for any other reason?’

‘Of course not.’

‘How well do you know Asa?’

‘I had never met her until this dispute began.’

‘So it was not she who asked you to find out how the lady Catherine’s claim had been received by us?’

Saewin flinched slightly. ‘No, Master Bret.’

‘Who did?’

‘Nobody.’

‘Are you quite certain?’

‘Yes. I am the town reeve. I must be impartial in such matters.’

‘I am glad that you remember that, Saewin.’

Gervase wondered why the man was lying to him. Honest and reliable before, the reeve was showing hints of darker qualities.

They walked in silence for a while until a stray thought brought Gervase to a halt. Saewin stopped to look enquiringly at him.

‘Did you ever visit the lord Nicholas, Saewin?’

‘Yes, Master Bret.’

‘How often?’

‘Two or three times at most. The lord Nicholas liked to know what was going on in the city and I was able to inform him. It is part of my job to make myself available to important barons in the area.’

‘What did you think of the manor house?’

‘It is a beautiful dwelling.’

‘Had you been there before when Engelric owned it?’

‘Several times.’

‘And spent a night there, perhaps?’

‘Only once. Why do you ask?’

‘Curiosity.’

‘It has not made me prejudiced in favour of Engelric,’ said the reeve defensively. ‘I was never a close friend of his but he was one of the leading thegns in Devon and one cannot refuse hospitality. Until this dispute began, I had not spoken with Engelric for some time.’