Edward Marston - The Hawks of Delamere

‘He should have been there,’ said Gervase.

‘But?’

‘He became scared and ran away.’

‘Who could blame him for that?’

‘He blames himself, Brother Gerold.’

‘Did you assuage his guilt?’

‘Only partially.’

‘What else did he tell you?’

Gervase hesitated for a moment then plunged straight in. ‘He saw someone else sneaking away from the scene.’

‘An archer?’

‘Yes. The one thing he does remember is the bow.’

‘Did he describe the man?’

‘He barely got a glimpse.’

‘But he saw enough to exonerate his father and brother. They would never have been so foolish or audacious as to kill Earl Hugh’s favourite hawk. He doted on that bird.’

‘He made that clear.’

‘Two human lives are not a fair exchange for the death of a hawk. Especially when the two men in question were innocent of the charge. They paid dearly for someone else’s crime.’ He became brisk. ‘I will not divulge this intelligence to Earl Hugh.

He would immediately send for Beollan to question him more rigorously and the boy would not withstand such scrutiny. It would be wrong to subject him to it. Beollan is quite safe. Tell him that.’

‘Tell him?’

‘When you next visit their cottage.’

‘I have no plans to do so, Brother Gerold.’

‘Oh, I think you have.’

Gervase blushed. The chaplain had read his mind again.

Ralph Delchard left Earl Hugh still brooding in the hall and made his way down to the bailey. Torches had been lit to ward off the dusk and there was a smell of acrid smoke. His men were lodged in some of the huts used by the garrison and Ralph sought out his captain to discuss a number of matters with him. Some of the men were leaving the castle in search of pleasure in one of the city’s many inns. Ralph waved them off. In earlier days he might have gone with them, but marriage had mercifully ended that rudderless period of his existence when he was hopelessly adrift. Golde had given him a purpose in life. It was one of the many things for which he was indebted to her.

When he found his captain, they needed only a few minutes to complete their business. The man had overheard the gossip from soldiers who had accompanied the hunting party that morning and Ralph listened to it with keen ears. He was given a slightly different perspective on events from the one which the earl himself had provided, though the central facts did not alter.

Everyone believed that the assassin’s arrow had been destined for Hugh d’Avranches.

Ralph was making his way back across the courtyard when a strident voice hailed him from behind.

‘My lord! My lord!’

Recognising the voice, Ralph quickened his pace at once.

‘Wait for me!’ howled Idwal. ‘My lord!’

Ralph tried to ignore him but the Welshman would not be denied. Breaking into a trot, he overhauled the other and stood directly in front of him with a broad grin.

‘Do you remember me, my lord?’ he asked.

‘Only too well!’

‘Idwal, Archdeacon of St David’s.’

‘You were at Llandaff when we last met.’

‘I have been called to a higher authority.’

‘Then do not let me hold you up,’ said Ralph, trying to push past him and finding his arm seized in a strong grip. ‘What are you doing, man? Release me at once.’

‘Only when you agree to help me, my lord.’

‘Help you?’

‘In the name of friendship.’ Idwal let go of Ralph’s arm and grinned inanely. ‘There — I knew that you would agree.’

‘I have agreed to nothing.’

‘All I ask from you is one little favour.’

‘There is one big favour I would ask of you, Idwal.’

The archdeacon cackled. ‘You still have your sense of humour, I see. Diu! It is good to see you again after all this time. I have already met Canon Hubert and Brother Simon. They could not believe their good fortune when I popped up in front of them. Is Gervase with you still?’

‘Yes.’

‘A studious young man. I admire him tremendously.’

‘So do I.’

‘As much as a Welshman can admire a foreigner, that is.’ A sly smile touched his lips. ‘While we are on the topic of admiration, my lord, what happened to that charming lady whom we met in Hereford? What was her name?’

‘Golde,’ said Ralph.

‘That was it. Golde. A woman of independence.’ The smile spread itself. ‘Though I suspect that she may no longer enjoy quite so much independence.’

‘She is now my wife.’

Idwal clapped his hands. ‘I knew it! I saw the first stirrings of interest on both sides. I sensed that there was a deep bond between you. I am never wrong about such things. Praise the Lord! These are wonderful tidings! You have my warmest congratulations, my lord.’

‘Thank you,’ said Ralph uncomfortably.

‘I know what it is to enjoy connubial bliss.’

Ralph refused to accept that Idwal’s wife would say the same.

‘My only regret is that this romance did not burgeon in Hereford itself. Then I could have had the privilege of joining you and Golde in holy matrimony.’

Ralph was appalled at the suggestion. Instead of blessing their union, the garrulous archdeacon would have put a curse upon it.

He became brusque.

‘You spoke of a favour.’

‘Yes, my lord,’ said the other conspiratorially. ‘It concerns Hugh, Earl of Chester.’

‘In what way?’

‘He refuses to speak to me.’

‘I can understand why,’ muttered Ralph.

‘He will not even admit me to his presence and it is vital that I see him as soon as possible. I need his permission to speak with the prisoner.’

‘Gruffydd ap Cynan?’

‘The same, my lord,’ said Idwal, suddenly frothing with righteous indignation. ‘Apart from anything else, I wish to protest against the irreverent treatment of the Prince of Gwynedd. Royal bipod flows in his veins. Yet he is kept in a dungeon like a wild animal in a cage.’

‘He is held hostage, Idwal.’

‘That does not mean he has to be so abused.’

‘How do you know that he is?’

‘There is little that affects a Welsh prince that I do not learn about sooner or later. Please, my lord. Speak on my behalf to Earl Hugh. Plead our case. All I am asking is an hour alone with Gruffydd ap Cynan.’

‘Then you ask in vain.’

‘Why?’

‘He would never leave you alone with a prisoner,’ said Ralph.

‘No more would I or anyone else who exercised simple caution.

Any visit would be carefully supervised. If you were left alone with Gruffydd ap Cynan, you might supply him with a weapon or plot his escape.’

Idwal was shocked. ‘Would I do either of those things?’

‘Given the opportunity, you would do both.’

‘Calumny!’

‘Common sense!’

‘I am a man of honour.’

‘The word has a wholly different meaning in that gibbering nonsense you call the Welsh language.’

‘Gibbering nonsense!’ Idwal was outraged. ‘Welsh is an ancient and beautiful language, my lord. Our word for honour is anrhydedd and it carries great significance in my country. It stands for integrity, for allegiance to moral principles. Celts are the most honourable people on earth.’

‘That would not stop you trying to rescue the prisoner.’

‘It would never cross my mind.’

‘Why else go to see him?’

‘To talk to him, comfort him, pass on messages of support.’

‘And take out orders for members of his army.’

‘Never, my lord.’

‘You are wasting your time, Idwal.’

‘Then you will not act as my ambassador?’

‘There is no point,’ explained Ralph. ‘Earl Hugh does not look favourably upon the Welsh nation at any time but, at this precise moment, he is more prejudiced against it than ever. When he was hunting in the forest this morning, someone fired an arrow which only just missed him. He believes that the would-be assassin was a Welshman.’