Edward Marston - The Lions of the North

“I will keep it drawn just the same.”

“Do you distrust me so much?”

“Yes.”

“And what charges do you bring against me? Murder? High treason?

I must be the Devil incarnate.”

“No, Aubrey. The Devil is more honest in his wickedness.”

“Let us examine the word ‘traitor,’ shall we?”

“You will examine it at the end of a rope.”

“I think not,” said the other, almost nonchalantly. “A traitor is a man who betrays his country. Is that what I have done, Ralph?”

“We believe so.”

“Ah, you only believe. A moment ago, you knew. ”

“Do not prevaricate. I have talked to your cook. He has told me about demands for food at odd hours of the night. I have questioned other members of your household. They have heard Danish voices more than once in here.”

“What does that signify?”

“You were plotting with our mortal enemies.”

“With or against?”

“You will not wriggle out of this, Aubrey,” said Ralph. “We know everything. Dates and times of your secret meetings. The nationalities of your guests. How they sneaked in and out of the castle without being seen.” He pointed with his sword. “Do you deny this?”

“Not at all.”

“Tanchelm died because he learned the same.”

“No, Ralph. Your guesswork is woefully adrift there.”

“You had him murdered.”

“Ludovico killed him,” said Aubrey, unperturbed. “That is all I will say about the event itself. I can enlighten you about the motive, however. Tanchelm was murdered not for being a spy but for not being a willing tradesman.”

“Tradesman?”

“Someone with an eye for a good bargain. You have it. Golde is proof of that. You will trade. He would not.” He indicated the sword. “Make a gesture, Ralph. Put it away.”

After a moment’s consideration, he sheathed the weapon.

“That is better. Now we can talk on equal terms. Tell me about this high treason I am supposed to have committed. You and Tanchelm have dogged my steps between you. What exactly did you find out?”

“The threat of a Danish invasion has been there for months,” said Ralph crisply. “They have the ships and they have the men. What they needed before they sailed was an ally in York itself. Someone with the power to unlock the city to them when they sail up the River Ouse.”

“They come from the east, then?”

“Of course. Up the Humber Estuary.”

Aubrey chuckled. “That is your first mistake, Ralph. I fear that Tanchelm of Ghent made it as well. Both of you looked in the wrong direction. Turn your eyes to the west. That is where my guests hailed from.”

“Irish Danes?”

“They have ambitions, too.”

“And you treated with them?”

“Several times. I confess it freely.”

“Then is your treason published.”

“Is it?” Aubrey strolled across to him. “Who is the betrayer and who the betrayed here? I wooed the Irish Danes to draw their plans out of them. I did the same with the Scots. If you have talked to my fiery cook, you will know I have had guests from north of the border as well.

They asked for my help and I offered to give it.”

“Why?”

“To insinuate myself into their counsels.”

“The King was not made aware of this strategy.”

“It is delicate work, Ralph. Winning the confidence first of the Irish Danes, then of the Scots. Patience is required. Commit it to paper and disaster threatens.”

“So you are no traitor. Is that what you claim?”

“I feign treachery to entrap our enemies.”

“Can you really expect me to believe you?”

“No,” said Aubrey with a grin. “Follow me.”

He moved to take one of the torches from its holder and Ralph put a precautionary hand on the hilt of his sword, but the castellan did not try to use it as a weapon. Instead, beckoning the other to follow, he went back through the trapdoor and down the steps. Ralph went after him at a discreet distance. When he reached the chest, Aubrey produced a key from a ring at his waist, then offered the torch to Ralph. The latter held it so that his host could unlock the chest.

“Not herbs, perhaps,” he said happily, “but something that will sweeten any man’s dream. Behold!”

He lifted the lid, then stood back out of the way. Ralph was amazed.

A veritable treasure chest stood before him. It was crammed with gold, silver, jewelled ornaments and dozens of bags of coins. Lying in amongst the wealth were piles of charters and sheaves of letters. Aubrey reached in to retrieve a large purse and an accompanying letter.

“Here,” he said. “Read this. Written to me by an emissary of King Malcolm of Scotland.” He held up the purse. “This was the payment that came with it. There are letters and gifts from Dublin as well, but your Danish is probably not adequate. This is the sum of my treason, Ralph.”

“Leading on foreign powers for your own advantage.”

“I want some return for my cunning, of course,” said Aubrey. “I may squeeze money out of them but I also squeeze their plans and their troop deployments.” He tossed the purse and letter back into the chest.

“Look at it, Ralph. I have grown rich playing our enemies off each other.”

“That is one way of looking at it.”

“What is the other?”

“You are biding your time,” decided Ralph. “Conspiring with the enemy in order to betray them, yet ready to join them if their invasions promise success. You are watching the tide to see which wave will carry you furthest.”

“I am an opportunist, that is all.”

“No, Aubrey. You are a traitor-in-waiting.”

“I am loyal to my king and country.”

“But which king? And of which country?”

“Ralph …,” coaxed the other.

“You have sold your soul, Aubrey.”

“At least I have something to show for it.” His face hardened. “We came to the North together. We killed its people and burned its houses and destroyed its crops. Then you went away. But I stayed, Ralph. I saw potential in a ruined land. I rebuilt this castle, enlarged my holdings and used every means at my disposal to extend my power. It has made me the wealthiest man in York. I more or less own this city.”

“Not anymore.”

“This is only part of my treasure.”

“It will all be confiscated and put to good use.”

“Put some of it to good use yourself,” said Aubrey, running his hand through some gold coins. “We are friends, Ralph. Take your share to seal that friendship. Trade with me.”

“No, Aubrey.”

“Take it,” urged the other, offering the coins.

“No!”

Ralph slammed down the lid of the chest with finality. Aubrey abandoned all hope of bribing his way out of his predicament. Pushing Ralph away, he darted along the passage and back up the stairs. Torch in hand, Ralph went after him but the castellan was not trying to escape. He was only running for help. He unlocked the gate that led to the outside and stepped swiftly through it.

“Romulus!” he called. “Remus! Kill him!”

Ralph followed him out but froze immediately. Obeying the command of their master, the two lions were bounding up the incline.

Olaf Evil Child led his men into the city with the farmers streaming in to sell their produce in the market. Having followed their leader thus far, Eric and the others dispersed to attract less attention. Olaf and Ragnar Longfoot rode on to the castle alone. True to his word, Gervase Bret had left instructions that they were to be admitted. As the guard swung back the gate, the newcomers went through to find the whole castle in a state of uproar.

Soldiers were yelling from the walls, women were screaming from the windows of the keep and every animal in the castle was swelling the chorus of alarm. Olaf and Ragnar gaped at what they saw on the mound. Torch in one hand and sword in the other, a man was trying to fend off two snarling lions. A second man, standing to the side, was exhorting the beasts to attack and dancing in glee as they did so.