Edward Marston - The Elephants of Norwich

‘It’s such an intricate piece of work.’

‘I’d never dare to undertake it.’

‘Why not?’

‘My hands lack the requisite skill.’

‘Nonsense!’ said Alys. ‘They had skill enough to brew ale.’

Golde laughed. ‘Brewing calls for rather different talents. In any case, I’ve put that life behind me now-thanks to Ralph.’

‘He changed your life, didn’t he?’

‘Completely.’

‘Are you ever afraid for him when he rides out with his men?’

‘Never, Alys. He’s a born soldier.’

‘Gervase isn’t,’ sighed the other. ‘I fear for his safety all the time.’

‘There’s no need. Gervase is well able to take care of himself. In fact…’ Golde broke off as she saw a familiar figure ride in through the main gate. ‘Is that the lady Adelaide?’ she said in surprise.

‘I think so,’ said Alys. ‘I wonder what she’s doing at the castle?’

‘Let’s find out.’

They hurried across to the newcomer. The lady Adelaide was escorted by two men-at-arms, one of whom dismounted to help her down from the saddle. When she saw the two women approaching, she beamed regally and offered warm greetings.

‘I was hoping to call on the lady Matilda,’ she explained. ‘Is she here?’

‘Yes, my lady,’ said Golde.

‘Precious few of us still are,’ Alys piped up, admiring the visitor’s immaculate appearance yet again. ‘The castle is almost deserted.’

Adelaide looked around. ‘Where is everybody?’

‘Joining in the search for the killer,’ said Golde. ‘The lord sheriff has set his heart on catching the culprit today. He’s leading the search himself.’

‘Is the lord Ralph involved in the hunt?’

‘Yes, my lady. My husband left shortly after dawn.’

‘So did mine,’ said Alys. ‘Ralph knocked on our door very early.’

‘Do they hold out much hope of finding the man?’ asked the visitor.

‘I think so,’ said Golde. ‘My husband wanted the pleasure of arresting the killer himself. He has delayed the commissioners’ work long enough. Ralph wants him put under lock and key so that they can begin their deliberations.’

‘All of us want the fellow arrested as soon as possible.’

‘ I certainly do,’ said Alys, widening her eyes. ‘He not only committed murder. He stole some holy treasures that rightly belong to an abbey.’

‘So I understand.’

‘What sort of man would do that?’

‘An ungodly one,’ murmured Adelaide.

‘Brother Daniel was shocked. He’s the scribe to the commissioners. Stealing from an abbey is a most heinous crime in his eyes. I agree with him, don’t you?’

‘Of course, Alys.’

‘But you know the man responsible, I hear.’

‘Vaguely.’

‘Ralph said that this Starculf once worked as your falconer.’

‘My husband’s falconer,’ corrected the other with undue sharpness. ‘I had no dealings with him myself. After he went to the lord Richard’s estate, I never saw him. Starculf belongs very much to my past.’

‘What drove him to kill and steal, my lady?’ asked Alys.

‘I haven’t the slightest idea.’

‘It sounds to me as if you’re well rid of the fellow.’

‘I am indeed,’ said the other, moving gracefully away. ‘But you’ll have to excuse me. I need to speak to the lady Matilda. Goodbye.’

They waved her politely off then traded a puzzled frown. ‘She was doing it again,’ said Golde, turning to watch the departing visitor.

‘Doing what?’

‘Using us to get information about our husbands. The lady Adelaide wants to know what progress has been made. Now that she knows where Ralph and Gervase are, she’ll see what she can find out from the lady Matilda about the sheriff’s movements.’

Alys puckered her face. ‘Why is she so keen to hear about the search?’

‘It could just be natural curiosity. On the other hand…’

‘Yes?’

‘Well, the lady Adelaide is directly involved here,’ said Golde, recalling what she had overheard. ‘Those gold elephants were first offered to her as a wedding gift. Unbeknown to her, of course, they were stolen property but they must have impressed her greatly. They’re reputedly works of art. We saw how fond she was of gold when we visited her.’

‘The jewellery that she wears is always so striking.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Golde as the visitor ascended the steps to the keep, ‘the lady Adelaide likes to glitter. It’s important for her to be the centre of attention.’

Alys sighed. ‘I’m too shy to want that. I prefer the shadows.’

‘There’s no shadow dark enough to hide the lady Adelaide.’

‘Why did she stalk off like that, Golde?’

‘Because we caught her on a raw spot.’

‘I didn’t think that she had any.’

‘Neither did I until I mentioned the name of Starculf. Did you notice how quickly her manner changed? And she went out of her way to deny any real acquaintance with him, yet according to Ralph she recommended him to the lord Richard.’

‘I found that rather odd as well.’

‘There was something even more curious. Not in anything she said, but I saw it clearly in her eyes. The lady Adelaide gave me the impression that she didn’t actually want Starculf to be caught.’

Alys was silent. She blinked rapidly as if feeling a spasm of pain.

‘What’s the trouble?’ said Golde. ‘Are you unwell?’

‘No, no. I feel fine.’

It was Ralph Delchard’s turn to be slightly baffled. When the long cavalcade reached a fork in the road, Gervase Bret suggested that they break away from the main body in order to continue their inquiries elsewhere. It was no casual suggestion. Ralph knew his friend was not given to wild impulse. If Gervase advised a course of action, a great deal of thought had gone into it. For that reason, Ralph detached himself and his men. While the sheriff took the prisoner back to Norwich castle, the commissioners plunged on into the Henstead hundred. Jocelyn the Anchorite went with them, sensing that Gervase might possibly lead him to the missing treasures.

‘Are we to be told where we’re going, Gervase?’ asked Ralph.

‘To search for the killer.’

‘We’ve been doing that all day.’

‘No, Ralph. We were looking for Starculf and he didn’t commit the murder. In thought, perhaps-but not in deed.’

‘I still have my doubts about him,’ said Vavasour. ‘He’s no innocent man.’

‘Oh, he’s guilty of abetting the murder, that much is clear. But it obviously didn’t go as planned. Starculf was saving Hermer for himself when his accomplice stepped in ahead of him.’

‘What accomplice?’

‘The man for whom he had those duplicate keys made. My guess is that they agreed to work together. Starculf needed someone to watch his back so he found a man who was only too glad to assist him.’

‘And who was that?’ pressed Ralph.

‘Cast your mind back to that visit Golde and I made.’

‘The one to Olova? I’ll never forget it,’ said the other with a ripe chuckle. ‘Golde was drenched by that rain. When I first saw her, I thought that she’d fallen into a stream.’

‘It was Aelfeva who ended up in the stream, Ralph. He found her.’

‘Who?’

‘The man we’re going to see. Olova told me how heartbroken he was when he saw her dead body floating on the water. That kind of experience would embitter anyone. I can see why Skalp was fired up to attack the steward.’

‘Skalp?’ said Vavasour.

‘Olova’s grandson. You must have noticed him when you called there yourself. A big, strong, surly young man who was very protective towards the old woman.’

‘I saw no sign of him.’

‘Then he must have been hiding somewhere.’