Edward Marston - The Owls of Gloucester

Then the two men came into the mill. The older of the two, a thickset individual with a grey beard, ordered his companion to carry the boy aboard then went swiftly out. Owen squirmed and kicked as much as he could but his resistance was futile. The spare man with the straggly red beard cuffed him into obedience, lifted him bodily and flung him over his shoulder. Owen was taken out to the waiting boat and carried aboard before being lowered roughly to the deck. A second boy emerged from another part of the mill, trussed up like Owen and slung over the shoulder of the other man. He, too, was dumped aboard. The two victims lay side by side, unable to move. The man with the straggly red beard pulled a tarpaulin over them so that they could no longer see.

Fresh sounds penetrated the sudden darkness. They were muffled by the tarpaulin but were soon easy to identify. Horses were coming at a gallop. The thickset man was yelling and his companion was making frantic efforts to cast off and set sail.

The two boys were bewildered.

Ralph Delchard’s horse was galloping hell-for-leather along the bank with Gervase Bret and Abraham the Priest close behind.

Four of Ralph’s men formed an escort, their swords already out, their blood up at the promise of action. They had spotted the boat from two miles away. When its sail was seen turning into the tributary where the mill was located, they knew that they had their only chance to catch it. Once in midstream, it would be beyond their reach.

Strang the Dane was bellowing orders, but they only helped to confuse Balki, who was still struggling with the mooring rope when the horses thundered up. For once Ralph overcame his fear of water. As the boat pulled away from the bank, he leaped down from his horse and flung himself headfirst after the vessel, catching the bulwark and hauling himself aboard. Balki grabbed an oar to try to push him away but he was no match for Ralph.

Tearing the oar from the man’s hands, Ralph flung it overboard then hurled Balki after it into the water. Gervase did not hesitate.

Ralph’s men would fight shy of the river in their heavy hauberks, but he was not handicapped by armour. Diving into the water, he swam towards the steward and grappled with him.

Ralph, meanwhile, confronted a more formidable opponent.

Strang the Dane had a dagger in his hand and was circling him menacingly.

‘The game is up,’ said Ralph, one eye on the blade. ‘I’m arresting you for the murder of Brother Nicholas and the abduction of several boys. Put up your weapon. You have no chance.’

‘Nor do you, my lord,’ said Strang, advancing slowly.

Ralph backed away. The advantage lay with Strang. In the seconds it would take Ralph to pull his sword from its scabbard, his adversary’s dagger would be thrust into him. The boat was now drifting helplessly towards the other bank, too far away for his men to reach it without risking the deep water. Ralph decided that his wisest response was to keep both hands free in the hope of catching Strang’s wrist when the weapon flashed. Even then, he knew that his chances were slim.

Two things came to his aid. Hearing the sounds of the rescue attempt, Owen began to buck and twitch violently under the tarpaulin in order to attract attention. Strang was momentarily diverted. At exactly the same time, the prow of the boat thudded into the bank and caused both men to stumble forward. Ralph was the first to recover, throwing himself at Strang and seizing the hand which held the dagger. There was a violent struggle and both fell to the deck, rolling over, kicking and punching, using all their strength to subdue the other. Strang was a powerful man but Ralph was fired with anger and revulsion. It put extra strength into his arms and enabled him to twist the dagger free.

Pummelling his face, he beat Strang into submission then rose to his feet. Ralph drew his sword and held it at the Dane’s throat but there was no further resistance. The man was exhausted.

His face was covered in blood and his hand had been gashed when Ralph snatched away his weapon. Ralph looked across at the tarpaulin, still moving as if by its own volition. He used the point of his sword to flip it back from its cargo. Owen and the other boy blinked as they saw daylight again.

Ralph grinned warmly. ‘You’re safe now, lads.’

Threshing sounds took his attention back to the river. Gervase had overpowered Balki but was having difficulty dragging him ashore. Help was at hand. Divesting himself of his Benedictine habit, Abraham the Priest jumped naked into the water and swam strongly across to lend his help. Gervase was grateful and Ralph hugely amused.

‘Delivering babies,’ he called, ‘and saving two drowning men.

Is there anything you can’t do, Archdeacon?’

Suddenly Ralph became aware that he was aboard a boat which was starting to drift into midstream again. His fear of the water returned at once. ‘What do I do now ?’ he roared. ‘Help!’

Hamelin of Lisieux was talking to his wife when the visitor arrived.

They were staying not far from Gloucester in the manor house of a friend. Nigel the Reeve knew exactly where to find them. After a token exchange of civilities, he broke the news about the arrest and imprisonment of Strang the Dane. The lady Emma was horrified to learn that the man had been involved in the slave trade, but her husband immediately saw how it advantaged him.

‘This will speed things up at the shire hall,’ he said cheerily.

‘To be honest, Strang was the only person who might have ousted me from those holdings. I did, after all, take them from him in the first place.’

Nigel curled a lip. ‘He will have no need of land now.’

‘I will spare him enough for a burial plot.’

‘Does this mean that the commissioners will resume their work?’ asked the lady Emma. ‘Has any time been set?’

‘Yes, my lady,’ said Nigel. ‘Tomorrow morning. Soon after Prime.’

‘We will be there.’

‘Both of us,’ added Hamelin. ‘Unless there is a further delay.

No chance, I suppose, of Ralph Delchard being invited to the castle to take part in the King’s council?’

‘None, my lord.’

‘Good.’

‘From what I hear, their business is all but complete.’

‘That was the impression I got from Bishop Wulfstan when I spoke to him at the abbey. They are to confer again this evening then the King will away at dawn. A pity. I would have valued time with him myself. Well, thank you, Nigel,’ he said, indicating that the conversation was over. ‘It was good of you to bring the tidings, especially as they make my claim to that land irresistible now.

Be off about your business. I am sure that you have to inform Querengar and Abraham the Priest of the new developments.’

‘Only the Breton, my lord.’

‘Oh?’

‘The archdeacon was involved in the rescue of the boys.’

‘Something good has come out of Wales at last!’ sneered Hamelin. ‘That leaves Querengar. Is it really worth his while to turn up at the shire hall tomorrow? Advise him to ride home, Nigel. He will be spared a deal of humiliation that way.’

After bidding them farewell, the reeve withdrew. Hamelin looked across at his wife. ‘If he were not so useful to me, I could enjoy hating that man. He is an objectionable fellow.’

‘That’s too kind a judgement.’

‘Yet he brought excellent news, I’ll grant him that. It seems that our visit to Gloucester has been very worthwhile.’

She smiled gently. ‘So far.’

Abbot Serlo was glowing with pleasure and throbbing with gratitude. He looked around the assembled faces and spoke with deep feeling.

‘This is one of the most satisfying days of my life,’ he said. ‘A murder has been solved, a novice has been rescued from slavery and a second kidnap victim has been restored to his parents.’ He beamed at Ralph Delchard. ‘It is all thanks to you and Master Bret.’