Michael JECKS - The Sticklepath Strangler

While Bel scampered from the room, his terrified gaze on Simon’s sword, Baldwin smacked his balled fist into his palm. ‘The useless bastard!’

Nicole shivered. She was wearing a light cloak which Jeanne had lent her, but tonight she could not get warm, not with her man in gaol. ‘My Lord, what about my husband? Please, Sir Knight! I cannot sleep knowing that my man is locked away in a cell fearing what the morning might bring to him. He could die in there, and if I didn’t do all I could to have him released, I should be a poor wife indeed.’

She had thrown herself at Baldwin’s feet, and he nodded, fully in sympathy.

‘Yes, I quite agree,’ he said, his anger not yet gone. ‘We shall go and speak to the Reeve immediately.’

The noise of the dogs was getting on Coroner Roger’s nerves. He had stood outside the Reeve’s house for some while before entering, gazing towards the cemetery, trying to work out what had made them start this confounded howling, but he couldn’t see anything.

He had heard of such things before, baying at the moon for no reason, but he hadn’t experienced it and there was an odd edge to the dogs’ voices, an edge he didn’t like. There must be a full moon, he thought, but when he glanced upwards, the moon was hidden behind a single cloud. It looked as though it was illuminated from within by a pure white light, and was so beautiful that he had to stop and stare at it, delighting in the shadings within the cloud. At one moment he was almost sure that he saw a face in it, but then the face was gone, and instead he was confronted by the moon, whose clear brilliance put the stars to shame.

Reluctantly he trailed into the hall, where the Reeve sat at his table, the Purveyor a short distance from him.

‘This man just tried to bribe me,’ Sir Laurence said cheerfully. ‘I appeal him before you, Coroner, so that you can witness my evidence.’

‘It’s not true,’ Alexander said wearily. ‘But you want your scapegoat, so go on and arrest me. I’m past caring.’

He was sitting with his arms on the table, his eyes downcast. Roger thought he looked the picture of a man who had lost everything.

‘Bring me a seat,’ the Coroner snarled at Vin, who was leaning against the wall. Roger sat, grunting with the pain, and then cast a look at Alexander.

There was a spark of defiance remaining in the man, Roger noted. Laurence hadn’t quite broken his spirit.

He was right. Alexander could feel the anger simmering within him, but was determined to keep it concealed. He could achieve nothing by losing his temper. Not that it was very difficult to appear tired. For the first time in his life he was experiencing the bone-deep, numbing fear that came from the knowledge that he was lost. He could not persuade anyone of his innocence.

‘You deny trying to bribe me?’ Sir Laurence asked in his deceptively hearty way.

‘I did not offer. You demanded. You made it plain you wanted money to leave us alone.’

‘Is that what you heard?’ Sir Laurence asked Drogo, who stood scowling at the wall behind Alexander.

‘This is ridiculous,’ Reeve Alexander said. ‘I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t say such a thing. You think that I have never dealt with a King’s official before? How many stewards or Reeves would address a stranger and immediately offer a bribe in front of witnesses without first finding out more about the man? If you want to arrest me, do so, but don’t insult my intelligence or try my patience with this foolishness.’

The Coroner studied him. It was always worse when men denied their guilt. If the Reeve was to fight the matter, it would be a lengthy case, and ultimately he would probably submit or confess. Men always did eventually.

Reeve Alexander saw his expression in the dim light of the room, and sighed. There was no defence against the killing of the Purveyor. Drogo certainly wouldn’t protect him. No one would. The truth didn’t matter to anyone. Everybody demanded justice , he sneered to himself, but most people wouldn’t recognise it if it came up and smacked them on the jaw. Justice was always flawed. The only thing that mattered was that justice could be witnessed – and that meant that he could go hang. It was ironic, really. He had been willing to sacrifice Thomas for the same reason. The man would have been a good suspect. He fitted the vill’s prejudice perfectly: arresting him for the murders would be so much easier than trying to arrest someone who was from the vill itself.

Damn those hounds! They were making enough noise to raise the dead, he thought inconsequentially.

‘Alexander, I would speak with you for a moment.’

Baldwin’s firm and displeased voice broke into his thoughts and when he looked up he found himself being studied not only by Baldwin and his dog, but also by Simon and Nicole in the doorway.

Sir Laurence clearly thought that the interruption was intended to release his prisoner, and he moved to the wall, his war hammer in his hand. Immediately Aylmer growled deep in his throat.

Baldwin called to the dog, but his eyes went to Alexander, then to the Coroner. ‘It would appear that we are breaking into a meeting. I apologise for that. Roger, would you mind if I spoke to the Reeve for a moment?’

Coroner Roger grinned and pointed his staff at Sir Laurence, introducing him.

On hearing that Baldwin was a Keeper, the other knight relaxed visibly. ‘I am glad to meet you, Sir Baldwin. How may I serve you?’

‘I came here to demand the release of this woman’s husband,’ Baldwin said, snapping his fingers to his dog.

‘I can’t just release him. He attacked his brother with a staff and tried to kill him,’ Alexander objected.

‘Ivo confesses to taunting Thomas in an attempt to have him gaoled. He wanted Nicole here for his own.’

Alexander waited for the knight to expose the bribe Ivo had given him, and was relieved that Ivo had apparently not mentioned it. ‘He has no money to free himself.’

‘How much would it cost?’

‘At least six pennies to keep the Peace and swear to present himself in court.’

‘I shall pay it for him. Now order his release.’

‘I can’t until the money…’

‘Do you suggest that I would offer money and then renege?’ Baldwin asked silkily.

Alexander shrugged and shouted for a servant. When a thin, fearful-looking man appeared, the Reeve snapped at him to set Thomas free and bring him to the hall.

They were all silent as they waited. Nicole stood with her head averted from all the men in the room, nervously clasping her hands before her breast like a woman who was herself condemned and awaiting the arrival of the rope, but when her man appeared, drawn and anxious, she gave a short sob and flung herself at him.

‘You have Sir Baldwin to thank for your freedom, Thomas. Now piss off and leave us in peace. I’ll want you to appear before the next court, but until then, keep out of my sight,’ Alexander rasped.

‘No! Wait,’ Baldwin commanded. ‘I want an end to this. Thomas, you fought with your brother today?’

‘I didn’t want to, but he made me, insulting me and my wife until I saw red. I couldn’t help it. You know me, Reeve. I’ve never got into fights before, have I? I’m not the sort to resort to my fists after a drink. Drogo and his Foresters are often quarrelling with other men in the tavern, and Samson always used to brawl, but nobody has ever suggested that I was violent, have they?’

‘Why should your brother want to provoke you into fighting?’ Roger asked.

‘He wants my wife. If he could have me hanged, he could take her,’ Thomas explained.

‘Your own brother would do that?’

‘He’s wanted Nicole since the day he met her.’