Michael JECKS - The Traitor of St Giles

His words were far from the mark. In the stalls they found several sumpters, rough pack horses, a couple of rounseys, both badly spavined, and some worn and ancient hackneys. One heavy beast like a draughthorse stood out, but it was filthy, plastered with mud over neck and thighs. Nearby was a young mare which tempted Baldwin, but when he went closer he saw that she had cut her forehead on a splinter or nail, and the wound was flyblown: maggots squirmed and wriggled. Baldwin felt his stomach heave and called the man over.

While the hackneyman tried to hold her head steady so he could pick the maggots out, Simon and Baldwin looked about them with near-despair; they had to have something. They settled for a couple of the less exhausted-looking beasts. Soon they were mounted and met the Coroner at the castle gate.

The Coroner had brought a man-at-arms with him, and Piers was seated on his wagon, his expression bitter as he thought of the dough he should even now be mixing. For all his insistence of hurrying to report the dead bodies, Baldwin noticed that his cart was empty of the flour he declared he had collected, and was sure that the baker had gone to his home and off-loaded it before going to seek the Coroner. It made Baldwin grin to himself. The baker was no fool – he knew he must report the murders, but that was no reason to ruin himself.

‘I should have taken a second apprentice,’ Piers mumbled disconsolately.

‘What’s that?’ Baldwin asked, kicking at his horse to urge it alongside. It wasn’t easy: he had picked a mare, and she resolutely fought every tug on the reins. Simon’s mount was no better – it preferred to wander off the road to the grasses that grew thickly nearer the riverbank.

Piers sighed and spread his hands. ‘An apprentice, Sir Baldwin. Mine is sick, and all the time I spend wandering down here, my business is wasting. I’ve got a cartload of flour sitting in the yard and if it rains it’ll be ruined. My wife does all she can, but without my apprentice or me she’ll never get it done. Oh God! I wish I’d never seen the bugger.’

‘The man who stopped you?’

‘Yes. If he’d missed me and found someone else I’d be indoors now, baking, all my flour safely locked away. Instead here I am, amerced and riding away again. Daft, I call it.’

‘The man who stopped you – was he a local?’

‘I didn’t recognise him. His voice was odd, too. Very strong accent.’

Casting a look ahead, Baldwin asked, ‘How much farther to the place where this stranger found you?’

Piers shielded his eyes. ‘About another half mile. You see where the trees follow the curve of the river over there? I think it was about there.’

‘I see.’ Baldwin nodded and was about to drop back when Piers nodded meaningfully at the Coroner ahead and said, ‘Sir Baldwin, I understand how these things are done. If I pay you as well as the priest and the Coroner there, will you speak for me?’

Baldwin’s voice was icy as he replied, ‘I am Keeper of the King’s Peace. I cannot be bought, you fool!’ He dragged viciously on the reins and went to join Simon.

‘What is it?’ Simon asked. He could see that his friend was peeved, but he hadn’t heard the baker’s quiet offer.

‘That idiot asked me to accept a payment. It is probably true that he needs to get back to work, but to offer me a bribe…’ His voice tailed off in disgust.

‘It’s common enough, isn’t it?’ Simon pointed out reasonably. ‘Especially for Coroners. How else are they expected to cover their expenses, always riding here and there, inspecting corpses along the way, and all for no pay?’

‘Hah! They get paid all right,’ Baldwin burst out. ‘They charge fortunes for looking at dead bodies, and if the people of the area don’t pay up, the Coroner won’t visit, which means the folk have to leave the corpse lying in the open, rotting, eaten by wild animals, until they agree to cough up. And then the Coroner will add a fresh fine as like as not, just to signal his displeasure.’

‘They aren’t all like that,’ Simon soothed.

‘No – some are worse! They gain their post as a result of a great magnate’s favour and use their position to serve his interests, releasing his servants and imprisoning his enemies.’

‘And you’ve obviously made up your mind that this fine fellow is of that ilk.’

‘Look at him! Fat, foolish, a sluggard… What would you think?’

‘I would think we’ve arrived,’ Simon said.

The Coroner was waving to the baker, and Piers kicked his little pony forward, pointing in among the trees. Baldwin wrenched his horse’s head around after a struggle; Simon’s was still more recalcitrant. It obstinately tugged at the grasses and flowers at the side of the river, and Simon had to kick it hard, swearing, to make it obey. It turned, and then, for no apparent reason, bolted. Caught off-balance, Simon clung to the reins even as his feet flew from the stirrups. He could feel himself gradually toppling backwards but by fighting he managed to remain in his seat and, as he passed Baldwin, who was ambling along gently, he turned and called, ‘My beast has more fire than yours, anyway!’

‘ Simon !’

He saw Baldwin’s anguished expression and turned just in time to see the branch.

Jeanne had felt the mood of the hall lighten after Simon and Baldwin left with Harlewin. It was as if the presence of the Coroner had put a blight upon the proceedings.

Petronilla had gone to a quiet room to feed Stephen as soon as they had arrived, agreeing to come and help the servants in the hall as soon as her child was sleeping. A maid in the castle also had a young child and had agreed to look after Stephen while Petronilla helped her mistress. Now Jeanne saw Petronilla enter carrying pots of wine for guests and sent Edgar over to help her – and to ask where Wat had got to. Jeanne was always nervous if the cattleman’s son disappeared when there was ale or wine available. Wat enjoyed alcohol and was often to be found snoring in a hidden corner of a buttery when left to his own devices.

‘It’s all right, my Lady,’ Petronilla said quietly. ‘He’s in the dairy. I sent him there to help since so many of the maids are in the kitchens.’

‘Well done,’ Jeanne said. If Wat was occupied there was less chance he could embarrass her or her husband. Glancing up, Jeanne saw Petronilla move away from a passing man. ‘Are you well?’

Petronilla nodded, but didn’t speak for fear of shaming herself. It was daunting in here, with knights, bannarets, even lords and their ladies. Some might think the same as the Coroner.

Horrible man, she thought, shuddering. All greasy and slimy, like a fat reptile. As he’d gone out, he’d put his arm around her in the hallway, his hand grasping her buttock, trying to force her to kiss him. It was only for a moment, and his thick-lipped face had been so close, slobbering like a great dog inches from her.

‘Come on, pretty little maid, give me a kiss or later you might regret it!’

Petronilla was revolted. She had turned her head away, and before he could do more than grope her breast and backside, Edgar had appeared. He quickly stepped close and the Coroner hastily fell back. ‘Yes?’

Edgar instantly moved between them. With a muttered prayer of relief she had fled back into the buttery. At the door she had glanced back. The Coroner had looked angry, but before he could say anything there was a call: Simon and Baldwin had arrived with their horses. The Coroner stalked out.

Now Petronilla was determined to remain close to Edgar. He would protect her. He was like that: kind and generous.

Jeanne was unaware of the anguish in Petronilla’s face. All she saw, she thought, was petulance, as if Petronilla resented having to help serve guests in another household. ‘Edgar, take Petronilla out and see if you can help in the kitchen or the buttery.’