Simon Beaufort - A Dead Man's secret

He looked around for somewhere to hide, but the stretch of road was open, without so much as a bush to crouch behind. He braced himself to fight. He still had his sword and a dagger, but his shield had been attached to his saddle, and was gone.

It was Edward, a number of rough looking men riding behind him. Geoffrey recognized several from the ambushes. Edward reined in when he saw Geoffrey.

‘You know,’ he said, peering down in the darkness. ‘You must, or you would not be out here, unhorsed and alone. You know Gwgan and Richard mean to murder Hywel tonight.’

Geoffrey nodded. ‘And you have been doing all in your power to stop them.’

Edward flicked his fingers. One of his men dismounted and offered Geoffrey the reins of his horse. Geoffrey did not need to be invited twice. He grabbed the bridle and climbed into the saddle, then turned towards Rhydygors again, kicking the animal into a gallop.

‘What else do you know?’ asked Edward, as he struggled to keep up with him. ‘Slow down, man! We will be no use to Hywel if we break our necks.’

‘I know you killed Mabon,’ said Geoffrey. He knew it was unwise to make reckless remarks to killers, but he was too agitated to care.

‘Mabon was a mistake,’ said Edward softly. ‘I was aiming for Richard.’

‘And you were so convinced of your own moral rectitude that when you made your confession to Father Adrian, you did not mention the sin of murder.’ Geoffrey was disgusted.

‘Poisoning Richard would not have been a sin, because it would avert a greater evil,’ replied Edward. ‘You understand what a disaster Hywel’s death will be, or you would not be here now, so you know I am right. But I am sorry if I have offended your religious sensibilities.’

‘And what about your attempt to murder me?’ asked Geoffrey coolly. ‘You loosed a crossbow bolt in an effort to ensure I did not deliver Henry’s letter to Gwgan. Was that not a sin, either?’

‘No, because my heart was not in it. Unfortunately, the bolt came closer to you than I anticipated, telling me I am rather more deadly when I am not aiming to kill than when I am. It must have been that peculiar Saracen curve on the arrow.’

‘You tried to kill Richard and Gwgan after we left Goodrich – you lobbed daggers at them, but missed, and you added poison to their fish soup. I should have known then that they were the targets, because others ate it with no ill effects. And you hurried them away from Brechene when they should have rested, so they would be more vulnerable to ambushes.’

‘If I had succeeded, we would not be here now,’ said Edward bitterly, ‘chasing around in the dark and likely to face insurmountable odds.’

‘You could have taken me into your confidence,’ said Geoffrey, exasperated. ‘Told me that I was about to deliver letters that would lead to a good man’s murder.’

‘I would have done, had I known what you carried. But you kept it secret, and the first I knew of it was when I saw you give a letter to Richard in Goodrich. I was horrified, and the poison and the crossbow were desperate measures that I now regret. The ambushes were more rational.’

‘Rational, but ineffective,’ said Geoffrey scathingly. ‘They almost killed me in Lanothni.’

‘All knights look alike in the dark. Why do you think I barred my door and took my time coming to your rescue? I did not want to be skewered by mistake. Where are you going?’

‘Rhydygors,’ replied Geoffrey shortly. ‘To stop Hywel from accepting Gwgan’s invitation.’

‘The invitation was for sunset.’ Edward laughed mirthlessly. ‘Gwgan said he did not want Hywel walking about after dark, lest some harm befell him. Hywel is already in Gwgan’s lair.’

Without a word, Geoffrey aimed towards the huddle of houses where he thought Gwgan lived. Edward followed, using the opportunity to talk, although Geoffrey was setting a rapid pace.

‘There were whispers in La Batailge about a plan to replace Hywel with Richard. Hywel is a decent man, but Richard is harsh and uncompromising. Hywel is better for Wales.’

‘And better for you,’ said Geoffrey acidly. ‘As Constable of Kadweli, you will be obliged to work with whoever rules here, and there is no question that Hywel will be more reasonable. But I heard no such rumours at La Batailge. I suspect you overheard Eudo himself.’

Edward shot him a sideways glance. ‘You are certainly very astute. Yes, I heard Eudo tell the King how much safer the region would be if Hywel was dead. So I slipped into his office later, to explore the chest where he kept his secret correspondence.’

‘You saw the letters to Richard and Gwgan?’

‘No! Eudo was not a fool; he knew better than to leave a parchment trail. What I found were copies of letters to powerful barons in the area, asking for their assessment of Hywel. I knew then a plot was afoot to unseat him.’

‘You murdered Eudo, but you were too late. He had already written his letters.’

Edward made no effort to deny the accusation. ‘Pepin lied when he told me you were only to deliver a letter from the Archbishop to Mabon. I should have known not to trust him. And Eudo lied when he swore – on his immortal soul – that he had not embarked on any plot to kill Hywel.’

‘Then why did you kill him?’

‘To ensure he did not write any such missives in the future.’

Geoffrey suddenly felt very tired, appalled by the mire of intrigue that had been created, and by the devious minds – on both sides – that had dreamt it up.

‘Well, I am glad you are here,’ said Edward, when Geoffrey made no reply. ‘Eudo chose well when he recommended that you should be the King’s courier.’

‘ Eudo recommended me?’ asked Geoffrey, startled. ‘Why? He did not know me.’

‘No, but he knew of you. He had read letters sent to you from Tancred. Your Holy Land prince is not a man who is easily impressed, but his missives showed he respects and trusts you. Of course Eudo would want to secure such a man for our King.’

Geoffrey thought fast. ‘Then the burned letter Maurice gave me was an original, and the ones I received threatening me with execution are forgeries. I knew Tancred would not take against me so violently! He remained loyal, despite someone’s efforts to sabotage our friendship.’

‘Eudo did it,’ said Edward. ‘It would not be the first time he has intercepted letters. I imagine his intention was to keep you in England, because the King finds you useful.’

Maurice would have to release him from his vow now, Geoffrey thought. But it was no time to plan for the future, because they had arrived at the hamlet, where lights blazing from the largest of the houses indicated something was happening within.

‘Are you working alone?’ he asked suddenly. ‘Or are you in the pay of someone else?’

‘The King, of course,’ replied Edward. ‘ He ordered me to stop Richard and Gwgan. Why do you think he insisted Sear, Alberic and you travelled with me from la Batailge? To ensure I reached Kermerdyn alive to do his bidding.’

Clever Henry, thought Geoffrey bitterly. He had looked the other way while Eudo organized a murder, but had hired a man to prevent it. He would emerge well from the affair, however it ended.

Taking charge, Geoffrey indicated that three men were to go around the back with Edward, while the rest should stay with him at the front. Even as he issued the orders, he was aware that the house was oddly silent, and wondered whether they were already too late.

‘I must have been wrong,’ said Edward in a strangled whisper. ‘Hywel is still in Rhydygors. We had better-’

‘No!’ Geoffrey stabbed his finger to where he could see shadows approaching. It was a dark night, with no moon, but light filtered from the windows of Gwgan’s house, affording a little illumination. ‘That is Richard’s garrison.’