J. Tomlin - The Intelligencer

"Mayhap he's the killer," Cormac said.

"Mayhap." Law rubbed the tuft of his beard. "I'd think that the killer would nae want to call so much attention to himself. But mayhap."

Wulle grunted. "As long as they dinnae accuse you of it, best you leave the whole matter alone."

"I dinnae think they will accuse me. The widow stated that she hired me, and Medrum agreed that there were hoof prints, so…" Law clicked his tongue against his teeth. "It is a curious matter. He was nae robbed."

Cormac lounged a little more comfortably against the wall. "It will be a time. After they're fed, they'll talk and talk. You see if it isn't." He had the right of it, and the onlookers were muttering restlessly after an hour when the assizers finally filed out the door and down the steps to their roped enclosure.

Meldrum went back for Sir William, who strode in and hammered on the table and shouted for silence. He then asked who would speak for the assize.

"Me, Sir William." The chandler who had asked most of the questions stepped forward. "It's me, Patrik Donaldsone, maker of fine candles and soaps-"

"Enow of that, Patrik," the lord sheriff barked. "You are supposed to tell us the assize’s decision, nae sell your goods. So get on with it."

Donaldsone shuffled in embarrassment and stammered, "Aye. As you say, Sir William. We agreed that we ken who the dead man is: Neill Blacader."

"And the manner of his death?"

"Och, now we were nae quite in agreement about that, maister. He was murdered right enow, though I'm nae sure you'd call it slitting his throat when it near took his head right off. We argued one way and the other. Three said it was beheading, but the rest of us said that since it was still on by even a mite of skin, it was by his throat being slit."

Sir William exchanged a glance with Meldrum, who ducked his head and blew a snort through his nose. "Very well, I shall accept the verdict of murder by having his throat slit. Now do you ken who did the murder?"

The chandler frowned like a man not expecting to receive thanks for what he was about to say. "That we could nae agree on, Sir William. We reckon that one man who testified may know more than he's telt, but we were nae sure that it means he did the killing. Sir Law there found the body in a suspicious sort of way, but other facts, that the widow said she hired him and the money left behind, telt against it being him." The man gave Law a considering look. "I dinnae think he is the sort who, if he kilt for money, would take a fright and run off and leave it, and no one can say he even met Blacader to have cause to kill him. So we argued on it with some saying it was him but most of us saying that we did nae think so. The other matters, horses and so forth, just telt against it."

"What?" Flat-Face shouted. "I'm telling you it had to be him." Several of the men with him and the tavern keeper added in their voices, yelling the assize had been paid off.

"You're glaikit," Seamus Og Flimean rounded on them. "Shut your mouth in front of your betters."

"Who do you think you're calling glaikit?" One of Flat-Face's friends shoved the merchant. Pandemonium broke out. Flimean shoved back. Una was shouting, as one of her companions threw a blow, knocking a youth to the ground. Cormac uncurled from slumping against the wall with an appraising look and fists clenched. Law grabbed his arm and hauled him back as he and Wulle pressed their backs against the wall.

Widow Blacader grabbed her son's arm and tugged him with her as she backed up. The maid was shaking her hands in front of her in distress, but Andy shooed her to join their mistress.

Meldrum drew his club and stamped onto the dais to stand beside Sir William. The lord sheriff was banging the burgh mace and bellowing for the guards to clear the chamber. The guards waded in, using their clubs to shove people before them. Law looked about, but Flat-Face had already ducked away into the crowd and disappeared. When the crowd didn't move fast enough, the guards began to lay about them with their clubs. Someone ducked and then ran through the door. Then it was a stampede, everyone shouting, pushing, and shoving.

One of the guards gave Cormac a shove and motioned to the door with his club, but the sheriff yelled, "Not Law. I want to have words with that man."

Law pulled his mouth into a grimace. He yelled over the chaos to Cormac and Wulle, "You two go ahead. I'll be along in a bit." He gave Cormac a push in the direction of the door and a warning scowl.

The minstrel grinned and followed Wulle to push their way out through the fleeing crowd. Law shook his head and worked his way to the dais. "Shall we withdraw?" he yelled when he was close enough. "Talk about this privily?"

"Aye," Sir William shouted as his men stormed toward the door. "Follow me."

As Law followed, Meldrum jumped from the dais, club raised to join his men. There would be many a sore, bloodied head on the night.

Once in the quiet of his chamber, Sir William crossed his arms and paced about the room, face drawn up like a fist. "I dinnae like this," he muttered.

Law was tempted to ask whether he usually liked murder but decided silence was a wise choice. The lord sheriff was no man to poke, as he knew all too well. Finally, Law said, "I still think it had to be an ax that did the killing. That was no sword stroke."

The sheriff grunted in what might have been agreement. "I shall nae have unrest in this burgh. The king would nae like it, and I will nae have it."

Law raised his eyebrows at him, unsure exactly what that meant. "I've done nae unrest, sir."

"Not yet." The sheriff went behind his writing table and sank into his high-backed chair. He waved Law to a stool.

Law sank onto the seat and leaned his elbows on his knees.

"The king will nae be pleased with the peace of the burgh broken, but at least it was outwith the walls." He slammed his fist down on the desk so hard his inkwell jumped. "And that demon-spawn Murdoch Stewart riding with his men into Perth. The country would have been better if the first litter of that ilk had been drowned when they were whelped."

"He's at peace with the king for now, though."

"Aye, and he should thank the king's grace for it because it's more than he deserves."

Law started to shrug and then thought better of it. Instead he rose. "If you have nae further need of me then, my lord-"

"I gave you no leave to go. Sit down."

With a sigh, Law sat.

"That troublemaker was determined to say that you did the killing. I dinnae believe it, but he was resolved to cause trouble. I'll set Meldrum to search for him and give him a warning, but he is a man looking for a fight if I ever saw one. Now tell me what you ken about this man who was so eager to see you hang. Who was he? And what did he see at that tavern that made him so suspicious of you?"

"Naught. He saw naught. As far as I ken, he was nae yon. I never saw him, and had he been yon, I would have." Law frowned and considered it. "I suppose he might have come in after I was out of sight of the front of the tavern. And mayhap my finding the body looked suspicious, but you ken that the stink of a dead body cannae be mistaken once ever you've smelt it."

The lord sheriff winced at the thought. "He must have some grudge against you."

"I dinnae ken why he was so determined. It was a lie that he was in the tavern when I was searching for Blacader. If Una put him up to it, I cannae understand why."

"If I hear of violence with the man or that you ken more of the matter than you've said, you shall regret it. I tell you that." His eyes narrowed as he stared at Law. "I'm nae sure that I should nae make sure of it and put you to the question."

"It could tell you nae more than I already have. And I have nae reason for brawling with him." Law shook his head, wondering whether the lord sheriff knew any expression except for a glare or any solution except threats. "I am done with the matter. Widow Blacader, Mistress Wrycht that was, hired me to find her man, and I did, nae that I've been paid for my time."