D. Wilson - The Traitor’s Mark

‘Wait!’ Walt spun round.

‘What is it?’ I whispered, my hand going to the dagger at my belt.

‘I heard something.’

We all strained our ears, alert now to a possible trap.

‘Over there,’ Walt said softly, pointing to the door of the hay barn.

I motioned everyone to form a line and we moved forward, clutching whatever weapons we had. Now, I could hear the sound also – a shuffling and bumping, It was probably an animal but I was not prepared to take any chances. When the others were in place, I reached out a hand and drew back the bolt. Instantly the large door crashed open and the sharp end of a hay fork passed within inches of my stomach. I grabbed the haft and tugged. My assailant slithered and tumbled out, screaming like a pig about to be slaughtered, and fell at my feet.

My first thought was that some inmate from Bedlam had escaped and taken refuge in this lonely place. The creature was scantily clad in grimy, blood-daubed clothes. Its hair was long and tangled. Its face in the moonlight was pale and its eyes gleamed like those of a cornered animal.

It looked up, ready, as I thought, to spring at me. Then it spoke. ‘Master Treviot? Is it you?’

‘Adie!’ I gasped in relieved yet horrified recognition and helped the young woman to her feet.

‘Praise God! Oh, praise God!’ She fell into my arms, sobbing. But abruptly she stood away. ‘What am I thinking. The boys! Find the boys. They’re at the back.’

Two of my men rushed into the barn. Moments later they reappeared, each carrying one of Holbein’s sons, tied with thick cord. Walt took his knife and severed the bonds.

I stepped across and knelt beside them as they were set on their feet.‘Are you all right?’

Carl stretched his limbs and stood up straight. ‘Henry was a bit frightened,’ he said. ‘But I said you would find us.’ He looked straight into my eyes. ‘It took you a long time.’

At that point my relief and the lad’s bravery got the better of me. I hugged the two boys to me and wept.

‘Best be moving, Master,’ Walt said. ‘The sooner we put some country miles between us and this place, the better.’

‘You’re right. Get a couple of the others to carry the boys. I’ll help Adie.’

She was sitting on the horse trough, dipping her sleeve in the water and wiping her face. I took out a kerchief and soaked it. ‘Let me help.’ I gently bathed her brow. ‘Adie, I’m so sorry about this.’

She managed a slight smile. ‘All’s well, now, Master. I told the boys you’d come for us – and here you are.’

Once more I was on the verge of tears. ‘Are you badly hurt? We must get away. The hellhounds may be on their way here. Do you know anything of their plans?’

‘They went away to London a couple of days ago. They said they wouldn’t be back soon.’

‘That’s good,’ I said. I thought, Our skirmish might have made them change their minds.

I helped Adie to her feet and half-carried her across the long grass. It took three of us to get her and the boys over the wall. As soon as I was mounted Adie was handed up and I settled her astride before me. When Carl and Henry were similarly seated we set off. The journey was slow, uncomfortable and was made worse by a thick river mist rolling in over the marshes and obscuring the moon. At . least there was no one else on the road and for that I was thankful.

Then, when we were not far from the ferry, we heard the clopping and jingling of a group of horsemen coming towards us. My immediate thought was that this must be Black Harry returning to his lair. I softly called urgent orders to the others. I steered my horse off the road into the cover of the mist. Walt and John, who were carrying the boys, followed.

As the other travellers drew level a gruff, authoritative voice called out, ‘Who’s that? Show yourselves!’

I recognised the speaker and urged my mount forward. Sir Thomas Moyle, well-wrapped in furs, peered at me. ‘Treviot? That you? What’s going on? I got your note and came straight away. I thought I’d better come in person. What’s all this about someone called Black Harry?’

‘Sir Thomas, I’m much relieved to see you.’ I explained, in as few words as I could, the day’s events. ‘And now,’ I concluded, ‘we must get this poor woman and the children somewhere dry and warm. They’re exhausted.’

Moyle grunted. ‘You’ll find nothing of that sort this side of the river. This is a God-forsaken country. There’s reasonable lodging to be had in Gravesend. We must get you there.’

He ordered his men to turn round and we all rode back to the ferry jetty. If Moyle had not been with us that is probably where we would have had to spend the night. The ferrymen would have refused the four crossings necessary to convey us all to the Kent side. But Moyle’s bluff authority and, doubtless, his gold overcame their reluctance. By midnight we were lodged in a moderately comfortable Gravesend inn and even provided with food. Moyle sent most of his attendants home but also spent the night at the inn. ‘I want to get to the bottom of this business,’ he said.

But we both had to wait until the following morning to hear Adie’s harrowing story.

Sir Thomas had procured a private room for us to break our fast and there, the following morning, while we were waiting for Adie to join us, I gave a full account of the last few days’ events.

‘If what you tell me about this Black Harry is true, the sooner we have him kicking his heels in air, the better,’ Moyle said.

‘We shall hear from Adie the sort of rogue he is and why he is a danger to the realm.’

‘Tell me about this “Adie”. Strange name for a young woman.’

‘She tells me it is short for “Adriana”.’

‘Adriana who?’

‘Imray – a foreign name. I know nothing about her family.’

‘So what is she exactly?’

‘A nurse employed to look after Master Holbein’s children.’

Moyle frowned and grunted.

‘Is that a problem?’

‘I was just imagining her giving evidence before a court. You tell me this Black Harry has friends – important friends – in the county. If they were to speak up on his behalf, I wonder whether a jury would believe them or a hysterical serving wench.’

I winced at his description of Adie but said, ‘Do you mean we need the evidence of more “respectable” people if we are to bring this gang to justice?’

‘What I mean, young Treviot, is that we have a long way to go yet before we can be sure of putting a stop to their activities. You tell me that they work for some highly placed patrons.’

‘So Archbishop Cranmer believes.’

‘Has he named these influential supporters?’

‘He believes that Black Harry is in Bishop Gardiner’s pay. I’ve heard also that Dr London, Canon of Windsor, may be a link in the chain that connects to the gang.’

‘If his grace’s suspicions are well founded, you see what we are up against. I, too, am often at the royal court. I am proud to have enjoyed the support and confidence of Lord Cromwell. I saw at close quarters what happened to him; the subtle schemes of unscrupulous enemies who gained his majesty’s ear just long enough to pour in poisonous lies.’

‘Are you saying, Sir Thomas, that we should not do all in our power to bring these murderers to justice?’

Moyle looked genuinely shocked. ‘By no means, Master Treviot! No, I take your word for it that they are the kind of knaves the kingdom must be rid of. I simply counsel caution. In this matter we could find ourselves walking on political ground, and that is something that is forever shifting. If only we had evidence connecting Black Harry with his protectors – something more substantial than mere suspicion