The Assassin's Riddle (18 page)

The door had been locked. No one had forced an entry. Napham walked into the darkness. He took his tinder out and lit a candle on the table. The shutters on the window flapped in the evening breeze. Napham froze. The window had been shuttered before he left this morning! He lifted the candle up, but could see nothing disturbed. The shelf containing his books, the small coffers and pieces of parchment on the table beside his bed: everything was as he had left it. He walked across to pull the shutters open and allow in the light whilst he packed a few belongings. Napham’s foot caught something hard. There was a snap followed by the most excruciating pain. Napham screamed. The pain in his right foot shot up his leg like a sudden spurt of fire. He collapsed to the floor, and the lighted candle, as if it had a life of its own, rolled away from him. Instead of the flame going out it now burned greedily as it caught the dry rushes. Napham didn’t care. The pain in his foot was so intense! He pulled himself up and saw the great iron-toothed caltrop hidden amongst the rushes had bitten through his soft boot, gripping his foot. The blood now poured out like wine from a cracked jug.

Napham screamed, yelling for help. He turned round, his terror increasing as the flames raced along the rushes, catching the cloth of the bedstead. Sobbing and gasping, Napham tried to push himself towards the door. If he could only reach it, take himself and his pain beyond the fury of the growing fire. He pulled himself two, three paces but the agony was intense. He fell into a dead swoon even as the fire licked the dry cloths of the small four-poster bed and roared greedily towards the ceiling.

Athelstan sat in his kitchen. Even though the rays of the setting sun streamed in through the open shutters, the friar was cold with rage at what he had witnessed in the cemetery. Bonaventure, sitting on the table, studied his little master with his one good eye. The cat sat motionless as if he knew there was something wrong. Athelstan smiled and gently caressed the tangled remnants of Bonaventure’s damaged ear.

‘It’s not you, great cat,’ he murmured. ‘But you should have seen that great fool Watkin! He was striding up and down with a tin pot on his head, a basting spoon in his hand, guarding the gateway to the cemetery! And the others! Tab the tinker, Pike, Pernell, even Ranulf the rat-catcher, organising the visitors now streaming into St Erconwald’s to pray before their miraculous crucifix.’

Athelstan rose and paced up and down. Bonaventure solemnly followed. ‘It’s not right,’ Athelstan murmured. ‘Crucifixes don’t bleed!’

He paused, the great tomcat almost crashing into his legs. There was something wrong. Watkin was bellicose, Pike and the rest were screeching about their rights. Athelstan could see the figure on the crucifix had been bleeding again, the blood glistening in the light of the many candles which had been placed beneath it.

Athelstan glanced down at the tomcat. ‘What happens if it wasn’t a miracle, Bonaventure, eh?’

The cat winked and yawned.

‘Exactly,’ Athelstan rejoined. ‘Miracles don’t happen in Southwark!’

‘They happened in Bethlehem!’

Athelstan whirled round. The tall, lean-visaged Dominican stood just within the door, hidden in the shadows.

‘Why, brother Niall!’

Father Prior’s lieutenant and messenger walked into the kitchen. He and Athelstan embraced each other and exchanged the kiss of peace. Athelstan stared at the pale face and green eyes under the shock of red hair.

‘Welcome to St Erconwald’s, Brother Niall.
Pax tecum.
’

‘Et cum spirito tuo.’

‘Some wine, Brother?’

Athelstan’s visitor nodded. ‘And if you have some bread and cheese?’ he called out as Athelstan went into the buttery. ‘I decided to fast today but the journey exhausted me. The good Lord will understand.’

‘Man does not live by bread alone,’ Athelstan retorted.

‘That’s why I asked for the cheese as well,’ Niall quipped back.

Athelstan brought back food and drink for himself and his visitor as well as a pannikin of milk. Bonaventure, if not distracted, would only join in and take the food literally from his visitor’s mouth.

They sat down. Brother Niall took out a small knife, cut himself a piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth. He stared appreciatively around. ‘The house is clean and sweet-smelling, Athelstan. The bread and cheese are soft and fresh.’

Athelstan shrugged. ‘Nowhere in the Gospel does it say you have to be dirty to be saintly.’

Niall laughed, covering his half-open mouth with his hand. ‘You were always quick, Athelstan.’ His face became grave. ‘I’ve been in the cemetery. I’ve seen the crucifix.’

‘It’s nothing to do with me,’ Athelstan snapped back. ‘And don’t tell me you’re here on a pilgrimage!’

Niall shook his head. ‘How long have you been here, Brother?’

‘Almost three years.’

‘Athelstan, Athelstan.’ Niall shook his head. ‘You were one of the best scholars in the schools. Your love of mathematics and sciences were well known. And then . . .’

‘And then,’ Athelstan finished, ‘I wrecked it all three years before my final vows, by going off with my brother Francis to the wars.’

‘Why did you do it?’

‘My brother and I were always close.’ Athelstan half closed his eyes. ‘Two peas out of the same pod, Niall. Oh, he was a merry soul, his eyes and heart were full of joy. He could charm the birds out of the trees. He didn’t want to kill, he saw himself as a knight errant. He begged me to join him. Perhaps, for the last time in our lives before I became a Dominican, we’d share something together, come back laden with glory. So I went.’ Athelstan fought to keep his voice steady. ‘Francis was killed and I saw the glory of war: mangled corpses, widows and orphans. I committed a great sin before God and my parents. I broke their hearts and the rule of St Dominic. I returned to Blackfriars, took my vows and spent three years cleaning the latrines, kitchens and corridors.’

‘Yes, yes, I know,’ Niall interrupted. Athelstan was on the verge of tears.

‘Then Father Prior sent me here to work amongst the poor. I fell in love with these ordinary people who lead such extraordinary lives. They can’t read, they can’t write. They are taxed and they are pushed around, but they have a joy, a courage I have never seen before.’ Athelstan closed his eyes. ‘And sometimes they are stupid. God knows what lies behind that mummery in the cemetery!’

‘And Cranston?’

‘Sir John is my brother. A fat, uncouth, curmudgeonly coroner but brave as a fighting cock, innocent as a child. A good father, a loving husband, a man of deep integrity. He likes his wine and his food but there’s not a shred of malice in that huge frame. Anyway, why has Prior Anselm sent you?’

‘He thinks you have worked here long enough. Our house in Oxford requires a Master of the Natural Sciences, a man with your logic and love of study . . .’

‘Nonsense!’ Athelstan retorted. ‘It’s the Regent, isn’t it? John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. He doesn’t like me. Ever since that business at Westminster when I investigated deaths amongst the knights of the shires! He knows that I am aware of his subtle schemes and clever plots.’

‘His Grace admires you immensely,’ Niall argued, putting his knife down. ‘But I can’t lie, Brother. He fears you. He fears that you know the truth but, above all, he fears the way you are loved and respected here in Southwark. Summer’s dying, autumn is coming and the harvest is due. Outside in the shires, the peasants meet and plot. Gaunt fears an uprising. Armies marching on London. He does not want some friar whipping up the mobs of Southwark!’

‘As if I would!’

‘I know that, you know, Father Prior knows, but John of Gaunt doesn’t.’ Niall got to his feet, brushing the crumbs from his robe. ‘Father Prior is minded to move you, and that business in the cemetery might prove to be the last straw.’

Athelstan sighed and got to his feet. ‘Then tell Father Prior,’ he declared, ‘that I am a loyal son of the order. I will do what he says but if I am moved then, for the third time in my life, my heart will break. So plead for me, Niall.’

They embraced, Niall opened the door and slipped out into the gathering dusk. After he had gone Athelstan sat, face in his hands, and cried quietly. Eventually he wiped his face and breathed in deeply.

‘I’m going to have a goblet of wine,’ he declared to Bonaventura but the cat, busily finishing off the remains of Niall’s bread and cheese, just swished his tail. Athelstan filled his goblet and sat: sleep would be impossible. He put the wine goblet down and pushed it away. He knew the dangers of that: too many priests on their own drinking and brooding, unleashing the demons in their souls. He picked up his writing bag, took out a scrap of parchment and placed his inkhorn on the table.

He forced himself to concentrate on the day’s events. He drew a rough sketch of the door in Drayton’s room and tried to envisage how the old miser had been murdered and the money taken. Perhaps, he reasoned, if he found the Regent’s silver, John of Gaunt might be persuaded to speak to Father Prior. How, he wondered, had the man been killed in a locked and barred chamber? He recalled those iron bolts on the door and the two clerks Flinstead and Stablegate. Were they both guilty? Or just the one? If it
was
one . . . Athelstan closed his eyes and concentrated: it would be as difficult for one person to carry out such a crime as it would be for two. Athelstan stared at his own door.

Pretend, he thought, pretend you are Drayton. People can only get into this room if you allow them! And if they leave? I have a crossbow bolt in my chest so how can I possibly have the strength to lock the door behind them? Why spend so much precious energy bolting the stable door when the horse has gone? He stretched over and stroked Bonaventure. ‘Which reminds me, I must pay a visit to our good friend Philomel.’ Athelstan went back to his reasoning. One or two killers? Did it matter? He smiled then clapped his hands, making Bonaventure jump.

‘Of course it does!’ he shouted. ‘There had to be two, that’s the only way it could be done!’

And the house? How could they leave? Athelstan rubbed his face: the oldest trick in the book. They took poor Flaxwith to a locked window. It doesn’t mean that at the moment the bailiffs broke in every other window was locked and barred! Athelstan stretched across to the wine cup and sipped from it. He put his pen down and looked at the goblet. And Chapler’s death? And the murders of those other clerks of the Green Wax? Athelstan was sure that Alcest was somehow involved. Was he the young man with the clinking spurs? It would have been so easy for him to follow Peslep to that tavern. Athelstan chewed his lip. There was something about Peslep’s murder . . . something he had learnt. Something that had been said. What was it?

Alcest, Athelstan concluded, Alcest could have put that poison in Ollerton’s cup. Alcest knew where Elflain was going. Alcest visited Drayton before he was killed. But Chapler? The night that young man was murdered, Alcest, according to witnesses, was tucked up in bed with a young whore. Or was he? Was Clarice telling the truth? And the Vicar of Hell? Why was he so determined to tell Sir John that the murders amongst the clerks of the Green Wax had nothing to do with him? Why was it so important to send as messenger a ruffian like William the Weasel? Finally, Lesures, the Master of the Rolls. He had been sick with fear. Was he guilty? What was he trying to hide?

Athelstan picked up his pen again.
Alcest and Clarice,
he wrote, underlining their names. If he could disprove Alcest’s story, everything would fall into place. Athelstan stretched, yawned, then jumped at a knock on the door.

‘Go away, Watkin!’ he shouted. ‘I am saying Mass tomorrow and then I’m off to see Sir John.’

The door opened. A white-faced Benedicta, followed by Alison, equally pale, came into the kitchen.

‘What’s the matter?’ Athelstan exclaimed. ‘Come, sit down. You want some wine?’

Both women shook their heads.

‘I was at home,’ Benedicta began, unhitching her cloak. ‘As you asked, Brother, I took Alison to my own house. She went upstairs to prepare for bed.’

‘Yes.’ Athelstan smiled. ‘I saw you flee before my confrontation with Watkin.’

‘I was sitting in my parlour,’ Benedicta continued. She picked up Athelstan’s wine cup and sipped from it. ‘I heard a sound outside, in the small alleyway which runs along the side of my house.’

‘What do you mean? What sound?’

‘I was working on a piece of embroidery but, I’ll be honest, my mind was busy with Watkin and his miraculous cross. At first I didn’t take any notice but then there was a clink as if someone wearing spurs was walking up and down. I looked out, it was dusk, the alleyway seemed empty. I called out: ‘
Who’s there?’
but there was no reply. I closed the shutters and went back to my embroidery. A few minutes later I heard the clink of spurs again. I called up to Alison to ask if she was well. She replied she was.’ Benedicta took a deep breath. ‘I admit I was frightened so I . . .’ She looked down at the table. ‘Oh, Athelstan, have you had a visitor?’

‘Oh, just a messenger from across the city.’ Athelstan pulled the platter across. ‘But go on, tell me about this.’

‘I went upstairs and asked Alison if she’d heard anything.’

‘I had,’ Alison intervened. ‘I thought it was my imagination. I told Benedicta not to go out but she said that if I came with her . . .’

‘We went downstairs,’ Benedicta continue. She took a small scroll of parchment from the cuff of her sleeve and handed it to Athelstan.

‘“My last,”’ he read. ‘“The one behind it all; the first and the last will always be discovered at the centre of a maze.”’

‘What does it mean?’ Benedicta asked.

‘We are hunting a murderer,’ Athelstan replied. ‘Someone who kills and always leaves a riddle on the corpse of his victim. But for the first time,’ he smiled thinly as if echoing the words of the riddle, ‘one has been found before any crime has been committed.’ He paused. ‘No, that’s not true. There was no riddle found on Chapler’s corpse. Anyway,’ he continued, ‘we know that the other riddles spell out the first letter of the surname of each of the murdered clerks. However, this appears to be different. You’ll leave it with me?’