The Elephants of Norwich

Chapter Twelve

On the last stage of their journey back to Norwich, their luck finally ran out and they were soaked by torrential rain. Gervase Bret was not dismayed, feeling that his second visit to Olova was well worth being caught in a violent storm, but he was sorry that Golde had to suffer alongside him. It was some time before they could find shelter and it was far too late by then. They were well and truly sodden. Capricious clouds eventually cleared to allow the sun to peer inquisitively through but the damage had already been done. It was a wet and dispirited troop that Gervase led back into Norwich castle.

After conducting Golde to her apartment, he went off to change out of his damp clothing. Alys was waiting for him in their chamber. ‘Gervase!’ she exclaimed as he entered. ‘You’re dripping wet!’

‘I don’t need you to tell me that, Alys.’

‘You look as if you’ve been swimming.’

‘It felt rather like that.’

‘What happened?’

‘We were caught in the rain three or four miles south of here. The skies opened. It could have been worse, I suppose,’ he said, starting to take off his things. ‘We might have been drenched on the way there.’

‘Did you see Olova?’

‘We did.’

‘Were you able to get the information you wanted?’

‘I got even more than I dared to expect, Alys. I’m so glad I went back.’

‘And I’m so glad that I stayed here,’ she confessed, looking at his bedraggled condition. ‘It was a long day here but at least I was dry. We heard thunder in the distance earlier on. I was afraid that you’d get struck by lightning.’

‘I was,’ he said, fondly. ‘The day I met you.’

She moved in to give him a kiss then recoiled at the soggy touch of his apparel. Gervase laughed. While he continued to undress, she told him about the pleasant time she had spent with Brother Daniel during his absence and apologised for being so difficult when he insisted on travelling without her.

‘I can see now that it wasn’t my place to go with you, Gervase,’ she said. ‘Am I forgiven?’

‘There’s nothing to forgive, my love.’

‘The truth is that I felt so very tired today.’

‘Did you manage to get any sleep?’

‘Yes, this afternoon.’

‘You couldn’t have done that on horseback.’

‘I know,’ she said, cheerfully. ‘All things considered, I was better off here.’

Gervase was pleased at the way in which she had come to accept the situation. A sincere apology made for a warmer welcome than would a sharp rebuke for leaving his wife behind. When he had put on dry attire, he gave her a hug of gratitude. Knowing that he would not divulge them, Alys had sensibly not pressed him for details of what he had learned on his visit. That, too, earned his thanks. By the time they adjourned to the hall to join the others, they had put their disagreement completely behind them.

The visitors were dining with the sheriff and his wife, attentive hosts who made sure that their guests lacked for nothing. Brother Daniel ate with them again, appetite heartier than ever, mind alert to engage in any friendly debate that arose. Golde seemed to have recovered from the exhausting ride, having shed her wet garments and looking resplendent in a blue chemise and gown. While Eustace Coureton amused the ladies with a succession of anecdotes about his own wife, Gervase took the opportunity to pass on his news to Ralph Delchard and Roger Bigot, hearing in turn what progress each of them had made with their inquiries. The sheriff was interested to hear that Olova had actually met Starculf.

‘What sort of man risks his place by castigating the steward under whom he works?’ he said, thoughtfully. ‘A brave one, surely.’

‘And an honourable one,’ added Gervase. ‘The argument between them arose because Hermer boasted about violating Aelfeva, a defenceless girl whom he’d stalked. Starculf was outraged on her behalf.’

‘Yes,’ added Ralph. ‘Even to the extent of finding the victim’s kinfolk in order to apologise to them. Starculf is a considerate man.’

‘He’s a murderer,’ said Bigot, sternly. ‘He showed little consideration to Hermer.’

‘How much consideration did Hermer show to that girl?’

‘That’s not the point at issue, my lord.’

‘Starculf was provoked by what the steward did.’

‘It doesn’t excuse his own actions.’

‘No, my lord sheriff,’ agreed Gervase, ‘but it does suggest that Starculf is a man with a strong moral sense. It may have driven him to extremes but it can’t be entirely ignored. I’d like to meet him.’

‘You will, Master Bret. When my men arrest him.’

‘Where are they searching?’

‘All over the county. The main roads are being watched to cut off his escape.’

‘What about the ports?’

‘Word has been sent to all of them. A reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of Starculf. It’s only a matter of time before we take him.’

‘I wonder how the lady Adelaide will react,’ said Ralph.

‘She’ll rejoice at the arrest of a killer,’ replied Gervase.

‘Oh, I think she’ll be pleased that the crime is solved but I suspect she’ll wish that the perpetrator were anybody but Starculf. She liked the fellow, I could tell, and knew him far better than she was prepared to admit. Though she’ll deplore what he did, I fancy that the lady Adelaide will show him a little sympathy as well.’

The sheriff was brusque. ‘That’s more than I’ll do!’

‘Or me,’ said Ralph evenly. ‘But the lord Eustace and I were both struck by the way she talked about Starculf. Her denials were far too hot to be taken seriously.’

‘The lady Adelaide won’t have all that much sympathy for him,’ said Gervase. ‘Had it not been for Starculf, she might now be the owner of the gold elephants she covets so much. If the murder had not occurred, the earlier theft of the treasures might never have come to light and she would have regarded herself as their rightful owner. Instead of which, she now knows that they’re beyond her reach.’

‘Yes, Gervase. They’ll be returned to the abbey.’

‘As a wedding present, they’re null and void.’

Ralph chuckled. ‘That puts paid to the lord Richard’s hopes.’

‘But it raises an interesting question,’ noted Gervase. ‘Now that Richard de Fontenel is no longer a possible suitor, will the lady Adelaide turn to his rival? Are we to hear the announcement of a marriage between her and the lord Mauger?’

‘That depends on what he has to offer.’

The blow was so hard that it sent him reeling backwards until his body slammed against the wall. All the breath was knocked out of Judicael the Goldsmith.

‘Tell me!’ demanded Mauger Livarot.

‘My lord,’ gasped the other, shaking with fear. ‘Don’t strike me again.’

‘I won’t use a fist next time,’ warned Livarot, drawing his dagger. ‘Now, speak!’

Judicael shook his head. ‘I can’t, my lord.’

‘Yes, you can.’

‘I gave my word.’

‘Who cares about that?’

‘I do,’ whimpered the other. ‘I have to. I’m a craftsman. My customers trust me. If I abuse that trust, I lose their faith.’

‘You’ll lose more than that if you continue to defy me!’

Livarot brandished the dagger and the goldsmith cowered against the wall. It had been the worst possible start to a new day for Judicael. No sooner had he opened his shop than Mauger Livarot burst into it, demanding private information and threatening violence if it were not forthcoming. Impatient and irascible, he had already demonstrated his readiness to resort to physical assault. Judicael was neither brave nor resourceful. He lacked the courage to stand up to his visitor or the guile with which to talk himself out of his predicament. The blow across his face had not only shocked him and left the first tentative signs of a bruise, it made him fear for the safety of his hands, the essential tools of his trade. If his truculent customer were to inflict serious damage on them, Judicael’s occupation would be gone.

Standing up straight, he made a doomed effort to assert himself. ‘If you come any closer,’ he said, ‘I’ll report this to the lord sheriff.’

‘Go on, then,’ taunted Livarot, blocking his way.

‘I must ask you to leave the premises, my lord.’

‘What if I refuse?’

‘ Please!’ he begged.

‘Not until you tell me what I came here to find out.’

‘That’s impossible, my lord.’

‘I won’t wait much longer, Judicael.’

The goldsmith tried to sound firm. ‘I’ll be forced to summon the lord sheriff.’

‘Will you?’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘And what will you tell him?’

‘That you assaulted me for no reason at all.’

‘But I’ve a very good reason.’

‘My lord-’

‘And you’re giving me an even better one,’ continued Livarot, jabbing the point of his dagger at the man’s throat to pin him against the wall. ‘You won’t be able to say much to Roger Bigot if I slice that ugly head of yours from its fat body.’

‘No, no!’ pleaded Judicael.

‘Then answer my question.’

‘It’s more than my life is worth.’

‘You won’t have a life if you don’t tell me the truth.’

‘You’ve no right to treat me this way.’

‘Try stopping me.’

‘I implore you, my lord. Leave me be.’

‘Only when you have the sense to tell me.’ His dagger pricked the goldsmith’s neck hard enough to draw blood and to instil terror. Eyes bulging and mouth agape, Judicael was now running with sweat. There was no way out. Mauger Livarot would not be denied. The goldsmith gently touched the scratch on his throat and saw the blood on his finger. He shuddered.

‘You’re asking me to break a confidence,’ he said, weakly.

‘No, Judicael. I’m ordering you to do it.’ A second jab with the dagger produced a yelp of pain. ‘You had a visit from the lord Richard yesterday. I have a witness who saw him come into your shop. He’d not take the trouble to ride all the way here unless it was on important business. What was that business?’

‘It’s a confidential matter.’

‘The lord Richard brought you a commission, didn’t he?’

The dagger drew more blood from his throat and Judicael capitulated. ‘Yes, my lord,’ he said, trying to stem the flow with a hand.

‘Well?’

‘He asked me to make something for him.’

‘Some jewellery, perhaps?’

‘Two gold elephants.’

‘Elephants!’ repeated Livarot. ‘Are you sure?’

‘The commission was very specific, my lord,’ said Judicael, relieved that the dagger had now been lowered from his neck. ‘The lord Richard had two miniature elephants stolen from his house recently. They were crafted out of solid gold by a Venetian master. The lord Richard wanted exact copies to be made.’

‘How could you possibly do that?’

‘By taking details from another goldsmith who actually saw the objects.’

‘At the lord Richard’s house?’

‘No, my lord,’ said Judicael. ‘At the abbey of St Benet at Holme.’

Mauger Livarot needed a moment to absorb the shock of the announcement. ‘Did I hear you aright?’ he said, dagger lifting again. ‘Are you telling me that these gold elephants belonged to the abbey?’

‘They were holy objects, brought back from Rome.’

‘Then how did they come into the lord Richard’s greedy hands?’

‘I don’t know, my lord.’

‘Did he buy them from the abbey?’

‘Hardly,’ said the other. ‘Abbot Alfwold would never part with holy treasures. How they went astray, I’ve no idea. But when they’re found, the lord sheriff will no doubt restore them to their rightful owner.’

Livarot was not sure whether to be pleased or annoyed at the tidings. ‘Did the lord Richard say why he wanted two gold elephants made?’

‘I understood that he wished to give them to someone, my lord. I thought at first that he meant to present them to the abbey but now I’m not so sure.’

‘Well, whoever it is won’t receive them from the lord Richard.’

‘But I have a commission.’

‘It’s just been cancelled.’

‘You can’t speak for the lord Richard.’

‘I’m not,’ said Livarot, grinning to himself. ‘I’m speaking for the lady to whom they were due to be presented. When she was offered the original pair she was very taken with them, but there was a significant omission. The lord Richard somehow forgot to mention that they were stolen property.’ He sheathed his dagger and gave a laugh of triumph. ‘When she learns the truth, she’ll be livid.’

‘They were stolen from the abbey,’ said the lady Adelaide, pulsing with quiet fury.

‘I didn’t know that,’ he replied.

‘You must have done.’

‘No, Adelaide. I bought those elephants in France.’

‘Then how did they get there from the abbey of St Benet?’

‘Who can say?’

‘You can, Richard. Stop lying to me.’

‘I’m not lying,’ he said, trying to conceal his embarrassment beneath an affectionate smile. ‘I’d never lie to you, Adelaide. I bought those gold elephants because I wanted the best for you. I knew that you’d appreciate them.’

‘I did-until I heard that they were stolen property.’

‘Who told you?’

‘Ralph Delchard, one of the royal commissioners.’

‘Why is he poking his nose into this?’

‘That’s irrelevant. The point is that I now know the truth about this so-called wedding gift. You had those elephants seized from the abbey so that you could wave them in front of my eyes to entice me into marriage.’

‘But I didn’t. I swear it.’

‘That was despicable!’

Richard de Fontenel had been delighted when he saw the lady Adelaide riding towards his manor house, but that delight turned swiftly to misery when he learned the purpose of her visit. Having brooded overnight on what she saw as a reprehensible act, she had decided to confront her erstwhile suitor. He had never seen her in such an angry mood. She moved around his parlour with her eyes smouldering.

‘And to think that I was tempted,’ she said, her voice full of selfreproach. ‘I let myself be dazzled by two pieces of gold.’

‘Purchased especially for you, Adelaide.’

‘ Stolen especially for me.’

‘Not by me.’

‘No, you’d use one of your underlings for that. Hermer, probably,’ she speculated. ‘From what I hear, he was corrupt enough for anything.’

‘What do you mean?’ he said, stung by the remark.

‘Your steward had a reputation.’

‘He gave me excellent service.’

‘So I begin to see.’

‘Hermer was killed because of his loyalty to me,’ he reminded her. ‘Murdered and mutilated. He went quickly on to the attack. ‘And do you know who was responsible for that? The man you recommended to me, my lady, Starculf.’

‘There’s no proof of that.’

‘There’s ample proof.’

‘Starculf is no longer in the county.’

‘Then why is the lord sheriff sending out men in search of him? He’s the prime suspect. Roger Bigot assures me that he has evidence enough to convict the villain.’

‘Starculf is no villain.’

‘Yes, he is,’ retorted the other. ‘That’s why I dismissed him.’

‘Wrongfully.’

‘Are you telling me how to manage my estate?’

‘No, my lord,’ she said, backing off slightly. ‘But I know Starculf better than you. He was a mere youth when my husband took him on. I saw him grow to manhood. He was honest and straightforward. Starculf had integrity.’

‘Killing my steward?’ he shouted. ‘Is that an example of his integrity? And why did he have to cut off Hermer’s hands? Tell me that. Starculf is a vicious animal who deserves no mercy. I’ll be searching for him myself.’

The lady Adelaide was dismayed. She had lost her momentum and been thrown on the defensive. The one person she did not wish to talk about was Starculf. It was important to regain the initiative in the conversation.

‘So you no longer accuse the lord Mauger?’ she mocked. ‘When the crimes were first committed, you immediately pointed to him.’

‘With cause. Mauger is more than capable of theft and murder.’

‘But not in this instance.’

‘He’s no picture of innocence,’ sneered the other. ‘Mauger had a spy working for him under my roof. A wretch called Clamahoc. What sort of a man contrives that?’

‘A cunning one,’ she said, calmly.

‘Are you saying that you approve?’

‘It’s not for me to make any comment.’

‘When I showed you those gold elephants, Clamahoc overheard every word that we exchanged.’ He saw her wince. ‘Yes, my lady. A marriage proposal is something that should concern only the two people involved. How do you feel, knowing that the private remarks you made to me were then passed on to Mauger?’

‘I’m not exactly pleased,’ she admitted.

‘That’s the man you might have taken for a husband.’

‘At least he didn’t order someone to steal holy treasures from an abbey.’

‘Neither did I!’

‘Then how did they come into your possession?’

‘I bought them from a merchant.’

‘What was his name-Hermer?’

Richard de Fontenel’s expression gave him away. Turning from her, he circled the room and worked himself up into a rage to deflect her from further accusation.

‘Hermer is dead,’ he said, punching a fist into the palm of the other hand. ‘Cut down and foully abused by Starculf. He was slaughtered, Adelaide, and all you can think about is a pair of gold elephants. Don’t you have any concern for human life? Hermer was never popular — he never tried to be-but he didn’t deserve to be murdered. I spoke to Brother Daniel, the monk who discovered the corpse, and he was still in a state of shock over what he saw. That was all Starculf’s doing.’ He rounded on her. ‘The man you were so keen to recommend to me. Don’t you think you should accept some of the blame for what happened? Starculf was your man, after all.’

The lady Adelaide was too embarrassed to answer. After meeting his accusatory glare for a few seconds, she turned on her heel and hurried quickly out of the house.

There was a flurry of activity in the bailey as Roger Bigot marshalled his men before riding out of the castle to continue the hunt. Eager to help in the search, Eustace Coureton volunteered himself and his escort. They were assigned to the group led by the sheriff’s deputy, Olivier Romain. It was a beautiful day. With the morning sun on their backs, the respective parties felt a surge of confidence. They were convinced that they would at last catch their elusive quarry.

Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret had already left the castle. Accompanied by Ralph’s men, they rode at a comfortable pace in a south-easterly direction. Though he responded willingly to his friend’s leadership, Gervase was puzzled that they had not put themselves at the disposal of the sheriff.

‘Why are we riding on our own, Ralph?’ he asked.

‘We make more speed this way.’

‘Is that why we left before them?’

‘It’s part of the reason, Gervase,’ said Ralph, cheerily. ‘I didn’t want us to get too entangled in the search for Starculf.’

‘But he’s the man we’re after, surely?’

‘Indirectly.’

‘I don’t follow.’

‘You will,’ promised the other, grinning. ‘We’ll both follow, Gervase. The lord sheriff and his men know this county well, yet they’ve so far failed to capture Starculf. We’ll hunt more wisely. While they charge along the main roads, we’ll follow someone who knows the smaller paths.’

‘And who’s that?’

‘Jocelyn Vavasour.’

Gervase was surprised. ‘The anchorite?’

‘He’s turned huntsman now and my guess is that he has a keener nose than Roger Bigot and his officers. Find Jocelyn and-very soon — I think we’ll find Starculf.’

‘But we have no notion where Jocelyn might be.’

‘Yes, we have. Thanks to you.’

‘Me?’

‘Didn’t you say that he’d been to see Olova as well?’ said Ralph. ‘Before that, I feel sure, he would have repaired to the abbey itself to get full details of the theft.’

‘So?’

‘We put ourselves in his position, Gervase. We try to get inside his head.’

‘That’s a troubled place to be. His mind is beset by demons.’

‘They’re driving him on to recover the elephants at the moment. Jocelyn Vavasour was no ordinary soldier, remember. He helped the lord Ivo to flush out Hereward the Wake from the fens. That means he knows how to stalk his prey. My guess is that he’ll have looked under every bush and behind every tree. He’ll certainly have talked to anybody and everybody he met along the way. If we make inquiries, it’s only a matter of time before we pick up news of him.’

‘Norfolk is a large county. It could take us all day.’

‘I don’t think so. We’ll be crossing land where we know he’s already been.’

‘Is that why we’re heading south?’

‘South-east, Gervase. Towards the coast.’

‘The coast?’

‘That’s the way Starculf will be going.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘I don’t,’ confessed the other. ‘But it’s what I’d do if all the roads were being watched. Even if Starculf slips past a posse and crosses the boundary, the lord sheriff’s writ runs in Suffolk and he has influence in the other neighbouring counties. If he stays on land, Starculf will never be safe.’

‘But the ports have been alerted as well.’

‘That’s why he won’t make for a port, Gervase. A boat could put out from almost anywhere along the coast. Starculf may already have one in readiness. All I can say is what my instinct tells me. Starculf will travel towards the coast and the anchorite will be on his tail every inch of the way.’

Ralph’s predictions were soon borne out. When they stopped at a hamlet, they heard that Jocelyn Vavasour had called there the previous evening, asking after a lone man on the run. Having picked up the anchorite’s trail, they followed him due east and soon gathered more evidence of his route from the priest in a village church. They quickened their pace and pressed on. Ralph remembered something.

‘I’ve forgotten to give you an apology, Gervase,’ he said.

‘For what?’

‘Hauling you out of bed so early this morning. I was so anxious to get off that I knocked far too hard on your door. I’m sorry if I disturbed Alys as well.’

‘She was already awake.’

‘There’s nothing worse than being interrupted at a time like that,’ said Ralph with a smile. ‘No wonder you were so quiet at the start of our journey. I deprived you of the delights of the marital couch.’

‘But you didn’t,’ explained Gervase. ‘I was sad to leave because I wanted to comfort Alys. She slept badly last night and felt sick in the early hours. Alys hasn’t been enjoying her food since we got here.’

Ralph was concerned. ‘Then there’s even more reason to apologise,’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me, Gervase? I could have ridden out with my men and you could have stayed to look after your dear wife.’

‘It was Alys who urged me to go.’

‘I hate the thought that she’s unwell.’

‘She was considerably better when I left, Ralph. But I still worry about her.’

‘I hope you have no qualms about bringing her with us. It’s been wonderful for Golde to have such a companion. She and Alys have become almost like sisters.’

‘I’m glad that I brought her,’ said Gervase. ‘I just wish that she could start to enjoy the visit to Norwich rather more than she is doing. It isn’t only her ill health that’s upset her; she was horrified by the murder. She’s had nightmares about it.’

‘Then let’s do what we can to solve the crime once and for all,’ said Ralph. ‘Then we can get on with our work and your wife can sleep more soundly at night.’

A mile down the track, they stopped to question an old shepherd who was tending his flock in the bright sunshine. The man was largely inarticulate but he did manage to give them some heartening news. Earlier that morning, someone who sounded very much like Jocelyn Vavasour had passed that way and interrogated him. They were getting closer. It encouraged Ralph to set an even faster pace, collecting evidence of further sightings of the anchorite whenever they paused in a hamlet or met someone on the road. It was afternoon when they finally caught up with him. Ralph raised an arm to bring the troop to a halt. He pointed to a derelict house. ‘That’s where we’ll find him.’

‘Can you see him?’ asked Gervase.

‘No, but I glimpsed a horse grazing nearby. Its rider must be Jocelyn.’

‘Let’s find out.’

They approached at a trot until they closed in on the dwelling. It was a Saxon hut, long abandoned and almost falling to pieces. Two of the walls had collapsed and very little of the thatch remained. Jocelyn the Anchorite was not pleased to see them. He stepped out of the ruined dwelling and stood with his hands on his lips. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Looking for you, Jocelyn,’ said Ralph. ‘You’re the hound that we knew would pick up the scent.’

‘I’m hunting on my own account, my lord.’

‘Nobody is stopping you, my friend. We’ll just plod along behind you.’

Ralph gave the signal to dismount, then got down from the saddle himself. The anchorite saw the determination in their faces and knew that he could not easily shake them off. He elected to confide in them. ‘Starculf is travelling on foot,’ he said.

‘How do you know?’ asked Gervase.

‘Because he’s been seen by more than one person. Also, he’d have got much further than this if he’d been on horseback. He spent the night here.’

They followed him into the ramshackle house and looked down at the ashes in one corner. When Jocelyn raked them with his foot, a faint glow could be seen.

‘He’s a resourceful man,’ he said, ‘to light a fire in those conditions. It rained hard for most of the night. I should know. I was out in the storm for hours.’

‘Wouldn’t it have been dangerous to light a fire?’ said Gervase. ‘In country as flat as this, it could be seen from miles away.’

‘Not if it was banked down properly,’ suggested Ralph. ‘He would have lit it to dry himself out, and my guess is that then he cooked something on it.’

Jocelyn nodded. ‘He did, my lord. I found some small bones.’

‘Which way is he going?’

‘Towards the coast.’

‘I guessed as much. He’ll be travelling very slowly, if he’s on foot. We should overhaul him.’

‘That’s easier said than done, my lord. Starculf will be more difficult to spot than he would be on horseback. There are ditches all over this land and lots of other hiding-places to choose from.’

‘Then let’s join forces and search them,’ said Ralph. ‘Shall we?’

Jocelyn the Anchorite hesitated. Irritated that his own pursuit of the quarry had been interrupted, he understood the advantage of additional pairs of eyes. He also had some admiration for Ralph Delchard, who had somehow found him in his refuge. That argued skill and patience on his part. He could be useful.

‘Very well, my lord,’ he said at length. ‘But there’s a strict condition.’

‘What is it?’

‘You can have Starculf-but I get the elephants.’

Ralph needed no time at all to consider the proposition.

‘Agreed,’ he said.

Olova was so angry that she waved her fists in the air. Skalp calmly stood his ground.

‘He was here?’ she said in disbelief. ‘Starculf was here?’

‘Only briefly.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘There was no need for you to know,’ he said.

‘There was every need, Skalp. Think of the danger he put us all in. Everyone is out searching for him. If he’d been caught here, we’d all have been arrested for hiding him from justice.’

‘He wasn’t caught.’

‘He might have been.’

‘He wasn’t, grandmother,’ he asserted, sourly. ‘I hid him too well.’

‘From me as well as from everyone else,’ Olova scolded. ‘How could you do such a thing, Skalp?’

‘He was our friend.’

‘What sort of friend puts us at risk like that?’

‘There was no risk. I saw to that.’

‘Well, I should have been told about it. Only yesterday, I gave my word to Master Bret that Starculf hadn’t been near us for ages. You turned me into a liar.’

‘You told the truth as you saw it.’

‘Yet all the time, Starculf was lurking nearby.’

‘Somebody had to help him.’

‘Why did it have to be you?’

Her grandson fell silent. He respected Olova and would do her bidding without the slightest complaint most of the time. But he had an independent streak and it had shown itself clearly now. Because she rarely stirred from her hut, he had dared to conceal a fugitive from the law on her land. It shocked her. Olova would have been happier if she had never heard the name of Starculf again. It brought back sad memories for her.

‘Why did it have to be you?’ she repeated.

‘I felt that I owed it to him.’

‘You owe him nothing.’

‘Yes, I do,’ he said, vehemently. ‘And so do you, grandmother. You were delighted when you heard that Hermer had been killed. I saw the joy in your face. It was Starculf who put that joy there. Don’t forget that. But for him, Hermer would still be alive, doing to other girls what he did to Aelfeva. Is that what you’d have wanted?’

‘No!’ she cried in distress.

‘You saw what happened to Aelfeva.’

‘Don’t remind me.’

‘I was the one who found her body, floating in the water,’ he reminded her. ‘That’s what Hermer drove her to, Grandmother. He had Aelfeva’s blood on his hands.’

‘I know that.’

‘Then you should be grateful to Starculf.’

‘I am-in some ways.’

‘Hermer deserved to perish,’ he said, harshly. ‘His master took our land from us and he himself took Aelfeva. Was it Hermer who came here to apologise?’

‘No, it was Starculf.’

‘And because he spoke out, he lost his place.’

‘That still doesn’t mean you should have harboured him, Skalp,’ she said, sternly. ‘And you certainly shouldn’t have done so without my knowledge. My property may have shrunk in size but I still own a little land and you get your living from it. That means you’re accountable to me. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, Grandmother.’

‘Nothing takes place here behind my back.’

He gave a nod. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘I’d never have known if one of the children hadn’t spotted a stranger coming out of the bushes. But I do know now, and I realise that you betrayed me.’

‘I had to help Starculf. He was only here for a night or two.’

‘I don’t care if he was here for no more than an hour. He put us all in danger.’

‘Starculf put himself in danger for our sake.’

‘That was his choice.’

‘I couldn’t turn him away.’

‘Why not? Is he more important to you than I am?’

‘No, Grandmother.’

‘Be honest,’ she pressed, glaring at him. ‘Do you put Starculf above me?’

Head on his chest, he shifted his feet and gave a noncommittal shrug. When he looked up at her again, his face was expressionless and his voice dull. ‘I’ve got to get back to work.’

‘Where is Starculf now?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Is that the truth?’

‘Yes, Grandmother.’

‘What am I to say if they come looking for him again?’

‘Nothing,’ he advised, sullenly. ‘Nothing at all.’

Starculf moved more slowly by day, keeping to the ditches or hugging the occasional outcrops of hedgerow. The warm weather was a mixed blessing. Against the pleasure of being dry again he set the danger of being more visible in the bright landscape. Though the fields seemed to be devoid of almost any moving creature apart from sheep, he knew that a sharp pair of eyes could pick him out from a considerable distance. While a posse might not spot him so far off the beaten track, a shepherd or a cottar or someone else working on the land might pick him out and report his whereabouts. He travelled in short bursts, keeping low and running towards the next available cover. He was tired but he pushed himself on, ignoring the water that squelched under his feet in ditches that were still soggy from the previous day’s rain. Birds watched his furtive progress across the countryside and put their comments into plaintive song. A fox was disturbed out of its den. Smaller animals also fled from a man who was himself in flight.

They were a mile away when he first caught sight of them over his shoulder. Starculf counted nine of them, moving steadily forward in a line that stretched out across a hundred yards or more. The sun glinted off the helms that most of them were wearing. They were methodical. He sank down behind a tree stump to watch them. Under the guidance of the rider at the end of the line, they rode at a brisk trot as they searched for signs of the fugitive’s route. Eventually, one of them stopped near a ditch and called out. The others quickly converged on him. Starculf crawled away on his stomach until sloping ground took him out of their sight. Getting to his feet, he sprinted in the direction of a field of wheat that stood unharvested. They were on to him. He needed a refuge.

Ralph Delchard dismounted to see what Jocelyn the Anchorite had found. Crouched on the ground, the latter pointed to footprints in a patch of muddy ground near the ditch.

‘I think he came this way, my lord,’ he said.

‘Someone did,’ agreed Ralph. ‘We’ve no guarantee that it was Starculf.’

‘Who else would be in such a remote place?’

‘Another anchorite, perhaps?’

Jocelyn acknowledged the jest with a rare smile, then dropped down into the ditch. He went back along it for some way before clambering back up the bank. When he reached the others, his feet were wet but his face was glowing.

‘He’s definitely been here,’ he announced. ‘There are footprints all the way along the ditch. It must be Starculf, trying to keep out of sight.’

‘He’s close,’ decided Ralph, scanning the horizon. ‘I feel it.’

‘So do I.’

‘How far can a man get on foot in a day?’

‘It depends how much guilt is weighing him down.’

‘I have the feeling that Starculf is not a man troubled by his conscience,’ said Ralph, mounting his horse again. ‘If he were, the crimes wouldn’t have been committed in the first place.’

‘Only a godless heathen would steal holy treasures,’ said Jocelyn, pulling himself up into the saddle. ‘I’ll read him a sermon when I catch up with him.’

‘You’ll be wasting your breath, my friend.’

‘He must be made aware of the gravity of his offence.’

‘Murder takes precedence over all else,’ insisted Ralph. ‘That’s the charge on which I’ll arrest him. Save your sermons for ears that might wish to listen.’ He waved an arm and yelled to his men. ‘Fan out and stay in line with me. He’s very close. Keep your eyes open!’

The men obeyed the order, stretching the line even further than before. At a signal from Ralph, they set off again, looking carefully for any clue that might help them. They moved on until they came to the tree stump behind which Starculf had earlier hidden. It was Gervase who called them to a halt this time. He was at the very centre of the line. Ralph and Jocelyn rode swiftly across to him.

‘Look,’ said Gervase, pointing to the grass that had been flattened. ‘Somebody was here without a doubt. It’s almost as if he crawled on his belly through the grass.’

‘He’s nearer than we thought,’ said Ralph.

‘He must have gone down that hill.’

‘Then let’s follow him!’

Taking out his sword, Ralph held it up in the air as if about to lead a charge. ‘Forward!’ he shouted. ‘Starculf is here! I can smell him. I want the rogue taken alive. After him!’

When she returned to her house, she found Mauger Livarot waiting for her. The lady Adelaide needed a moment to regain her composure before she went into her parlour. Her confrontation with Richard de Fontenel had left her feeling jangled and she was not pleased to see that she had a visitor. It was an effort to manufacture a token smile. No effort was needed by Mauger Livarot. Smirking complacently, he got up from his seat to welcome her. After an exchange of greetings, he waited until she sat down before he spoke again, eyeing her possessively and standing close enough to inhale her fragrance.

‘Your servant tells me that you paid a visit to the lord Richard,’ he began.

‘That’s right,’ she conceded.

‘I think I can guess what sent you there, Adelaide. You learned the truth about those gold elephants, didn’t you? They were holy treasures, stolen from an abbey.’

‘So I hear.’

‘Richard de Fontenel was trying to trick you into marriage.’

‘You’re not above using a trick or two yourself, my lord,’ she observed, tartly. ‘You had a spy in his household until the man was discovered. I should imagine that he paid dearly for his betrayal.’

Livarot’s face darkened. ‘His back was whipped to shreds.’

‘You must take some of the blame for that.’

‘The man was a fool to get himself caught.’

‘What will you do now that you no longer have someone to report on the lord Richard? It won’t be so easy to stay one step ahead of him in future.’

‘Yes, it will,’ he assured her. ‘But tell me what you said to him.’

‘That was a private conversation. Unheard by any spy of yours.’

‘Were hot words traded?’

‘I spoke my mind,’ she said, briskly. ‘He knows my feelings now.’

He clicked his tongue. ‘Only Richard de Fontenel would try to palm off stolen property on the woman he was hoping to marry.’

‘Those hopes have been dashed.’

‘That’s why I came here this afternoon. To plead my own case.’

‘I’m not in the mood for courtship, my lord.’

‘I just thought you’d like to know the full truth about my rival,’ he said, easily. ‘He still planned to ensnare you with a pair of gold elephants.’

‘How? If they’re recovered, they’ll go back to the abbey of St Benet.’

‘Not in this case.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The lord Richard didn’t wish to disappoint you, Adelaide. He commissioned Judicael the Goldsmith to make two replicas, exact in every detail. Fortunately, I was advised of his scheme in time to stop it.’

‘Stop it?’ she said with interest.

‘You’d hardly wish to receive anything from the hands of a man who deceived you so cruelly. The lord Richard betrayed you. He’s nothing more than a common thief.’

‘Tell me about these replicas.’

‘They can never be quite as good as the originals,’ he pointed out, ‘but Judicael is confident that he can make them, given the help of another goldsmith who saw the treasures at the abbey before they were taken.’ His voice was artless. ‘Does the idea of replicas hold any attraction for you?’

There was a long pause as she examined the implications of the question. ‘It might,’ she said at length. ‘It would, of course, depend entirely on the quality of the craftsmanship.’

He moved in close. ‘You’ll not find a better craftsman than me, Adelaide.’

‘You intend to make the pieces yourself?’ she teased.

‘No, but I’ll commission them on your behalf. Judicael can do for me what he would have done for the lord Richard. Unless, that is,’ he said, searching her eyes, ‘you prefer to own the originals.’

‘I do. Without question.’

‘How would you react if they were offered to you now?’

‘That’s impossible.’

‘Not necessarily.’

‘They belong to the abbey and must be returned.’

‘They could belong to you,’ he suggested. ‘Ample recompense can be paid to the abbey. They’d not lose by it. They could purchase some other treasures.’

Her curiosity was aroused. A flame seemed to be lighted inside her. ‘What are you saying, my lord?’

‘That it’s a matter of choice. Before I knew where they came from, I vowed to recover those gold elephants for you and I’m ready to keep that vow. If, on the other hand, you’ll settle for replicas made by Judicael, then I’ll commission them this very afternoon. Which is it to be, Adelaide?’

‘Are you suggesting that I accept stolen property?’

‘I’m suggesting that you have exactly what you want and nobody will be any the wiser. You saw those elephants, touched them, felt their quality. Could you be happy with something of lesser excellence?’

‘No,’ she said, thoughtfully. ‘I don’t believe that I could.’