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Authors: Candace Robb
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nodded solemnly. ‘Banastre considered himself more lord than steward.’
‘You have heard nothing more than what the Duke has told you, the general rumour of Gruffydd ap Goronwy and the Fleming?’
‘Nothing more.’
‘What would you have us do?’ Geoffrey asked.
Owen thought that an ill-considered question. What they must do is tell the bishop that this was none of their concern.
‘You return to Cydweli soon?’ Houghton asked.
‘My intent was to depart in a few days,’ Owen said.
‘I would ask a favour of you.’
‘My lord bishop, our duty is––’ Geoffrey began, belatedly in Owen’s opinion.
‘Lawgoch’s followers and Lascelles’s loyalties,’ Houghton said, ‘and the more public issue of the garrisons and recruiting archers for the Duke’s campaign in France. About the latter I do not agree with the Duke’s plan: you take soldiers away from the Marches just as the King orders all to ensure the security of the ports in their lordships. But I honour the Duke’s orders and will not detain you. My request should prove a simple matter: I would have you slip away quietly, without any eyes to observe your departure, and bear John de Reine’s body back to Cydweli.’
‘A simple matter?’ Geoffrey muttered.
‘You fear the men who came today,’ Owen said.
‘I am uneasy about them. And about someone’s purpose in leaving Reine’s corpse at my gate. Caution seems the best approach. I shall provide you with some of my men, armed men, and a priest fittingly to accompany a funeral corte`ge.’
‘A priest?’ Owen asked.
‘He was lately chaplain of Cydweli – the vicar who identified the body. If Cydweli men meet you on the road they will find no cause to complain about my treatment of their steward’s son. In fact, Edern volunteered to escort you when he identified Reine.’
‘Why should he care?’ Owen asked.
‘He is a devoted servant,’ Houghton said.
Owen doubted it was that simple. This turn of events made him uneasy. But it would be difficult to justify denying Houghton’s request. The body should return to Cydweli, and they were an armed party headed that way. ‘Can this Edern be ready in a day’s time?’
‘He can be ready in the morning.’
‘The morning? What is the haste?’ Geoffrey asked.
‘Reine has been dead for some days,’ Owen said. ‘Already the body will be an unpleasant companion. The longer we wait, the worse it will be.’
Geoffrey made a face.
‘Where might I find this Edern?’ Owen asked. ‘I would speak with him before we set off on the road.’
Five
THE VICAR EDERN
‘ W hy should Father Edern wish to accompany us?’ Owen muttered as he and Geoffrey departed through the bishop’s hall. ‘What does he hope to gain?’
Geoffrey paused, turned on Owen. ‘You would have us wander in the wilderness with a corpse?’
‘Burdened as we shall be, it is the pilgrim road we shall travel, not the wilderness.’ But Owen could see by Geoffrey’s high colour how much their new mission preyed on his mind. ‘We do not need a guide.’
‘So the vicar hopes to see a maid he left behind or settle some business – what is the harm? Why must you question everyone’s motives?’
‘I have found it wise, is all. I pray the vicar proves trustworthy.’
Geoffrey looked as if about to argue, but he walked in silence for a few steps. When he finally spoke, his words surprised Owen. ‘The tale you told about the bridge – the red-handed man who was to mortally wound the king – is not Lawgoch also known as Owain of the Red Hand?’
Owen felt a chill on his neck. Could Owain Lawgoch truly be a saviour? But he had heard a different explanation, one not as appealing. ‘By “red hand” is meant “Lawgoch”, or murderer. His sword-hand is red with blood.’
Still Geoffrey pursued it. ‘The Irish consider a red birthmark on the hand the sign of a Messiah.’
Owen waved the subject aside, though he did not feel as indifferent as he hoped he
‘You have heard nothing more than what the Duke has told you, the general rumour of Gruffydd ap Goronwy and the Fleming?’
‘Nothing more.’
‘What would you have us do?’ Geoffrey asked.
Owen thought that an ill-considered question. What they must do is tell the bishop that this was none of their concern.
‘You return to Cydweli soon?’ Houghton asked.
‘My intent was to depart in a few days,’ Owen said.
‘I would ask a favour of you.’
‘My lord bishop, our duty is––’ Geoffrey began, belatedly in Owen’s opinion.
‘Lawgoch’s followers and Lascelles’s loyalties,’ Houghton said, ‘and the more public issue of the garrisons and recruiting archers for the Duke’s campaign in France. About the latter I do not agree with the Duke’s plan: you take soldiers away from the Marches just as the King orders all to ensure the security of the ports in their lordships. But I honour the Duke’s orders and will not detain you. My request should prove a simple matter: I would have you slip away quietly, without any eyes to observe your departure, and bear John de Reine’s body back to Cydweli.’
‘A simple matter?’ Geoffrey muttered.
‘You fear the men who came today,’ Owen said.
‘I am uneasy about them. And about someone’s purpose in leaving Reine’s corpse at my gate. Caution seems the best approach. I shall provide you with some of my men, armed men, and a priest fittingly to accompany a funeral corte`ge.’
‘A priest?’ Owen asked.
‘He was lately chaplain of Cydweli – the vicar who identified the body. If Cydweli men meet you on the road they will find no cause to complain about my treatment of their steward’s son. In fact, Edern volunteered to escort you when he identified Reine.’
‘Why should he care?’ Owen asked.
‘He is a devoted servant,’ Houghton said.
Owen doubted it was that simple. This turn of events made him uneasy. But it would be difficult to justify denying Houghton’s request. The body should return to Cydweli, and they were an armed party headed that way. ‘Can this Edern be ready in a day’s time?’
‘He can be ready in the morning.’
‘The morning? What is the haste?’ Geoffrey asked.
‘Reine has been dead for some days,’ Owen said. ‘Already the body will be an unpleasant companion. The longer we wait, the worse it will be.’
Geoffrey made a face.
‘Where might I find this Edern?’ Owen asked. ‘I would speak with him before we set off on the road.’
Five
THE VICAR EDERN
‘ W hy should Father Edern wish to accompany us?’ Owen muttered as he and Geoffrey departed through the bishop’s hall. ‘What does he hope to gain?’
Geoffrey paused, turned on Owen. ‘You would have us wander in the wilderness with a corpse?’
‘Burdened as we shall be, it is the pilgrim road we shall travel, not the wilderness.’ But Owen could see by Geoffrey’s high colour how much their new mission preyed on his mind. ‘We do not need a guide.’
‘So the vicar hopes to see a maid he left behind or settle some business – what is the harm? Why must you question everyone’s motives?’
‘I have found it wise, is all. I pray the vicar proves trustworthy.’
Geoffrey looked as if about to argue, but he walked in silence for a few steps. When he finally spoke, his words surprised Owen. ‘The tale you told about the bridge – the red-handed man who was to mortally wound the king – is not Lawgoch also known as Owain of the Red Hand?’
Owen felt a chill on his neck. Could Owain Lawgoch truly be a saviour? But he had heard a different explanation, one not as appealing. ‘By “red hand” is meant “Lawgoch”, or murderer. His sword-hand is red with blood.’
Still Geoffrey pursued it. ‘The Irish consider a red birthmark on the hand the sign of a Messiah.’
Owen waved the subject aside, though he did not feel as indifferent as he hoped he
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