Read Online The Bard's Daughter (A Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery) by Sarah Woodbury - Free Book Online

accused, of course, but this was a formal setting, before the lord and judge of the castle, and the traditions had to be observed.
    “ Of murder, my lord,” Robert said. “He was found next to the body of the man, Collen, trader and merchant. The murder weapon was found beside the body and belongs to the accused.” Robert held up the harp string.
    Meilyr didn’t look at either Cadfael or Robert, and instead stared down at his hands.
    “ And what say you, Meilyr ap Brydydd?” Lord Cadfael said. “Did you do this deed?”
    Meilyr shook his head, still not looking up. “No, my lord. I did not.”
    “ Is there a man, here, who will speak for you?” Cadfael said.
    More silence. Then Gwen stepped forward. “I would speak for my father, my lord.”
    Cadfael’s eyes narrowed.
    “ My father does not have a son who has come of age to speak for him, so it falls to me.” Gwen kept her eyes lowered and her tone courteous.
    “ Although it is unusual for a woman to speak in the hall, I grant your wish. What have you to say?” Cadfael said.
    Gwen’s head came up. “My lord, first, I would like to ask Lord Robert about the coins that Collen left in his keeping.”
    All of the men in the hall went rigid. Gruffydd had been standing behind her father, who was still on his knees, and now leaned in so he could speak low in Gwen’s ear. “What coins?”
    Gwen didn’t answer. She gazed fixedly at Lord Cadfael, who kept his eyes on hers for a long moment. The nature of Welsh law was such that a defendant not only had a right to a defender, but had a right to ask questions of his accuser. Cadfael turned to his steward. “Robert?”
    Robert stood a little way to Cadfael’s left, opposite and more forward from Cadoc’s position. “What—what coins?” Robert said.
    “ I know about the coins that Collen gave you for safekeeping, my lord.” Gwen refused to back down or look away from the men in front of her. “You cannot keep them.”
    Robert’s face flushed bright red. “Are you accusing me—?”
    “ You are accusing my father of something he did not do,” Gwen said. “If you expect him to tell the truth, you must tell it also.”
    “ Gwen is right, my lord Cadfael. You should listen to her.” Denis strode towards the dais. Gwen turned so that she could see him approach. While she was terrified by her forwardness, his face showed interest and even … amusement. “Collen told me that he had left three gold coins in Lord Robert’s keeping. When I asked him about them after Collen’s death, Robert claimed no knowledge of them.”
    Robert was sputtering. “I have no idea what you—”
    “ I can prove it, my lord.” From his pocket, Denis pulled out a tiny book, no more than a finger’s length high and wide. He opened it to a page and held it out to Cadfael. “Collen kept very careful records of everything he bought, sold, or did.”
    Lord Cadfael eyed the page, and then Robert. Cadfael studied the steward for a long moment and then surged to his feet. He swung a finger to indicate the entire hall. “Clear the room! Now!”
    Stunned silence followed that order, but then Gruffydd put his heels together and bowed. “Yes, my lord.”
    “ But my father—”
    Cadfael cut Gwen off with a glare. “Except for you. You stay!”
    The two men who guarded Meilyr got him to his feet. Gwen remained in the middle of the floor, her hands still clenched around her clay pot. She kept her head slightly bowed while the room emptied, not sure of what had happened—or why—or what might happen next. A moment later, only Gwen, Gruffydd, Robert, Cadoc, and Cadfael remained.
    Cadfael settled back into his chair. “Now,” he said. “I want to know what’s really going on in my castle.”
    Nobody answered him.
    Lord Cadfael lifted his chin to his steward. “Robert, I know the truth now. Speak to me of the coins.”
    Robert’s jaw clenched. “I have them, my lord. I understand that the possession of them gives me motive for