‘Is there anything else you need?’ I asked. ‘I promise, I am not here to harm you. I know nothing of what you are accused, my commission from the Archbishop is only to see you safe to London.’
He looked up at me then, and gave a grimace of a smile. ‘Cranmer worries his man may make sport with my body?’
‘Has he?’ I asked.
‘No. He likes to grope at my mind, but I am proof against that.’ Broderick gave me a long, hard look, then stretched out again on his pallet. As he did so the open neck of his shirt revealed the livid mark of a burn on his chest.
‘Let me see that,’ I said sharply. ‘Open your shirt.’
He shrugged, then sat up and untied the strings. I winced. Someone had drawn a hot poker across his body, several times. One mark on his chest was red and inflamed, oozing pus that glinted in the candlelight. He stared at me fiercely, I could almost feel his rage. I thought, if Radwinter is ice, this man is fire.
‘Where did you get those?’ I asked.
‘Here, in the castle, from the King’s men when they took me a fortnight ago. They could not break me. That is why I am being sent to London, to be worked on by men of real skill. But you know that.’
I said nothing.
He looked at me curiously. ‘What manner of man are you then, that my marks seem to offend you, yet you work with Radwinter.’
‘I am a lawyer. And I told you, I am here to ensure you are well cared for.’
His eyes burned again. ‘You think that will suffice, in God’s eyes, for what you do here?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You keep me safe and well for the torturers in London, that they may have longer sport. I would rather die here.’
‘You could just give them the information they want,’ I said. ‘They will have it from you in the end.’
He smiled, a ghastly rictus. ‘Ah, a soft persuader. But I will never talk, no matter what they do.’
‘There are few who go to the Tower who do not talk in the end. But I am not here to persuade you of anything. You should have a physician, however.’
‘I ask nothing from you, crookback.’ He lay down again, looking across at the window. There was silence for a moment, then he asked suddenly, ‘Did you see where Robert Aske still hangs in chains from Clifford’s Tower?’
‘That is Aske then? Yes.’
‘My chain is just long enough to allow me to stand at the window. I look out, and remember. When Robert was convicted of treason, the King promised he should be spared the pains of disembowelling at his execution, that he would hang till he was dead. He did not realize the King meant he was to be dangled alive in chains till he died from thirst and hunger.’ He coughed. ‘Poor Robert that trusted Henry the Cruel.’
‘Have a care, Sir Edward.’
He turned and looked at me. ‘Robert Aske was my best friend.’
A key grated in the lock and Radwinter returned, bearing a pitcher of weak beer. He handed it to Broderick, who sat up and took a deep draught. I motioned Radwinter into the corner.
‘Has he spoken?’ the gaoler snapped.
‘Only to tell me he knew Robert Aske. But I have seen the burns on his body; I do not like the look of them. One is inflamed, he should have a physician.’
‘Very well.’ Radwinter nodded. ‘A man dead of fever will be no use to the Archbishop, after all.’
‘Please arrange it. I will call tomorrow to see how he does. And he should have fresh rushes.’
‘Scented perhaps, with sweet herbs?’ Radwinter still smiled, but there was cold anger in his voice. ‘Well, Broderick,’ he continued. ‘You have been telling Master Shardlake about Aske. I am told that in the first winter after he died, when all his flesh had been eaten by the ravens and little bones began falling to the ground, they had to set a guard, for people were taking away the bones. Bones from his hands and feet are hidden by papists all over York. Usually in the dunghills, for that is the safest place to keep relics safe from a search. It is also where Aske’s bones belong –’
Broderick jumped up, with a sound between a groan and a snarl. There was a rattle of chains as he sprang at Radwinter. The gaoler had been watching for the move. He stepped quickly back and the chains holding Broderick’s arms tautened, jerking him back on the bed. He slumped with a groan.
Radwinter laughed softly. ‘Watch him, Master Shardlake. You see, he is not as weakly as he looks. Well, Broderick, I shall ignore your violence, and comfort myself with the knowledge of what awaits you in London. As ’tis well said, there is truth in pain.’ He stepped past me and opened the door. I followed, with a last glance back at the prisoner. Broderick was staring at me again.
‘You are a lawyer?’ he asked quietly.
‘I said so.’
He laughed bitterly. ‘So was Robert Aske. When you see him again, think on what even lawyers may come to.’
‘Words, Sir Edward, words,’ Radwinter said as I went out past him. The gaoler locked the door and I followed him back downstairs. In his room the gaoler stood and faced me, his eyes cold and his expression serious.
‘I wanted you to see that he is dangerous, for all he may look helpless.’
‘Then why provoke him?’
‘To show you. But I will have the physician fetched.’
‘Please do. Whatever he has done, that man is to be treated as well as safety allows. And you should call him Sir Edward – he is still entitled to the courtesy.’
‘Safety means he should be kept in no doubt who is master. You do not know what he is capable of.’
‘Very little, chained to a wall.’
Radwinter’s mouth set in a line as hard as a knife-blade. He stepped forward so his face was close to mine. His eyes seemed to bore into me.
‘I saw your sympathy for him,’ he said. ‘The softness in your face. That worries me, with a man as dangerous as that.’
I took a deep breath, for it was true that there was something about people being kept in cells that revolted me.
‘I have struck a nerve, I see.’ Radwinter smiled softly. ‘Then let me strike another. I distrust that sympathy in you, sir. Perhaps those who seem outcasts resonate in your soul. Perhaps because of the condition of your back.’
My mouth tightened at the insult, at the same time as my stomach lurched in recognition that, again, he spoke true.
He nodded. ‘I am the one responsible for keeping Broderick secure, and for getting him back to London. There are those in this city who know he is here and would free him if they could, so I must study and scrutinize all those I meet, look as far as I can into their souls. Even yours, sir.’
I stared into those cold eyes. ‘Get him his physician,’ I said curtly. ‘I will come again tomorrow to see how he progresses.’
He stared back a moment longer, then gave that little incline of his head. ‘At what time?’
‘When I choose,’ I answered, then turned and left the room.
OUTSIDE, BARAK WAS sitting on a bench watching the comings and goings at the courthouse. A chill autumnal wind had risen, bringing more leaves tumbling from the trees. He looked at me curiously.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked. I must have looked as drained as I felt.
I shook my head. ‘I don’t know which man is the worse,’ I said. ‘It seemed the gaoler, yet – I don’t know. ’ I looked to where Aske’s skeleton dangled. The breeze made it swing a little to and fro, as though the dead white bones were struggling to be free.
Chapter Four
A GUARD TOLD US THAT to reach St Mary’s Abbey we should follow a street called Coneygate. This was another narrow lane full of busy shops, and again we proceeded at a snail’s pace. I noted a number of even narrower alleyways leading off, perhaps to squares and courts behind. I felt hemmed in by the city.
As we passed a large inn I saw a group of young men in colourful slashed doublets standing in the doorway, flanked by watchful servants, looking out over the crowd as they drank wine from leather bottles. One, a tall handsome young fellow with a dark beard, was pointing out members of the citizenry and laughing at their poor clothes. The evil looks he received made him laugh all the louder. The advance guard of the Great Progress, I thought; these gentlemen should take better care.