Roger was watching the surrounding trees, alert for signs that something was amiss. ‘Is it because we have no horses and are vulnerable on foot? Is that what makes you uneasy?’
‘I am uneasy because something is wrong. Magnus let Simon drown, and Paisnel and Vitalis are dead in odd circumstances. The rebellion has not yet started, but it is already claiming victims.’
‘This is not a rebellion, lad,’ laughed Roger. ‘It is Magnus and Harold deluding themselves.’
‘That is what I thought,’ said Geoffrey. ‘Until just now, when I saw what Magnus has in his bag. It fell open when my dog bit him.’
‘I went through it at Pevenesel,’ said Roger, still scanning the trees. They could hear birds now, and Geoffrey supposed it had been Lucian’s lurking presence that had silenced them earlier. ‘And Juhel had a rummage during the storm — he thought we were all asleep, but I watched him. He did not take anything, though, and neither did I. There was nothing worth having.’
‘There was a list,’ said Geoffrey.
As Roger could not read, he was unlikely to have appreciated its significance. And Juhel? Had he declined to take it because he could read and knew it might be dangerous, or because he could not read and did not understand its value? Or had he simply been looking for money? But Geoffrey had glimpsed the gleam of gold in Juhel’s bag when it had fallen in the water the previous night — the parchmenter was already rich, despite his claim that business was poor and he could only afford the cheaper berths supplied by pirates.
‘A list of what?’ asked Roger, bemused.
‘Of Saxon names, with figures next to them. I imagine they indicate the number of men each will provide for this revolt. Harold and Magnus give the impression that they are disorganized and unsupported, but I cannot help but wonder whether they have deliberately misled us and their preparations are actually further along than they would have us believe.’
Roger glanced at him. ‘Any such list will be wishful thinking. It will not be promises, but the men they hope will come. They have been in exile for four decades and probably had nothing else to do but make plans. Do not read too much into it.’
‘There was a letter against each name, representing “yes” or “no”. Most were “yes”.’
‘Are you saying their rebellion might succeed?’ Roger was astonished.
‘No. But we should not keep company with them, regardless. When we reach La Batailge, I shall ask the abbot for a horse and ride to warn Henry of what is afoot. This uprising must be quashed before more men die. Besides, Henry will learn we were shipwrecked with Magnus, and I do not want my family to suffer because I failed to mention it to him.’
Roger sighed. ‘If you are sure that is the right thing to do, then I will come with you. We have no idea where Henry is, and it might take a while to find him.’
‘There was something else in Magnus’s bag,’ said Geoffrey. ‘Red ribbon.’
Seven
Geoffrey was thoughtful as he followed the track deeper into the woods. Could a vain, shallow man like Magnus really initiate a rebellion? It was no secret that many Saxons still itched to take their country back, although Geoffrey was certain they would never succeed. And were the names on Magnus’s list truly men who had agreed to provide troops and supplies? Even a glimpse had shown it ran to several pages.
Did Magnus’s supercilious airs conceal a mind that could set a country afire? Or did that honour go to Harold? Surely Harold was exactly what he seemed: foolish, genial and gentle? In that case, should Geoffrey warn the King? If he did, and Henry sent soldiers only to discover the ‘revolt’ comprised Magnus, Harold and a handful of Saxons with hoes and pitchforks, Geoffrey would look like an idiot.
And what of Vitalis’s murder? Magnus used red ribbon to tie back his hair, and Geoffrey had seen a roll of it when his bag had fallen open. Was he the culprit? Or had someone chosen the stuff deliberately so Magnus would be blamed? Of course, the sailors made far more likely suspects, especially as Geoffrey reasoned that Magnus had not had the opportunity to kill Vitalis on the beach. And the women? Philippa certainly knew something about her husband’s death, because she had lied about it.
Geoffrey’s glance strayed towards Lucian. He had had plenty of opportunity, too, although Geoffrey could not imagine why a monk would want to dispatch a feeble old man. And what about Juhel? He searched other people’s bags as they slept, and he may have stabbed a friend and thrown him overboard. Did he have a store of red ribbon? Or had he borrowed some from Magnus? If he had searched Magnus’s bag in the cave when he thought no one was looking, there was no reason to suppose he had not done it on other occasions, too.
‘I detest that man,’ growled Roger suddenly. ‘I do not want him with us.’
‘Juhel?’ asked Geoffrey, startled out of his thoughts. ‘We will be rid of him soon.’
‘No. Lucian. Ulfrith does not like him, either. And Lucian is no more a monk than I am — he is brazenly irreligious, and I doubt he knows one end of a psalter from another.’
Geoffrey laughed. ‘A damning indictment indeed, when it comes from the Bishop Elect of Salisbury! Ulfrith does not like me, either, because Philippa prefers us to him. It is jealousy.’
‘I should have looked at that shepherd’s corpse,’ said Roger sullenly. ‘I should have checked he was crushed and not strangled. You may have seen red ribbon in Magnus’s bag, but I wager Lucian owns a supply, too.’
‘But a tree had fallen on the hut,’ Geoffrey pointed out. ‘Lucian could not possibly have engineered that. What is odd is that a shepherd refused a monk shelter.’
‘It is strange, but so is this revolt, and the sooner we report it to Henry, the better.’
‘I am having second thoughts about that,’ said Geoffrey. ‘We have so few hard facts that it might be better to report it to the nearest baron and let him investigate.’
‘That is de Laigle. And as the father is away, you will have to speak to the son. Is that wise?’
‘He must have some merit, or his father would not have left him in charge. So we shall make our report to him, and if he fails to act, that is his prerogative — and his responsibility.’
‘I feel quite bereft without my purse,’ announced Lucian suddenly, speaking to Harold, Juhel and Magnus. His voice was loud, and Roger scowled at him to lower it. The monk complied, but he was still audible. ‘We will not be able to go anywhere without gold, and Donan took all mine. Did you salvage any, Magnus? You had a lovely gold pendant on the ship.’
‘I did not,’ said Magnus curtly. ‘But even if I had, I would not sell it to finance your travels.’
‘That is unchristian,’ admonished Lucian. ‘We have all been washed ashore together, and it is churlish to refuse each other help.’
‘Lucian thinks we should pool our possessions because he has none himself,’ murmured Roger. ‘Of course, Magnus is a liar. I, too, saw him with a gold medallion on the ship. He may have lost it in the wreck, but to say he never owned one is downright dishonest.’
‘Save your morality for your own brethren,’ Magnus sneered. ‘If you have any.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ demanded Lucian, his voice rising again.
‘I do not believe you are a monk,’ snapped Magnus. ‘You are too worldly and know too little about your devotions.’
‘I am bursar at Bath Abbey,’ said Lucian indignantly. ‘And, being from a good family, I have been appointed Bishop de Villula’s envoy, carrying important missives to the Diocese of Ribe.’
‘Then where are they?’ interrupted Juhel curiously. ‘I managed to salvage my important missives — or, rather, Paisnel’s. But you are empty-handed.’