Robert of Rhuddlan raised the alarm himself and the captain supplemented his yell with a stream of orders. The whole garrison swarmed up the stairs to the battlements to repel the first assault, weapons at the ready, baskets of stones in waiting to be tipped on to anyone who reached the walls. Days of delay at last seemed to be over.
But the attack never came. As soon as they had kicked their horses into a gallop, the various bands veered away from the castle and took up different vantage points from which they could watch and intimidate. The cavalry charge had been feigned. There was no intention to engage in fighting. They had merely wished to scare their enemy.
Robert of Rhuddlan was more confused than ever. He rounded on the captain of the guard in sheer annoyance. ‘What are they up to now?’ he hissed.
Idwal was incredulous. ‘You have never heard of St Teilo?’
‘Only vaguely,’ confessed Gervase.
‘You should be ashamed of your ignorance.’
‘Educate me.’
‘I will,’ said Idwal. ‘St Teilo was a monk and bishop whose work was centred on Llandeilo Fawr. He lived at the same time as St Dyfrig and was indeed a pupil of his for a while. He also studied under Paul Aurelian.’
‘A learned man, then?’
‘You will not find a Welsh saint who is not.’
‘What connection does he have with Chester?’ asked Gervase.
‘Did he visit here, preach here, die here?’
‘No,’ said the other. ‘When plague struck his native country, St Teilo went to Brittany to work for seven years, staying with no less a man than Samson of Dol.’
‘Now, there is a name I do recognise.’
‘Then you will know its worth, Gervase.’
‘I do.’
‘When he left Brittany, St Teilo made his way back to Llandeilo and eventually died there. It was then that the miracle occurred.’
‘Miracle?’
‘The bones of a saint are treasured relics. Llandeilo naturally wanted to keep his body but Llandaff and Penally also laid claim to it. The dispute, I understand, was fierce.’
‘How was it resolved, Archdeacon Idwal?’
‘Miraculously,’ said the other, palms uplifted to heaven. ‘The single body multiplied into three so that each of the claimants could have their own St Teilo. I have seen his remains at Llandaff, Penally and Llandeilo.’
‘That does not explain what brought you here.’
Idwal looked around to make sure that they were alone. ‘I came for his Gospel, Gervase.’
‘His what?’
‘The Gospel of St Teilo. It is a priceless document, containing the earliest known sentences in the Welsh language. When he died, it was left in the keeping of Llandeilo church.’
‘How, then, did it reach Chester?’
‘It was stolen, Gervase.’
‘By whom?’
‘Saxon monks who wanted relics for their own foundations.
Welsh churches were regularly pillaged. The Gospel was taken, along with hundreds of other valuable relics.’ He tapped his chest.
‘Bishop Wilfrid set me to find it to return it to its rightful place.
I have traced it as far as Chester.’
‘From where?’
‘Lichfield.’
Gervase was surprised. ‘Bishop Robert has it?’
‘I believe so,’ said Idwal, ‘though I have yet to lay eyes on it. But I know that it is here somewhere. When the bishops had their seat in Lichfield at the cathedral church of St Chad, they had the gall to refer to St Teilo’s Gospel as that of St Chad. Sacrilege!’
‘What do you intend to do?’
‘Restore it to Wales once again.’
‘You hope to steal it?’ said Gervase in horror.
‘It is not an act of theft.’
‘Then what is it?’
‘Legitimate restitution.’ Idwal beamed. ‘Just think, my friend.
St Teilo’s Gospel can return home at last. I am so glad to share the wonderful news with you. It makes such a difference to me.’
‘In what way?’
‘I am no longer working alone. I have an accomplice.’
‘Who is that?’
‘You, Gervase.’
Chapter Eighteen
The three men heaved hard and Hugh d’Avranches was levered up into the saddle of his destrier. He was in full armour with his sword belt strapped on and a lance in one hand. He rode the length of the bailey to inspect the ranks of knights who were drawn up in readiness. Some had little stomach for yet another battle against the Welsh but none dared refused his summons.
The Earl of Chester did not nurse grudges. He took punitive action instead.
William Malbank waited with his own bevy of knights, sad that the efforts to find a peace had broken down but resigned to the fact that the day of the hawks had come. As he watched the massive figure of the earl ride past him, he writhed at the thought of his mistress being crushed beneath such a huge, urgent body. A foolish wager had consigned the woman to untold pain and humiliation.
Hugh’s horse trotted back to the head of his men and he gave the signal for the gates to be opened. Before he could leave, however, he was accosted by an indignant Ralph Delchard.
‘Let me ride with you, my lord!’ he protested.
‘Not today.’
‘My place is beside you.’
‘No, Ralph,’ said the earl. ‘It is here with your wife and your colleagues. You did not come to Chester to fight our neighbours.
It would be unfair to draw you into our quarrel. Stay here in the safety of the castle until we return with rebellion quashed.’
‘I want my share of the action.’
‘We have men enough to serve our purpose.’
‘How many of them have my experience?’
‘Very few, I grant you. Yet we are still a strong enough force to quell this revolt. In their latest reports, our intelligencers say that the enemy is gathering on the border but in numbers greatly inferior to our own.’ He gave a macabre chuckle. ‘It may be a short engagement but I promise that it will be a bloody one.’
‘Let me see for myself.’
‘There is no need.’
‘My pride urges me to go.’
‘Your offer is welcomed but refused.’
‘Why, my lord?’
‘Because I say so,’ came the peremptory reply.
Earl Hugh wasted no more words in argument. With a wave of his hand, he set off through the gates with the long column trailing behind him. There was a sense of power about his army that was quite breathtaking. As it thundered out into the street, everyone who saw it predicted its success. The Welsh were valorous but they had none of the discipline and tactical expertise of Norman soldiery.
Feeling rejected, Ralph turned away in disgust. Then he caught sight of Golde, standing in the window of their chamber in the keep and gazing down with such gratitude that his heart softened.
There would be other chances to fight. Ralph tried to put his disappointment aside and headed for the keep.
Golde was waiting for him in the apartment.
‘You decided not to go,’ she said with delight.
‘Hugh would not have me.’
‘My prayers have been answered.’
‘And mine were denied,’ he sighed.
They waited inside the house until the army went past. It was a long wait as hundreds of hooves pummelled their way along the narrow street. When the three of them finally emerged, the last of the horses was just going through the city gate. The young man stood between Eiluned and Dafydd. Taller than both, he had the same swarthy skin and cast of feature. The others took their lead from him.
‘How long must we wait, Sion?’ asked Dafydd.
‘A couple of hours at least.’
‘That long?’
‘Yes,’ confirmed the other. ‘We stick to the plan.’
‘I am ready now,’ said Dafydd. ‘What about you, Eiluned?’
‘There is no hurry,’ said Sion. ‘Eiluned will walk the streets to make sure that all is well. A woman will attract less attention than two men.’
‘What do we do?’
‘Wait patiently, Dafydd.’
‘If you say so.’