CHAPTER NINE
Third Saturday after the Feast of St Michael[15]
Inn outside Winchester
The innkeeper was wonderfully apologetic, and at least Baldwin and Jack did not have to pay for that night’s lodging, although Baldwin secretly wondered how much of that was due to the fact that he had not cleaned his sword’s blade; to the innkeeper’s eyes, he must have looked very bloodthirsty.
After the attack, Baldwin had bound the remaining men with thongs, and they were being held in a storeroom at the back of the inn. He himself sat at the stool near the inn’s fire, wiping down his sword. After the care of his horse, the most important aspect of a warrior’s routine was preserving the life of his weapons. Until earlier in the year, Baldwin had owned a beautiful little riding sword with a perfect peacock-blue blade, inlaid with inscriptions and decorations, but during a fight it had fallen into the sea, and he had been forced to buy this rather inferior piece of work from a London armourer. There were many better swordsmiths in Exeter, and he was looking forward to purchasing another on his way home, but for now, this would have to do. True, the grey steel blade had shown itself adequate last night, but now, as he peered along its length, he could see that there was a slight bend in it already, and there were four nicks in the fine edge.
With a stone he had found in the yard, he sharpened and honed the edge of the blade until it shone again. Jack was sitting nearby on the floor, watching him avidly.
The keeper was a stolid man, broad of shoulder, but with a girth that more than matched it. His heavily bearded face was prone to smiling, but Baldwin distrusted him. There was a shrewd calculation in his eyes, and the knight sensed that he was keen to make profit, no matter what. He was reluctant now to admit to anything he might know in case Baldwin demanded compensation, he reckoned.
‘I am very sorry that such footpads could find their way into my inn,’ the man was saying as Baldwin eyed his blade and ran the stone along its length one more time. The slithering sound seemed to unsettle the man, Baldwin saw. He ran the stone along it again, more slowly this time.
‘I am sorry too. I should report the whole matter to the local Sergeant.’
‘Oh, I’m sure there’s no need for that.’
‘Really? And yet I am equally sure that it would be a most excellent idea to do just that. One should never attempt to conceal a crime, should one?’
‘But everyone can become tainted by such news,’ the innkeeper protested. ‘After all, some may think that the villeins came in with others who are still here, mayn’t they?’
Baldwin’s sword flashed and the point came to rest near the keeper’s throat. ‘You are suggesting that a man might consider me to be connected with draw-latches and felons? Think carefully, good fellow, before you answer.’
‘I didn’t mean to insult you, Sir Knight, no. Not you, I was thinking of the other man in the chamber with you,’ the man said, his tone a little higher.
‘And I should hate to insult you, too. It may prove to be all too painful for you.’
‘I… I understand, sir.’
‘Now, good fellow, tell me: did you know any of the men who were here?’
‘No. Certainly not!’
‘I saw you talking to one of them.’
‘It is my job, Sir Knight. I have to be polite to my customers.’
Baldwin said nothing. In his mind was the question of how polite it was to accuse knights, however elliptically, of fraternising with criminals. He ordered the keeper to bring them eggs and some ham to break their fast and scabbarded his sword.
‘So, Master,’ Baldwin said when the innkeeper had hurried away to find their food, ‘would you like to repeat what you said to us last night?’
The scrawny man Baldwin had seen on entering the sleeping chamber the previous night pushed himself away from the wall. He was very wary still, but at least his suspicion appeared to be concentrated on the innkeeper rather than Baldwin. However, Baldwin had great faith in the judgement of another. As the man approached, Wolf lowered his head and gave a low rumble deep in his throat until Baldwin rested his hand on the mastiff’s head.
‘As I said, Sir Knight, the fellows were all together. I saw the keeper talking to a lot of them at different times, and I think they guessed that I might be carrying something valuable. I wasn’t, but they weren’t to know that.’
‘You were not?’ Baldwin asked shrewdly. ‘You will not mind my saying, sir, that you are not clad like a successful merchant, nor a Bishop. Why should they think you so fabulous a catch?’
He listened carefully, watching the man as he spoke. For many years Sir Baldwin de Furnshill had been Keeper of the King’s Peace, and as well as chasing felons with the full might of the posse behind him, he also had been called to sit as Justice of Gaol Delivery on occasion. Listening to a man’s voice and assessing where lies existed was a key part of his function.
This man showed no signs of concern, though. He spoke easily, maintaining a relaxed stance that was the opposite of a man bent on guile or deceit.
‘Sir Baldwin, once I had the life of a wealthy man, and perhaps those characters saw that aspect of me and thought that I was a rich merchant in disguise, but I swear to you I have nothing. On my oath, I have only my clothes and a few other belongings.’
‘What happened to you?’
‘Just the usual sad tale. I am called Thomas Redcliffe, a merchant from Bristol. Until a year ago, my business was good. I have often imported wine and oils to England, and I have grown to be well-known in my city. But last year my ship was attacked by Breton pirates, and I lost all. She was on the return voyage, and all my money was invested in her cargo, so when it was taken, and my ship as well, I was ruined. I hoped to stave off the end by prayer, and took steps to protect my business while I went on pilgrimage to Canterbury, but…’ He sighed. ‘You know what the roads are nowadays. I was set upon outside London, at the place called Black Heath. All my money was taken, everything. I continued on to the shrine of Saint Thomas, but it appears to have done me little good. When I get home, I daresay my business will be no better, and I have suffered a broken head into the bargain.’
‘It is a long way for a man to go for prayer,’ Baldwin noted.
‘A pilgrim must make an effort, surely? I thought if my misfortune was caused by some insult I had given to God, perhaps my journeying all that way might appease Him. At least I would have Saint Thomas to intercede for me.’
‘I am sure Saint Thomas would be glad of the opportunity,’ Baldwin replied.
He eyed the man thoughtfully. There was little about him that showed he was lying, and equally little to give the impression that he might have money on him and thus warrant an attack.
‘I have no idea why they should attack me.’ Redcliffe shrugged with every appearance of honesty. ‘I am not clad in furs or silks, I don’t have jewels draped about me. In truth, Sir Baldwin, it would be easier to understand that they had made an attempt upon you. You look rich, with all your expensive clothes.’
Baldwin glanced down at his new tunic, wondering if this was a subtle insult. It was only a matter of a few months old, but there were worn and faded patches at his knees and thighs, while the careful embroidery which Jeanne, his wife, had sewn at the hem was already pulled and ruined. Still, Redcliffe was right. It was more likely that felons would try to rob Baldwin, for a knight would be likely to carry something worth stealing: if not money, then pewter plate or good armour to pawn.
‘Perhaps,’ he agreed after a moment. ‘What of enemies? Is there someone who could wish to assault you: a woman’s husband, a jealous competitor in business?’