‘Matthias, Matthias, you should kneel,’ Symonds whispered. ‘This is your prince, Edward, George of Clarence’s son who has escaped from the Tower. He intends, with God’s help, to seize the throne which is rightfully his.’
Matthias knelt, only too eager to hide his confusion. Warwick came across: his hand was small, soft and smelt fragrantly of perfume. Matthias kissed the ring, Edward gripped his hand and raised him to his feet.
‘You are most welcome, Master Matthias.’ Edward of Warwick embraced him and, standing on tiptoe, gave him the kiss of peace on each cheek. He stood away, face smiling. ‘I have read Master Symonds’ letters on you.’ He clapped his hands shyly. ‘You are most welcome. When I come into my own you, Master Fitzosbert, will sit at my council table.’
Matthias kept his face impassive though his heart sank. Edward of Warwick was personable, graceful, charming but those watery blue eyes, that ingratiating smile? Would he be any threat to the powerful Tudor? Matthias studied him. Was he really Clarence’s son? Nephew of the powerful Edward IV and Richard III? Or some imposter trained to play the part? A cat’s-paw for the disaffected? Edward of Warwick grinned across at Symonds and Lady Elizabeth. Matthias could see the old lady had reached her decision: she did not think much of this Yorkist princeling.
‘Well, shall we eat?’
Again that childish clapping of the hands. Edward of Warwick almost skipped to the table. Matthias glimpsed the contempt in the old woman’s eyes and wondered if the prince were fully in his wits.
Symonds was apparently the master. It was he who guided Edward to the throne-like chair at the top of the table. He whispered instructions on how to use his napkin and only filled his goblet with a quarter of wine, the rest water.
The meal was pleasant enough. Matthias now felt the full effects of his escape and long ride. His body ached, his eyes grew heavy. He ate the jugged hare and picked at the venison in its mushroom sauce whilst listening to Symonds describe what help and assistance they would receive in Ireland and amongst the English lords. At every such pronouncement, Edward of Warwick would shake his head vigorously, but he seemed more concerned with filling his stomach than winning the crown of England. He seemed to have totally forgotten about Matthias. After the meal was finished, servants cleared the platters and trenchers. More candles were brought in. Lady Elizabeth ordered the servants to leave the room. Before they left, one of them brought a silver casket and placed it on the table beside her.
‘We shall study the cards,’ she announced.
Matthias looked at her expectantly.
‘Do you wish to?’ she asked the prince.
‘Oh yes, oh yes.’ Edward of Warwick clapped his hands.
Lady Elizabeth opened the casket and took out the cards. They were large, square with gold backing. She kept them face downwards and slid them across the cloth. One for Edward, one for Symonds, one for Matthias.
‘Turn them over.’ She looked at Symonds. ‘You first.’
The priest did so. He gasped and slid the card back towards the woman. Matthias saw the picture: the figure of death, a skeleton wearing a suit of black armour. He rode a white horse and carried a purple standard with a white rose upon it. Skull and crossbones adorned the reins of the horse’s bridle. The horse rode across various people, not caring about their rank or position: a king lay outstretched, crown fallen away: a bishop with his hand held up in prayer: a maiden, her face turned away.
‘Superstition!’ Symonds snapped.
Edward of Warwick turned his over. He smiled and held the card up: an angel appearing from the clouds, a halo of golden hair around its young face. He was blowing a mighty trumpet from which a white banner hung, emblazoned with a red cross.
‘Judgment!’ Lady Elizabeth declared. ‘And you, Master Fitzosbert?’
Matthias knew little about the tarot and he wondered if Lady Elizabeth was merely teasing him. He smiled.
‘And my card, my lady? What will it be? The Devil?’
‘Turn it over!’ Lady Elizabeth glanced at Symonds. ‘You shouldn’t be frightened. Master Symonds and my Lord of Warwick have drawn Death and Judgment yet we are all subject to those.’
‘Turn it over! Turn it over!’ Warwick cried.
Matthias did so slowly. He smiled as he held it up. The card depicted a charioteer in splendid armour of the ancient world.
‘Conflict!’ Lady Elizabeth cried. Her eyes held his. ‘A terrible struggle, Master Matthias, and you stand at the centre of it!’
14
The following morning Symonds, Matthias and Edward of Warwick left the grange and continued their journey west. Matthias had considered Warwick to be a fool but the young prince proved to be a hardy horseman, brave, determined and a good companion. He would slow down if Matthias’ horse fell behind and, when they stopped to eat or drink, made sure Matthias was served before him. Matthias was touched by the youth’s simple generosity. Symonds, however, was surly. The playing of the tarot cards had unsettled him and he resented his protege’s liking for Matthias. Now and again they would stop at other lonely houses or taverns for fresh horses, provisions and a change of clothing. They entered Lancashire, the countryside becoming harsher, the weather betraying the first signs of the end of summer.
As they rode, Matthias became unsettled. His stomach hurt and he complained of gripping pains in his back and head. He grew feverish and, by the time they reached the Lancashire coast, Matthias couldn’t care whether he lived or died. His body was racked with pain, covered in sweat, whilst his stomach couldn’t keep down either food or drink. He was aware of the smell of the sea, salt and fish, a cold breeze, clouds scurrying against the darkening sky. He was in a taproom where men, some heavily armed, sat and discussed the tides and winds. Matthias realised a cog was waiting offshore to take them to Dublin. He stumbled outside to be sick, falling to his knees, retching until his stomach hurt. He was aware of Edward of Warwick coming out, pulling him to his feet, but Matthias’ legs felt weak. The night sky whirled above him.
‘Bring him in! Bring him in!’ a voice called.
‘Has he got the pestilence?’ another asked.
‘Examine his armpits and groin for buboes. If he has the Death, cut his throat!’
Matthias blinked, his mouth was dry. He could feel someone stripping his clothes off, hands punching into his armpits and groin feeling for the telltale buboes, the first signs of the plague.
‘No,’ a voice declared. ‘He hasn’t the plague but he is weak and fevered.’
‘Kill him!’ another voice shouted. ‘Cut his throat! He can’t be left here!’
Matthias heard Edward of Warwick’s voice high in protest. A cup was forced to his lips: his mouth was full with a bittersweet drink and he slipped into a fever-filled sleep.
Matthias did not know whether he was alive or dead, awake or asleep. Images came and went: he was on a sheet being taken across slippery sands and tossed unceremoniously into a bumboat. The creak of oars and the nauseous pitching which seemed to go on for ever. He was being raised up, laid out on a deck, sailors cursing, men shouting orders. . a stinking darkness, which smelt like a jakes, rats scurrying by him. Edward of Warwick bending over, dabbing his face with a cool rag.
Matthias tried to croak his thanks. More of the bittersweet potion was poured into his mouth. He let slip of his reality, grateful for the darkness. Dreams, deep in his soul, rose to torment his mind.
He was in the church at Tenebral, examining the runes on the wall. The air was thick with a fragrant perfume. White doves fluttered all around him. The sunshine was strong until a dark shape blotted out the sky. Matthias looked up. A hawk, black and massive, covered the sun. It was hurtling down, talons outstretched. Matthias cried out but, as the hawk drew closer, it changed in shape: the Preacher, dressed in black from head to toe, his head still twisted from the gallows rope, eyes like burning coals and mouth frothing yellow spittle, hands like claws stretched out to kill. Matthias screamed. The hermit appeared but this time in the shape of a woman with soft brown hair, red chapped skin and light green eyes. He could now smell incense: a drink was forced between his lips. The dreams disappeared. Matthias slept on.