‘What is going on, Saewin?’ he demanded.
‘There has been a delay.’
‘I can see that, man. What is the cause of the delay?’
‘I do not know.’
‘You do not know or you will not tell me?’
Saewin’s face was impassive. ‘There is a delay,’ he said calmly.
‘That is all I have been instructed to say.’
‘I have been cooling my heels here for an eternity!’
‘So have I, Tetbald.’
‘Are none of the commissioners here?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Then where are they?’
‘I believe that they are still at the castle.’
‘Do they always summon people long before they are needed?’
‘No, Tetbald. They have been very punctual until today.’
‘Then why am I the one to suffer?’
‘Be patient.’
‘How can I be patient when I am wet and hungry? Do you know what time I left in order to be here before Tierce?’ He stamped a foot in irritation. ‘Send word to the commissioners that I am here.’
‘They already know of your arrival.’
‘Then urge them to begin their proceedings.’
‘I could not do that if the lady Catherine herself were here to appear before them,’ said Saewin, asserting his authority with quiet force. ‘So I will certainly not do so for her steward. If the commissioners choose to keep you waiting here all day, it is within their rights to do so. Nothing will be gained by trying to browbeat me, Tetbald. You merely blame a messenger who brings you bad tidings, and that is unjust.’
Tetbald was checked. Controlling his temper, he saw the folly of upsetting the one man who might be able to explain what was happening. Saewin clearly knew more than he was prepared to say. He would also be aware of the developments which had so far taken place in the dispute. Tetbald decided that it was time to adopt a more persuasive approach towards the reeve.
‘I am sorry,’ he said with a shrug. ‘You are right to rebuke me, Saewin. You are simply doing your office — as, indeed, am I. This is a time of trial for us and it has put us under severe strain. The lord Nicholas’s death was a blow which has left us dazed.’
‘I appreciate that.’
‘The foul murder has been followed by another crime.’
‘Oh?’
‘A robbery at the manor house.’
‘What was stolen?’
‘That is beside the point,’ he said evasively. ‘It is the fact of the crime which has wounded the lady Catherine. An intruder somehow entered the house at night. That is very disturbing, Saewin.’
‘I can see that.’
‘The lady Catherine was appalled. She is grieving over her husband and in no fit state to suffer another cruel shock. It has made her very nervous.’ He pulled himself up to his full height. ‘I see it as my duty to protect her from any further unpleasantness.
Not only has her husband been killed and her house broken into, the lady Catherine has to suffer the indignity of seeing her property fought over by vultures who have swooped on the dead body of the lord Nicholas. I hoped that I could quickly resolve this dispute in her favour and be able to take some good news to her for a change.’
‘That may yet happen, Tetbald.’
‘If and when the commissioners get here.’
‘Yes.’
‘So what is holding them up?’
‘I am not at liberty to tell you.’
‘Why not? Is it so secret?’ He produced an oleaginous smile.
‘Come, sir. Let us not quarrel. All I seek is an explanation. Is this delay related to one of the claimants? The abbot of Tavistock, perhaps? Or the lady Loretta? Or has some new vulture come to peck at the corpse?’
‘There has been an unfortunate delay. Accept that fact.’
‘I will if you tell me what lies behind it.’
‘The commissioners do not have to justify their decisions.’
‘What exactly did they tell you?’
He put a hand on the reeve’s shoulder and smiled at him again, but Saewin said nothing. Tetbald eventually gave up. Removing his hand, he scowled darkly and was about to issue another stream of protests when they were interrupted. A figure appeared at the door and gestured to Saewin. The reeve seemed slightly embarrassed. He turned to Tetbald.
‘I must go,’ he said.
Then he followed Engelric out.
The debate which raged at the castle was far more heated than anything which had taken place at the shire hall. Ralph Delchard was on his feet, gesticulating wildly, Canon Hubert, jowls shaking, was at his most determined, Gervase Bret was unusually agitated and even Brother Simon, normally a mute witness on such occasions, felt obliged to add his comments. Their clamour reverberated around the hall.
‘The proceedings must be suspended forthwith!’ insisted Ralph.
‘That would be madness!’ yelled Hubert.
‘Hervey de Marigny is missing. The commission cannot possibly sit without him.’
‘Why not, my lord? We have done so before on many occasions.’
‘I can vouch for that,’ said Simon gently. ‘The three of you have coped with many disputes on your own and could do so again.’
‘Devon presents us with more work than most counties,’
observed Gervase from his seat at the table. ‘That is why the lord Hervey joined us and he has been as able a judge as any of us.’
‘Able and upright!’ endorsed Ralph.
‘On the other hand,’ resumed Gervase, ‘I am not convinced that we have to bring our deliberations to a halt until he has been found.’
‘We must, Gervase!’ said Ralph.
‘We must not!’ countered Hubert.
Ralph waved his arms. ‘He is our colleague and friend. We must lead the search for him.’
‘That is the sheriff’s duty,’ said Hubert.
‘Do you not care what has happened to the lord Hervey?’
‘Deeply,’ said the canon, ‘but I also care for the important work with which we have been entrusted. It must not be set aside, my lord. While the sheriff does his duty, let us continue to do ours.’
‘We have a duty to Hervey de Marigny!’ urged Ralph.
Hubert was adamant. ‘Our first commitment is to the King’s will.’
‘Would you really sit idly by in the shire hall while a friend is lost and possibly in danger?’ Ralph swung round to Gervase.
‘Help me out here. Let me hear at least one sane voice.’
‘I am wondering what the lord Hervey himself would wish,’ said Gervase thoughtfully. ‘What has befallen him I do not know, and I hope for news of his whereabouts very soon. But I suspect that he would not want us to abandon our work on his account.’
‘Exactly!’ said Hubert.
Ralph was perplexed. ‘You are against me, Gervase?’
‘Of course not. I share your fears.’
‘Then do something about them and join the search.’
‘That is what I am suggesting,’ argued Gervase. ‘But that search must not only be undertaken in the nooks and crannies of Exeter.
Besides, we are strangers to the city and would not know where to start looking. No, Ralph,’ he said earnestly, ‘the place for us to conduct our search is in the shire hall. We always felt that the lord Nicholas’s death was directly related to this dispute and so is the lord Hervey’s disappearance. I am certain of it. Solve the dispute,’ he advocated, ‘and we solve both mysteries.’
‘Sage counsel,’ said Simon.
Hubert smiled grimly. ‘Our three votes outweigh you, my lord.’
‘I am the leader of this commission,’ Ralph reminded him.
‘But our judgements rest on majority decision.’
‘Only in the shire hall, Hubert!’
‘And that is where we should be, my lord.’
‘But it seems so heartless,’ said Ralph with passion. ‘Heavens above, man! If you went astray, would you want your colleagues to proceed calmly on as if nothing had happened?’
‘Yes, my lord,’ said Hubert.
‘It is indecent!’
‘It is a necessity.’