King's Gold

‘Doubt if he’ll make much sense o’ this,’ Sir Richard grumbled to himself as he eyed the corpse. ‘A man killed in the middle of the night by an axe. Plenty of axes lying about here, and enough men willing to wield ’em, from what I’ve seen of Sir Jevan.’

‘Do you think it was Dolwyn?’

Sir Richard cocked an eyebrow. ‘Do you think it was him? No, of course not! Blasted fellow arrived at the wrong time, that was all. And the fact that the murderer used an axe just means he wasn’t stupid. With all the rumours about the man Ham slaughtered on the way here, and people lookin’ at Dolwyn all askance, it was natural they’d think it was him.’

‘He was the man there when the guards arrived.’

‘He was the man who slept nearest, so naturally he would have been first to wake and first to get to the body. More to the point is, what was Jevan doin’ here anyway? What made him get out of bed in the night and walk over to that place?’

‘Got lost on his way to the garderobe?’ Simon wondered.

‘And happened to meet a maddened axeman on the way? I doubt it, Simon.’ Sir Richard sighed. ‘Did you speak with Alured last night when you said you would?’

‘Yes, but I incline to the view that he wouldn’t have done this.’

‘Why?’

‘Because he seems devoted to the law and justice. He’s a constable, not a maddened axeman.’

‘Whoever killed Jevan,’ Sir Richard said thoughtfully, ‘was seeking to deliver justice. We must talk to Alured, Simon.’

When Simon and Sir Richard enquired, they learned that Alured was in the hall with his master, Matteo di Bardi.

‘Signor Bardi,’ Simon said as they walked to them. ‘I am sorry, but we would like to speak to your man.’

‘There is nothing you can say to him that you cannot tell me,’ Matteo said.

He was sitting on a bench next to Alured like a pleader, Simon thought. All pale and thin, like the clerk he was. Simon had heard much about this man, how he would gather news and use it for the benefit of the bank. It reminded him of how Despenser had used informers all over the country. Simon disliked the idea of spying. Those who were supposed to be loyal should be so, to his mind. There was little point in giving an oath of loyalty if a man was going to renege immediately for Florentine money.

‘Alured, you know what I want to speak about,’ Simon said.

‘Yes. Master Matteo may as well hear it too,’ Alured said. ‘He should be aware.’

‘Tell us again, then, about Sir Jevan.’

Alured looked at Matteo as he answered, ‘The day you were stabbed, master, a short way from you lay two more bodies. Just youngsters, they were. The girl had her head cut off, while the boy was stabbed. It happened while I was with you. I heard something and ran up the alley – and there they were, poor souls. I found a witness – a man who had seen the killer hurrying away.’

‘You told me this. But he saw no face,’ Matteo said.

‘No. He was very drunk and lying at the side of the alley, but he did see reddish-brown Cordovan leather boots – like the ones Sir Jevan wore. And the style of death – the girl’s head cut cleanly from her body – that was the act of a man-at-arms, not a peasant. The lad too was stabbed twice about the heart. I think he died in an instant, which also speaks of a killer experienced in war and killing. And Sir Jevan was that.’

‘So?’ Matteo said.

‘A man could easily have stabbed you, then flown up the alley and stood there waiting to see if he was pursued. And if some youngsters came along unexpectedly, he might have killed them before making his way to his meeting.’

‘His meeting – with my brother?’ Matteo said, and his stomach lurched. ‘So my brother did try to kill me. I had suspected it for so long, but to hear this . . .’

‘Not your brother,’ Alured said. ‘Sir Jevan. He was on his way to see your brother, you told me, but he could have stabbed you and then the couple I found before he got there.’

‘My brother . . .’ Matteo said again, his face a mask of tragedy.

‘There is no proof he’s involved,’ Sir Richard said with his low, rumbling voice. ‘He may be completely innocent. Come, Master Bardi, I think before you contemplate an accusation you should be careful to consider the implications.’

‘The “implications”?’ Matteo echoed. ‘The only “implications” I see are that I risk death whenever I see Benedetto!’

‘Meanwhile, Alured,’ Simon said, ‘I would like to know where you were last night.’

‘I slept on a bench outside my master’s chamber,’ Alured said. His expression told what he thought of the arrangement. ‘I was there all night.’

‘Was anyone with you?’ Sir Richard asked.

‘You think to accuse me of the murder?’ Alured said. ‘I deny it. I was on my bench and asleep from an early hour. I was tired – I still am!’

‘I heard the screams and opened my door and he was there,’ Matteo confirmed.

‘So, will you arrest me too? You have three men in gaol. Why not make it a quartet?’ Alured asked cynically. ‘You can never have too many suspects, can you?’