King's Gold

It was the first time he had looked at all the stuff in the bed of the cart. He pulled one large blanket bound about something, and frowned as he felt the weight of it. As he dragged it free, he heard the rattle of steel inside. Opening it, he realised that the sack was full of weapons, and he whistled to see the swords, axes, maces and other devices designed to kill.

Near Warwick

The sight of the three men approaching was alarming, especially when they spread out like those who are used to fighting.

Sir Jevan stiffened his back as he watched them approach. ‘Wait,’ he said to his two men-at-arms.

‘Sirs, are you bound for Kenilworth?’ he asked as Simon and Sir Richard de Welles were close enough.

Sir Richard answered. ‘Yes. Perhaps we go there for the same reasons, hey?’

Sir Jevan inclined his head, keeping his eyes on them. ‘I am with the garrison there.’

‘Aye? What are you doin’ here, then?’

‘There was an attack on the castle, and we have been scouring the lands for the men responsible.’

‘Thought you had been riding for a while. There’s a lot of mud on your tunic. You must have ridden out after the attempt to free Sir Edward-.’

Sir Jevan smiled. ‘You are observant, my friend.’

The older knight’s eyes wrinkled in delight. ‘Even an old fool like me can see when I bother to open my eyes, my friend. I am Sir Richard de Welles. Coroner to the King.’

In a few moments the men had introduced themselves. Sir Jevan rode alongside Sir Richard as if equals alone should ride at the front of the party. He gave Simon a hard stare when he joined them. It was enough to make Simon begin to fall back, until Sir Richard said, ‘Hoi, where are you going, Bailiff? You think you’re too good to join me and Sir Jevan, eh?’

‘I thought you would want to have some privacy,’ Simon said coolly.

‘Well, ye thought wrong. Now, Sir Jevan, we’ve heard that some idiots tried to grab the Ki . . . Edward of Caernarfon, that is, from Kenilworth. Are they the men you were seeking?’

‘Yes. They killed the porter, Squire Bernard, and four of the garrison before they made off, but luckily we caught and slew several of them before they could escape.’

‘Must have been mad, the lot of them,’ Sir Richard said comfortably. ‘Moon-struck. The idea that a handful of men could burst into Kenilworth and do as they please was sheer foolishness!’

‘So we are all to join together to guard him on his way to another castle,’ Sir Jevan said.

‘Aye,’ Sir Richard agreed. ‘To Berkeley. Shouldn’t take long. Now, how many were there in the gang? Do ye know who any of them were?’

‘There were some who were recognised: two brothers, a man called Stephen Dunheved, and his brother, a Franciscan, Frere Thomas.’

‘You know these two, Bailiff?’ Sir Richard asked Simon. ‘You know half the felons and outlaws in the kingdom.’

‘No, I don’t think I’ve heard of Stephen,’ Simon admitted. ‘But the friar’s name is familiar.’

‘This Stephen is a renowned felon. He killed a man some years ago, and was forced to flee the realm. He abjured and travelled to France, I believe. No doubt he returned recently.’

‘If he is trying to release Edward, I greatly doubt he would have come over with the Queen’s men,’ Simon said. ‘She would not have given her protection to a man who was known as a loyal servant to her husband.’

‘I would doubt he told her so,’ Sir Richard chuckled. ‘No, a fellow like this Dunhead would have been careful to keep that matter secret, I daresay.’

‘Dunheved,’ Simon corrected him.

‘All the same to me,’ Sir Richard said blandly. ‘When his head’s off, it won’t matter much.’

‘Good,’ Sir Jevan said tersely. ‘He should die for the murder of my companions at Kenilworth. It was a foul attack.’

‘What of this Franciscan?’ Sir Richard said, throwing a look at Simon. ‘You say you know of him?’

Simon racked his brain. ‘I seem to remember hearing about him when I was at court with Baldwin. Wasn’t it Frere Thomas who was sent to Avignon to meet with the Pope? Our King used him as a messenger.’

‘It was said that he was sent by Despenser,’ Sir Jevan said, ‘and told to arrange a divorce between Edward and Queen Isabella. Our Pope refused to consider such a plea, so the fellow was forced to return empty-handed.’

Simon nodded. ‘Any others you know of who were involved in the plot?’

‘No, not by name, but there are some I would recognise by sight,’ Sir Jevan said with cold certainty. ‘And when I see them, I will kill them. One I hunted for miles to the south, and almost caught him, but he escaped because my men and I were thwarted by a peasant with a cart. I should have executed the churl there and then for his stupidity! Blocking the roadway, he allowed the man to escape. I hope to find him again soon, though. I am sure his face was familiar to me,’ he added thoughtfully.