Deadly Inheritance - Simon Beaufort

Geoffrey pressed on. ‘You were seen buying one from Jervil on the eve of the fire.’

Baderon’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who told you these lies?’

‘I thought you were becoming our friend,’ said Hilde, hurt plain in her voice. ‘I told you before that your witness was mistaken. What are you trying to infer from his lies? That we killed Henry – and now have murdered my own dear brother?’

‘He just wants someone to blame for Henry’s death,’ said Lambert to Baderon. ‘Now he will tell the King you did it – and that you killed Hugh, too.’

‘You bastard!’ exclaimed Baderon, and there was a ringing sound as he drew his sword, and Lambert did likewise. ‘I will kill you!’

Baderon lunged towards Geoffrey, but the younger, quicker knight had no trouble jumping out of the way. He drew his own weapon, and put a pillar between himself and Baderon and Lambert, to gain a moment to speak.

‘We can fight if we must, but before we do, be aware that the King saw you buy the dagger from Jervil, and I am investigating at his request. I now know a similar weapon killed Hugh, and I would like your explanation.’

Baderon froze. ‘The King saw me with Jervil?’

Geoffrey nodded. ‘And several of Goodrich’s servants say you were buying what was originally yours – that Jervil had retrieved it for you.’

Baderon’s sword clattered from his hand, and his shoulders sank. Hilde ran to him, putting her arm around him. Lambert remained armed, however, and Geoffrey stayed behind the pillar.

‘This cannot be right,’ said Hilde to her father. ‘We had nothing to do with Henry’s death. He deserved to die, but it was not at our hands. Tell him!’

‘Henry was murdered with a dagger I owned,’ said Baderon, raising a white, anguished face towards Hilde. ‘I was uneasy when I first heard the description of the weapon that had killed him – the one Olivier told me Eleanor had cursed – but no one connected it to me, and I saw no need to complicate matters by mentioning it.’

Hilde’s protective hug loosened. ‘Your blade murdered Henry?’ She sounded shocked.

Baderon nodded. ‘I knew as soon as I met him that Geoffrey would investigate – and that he would be more thorough than the others. Peace is important to me, and I did not want the dagger to spoil our chance of friendship. So, I asked Jervil to get it back before Geoffrey could identify it as mine. I intended to destroy it, to be free of its evil.’

‘Why ask Jervil to help you?’ asked Geoffrey. ‘Why not Joan or Olivier?’

‘What could I say to Joan?’ cried Baderon. ‘My dagger killed your brother, and I would like it back now, please? That was exactly what I wanted to avoid. I want peace, not a feud.’

‘I would have listened to your explanation,’ said Geoffrey reasonably.

‘Yes, and then you would have attacked us,’ said Lambert.

Baderon took no notice of his knight and continued to address Geoffrey. ‘Perhaps you would, but I had already asked Jervil for help. He was good at getting hold of things. He told me he followed your priest to Rosse and bought it from the silversmith – although I suspect he actually stole it. He sold it to me the night of the fire.’

Geoffrey said nothing, but Jervil had lied to Baderon – the weapon that Father Adrian had sold in Rosse was Olivier’s heirloom, not the blade that had killed Henry.

‘And the King saw you,’ said Hilde. She regarded her father in dismay. ‘Could you not have made this transaction in secret? I know you are innocent, but others may not.’

Baderon glanced at Geoffrey with a face that had aged ten years. ‘I did not kill Jervil, lest you accuse me of that, too.’

‘Was this the dagger Seguin gave you?’ asked Lambert. ‘The one intended as a sign of his fealty?’

Baderon nodded. ‘I appreciated the gesture, but the knife was too garish for my tastes. I did not even notice it was missing until I heard about the blade that killed Henry. Then I looked for it – and found it gone. I thought long and hard, and the only time it could have gone missing was at the Feast of Corpus Christi, last June. We had invited our neighbours to celebrate with us. One of them must have taken it.’

‘Whom would you suspect?’ asked Geoffrey.

‘It could have been anyone,’ replied Lambert. ‘Wulfric, Ralph, Eleanor or Douce from Bicanofre; Henry, Joan and Olivier; fitzNorman, Isabel and Margaret. A host of servants.’

‘Was Jervil there?’ asked Geoffrey.

Hilde shook her head. ‘Joan would not let him come, because he had sticky fingers.’

‘Your brother came, though,’ said Baderon. ‘He ruined the occasion for everyone with his rude manners and inflammatory comments. If he had been killed then, it would not have surprised me. But the knife was stolen instead by someone who intended to kill him with it later.’

‘That means his murder was premeditated,’ said Geoffrey. ‘For three months!’

‘Yes, but not by my father,’ said Hilde firmly. ‘He has not killed Henry, Hugh, Jervil or anyone else. All he did was lose a dagger and try to get it back so you would not think badly of him.’

Geoffrey rubbed his chin, trying to gather his scattered thoughts. ‘I believe you, but there are still many unanswered questions. For example, if you bought this knife from Jervil, then how did it come to kill Hugh? And where is it now?’

‘I do not know,’ said Baderon. ‘I assumed it was lost in the fire, but I was wrong to think it could be destroyed so easily. Its curse continues. How many more people will it claim before it is sated?’

Eleven

It was with a heavy heart that Geoffrey rode back to Goodrich, Durand at his side. The day was still clear and fine, with sun streaming through branches beginning to show the first greening of spring.

‘What do you think of Baderon’s story?’ Geoffrey asked. ‘Do you believe him?’

‘No,’ said Durand, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘Seguin gives him a dagger with a ruby in it – a ruby, mark you, not a piece of glass – and he shoves it in a chest and does not realize it has been stolen for months? A likely story!’

‘But Goodrich’s servants say Baderon wanted Henry alive.’

Durand was dismissive. ‘He has a temper – you saw how quickly he attacked you in that church. I imagine he did the same to Henry, only Henry was drunk and unable to defend himself.’

Geoffrey supposed that was a possibility.

Durand continued. ‘Then this wretched Black Knife starts to rove all over the place. Joan wraps it in holy cloth, but Olivier removes it from their bedchamber and it disappears for a long time. Then you arrive, and it appears again. The King sees it passed to Baderon, and it is used to murder Baderon’s own son. But Baderon is a liar: I do not believe for a moment that he paid good silver to retrieve a dagger that might cause a rift between him and Goodrich.’

‘You do not like him, do you?’

‘No,’ declared Durand fervently. ‘He would have killed you, had you not ducked out of the way – and then he would have told Joan that he had nothing to do with the death of her youngest brother, either. No, I do not like him.’

Geoffrey imagined the real reason Baderon had earned Durand’s dislike was because of what had happened at Dene. Durand did not forgive insults to his dignity, and he was no doubt delighted to see Baderon in such dire straits. But although Durand was spiteful, his reasoning was flawless. Geoffrey saw Baderon was still very much a suspect.

They arrived at Goodrich, where people continued to discuss Hugh’s death. Giffard was quiet and withdrawn, so Geoffrey sat with him, hoping he would take comfort from a friend’s proximity. He knew exactly why Giffard was upset: the glance Agnes had shot her son had all but confessed Walter’s involvement in Sibylla’s death.

‘I should not have drawn my sword against you,’ Baderon said to Geoffrey as the company assembled for the midday meal. He looked old, weary and tearful. ‘You offended me, but you had good reason to do so. I hope my poor manners will not damage our friendship?’

Geoffrey accepted the apology with amiable grace and then left the hall, not wanting to discuss the matter further. Outside, Olivier was struggling in a strong wind to saddle his pony, and Geoffrey wondered why he did not do it in the stables. Then he recalled Olivier’s admission that he had avoided the stables since Henry’s death. It seemed ridiculous that a grown man should be so unnerved – especially since Geoffrey had removed the charms and dried blood – but Olivier tartly reminded him of his own unease in caves.

‘Where are you going?’ he asked, watching Olivier’s inept fumbling.

‘Out,’ replied Olivier. ‘I like visitors, but these guests are taxing.’

Geoffrey knew what he meant. ‘May I come with you?’

Olivier smiled. ‘I should be glad of the company – and the protection. This Black Knife is at large again, and who knows when the thing will strike next?’

‘Never, with luck. May I ride your palfrey? He is not exercised enough.’

‘Dun? Yes, but do not expect me to take a turn on him. I do not like undisciplined horses.’

Bale came to assist with the saddling, but was more hindrance than help. Eventually, Geoffrey climbed on Dun’s back, only to have the horse rear suddenly, as though he had never carried a rider before. Geoffrey was obliged to shorten the reins in order to control him.

‘He is a lively beast,’ said Olivier. ‘Baderon warned he was wild when he sold him to me. I would ask Eleanor for a charm to calm him, but she is gone God knows where and, unless you are prepared to take him, he must be sold, because there is no one else who can manage him.’

Geoffrey quickly discovered what he meant, as Dun shot off like an arrow from a bow, leaving Olivier behind. People scuttled out of the way as he rounded a corner far faster than was safe. He slowed as they passed the church, although Dun still reared and bucked furiously.

‘There is something wrong with him,’ he said, as Olivier caught up.

‘He is itching for exercise,’ explained Olivier, spurring his pony forward and heading for the woods. He bounced in his saddle like a sack of grain. ‘Give him his head; he will soon tire.’

‘Easy for you to say,’ muttered Geoffrey, who did not think that Dun’s behaviour had anything to do with excess energy. The beast pranced and then bucked hard, forcing Geoffrey to grip tightly with his knees. Another horseman was riding towards him: Seguin, followed by a servant with a cart.

‘Having trouble?’ Seguin asked, watching Dun’s antics with amusement. ‘He just needs a decent run. Or are you too frightened to let such an animal have his freedom?’

‘Why are you here?’ retorted Geoffrey. He glanced at the cart, which carried a wooden box and a blanket. ‘Have you come for Hugh? He is at Walecford, not Goodrich.’

Seguin scowled. ‘The message I received said he is at Goodrich – where he was murdered.’

‘Then it was wrong,’ replied Geoffrey coolly. ‘Incidentally, Baderon says you gave him a dagger with a ruby hilt. I do not suppose you have seen it recently?’

‘It was a fine weapon, but he shoved it in a chest,’ glowered Seguin. ‘The next thing I knew, it was in Henry. But I have not seen it since. If I do, you will be the first to know.’ He made a violent stabbing motion with his hand and rode away.

Gingerly, Geoffrey touched his heels to Dun’s sides and eased the pressure on the reins. The horse started to walk in an odd, sideways gait that told Geoffrey he wanted to go faster. He kept the animal tightly under control until they were well past the village, and caught up with Olivier, who was singing to himself. Olivier continued to warble, indicating with a gesture that music calmed horses. It seemed to work, and they reached the edge of the woods without further incident. A long, straight path stretched out in front of them, heading upwards into a twiggy tunnel.

‘I think I might trot,’ said Olivier, kicking his nag to a slightly quicker pace. The sudden cessation of music and another animal moving ahead were too much for Dun. Ignoring Geoffrey’s commands, he began to gallop. Supposing he might as well let him, Geoffrey eased his grip on the reins, as Dun moved like the wind. Then Dun started his curious bucking movements at speed, taking Geoffrey by surprise. He lurched forward roughly, then heard something snap. While he was still trying to regain his balance, Dun bucked again. Geoffrey felt the saddle loose underneath him. And then he was flying head over heels into a patch of brambles.

‘Good God!’ exclaimed Olivier, trotting up. ‘Are you all right?’

Geoffrey did a rough inventory. His head was spinning, but only his pride was damaged. ‘Yes.’

‘Do not struggle,’ instructed Olivier. ‘Or you will become more deeply entangled. Let me cut some of these thorns away.’

Geoffrey watched him sawing the thick, spiked branches. ‘I have not been thrown by a horse in years. Perhaps you should sell him, Olivier. He is too much for me, too.’

Olivier shoved his dagger in its sheath and offered Geoffrey his hand. Geoffrey half-expected them both to end up in the brambles, but Olivier soon had him extricated. Dun stood quietly, head down. Olivier held the bridle and crooned softly, while Geoffrey went to remove the saddle, which clung at an odd angle. He showed it to Olivier.

‘The strap is broken.’ Geoffrey felt better knowing that the accident resulted from faulty equipment.

‘Not broken,’ said Olivier, studying it. ‘Sawn through. You can see the smooth line of a cut made by a knife, then a jagged part that broke under the strain. Someone deliberately damaged it.’

Geoffrey was angry. ‘How could someone have been so stupid? Joan might have been killed!’

‘No,’ said Olivier. ‘This saddle is only ever used for Dun, and Joan does not use him. There was no chance of anyone riding Dun but you.’

Geoffrey gazed at him. ‘Someone did this to harm me?’

Olivier nodded. ‘Yes, because here is something else – metal shards twisted into the saddle. No wonder Dun bolted! These spikes, along with the damaged strap, were certain to cause an accident.’

‘Who would have done this?’ asked Geoffrey, bewildered.

‘Ralph, perhaps,’ mused Olivier. ‘Or fitzNorman, Baderon, Seguin or Corwenna. Or Agnes and Walter, who are determined to stop you from learning who killed the Duchess. Or perhaps even a servant who was not won over by your flamboyant gambling techniques.’

Geoffrey sighed. ‘A whole host of suspects, as usual.’

They walked back to the castle, leading their horses and discussing suspects. Olivier favoured Ralph, who, he declared, might well use a horse to do his dirty work. Geoffrey was more inclined towards Walter, whose stupidity meant he might not see that such a stunt could hurt the horse as well as his intended victim. They were still debating when they entered the bailey, and Bale came racing up to them grinning from ear to ear.