A Flight of Arrows by A.J. MacKenzie (most recommended books txt) 📗

and threatening retribution to any who aided them. My father’s friends were arrested and executed as an example to the others. Then, after the landing, Bertrand arrested several more men whose loyalty was suspect and sent them in chains to Caen. They too now have been executed. Barbizan told me this,’ she said, anticipating his question. ‘He wanted me to know that the Norman revolt had failed.’

The executed men would be the friends that Harcourt had spoken of. His hopes truly had been crushed. ‘I am sorry,’ Merrivale said.

‘Do not be.’ Her chin came up a little. ‘Barbizan was wrong. There are other Norman lords, powerful and in high places, who have long contemplated revolt. The Count of Eu, the Constable of France, is one of them. The Queen of Navarre is another. One day, Normandy will throw off the French yoke and be a free state once more.’

Merrivale digested this. ‘These others, the Count of Eu and the lady of Navarre. Can they not help you?’

‘Even if they would help me, which I doubt, how would I get to them? Your soldiers are marauding and plundering everywhere. And you will not be on hand to rescue me again.’ She shivered. ‘If this is indeed a rescue.’

‘I have no designs on your person,’ Merrivale said calmly. He turned to Mauro. ‘Find the lady a cot and some bedclothes and… whatever else she needs. And rig a curtain across the tent so she has some privacy.’

‘Yes, señor.’

‘You are very kind,’ Tiphaine said, and there were sudden tears in her brown eyes. ‘I am sorry that I doubted you.’

Merrivale bowed. ‘And now you must forgive me,’ he said, a little abruptly. ‘I fear I have work to do.’

Inquisition into the death of Edmund Bray, knight, near the village of Quettehou in Normandy on the XIIth day of July, in the nineteenth year of the reign of King Edward III. This report was composed on the XXth day of the same month.

Two possible reasons for Sir Edmund’s death remain. The first is that he was killed by looters, and the second is that he was killed deliberately following his witnessing a meeting between Jean de Fierville and the French miles Macio Chauffin.

Item, as to whether he was killed by troops whom he encountered looting. I can now exonerate Sir Nicholas Courcy of Kingsale and his men. However, a second body of plunderers, soldiers in the retinue of Sir Thomas Holland, were also in the area. They are also archers, and Sir Edmund was killed by two arrows from a longbow. However, there is no firm evidence that they killed him.

Item, it is therefore probable, in my view, that while scouting on the Valognes road, Bray encountered Fierville in the act of passing information to Macio Chauffin. It follows that Bray may have been killed to prevent him from disclosing Fierville’s treachery.

Item, it remains unclear who actually killed Bray. A search of Fierville’s baggage found no sign of a bow or quiver. I believe that the killer remains at large and that he was, and in all probability still is, among the ranks of our army.

Simon Merrivale, heraldus

It was a short walk to the king’s big pavilion, glowing red with lamplight. Michael Northburgh’s tent was next to it, guarded by a single serjeant. Beyond the camp, the walls of Carentan stood black, silhouetted against the still-glowing embers of the town behind them.

Northburgh read the report, frowning. ‘So Fierville was a traitor all along?’

‘Yes, but not the only one. The maid who helps look after the king’s cattle overheard two men talking at Freshwater, planning to send a message to Robert Bertrand. Both were English, she says. And the demoiselle de Tesson has told me that Bertrand began arresting and intimidating suspected rebels as early as March this year.’

‘March! For God’s sake, the final decision to invade Normandy was only taken in February. The French must have had the news almost as soon as we did!’

‘There is something else you need to know,’ Merrivale said. ‘The demoiselle claims that the Count of Eu and the Queen of Navarre may also be considering rebellion.’

Raoul de Brienne, Count of Eu and Constable of France, came from one of the highest families in the land; one of his ancestors had been King of Jerusalem and Emperor of Constantinople. Jeanne of Navarre was King Edward’s cousin, and like him had a reasonable claim to the French crown. ‘You didn’t put that in your report,’ Northburgh said.

‘My commission is to enquire into the death of Edmund Bray. I am telling you so that you may pass this news to the king. And claim the credit, if you wish,’ Merrivale added.

‘Very generous of you. What have you done with the demoiselle?’

‘She remains with me for the moment, until I can find a safe place for her.’

‘Ah.’ Northburgh winked. ‘Is she comely?’

‘That question is beneath you, Michael,’ the herald said stiffly.

‘Come, come, old friend, I am joking. These archers of Holland’s. You reckon Bray wasn’t killed by looters, but one of these men might have been acting on orders from Fierville, or the other traitors. Shall we arrest them and put them to the question?’

Merrivale shook his head. ‘I have no actual evidence against them. Besides, I have always had doubts about torture as a means of persuasion. Men will say whatever they think the torturer wishes to hear. As a result, we get the answers we want, but not the answers we need.’

‘I suspect you are probably right.’ Northburgh opened his strongbox and placed Merrivale’s report inside. ‘I would get some sleep if I were you. We march at first light, to Saint-Lô.’

Merrivale raised his eyebrows. ‘We are continuing? Even though the Norman revolt has failed?’

‘His Grace hopes that if he can win a victory over the French, the Normans will change their minds, and what you have just told me about Eu and Navarre will strengthen his determination. Bertrand is in Saint-Lô. Word is he intends to make