Ring of Stone EPPIE 2003 Finalist in the Action/Adventure Category

 

Chapter Eighteen

 

The winter months passed quickly; Rick was very busy. Between his duties as Sir Harold's secretary, his school, monitoring the accounts of the fish smoking enterprise, and the occasional visit to D'Arcy to see how the mill was progressing, he had little leisure.
      Jo announced she was pregnant. By her calculation: "We must have caught on first go." Rick was delighted with the news, but irked at her crudity.
      Arthur had congratulated Jo. "Our Lord of the Circle has some lead in his pencil after all."
      Much to Gerald's vocal displeasure, Sir Harold said that he would stand godfather to his ward's child.
      In February, Sir Harold's correspondence began to indicate an alarming shortfall in the expected revenue from the poll tax. On February 22, the Government demanded the immediate collection of the entire sum due and sent out instructions to that effect.
      Minor riots occurred in the town, and there were reports of villages hiding unmarried women and other dependants. Sir Harold's own manors and D'Arcy were free of such problems, but the villages of some of Sir Harold's tenant knights and Gerald's villagers were among those reported deficient.
      On March 16, the Government decided that there was clear evidence most collectors had been negligent, and some corrupt. Within seven days, instructions came from Lord Thomas for Sir Harold to nominate fresh commissioners to revise the lists of those liable to tax. Sir Harold could see no way out. The tax was the law of the land, he told Rick. When none of the commoners Sir Harold nominated would serve, he jumped at Rick's suggestion to appoint Master Gerald and make him responsible for his own commissioners.
      On April 7, Lady Eleanor gave birth to a healthy boy. Sir Harold had all the town churches ring their bells, and had banners flown from all the castle towers. For the evening, Sir Harold paid for drink served in the town alehouses, and the town watch carried Malcolm home. Arthur, who was in town on business, grumbled that there had been no such celebrations when his son was born.
      Six days later, Lady Gwenne gave birth, also to a healthy boy. Sir Harold had the banners flown and the bells rung, but declined to order celebrations in town. Gerald was away from the castle with his tax commissioners.
      "Now the births are past, we can plan to move to the summer manor," Sir Harold said. "But the Lady Jo cannot travel in her condition."
      "I'm fine," Jo said. "I am at closest three months from giving birth, perhaps four. Malcolm will be with us. Rick," she threw a crust at him, "speak up. We're going."
      It was mid-May before all was ready for the move. Arthur did not go with them because he thought the first summer at D'Arcy was critical, and Sir Harold agreed. Gerald also stayed behind because he still had work to do with the tax commissioners. Rick had no choice. Jo was going, and anyway, Sir Harold insisted his secretary and his physician travel with him.
      From Sir Harold's correspondence, he and Rick were well aware of the unrest and disturbances, particularly South and West of London. But in some ways the time passed for Rick like a dream, a dream in which some dreadful monster lurks unseen in the dark, known to be there, but the dreamer is powerless to act before it becomes a nightmare.
      The day they reached Sir William's manor, Gerald rode in at dusk. He strode into the great hall, with Adam mere steps behind him, then bowed briefly to Sir William, and to Sir Harold.
      "I must speak to you, My Lord Brother. I will await you in your room. Adam, bring me food and drink. I am weary. We have ridden far."
      When Sir Harold joined Gerald, all the hostility Rick had felt when they first arrived was back. Gerald scowled.
      "Dismiss these," Gerald said and gestured at Rick and the pages. "What I have to say is for your ears only."
      At Sir Harold's nod, Rick bowed and indicated to Chris and Todd they should leave with him.
      "Leave us, Adam," Gerald said. "I won't need you again tonight. Tell the Lady Gwenne that I will join her later."
      "We haven't seen you for ages," Todd said to Adam. "Has it been exciting, riding with Master Gerald?"
      Adam looked warily at Rick and nodded.
      "If you boys want to talk," Rick said, "why don't you go outside for a while. Rejoin me in the solar later. Don't get up to any mischief."
      That night Todd, Rick and Chris lay together on the rushes in Sir Harold's room.
      "Master Rick. Master Rick, are you awake?" Todd whispered.
      "What? God, it's night-time, Todd."
      "Can we go outside? Please. I must talk to you."
      Rick sat up and grumbled at Todd.
      "Quietly," Todd whispered. "Don't wake Sir Harold."
      Outside the room, the guard stirred and Todd whispered to him. He grinned at Rick in the gloom and nodded.
      "What did you tell him?" Rick said.
      "That you were restless and we seek a serving wench."
      "God, he'll think I'm after you," Rick blurted out.
      "Oh, no, if that were so, why would we need to leave our room?"
      Rick followed Todd out to the walled garden. He looked round and jumped.
      "There's someone there," he said. "Over in the corner, a shadow moved."
      "It's Adam, he's waiting for us."
      "Master Richard."
      Adam bowed. He tensed when Rick gripped his wrist and drew him back into the shadows.
      "It's all right," Todd said. "He won't beat you for nothing. Tell Master Rick what you told Chris and me."
      "When we started to redo the rolls and collect taxes, Master Gerald would pick someone in the village to beat, a beardless youth. He had him beaten in front of the other villagers, not much, only enough to make him squeal. Master Gerald threatened to have him flogged dead if the count wasn't right, then to start on someone else."
      "Did it work?" Todd said.
      "Yes, I think so. At least, the rolls were closer to the last tax rolls, or so the clerk said."
      "What can I do?" Rick said. "We've heard about his tax collecting methods, but Sir Harold either cannot or will not interfere."
      "Adam's not finished," Todd said, and impatiently punched Adam's arm. "Get on."
      "One morning, after he'd had a youth with him, Master Gerald was pleased and excited. He didn't even beat me. We had to saddle up and ride back to the villages we'd already been to. Master Gerald questioned villagers, tortured two. Master Arthur had been in most villages, and talked about the preachings of John Ball. Some men went back to D'Arcy with him."
      "God. We don't need that. This is the wrong time."
      "Master Gerald told the clerk that he had them now. He had the damned Masters of the Circle. His Lord Brother couldn't shield them now. He went on about, 'devisers of false news and reporters…' "
      " '…reporters of horrible and false lies concerning prelates, dukes, earls, barons and other nobles and great men of the realm… Hereof great peril and mischief might come to all the realm and quick subversion and destruction of the said realm if due remedy is not provided.' … That's from a statute of 1379. Gerald could nail Arthur to the wall with that. It's the basis for the arrest of John Ball. Arthur could simply vanish once Gerald gets Lord Thomas to arrest him. Did you hear anything else?"
      "No, when Master Gerald saw me come in, he stopped."
      Next morning, by the time Sir Harold's party was ready to leave, Gerald had already ridden out. Several times Rick tried to get Sir Harold on his own to talk, but from first light, his gentlemen were admitted to the chamber and a private conversation was simply not possible.
      It was fully two hours before Chris cantered back from his place immediately behind Sir Harold.
      "Hi, Rick," he said. "His Nibs wants you. Boy, is he all steamed up. Is it about what Adam said last night? I got a swat just because I was there. I hadn't even opened my mouth."
      "Shut up."
      "God's blood, you too. Sorry I spoke."
      "Stay with Todd," Rick snapped, and he kicked his horse to a trot.
      "What kept you, Sirrah?" Sir Harold said.
      "How have I offended, My Lord?"
      "You are followers of the hedge priests."
      "No, My Lord. We are not."
      "You have broken bread with me, and eaten of my salt, and you betray me."
      "My Lord, you are mistaken."
      With a glare at Rick, Sir Harold spurred his horse, and Rick galloped in pursuit. His dagger almost jolted free, and Rick's hand flew to the hilt. Almost instantly there were men round him, and Dennis was between Rick and Sir Harold. Blades flashed in the sun. Out of the corner of his eye Rick saw Todd, dagger in hand, spur forward, Chris at his side. Horrified and confused, Rick bellowed: "No, Todd. Chris," and raised both hands. Rick, now a much better rider, was still not up to riding with no hands. He fell off his horse. Winded, Rick lay on his back and stared up at a circle of men, blades in hand, who scowled down at him.
      "Hold. Put up your blades," Sir Harold shouted. "I'll hang anyone who draws blood."
      Sir Harold shouldered his way through his courtiers, laughed and put out his hand.
      "Come, Master Secretary, friend, rise. You look ridiculous. Martin, I will eat here with the Masters from the Circle. We must meet."
      He turned to the men who still stood swords in hand.
      "Sheathe your weapons. If Master Richard wished to kill me, he has had many chances in my chamber at night."
      Sir Harold sat on one of the panniers, and Rick and the group stood round him. Chris, Todd, and Henry rushed to serve the cold meat, cheese, bread, and wine.
      Chris grinned at Sir Harold.
      "Is Master Rick to be your jester?"
      Sir Harold scowled at him.
      "You and Todd rode in, daggers drawn. Whom did you intend to defend, me or Master Richard?"
      Solemnly, Todd said: "Master Rick, of course, but not against you."
      Chris looked decidedly uncomfortable, but said: "Rick is my cousin."
      "As Gerald is my brother," Sir Harold said with a frown.
      "He is no longer your male heir," Dennis said, quietly.
      Sir Harold turned to look at Dennis appraisingly.
      "An apt thought. And you, on whose side were you prepared do battle?"
      Dennis bowed.
      "I gave you a soldier's oath of fealty. You will not find me wanting."
      "You would have killed Master Richard?"
      Jo flushed and stared at Dennis, while Todd moved closer, between him and Rick. Chris looked from Dennis to Rick, alarm and uncertainty on his face.
      "You were in no danger from Master Rick, Sire," Dennis said. "Some of your gentlemen are jealous of him, and listen too readily to Master Gerald. They mistook Rick's intentions, possibly."
      "You prevaricate, Sirrah. Answer me directly. You would have killed Master Richard?"
      "I see no conflict. Would Martin kill you to defend Our Lord of Lancaster?"
      Rick thought Sir Harold was about to explode. His face purpled and he clenched his fists.
      "By the Body of Christ, you go too far, Sirrah. I am Lord John's man as Martin is mine. No such defence would ever be needed."
      Jo smiled. "Touché, My Lord."
      "What? Be silent. This is not woman's business, mistress."
      "My husband's life is very much my business. You yourself have said it best. Rick is your man. Have you ever had cause to doubt it?"
      "Martin," Sir Harold said, "you have heard all. What do you think?"
      "The Masters of the Circle defend each other as the wolverine defends her young. They are a group that acts as one, but it is your group. I would trust my life, and yours, to them."
      "Then is my brother lying?"
      "It would not be the first time," Martin said. "As we both well know."
      "Might I speak?" Rick said, and at Sir Harold's nod went on. "I don't know, of course, what Master Gerald said to you. I do know from his page that Arthur has been reported speaking in some villages in support of John Ball's ideas."
      "This is the very treason of which Gerald spoke."
      "I did try to speak with you earlier, but you surrounded yourself with your gentlemen and excluded me."
      "Martin says you are a group. Do you support Arthur? Agree with him? Does he speak for you?" Sir Harold turned to Malcolm. "Master Physician, you are unusually silent. What say you?"
      Malcolm looked as if he was about to speak, but after a glance at Rick, shrugged.
      "So, Master Richard, it is once again you."
      "My Lord, do I speak for you?"
      "Only when I authorise you to do so."
      "So, at other times I speak my own mind and anyone who ascribes my words or actions to you is wrong, or at best misguided?"
      "I take your point. You disown Arthur? You dissociate your group from him?"
      "No, at least not yet. If an enemy of mine reported to you treasonous words or acts on my part, would you disown me without inquiry or without seeking some explanation?"
      "If I did, Sirrah, you would, at this moment, be on your way back to the castle to await my brother's pleasure, or hanging from Sir William's gibbet."
      Rick paled and swallowed, and Jo pulled him and Todd closer to her.
      Sir Harold smiled grimly.
      "I was never nearer to calling my guard, than when you and Todd rose in the night. Despite my brother's urging, I trusted you. I trust you still."
      "Thank you." Rick bowed. "We deeply appreciate your confidence and thank you for your generosity to us."
      "Arthur is less appreciative."
      "Arthur is Arthur. He is not about to lead the people of D'Arcy astray into any wild adventure that could hurt them."
      "What shall we do, My Lord of the Circle?" Sir Harold said. "My brother left, much out of temper, this morning, because I would not permit him to arrest you and your people. You and Christopher, next to Arthur, are the ones he would most wish to question personally. I fear Adam will have an uncomfortable day or so."
      "I'm sure Arthur is trying to improve the lot of our people, working within the system," Rick said. "He will not incite disobedience or rebellion, at least not intentionally. May I ride to D'Arcy to warn him?"
      "No. You may not. Had I wished you hanged, I would have done it at Sir William's or here today. Despite my lack of permission, if Gerald finds you away from me before he has time to cool, you are dead. And where would I find another such page?" Sir Harold gave Chris an almost affectionate one-arm hug. He scowled. "I might even have to take Henry back."
      Henry retreated to stand beside Jo.
      "Might I write to Arthur and send one of your men-at-arms to him?"
      "Yes, I will permit that. Warn him to guard his tongue. To stay close to D'Arcy. And above all to avoid any confrontation with Gerald. I have forbidden him to arrest Arthur without my express consent, but I cannot answer for Gerald's actions if there is further provocation."