Chapter Four

Gareth

 

 

“You’re telling me that the dead man, this—” Earl Robert snapped his fingers at Ranulf. “What was his name?”

Ranulf stepped forward and replied, without informing his father-in-law that he wasn’t a dog, “David, my lord.”

“Yes. David. You say he was your man?” Robert stood near the dais in the great hall with his legs spread and his hands behind his back. At fifty, he was tall and slender, without even a slight paunch. His full head of hair was turning grey at the temples, and he wore it swept back from his face.

“Yes, my lord,” Ranulf said.

“But you didn’t know he had returned to Newcastle?” Robert said.

“No, my lord.” Ranulf clenched his hands tightly behind his back. He was not enjoying being questioned by his wife’s father. The set of his shoulders spoke of a man within inches of storming from the room. Then he took in a deep breath and let it out. “I gave him a certain degree of independence in order to complete his tasks. I had not seen him in some time.”

Ranulf’s red hair stood straight up; he’d worked his hands through it too many times in the past hour since David’s body had fallen at Gwen’s feet. Gareth had heard that Ranulf’s temperament was more volatile than King Owain’s, which was saying something. King Owain was quick to anger and equally quick to cool. But while Owain might forget his ire within moments of the offense, Ranulf was one to bear a grudge.

“Define some time,” Hywel said.

If Ranulf didn’t like being questioned by Robert, he liked it even less from Hywel. Still, he answered civilly enough. “Since the winter.”

Earl Robert turned to Hywel and Rhun. “Meanwhile, your father believed David to be his servant.”

Rhun dipped his head. “That is so.”

Earl Robert sighed and smoothed his hair back from his face. He turned towards the dais, paced back and forth along it once, and then halted, his hands on his hips, contemplating each of the men before him in turn. Robert of Gloucester had a reputation as a measured thinker and a steady leader, providing a strong counterpoint to his half-sister, Empress Maud. She was known for her arrogance, mercurial temperament, and capriciousness. Rumor had it that men stayed true to the empress less because of a direct allegiance to her than out of loyalty to her brother, who was her strongest supporter. “And you accuse Alard of murdering him?”

“Sir Gareth saw him,” Ranulf said. “Alard is a traitor to the empress, of that we can be sure.”

Earl Robert raised his eyebrows. “Alard has served my sister for many years. How is it that I am only hearing of his treachery now?”

“His defection to King Stephen’s side is very recent,” Ranulf said.

Gareth shifted, wishing Gwen was beside him. She could have helped him read the undercurrents in the room. As it was, Gwen, Evan, and Gruffydd had found seats at a table near the front door to the hall. While the anteroom beyond remained full of retainers, Earl Robert had requested that only his Welsh visitors and a few of his own men witness this conversation.

Up until this moment, Gareth had thought he was primarily interested in bringing David’s murderer to justice for King Owain’s sake. Yes, Alard had murdered a man in broad daylight; yes, David was working for Ranulf and spying on King Owain at the same time, but that meant it was only a matter of time before someone killed him. Now, however, the questions began to pile up in his mind. Chief among them was the nature of Alard’s relationship to David. He’d killed him, after all. One would presume he had a reason.

Gareth also wondered if it was significant that Alard had murdered a Welshman in front of a party of Welshmen. If his intent was to get the attention of the two princes, he’d surely succeeded. Gareth didn’t sniff the air to find the source of the bad smell wafting from the stories everyone was telling, but they stunk nonetheless.

“If you knew Alard was a traitor, how was it that he entered my castle unmolested?” Earl Robert said, still talking to Ranulf.

“I do not know,” Ranulf said. “He escaped by rope into the Lyme Brook. Perhaps he entered the castle the same way.”

Amaury made a derisive snort that he quickly turned into a cough. Prince Rhun had suggested the same thing to Gareth as they’d left the wall walk, and Gareth hadn’t contradicted him, but Ranulf was clutching at straws. That Alard would climb up the rope into the castle made no sense at all. It was hard to imagine an entrance that was more likely to get him noticed. The most logical course of action would have had him coming through the main gate unremarked, as just another visitor to the castle, one that some men in the garrison recognized and still believed to be an ally. Alard could have left the rope tied around the merlon as a precaution, an escape route of last resort that he would use if he had to and leave behind if he didn’t.

Ranulf seemed not to have heard Amaury’s understated disapproval. Perhaps to make amends anyway, Amaury cleared his throat and stepped forward, deflecting Earl Robert’s attention away from Ranulf to himself. “I have men scouring the banks of the brook for any sign of the man, my lord.” He paused and didn’t say what Gareth expected to hear, which was it is only a matter of time before we find him.

It seemed that Earl Robert had expected to hear those words too. When they didn’t come, he said, “But you believe him to be long gone.”

“Not necessarily gone,” Amaury said, “but certainly untraceable unless Alard wishes to be found. He had a significant head start, and he knows the area well.”

“And why would he want to be found?” Earl Robert remained focused on Amaury, who stood steadily before him.

“Alard may have murdered David, but that doesn’t make him less intelligent than he was yesterday. He has a plan. He would return to Newcastle if he believed his work unfinished,” Amaury said.

Earl Robert raised his eyebrows as Amaury hurried on.

“As you may be aware, Alard’s skills as a knight and a purveyor of information have always been considerable. If he killed David, as it appears he did, he did it for a reason he believes in. I find it unlikely that the matter will end with the death of one Welshman.”

Earl Robert transferred his attention to the two princes of Gwynedd, both of whom had been listening with great interest to the Normans’ conversation. “I suppose you have a man whom you would like me to include in this investigation? I will allow him to participate as a courtesy to your father, since it appears that he has been wronged in this matter.”

“We do, sir,” Prince Rhun said, speaking for himself and Hywel.

Robert turned on his heel and canted his head at Gareth. “It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Yes, my lord.” Gareth stepped forward.

“Ranulf!” Robert waved a hand at his son-in-law in much the same way Ranulf had waved at Amaury earlier. “See to this matter but keep me informed.”

Ranulf bowed. “Yes, my lord.”

“Now.” Earl Robert nodded towards the two princes. “If you would come with me to my receiving room, I would like to welcome you properly, without this troublesome event hanging between us.”

“Certainly, sir.” Rhun bowed, though the act came off a bit stiff. Strictly speaking, as a prince of Gwynedd, Rhun outranked the earl, but not if rank depended on men at his command or wealth. The question of status had been making their conversation awkward from the moment Earl Robert greeted the two princes, especially in front of so many observers. It was better for the three of them to meet in private.

“Good.” Earl Robert led the way out of the room.

Prince Hywel clapped Gareth on the shoulder as he passed him. It was a sign of confidence that Gareth knew what to do and would do it. At least that’s what Gareth hoped it meant.

When Gareth had ridden into Chester last winter, from the moment he entered underneath the gatehouse, he’d felt the eyes of every Saxon in the city on him. Here at Newcastle, the feeling was similar, if not worse, and Gareth had to acknowledge that he was more out of his depth in this Norman castle than he’d ever been, even when he’d sailed to Dublin to find Gwen after she’d been abducted by King Owain’s brother, Cadwaladr. Gareth glanced at Gwen, who noticed his attention and lifted her hand to him. Seeing her there settled him and started him thinking more coherently about the investigation that faced him.

“I would have you see to this matter, Amaury,” Ranulf said, passing off the responsibility.

Amaury tipped his head in assent.

“You can work with this Welshman?” Ranulf spoke as if Gareth wasn’t in the room.

“Yes, my lord,” Amaury said.

“Good. I expect you to come to me before speaking to Earl Robert,” Ranulf said.

Amaury bowed from the waist. Ranulf left the hall through a back entrance, following the path his father-in-law and the princes of Gwynedd had taken.

Left alone with Gareth, Amaury rubbed his temple with two fingers. “I hope you did not take offense, Sir Gareth. My lord can be a bit … abrupt at times. With this murder, everyone’s machinations and strategies will come under unwanted scrutiny from Earl Robert.”

Last winter, Ranulf had negotiated a deal with Prince Cadwaladr. They’d discussed deposing King Owain and putting Cadwaladr on the throne of Gwynedd. Gareth wondered if Amaury was subtly telling him that other such dealings were in the works and that David might have played a role in implementing some of them. And would have still, had he not been killed.

“I am not offended, my lord,” Gareth said. “An earl does as he pleases.”

Amaury coughed a laugh. “That he does.” Then he gestured to where Gwen and the others waited. “You brought a woman with you.”

“She is my wife and is here at the request of Prince Hywel,” Gareth said.

Amaury eyed him. “I gather she is not one to be underestimated either, if one were so inclined? I am to forget that she is a woman?”

Gareth grinned. “As you say.” Gwen may have been intimidated at first by all the Normans around them, but she knew her own mind, and Gareth thanked God every day for it.

“Empress Maud is such a woman, though I would hope that your wife speaks more gently than the empress.” Amaury pursed his lips. “It would be better to clear this up quickly before she arrives.”

Gareth glanced at him, his gaze sharpening. “I noted that Empress Maud’s banner flies above the tower, but we were told she wasn’t in residence. She is coming to Newcastle?”

The corners of Amaury’s mouth turned down. “Her flag flies wherever the Earl of Gloucester resides as a sign of his allegiance. The empress, however, arrives tomorrow.” From Amaury’s expression, encountering the empress didn’t delight him any more than it did Gareth. “Rather than at the castle, she will stay at the friary down the road to the east.”

Gareth nodded, accepting that information with equanimity. It didn’t matter to him where the empress chose to lay her head. “What is it about this incident in particular that would disturb Empress Maud?”

Amaury chewed on his lower lip and looked down at his feet, not answering at first. Then he cleared his throat. “Alard has always been one of her favorites.”