degenerating into absurdity as the ale flowed. Bale was still there, lying on a bench with his mouth open, and Roger was slumped across a table. Sear was leaning over him. Geoffrey hurtled forward and shoved the older knight away.
‘Easy!’ yelled Sear angrily, staggering. ‘I was only making sure he was not dead. He does not usually drink himself into unconsciousness, and I was concerned.’
Hand on the hilt of his dagger, Geoffrey felt for a life-beat in Roger’s neck. It was strong, but sluggish. He crossed to Bale and did the same, although the squire stirred at his touch and opened bleary eyes.
‘God’s nails!’ Bale swore, struggling to sit. ‘That last brew was potent! I only had a gulp, and it made me reel like a virgin. That Richard certainly knows his claret!’
Geoffrey stared at him. ‘Richard sent you claret?’
Bale waved a hand, the gesture almost unseating him. ‘It is on the table. Richard’s message said it was for both of you, and I doubt Sir Roger has finished it. I will fetch you a clean cup.’
He tried to stand but slumped back down again, holding his head in his hands and moaning. Sear released one of his harsh brays of laughter.
‘They are both drunk! I heard men gossiping in the street that they had been at the ale since dawn, and the claret proved too much for them. I hope they have not drunk the place dry, because I have been out doing a man’s work and I am thirsty.’
‘They are not drunk,’ said Geoffrey, his stomach churning as he darted to the table and grabbed the jug. Was it Leah’s doing, in revenge for his discovery of her dark secret? She had threatened to make him sorry, but he had not anticipated she would strike quite so soon.
The door opened, and the taverner arrived. Behind him was the apothecary Geoffrey had spoken to that morning. Hilde and Isabella crowded in behind them.
‘There you are,’ said the taverner, relieved. ‘Good. When your friend flopped across the table and resisted my attempts to wake him, I thought I had better fetch help, but I am glad you are here, because you can put him to bed. He is a too heavy for me to haul upstairs.’
The apothecary examined Roger briefly, then turned his attention to the wine jug Geoffrey shoved into his hands, first sniffing cautiously at its contents and then taking a tentative sip.
‘Something has been added,’ he announced. ‘A soporific. And from the flavour, I would say it is the one I prescribe for over-feisty horses.’
‘Have you sold any to Leah recently?’ asked Geoffrey, watching Hilde manoeuvre Roger into a position where he would not choke.
‘Not Leah,’ replied the apothecary, going to Bale and assessing him, too. ‘But Richard was having trouble with a nag last night and came to me for the remedy. This was before he was attacked, of course. Surely, you cannot suspect he had anything to do with this?’
‘The wine came from him,’ insisted Bale, finally managing to stand. ‘Ask the landlord.’
‘It is true,’ agreed the landlord. ‘Richard delivered it last night. He ordered me to give it to you at noon and to make sure you both enjoyed it. I thought it was an odd request – he is not usually a generous man – but I did as I was told.’
‘You should have refused,’ said the apothecary sternly. ‘Any fool could see the instruction was sinister, and now we have two men poisoned. But do not worry, Sir Geoffrey. Your friend has not swallowed enough of it to be dangerous, and your squire is already rallying. They will both be recovered tomorrow.’
‘I knew Richard did not like you,’ said Sear wonderingly. ‘But I did not think he would stoop to poison. It is a shameful way to eliminate enemies, even for a villain like him.’
Geoffrey was in an agony of guilt. It was his fault Roger was laid low. He had brought his friend to Kermerdyn, knowing Henry’s mission was dangerous, and first Roger was shot and now he was poisoned. He wished with all his heart that he had left him and Hilde at Goodrich.
‘What are you going to do?’ asked Sear with professional interest. ‘Hunt Richard down and challenge him to fight? I would, in your position. He will cheat, though, so watch him.’
‘No,’ said Hilde urgently, grabbing Geoffrey’s arm. ‘Think! There is something odd about this whole business. Richard wanted you incapacitated at a specific time. Why? It all reeks of intrigue, and you should stay here until you understand what is happening.’
‘Actually, that is good advice,’ said Sear soberly. ‘Heed her, Geoffrey.’
Geoffrey decided he would make up his own mind what to do about Richard, although he stayed long enough to help Bale carry Roger to the chamber upstairs, where they saw him comfortably installed. The apothecary assured him again that his friend would make a complete recovery, and Hilde settled at the bedside to monitor him for as long as was necessary. Isabella had disappeared, but returned not long afterwards with three burly men who, she said, hired their services to anyone needing stalwart guards.
‘They have repelled Richard before,’ she said. ‘They do not like him.’
‘Good,’ said Geoffrey. ‘Because they will protect you, Hilde and Roger tonight. They will be paid double what you offered if they succeed, but if they fail, I will hunt them out and kill them.’
The men met his gaze steadily as they nodded agreement to his terms. It was a reassuring reaction, but he would not be easy in his mind until he had tackled Richard and was back in the tavern watching over his wife and friend.
‘You plan to challenge him?’ asked Hilde in alarm, as Geoffrey grabbed his helmet and buckled on the heavier of his two swords. He also tucked an extra dagger in his boot.
‘Yes,’ said Geoffrey shortly. ‘Keep the door locked, and do not answer it to anyone.’
Sear was still in the main chamber when Geoffrey stalked through it. The older knight was about to make a quip about Roger’s stupidity in imbibing wine sent from such a dangerous man, but stopped when he saw the expression on Geoffrey’s face.
‘The King ordered me to give you this when we arrived in Kermerdyn,’ said Geoffrey, handing him the last letter. ‘Do not ask why he told me to wait, because I do not know.’
He strode into the yard and yelled to one of the taverner’s sons to fetch his horse. The lad started to roll his eyes – Hilde had ordered him to unsaddle and stable it only moments before – but a hard stare sent him scurrying off to oblige. Geoffrey was aware that Sear had followed him outside and had broken the seal of his letter to gaze uncomprehendingly at the words.
‘Damn!’ he muttered. ‘Henry probably sent this because I told him he would not be getting such high taxes from Pembroc in the future. I thought reprisal would not be long in coming.’
‘That is what happens when you serve a master who loves money above all else,’ said Geoffrey, angry enough with Richard to speak recklessly.
‘Henry is a good man,’ declared Sear hotly.
‘Right,’ said Geoffrey, controlling his temper; it would be foolish to waste time and energy arguing with Sear.
‘My clerks made an error in their calculations,’ Sear went on, apparently feeling an explanation was in order. ‘It resulted in people being charged too much, and I could not, in all conscience, let it continue. I went to tell him what had happened.’
Geoffrey did not reply. He was wondering where to begin his hunt for Richard.
Sear cleared his throat uncomfortably. ‘Will you read it to me? I would rather not take it to the abbey, because they do not like me and will probably make me wait until morning.’
‘No,’ said Geoffrey. The King’s letters had caused him enough trouble already.
‘Damn it, man! Will you make me beg?’ Then Sear’s face took on a cunning expression. ‘Or shall we make a bargain? You read me the letter, and I will tell you where Richard is likely to be hiding.’
‘Where?’
‘Do we have an agreement?’
Geoffrey nodded impatiently.
‘There is an abandoned village about two miles south of Rhydygors,’ began Sear. ‘You cannot miss it if you follow the river path. It is where he and Leah courted, so it has special significance for him. Now read me the letter.’
Geoffrey took it from him and scanned it quickly. It was short, blunt, and its tone was cold and unfriendly. He handed it back. ‘You will not want to hear this, and I have no time to accept challenges from you. Ask Bishop
