the poisonings?” he asked tersely.
“Revenge, lord,” Bascot replied in an equally short fashion. “Against you, Ivor Severtsson and the prior. You were the one responsible for hanging his brother, the bailiff gave information that enabled him to be captured and the prior was witness to the deed.”
“But none of us are dead, Templar,” Gerard objected. “I do not see how his purpose has been served by the deaths of those who had no part in bringing his brother to justice.”
Bascot spoke earnestly. “Each of those who was an intended victim was connected to one of you three, lord. Here, in the castle, the poison was meant for Lady Nicolaa. With Severtsson, it was his aunt and uncle. It was only happenstance that, on both of those occasions, others ingested the poison in their stead. The death in the priory is the only instance where Mauger achieved his aim. The poison was given to one of the monks, who are, to the prior, like members of his family. I have been told that when Mauger was a boy he enjoyed watching others being inflicted with pain. The manner in which Cooper was killed indicates that maturity has not changed him. Any revenge he sought would not be taken quickly, in the way that most men would do, with their fists or a sword. His requital would only be satisfied if he made his victims suffer before the coup de grace was delivered, so that he could take pleasure in their anguish before he despatched them. If Lady Nicolaa and Severtsson’s family had died, as he intended, he would have fulfilled his purpose.”
Camville’s face had become grim. “What are your proofs of this man’s guilt?”
Bascot related the details of Roget’s interview with the draper’s wife and how Gianni had afterwards made a suggestion that there was a connection between the poisoner and Cooper’s death. He then gave details of his questioning of Wilkin and, afterwards, the beekeeper and his daughter. Finally, he related his conversation with Matthew Gant and how it had provided proof of his suspicions. Both the sheriff and his wife listened intently.
“Mauger will not stop, lord, until he has gained his objective,” Bascot said when he had finished. “He will kill again. And the next time he might be more successful.”
“If de Marins is right, Gerard,” Nicolaa said quietly, “I am not the only one he will try to kill. Richard’s skill with a sword would be no defence against poison.”
For the first time since he had met him, Bascot saw an unfamiliar emotion appear in the sheriff’s eyes- fear.
Camville walked over to the fireplace and studied the small flames rising from the log of applewood that was burning there. It was a long time before he spoke. “You are certain of this, Templar? There can be no mistake?”
“I am sure, lord,” Bascot replied.
The sheriff nodded, convinced. “Then no time must be lost in finding him.”
After Gerard Camville gave his sanction to the search, they discussed how it could best be carried out.
“He may be anywhere in Lincoln,” Bascot said. “Someone who lives in the town, a servant here in the castle or a lay brother at the priory. It is possible he is a man we see every day whose presence we accept unthinkingly, not realising his identity is a false one. The only facts of which we can be certain are that he is in his late twenties, probably strong in build and has hair that is brown and eyes of a pale colour. He will not have returned to Lincoln until after his brother and father were dead, and so he has not been here for longer than two years.”
“The only place to start,” Nicolaa said, “is with a list of possible suspects. Ernulf and Roget can help me with those who have recently arrived in the town, and I will review the household records for those within the castle. The prior of All Saints can be asked if there are any newcomers among the monks and servants who fit Mauger’s age and description.”
“You must exercise caution, Wife,” the sheriff warned. “We do not want this man alerted to our search. If he is, he will be forewarned and may leave Lincoln before we find him. To that same end, the potter must be kept in confinement.”
Nicolaa nodded her agreement. “For the present, I will take only Ernulf, Roget and the prior into our confidence. And Richard.”
“Reinbald and his family must be warned that they are in danger,” Bascot said. Then, as he recalled the animosity that the merchant’s wife, Helge, had towards Wilkin, added, “I am not confident that Reinbald’s wife has the ability to keep a still tongue in her head. She is a headstrong woman and suffered extreme embarrassment at the potter’s trial. She is also convinced that he is guilty. Her hatred of him may blind her to the peril she is in, and she may feel it necessary to defend her views to any who will listen.”
Nicolaa pondered the problem for a few moments and then said, “I shall ask the merchant to come here to the castle so that I can speak to him of this matter alone. I can use the pretext of wishing to order some wine for our stores to request his presence and, once he arrives, explain to him our fears and the reason for them. Perhaps a way can be found to protect his family without his wife being aware of it.”
“I will question Wilkin again, see if he can remember more of Mauger’s appearance, though I am doubtful he will recall much. The last time he saw Rivelar’s elder son was many years ago.”
Nicolaa nodded. “And the aspect of a man can change drastically as he becomes an adult-his height increases and his beard will thicken. Unless he had some deformity or a visible blemish, he may look completely different. But it will be worthwhile to try, for we have a difficult task before us.”
“It would be wise, Wife, if you and Richard were careful of what you eat and drink until Mauger is found,” Camville said gruffly.
“We will be, Gerard, and I will especially ensure that Richard abstains from drinking the honeyed wine of which he, like Haukwell, is so fond.”
The castellan stood up. “I owe you an apology, de Marins. I should not have doubted your instincts when you told me you believed the potter was innocent.”
“I doubted them myself, lady,” Bascot replied. “Had Gianni not made an observation that directed me to the truth, I would still be doing so.”
“Then I will ensure the boy is rewarded for his quick intelligence,” Nicolaa promised him.
Twenty-nine
Early the next morning, Nicolaa De La Haye sat with her son, waiting for Reinbald to respond to a summons she had sent asking that he attend her that afternoon to discuss the purchase of a quantity of wine for the castle store. Richard had been apprised of the situation the night before when his father sent for him to come to the sheriff’s private chamber while Bascot was still there. He had listened in dismay as the Templar repeated his proofs of Mauger’s guilt and was shaken when he realised the danger that Nicolaa was in. “You must stay in the company of either Father or myself at all times, Mother. To do otherwise will put you in great peril.”
“Then you can help me prepare the list of those within the castle household who fit Mauger’s description, Richard,” Nicolaa said lightly, trying to alleviate the fear she saw in her son’s face. “I do not think your father would have much liking for the task.”
It was this list they were studying as they were waiting for Reinbald, Richard eschewing his favoured honeyed wine and sharing a flagon of tart cider with his mother as they considered each of the names that had been put down. There were many, for old age, death or injury often gave need for replacement.
After they had spent an hour at the task, Nicolaa laid her pen down with a sigh of frustration. “This would be far more profitable if we had some sort of description, Richard. While we can eliminate some as being too old, or too young, the rest are such a motley crew of differing physiognomies that it becomes almost impossible to eliminate any of them.”
“I agree, Mother,” Richard replied. “A description of fair skin and brown hair does not give much guidance.”
“I have been trying to remember John Rivelar’s appearance and that of his son Drue, although it cannot be taken as certain that Mauger will resemble either of them closely. It is possible he may take after his mother, but I was told that she has been dead for many years, and so any details of her aspect are lost to anyone’s memory.”
“I recall that Drue was small and dark, but his father was not. They would not have been taken as father and
