Dark Fire

night may indicate they have made more. But how, Guy? How does an alchemist create material from a formula?'

'By finding the correct mixture of the four elements. Earth, air, fire and water.'

'That all things are composed of. Yes, but that is no easy task.'

'To be sure. It is easy enough to make iron, using the minerals God has seeded in the earth, but hard to make gold or we would all be eating from gold plates and the stuff would be worthless.'

'And to make Greek Fire, how easy might that be?'

'Without the formula, it is impossible to tell.'

I sat up. 'You spoke of iron and gold just then. There are some things that are common, easy to find, like iron, and others like gold which are very rare.'

'Of course. That is obvious.'

'I have been reading about the history of fire weapons in the east. We know the Byzantines had no problem in finding the elements needed to create the liquid that is set on fire. Equally, similar substances are mentioned by the Romans, but they were not developed as weapons. I think that perhaps a crucial element needed to manufacture Greek Fire is hard to get. I think the Gristwoods may have been looking for a substitute for this missing element. This could have led them to the Polish drink that burned the table at the inn.'

He stroked his chin. 'So they used that to make Greek Fire?'

'I don't know. Perhaps.'

'And, from what you say, they were already working with the rogues who were to become their killers in a plot against Cromwell?'

'Yes. I don't know how that came about. But, Guy, if I was able to find some of the original Greek Fire in the Barty's churchyard I told you of-'

His face wrinkled in distaste. 'Desecrating graves-'

'Yes, yes, I agree. But it is to be done anyway. If I found some and brought it to you, could you analyse it for me, distil its essence or whatever it is you do?'

'I am an apothecary, not an alchemist.'

'You know as much of their arts as most of them do.'

He took a deep breath and folded his arms. 'To what end, Matthew?' he asked.

'To help me find out what has happened-'

He broke in sharply. 'Matthew, you forget what you are asking me. To analyse Greek Fire so that Thomas Cromwell may have the secret.' He paced the room, his dark face more serious than I had ever seen it. At length he turned to me.

'If you can find this cursed stuff and bring it to me I will look at it. But then I will destroy it. I will give you no clue to its manufacture that may help Cromwell. If my researches throw up anything that will aid you to catch these murderers without doing that, I will tell you. I am sorry, Matthew, but that is all I am prepared to do.'

'Very well. I agree.' I extended my hand and he took it. He still looked serious. 'St Gregory of Nyssa once said all the arts and sciences have their roots in the struggle against death. And so they should have. This thing of ruin and destruction is a perversion, a monstrosity. If you find that formula, you should destroy it and all the world will be safer.'

I sighed. 'I am bound to Cromwell. And to help my country.'

'And how do you think Cromwell, and King Henry, would use Greek Fire, ruthless men of blood that they are? For murder and mayhem, that is how.' He was angry. 'This is far worse than Scarnsea, Matthew. Cromwell has used you again not just to hunt a murderer, but to aid him in a brutal, cruel blasphemy.'

I bit my lip.

'And Barak,' he continued, 'how does he see things?'

'He is utterly loyal to his master.' I looked at Guy. 'I will tell him nothing of this conversation.' I leaned back on the bed with a sigh. 'You do well to upbraid me,' I said quietly. 'I have worried about what Greek Fire may do, but – yes, I have been driven on by a passion to catch these murderers, recover what was stolen. And to save Elizabeth Wentworth. At any cost.'

'That cost may be too high. You must decide when the time comes, Matthew. It will be between you and God.'

Chapter Thirty-three

IT WAS LATE MORNING by the time we arrived home. I opened the front door quietly, hoping we might get upstairs without Joan seeing our sorry condition, but paused at the sight of a note in Godfrey's large round hand on the table. I broke the seal.

'Bealknap's back!' I said. 'He's in his chambers. Thank God, I feared he might be-' I did not finish the sentence.

'Let's get a message to Leman then,' Barak said, 'and go to Lincoln's Inn.'

Just then Joan appeared from the kitchen, alerted by our voices. Her eyes widened at the state we were in.

'Sir, what's happened now?' There was a slight quaver in her voice. 'When you didn't come back last night I was worried.'

'There's been a bad fire over at Queenhithe,' I said gently. 'We were caught up in it, but we're all right. I'm sorry, Joan, there have been many turmoils this week.'

'You look worn out, sir. What happened to your hair, Master Barak?'

'It got singed. I look monstrous, hey?' He gave her his most charming smile. 'What I need is someone to cut the other side, so I don't frighten the children.'

'I could have a try.'

'You are a pearl among women, Mistress Woode.'

While Joan fetched some scissors and took Barak up to his room, I scribbled a note to Leman and gave it to a wide-eyed Simon to take to Cheapside. Then I went up. I shut my bedroom door and leaned on it wearily. Guy's words about the nature of my mission returned to me. I had been too tired, too frightened for myself and the others involved, to think much further than uncovering the conspirators. But what if I were to succeed? What if the time came when the Greek Fire formula was in my hands? What would I do then? I remembered poor Bathsheba's words. A plot against Lord Cromwell. Just what had Michael and his brother planned that had been interrupted by their deaths? I shook my head. For now there was nothing to do but go on, beard Bealknap in his den now I had the chance. It was the fifth of June, I realized, only five days left.

***

AT LINCOLN'S INN I left Barak and Leman in my rooms, then crossed the courtyard to Marchamount's chambers to enquire after him. Distasteful though the prospect was, I had to talk to him about Lady Honor once I had seen Bealknap. His clerk, though, said he was out at Hertford, appearing in a case before the circuit judge, and would not be back until the morrow. I cursed inwardly. At least on my mission for Cromwell three years before I had had all the parties secure in a monastery enclosure. I told the clerk I would return on the morrow also, and went back to where Leman and Barak waited, watching Skelly laboriously copying out the application for the Chancery writ for Bealknap's case. Leman, who seemed more confident today, asked if Bealknap was in his rooms.

'So the message said. I shall just check with my colleague,' I replied.

Leman smiled, a grim smile that anticipated revenge.

I knocked at Godfrey's door and went in. He was standing looking from the window, a troubled expression on his thin face. He gave me a watery smile.

'Come to see Brother Bealknap, Matthew? I saw him go to his chambers earlier.'

'Good. Are you all right, Godfrey?'

He fingered the hem of his robe. 'I have had a letter from the secretary. It seems the Duke of Norfolk is not