'And I am a King's officer!'
'Two quarts of ale and a chicken pie would do nicely.' Athelstan pulled out a silver piece. 'And we'll sit over in the corner.'
The taverner's oily face broke into a smile. Athelstan tried not to flinch at the blackened stumps and his yellowing teeth, jagged and broken. He looked at the man's dirty fingernails.
'On second thoughts,' he added, 'just two quarts of ale.' He pressed his sandalled foot on the toe of Sir John's boot. 'I do urge you, sir, to help us or Sir John Cranston here, who is coroner of the city, might come back with his merry boys.'
The taverner held his hands up as if in prayer.
'Sir Jack Cranston. I've heard of you, sir.' He hurried across and wiped two stools with his rag. 'Make yourselves comfortable. The ale is free, my gift.'
'No, it isn't.' Athelstan put the silver piece on the table. 'We pay for what we drink and for what we learn.'
Despite his ponderous girth the taverner moved quickly. He roared out the order and a slattern hurried across. The blackjacks were large and looked clean, the ale frothing at the top and running down the sides.
'Now, sir, how can I help you?' The taverner pulled a stool across.
'Miles Sholter and Philip Eccleshall,' Sir John repeated. He sipped from the tankard and smacked his lips in appreciation. 'Tell the truth and, bearing in mind the ale is fragrant, I'll forget your earlier rudeness.'
'They arrived here on Saturday evening. You know the way they are. They came bustling in, cloaks on, hoods up, spurs clinking, sword belts on. One, of medium height, had long dark hair, the other was taller.'
'And what happened?' Athelstan asked.
'They gave their names, Sholter and Eccleshall, and their office. Sholter was rather quiet but Eccleshall was full of his own importance.'
'Did they order food or drink?'
'No, they immediately hired a chamber. I took them up to one on the first floor, the best we have: two beds, a chest, coffer, table and a…'
'Thank you. Just tell us what happened.'
'They stayed there. One of the maids took some food up, about an hour after they arrived. One was lying on the bed, the other was mending a spur. Their saddlebags were unpacked and they were talking about their journey. About seven or eight in the evening, one of them came clattering downstairs all in a hurry, the other behind him. The taller one, Eccleshall, was arguing with his companion. 'Why not leave it?' he cried. But the other said no and demanded his horse be saddled. They had already paid for their chamber so I didn't object and off the other one went.'
'Did you know he was murdered?' Sir John asked.
The taverner shook his head and wiped his face with a rag.
'Who was murdered?'
'The one who left.'
'So, that's what happened.'
'What do you mean?' Sir John demanded, glaring across at the group of chapmen whose shouts and curses shattered the peace of the taproom. The pedlars, who'd overheard that Cranston was a King's officer, immediately fell silent.
'Well, the taller one, Eccleshall, after his companion left, he came down here.' He pointed to the inglenook. 'He just sat there looking into the flames.'
'And he never left?' Athelstan asked.
'Never.'
'You are sure of that?'
Athelstan felt a surge of disappointment.
'Well, you see, Brother…?'
'Athelstan. I am Sir John's secretarius. I am also parish priest of St Erconwald's.'
'Ah.' The taverner tapped the side of his fat nose. 'I've also heard of you. Look, I tell the truth. Eccleshall drank deeply that night. I could see he was worried. He had great difficulty climbing the stairs and that was long after closing. Now, like all taverners, I'm frightened of fire. I always go round and check that some drunken bugger has not left a candle alight. We deliberately do not put locks in our rooms because of that.' He grinned. 'If a man and his lady friend wish a little privacy, they can always put a stool against the door. Anyway, it must have been well after midnight. I opened the door to Eccleshall's chamber, the candle was out and he was snoring like a pig on the bed. We also have a groom guarding the stables. No one disturbed him.'
'And the next morning?' Athelstan asked.
'Eccleshall, rather heavy-eyed, came down to break his fast. He was very agitated, asking everyone had they seen his companion? Of course, we hadn't. He ordered his horse to be saddled and left. Oh, it must have been about nine in the morning.'
'And you are sure,' Athelstan insisted, 'that two came here?'
'Of course! Eccleshall and the other, Sholter, slightly shorter, dark-haired, fresh-faced.'
Athelstan thanked him and the taverner went back to the kitchen, chuckling at the easy silver he had earned.
'It seems you are wrong, Brother.' Sir John patted him gently on the shoulder. 'Sholter and Eccleshall came here. Sholter left but, if Eccleshall had anything to do with his murder, I can't see how he could be in two places at once!' He looked round the taproom. 'Brother,' he said quietly, leaning across the table. 'What happens if the Great Community of the Realm were here? One of their so-called officers? You heard the taverner. Eccleshall and Sholter swagger in, loudly proclaiming who they are, then one abruptly leaves just before darkness falls.'
'You mean he was followed out and killed?'
'It's possible.' Sir John licked his lips. 'That ale was nice.'
'No, Sir John, you've drunk enough.' Athelstan pushed his tankard across. 'Or, at least I have, you can finish mine then it's back to Southwark and across to the city!'
They left the Silken Thomas and made their way into Southwark. The streets were now busy, the small markets which stood on each street corner doing a busy trade in second-hand goods.
'Or what they've stolen from the other side of the river,' Sir John commented.
Many people recognised Athelstan and his burly companion. In the main, good-natured abuse was called but, on one occasion, the coroner had to draw his sword as some dried dog-turds struck the house wall beside him. The group of roaring boys gathered in an alehouse doorway quietly slunk back.
'Let's move on,' Athelstan urged. He went down an alleyway.
'Brother, I thought we were going to the bridge?'
'No, Sir John, just bear with me. I have a little parish business to do. The Venerable Veronica.'
They found Dog Tail Lane. The Venerable Veronica lived in a mean, shabby tenement thrust between an old warehouse on one side and a dingy cook shop on the other. Her chamber was at the top of rickety stairs which stank of urine. The walls were cracked and split, the flaking plaster covering the shabby, wooden steps like a coating of snow. The Venerable Veronica, however, was welcoming enough and her chamber was neat and tidy. She was sitting on a stool, hand over a small dish of glowing charcoal fixed on a tripod. In a far corner stood a cot bed screened off by a tawdry cloak which hung from hooks fixed into the ceiling.
Despite her great age, Sir John was surprised how striking the old woman was. She was small, narrow-faced; her skin looked lined and seamed but her eyes were sharp and bright as a sparrow's. She responded quickly enough, asking her visitors to bring across a bench so they could sit near her while she 'warmed her poor hands' over the charcoal.
'I should go to church more often, Brother,' she began. 'But my old knees and back hurt.'
'I could bring you the sacrament when I come,' Athelstan offered. 'It's easy enough done.'
'Would you really, Brother, and shrive me?'
'Of course, whenever I visit, just ask.'
The old woman peered up at him, moving her hands as if washing them above the charcoal.
'You are different from the other, Brother, the one who came before you. He was born in sin, he lived in sin and he died in sin. He took everything, he did: chalices, cups, breviary. William Fitzwolfe sold them all.'
'Including the blood book?' Athelstan asked.
