A Flight of Arrows A.J. MacKenzie (black authors fiction TXT) 📖

collateral for his loan. You claim you are not a traitor. Would you swear an oath that this is true? Would you stake your immortal soul on it?’

The silence that followed seemed to last for a very long time. Finally Holland looked away. ‘I swear on the blood of Christ that I have never betrayed my country. But… the offer was there.’

‘Who made this offer?’

‘Fierville. He said something was in the wind, something much bigger than the Norman revolt or our war with France. He said there were powerful forces at work, not just in England and France, but all over Europe. He didn’t say what these forces were or who was behind them. But he told me there was a place for me if I wished to join them.’

‘What did you reply?’

‘I said I needed time to think it over.’

‘And have you thought it over?’

‘All I want is my wife. Once I have her, I will be the king’s loyal servant unto death. I will swear to that, too.’

The herald nodded. ‘Then I wish you good fortune with your court case,’ he said. ‘Good night, Sir Thomas.’

Inquisition into the death of Edmund Bray, knight, near the village of Quettehou in Normandy on the XIIth day of July, in the nineteenth year of the reign of King Edward III. This report was composed on the XXVIth day of that month, at the city of Caen.

Item, I have now interviewed the French miles Macio Chauffin, who confirms that Sir Edmund Bray was shot by two English or Welsh archers. Chauffin was unable to identify the archers, who bore no distinguishing badges.

Item, evidence has emerged that suggests Bray may have grown suspicious of Fierville, and his appearance at this meeting was no accident. He had volunteered for the reconnaissance at Quettehou in hopes of finding Fierville.

Item, it also remains to be seen who gave the archers their orders. It is possible that they were employed directly by Fierville and accompanied him as guards, but I feel this is unlikely. Someone else therefore must have had an interest in this meeting between Fierville and Chauffin.

Item, Sir Thomas Holland has given me a full account of his relations with Bray. I also spoke to Holland’s vintenar, shortly before the latter’s death in Caen. I am satisfied that this man had no part in Bray’s death, and that Sir Thomas himself can be exonerated from any involvement.

Item, several of the people involved in this case have connections to the foul and unnatural death of his Grace the king’s late father. This includes Bray, whose father Sir John Bray of Huxley was present at Berkeley Castle at the time. I do not know whether this has any connection with Bray’s murder, but I feel the matter warrants further investigation.

Simon Merrivale, heraldus

At the Logis du Roi, Merrivale waited while Michael Northburgh read the report. ‘Sir Thomas is cleared,’ the clerk commented. ‘The king will be pleased.’

The herald raised his eyebrows. ‘Have you heard?’ asked Northburgh. ‘He has bought the Count of Eu from Holland for eighty thousand florins.’

‘Thirteen thousand pounds. More than enough to allow Sir Thomas to fight his court case,’ Merrivale said. ‘But what does the king get for his money?’

‘Two things. Control of the Count of Eu with a chance to renew the Norman rebellion, and Holland’s loyalty. A bargain, I would say.’

‘I see. The king has changed his mind about Sir Thomas?’

Northburgh smiled. ‘Don’t underestimate his Grace. He is cleverer than he sometimes seems. He understands the minds of men quite well.’

‘And the Earl of Salisbury? What will he think of this news?’

‘It doesn’t matter. The deal is done. Salisbury will be compensated in other ways. For example, he might find a new wife, one who actually likes him.’ Northburgh laid the report on his desk. ‘Speaking of which, how is your little demoiselle?’

Caen, 26th of July, 1346

Night

‘Well that didn’t exactly go to plan,’ the man from the north said drily.

‘Eu played us false,’ said the West Country man. ‘He was supposed to hold Caen until Philip’s army arrived. And now we have lost Holland as well.’

‘We don’t need him. Let him go.’

‘This is the herald’s doing. We must get rid of him.’

‘You’ve already tried, and failed. Let me deal with him. I know how it can be done without attracting notice.’

The West Country man grunted. ‘Eu let himself get taken deliberately. Why?’

‘Oh, it was cleverly done,’ said the man from the north. ‘He can hold up his hands and protest his innocence; he tried loyally to defend the city, and surrendered only when all was lost. In reality, of course, he has changed sides and gone over to King Edward.’

‘He will regret it. All we have to do is inform Philip’s court, and Eu will be attainted as a traitor.’

The man from the north shook his head. ‘Not yet. Let’s keep our options open. Once Edward is finished, the Count of Eu will need a new sponsor. Meanwhile, you must send word to the Queen of Navarre, and the cardinals. Tell them we need to meet, urgently.’

‘Clearly you have some new scheme in mind,’ the man from the West Country said.

‘It’s the same scheme as the old one, with some new twists.’ The northern man paused. ‘I have a copy of Philip’s plans for an invasion of England back in ’38. It makes interesting reading.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The raid on Southampton in October that year was meant to be just the beginning. The plan was for a thousand ships and forty thousand men to descend on England, landing all along the south coast. Edward would be deposed and Philip’s son would sit on the throne of England. The English barons would be dispossessed and their lands distributed among the French nobles.’

‘Christ,’ said the man from the West Country. ‘How did you come to learn of these plans? I’ve never heard of them before.’

‘That’s because the document is a forgery. I wrote it myself, and sealed it with a