Brother Cadfael 02: One Corpse Too Many

first, the accuser, went to kneel to the king and do him reverence, and did so briskly, springing up vigorously from his knee and turning to where the ranks of lances parted to let him into the arena. He caught sight of Cadfael then, standing a little apart. In a face tight, grave and mature, still the black eyes smiled.
    'I knew,' he said, 'that you would not fail me.'
    'See to it,' said Cadfael morosely, 'that you do not fail me.'
    'No dread,' said Hugh. 'I'm shriven white as a March lamb.' His voice was even and reflective. 'I shall never be readier. And your arm will be seconding mine.'
    At every stroke, thought Cadfael helplessly, and doubted that all these tranquil years since he took the cowl had really made any transformation in a spirit once turbulent, insubordinate and incorrigibly rash. He could feel his blood rising, as though it was he who must enter the lists.
    Courcelle rose from his knee and followed his accuser into the square. They took station at opposite corners, and Prestcote, with his marshal's truncheon raised, stood between them and looked to the king to give the signal. A herald was crying aloud the charge, the name of the challenger, and the refutation uttered by the accused. The crowd swayed, with a sound like a great, long-drawn sigh, that rippled all round the field. Cadfael could see Hugh's face clearly, and now there was no smiling, it was bleak, intent and still, eyes fixed steadily upon his opponent.
    The king surveyed the scene, and lifted his hand. The truncheon fell and Prestcote drew aside to the edge of the square as the contestants advanced to meet each other.
    At first sight, the contrast was bitter. Courcelle was half as big again, half as old again, with height and reach and weight all on his side, and there was no questioning his skill and experience. His fiery colouring and towering size made Beringar look no more than a lean, lightweight boy, and though that lightness might be expected to lend him speed and agility, within seconds it was clear that Courcelle also was very fast and adroit on his feet. At the first clash of steel on steel, Cadfael felt his own arm and wrist bracing and turning the stroke, and swung aside with the very same motion Beringar made to slide out of danger; the turn brought him about, with the arch of the town gate full in view.
    Out of the black hollow a girl came darting like a swallow, all swift black and white and a flying cloud of gold hair. She was running, very fleetly and purposefully, with her skirts caught up in her hands almost to the knee, and well behind her, out of breath but making what haste she could, came another young woman. Constance was wasting much of what breath she still had in calling after her mistress imploringly to stop, to come away, not to go near; but Aline made never a sound, only ran towards where two gallants of hers were newly launched on a determined attempt to kill each other. She looked neither to right nor left, but only craned to see over the heads of the crowd. Cadfael hastened to meet her, and she recognised him with a gasp, and flung herself into his arms.
    'Brother Cadfael, what is this? What has he done? And you knew, you knew, and you never warned me! If Constance had not gone into town to buy flour, I should never have known ...'
    'You should not be here,' said Cadfael, holding her quivering and panting on his heart. 'What can you do? I promised him not to tell you, he did not wish it. You should not look on at this.'
    'But I will!' she said with passion. 'Do you think I'll go tamely away and leave him now? Only tell me,' she begged, 'is it true what they're saying - that he charged Adam with murdering that young man? And that Giles's dagger was the proof?'
    'It is true,' said Cadfael. She was staring over his shoulder into the arena, where the swords clashed, and hissed and clashed again, and her amethyst eyes were immense and wild.
    'And the charge - that also is true?'
    'That also.'
    'Oh, God!' she said, gazing in fearful fascination. 'And he is so slight... how can he endure it? Half the other's size... and he dared try to solve it this way! Oh, Brother Cadfael, how could you let him?'
    At least now, thought Cadfael, curiously eased, I know which of those two is 'he' to her, without need of a name. I never was sure until now, and perhaps neither was she. 'If ever you succeed,' he said, 'in preventing Hugh Beringar from doing whatever he's set his mind on doing, then come to me and tell me how you