Brother Cadfael 08: The Devil's Novice

idiot brother down on you, and your father after him! That ever I broached such high business to such a broken reed!'
    'Or I ever listened to such a plausible tempter!' fretted Nigel wretchedly. 'Now here we are helpless. This creature cannot go - you see it! And the town above a mile distant, and night coming ... '
    'And I had a head start,' raged Janyn, stamping the thick, blanched grass, 'and fortune ahead of me, and the beast had to founder! And you'll be off to pick up the prizes due to both of us - you who crumple at the first threat! God's curse on the day!'
    'Hush your noise!' Nigel turned his back despairingly, stroking the lame horse's sweating flank. 'I wish to God I'd never in life set eyes on you, to come to this pass, but I'll not leave you. If you must be dragged back - you think they'll be far behind us now? - we'll go back together. But let's at least try to reach Stafford. Let's leave this one tethered to be found, and ride and run by turns with the other ... ' His back was still turned when the dagger slid in between his ribs from behind, and he sagged and folded, marvelling, not yet feeling any pain, but only the withdrawal of his life and force, that laid him almost softly in the grass. Blood streamed out from his wound and warmed his side, flowing round to fire the ground beneath him. He tried to raise himself, and could not stir a hand.
    Janyn stood a moment looking down at him dispassionately. He doubted if the wound itself was fatal, but judged it would take less than half an hour for his sometime friend to bleed to death, which would do as well. He spurned the motionless body with a careless foot, wiped his dagger on the grass, and turned to mount the horse Nigel had ridden. Without another glance behind he dug in his heels and set off at a rapid canter towards Stafford, between the darkening trees.
    Hugh's officers, coming at speed some ten minutes later, found half-dead man and lamed horse and divided their forces, two men riding on to try to overtake Janyn, while the remaining pair salvaged both man and beast, bestowed Isouda's horse at the nearest holding, and carried Nigel back to Shrewsbury, pallid, swathed and senseless, but alive.
    ' ... he promised us advancement, castles and commands - William of Roumare. It was when Janyn went north with me at midsummer to view my manor - it was Janyn persuaded me.' Nigel brought out the sorry, broken fragments of his confession late in the dusk of the following day, in his wits again and half-wishing he were not. So many eyes round his bed, his father erect and ravaged of face at the foot, staring upon his heir with grieved eyes, Roswitha kneeling at his right side, tearless now, but bloated with past weeping, Brother Cadfael and Brother Edmund the infirmarer watchful from the shadows in case their patient tried his strength too far too soon. And on his left Meriet, back in cotte and hose, stripped of the black habit which had never fitted or suited him, and looking strangely taller, leaner and older than when he had first put it on. His eyes, aloof and stern as his father's, were the first Nigel's waking, wandering stare had encountered. There was no knowing what went on in the mind behind them.
    'We have been his men from that time on ... We knew the time set for the strike at Lincoln. We meant to ride north after our marriage, Janyn with us - but Roswitha did not know! And now we have lost. Word came through too soon ... '
    'Come to the death-day,' said Hugh, standing at Leone's shoulder.
    'Yes - Clemence. At supper he let out what his business was. And they were there in Chester, all their constables and castellans ... in the act! When I took Roswitha home I told Janyn, and begged him to send a rider ahead at once, through the night, to warn them. He swore he would ... I went there next morning early, but he was not there, he never came until past noon, and when I asked if all was well, he said very well! For Peter Clemence was dead in the forest, and the gathering in Chester safe enough. He laughed at me for being in dread. Let him lie, he said, who'll be the wiser, there are footpads everywhere ... But I was afraid! I went to find him, to hide him away until night ... "
    'And Meriet happened upon you in the act,' said Hugh, quietly prompting.
    'I had cut away the shaft, the better to move him. There was blood on my hands - what else could he think? I swore it was not my work, but he did not believe me. He told me, go quickly, wash off the