Brother Cadfael 09: Dead Man's Ransom

terror had contracted his throat, but the flow of words washed constraint away. 'My lord, until these last days I never saw my father, nor he me, but I had a brother, as he has said, and by chance I got to know him when he came into Shrewsbury with wool to sell. There was a year between us, and I am the elder. He was my kin, and I valued him. And once when he visited the town and I was not by, there was a fight, a man was killed and my brother was blamed for it. Gilbert Prestcote hanged him!'
    Owain glanced aside at Cadfael, and waited until this speech had been translated for the Welshmen. Then he asked: 'You know of this case? Was it fairly done?'
    'Who knows which hand did the killing?' said Cadfael. 'It was a street brawl, the young men were drunk. Gilbert Prestcote was hasty by nature, but just. But this is certain, here in Wales the young man would not have hanged. A blood price would have paid it.'
    'Go on,' said Owain.
    'I carried that grudge on my heart from that day,' said Anion, gathering passion from old bitterness. 'But when did I ever come within reach of the sheriff? Never until your men brought him into Shrewsbury wounded and housed him in the infirmary. And I was there with this broken leg of mine all but healed, and that man only twenty paces from me, only a wall between us, my enemy at my mercy. While it was all still and the brothers at dinner, I went into the room where he was. He owed my house a life, even if I was mongrel, I felt Welsh then, and I meant to take my due revenge, I meant to kill! The only brother ever I had, and he was merry and good to look upon, and then to hang for an unlucky blow when he was full of ale! I went in there to kill. But I could not do it! When I saw my enemy brought down so low, so old and weary, hardly blood or breath in him... I stood by him and watched, and all I could feel was sadness. It seemed to me that there was no call there for vengeance, for all was already avenged. So I thought on another way. There was no court to set a blood, price or enforce payment, but there was the gold pin in the cloak beside him. I thought it was his. How could I know? So I took it as galanas, to clear the debt and the grudge. But by the end of that day I knew, we all knew, that Prestcote was dead and dead by murder, and when they began to question even me, I knew that if ever it came out what I had done it would be said I had also killed him. So I ran. I meant, in any case, to come and seek my father some day, and tell him my brother's death was paid for, but because I was afraid I had to run in haste.'
    'And come to me he did,' said Griffri earnestly, his hand upon his son's shoulder, 'and showed me by way of warranty the yellow mountain stone I gave his mother long ago. But by his face I knew him, for he's like the brother he lost. And he gave me that thing you hold, my lord, and told me that young Griffri's death was requited, and this was the token price exacted, and the grudge buried, for our enemy was dead. I did not well understand him then, for I told him if he had slain Griffri's slayer, then he had no right to take a price as well. But he swore to me by most solemn oath that it was not he who had killed and I believe him. And judge if I am glad to have a son restored me in my middle years, to be the prop of my old age. For God's sake, my lord, do not take him from me now!'
    In the dour, considering hush that followed Cadfael completed his translation of what Anion had said, and took his time about it to allow him to study the prince's impassive face. At the end of it the silence continued still for a long minute, since no one would speak until Owain made it possible. He, too, was in no hurry. He looked at father and son, pressed together there below the dais in apprehensive solidarity, he looked at Einon, whose face was as unrevealing as his own, and last at Cadfael.
    'Brother, you know more of what has gone forward in Shrewsbury abbey than any of us here. You know this man. How do you say? Do you believe his story?'
    'Yes,' said Cadfael, with grave and heartfelt gratitude, 'I do believe it. It fits with all I know. But I would ask Anion one question.'
    'Ask it.'
    'You stood beside the bed, Anion, and watched the sleeper. Are you sure that he was then alive?'
    'Yes, surely,' said Anion wondering. 'He breathed, he moaned in his sleep. I saw and heard. I know.'
    'My lord,' said Cadfael, watching Owain's enquiring eye, 'there was another heard to enter and leave that