Brother Cadfael 11: An Excellent Mystery

he had any reason for uneasiness concerning that journey, rather they recalled it with pleasure, as well they might, the one carefree pilgrimage, the one holiday of their lives, when they rode instead of going afoot, and went well-provided and in the pride of arms.
    Yes, of course they remembered it. No, they had had no trouble by the way. A lady accompanied by two good bowmen and two swordsmen had had nothing to fear. The taller of the Saxon pair, it seemed, used the new long-bow, drawn to the shoulder, while John Bonde carried the short Welsh bow, drawn to the breast, of less range and penetration than the long-bow, but wonderfully fast and agile in use at shorter range. The other brother was a swordsman, and so had the fourth member been, the missing Adam Heriet. A good enough company to travel briskly and safely, at whatever speed the lady could maintain without fatigue.
    'Three days on the way, my lord,' said the Saxon bowman, spokesman for all three, and encouraged with vehement nods, 'and then we came into Andover, and because it was already evening, we lay there overnight, meaning to finish the journey the next morning. Adam found a lodging for the lady with a merchant's household there, and we lay in the stables. It was but three or four miles more to go, so they told us.'
    'And my sister was then in health and spirits? Nothing had gone amiss?'
    'No, my lord, we had a good journey. She was glad then to be so close to what she wished. She said so, and thanked us.'
    'And in the morning? You brought her on those few miles?'
    'Not we, my lord, for she chose to go the rest of the way with only Adam Heriet, and we were to wait in Andover for his return, and so we did as we were ordered. And when he came, then we set out for home.'
    To this the other two nodded firm assent, satisfied that their errand had been completed in obedience to the lady's wishes. So it was only one, only her servant and familiar, according to repute, who had gone the rest of the way with Julian Cruce.
    'You saw them ride for Wherwell?' demanded Reginald, frowning heavily at every complexity that arose to baulk him. 'She went with him freely, content?'
    'Yes, my lord, fresh and early in the morning they went. A fine morning, too. She said farewell to us, and we watched them out of sight.'
    No need to doubt it. Only four miles from her goal, and yet she had never reached it. And only one man could know what had become of her in that short distance.
    Reginald waved them away irritably. What more could they tell him? To the best of their knowledge she had gone where she had meant to go, and all was well with her. But as the three made for the hall door, glad to be off to their beds, Nicholas said suddenly: 'Wait!' And to his host: 'Two more questions, if I may ask them?'
    'Do so, freely.'
    'Was it the lady herself who told you it was her wish to go on with only Heriet, and ordered you to remain in Andover and wait for him?'
    'No,' said the spokesman, after a moment's thought, 'it was Adam told us.'
    'And they set out in the early morning, you said. At what hour did Heriet return?'
    'Not until twilight, sir. It was getting dark when he came. Because of that we stayed the night over, to make an early start for home next day.'
    'There was another question I might have added,' said Nicholas, when he was alone with his host, and the hall door stood open on the deepening dusk and quiet of the yard, 'but I doubt he would have seen to his own horse, and after a night's rest there'd be no way of judging how far it had been ridden. But see how the time testifies - three or four miles to Wherwell, and he would have had no call to linger, once he had brought her there. Yet he was the whole day away, twelve hours or more. What was he about all that time? Yet he's said to have been her devoted slave from infancy.'
    'It got him credit with my father, who also doted,' said Reginald sourly. 'I knew little of him. But there he is at the heart of this, and who else is there? He alone rode with her that last day. And came back here with his fellows, letting it be seen all had gone well, and the matter was finished. But between Andover and Wherwell my sister vanishes. And a month or so later, when our overlord, Earl Waleran, from whom we hold three manors, sends asking for men, who should be first to offer himself but this same man? Why so ready to seize on a way of leaving here? For fear questions should yet be asked, some day? Something untoward come to light,