Field of Blood

down. So, where to now, Brother? Hengan will meet us at the Tower…'
    'Sir Jack.' Athelstan clapped him on the arm. 'You have problems, so have I. Let me tell you a story about our murderers here in Southwark. But first…'
    Athelstan led him back into the church and out through the main door. Members of the council were still standing around. Athelstan walked over and thrust the scroll into Bladdersniff's hands.
    'You are the parish bailiff aren't you, Luke? Nail that up and make sure it stays there.'
    And, before anyone could ask questions, Athelstan walked round to the priest's house. Benedicta was in the kitchen washing the goblets and traunchers from the night before. Bonaventure was helping her. He'd jumped on to a barrel and was busy trying to lick one of the platters. Athelstan handed her the keys of the church and the widow woman, once she had freed herself from Sir John's bear-like embrace, agreed to look after the parish until he returned.
    'You are welcome to them all,' Athelstan told her. 'At this moment in time, I feel like running into the countryside and hiding beneath a tree.'
    'Strange,' Sir John mused, winking at Benedicta. 'I used to do the same when I was a little boy. And, if the truth be known,' he added in a mock whisper, 'I still do it when the Lady Maude is in one of her rages.'
    Athelstan collected his cloak and chancery bag, absentmindedly made his farewells and, followed by a mystified Sir John, strode out of his house, taking the trackway down into Southwark. His parishioners shouted farewell but Athelstan walked on, lost in his own thoughts.
    'What's the matter, monk?'
    'Friar, Sir John, I'm a friar and a very angry one. We have the Vestler business in London, God knows what the truth behind that is; I have a young maid, daughter of Basil the blacksmith, who wants to marry a young man but there are rumours that they are related by blood. Now I have the mysterious death of Miles Sholter, not to mention a heavy fine!'
    'You are not thinking of leaving, are you?' Sir John caught him by the shoulder. 'Oh, don't say that, Brother!'
    Athelstan stared up at his sad-eyed friend and felt his temper cool.
    'No, Jack, I'm not leaving you. I am just angry. Do you know what I think about evil, about the devil? He's not some great beast, some fallen angel shrouded in hideous majesty. Ah no! To me, Sir Jack, evil is like a malicious child who plays a trick and then hides in the shadows and giggles with glee at the damage done. You are the coroner, responsible for law and order. I am a friar, a priest, answerable to God for the care of souls. Now we're lost in a maze because people want to thwart God's will. So, I'll tell you: we're off to the Silken Thomas tavern and, as we go, my dear coroner, I'll tell you what happened last night and the reason for our visit.'
    Sir John linked his arm through that of the friar.
    'Then, Brother, let's proceed. I'll hear your confession.'
    And the lord coroner and his secretarius walked on through the mean trackways and runnels of Southwark, totally unaware of the shadowy figure, trailing far behind, watching their every step.

Chapter 7
    They crossed the brook and went up the hill to the derelict house.
    'What was his name?' Sir John asked. 'The old meanthrift who lived here?'
    'Simon the miser, but that wasn't his real name. They say he was a priest, a Benedictine who escaped from his monastery and took some of its treasure with him. He died just after I arrived here. The house and this field were seized by the Crown. If I remember rightly, there's some legal battle over whether it was common land or can be sold. Naturally the house has been stripped of lead, tiles, anything valuable.'
    Sir John stopped, huffing and puffing, and mopped his brow. He looked up at the house; the walls were dingy, only battered gaps where there had once been windows. Of the roof only a few beams remained, sticking up like blackened fingers towards the sky.
    'It's also haunted,' Athelstan said. 'They say by Simon's ghost. A good place to hide a corpse. The assassin must have known few people came here.'
    The two went through the ruined doorway and into the parlour where the corpses had been found. Athelstan described how he thought the murders had taken place. Sir John agreed.
    'But let's look around.'
    'What for, Brother?'
    'You'll know when you find it. Oh, be careful, the upper stories are not safe.'
    Sir John looked up at the ceiling and noticed the rents.
    'Aye, it would be a fool