The Devil's Domain

she came from.’ Athelstan paused. ’We have no proof that Parr or anyone else is guilty of her death. The finger of suspicion still points at you. It blemishes your reputation and tarnishes your honour.’
    ’It creates a doubt,’ Sir John said. ’And that was the whole purpose of this terrible crime. Is Sir Maurice Maltravers who he claims to be? It could take months to comb the records of Dover , and even longer to find out where this young woman actually comes from. And in the end the gossip will be through the city. Sir Maurice seduced some young gentlewoman, secured her body, after marriage celebrated by some hedge-priest, then he rejected her so the young woman took her own life.’
    Sir Maurice’s face was now white as a sheet, beads of sweat coursed down his cheeks.
    ’I’m a fighting man,’ he whispered. ’I see my enemy and I meet him honourably on the field of battle: shield against shield, sword against sword. I cannot deal with this.’
    ’Oh yes you can.’ Athelstan pushed him towards a stool and made him sit down. He then stood over him, one hand on his shoulder. ’We have other questions.’ He paused.
    Footsteps sounded up the stairs and along the gallery followed by a knock on the door.
    Athelstan had met the Harrower of the Dead before but he still flinched as the man came into the chamber. A tall, black cowl was pulled over his head, his face covered by a death mask. He came into the room, black leather leggings creaking. In one hand he carried a canvas sheet neatly folded, in the other a length of rope.
    ’My lord coroner, we meet again.’ The Harrower’s voice was low, soft, well modulated.
    ’Aye, sir, death is always busy. And his leavings are scattered throughout the city.’
    The Harrower moved across to the bed. In a businesslike manner he moved the corpse, gently wrapping the canvas sheet round it, tying it secure with his piece of rope. The taverner stood in the doorway, his face ashen.
    ’Will this take long?’ he moaned. ’There are customers, my trade will suffer.’
    ’It will do nothing of the sort,’ the Harrower replied, his voice muffled. ’People will flock to you to ask what happened. You’ll sell more ale than you would on a Holy Day or May Day.’ He secured the corpse and lifted the sheeted body gently like a mother would a child. ’It should be buried soon, my lord coroner.’
    ’Today. The innkeeper will pay you all dues. A pauper’s grave in St Mary’s but not in the common ditch: by herself with a wooden cross bearing her name. The taverner will provide it. God rest her!’ The coroner turned away, waving his hand.
    The Harrower left. The taverner crossed himself and closed the door behind him. Athelstan waited until the sound of footsteps faded.
    Sir Maurice sat on the stool, arms folded, ankles locked, tense and watchful. Athelstan felt a pang of compassion.
    ’Right, Sir Maurice!’ he began. ’You claim you are innocent and I believe you, though later I will ask you to sweat to that. However, first, you must not blame Sir Thomas Parr. Your betrothal to the Lady Angelica must have provoked resentment and jealousy, even hatred, from many others at daring to aspire so high. You are also a hero responsible for the capture and destruction of two marauding French privateers. You yourself said that you thought your visit here yesterday was some joke, a trick arranged by people in Lord Gaunt’s household. Moreover, there are others in the city, such as Monsieur Charles de Fontanel the French envoy. He, too, will have taken an active interest in your doings. So, I beg you, keep a quiet tongue; do not lash out and make accusations which cannot be resolved.’
    ’In the meantime.’ Sir John came over and thrust the miraculous wineskin at him. ’Go on, take some!’
    He did, a generous swig which Sir John copied. He offered it to Athelstan but the Dominican shook his head.
    ’I have not eaten yet, Sir John.’
    ’Oh, well, please yourself. In the meantime we have other questions. Why did you go to the Lady Vulpina and buy a love philtre and some poisons?’
    Sir Maurice coughed and put his face in his hands.
    ’You did go there, didn’t you?’ Athelstan asked quietly.
    The young man sighed noisily. ’Vulpina is well known among the courtiers. I’ll be honest, when Sir Thomas drove me away, I thought I would die. I went to her for a potion. I was stupid enough to think it would soothe the passions boiling within me. I hated the woman, sly,