The Good Knight (A Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery)

she should get used to them. But as it was… “Why would someone want to kill a stable boy?”
    “We don’t know the answer to that, but he had been assigned to tend King Anarawd’s horse,” Gareth said.
    “That could be important,” Hywel said.
    Gwen wrapped both arms around her middle, a sick feeling in her belly. “Anarawd’s horse died in the ambush.”
    “Stinks to high heaven, now,” Gareth said. “Putrid.”
    “I can’t present any evidence of course, not from here,” Gwen said, ignoring him. “But that boy … could he have been the one who looked after my father’s horse?”
    Gareth canted his head. “It’s possible. Though several boys could have shared the task, just as they do here.”
    “My father’s horse turned up lame the morning King Anarawd left Dolwyddelan.” Gwen spoke slowly as she thought it out. “Father was so very angry. The boy was terrified. At the time, I didn’t think anything more of it than that the child feared my father’s wrath, but what if he’d been instructed to nobble Anarawd’s horse, and he hurt the wrong one? What if it wasn’t my father he feared, but someone else who’d tasked him with a job he failed to accomplish—someone who killed him?”
    “Why would the murderer have wanted to prevent Anarawd from leaving Dolwyddelan?” Gareth said. “That makes no sense.”
    “Anarawd arrived at Dolwyddelan Castle a day early,” Gwen said, “and thus left a day early too. The killer could have wanted to delay Anarawd past a dawn start—which is exactly what happened to us instead. Perhaps he feared the mercenaries wouldn’t have time to get into position. As it turned out, it was my father who was forced to borrow a horse and Anarawd who wouldn’t wait for him.”
    “There are too many murders in this,” Hywel said. “Too many murderers altogether. It’s nonsensical.” He pushed off the frame, no longer relaxed. If there had been more room to pace he probably would have. “We’ve got someone who ordered the ambush; someone who killed Anarawd; someone who killed the servant woman; someone who killed the Dane; someone who killed the boy; someone who poisoned Gareth; someone who moved Anarawd’s body.”
    “Seven someones? Three?” Gareth said. “All the same?” He swiveled on one heel and kicked at the wall. A board split. “And what makes even less sense is that I find myself back in this cachu cell!”
    Gwen took a step back at his anger. Maybe because he saw it, Gareth stopped himself from aiming another kick at the wall. And then he laughed, though there wasn’t much amusement in his voice, and threw out a hand to Gwen—“Sorry. Sorry for my mouth too.”
    Gwen waved a hand. It was hardly the first time she’d heard profanity. She preferred it to when a man swore by the saints, who might actually be listening.
    “I’ve spoken with my father,” Hywel said. “He once again will entertain the notion that you didn’t kill Anarawd, but he leaves you here, Gareth—and is happy to do so—because Cadell still has his ear.” He paused. “Just be thankful Cadell doesn’t have more power at Aber than any other prince, myself included.”
    “There’s something else…” Gwen cast her eyes sideways at Hywel, wondering if she should speak or if he would prefer to tell Gareth the rest of what had passed between Hywel and his father.
    Hywel nodded and delivered the bad news: “You should also know that Prince Cadwaladr’s latest accusation against you is that you were a spy for the Normans.”
    “What?” Gareth gaped at him. “When—when was I supposed to have done that?”
    Hywel smiled. “He implied that you passed vital information to fitz Martin that allowed him to hold Cardigan Castle against us.”
    “He’s mad!”
    Hywel smirked. “I thought you’d say that.”
    “So you’re letting Gareth out?” Gwen said, relieved that at last something was going to go right.
    “No. Not until Cadell goes home.” Hywel shrugged. “Unfortunately, that might be a while as my father seems set on marrying Elen to him in Anarawd’s place.”
    Gareth’s jaw clenched. Then he mastered himself and turned to Gwen. “And that means you have to stay away from me.”
    “What? No I don’t. Why would you say that?”
    “I won’t have suspicion falling on you.”
    Gwen stared at him, so irritated she couldn’t respond. Then Hywel tugged her arm. “Come. Gareth’s right.” He shot Gareth a grin. “Not for the first time, but