The Relic Murders

been so open with us!' The Noctale's eyes widened.
    'Every day,' Benjamin continued, 'you took the cooks into the manor and at six o'clock collected them again, locking and unlocking the front door, yes?'
    Cornelius's face creased into a suspicion of a smile as if he knew what my master was going to ask.
    'Now Jonathan would show the cooks into the house and out, yes? And, while you stood at the door, Master Cornelius, you must have asked for a report, if anything was wrong or amiss?' Cornelius opened his mouth.
    'Of course,' Benjamin continued. 'You might say that Jonathan had nothing to report, but that wouldn't be true, would it? Come with me!'
    Benjamin took him down the passageway. Cornelius, ignoring Egremont's shouts, followed Benjamin and myself into the parlour where the corpses had lain. The weapons of the dead soldiers had been stacked against the wall. Most of them were gone but Benjamin opened a chest and took out a quiver and a long bow.
    'I noticed this,' he said. 'Count the arrows here. There are only six. However, in the other quivers, there were at least a baker's dozen. Now in the attack, only a dagger and arbalest were used, never a long bow.' 'So?' Cornelius asked in mock innocence.
    'The English archers were put here by Kempe,' Benjamin replied. 'Jonathan would not have trusted them. He would have kept them under close watch. Now, the manor is well guarded from the front but, on both sides, it looks out beyond the walls to wild heathland.' Cornelius threw his head back and laughed.
    'Master Daunbey, if you ever wish to leave England, you will find employment with my master, His Most August Imperial Highness. You are sharper than you look. I'll be honest with you. Jonathan was suspicious, particularly of Kempe's archers. He believed that one of these archers was communicating with Sir Thomas by sending messages wrapped round the end of one of his arrows. Your English archers and their long bows are famous. A master bowman could send an arrow out across the walls, aiming at a certain tree or other pre-arranged landmark.' 'Why should Kempe want information?'
    'I don't know,' Cornelius replied. 'But if Sir Thomas Kempe is going to watch us, I assure you, we will watch him.'
    And, patting Benjamin on the shoulder, Cornelius went out to where Lord Egremont waited. 'You never told me about that?' I said, pointing to the quiver. Benjamin put it back in the chest.
    'It's one of the first things I noticed. What intrigued me about all this, Roger, is that there was no sign of a struggle, so a half-empty quiver soon caught my attention.' 'What is Kempe up to?' I asked.
    'That,' Benjamin replied, 'like the rest of the mystery, remains to be seen.' 'What are you whispering about?' Kempe stood in the doorway.
    'About the subtleties of life,' Benjamin replied enigmatically. 'Sir Thomas, this relic-seller?' 'His corpse is still at the Rose and Crown,' Kempe replied. 'We would like to see it.'
    'And see it you shall.' Agrippa came out into the hallway, hat on his head, eyes twinkling.
    I went and opened the door, to see that Egremont, Cornelius and their entourage were now sweeping through the gatehouse. 'What has happened to Lady Isabella's remains?' I asked.
    'The Friar Minoresses at St Mary of Bethlehem have agreed to inter her remains,' Kempe replied. 'The archers and Noctales are to be buried in Charterhouse. The King has agreed to give grants to their relatives.' 'And the Orb?' I asked. 'The replica?' 'Safely stowed away,' Kempe replied.
    I stared at this most secret servant of the King's. Why should one of his archers send messages to him? Was he involved in this knavery? Was the Great Beast's rage genuine? But if Kempe had stolen the Orb, to whom would he sell it? Some merchant who would pay a fortune to have it hidden in his vaults? Or some foreign power? The French? Or even the Papacy?
    'You mentioned Sir Hubert Berkeley?' Benjamin declared. 'You said he was missing?'
    'Left his home last night,' Kempe replied. 'Slipped out through an alleyway. He told no one where he was going or when he would be back. By dawn this morning his master journeyman, alarmed at his master's prolonged absence, sent word to the court.' 'Could he be involved in this mischief?' I asked.
    'God knows,' Benjamin replied before Kempe could. 'But, come, let's view the mortal remains of Walter Henley.'
    We gathered our horses. Benjamin himself locked up the manor and the gates. Kempe promised he would send some of the men to guard it