The Treason of the Ghosts

.
    ‘Do
you now?’ Corbett drained his tankard. ‘And you were drinking here the night
Widow Walmer was killed?’
    ‘That’s
correct. I was here with my friends whilst that killer raped and choked the
woman I loved.’
    ‘And
did she love you?’
    The
reeve blinked. ‘I never had the chance to ask, clerk, did I? But, if she had
responded, I would have met her at the church door to exchange vows.’
    Corbett
studied the reeve. His cote-hardie was of good cloth. The brown belt strapped
around his narrow waist of good leather; his leggings of dark blue worsted;
even the boots were the work of a craftsman. A prosperous man, Corbett
concluded. He would act as reeve, steward of lands held by the town. He would
also have his own holding: producing for the market as well as for the pot.
    ‘What’s
the matter, clerk?’
    ‘I
am wondering why you are so hostile. You’ve told your tale a thousand times.
Surely, you can tell it once more?’
    ‘Fine,
I’ll tell you my tale.’ The words came out as a snarl. ‘I was drinking here. I
wanted to visit Widow Walmer. I asked Burghesh to accompany me.’
    ‘No,
no, that’s not true, is it?’
    ‘Are
you calling me a liar?’ Repton’s hand went to the knife in its sheath.
    ‘No,
I am just saying you are rather forgetful. You were drinking here and you
decided to visit Mistress Walmer. However, the taverner Matthew had announced
how the widow was receiving another guest that night.’
    The
reeve swallowed hard. Corbett was aware of how quiet the taproom had fallen.
    ‘That’s
my first question,’ Corbett smiled. ‘Why, in the late hours of the night, did
you suddenly decide to visit a woman whom you knew was entertaining someone
else? She would not have liked it and Sir Roger would have objected. A feisty man, Sir Roger. I don’t think he would have liked
someone else a-calling?’
    ‘That’s
why I took Burghesh.’
    ‘Ah,’
Corbett sighed. ‘You always take a companion when you visit a lady friend?’
    The
reeve grasped the corner of the table. ‘What are you implying?’
    ‘I
am implying nothing, master reeve. I am trying to get to the truth of the
matter. Had you visited Widow Walmer before? Well, had you?’
    ‘Yes,
but that’s my business.’
    ‘Fair
enough and had you asked someone to accompany you?’ Corbett leant closer. ‘Give
me one occasion, name one companion.’
    ‘That
night Sir Roger was there I needed—’
    ‘Did
you really? But, surely, it was very late? Sir Roger may have left?’
    ‘I
don’t know what you are implying.’ Repton leapt to his feet. In one swipe he
drew his dagger from its sheath. He backed off and stood slightly crouching,
legs apart.
    You’ve
fought before, Corbett thought: you’re a taproom brawler.
    ‘What’s
this nosy clerk doing here?’ Repton glowered round the quiet taproom.
    His
question provoked a murmur of agreement.
    ‘Who
do you think you are? Chapeleys was a murderer!’
    A
chorus of approval greeted his words.
    ‘He
killed Widow Walmer and those other women. So he was hanged for it. Now his
whelp sends whining letters to Westminster .’
    ‘Sit
down, master reeve,’ Corbett ordered. ‘Put your knife away and sit down!’
    ‘Do
you think I’ll do what you say, clerk?’ Repton raised the knife. ‘Or is that
all you are good for? A long nose with a clacking tongue? This is Melford, not Westminster .
You won’t be the first to be sent packing!’
    Some
of the other customers were now jeering.
    ‘Come
on!’ Repton waved his hand.
    ‘I
carry the King’s warrant.’
    ‘I
carry the King’s warrant,’ Repton mimicked.
    This
provoked further guffaws of laughter. Corbett looked across at Ranulf, shook
his head and got to his feet.
    ‘I
want to talk to you, Repton, that’s all. I want the truth. The King wants the
truth.’
    ‘I’ve
told you the truth. You’re not in the Schools of Oxford now, clerk.’
    ‘I’m
trying to be reasonable.’ Corbett took a step forward. ‘I wish you no ill.’
    Corbett
watched the man’s eyes. Repton had drunk deep. He was beyond reason.
    ‘Look,’
Corbett played with the chancery ring on his finger, ‘I apologise. I am sorry
if I have upset you.’
    The
laughter grew. Repton couldn’t resist the audience. He came up, the knife
moving away. Corbett lashed out with his boot, catching the unfortunate full in
the groin. Repton screamed with pain and fell to his knees, the knife
clattering amongst the rushes. He tried to crawl forward but Corbett