The Elephants of Norwich (15 page)

Jocelyn Vavasour made good speed. Unencumbered by armour and riding a fresh horse, he rode south by a different route taken by the two commissioners who had visited him, eager to act on his own without help or supervision. The theft of the holy elephants had stung him badly and spurred him to leave the hut on the marshes where he led his life of self-denial. Since he had brought the gift from Rome in the first place, he felt it his duty to reclaim it on behalf of the abbey and, though he had given Ralph Delchard and Eustace Coureton some guidance, he had not told them everything that might help them. There were lines of inquiry that he wanted to reserve for himself. Riding at a canter throughout the afternoon, he reflected on the details of the theft again, mortified that the treasure he had bestowed on the abbey of St Benet had led to a cruel murder.
    His mind had been eased by his penitent existence but the instincts of a soldier had not entirely deserted him. When he saw a stand of oak trees ahead of him, he knew that it would be an inviting place for an ambush and remained vigilant. His alertness saved him. Three men awaited the traveller, lurking in the shadows and seeing a lone rider as easy prey. Though the unkempt stranger did not look as if he would be carrying much money, he sat astride a fine horse that would fetch a good price. They took up their positions. As the anchorite plunged in under the overhanging branches, he found his way blocked by a fallen tree that had been dragged across the track. He slowed his horse to a trot. The robbers pounced at once. One man grabbed the reins of the horse, the second threatened the rider with a dagger and the third tried to haul him from the saddle.
    Vavasour reacted violently. Kicking away the man who tried to pull him off, he swung his horse sharply round so that its rump knocked the man with the dagger hard and sent him rolling into the undergrowth. When he saw his confederates lying dazed on the ground, the man holding the reins let go and took flight. Vavasour went after him, overhauling him quickly and delivering a kick to the back of his neck that sent him somersaulting over the grass. He brought his horse to a halt and leaped down from the saddle to run back to the man. Shaken by his fall, the latter hauled himself up and pulled out his dagger to thrust at Vavasour, but the weapon was instantly twisted from his grasp and tossed harmlessly into a ditch. When the man tried to escape, he was held by the shoulders. The anchorite pulled him close and spoke with controlled anger.
    ‘You’ve committed a sin, my friend,’ he said. ‘Ask for forgiveness.’
    ‘Who
are
you?’
    ‘Someone who bears his own burden of sin.’
    The other was aghast. ‘But you’ve no weapon to defend yourself.’
    Vavasour took him by the scruff of his neck and pitched him back down the track. ‘I don’t need one when I have God to do that for me,’ he said.

A combination of cold water on his face and a warm welcome from his wife helped to revive Ralph Delchard after his long ride. When he joined Gervase Bret in the hall for some refreshment, he was wearing a clean tunic and a bright smile. The two men settled down opposite each other at the table and picked at the food set out for them.
    ‘Golde has just told me about her visit this morning,’ said Ralph. ‘She felt that the lady Adelaide only wanted them there as a means of checking up on us.’
    ‘Alys was of the same mind.’
    ‘Perhaps it’s time that one of us went calling, Gervase.’
    ‘I think that you’re the more suited to that task,’ said the other with light irony. ‘You and the lady Adelaide are already acquainted to some degree. Besides,’ he went on, reaching for his mug of ale, ‘I want to pay my respects elsewhere.’
    ‘To whom?’
    ‘Olova.’
    ‘But you’ve already spoken to her.’
    ‘I know, Ralph, but the circumstances were wrong. A second visit will yield much more, I’m certain. Did Golde mention it to you?’
    ‘No. Why should she?’
    ‘Because I’d like to take her with me.’
    When he explained his reasons for wanting to do so, Ralph gave his approval at once. Ordinarily, he tried not to involve his wife in work that befell him in the course of an assignment, but he felt that this was a special case.
    ‘Golde’s father was a Saxon thegn,’ he said. ‘She’ll be able to talk to this woman on her own terms. In fact, she may get more out of her than you could, Gervase.’
    ‘No question of that.’
    ‘Then it’s settled. As long as you take a sizeable escort.’
    ‘I will, Ralph, though I won’t ride up to Olova’s house with them this time. But tell me more about your encounter with the anchorite. What sort of man is he?’
    ‘A holy fool.’
    ‘Did he explain why he had renounced all his possessions?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Ralph, munching a piece of bread. ‘Eustace pressed him on that point. I think that the solitary life has a sneaking attraction for our colleague. He could quote Horace at the birds all day long. Though I doubt that he’d have the same skill as a woodcarver.’
    ‘Woodcarver?’
    Ralph explained that they had seen wooden replicas of the two elephants that had been stolen from the abbey. He also gave a fuller account of his conversation with the anchorite and speculated on where the man would begin his own search for the stolen property. Gervase waited until he had heard every detail.
    ‘Now I can tell you what I found out,’ he said with quiet excitement.
    ‘How was the lord Richard?’
    ‘Less than welcoming until I introduced Brother Daniel. When he realised that I’d brought the man who actually discovered the corpse of his steward, he showed much more interest. He even managed to display a muted affection for Hermer.’
    ‘That’s more than anyone else seems to do, Gervase.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Did you challenge the lord Richard about the theft from the abbey?’     ‘I was more tactful than that. He denied that his gold elephants were the same ones that had been taken but he obviously knew that they were. He was even obliging enough to tell us who stole them for him.’
    ‘Starculf.’
    ‘That was a false name, given to mislead them at the abbey. When he gave us a description of Starculf, I knew that it couldn’t possibly have been him.
    ‘Then who was it?’
    ‘Who else?’ said the other. ‘Hermer.’
    Ralph was astonished. ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘More or less. The description you got from the sacristan certainly fits him. And what better guise for Hermer to take on than that of a man he disliked enough to have dismissed? When the theft was uncovered, suspicion naturally fell on Starculf.’
    ‘A clever ruse, Gervase.’
    ‘But an expensive one. It cost Hermer his life.’
    ‘You think
that
was the motive for his murder?’
    ‘I believe that the theft of those elephants was instrumental in bringing it about,’ said Gervase, piecing it together in his mind. ‘Someone wanted them enough to kill for them. Who knew that they’d gone astray?’
    ‘Only the monks in the abbey. The crime wasn’t reported.’
    ‘I can’t believe that a Benedictine would commit a murder. In any case, the only reason that a monk would reclaim those elephants would be in order to restore them to the abbey. What we’re looking for is someone who’s outraged enough by the theft to take revenge on the thief, even to the extent of cutting off the hands that actually stole those holy objects. And yet,’ he continued, drinking some ale, ‘greedy enough to hold on to the booty himself. In short, we’re looking for a human contradiction, Ralph.’
    ‘A monk with a streak of wickedness in him?’
    ‘A killer with a keen moral sense.’
    ‘Where’s the morality in murder?’
    ‘He may have seen it as an act of divine retribution.’
    ‘Are you saying that God instructed him to kill and mutilate Hermer?’
    ‘No, Ralph. I’m just wondering if the man we’re after confuses good and evil so much that he’s unable to tell the difference between them. In meting out punishment for one crime, he doesn’t accept that he’s committing an even more heinous one. By all accounts,’ added Gervase, ‘Hermer wasn’t a weak man. In order to overpower him, his attacker would have had to be strong and trained to fight.’
    ‘A soldier?’
    ‘With a warped sense of right and wrong.’
    Ralph sighed. ‘There are plenty of those to choose from, Gervase. God knows, I’ve met enough of them in my time and so have you. Where do we begin?’
    ‘Let’s consult with the lord sheriff first. This is, after all, his investigation.’
    ‘But it has such a direct bearing on the work that brought us here.’
    ‘We still need his permission before we take independent action,’ said Gervase. ‘I can’t see any reason why he’ll object to my speaking with Olova once more and he can hardly stop you from paying a visit to the lord Richard.’
    ‘I’m looking forward to that encounter. I’ve a complaint to make.’
    ‘About what?’
    ‘The way he barged into the hall the other night when I was in the middle of eating. It gave me indigestion, Gervase. And it upset the ladies. Yes,’ he said with feeling. ‘A meeting between Ralph Delchard and Richard de Fontenel is long overdue.’

Judicael the Goldsmith was scrutinising a gold ring when the customer came into his shop. As soon as he saw who his visitor was, he jumped to his feet and gave an obedient smile, flapping his hands about and emitting a mirthless laugh.
    ‘Good day, my lord.’
    ‘Good day to you,’ grunted the other.
    ‘What can I do for you?’
    ‘First of all, you can tell me exactly what you told him.’
    ‘Who, my lord?’
    ‘The man who came asking after a pair of gold elephants.’
    Judicael took a step backwards and ran his tongue slowly over dry lips. Richard de Fontenel was glowering at him with cold hostility and he needed to appease him at once. The man was pulsing with impatience.
    ‘His name is Ralph Delchard, my lord,’ he said, ‘and he’s a royal commissioner, lately arrived in Norwich in connection with the Great Survey that’s been set in motion.’
    ‘I know all about that,’ said the other irritably. ‘Just tell me what happened, man. And don’t you dare leave anything out, or you’ll soon regret it.’
    Judicael cringed in fear. ‘Yes, my lord.’
    In a quavering voice, he recounted all that had passed between himself and Ralph Delchard, hoping to mollify his companion but only succeeding in deepening the man’s frown. Richard de Fontenel did not like what he heard. When the goldsmith finished, his visitor leaned in close to him.
    ‘Nobody else must know what I’m about to say to you, Judicael.’
    ‘I understand, my lord.’
    ‘As far as you’re concerned, I never even came into your shop.’
    ‘No, my lord.’
    ‘If one word of this conversation ever gets out,’ said the other, darkly, ‘I’ll come looking for you in person. Do you hear? Ralph Delchard and the other commissioners are only in Norwich for a short while. When they leave,
I’ll
still be here.’
    Mouth agape, Judicael nodded obligingly. ‘Yes, my lord.’
    ‘Who was the man who first told you of those elephants?’
    ‘His name is Heinfrid. He’s a goldsmith from Thetford.’
    ‘And he actually visited the abbey of St Benet?’
    ‘Yes, my lord. Heinfrid was invited to take on a commission by the abbot. He has a good reputation. Bishop William has employed him before now.’
    ‘So this Heinfrid was able to give you a good description of those elephants?’
    ‘As exact as only a craftsman could give.’
    ‘What was your reaction?’
    ‘Curiosity, my lord. Followed by a natural envy.’
    ‘Did you wish that you’d created such beautiful objects?’
    ‘Yes, I did. Very much so.’
    ‘Then you may have your opportunity,’ said de Fontenel. ‘How long would it take you to make something very similar to the elephants described by your friend?’
    ‘It’s not a question of time but of ability, my lord. I’d be unequal to the task.’
    ‘Nonsense!’
    ‘I would. I have great skills but they’re no match for a Venetian goldsmith. The only man who could even begin to design what you want is Heinfrid. After all, he’s seen and held the objects. Why not approach Heinfrid, my lord?’
    ‘Because I want you to have the commission.’
    ‘Heinfrid is the better man.’
    ‘He’s also worked for Bishop William and been employed by the abbey. I want nobody with those connections,’ said the other, firmly. ‘I need someone I can trust, Judicael. Someone who’ll work in secret and do exactly what I want.’ He gave him a conciliatory smile. ‘Set your price. It’ll be paid in advance.’
    The goldsmith was tempted. Rubbing his hands together, he took a moment to examine the implications. Refusal of the commission would be dangerous, yet acceptance also brought hazards. He feared his customer’s reaction if the work were not exactly to his taste and specification. Greed, however, slowly got the better of apprehension.
    ‘I’d have to speak to Heinfrid first, my lord,’ he said.
    ‘As long as you don’t tell him what you’ve been asked to do.’
    ‘Oh, no. But he can help me. Perhaps even provide a drawing.’
    ‘Excellent!’
    ‘Only when I see that,’ the goldsmith explained, ‘can I tell you how long it will take and how much it will cost. When do you want the pieces, my lord?’
    ‘As soon as possible!’
    ‘And I’m to work on them in secret?’
    ‘Discretion is absolutely vital.’
    Judicael gave a nervous laugh. ‘I think I know why,’ he said, grinning. ‘It’s the reason you don’t want Heinfrid of Thetford to have the commission, isn’t it? He might spoil the surprise.’
    ‘What are you burbling about, man?’
    ‘Those gold elephants, my lord. You want to present them to the abbey, don’t you?’
    Richard de Fontenel’s expression made him back away.

Anxious to make up lost ground, Drogo went off to find his master as soon as he had something to report. Mauger Livarot was at the rear of the house, testing a new shield he had had made, engaging in mock combat with one of his men and fending off his adversary’s sword with deft use of the shield. The steward waited until the clang of iron ceased and the two men stepped apart. He wished that he had not come upon his master when the latter had a weapon in his hand. After dismissing his man-at-arms with a rod, Livarot put down the shield and turned to his steward.
    ‘I hope you’ve brought no more bad tidings,’ he said.
    ‘No, my lord.’
    ‘Next time one of your spies is caught, leave him to rot where he lies.’
    ‘Yes, my lord. I’m sorry that I brought Clamahoc back here.’
    ‘What have you done with the man?’
    ‘Sent him on his way with food and a little money.’
    ‘More fool you!’ sneered the other. ‘You’re too soft-hearted, Drogo.’
    ‘That’s not a complaint you’ll be called on to make again,’ promised the steward. ‘But I’ve other news. I spoke to the man who trailed the two commissioners. They tracked down Jocelyn Vavasour somewhere near the coast.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘That I can’t say, my lord. It was impossible to get close enough to overhear them. But the visit had an unexpected result, it seems.’
    ‘Unexpected?’
    ‘Yes, my lord,’ said Drogo. ‘The lord Jocelyn left with them.’
    ‘But he vowed to live as an anchorite.’
    ‘Something they told him made him abandon his hermetic life for a while.’
    ‘We must find out what it was, Drogo.’
    ‘They’ll be dining at the castle this evening. I’ve a man there who might overhear what we need to know. He’s among those who’ll be serving the guests.’
    ‘Is the lord Jocelyn at the castle as well?’
    ‘Apparently not,’ said the other. ‘The commissioners returned without him. They parted company with the anchorite on the way.’
    ‘Where did he go?’
    ‘We don’t know as yet.’
    ‘What of the lord sheriff?’ asked Livarot, sheathing his sword.
    ‘He and his men haven’t ridden into the city yet. As soon as they do, I’ll have a report on where they went and what they found. Meanwhile,’ said Drogo, allowing himself a smirk of self-congratulation, ‘I’ve search parties of our own in action. They, too, should be bringing back news before long.’
    ‘What I want brought back to me is two gold elephants.’
    ‘You’ll have them, my lord.’
    ‘I hope so,’ said Livarot. ‘I need them to honour a promise I gave once again this afternoon. I don’t care to disappoint a lady, Drogo. That means we must recover the missing animals before anyone else does. There are too many hounds in this chase - the lord sheriff, his deputy, royal commissioners, Richard de Fontenel - and my fear is that one of them may run the elephants to ground before us. That mustn’t happen!’
    ‘We’re doing all we can.’
    ‘At all events, they must
never
be returned to the lord Richard. Take note of that. My plans will be ruined if they are. They’re the key to everything.’
    ‘I understand that, my lord.’
    ‘Good.’ He cleared his throat and spat on the ground. ‘It’s such a pity that Clamahoc was caught. We need an eye on the lord Richard.’
    ‘We still have one,’ said Drogo, ready to part with what he thought would be the most intriguing piece of information. ‘There’s a lorimer in the main street below the castle whom I pay to watch who comes and goes. He can be useful at times. While he makes spurs for his customers, he keeps the whole street under surveillance. This afternoon, he saw someone call at a shop not far from his own.’
    ‘Who was it?’
    ‘Richard de Fontenel.’
    ‘What was he doing in Norwich?’
    ‘Visiting a goldsmith.’
    Mauger Livarot raised his eyebrows in surprise. The steward gave a snigger.
    ‘I thought you’d be interested to hear that, my lord,’ he said.