The Song of the Nightingale by Alys Clare Page B

ransacking the place, the man protested and Matthew got his men to take him outside and tie him to a tree so that Matthew could flog him.’
    â€˜Matthew is
wicked
!’ Josse hissed. ‘He—’ With difficulty, he stopped. ‘And now you say he too has been assaulted?’
    â€˜Yes. He didn’t turn up at Lord Benedict’s house yesterday, and Benedict sent his men out to look for him. They found him early this morning. He’d been tied to a tree and flogged.’
    â€˜He’s still alive?’
    â€˜Yes, although he won’t sleep on his back for a week or two.’ Gervase paused. ‘He was given exactly the same number of strokes as he meted out to the farmer.’
    Josse couldn’t help the small cheer that seemed to sound inside his head. ‘An eye for an eye,’ he said.
    â€˜Vengeance again,’ Gervase said tersely. ‘If we are right in our thinking, those three men who lie dead up at the abbey were murderers, and hence were killed. Lord Benedict’s man Matthew abuses his position and does not hesitate to flog a man for no reason, and he in his turn has been given the same treatment.’
    â€˜Is that not justice?’ Josse demanded. ‘Matthew is a vicious man and has got what he deserves, and—’
    â€˜
Hush
, Josse!’ Gervase looked quickly around, but there was nobody in earshot. ‘Whatever else he may be, Matthew is acting for the king.’
    â€˜Even so, you should be—’
    â€˜
Enough
.’ The single word was barked out. Leaning close to Josse, Gervase said, ‘These are dangerous times, Josse. Do not be provoked into speaking words that may land you in trouble.’
    â€˜I’ll speak my mind!’
    â€˜Not in my presence.’
    Stung, Josse stared at his old friend. Gervase whispered, ‘I know, Josse. But what would you have me do?’ He paused, then went on, ‘Lord Benedict will be howling out in fury at this assault on one of his men. We shall have to redouble our efforts to find who is behind these attacks, and, moreover, make sure that we are
seen
to be redoubling them.’
    â€˜And what will you do with the perpetrator if and when he is caught?’ Josse asked coldly.
    Gervase turned away. ‘What I must do.’
    Then he went back up the steps into the hall.
    Helewise woke in the morning following the first night back in the little cell beside St Edmund’s Chapel and wondered at first where she was. When she remembered, she gave a smile of happiness.
I can do some good here
, she thought.
I know I can
.
    Little Helewise was still asleep, curled up under her covers, but Meggie’s bed was empty. Helewise got up, arranged her gown and her simple headdress, then went outside. Meggie was emerging from the forest, her arms full of firewood.
    â€˜You’re up early!’ Helewise said, going to help her with her burden. ‘And how busy you’ve been!’
    â€˜I thought our supply needed replenishing,’ Meggie replied, ‘and we shouldn’t rely on our sturdy lay brothers for everything.’
    â€˜No, indeed, and they’ll have their own duties down in the vale today,’ Helewise agreed. Lowering her voice, she added, ‘Do you think we need to tell your dear father that we’re only going to be guarded during the hours of darkness?’
    Meggie gave her a quick smile. ‘No, I don’t. It’ll only worry him.’
    â€˜We are, after all, in sight of the abbey,’ Helewise said. She stopped, looking down the long slope to the familiar outline of the abbey buildings. It was odd, but she was discovering that she had no desire whatsoever to venture inside . . .
    â€˜I wonder when we’ll have our first pilgrims?’ Meggie said as she followed Helewise on towards the hut. ‘I’m sure word is already spreading that you’re here.’
    â€˜And you,’ Helewise said. ‘You, I’m