09 The Case of the Cantankerous Carcass by Howard of Warwick

Author:Howard of Warwick [Warwick, Howard of]
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

…

‘abbot Roger seems only lightly engaged with the duties and responsibilities of the role,’ Godric explained to the others, after he had deposited the Normans and most of the monastery wine supply in the guest quarters.

‘No surprise there, then,’ Wat gave a resigned shrug.

‘And he most definitely believes the abbot to be dead. I think that he would not take it well to discover otherwise.’

‘Hm,’ the abbot grumbled.

‘I even made the suggestion that, as evening approaches and Compline is due, he might like to attend.’

‘And?’

‘He threatened me with a knife.’

‘Didn’t stick it in?’ Cwen asked. ‘He must like you.’

‘As soon as the light and the waters allow, we are to leave on an inspection of the estates.’

‘That’ll give us a chance to head back to Grimsby, then,’ said Wat. ‘If we can summon More again. And afford his fare.’

The abbot’s face was stern.

‘You can’t go after him,’ Wat read the look. ‘He very much wants you to be dead.’

‘And what will you do if you catch him?’ Cwen pressed. ‘Have a word and ask him if he’d very much mind giving the land back and going home?’

Hermitage gave the abbot a pleading look. ‘If we leave, at least you will be alive, Father,’ he said. ‘And there may still be a way to get the record of your death corrected.’

‘Really?’ Cwen didn’t sound at all convinced of this, or even that it mattered very much.

‘Of course. Once FitzGilbert is established and the business of your death is forgotten, we may be able to persuade the bishop’s office to discover that you are alive after all. It will be too late to reinstate you here…,’

‘As if you’d want to be,’ Wat interrupted.

‘But you could be placed in another monastery perhaps?’ Hermitage suggested. ‘One far away from any Normans.’

‘Good luck finding one of them,’ Cwen said.

The abbot sighed, heavily. ‘It is surrender in the face of evil doers. It is giving in to force when we should stand against it.’

‘It is staying alive and living to face another day,’ Cwen said. ‘After all, you never know with Normans. One good falling out with the king and it could be FitzGilbert who finds himself getting a letter telling him he’s dead. A letter wrapped around a great big sword.’

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