11 A Matter of Justice by Joyce Lionarons

Author:Joyce Lionarons [Lionarons, Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2020-08-30T23:00:00+00:00

“God blast you, Jarvis! Where did you go? I needed you!”

“Master, I – ” Jarvis stopped short just within the tavern door, his expression shifting from excitement to chagrin. “I, I’m sorry, Master. What did you need?”

“I needed you to stay here while I questioned Godric Ore. He lied to me, saying he was at home during the killing. Had you deigned to stay as you ought, I would have sent you to question his family before he could have them lie for him. Now twill be but my word against his.”

Cordwainer sputtered in anger at the sight of Jarvis’s grin. What right had the lad to smile when he was being chastised?

“Nay, Master, Godric was not at home,” Jarvis said. “He was seen climbing into his house through a window late that night, after all the villagers were abed.”

“Seen?” Cordwainer snorted out. “Seen by whom?”

Jarvis stepped forward and sat on the stool across from Cordwainer. “Twas a girl I met who lives next door to the Ores – the girl who was on the hill when we went to question Arnald,” he said. “She said she was frightened by the killing and could not sleep – she said she thought Godric was a vagrant coming to kill her until she recognized him.”

“Aye,” said Cordwainer, reining in his anger with an effort. “Then all is well enough. But Jarvis, you must stay by my side while I question folk in future. If I need you, you must be where I may find you.”

“Aye, Master, I will do so. But Master, that was not all Fina told me. She also said – ”

“Who exactly is Fina?” Cordwainer interrupted.

“She – tis the girl I just told you about.”

“Aye, but who is she? Is she related to Annora or Osbert? Did she long to marry Osbert or her brother long to marry Annora? I need to understand how all of these folk are related to one another, and not just by blood. Twill help me know who to believe.”

“Nay, Master,” Jarvis laughed. “She is not connected to either of them as far as I know. She is the daughter of a man named Gamel who lives next door to Godric, and she has no grown brother or sister. Let me tell you all she told me.”

Cordwainer grunted, then listened to Jarvis’s tale while sipping slowly at a tankard of Notte’s ale. When Jarvis had finished, he shook his head. “We have too many suspects – more than I would have expected in such a killing.” He bent forward to feel the bandage on his ankle. The swelling seemed to have subsided entirely. Perhaps he might walk well enough. He was tired of sitting in the tavern.

“Aye, then," he said. "I will question them all. I will start with – Hild Lote, did you say her name was? Do you truly believe a woman could have done the murder?”

Jarvis shrugged. “If she were a large woman, aye. Women who work in the fields are strong.

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