Chance is a Game: A Myles Devereux Murder Mystery - Mystery and Intrigue in Tudor England by Sam Burnell

Author:Sam Burnell [Burnell, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Myles knew the owner of the black powder mill at Rotherhithe, he was one Benton Lee, and from time to time, they had dealings together. The Tower was the only other place in London where black powder was manufactured, and Myles doubted that any of that leaked beyond the fortified walls. Recently, he had supplied a small amount to Fitzwarren, but he kept little in stock.

The irksome powder was known as Eastern Gold. Myles had no idea why it smelt; it was dangerous and of limited use. The problem was it was a commodity with a certain prestige level. And because of that, Myles Devereux liked it to be known that he could supply it. Not that he ever had many customers for it, and he didn't keep more than a few pounds at once. Occasionally, a bag was requested that could be smuggled into the goal, the guards suitably bribed, and the powder, a mercy, hung around the neck of those to be burnt. The powder ignited when the flames touched the dry leather bag, bringing about a quicker end than burning might.

It was allowed; it provided an additional spectacle for the gathered crowd when they were splattered with the brains of the condemned. Myles had tried to send some to his brother, the bribes had been taken, the Eastern Gold delivered, but Mary's officers had decreed that the condemned were to suffer and the leather bag had been ripped from around his brother's neck.

Mercy denied, and Andrew had to endure the total pain of the devouring flames as it stripped his flesh and sent his blood to run, hissing, into the faggots.

Myles’ nails bit into the palm of his hand, his eyes screwed tightly shut, a remembered smell in his nostrils, the whole horror of the day of Andrew’s death, bright and fierce in his mind.

Stop!

Myles slammed a fist down hard on the table, and then he smashed his knuckles twice on the edge, ripping away skin and bruising bone. Pain was the only thing that stopped the vision in his mind.

Holding the injured hand close, Myles settled his breathing and forced his mind to think again about the explosive powder. Fitzwarren had made it quite clear how dangerous and unpredictable the stuff was, and he had no desire to blast himself to heaven. So Myles kept a small quantity in a sealed box packed in greased sheep’s wool. He either bought the powder from Lee or, more usually, from those who worked for him who smuggled it from Lee's mill. From what he knew of it, though, it would have taken a goodly quantity, properly handled, to take out the rear wall of the Unicorn.

Had Lee supplied it?

There was only one way to find out.

Ask.

Or rather, take a roundabout way of placing that question.

Download

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