Free Hugh Corbett 11 - The Demon Archer by Paul Doherty

them to stay!’ Sir William snapped.
    ‘Good.’ Corbett sighed. ‘Now, Sir William, your brother?’
    ‘He was hated by Robert Verlian, his chief verderer.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘He lusted after Verlian’s daughter, Alicia. A beautiful young woman, it’s hard to imagine Verlian having a daughter like that. Lord Henry said she had a face like an angel. He was used to having his way with wenches.’
    ‘And Alicia resisted?’
    ‘She despised my brother.’
    ‘And Verlian himself?’
    ‘At first he was the loyal retainer but even a worm will turn. On one occasion, the Verlians threatened to kill Lord Henry if he didn’t desist in his wanton lechery.’
    ‘So, that’s why you suspected your chief verderer?’
    ‘Yes. Verlian’s also a master bowman and he was not with the hunting party.’
    ‘So, where could he have been?’
    ‘It’s possible,’ Sir William looked shamefaced, ‘that Verlian stayed behind the hunters as they drove the deer into Savernake Dell. After all, that was his responsibility.’
    ‘But you think he may have gone ahead, seized his concealed bow, killed your brother and fled?’
    Sir William picked up the corner of his cloak and dug with a dirty nail at the golden arrowhead stitching. He was about to answer when Ranulf came crashing back through the undergrowth.
    ‘Your men wait, Sir William!’ he called.
    Corbett’s manservant sat down with his back to a tree, stretching out his legs. With his dagger he began to whittle away at a branch, humming softly under his breath.
    ‘You do think Verlian killed your brother?’
    ‘Sir Hugh, he had good reason and he had the means.’
    ‘But it isn’t logical, is it?’ Corbett demanded. ‘Verlian is a Sussex man who holds profitable office. He has a daughter; he must have known that murder of his lord would bring summary execution.’
    ‘A man can do anything, Sir Hugh, when his blood is heated and his wits disturbed.’
    ‘But Verlian, and I know I can ask him, was no rash fool. A chief verderer is a man of patience, of cunning, of steady wit. I gather, at first, he showed no objection to Lord Henry’s pursuit of his daughter?’
    ‘He turned a blind eye,’ Sir William agreed. ‘But Alicia has a will like steel and a tongue as sharp as a razor.’
    ‘And who else is there?’ Corbett persisted.
    ‘Brother Cosmas, the priest of St Oswald’s-in-the-Trees. As I have said, my brother was harsh. Cosmas was also a soldier, until he found God. He fought in the retinue of Henry, Earl of Huntingdon.’
    ‘And who else is there?’
    ‘My brother had strange ways, Sir Hugh. He had little time for God and even less for God’s servants.’
    ‘He didn’t like priests?’
    ‘No, Sir Hugh, he didn’t like priests. He didn’t like what he called their mumbling, mouldering words. Henry had visited the universities at Salerno and Bologna, he was aware of the new knowledge coming out of the east. He claimed there was more to man than what the Church taught. He collected grimoires, books written by magicians and wizards. He often went into the forest. There’s a witch-woman, Jocasta, and her fey-witted daughter Blanche. My brother gave them a cottage and a little plot of land.’
    ‘Why?’ Corbett asked. ‘Was your brother a generous man?’
    ‘No. Jocasta appeared about three or four years ago, her daughter trailing behind. She told some story about being cast out by the good burghers of Rye. My brother met her alone in the parlour of Ashdown Manor. They must have been closeted for hours. Afterwards I learned that he had given Jocasta a cottage and, about once a week when he was in residence, he’d visit her by himself.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘The servants claimed he was interested in the black arts. Jocasta could weave spells.’
    ‘Is that the truth?’
    ‘No, I don’t think it is. Once my brother entertained a wandering magician. The man claimed he could ask Lord Satan to come up from hell. My brother riposted, “Yes, but would he