Free Wolf Wood (Part One): The Gathering Storm by Mike Dixon Page B

forth with the gravity of a judge about to
pass sentence. After a lengthy silence, he spoke.
    'Master Baret.
I summoned you ... and you alone.'
    John Baret
inclined his head respectfully. 'I took the liberty to ask these
gentlemen to accompany me.'
    'I did not
grant that liberty, Master Baret.'
    John produced
a sheet of paper and began to read in his usual cumbersome
style.
    'My colleagues
and I wish to congratulate you, Canon Bradford, on your most
praiseworthy election as abbot of this esteemed and ancient
Benedictine foundation in our beloved town of Sherborne. We
recognise that, as lord abbot and rector of All Hallows, you will
be responsible for the pastoral care and good guidance of our
community …' John droned on and ended with some words about the
rule of law and God's Holy Writ.'
    The speech met
with stony silence. Richard Rochell looked down at his writing pad.
Harald Gascoigne polished his eyeglasses. William Bradford gestured
towards the scribe and eventually spoke.
    'Do you take
me for an idiot? You went to Salisbury to vilify my name. Now you
are congratulating me on my election.'
    'There has
been an unfortunate misunderstanding.'
    'No. There has
not.' William thrust a jewelled finger at John Baret.' We
understand you only too well. No sooner was my election announced
than you set out on a mission of lies and deception. You told the
dean I was paying for information.'
    'I went to
Salisbury on parish business.'
    'You went to
sow discord.'
    'Please.' John
raised a calming hand. 'We came here in a spirit of peace and
reconciliation. We are as opposed to the subversive elements as you
are.'
    'You are not.
It is you who is behind these outrages. You travelled to Salisbury
with the Welshmen who tried to steal the font. My bailiff
recognised them. And, I do not doubt you are behind that font which
has so illegally and outrageously appeared in All Hallows.' The
jewelled finger shook with rage. 'What is more, Bailiff Gallor
identified one of those Welshmen as the villain who has been
shooting my pigeons.'
    It was the
first John had heard of the pigeons.
    'They've been
found with arrows through them and I hold you responsible. It is a
most serious offence. You have been interfering with correspondence
between your lord abbot and the highest authorities in the
land.'
    For a moment
John was stunned. There was something appallingly plausible about
the accusation. Gareth was famed for his ability to shoot birds
from the sky. It didn't take much imagination the guess where the
birds came from.
    Harald Gascoigne came to his aid. 'Did I hear the term lord abbot ?' He put down
his eyeglasses and squinted like a short-sighted scribe seeking
confirmation of a trivial point.
    'That is
correct,' William Bradford returned his stare.
    'It has been
used a lot recently,' Harald muttered as he wrote. 'I'm sure my
former colleagues in Westminster would be interested to hear of
it.'
    William turned
to Canon Simon. 'What's he going on about?'
    'Sir Harald
studied law at Oxford before family duties obliged him to return to
Dorset,' Simon said.
    'Well. That's
as may be,' William grunted. 'I know Sir Harald as one who cavorts
with a lady who mixes strange potions, says prayers in strange
languages and thinks she has a right to baptise infants, all of
which sounds very much like witchcraft to me. Are you saying he has
other claims to fame?'
    'Sir Harald
worked at Westminster, Father.'
    'I don't care
where he worked,' William seemed to miss the point. 'His remark is
totally uncalled for.'
    Harald rose
slowly to his feet and adjusted the lapels of his gown. He eyed
William coldly before continuing.
    'It is a serious offence of lese-majesty to anticipate the
sovereign's wishes.'
    'Don't lecture
me.'
    'I am not
lecturing you, Sir. I am making a point in law.'
    'You are being
impertinent.'
    'No, Sir. I am
merely stating that you are not yet lord abbot. You will not be
lord abbot until His Majesty has seen fit to grant you a
licence.'
    'And are