by Mark G Heath
Thaindire continued on his way. Once he had crossed the top of the hump he could see that someone else was walking in the direction of the church. He could not determine who it was for a long, hooded russet cloak shrouded them and made any identification impossible. He cast a sideways glance at the gibbet which swayed mocking, Sanctus’ corpse still incarcerated in the metal cage and Thaindire whispered a short prayer as he marched onwards.
The lane to the church became narrower and narrower as it grew steeper. The branches of the trees met above, forming a natural tunnel and the light decreased as he followed the figure, which was twenty yards or so ahead of him. Eventually, Thaindire arrived at a stone archway and a wooden gate. He halted and he could see the leading figure making its way along a path towards the church ahead. Thaindire looked behind him but all he could see was the forest as it stretched in every direction, a mixture of coloured leaves and bare branches, with him above it. He opened the gate and entered the churchyard. Gravestones were scattered in no evident order to his right and his left. He kept along the path choosing to halt beside a large tombstone, which bore an angel; its wings spread as if it might take off and fly up into the leaden sky. The person he had been following had halted at the church door. Five stone steps led up to the door, thus providing Thaindire with a clear view of the elevated individual. He peered around the tombstone as the church door opened and a person stepped out onto the top of the steps. The hooded figure let down its hood and he saw one of the village girls who had been heading to Lancaster’s room last night. She was pretty, with short blonde hair and round, green eyes. A man, who was taller than she, met her and he wore a black, double-breasted cassock, the white dog collar contrasting with the inky black collar within which it sat. A skullcap rested on his head from beneath which short brown hair protruded. He was handsome and somewhere in his thirties. This had to be Campion, the priest. Thaindire felt gladdened. The priest would provide him with assistance and answers to his concerns, as one of the High Church’s clergy. He reached out and took the girl in his arms and embraced her fully on the mouth. The two of them remained locked together for a number of seconds, causing Thaindire to stifle a shocked gasp. Campion’s hand then took hers and he led her into the church, the door closing behind them. Thaindire stepped out from behind the tombstone stunned by what he had witnessed. There was neither mistaking what had just happened nor a rational explanation for the clear demonstration of passion. Thaindire had hoped that Priest Campion would prove to be a bastion of goodness surrounded by the nefarious and ungodly activity of Aftlain, someone he could garner knowledge from in readiness of making his next move, but even a priest had become tainted by this place.
“ If you are hoping to see the priest he will be busy for a while yet,” chuckled a voice interrupting Thaindire from his despairing thoughts. He turned, the sudden noise in the still of the churchyard, making him jump and his back protested at the rapid movement. He saw nobody in the direction from where the voice had come.
“ Who is there?” called Thaindire, “ Show yourself.”
“ Just a moment,” replied the voice. Still Thaindire could see nobody. With a grunt, a figure clambered out of the ground a few yards away on the other side of the path from him. He stood up and patted the loose dirt away from himself before looking up at Thaindire. He was a wiry fellow, clad in dirty tunic and leggings, sturdy boots about his feet, his face streaked with dirt. Thaindire walked over and could see that the man had climbed out of a grave, a mound of freshly dug earth to one side of the hole.
“ Aye, that will be the priest occupied for a few hours at least,” he gave a sniff.
“ Who are you gravedigger?” asked Thaindire.
“ Gregory Talvace, sir.” the man bowed his head respectfully.
“ And whose grave do you prepare?”
“ I don’t know.”
Thaindire frowned.
“ Don’t be impertinent Talvace, surely you know for whom you are preparing this resting place in the One True God’s acre?”
“ Nope. Not a clue. But it is bound to be needed.”
“ Then why dig if you don’t know who it is for?”
“ I’m a grave digger. I dig graves. That’s what I do,” answered Talvace.
“ You strike me as an idiot grave digger.”
“ You make maps don’t you?”
“ I do, what of it?”
“ Well, I am sure you make maps by request.”
“ Yes.”
“ And I should imagine you make maps ready to sell, should they be needed. “
“ Again, yes.”
“ Well, I dig graves when they are needed and I dig graves in the expectation of them being needed. Call it stocking up, if you will. People are going to die aren’t they?”
“ Hmm, in my experience graves are dug as and when required, not in the expectation of people dying.”
“ That’s as maybe Master Thaindire, but I like to stay ahead of the game. Anyway, when I saw the state of you when you arrived I thought I may as well get on with some digging, didn’t think you would be wandering about insulting good, honest grave diggers, that I didn’t. Then, when I saw you coming here, I wondered if you were looking to fill the grave with someone else.”
“ Why in the One True God’s name would you think that?” asked Thaindire.
Talvace glanced at Thaindire’s sword and then jerked his head towards the church, raising his eyebrows.
“ You think I was after the girl?”
“ No.”
“ The Priest?”
“ More than likely.”
“ And why would I be seeking to slay a priest?”
“ Because of what you just saw.”
“ And did you see what I just saw?” demanded Thaindire.
“ I did. The priest and young Isabel. A bonny lass isn’t she? Comes up here a couple of times a week I would wager,” commented Gregory.
“ And did you see the manner of their greeting?”
“ Oh and more besides,” responded the gravedigger with a resigned look on his face, “ Pity, you see, for she and the others never give Gregory a second glance.”
“ For the love of the One True God man, he’s a priest, what is he doing with her in there?” demanded Thaindire his temper rising.
“ Spreading the One True God’s love, I should imagine,” leered Talvace, “ Very loving is our priest.”
“ I shall put a stop to this debauchery,” seethed Thaindire and he stepped forward. Talvace moved in front of him blocking his path.
“ Now now, Master Thaindire, let’s not be hasty,” he cautioned.
“ Stand aside man,” demanded Thaindire.
“ Can’t do that, what the One True God has joined together let no man put asunder and all that.”
“ That’s marriage, you fool,” retorted Thaindire.
“ If you are jealous Master Thaindire, don’t be, Isabel is sure to take an interest in a fine fellow such as you,” smiled Gregory showing a largely toothless mouth.
“ You disgust me,” hissed Thaindire, “ I have no interest in deflowering the young ladies of this village.”
“ Oh you won't be deflowering them believe me,” laughed Talvace. “ Look he will have locked the church so you can't get in and what are you going to do, set about a holy man in his own house?”
“ He is no holy man engaging in such lewd behaviour,” retorted Thaindire.
“ Well, be that as you may think, but he is well loved by the village and if I let you pass, I will soon be on my way to the village to warn of your murderous intentions.”
“ Is that a threat?” questioned Thaindire.
“ No, just a fact.” shrugged the gravedigger.
“ Damn you man,” uttered Thaindire turning and taking a couple of steps away from Talvace. Furious at his impotence, Thaindire conceded that the digger was right. It was doubtful he could gain entry to the church and he would have to slay Talvace to stop him racing to the village and all
he had done was be truthful to Thaindire. He padded in a circle his rancour slowly evaporating until he stood and stared over to the church. The gravedigger sensed that Thaindire had reconsidered his actions.
“ They go willingly, you know and surely nothing is sweeter than loving another. I would like some love. I’m sure you would too,” he commented. Thaindire snorted. Gregory moved off the path and jumped back down into the grave he was digging. Thaindire soon heard the sound of the shovel begin driven into the earth and the gravedigger whistling to himself.
Thaindire walked towards to the church occasionally glancing back at the grave but all he could see was the shovel appearing from time to time, depositing the soil on the side. He climbed the steps to the sturdy looking door and reached for the handle, He tried to turn it but there was no movement. He gave a shove but the door did not yield.
“ Told you,” mocked a voice. Thaindire saw the grinning face of Talvace as he stood up in the grave before shaking his head and carrying on with his digging. Thaindire cursed the gravedigger and went back down the steps. He followed the western edge of the church seeking a point of entry. The grass grew long and untended up against the solid stone of the church’s wall. Up above him were leaded glass windows but they were too high for him to reach. The building cut across him ahead as he circled the east transept, which afforded no door and only the unreachable windows. On reaching the chancel he saw a small door set into its wall, slightly recessed down some steps. He took hold of the ringed iron handle and tried to turn it. The latch lifted and he gave a smile as he pushed at the door, but it did not yield. He put his left shoulder to the wooden door and pushed hard but there was no movement. It was similarly locked. Disappointed he negotiated his way about the south-facing chancel and found another similar door, more or less opposite to the one he had just encountered. It was similarly not for yielding. The west transept and west wall were without any portal and he found himself back at the main entrance to the church, able to hear Talvace still digging away. He stood at the foot of the steps to the main door considering his options before turning and walking back down the path.
“ Pleased to have met you,” called Talvace after him but Thaindire ignored him, making for the stone archway and the road beyond. Thaindire had seen enough. There was no redemption to be found in Aftlain. It was time to depart and summon the Order of Allsaints. He needed additional witch hunters, as alone he would not be able to issue an effective judgement against this unholy village. He would seek transport and make for the City of Lancester without delay.
Chapter Eleven
“ Look, I will pay double the value of any of these horses,” urged Thaindire waving his purse in front of the nonplussed farrier.
“ That’s as maybe Master Thaindire, but they are not mine to sell,” he replied standing with his hands on his hips.
“ What? You don’t own a horse?” asked Thaindire incredulously.
“ I shoe ‘em, don’t need to ride one myself.”
“ Then whose are these horses?” he asked waving over at the small stable to the side of the farrier’s home where four steeds were visible.
“ Not for me to say,” came the response.
“ Good lord man, surely you can at least tell me who the horses belong to so I can go and see the owners,” pleaded Thaindire. The farrier shook his head and folded his arms.
“ Not for me to be telling others about their business.”
Thaindire stared at the farrier, struggling to keep his temper in the face of such obstinacy. He had resolved to acquire a horse and make post haste for Lancester to report on the ungodly goings on in Aftlain and to return in numbers to set about bringing the village to order. The behaviour of Priest Campion confirmed to him that the whole of the village was riddled with unholy desires and practices and that alone he would not be able to get to the root of it all. He had accumulated enough evidence in his short stay that should persuade the Lanceholder-General to issue a declaration and allow a Vanguard Presence from the Order to attend upon Aftlain and uncover who was orchestrating this ill behaviour and extinguish it. To do that of course he needed a mount and on his return from the church he had headed for the farrier’s only to be denied his intended purchase.
“ Well who else has horses in the village that aren’t stabled here?” he asked, hoping the farrier would tell him at least that.
“ Go and ask Ansell next door, he has a stable behind the smithy, he might know of someone willing to sell,” commented the farrier. Thaindire nodded and walked the short distance to the smithy. Redway was in occupation, working hard over a smouldering piece of metal.
“ Afternoon Master Thaindire,” he greeted as Thaindire came into view.
“ Afternoon Master Redway, I understand you keep a stable?” he asked.
Redway lowered his tong and hammer.
“ That’s right. Want a horse do we?”
“ Yes I do.” said Thaindire firmly.
“ Follow me then. Robert, watch the forge whilst I head to the stables,” Redway called to his son.
Redway headed down the side of the smithy with Thaindire close behind him. There was an open yard behind the smithy and a low-roofed building opposite.
“ Well, three of the horses are out working, they belong to farmers who live on the south side,” explained Redway as they walked along the stables. Thaindire was able to see in as each stable had the upper half of the stable door open and three empty bays met his gaze. In the fourth a handsome, jet-black stallion stood and gently snorted.
“ That’s no farmer’s steed,” he commented on the well-groomed animal.
“ Spot on. He belongs to the Captain so you can forget about buying him, not a chance,” explained Redway. The next four bays all contained horses either stood up or lying down. They were not of the quality of Reznik’s mount but would certainly last the journey to Lancester. Redway allowed Thaindire to enter the bays and inspect the horses. All were well looked after, although, he did notice that the horses had a cuff about their right rear legs, which was attached to a chain, which then led to a stone block at the rear of the stable.
“ So who owns these four?” asked Thaindire.
“ The first one is Ellen Ryall’s, the costermonger. The next is Gascoigne’s, the cooper and the other two belong to Thomas Ardene and Arnald Rudhale they are both farmers. You could try them. Don’t know where Thomas and Arnald will be, in all honesty you would be best waiting for tonight and addressing the tavern as most of the farmers will be in then. Ellen and the cooper are just along the way, at their stores,” explained Redway helpfully.
“ Thank you,” replied Thaindire.
“ Planning on leaving us?” asked Redway as they began walking back to the smithy.
“ Well, I shall have to eventually, when my mapping is done,” replied Thaindire, “ I have to report back eventually.”
“ I see,” nodded Redway as he rubbed his large hands together. “ Be sure to let us know when you intend to travel.”
Thaindire waved farewell to the smith, thankful for his more accommodating nature than the farrier. He suspected there was a stable at the tavern also and he had seen wagons at the mill house so there were bound to be horses there too. Someone must be willing to sell and for a good price too.
A little while later, Thaindire stood looking out across the square as villagers wandered past him. He bit into an apple he had bought from Ryall and savoured its sweet taste. It was particularly crisp and delicious. Indeed, when he had spoken to Ryall to buy a horse from her, he had noticed that the array of produce she sold was impressive. The fruit bore no blemishes, were of a greater size than he was used to seeing, their colours bright and the scent rising from them fresh and inviting. As he spoke to her, other villagers bustled about him purchasing the apples and pears, the small boxes of ripe, shining berries and other fruits, which he did not in fact recognise. His attempts to purchase a steed from Ryall and Gascoigne had met with no countenance. Ryall had firmly, but pol
itely explained that she needed her horse to make the final trip to Lancester before winter set in. Gascoigne had considered Thaindire’s offer of double the horse’s worth but ultimately turned it down as he went on at great length that he would not be able to acquire a replacement until spring time and even then it was not guaranteed. He took a chunk from the apple again and was undeterred. He would ask the patrons of the tavern this evening, surely a farmer would be looking to save on feed and stable costs over the winter period and if it came to it, he would just have to steal a mount, such was the need to return to Lancester.
Thaindire idly lobbed the apple core to the floor and made his way past the carpenter’s and the sound of sawing and hammering having decided that since he could not make an immediate departure, he would ensure the afternoon would be productive. He would look to bolster his case to the Order and seek more evidence by exploring the massed ranks of buildings that made the southern side of the village and try to find a route to the tower. He approached the alleyway, which ran, between the carpenters and the setback alchemist’s home, which looked as uninviting as ever. A narrow ginnel ran to the right and Thaindire peered into the gloom. The roadway was uneven, being earth rather than cobble. The buildings were two storeys, looking onto the back of the various stores, little light penetrating from above. He walked along the ginnel, glancing at the houses. Occasionally a female housekeeper would emerge to tip wastewater into the ginnel or shake out a blanket. All glanced at him but none spoke. The homes were unremarkable and packed tightly together so that no alleyway ran between them, but only a gap which a rat could escape down, or, Thaindire noted with grim recognition, one of the alchemist’s unnatural miniature creations. The lane ended at the smithy and he turned left to find the earth rose fairly sharply as he walked besides the last house in the lane and onto another lane which ran parallel to that which he had just traversed. He stared down it not able to see the end of this ginnel in the poor light. He opted against walking down it and carried on along the side of the end property. Behind this was a third lane, again higher than the one before it and similarly the narrow thoroughfare ran between the back of the third row of houses and the front of the fourth and final row. This was the southern edge and accordingly if there was any way to reach the tower he ought to find it here.
