A Conspiracy of Wolves

Crispin paused, his eyes far away. ‘No. A man – I took him to be a servant – he shouted toward the house that someone was coming down the path.’

‘How did he come to see you?’ Owen asked.

‘Now you ask, he was on that trail, as if waiting.’

‘When Bartolf threatened you, did you leave at once? Or did you challenge him? Did the dogs attack?’

‘I could see he was drunk, as usual, and there is no reasoning with an adamant drunk, so I left. And, no, his dogs did not attack.’

Noting the emphasis on the word ‘his’, Owen drew out the pouch he’d carried for days. ‘I ask because of this, a salve for a dog bite. Someone dropped it on that trail. Recently. It had not been out in the weather when I found it.’

‘I was attacked – and bitten – that night, but not by Bartolf’s dogs. Another. On my way back. There was a man crouching down on the bank, and near him, in the shadow of a tree – well, I thought it a wolf, and that the man might not be aware of his danger. I called out to warn him. It was then the beast turned toward me. Leapt at my throat. I shielded my neck with my useless arm and drew my knife, but it was so quick. Its teeth were in me. My men were rushing him, they tell me, when the man whistled and the animal let go. Just like that. Man and beast backed away, the man shouting that he would avenge his father, and then they vanished.’

‘His father is the one whose name you hoped to clear?’

‘Warin, yes.’ Crispin cursed. ‘This will make no sense to you.’

‘Did your men give chase?’

‘Tried, but by then it was dark and the marsh dangerous.’

‘It was you who had chosen the marsh path.’

‘My men are not from here.’

‘Where were your men today when your mother was attacked?’ Owen asked.

Crispin had been watching Owen, no doubt guessed he was aware of his reluctance to be forthcoming. Now he made a face as if conceding. ‘I’ve had them watching Bartolf’s house in the woods for several days.’

‘Why?’

‘It all began there, or near there.’

‘You mean Hoban’s death and all that’s happened since?’

‘Yes.’

‘And have your men observed anything?’

‘Nothing. No one has come to the house, nor have the dogs or the horse returned.’

‘Did it not occur to you that folk should be warned of the man and his wolf? If not that night, then at least after Hoban was attacked in the same place, with a beast involved?’

‘I told you, none of this will make sense without all that went before.’ Crispin averted his eyes.

‘A lone man and his dog could not do all this,’ said Owen. ‘Today two men attacked.’

‘I have no idea who the other might be.’

‘So that night, you were bleeding, and near the home of the Riverwoman.’

‘She was away. Mistress Alisoun tended me. And I am grateful.’

‘She prepared this pouch of salve for you?’ Owen dangled it by the cord.

‘Yes.’

So Alisoun had lied to him.

‘It seems there is a limit to your gratitude, and your trust. I recall you asking whether she’d spoken of you. And you said you felt responsible for her injury. Did you swear her to secrecy?’

‘I did.’

‘Why?’

Crispin winced. ‘Neville. I did not know when I accepted the mission that I would find I was so reviled by my old friends. I expected resentment – I escaped, they were still here. But there was much I did not know. So much.’

‘And now you do?’ Owen asked.

A nod. ‘I should not have come.’

‘The old friends you speak of?’

‘Hoban, Paul, Olyf, Adam.’

Muriel’s trio plus one. ‘Alisoun saw to your arm and you swore her to secrecy so that Alexander Neville would not hear of this trouble and have no more to do with you.’

Clenched jaw. Good. He might forget himself.

‘You deride me,’ Crispin said.

‘Not without cause. Go on. What did you do next?’

‘I came home.’

‘After curfew? You have a friend at Bootham Bar you counted on to let you through past curfew?’

‘I told a tale of my widowed mother, blind, worried for me. Folk believe I returned to care for her. I make use of that.’ Crispin took off his velvet hat, wiped his brow. His hand trembled. ‘Why did Bartolf not accuse me of Hoban’s death? I waited, expecting it.’

‘Because he threatened you with his dogs?’

‘He was not so different from my mother, ever one to use his position as coroner to deflect blame from his family and his powerful friends.’ Crispin’s full lips curled in disgust.

‘And you? You knew of the danger and warned no one. Not even Alisoun.’

‘That’s not the same.’

‘No?’ Owen glanced at Magda, who shook her head. Let it be, Bird-eye. ‘So this man who attacked you, was his complaint against Bartolf?’

‘To an extent, but that particular sin I lay at the feet of the woman who bore me.’ Crispin looked over at Alisoun. ‘I was wrong to put myself ahead of that young woman. I have grievously wronged her.’

‘And others.’

‘Might I have a moment with her?’

Owen did not feel the man deserved it. But he agreed, rising to stretch his legs.

Lucie joined him. ‘Come with me. There is something you must hear.’