A Spy for the Redeemer by Candace Robb Read Free Book Online Page B

anything to do with all this, I remind you that I have been in Cydweli on my king’s business.’
    ‘Two of your men were here in the city,’ Rokelyn said reasonably.
    ‘Of what are you accusing me?’ Owen asked, quitting the game.
    Rokelyn leaned forward, opening his eyes fully. ‘Cynog supported Owain Lawgoch. Did you know that?’
    ‘Cynog?’ Owen had not known, but he might have guessed. ‘And you think he was executed because of that?’
    ‘I want you to find out.’
    ‘You must forgive me, but I cannot. I have been too long from home and my duties for Archbishop Thoresby. I must find someone to complete Sir Robert’s tomb, see him buried beneath it, and then take ship for England.’
    ‘You are suddenly eager for home. Why?’
    ‘It is not sudden.’
    ‘I say that it is.’ Rokelyn snapped his fingers. Two palace guards entered the room. Sweet Jesu, this archdeacon thought to bully him into co-operating? Owen stood up. The men moved towards him, fingering the daggers on their belts. Owen took a step towards them, but stopped there. What was he thinking? He was outnumbered. Oh, he might enjoy bringing one of them down, but in the end he would be the one lying there, bruised and humiliated. With age came a certain level-headedness. He would resist Rokelyn in more subtle ways. Raising his hands, palms forward, Owen laughed and shook his head, resumed his seat. The guards began to back away.
    ‘Stay a moment,’ Rokelyn said to them. ‘I do not trust this humour.’
    ‘I laugh at myself,’ said Owen. ‘It is so long ago now that I was a soldier and yet so easily I forget.’
    ‘Help me willingly or you will become quite intimate with Piers, the accused. Which will it be, Captain?’
    ‘Truth be told, you do not seem to need me. If Cynog supported Owain Lawgoch as you say, is it not obvious that this Piers the Mariner executed him for treason against the King of England?’
    Rokelyn flushed crimson. ‘This is not a game, Captain. If you refuse to assist me, I shall have every reason to suspect you to be in league with the people behind Cynog’s death. Folk would not find it difficult to believe.’
    They would if they knew Owen’s feelings about Owain Lawgoch’s cause. ‘Why would I hire him and then have him put to death before he completed his task?’ Owen put up a hand to stop Rokelyn’s reply. ‘I play no game with you, nor have I said I would not assist you. But tell me this – if Cynog was Owain Lawgoch’s man, and you are the King’s man, why should you care why he was murdered? You have one less traitor hiding in your city.’
    ‘No one has a right to bring justice in this city but the bishop of St David’s, or those of us who act on his behalf. I do not care whose side Cynog was on. I want the person who believes he can take the law into his own hands in this city. He must be stopped.’
    ‘You are right, of course.’ Tomorrow Owen could think about a way round this. Meanwhile, he would put Rokelyn to work. ‘If I agree to assist you, will you find me a stonemason to complete the tomb?’
    ‘I shall.’
    ‘And if I miss Siencyn’s sailing, you will find me passage – comfortable passage – to England?’
    ‘When you have satisfied me. If you do.’
    Owen ignored the last remark. ‘Then we are agreed. And now I must leave while I still have the strength to walk back to the palace. It has been a long and wearying day.’ He rose.
    ‘Do not try to leave the city,’ Rokelyn warned.
    ‘And how might I do that? Swim?’ Owen bowed low, then headed for the door. As he passed the guards, they began to follow. Owen turned suddenly, his small eating knife in his hand. ‘No. We have an agreement only so long as I do not have escorts.’ He enjoyed the surprise on their faces. Such a small knife was nothing to fear and they would quickly discount it. But it was cheering to have given them pause.
    ‘Let him go,’ Rokelyn barked.
    Owen expected the archdeacon to order the guards