'Come on,' I said. 'I'm all right now. Let's go.'
We rode slowly down the path, the servants with the cart doffing their caps as we passed them. It was further than I had realized. My arm throbbed painfully.
I was thinking we must be at the glade soon when Barak touched my shoulder. 'Look,' he said quietly. 'What's that? Through there?'
'Where?' I looked through the trees. 'I can't see anything.'
'Something bright, like clothing.' He dismounted and walked into the wood. I dismounted too and followed, then almost walked into him from behind as he came to a dead stop.
'What is it?—'
I broke off at the extraordinary scene before us. Ahead of us was the little dell I had found that morning, with the fallen log leaning against a tree. For a second my mind whirled, for it seemed I was seeing the unicorn hunt on the tapestry in Hobbey's hall brought to life. A woman with long fair hair sat on the log, her back against the tree, arms folded on her lap. She stayed quite silent, not moving at our appearance. The images were mixed up and for a second I thought I saw a unicorn's horn projecting from her brow. Then I realized what was really there. Abigail Hobbey, pinned to the tree behind her by an arrow through her head.
BARAK AND I sat at the end of the big dining table in the great hall of Hoyland Priory. Fulstowe, Dyrick and Sir Luke Corembeck stood talking in low, intent voices under the old stained-glass window. Sir Quintin Priddis sat on a chair by the empty fireplace, his good hand on his stick and the dead white one in his lap, watching them with a cynical smile. Behind him Edward Priddis stood in his dark robe, his expression serious. They had been sitting in the hall when we returned from the discovery of Abigail's body.
'Ettis had every reason to hate her,' Fulstowe was saying. 'He had suffered from her tongue; he knew my poor mistress was strong against his defiance.'
'She faced him when he was shouting at my client in his own study a few days ago,' Dyrick agreed. 'I was there.'
Fulstowe nodded grimly. 'I know him well as a troublemaker. He is the only one with the fire and recklessness to risk his neck. Sir Luke, I beg you, use your authority as magistrate to have him brought back here. Question him; find out where he was today.'
Sir Luke scratched a plump cheek, then nodded. 'That would perhaps be a reasonable step, until the coroner arrives. I can get my servants to bring him in. There is a cellar at my house where we can keep him.'
Priddis cackled suddenly. 'You have found your murderer, then?' he called out. 'A village leader, opposed to your enclosure plans. Convenient.'
Sir Luke bridled. 'Ettis is a hot-headed rogue, Master Feodary, and an enemy of this family. He should be questioned.'
Priddis shrugged. 'It matters naught to me. But when the coroner arrives from Winchester he might think efforts would have been better spent checking the movements of everyone on the hunt.'
'That is being done, sir,' Dyrick replied.
'Ettis would not run,' I said. 'He has a wife and three children.'
'Full enquiries will be carried out by the coroner,' Corembeck replied haughtily, 'but in the meantime it will do no harm to secure Ettis.'
'When will the coroner be here?' Dyrick asked Fulstowe.
'Not until the day after tomorrow at the earliest, even if our messenger finds clear roads between here and Winchester, which I doubt.'
Barak looked downcast. As first finders of the body we would have to stay until the inquest. But I could not help feeling pleased. The carapace of mystery around this family would surely crack open now. Then I thought, guiltily, poor Abigail.
Sir Quintin looked at his son. 'Well, Edward, you might as well go and look at Hugh Curteys' property, that is why we are here after all. Unless you and Master Shardlake fear another arrow flying from those woods. Fulstowe tells me someone shot at you too, a few days ago.'
'Yes,' I replied. 'Though it was a warning shot, intended to miss.'
'I am not afraid, Father,' Edward said sharply.
I said, 'We will be riding through a cleared area. The big trees have all been felled; there is nowhere for an archer to hide.' I looked across at Dyrick. 'Will you come?'
'I should stay with Master Hobbey. And, Fulstowe, I want you to give the messenger going to fetch the coroner a letter to my clerk Feaveryear. It must be forwarded to London as fast as possible, I do not care what it costs.'
Edward Priddis looked at me. 'Then I will change my clothes, sir, and we can go.'
BARAK HAD BEEN the first to recover from the awful sight in the glade. He had walked silently over the grass and gently touched Abigail's hand. 'She is still warm,' he said.
