The Pardoner's Crime by Keith Souter Page A

words,’ Lady Wilhelmina whispered . ‘They already call him the Wakefield Master. My mother and the prioress say that he will be famous long after he is dead.’
    â€˜Rather be famous while he is alive,’ Richard whispered back.
    Sir Thomas took to his feet again once they had completed their speeches and deliberations. ‘And I have one final piece of information to impart to you all. On the day of the Mysteries, we shall be joined by His Majesty King Edward the Second, himself.’ He beamed about the hall as the good people of the Manor of Wakefield gasped in surprise and wonder. Finally, he looked at Richard. ‘What say you to that, Sir Richard?’
    Richard put down his goblet and wiped his lips with a towel. He inclined his head and stood up to address the hall. ‘I say that this is an undoubted honour for the Manor of Wakefield and for the town itself. It is good to see that it is so well organized, and that you have such knowledgeable people to direct the performances.’
    People applauded his words and tapped their goblets and beakers in approval on the tables. When the tumult settled down again Richard went on, ‘Yet if his majesty is coming to the manor so soon, it is beholden to us to have all judicial matters taken care of. The King’s Law must be seen to be working.’
    Another round of approval echoed about the hall.
    â€˜As the Circuit Judge of the King’s Northern Realm and the Judge of the Manor Court I am letting you all know that the first session of the court will take place tomorrow morning.’ His eyes sought out the trestle table upon which the constables of the town wards were sitting. ‘Tomorrow morning a jury will be selected and sworn in and we shall begin the investigation of two crimes that I already know have been committed. One is of a rape.’
    There were gasps and exclamations of outrage.
    â€˜And one of cold-blooded murder of a felon in the custody ofthe township. Both are extremely serious and could have dire repercussions for the town.’
    The hall mostly fell silent. ‘Tomorrow all residents of Wakefield and the surrounding hamlets and villages of the manor will attend at eleven o’clock and the jury shall begin by viewing the body.’
    He bowed and took his seat; all too aware that he was attracting looks and stares from all over the hall. He was also aware that Lady Wilhelmina’s eyes seemed to register a sort of fascination.
    After a signal from Sir Thomas the quartet began to play again and Richard nodded his head approvingly. ‘You have a fine band of musicians there. Especially the lute player.’
    Lady Alecia’s eyes sparkled and she smiled, almost wistfully . ‘Ah, that is Alan-a-Dale, my protégé. His fingers pluck those strings just as I used to be able to do myself. He is a beautiful artist.’
    Richard nodded and sipped his wine. ‘Indeed he is. And a most handsome young man, too.’
    He felt the touch of a dainty foot touch his leg and in the corner of his eye he saw Lady Wilhelmina’s lips give a half-smile . Despite himself he felt the colour rise to his cheeks.
    Â 
    Albin of Rouncivale had gone to his lodgings behind the shambles after finishing his day’s work, his purse considerably swelled and his bag of pardons proportionately reduced. His assorted relics had worked well for him, especially his latest acquisitions. After exchanging his pardoner’s clothes for a nondescript brown doublet and broad-brimmed hat he had gone for some supper and a mug of ale. But the Wakefield ale was too tempting, he found, and instead of visiting one tavern, he found himself visiting all six within the town, ending up in the Bucket Inn near to the Jacob’s Well near the Warrengate.
    Sitting in an inglenook by the blazing fire, he sat nursing his eighth mug of ale as he watched a group of Bucket Inn regulars playing dice at a nearby table. Through his haze