Janna Mysteries 1 & 2 Bindup (42 page)

The forest? If Serlo had managed to take Hamo there without being seen, it would make the best hiding place of all, Janna concluded. He could choose a spot, somewhere wild and undisturbed, knowing that the grave would never be found. He would be safe then to carry on his mission to reclaim his stolen land, with or without Hamo’s body.

Janna sighed. This was all thought and supposition; she had no proof to accuse Serlo of anything, nor would she unless Hamo could be found to bear witness against him.

A sudden pang of doubt shook Janna as she remembered how Serlo had hidden them from the forester. He had given them shelter for he had recognised that they, too, were of Saxon stock, and his instinct had been to protect them from the terrible justice of the forest law instituted by Norman kings. Even though they’d been expected to work hard in repayment for Serlo’s kindness, she and Edwin had been grateful, so grateful. And now here she was, ready to suspect him of the worst deeds imaginable: kidnap and murder.

‘Gytha was always proud. Of course she has many talents as well as being beautiful.’ Mistress Tova was still talking.

‘Has Gytha spent any time with the young lord, with Hamo?’ Janna interrupted, her certainty in Serlo’s guilt suddenly shaken. No matter how unlikely it might seem that Gytha was guilty, she couldn’t afford a false accusation against someone as powerful as the reeve.

‘No, she dislikes the child. Oh!’ Mistress Tova put her hand to her mouth, too late to take back the words she obviously wished she’d never said. ‘I didn’t mean it quite like that,’ she said nervously. ‘Gytha’s very good with children, but she resents the fact that the young lord will inherit this manor when he is of age. Even so, she’s very upset by his disappearance. She spends every free moment out searching for Hamo. Poor little lad. He must have run off in a great hurry, for Mistress Cecily left him alone only while she talked to me, and she raised the alarm just as soon as she realised he had run away again.’

Janna hastily finished chopping up the herbs and threw them into the boiling water. A growing sense of urgency possessed her. The cook had given her much to think about and she was anxious to get moving.

‘This is a posset for Dame Alice, to help her rest,’ she said. ‘Let it boil for as long as it would take to milk a goat or a sheep, then take it off the fire and let it cool. I pray you, keep the mixture for Mistress Cecily, who will be along presently to fetch it for ma dame.’ Not giving the cook any time to argue, she rushed out of the door, pausing only to untie Bones. Delighted, the dog yipped and ran around in circles, almost tripping Janna as she set off across the yard.

‘Behave yourself!’ She nudged Bones out of the way with a not-too-gentle foot, and hurried on. She had to find Hamo – and for that, she had to find Serlo.

Her hand was smarting quite badly now. Janna looked down at the rash, remembering how she’d plunged her hand into the bush of rue to retrieve Hamo’s ball. She should have taken more care, wrapped something around her hand to protect it, she thought, recalling that rue was harmless enough except when the sun shone on it and brought oil to the surface of its leaves, the oil that had caused her skin to blister.

The elusive memory flickered once more, and in a sudden Janna had it, the last proof she needed of Serlo’s guilt. He, too, had once had a rash on his hand, the same rash that came from picking rue. She remembered that she’d offered to make him up an ointment for it, hoping to deflect his accusations about the straying cows – and the fox in the hencoop and the slaughter of the lamb. If only she’d thought of this before, so much harm could have been avoided!

She understood now, the posies of rue and what they meant. Rue to curse Dame Alice, and to mark his revenge against her for taking his land. She would repent that theft and suffer the consequences.

She remembered how quick Serlo had been to correct her when she’d hinted that Hamo might have been taken, how he’d called Hamo ‘silly’ for wandering away and getting lost again. Janna closed her eyes and groaned aloud at her own stupidity as she realised something else. Serlo had seen her with the posy of rue. No wonder he’d been so quick to act against her. He would have had a key to the chests in the undercroft and could easily have taken the missing goods. Perhaps his aim was to throw Janna off his trail if he suspected that she knew what he was doing, but it was much more likely that he meant to use the stolen goods as an excuse to banish her and Edwin from the manor. He had certainly used them to discredit her. He’d made quite sure that, if she voiced her suspicions, she would not be believed.

More convinced than ever, now, of Serlo’s guilt, and with a corresponding lightness of heart that Hugh was innocent of every charge, Janna thought of someone else who might help in her quest to find Hamo. Someone she could trust. Someone skilled at tracking signs, and who knew the forest better than anyone else, better even than the forester. Godric. If Hamo was hidden or buried somewhere in the forest, Godric would be able to follow the passage of whoever had taken the child.

Hamo must be alive, Janna thought. He
must
be! Her imagination tortured her with images of the boy’s bright face, his open, trusting nature. She wondered if he could hear the bell tolling to bring him home. He would not understand what was happening to him, why he was being held captive. He would be so frightened. Janna’s hands clenched in impotent rage. She would have battered the truth out of Serlo with her bare fists if she’d thought it would help her cause. But punishment could come later, once Hugh found out the full extent of his reeve’s treachery. In the meantime, their best hope of finding Hamo rested with Godric.

Taking care to keep out of Serlo’s way, for he was everywhere about the manor supervising the search parties, Janna walked quickly to the gate with Bones yapping at her heels. She was about to pass through when Bertha pounced on her once more, and drew her into the shelter of a barn.

‘You must be careful, Janna,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I heard the lord Hugh tell Serlo that you’re innocent of all crimes and he’s not to lock you up again, but the hunt is still on for Edwin. Serlo means to have you followed in the hope you’ll betray Edwin’s hiding place. You won’t do that, will you?’

‘Of course not.’ There were no doubts now in Janna’s mind about Serlo’s guilt, but it seemed likely that Edwin was to be made the scapegoat for all that had happened. She couldn’t allow that.

‘You don’t have to watch Gytha any more,’ she told Bertha. ‘I know she’s innocent, and I also know who’s guilty of these crimes, although I have no way of proving it unless I can find Hamo.’ She glanced quickly over her shoulder to make sure they were still unobserved. ‘Go to Edwin when you can, when it’s safe, and tell him he’s not to show himself on any account until we find Hamo.’

‘Is Hamo still alive then?’ Bertha’s eyes shone with hope.

‘Pray God that he is, otherwise we are all doomed,’ Janna said grimly. She walked to the door of the barn and peered out. Serlo was nowhere in sight. ‘Have you seen Godric anywhere?’ she called over her shoulder.

‘I saw a stranger go through the gate a little while ago,’ Bertha answered. ‘Was that Godric? He walked down to the ford. I think he plans to search in the forest.’

‘Good. Thank you, Bertha.’ Pulling Bones behind her, Janna left the barn and hurried off in search of the villein. At the same time, she kept a sharp lookout for Serlo. To her relief, there was no sign of him or of Hugh but, as she forded the river, she caught sight of Godric. He was about to vanish into the thick green barrier that marked the edge of the forest.

‘Ho! Godric, wait for me!’ she shouted, and put on a burst of speed to catch up to him.

He hesitated. Janna knew that he’d heard her cry out. It was too far for her to see his face, but she could imagine him scowling as he made up his mind whether or not to obey her command.

He stayed where he was, and she was grateful for it. ‘Godric!’ she panted, as soon as she was within earshot. Although he’d waited, he’d turned his back on her and seemed absorbed in studying the myriad hues of green in the foliage ahead.

‘What do you want?’ He turned and scowled at her.

Janna bent over, holding tight to her aching side. ‘You have to help me,’ she gasped.

Godric’s face closed against her. He took a step away. ‘I have more important things to do with my time, Janna,’ he said distantly. ‘I’m looking for Hamo.’

‘So am I,’ Janna said impatiently. She straightened. ‘I think I know what’s happened to him. Listen to me.’ And she poured out her story, trusting him with all the truth including her suspicions about Hugh, leaving nothing out in her desperation to convince him to help her. ‘I know how good you are at following signs,’ she finished breathlessly. ‘If Hamo’s hidden somewhere in the forest, I know you’ll be able to find him, Godric.’

His expression remained dubious. ‘People have been searching through the forest for days, trampling tracks everywhere. How will I know whether I’m on Serlo’s trail or someone else’s?’

‘Oh.’ Janna’s hopes deflated instantly. ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’ She took some comfort from the fact that at least Godric had listened to her, and that he was taking her suggestions seriously. But his objection was sound. ‘Then we’ll have to follow Serlo after all,’ she declared, adding honestly: ‘You’ll have to follow him, Godric. He’s watching out for me, he thinks I’m going to lead him to Edwin – which I’m not. Bertha’s gone to warn Edwin. She loves him, and she’ll make sure he stays hidden until it’s safe for him to come out.’

Godric nodded. It seemed to Janna that he was looking more friendly as he said, ‘I doubt Serlo will make any move towards Hamo in the daylight. If he’s making a show of searching for him, he’ll continue while people are around to watch. I suspect we’ll have to wait until it’s dark, Janna.’

‘So you do believe me? You’ll help me?’ Janna looked up at Godric with shining eyes. He caught his breath, and quickly turned away. ‘I’ll help you,’ he said gruffly. ‘But I suggest we also keep on looking for Hamo.’ He hesitated. ‘It would be easier for Serlo to keep him hidden if he was already dead, you know that, don’t you?’

‘I refuse to even think it.’ Bones had started to bark and Janna cuffed him gently with her foot. ‘Sshh!’

‘We don’t want to attract Serlo’s attention.’ Godric turned on Bones. ‘Can’t you shut him up?’

But Janna was no longer listening. ‘No-one’s searched Serlo’s cottage, of course. It’s over there.’ She pointed a finger to show Godric where she meant. ‘I don’t think he’s got Hamo hidden there, but we should probably search it if we can.’

She became aware that Godric wasn’t looking, and waved a hand in front of his eyes to get his attention. Suddenly, and taking Janna completely by surprise, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.

‘Umph … ssfflk.’ It was too hard to protest with Godric’s lips pressed against her own, but Janna did her best.

‘Serlo’s coming our way,’ Godric muttered, before kissing her vigorously once more.

‘But he thinks I’m a boy!’ Janna protested, when she could speak once more.

‘No, he doesn’t.’ Godric kept his arms around Janna, and his mouth close to her ear as he whispered, ‘He saw you in the river and I believe he’s been asking questions about you ever since. I also heard him ask Cecily why she thought you were a girl.’

Too alarmed by Godric’s observations to think straight, Janna melted into his embrace. They stood locked together in a long and lingering kiss. To Janna’s surprise, she found she was rather enjoying herself.

‘That’s enough,’ she muttered at last, and pulled away. At once Godric let her go, but his eyes were bright and his face was flushed as he looked at her. Janna found it hard to meet his gaze. ‘We’ve done enough kissing to convince the reeve,’ she mumbled.

Godric shook his head. ‘He’s still coming towards us,’ he whispered. ‘But he might think twice about having you followed if he believes your affection lies with me and not with Edwin.’ He bent to kiss her again.

‘You! John – or whatever your real name is. I want a word with you!’

Reluctantly, Janna freed herself from Godric’s embrace and braced herself to face Serlo. He came striding up to them with a thunderous expression. In spite of her resolve, Janna found herself shrinking against Godric, badly needing his strength and support. Beside them, Bones continued to bark.

‘If it were left to me, you’d be gone from this manor by now, and with a beating to send you on your way, you and your so-called brother!’ Serlo stood over Janna, glowering at her. Godric placed an arm around her shoulders and scowled right back at the reeve.

‘You may have the ear of my lord Hugh, but I know how many lies you’ve told,’ Serlo blustered, ignoring Godric. ‘Unless you tell me where your brother is hiding, I’ll make sure my lord Hugh finds out the truth about you, about who and what you really are.’

Several comments came to Janna’s mind, not least the fact that while Hugh already knew the truth about her, he certainly didn’t know the truth about his reeve. But she held her tongue, knowing that she must not, under any circumstances, put Serlo on his guard.

‘Where is your brother?’ Serlo thrust his face close to hers, and Janna took an involuntary step backwards.

‘She doesn’t know where he is.’ Godric pulled Janna into the crook of his arm and held her tight.

‘This is no time for courting,’ Serlo growled. ‘You get back to wherever you came from, and leave the girl to me.’

‘I’m staying right here to help look for the young lord.’ Godric kept his arm around Janna.

Serlo glared at them both. ‘Very well, then. I believe the boy may have tried to find his way home to his own manor but strayed off the track and got lost in the forest,’ he snapped. ‘You two can go and look for him.’

It was too good an opportunity to miss, and Janna moved off with alacrity, tugging the furiously barking Bones behind her. The reeve’s next words stopped her dead. ‘And get rid of the dog. If Hamo calls out, I want to be able to hear him.’ Noticing Janna’s surprise, the reeve continued, ‘I’m coming with you. And so are they.’ He raised a hand and beckoned several villeins forward. Urk and his mother were among the group.