The Riverwoman’s Dragon
- Автор: Робб Кэндис
- Серия: Owen Archer #13
- Год: 2021
- Язык: английский
- Год: Severn House
- ISBN: 978-1-4483-0563-6
- Жанр: Исторические детективы
Электронная книга - «The Riverwoman’s Dragon». Краткое содержание книги:
When the wise woman Magda Digby is suspected of murder, Owen Archer sets out to prove her innocence in this intricately plotted medieval mystery.
May, 1375. Owen Archer returns from London to find York in chaos. While the citizens are living in terror of the pestilence which is spreading throughout the land, a new physician has arrived, whipping up fear and suspicion against traditional healers and midwives. With the backing of the new archbishop, he is especially hostile towards Magda Digby, the wise woman who has helped and healed the people of York for many years. At the same time, Magda is uneasy about the arrival of two long-lost kinsfolk. Though they say they are seeking her help, she senses a hidden agenda.
Magda’s troubles deepen when she discovers a body in the river near her home – and finds herself under suspicion of murder. Days later, fire rips through a warehouse in the city. Amongst the charred debris lies the body of a man – not burned, but stabbed in the back. Could there be a connection to the corpse in the river?
Determined to prove Magda’s innocence, Owen sets out to find answers – but the more he uncovers, the deeper the mystery becomes…
‘The trees are going to swallow us,’ Tess whispered.
‘Nay, little one, they will shelter thee in loving arms as they do all the creatures of the woodland and the delicate plants that nourish and heal folk. Thou art embraced by them, but they will not hold thee against thy will.’
The child gazed up into the canopy as a wren settled on a branch above them. ‘They take care of the birds?’
‘They provide food and shelter.’
‘Dame Magda, she will tire you,’ Helen said.
‘Tiring is not the matter,’ she said as she lifted the girl up into her father’s reaching arms. ‘Magda must guide thee now along a subtle track. Call for thy sons.’
Handing the girl to her mother, Fergus called the boys to follow the cart closely now.
In a moment, Magda guided the company off the main track onto a path that set the cart bouncing. Just beyond a great oak she directed them to leave the cart and walk the rest of the way, which was not far. The eldest boy helped his father out of the cart while Magda supervised the other two in assisting their mother.
‘Walk with care. Watch the roots beneath thy feet,’ Magda warned. As they walked she took the girl’s hand and, pointing out the abundance of beauty all along the path, led the family through the ancient hollies, where they came upon Lettice sitting on a rock beside the beck, leaning to rinse out a pot.
Seeing the little family, Lettice rose with surprise. Magda made her introductions, explaining how they were to help one another.
When Magda departed a while later she hummed to herself, content with her morning’s work.
As he left St George’s Field with Jasper, Owen shifted through what he had learned from his son and from Harry Green, one of the night watchmen, who had been standing near Bernard and Gavin as they spoke and overheard some of the exchange. According to Harry, the leech blamed Gavin for the temper of the sermons preached in the churches that morning across the city. They know my name. I told you I must not stand out. I told you. Gavin had shushed him, assuring him that folk would be grateful for the warning, but Harry said from the look of him Bernard was not appeased and went away angry. He was not certain where Bernard lodged, but had heard it was in Walmgate. ‘Doubt you will long find him there, that is how frightened he was.’
Jasper’s news that the leech lodged with the Fullers concerned Owen. Jack Fuller’s work as master of a small trading vessel meant he was often away for long stretches, leaving Janet Fuller alone with her daughter, an invalid. And what did Asa want with Bernard? For it was surely she whom Jasper had seen following Bernard down the alley, then speaking to him. He might be wrong in concluding that Jasper had overheard Asa and Bernard talking, but Owen felt in his bones he was right.
As they turned into St Helen’s Square, he wondered at the quiet. No one stood without the apothecary awaiting entrance. Jasper noticed it as well, and, hurrying to the door, found it locked. Owen was already pushing open the gate to the rear of the shop off the York Tavern yard when Jasper caught up to tell him. The workshop door was shut as well.
‘The house,’ said Owen, hurrying to the kitchen door, which was open on the pleasant summer day. That Kate glanced up from her spinning with a smile was reassuring. God be thanked. No bad news, no one ill.
‘Captain, Jasper, I will bring your bowls to the hall. Dame Lucie and Brother Michaelo are there, sharing a meal.’
‘They shut the shop?’
‘Someone in the parish complained about the apothecary being open on a Sunday. Father Jerome came to warn them.’
‘You see, Da? Everyone’s gone mad.’
Owen clapped Jasper on the back. ‘We cannot tell folk how to think. We can only go about our business. Come. Eat with us and tell your tale.’
Lucie and Michaelo sat in the window open to the garden. On the table were a loaf of bread, a dish of cheese, a tankard of ale. With a happy sigh Owen poured himself a bowl and settled at the table, breaking off a chunk of bread and helping himself to cheese.
‘The archbishop’s letter?’ Owen asked, nodding to the document in Lucie’s hands.
‘Yes. I’d not read it earlier.’
Jasper took his ale over to Lucie, reading over her shoulder.
‘He chided the abbot for giving alms to the poor? I cannot believe it,’ said Jasper. ‘For such a thing to come from the pen of an archbishop, a condemnation of charitable acts.’ His voice broke in his distress.
Owen felt for this son of his who oft felt the pull of a religious calling. ‘Neville seems bent on antagonizing the heads of the religious communities in York. His brother Sir John will not be pleased to hear of this.’
‘Am I to inform him?’ asked Michaelo.
‘I believe I am duty bound to inform the prince, who will undoubtedly inform Sir John.’
Owen and Michaelo exchanged a look.
As Lucie joined Owen at the table, sitting down beside him, she asked Jasper about his time at St George’s Field.
‘He has quite a tale to tell,’ said Owen, nodding to Jasper to take the floor.
‘Might Dame Magda’s daughter have thought to convince the leech how wrong he is about her mother?’ Michaelo suggested when Jasper was finished recounting his adventure.
Owen agreed that might be so but for the enmity between Magda and Asa.
‘A daughter’s resentment can fall away when others attack her mother,’ said Lucie. ‘And so it might be with Asa. Did she not come seeking Magda’s healing?’
‘Or was it an opportunity?’ asked Owen, more to himself than to the others. ‘Magda herself is uncertain about their purpose in coming to her. And there is the matter of the stolen mandrake root. In any case, we’re more likely to learn something from Einar than from her.’ Owen described his idea about the young man assisting Michaelo among the poor.
The monk sniffed. ‘You believe I might need help aiding the poor in the minster yard?’
‘If that were my purpose, any extra pair of hands would do to carry your basket and lantern,’ said Owen. ‘I am asking you to see what you make of Einar, whether he is here for good or ill, whether he poses a threat to Dame Magda.’
‘I think it a good plan,’ said Lucie.
Michaelo stared out the window for a moment. ‘Very well,’ he said at last. ‘If he comes to you and agrees to the work, tell him where he might find me.’
‘As for this troublesome leech Bernard, do you know the priest at St Denys’?’
Michaelo turned from the window. ‘You think to learn more about the leech from Dom Jerome?’ A sniff. ‘I know him well enough. The sort of cleric who connects all the ills of the world to Eve and her daughters. I would not be surprised to hear it was Jerome who inspired Bernard’s accusations regarding Dame Magda, or fanned the flames.’
‘Even more reason to speak with him.’
‘You would be wasting your time. Besides, I’ve only just returned from speaking with several parish priests, both those who heeded the archbishop’s call to strike out at Dame Magda and those who did not. Quite a few did. And went further, extending the condemnation to all those women who gather herbs in the hedges and woodlands to concoct what they deem “unholy potions”. They threaten to refuse the sacraments to such healers and any parishioners known to consult them.’ Michaelo looked to Lucie.
‘You believe I might be considered in that group?’ she asked.
‘I fear so.’
Owen cursed.
‘God help all in the city,’ said Lucie. ‘With people already eyeing their neighbors with suspicion and fear in this summer of pestilence, such sermons would cause more tragedies like the fire near King’s Staithe.’
‘Apparently the sermon at St Denys’ was particularly vicious.’ Michaelo nodded to Jasper. ‘The woman who warned you no doubt listened to Dom Jerome’s slander this morning. Or heard of it. Someone is spreading chaos in the city.’