The Riverwoman’s Dragon

On a Sunday evening in fine weather Lucie and Owen were accustomed to sitting out in the garden with the household, this night consisting only of Jasper and Kate. The absence of Gwenllian, Hugh, and Emma muted Owen’s pleasure as random noises had him glancing round to see what the little ones were about. He was glad when first Hempe and then Poole wandered in, providing a distraction.

Hempe came to report a rumor going round that the archbishop was plotting to rob the folk of their healers so they might succumb to the pestilence and clear the city, allowing the nobles, Churchmen, and wealthier merchants to expand their townhouses and enjoy the amenities of York. No one was surprised by that, considering the day’s sermons.

‘The fools are stirring trouble, suspicion, resentment, all manner of bad feeling,’ said Poole as he caught the gist of the conversation. ‘My wife caught one of the servants spinning a tale about Dame Magda as a servant of Satan and lectured him on all the good the Riverwoman has done for us and so many in York. He claimed he was only repeating what some priest said to his parishioners this morning. I say we must not need him if he’s so idle he can hear about such so quickly, but Muriel had given him leave to attend church with his family at St Mary’s on Castlegate.’

‘The mayor’s parish,’ Owen noted.

‘He is not likely to bother himself about it,’ said Hempe. ‘So, Crispin, did you send the churl off to fend for himself on the streets?’

‘No. Muriel believes him sufficiently chastened to continue working for us. I doubt it, but I have assigned him so many tasks he’ll not have the breath to spew more poison in my household, nor spread it elsewhere. Such untruths – they cannot be unheard, and they work on folk as they wake in the night and sense Death approaching.’

The mention of Mayor Graa reminded Owen of what Carn had said of his apparent friendship with Gavin Wolcott. ‘What business might Graa have with Guthlac’s son?’

‘Interesting question,’ said Hempe. ‘I will ask Lotta. She sifts through merchants’ gossip with an eye toward what might be of value to our undertakings. If there is something there, my wife will know of it.’

‘If it’s one of Gavin’s schemes she might not see the whole of it,’ said Poole. ‘He delights in his own cleverness, misdirecting his fellows so that he has few competitors.’

‘Lotta has warned me to pay no heed to Gavin’s chatter,’ said Hempe. ‘She says his own father distrusts him – or did so before his illness. It’s why he kept Sam Toller on.’

Owen thought of the shadow of Guthlac lying in the great bed. Poor man if that was true.

Lucie was asking Crispin about her godchild when the garden door creaked once more. ‘This will be Brother Michaelo? Or Alfred?’ she said.

But it was Einar, hesitating when he saw the company. ‘Forgive me. I did not mean to intrude.’

Owen welcomed him, motioning to an unclaimed stool, making introductions. In the dark, with only a small lantern adding a soft light, it was impossible to see Einar’s expression, but he perched on the stool as if uneasy. Because of the presence of a bailiff and coroner? Lucie offered him ale, but he declined with thanks.

‘I thought you should hear what happened at Dame Magda’s this evening, Captain. You will all wish to know of it.’ He described what he’d heard about the attack on Magda’s house, as well as her amusement regarding the tale of the dragon spouting fire or smoke. ‘Though it all came to naught I thought you would wish to know.’

Owen thanked him, as did the others.

‘You heard about it while assisting Brother Michaelo?’ Owen asked, and when Einar nodded he asked whether any had suggested the culprit, or the motive.

‘A priest or the leech who started the trouble, that’s who most think behind it. Neither seems likely.’

Poole laughed. ‘Agreed. From the south bank to Magda’s roof? I would like to see any of our parish priests manage such a shot. And the leech – you mean Master Bernard? He strikes me as a weakling.’

‘Someone shot the arrow,’ Lucie said, sobering all. ‘Have you a place to stay, Einar?’

‘I do. Old Shep’s, upriver from Dame Magda’s.’

‘And Dame Asa?’ she asked.

‘She wished to find lodgings in the city. She has some coin to pay.’

‘Does she know anyone in the city?’ Jasper asked.

Owen nudged him quiet as Einar said he did not know, then rose, again apologizing for interrupting their evening, and took his leave. Owen walked him to the gate.

‘Did you find the work to your liking?’

‘It felt good to be of use – at least, I think Brother Michaelo found me useful. He said little to me. I am grateful you, Captain.’

‘The poor deserve our help. I thank you for telling me of the incident on the river. I plan on visiting Dame Magda in the morning.’

When Owen rejoined the others they were voicing the question that loomed large in his own thoughts – who benefited from attacking Magda?

‘I fear that someone more important than the Wolcotts and the itinerant leech are behind this,’ Crispin was saying, ‘someone who has the ear of the archbishop.’