The Forest Laird(114)
“In so doing, we sought to teach the English King a lesson: that this land is ours, an ancient realm secure in its own legal right and beyond his grasp. His armies are unwelcome here and we will not allow him to maintain them here unlawfully. He seeks to make our Scottish laws conform to his own wishes, but no man, not even the divinely anointed and legally enthroned King of Scots, can do that. And so we have thrice denied Edward permission to pay his troops within this realm by denying him the means with which to do it, knowing that if the troops remain unpaid, they will return to England, one way or another, in search of payment. And that is our intent: to send Edward’s army back to plague him rather than us.”
Every man in the surrounding throng was rapt, caught up in Will’s explanation as the Latin speakers among them translated what he had said. Even the English prisoners appeared interested in what he was saying. He looked about him slowly now, aware of the hush awaiting his next words.
“That has been the truth in recent months, and for a while now we have been awaiting Edward’s next response. And here, this day, we have it. A new ruse being attempted. A scheme involving trickery and treachery, in which you are involved. A devious and underhanded ploy that will have far-reaching implications for everyone because it betrays an understanding that has governed this world of ours since first the Word of Christ came to these shores.”
Another pause stretched out as he moved his gaze from face to face among his listeners. “It has always been the truth that churchmen, being humble servants of the Christ, may travel unmolested throughout all the lands of Britain and elsewhere. None but the most depraved of madmen would ever stoop to rob a priest, because in doing so he would be seen as robbing and insulting God Himself. But there is honour and responsibility involved in that covenant, my friends, on both sides. In return for that freedom of movement and the lack of fear in which they travel, all churchmen bear a sacred trust of honesty in their travels and endeavours. They may transport the Church’s goods without molestation, so be it they are engaged upon the Church’s affairs and in the sole interest of the Church itself.”
Will turned back to the priest. “Tell me, Father Constantine, what do you think is in those chests in the wagon at your back?”
The priest frowned. “You mean the kitchen supplies and provisions?”
“No, Father, not those. The others. The locked chests.”
A terse headshake from the priest. “I do not know what you mean.”
Will pointed to two small groups of his men who stood listening beside the wagons. “You and you. Find them.”
Several men hoisted themselves into each of the two draft wagons, and for a time there was much pushing and shoving as cargo was uncovered and dragged aside. The shout of discovery came from the second wagon, directly behind the Bishops’ own, and a moment later one of the men straightened up.
“They’re all in this one!” he shouted.
Will nodded. “How many?”
“Eight o’ them. Wee ones, but they’re …” The fellow stooped again and there came a series of grunts and scraping noises. “Heavy whoresons … all padlocked.”
“Break one open. Any one of them.”
“No! In God’s holy name, I—”
It was the older Bishop who shouted, and before he could say more than the Lord’s name, Will had dropped the reins and whip and leapt into the other wagon. He seized the Bishop in one hand by the front of his robe, pulled him up onto his toes, and then slapped him hard, sending the man’s pileolus flying. While every one of the watching clerics gasped in horror, he hauled the grimacing cleric up to within inches of his own face and snarled, “And now I have laid violent hands on one of God’s anointed. Well, we will test the truth of that in time to come, Bishop Weasel. In the interim, though, I have too much to do and lack the time to waste on you. Catch him,” he growled and threw the cleric like a child’s straw doll down into the waiting arms of his men. They caught him with a shout, and before it had died away Will had turned to the other prelate, who flinched and scrambled over the side of the wagon, almost falling to the ground in his hurry to escape. Will raised his arms, pointing and shouting orders in Scots.
“Line them all up over there. Keep them close and watch them, but don’t abuse them. These two here—the fat one and the black crow—I want them on their knees and bare headed. Bare arsed, too, if they give ye any trouble. I’ll come back to them.” He looked over to the wagon with the chests. “Sully, have you got it open yet?”