young count in the presence of his visiting noblemen.
“How very gracious of you, my lord. In truth, I expected nothing less from one whose largesse is legendary,” Count Rexindo replied, beaming happily.
“Come, man!” bellowed the earl, thumping the table with his hand. “What is it that you want? Name it and it is done.”
Count Rexindo, all smiles and benevolence, gave a little bow and said, “In my country, when a lord wishes to make a special hunt in honour of his guests he releases a prisoner into the wild. I can assure you that it is sport second to none.”
Ah, there it is, thought Tuck. Our Bran has remembered his Bible story at last.
It took a moment for the earl and the others to work out what had just been suggested. “Hunt a man?” said the earl, his smile growing stiff.
“Yes, my lord,” agreed the count, still standing, still commanding the proceedings. “A criminal or some other prisoner—someone of no account. It makes for a very good chase.”
“But . . .” began the earl, glancing around the table quickly. He saw his other guests looking to him expectantly. Tuck saw the hesitation and, instantly, the distress that followed, and knew the earl was well and truly caught in Bran’s trap. “Surely, that is unworthy of your attention,” Hugh replied lamely. “Why not choose something else?”
“I see I have overreached myself,” the count said, sitting down at last. “I understand if you have no appetite for such rich sport . . .”
“No, no,” Earl Hugh said quickly, seeing the frowns appear on the faces of his gathered noblemen. Having accepted the count’s effusive praise for his untethered largesse, how could he now refuse to grant Rexindo’s wish? He had no wish to appear tightfisted and mean before his noblemen. So, like a ferret trapped in a snare, squirm though he might he could not get free without gnawing off one of his own legs. “Did I say no? I am intrigued by your suggestion,” he offered, “and would be eager to try it myself. It is just that I keep no criminals here. As it is, I have only one captive in my keep . . .”
“And he is too valuable,” concluded Count Rexindo, his disappointment barely contained. “I understand.”
The earl glanced around at his noblemen as if to explain, saw their frowns growing and his own reputation diminishing in their eyes, and hastily reconsidered. “However, it seems to me that this prisoner would be well worthy of our sport—a king in his own country who has enjoyed my hospitality far too long already.”
“Splendido!” cried the count. Through Alan, he continued, “It will give me a chance to try the hounds I am buying.”
Again, a slight hint of a grimace crossed the earl’s face. He did not like the idea of using valuable dogs for such dangerous sport—especially, considered Tuck, dogs that had not yet been purchased. This required a small conference, whereuponBut, rising to the bait, the earl shrugged off his misgivings. “Why not?” he roared, stirring the feast to life once more. “Why not, I say! Here! Let us drink to the count, and to tomorrow’s sport!”
Thus, the trap was set and sprung, and the prey neatly captured. Tuck waited until the festivity slowly resumed, and when the music and drink were once again in full spate, he rose. Bowing to their host, who had recovered his good cheer, he approached the earl’s chair and, with Alan’s help, declared, “This game you propose sits ill with me, I do confess, my lord.”
“Does it?” he replied lazily. “Does it indeed? How so, pray?”
“The hunting of men is an abomination before the throne of God.” Before the earl could reply, he added, “True, it is a custom long honoured in Spain and elsewhere, but one that the church does not endorse.”
This rocked the old wolf back a step or two. He frowned and swirled the wine in his cup. “If I told you that this rogue of a prisoner has earned his death ten times over, would that make it sit more comfortably with you?”
“Perhaps,” Tuck allowed. “Though I would still wish to give the wretch the benefit of absolution. By your leave, Earl, I will hear his confession and shrive him now. Then he will be ready to face his ordeal with a clear mind and clean soul.”
Seeing that Bishop Balthus was determined, and he equally anxious to maintain his top-lofty dignity in the eyes of his guests, Earl Hugh