The Pillars Of The Earth Page 0,325

he had simply been establishing a bargaining position. This realization brought enormous relief to William, for it meant that Waleran was not implacably opposed to giving him absolution. But did he want to switch again? For a moment he said nothing as he tried to think about it calmly.

"Stephen has been winning victories all summer," Waleran went on. "Maud is begging her husband to come over from Normandy to help her, but he won't. The tide is flowing our way."

An awful prospect opened up before William: the Church refused to absolve him from his crimes; the sheriff accused him of murder; a victorious King Stephen backed the sheriff and the Church; and William himself was tried and hanged...

"Be like me, and follow Bishop Henry-he knows which way the wind blows," Waleran urged. "If everything works out right, Winchester will be made an archdiocese, and Henry will be the archbishop of Winchester-on a par with the archbishop of Canterbury. And when Henry dies, who knows? I could be the next archbishop. After that... well, there are English cardinals already-one day there may be an English pope..."

William stared at Waleran, mesmerized, despite his own fear, by the naked ambition revealed on the bishop's normally stony face. Waleran as pope? Anything was possible. But the immediate consequences of Waleran's aspirations were more important. William could see that he was a pawn in Waleran's game. Waleran had gained in prestige, with Bishop Henry, by his ability to deliver William and the knights of Shiring to one side or the other in the civil war. That was the price William had to pay for having the Church turn a blind eye to his crimes. "Do you mean..." His voice was hoarse. He coughed and tried again. "Do you mean that you will hear my confession if I swear allegiance to Stephen and come over to his side again?"

The glitter went from Waleran's eyes and his face became expressionless again. "That's exactly what I mean," he said.

William had no choice, but in any event he could see no reason to refuse. He had switched to Maud when she appeared to be winning, and he was quite ready to switch back now that Stephen seemed to be gaining the upper hand. Anyway, he would have consented to anything to be free of that awful terror of hell. "Agreed, then," he said without further hesitation. "Only hear my confession, quickly."

"Very well," said Waleran. "Let us pray."

As they went briskly through the service, William felt the load of guilt fall from his back, and he gradually began to be pleased about his triumph. When he emerged from the chapel his men could see that his spirits had lifted, and they cheered up immediately. William told them that they would once again be fighting for King Stephen, in accordance with the will of God as expressed by Bishop Waleran, and they made that the excuse for a celebration. Waleran called for wine.

While they were waiting for dinner, William said: "Stephen ought to confirm me in my earldom now."

"He ought to," Waleran agreed. "But that doesn't mean he will."

"But I've come over to his side!"

"Richard of Kingsbridge never left it."

William permitted himself a smug smile. "I think I've disposed of the threat from Richard."

"Oh? How?"

"Richard has never had any land. The only way he's been able to keep up a knightly entourage is by using his sister's money."

"It's unorthodox, but it's worked so far."

"But now his sister no longer has any money. I set fire to her barn yesterday. She's destitute. And so is Richard."

Waleran nodded acknowledgment. "In that case it's only a matter of time before he disappears from sight. And then, I should think, the earldom is yours."

Dinner was ready. William's men-at-arms sat below the salt and flirted with the palace laundresses. William was at the head of the table with Waleran and his archdeacons. Now that he had relaxed, William rather envied the men with the laundresses: archdeacons made dull company.

Dean Baldwin offered William a dish of peas and said: "Lord William, how will you prevent someone else from doing what Prior Philip tried to do, and starting his own fleece fair?"

William was surprised by this question. "They wouldn't dare!"

"Another monk wouldn't dare, perhaps; but an earl might."

"He'd need a license."

"He might get one, if he fought for Stephen."

"Not in this county."

"Baldwin is right, William," said Bishop Waleran. "All around the borders of your earldom there are towns that could hold a fleece fair: Wilton, Devizes, Wells, Marlborough,