World Without End Page 0,496

later, then."

Merthin made his escape.

He returned to the parlour. Caris and Gwenda looked expectantly at him as he crossed the room. He shook his head. "I did my best," he said. "I'm sorry."

Gwenda had expected this. She was disappointed but not surprised. She had felt she had to try through Merthin. The other remedy she had at her disposal was so much more drastic.

She thanked Merthin perfunctorily and left the inn, heading for the castle on the hill. Wulfric and Davey had gone to a cheap tavern in the suburbs where they could get a filling dinner for a farthing. Wulfric was no good at this sort of thing anyway. His strength and honesty were useless in negotiations with Ralph and his kind.

Besides, Wulfric could not be allowed even to know about how she hoped to persuade Ralph.

As she was walking up the hill she heard horses behind her. She stopped and turned. It was Ralph and his entourage with the judge. She stood still and looked hard at Ralph, making sure he caught her eye as he passed. He would guess she was coming to see him.

A few minutes later she entered the courtyard of the castle, but access to the sheriff's house was barred. She made her way to the porch of the main building and spoke to the marshal of the hall. "My name is Gwenda from Wigleigh," she said. "Please tell Earl Ralph I need to see him in private."

"Yes, yes," said the marshal. "Look around you: all these people need to see the earl, the judge or the sheriff."

There were twenty or thirty people standing around the courtyard, some clutching rolls of parchment.

Gwenda was prepared to take a terrible risk to save her son from hanging - but she would not get the opportunity unless she succeeded in speaking to Ralph before dawn.

"How much?" she said to the marshal.

He looked at her with a little less disrespect. "I can't promise he'll see you."

"You can give him my name."

"Two shillings. Twenty-four silver pennies."

It was a lot of money, but Gwenda had all their savings in her purse. However, she was not yet ready to hand over the money. "What is my name?" she said.

"I don't know."

"I just told you. How can you give Earl Ralph my name if you can't remember it?"

He shrugged. "Tell me again."

"Gwenda from Wigleigh."

"All right, I'll mention it to him."

Gwenda slipped her hand into her purse, brought out a handful of little silver coins and counted twenty-four. It was four weeks' wages for a labourer. She thought of the backbreaking work she had done to earn the money. Now this idle, supercilious doorkeeper was going to get it for doing next to nothing.

The marshal held out his hand.

She said: "What's my name?"

"Gwenda."

"Gwenda from where?"

"Wigleigh." He added: "That's where this morning's murderer came from, isn't it?"

She gave him the money. "The earl will want to see me," she said as forcefully as she could.

The marshal pocketed the coins.

Gwenda retreated into the courtyard, not knowing whether she had wasted her money.

A moment later she saw a familiar figure with a small head on wide shoulders: Alan Fernhill. That was a piece of luck. He was crossing from the stables to the hall. The other petitioners did not recognize him. Gwenda stood in his way. "Hello, Alan," she said.

"It's Sir Alan now."

"Congratulations. Will you tell Ralph that I want to see him?"

"I don't need to ask you what it's about."

"Say I want to meet him in private."

Alan raised an eyebrow. "No offence, but you were a girl last time. You're twenty years older today."

"Do you think perhaps we should let him decide?"

"Of course." He grinned insultingly. "I know he remembers that afternoon at the Bell."

Alan had been there, of course. He had watched Gwenda take off her dress, and stared at her naked body. He had seen her walk to the bed and kneel on the mattress, facing away. He had laughed coarsely when Ralph said she was better looking from behind.

She hid her revulsion and shame. "I was hoping he would remember," she said as neutrally as she could.

The other petitioners realized Alan must be someone important. They began to crowd around, speaking to him, begging and pleading. He pushed them aside and went into the hall.

Gwenda settled down to wait.

After an hour it was clear Ralph was not going to see her before dinner. She found a patch of ground that was not too muddy and sat with her back to