No Dark Place Read Free Page B

distance. Gray clouds raced across the wide East Anglia sky as Nigel and the five men of his household guard who were accompanying him approached the manor.
    By the time they reached the open gate, a man had moved to bar their way. The sentry was dressed in the leather jerkin and cross-gartered leggings of a man-at-arms and he wore a sword at his side.
    Nigel identified himself and stated that he had business with Hugh Corbaille, whose manor he believed this to be.
    Nigel was told to wait in the courtyard while the sentry informed his master of the new arrivals. Before he left the courtyard, however, the sentry signaled to two of his fellows to come and stand by Nigel’s party.
    Security was not taken lightly at Keal, Nigel thought approvingly.
    While he waited, he looked around, judging the quality of the property. As was customary in such establishments, barns and byres lined the inside ofthe stockade fence, all of them looking to be in very good repair. The house itself was also built of timber. Most of it was two floors high, but attached to the main block was a three-floor section that looked as if it was a more recent addition.
    Oddly, even though night was coming on and the air was chill, all the window shutters on the third floor were open.
    The front door of the manor swung open and a man came out. It did not take Nigel long to recognize Bernard Radvers.
    Bernard crossed the courtyard and came to a halt in front of Nigel’s horse. “So,” he said. “You have come.”
    “I said I would,” Nigel replied calmly. “Is the boy within?”
    “He has ridden out, but I expect him back shortly.” Several stableboys came running at Bernard’s signal. “You and your party must come inside,” he said courteously. “You are weary and in need of refreshment.”
    Nigel dismounted gratefully and followed Bernard to the stairs that led up to the main door of the house. As in so many buildings of this type, the living quarters were on the second floor, as the first floor was used for storage.
    Bernard pushed the door open and led Nigel and his following into the chief room of the manor, the hall.
    The first thing that struck Nigel’s senses was the fresh, fragrant scent of the room. He looked downand saw that the herb-strewn rushes on the floor looked as if they had been freshly laid that day.
    He sniffed appreciatively.
    Bernard smiled. “Adela, Ralf’s wife, was always a meticulous housekeeper. Hugh was brought up in an immaculate house, and clearly he has seen to it that Adela’s ways are still followed.”
    Nigel nodded and let himself be led forward to the large fireplace in which two massive logs smoldered comfortably. A young boy came from the far side of the room to help him remove his mail coif and hauberk. In the far corner, his guards were also being helped out of their heavy mail garments.
    He and his men had made the ride from Wiltshire in full armor, a precaution he always took when traveling in these unsettled times.
    A boy brought cups of ale for Bernard and Nigel, and Bernard gestured his guest to one of the heavy carved chairs that were placed near the fireplace. The two men sat down on the comfortable cushions Adela had embroidered, sipped their wine, and regarded each other a little warily.
    “Are you part of this household, then?” Nigel asked after he had gratefully swallowed his first draft of ale.
    Bernard shook his head. “I am part of the garrison at Lincoln Castle still. I had business in this part of the county, though, and took the opportunity to stop by to see Hugh. I arrived but yesterday.”
    Nigel leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs toward the pleasant warmth of the fire.“Have you told him aught of what passed between us at Northallerton?”
    “No.” Bernard’s pale blue eyes regarded him mea-suringly. “I was not sure if I would ever see you again.”
    “Well, as you see, I have come.”
    Bernard took a sip of ale and looked steadily at Nigel over the top of his