The Green Man Read Online Free

trouble.
    â€˜You’re going to Scotland.’
    Scotland? Scotland! As well be invited to go on a trip to find the elusive Isle of Brazil or the lands of Prester John.
    â€˜No,’ I said flatly.
    â€˜No!’ echoed Adela with even greater emphasis.
    â€˜No!’ yelled Adam at the top of his powerful lungs, giving us, for once, his unstinted support, even if he didn’t understand why.
    I paused in the act of chewing and took a deep breath.
    â€˜Tell the Duke,’ I said, ‘that much as I regret having to refuse any request of his, on this occasion I must decline. Scotland is too far afield. It’s a journey that is bound to take months and I cannot abandon my wife and children to fend for themselves for so long. God in heaven, man! You must know what conditions have been like these past months. I haven’t enough money to leave Adela safely provided for, for such a length of time.’ I added bitterly, ‘It’s not like His Grace to be so unreasonable – unless, of course, he isn’t aware of what’s been going on in the country at large?’
    â€˜Of course Duke Richard’s aware!’ Timothy bit back, dropping all pretence at amiability. ‘Especially living in the north, where matters are a great deal worse than they are down here, in the south, I can assure you. But that’s beside the point. Mistress Chapman and your family will be provided for – well provided for, I promise you – during your absence.’
    â€˜No,’ I said again, shaking my head slowly from side to side to make certain that he understood. ‘I am not going to Scotland for any consideration whatsoever, and that is my final word. What? That heathenish country, where the barbarians can’t even speak English like civilized human beings! No, I thank you. And you may tell His Grace of Gloucester so with my blessing.’
    Timothy regarded me pityingly while he removed shreds of meat from between his teeth with the point of his knife. Then he heaved a dramatic sigh. (He really should have tried his hand as Judas Iscariot in one of the Easter Passion plays.)
    â€˜I’m afraid you don’t quite understand, Roger.’ He smiled gently. ‘This isn’t a request or an appeal to your friendship or better nature. This is a royal command, not just by the Duke, but by the King himself.’
    I refused to believe it. ‘You won’t coerce me into whatever it is you want me to do by telling lies. I will not go to Scotland.’
    For answer, Timothy reached into the pouch at his waist and, with his free hand, withdrew a folded parchment with an important looking wax disc attached.
    â€˜The king’s personal seal,’ he said. ‘This is my authority to take you back to London with me, when I return, and from there on to Northamptonshire, to the king’s castle at Fotheringay. Do you want to read it? I believe you can read.’
    He knew perfectly well that I could read, and write, too. Brother Hilarion had taught me to do both, and many other things besides, during my novitiate at Glastonbury Abbey. It was not that good old man’s fault that I had rejected the cloistered life and decided on the freedom of the open road. But now that freedom was being eroded. I put up a fight, even though I knew in my heart it was useless.
    â€˜Northamptonshire? Make up your mind. I thought I was going to Scotland.’
    Timothy pushed aside his empty plate. Adela had also stopped eating, but that, I could tell, was due to a sudden lack of appetite. I made a pretence of continuing my supper, but I, too, had ceased to be hungry. Only the children continued to mop up the meat and vegetable juices on their plates with hunks of barley bread.
    â€˜Fotheringay first, then on to Berwick and, finally, Scotland,’ Timothy explained.
    There was an even more pregnant pause before I said in a taut voice that didn’t seem to be my own, ‘Someone told