The Silver Skull Read Online Free Page B

orders. Though grey-bearded and with a growing belly, he still carried the charisma of the man who had entranced Elizabeth and seduced many other ladies of the court.

    A crowd had gathered around the perimeter of the green, sleepy-eyed men and women straggling from their homes as word spread of the activity at the Tower. Will could see anxiety grow in their faces as they watched the grim determination of the commanders directing the search parties. Fear of the impending Spanish invasion ran high, and in the feverish atmosphere of the City tempers were close to boiling over into public disturbance. Spanish spies and Catholic agitators were everywhere, plotting assassination attempts on the queen and whipping up the unease in the inns, markets, and wherever people gathered and unfounded rumours could be quickly spread.

    Ignoring the crowd's calls for information about the disturbance, Walsingham guided Will to the edge of the green where a dazed, badly bruised, and bloody Mayhew squatted.

    "England's greatest spy," Mayhew said, forming each word carefully, as he nodded to them.

    "Master Mayhew. You have taken a few knocks."

    "But I live. And for that I am thankful." Hesitating, he glanced at the White Tower looming against the night sky. "Which is more than can be said for that fool Osborne."

    "You were guarding the weapon," Will surmised correctly.

    "A weapon," Mayhew exclaimed bitterly. "We thought it was only a man. A prisoner held in his cell for twenty years."

    Walsingham cast a cautionary glare and they both fell silent. "There will be time for discussion in a more private forum. For now, all you need know is that a hostile group has freed a prisoner and escaped into the streets of London. The City gates remain firmly closed ..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Although we do not yet know if they have some other way to flee the City. The prisoner has information vital to the security of the nation. He must be found and returned to his cell."

    "And if he is not found?" Will enquired.

    "He must be found."

    The intensity in Walsingham's voice shocked Will. Why was one man so important-they had lost prisoners before, though none from the Towerand how could he also be considered a weapon?

    "Your particular skills may well be needed if the prisoner is located," Walsingham said to Will before turning to Mayhew. "You must accompany me back to the Palace of Whitehall. I would know the detail of what occurred."

    Mayhew looked unsettled at the prospect of Walsingham's questioning, but before they could leave, the principal secretary was summoned urgently by Leicester, who had been in intense conversation with a gesticulating commander.

    "They call your name." Mayhew nodded to the crowd. "Your reputation has spread from those ridiculous pamphlets they sell outside Saint Paul's."

    "It serves a purpose," Will replied.

    "Would they be so full of admiration if those same pamphlets had called you assassin, murderer, corruptor, torturer, liar, and deceiver?" Mayhew's mockery was edged with bitterness.

    "Words mean nothing and everything, Matthew. It is actions that count. And results."

    "Ah, yes," Mayhew said. "The end results justify the means. The proverb that saves us all from damnation."

    Will was troubled by Mayhew's dark mood, but he put it down to the shock of the spy's encounter with the Enemy. His attention was distracted by Walsingham, who, after listening intently to Leicester, summoned Will over. "We may have something," he said with an uncharacteristic urgency. "Accompany Leicester, and may God go with you."

    At speed, Leicester, Will, and a small search party left the lights of the green. Rats fled their lantern by the score as they made their way into the dark, reeking streets to the north, some barely wide enough for two men abreast.

    "On Lord Walsingham's orders, I attempted to seek the path the Enemy took from the Tower," Leicester said, as they followed the lead of the soldier Will had seen