The Dragon of Handale by Cassandra Clark Page A

Ain’t that right?”
    The others nodded. “Never got on the wrong side of anybody, Giles didn’t.”
    “But don’t you have any suspicions?” Hildegard asked in astonishment. “In such a remote place, who is likely to have done such a thing?”
    “Ah, so you believe the unofficial version of events?”
    “It’s certainly more plausible than a wild beast roaming the woods and attacking people. Or a blood-drinking nun,” she added, remembering what the priest had told her.
    “That’s all cock,” agreed Hamo.
    “Where did you find him?” She glanced round.
    “In the woods,” Dakin told her.
    She was surprised. “So you did go in there?”
    “Aye. Into dragon territory.”
    “All this fancy about dragons came up after that.” Dakin explained.
    “It’s thick woodland out there. So how was it possible to find him?”
    “It was the little novice Alys from the priory had the misfortune to stumble across him. Nearly sent her out of her wits. She came screaming back in here, white as a sheet.”
    “A novice? What on earth was she doing outside the precinct?”
    “Trying to escape, if she’d any sense.”
    “When we first settled in here, the nuns used to walk about the woods for a while before vespers. Taking the air. It was forbidden for the novices, but Alys still used to sneak out, collecting leaves and that.”
    “And found the body.”
    Silent Will spoke up. “In a rare state of terror she was poor pet.”
    Hamo took up the story. “We went to have a look ourselves and she led us to where he was lying. Already dead. In a mess. Nothing we could do for him. Stiff. Been there all night. We thought maybe he’d decided to make a run for it, to hell with his obligations to the guild. We couldn’t make it out. He’d said nowt to us. Dakin took the little novice in to tell the prioress.” Hamo turned to Dakin, who related what happened next.
    “All she said was, ‘I’ve warned my sisters of putting pleasure before duty. Why do they walk in the woods? For mere pleasure and frivolity. And this is what happens. But will they listen? This is always the result when disobedience is the rule.’ The novice would get it in the neck, no doubt. They know how to punish, by all accounts.”
    Hildegard stifled her feelings. “I suppose the coroner has been summoned?”
    “Eventually, aye. The bailiff from Kilton Castle was here not two days since. Had his clerk make a few notes. Muttered something about the bishop’s having to throw his weight about. Then buggered off without another word. Meanwhile, we need to inform our master over in Durham. We sent for a courier, but he’s not allowed to set foot in the enclosure. We have to send a message through the prioress herself.”
    “And whether it’s reached its destination or not is anybody’s guess.” Hamo said.
    “We daily wait on the appearance of our master to rescue us from limbo—”
    “Fearing we’ll have a long wait,” will muttered.
    “But no blame to him. He’ll have to tie things up in Durham and only after that set out for this godforsaken spot. It’ll take days in this weather, roads like loam in the rains.”
    “No guessing when he’ll get through.” Hamo scowled. “And we’re stuck here like lost souls until he arrives.”
    “Three days there and back, plus time dealing with the bishop?”
    “Likely that, to look on the bright side, more likely longer,” agreed Hamo. “And likely they’ll turn up together.”
    The men spoke in turn, as if long used to thinking each other’s thoughts. Their grief for their dead workmate was obvious.
    Hildegard was confused. “Surely,’ she began, “there must be some clue as to how he was killed?”
    “It was murder,” replied Dakin, “Obviously. But not by any murdering dragon.”
    “But why?” she asked. “Who would want him dead?”
    They shook their heads.
    “We go out in pairs now.”
    “You weren’t with anyone when you entered the mortuary,” she pointed out. addressing