He strode over and pushed the reeve away. Behind him Gurney and the rest began to clear the weights and the heavy door from the prostrate young man.

'You have no authority here!' The reeve's face was ugly and red, swollen with anger and ale.

Corbett drew his sword.

'I am Sir Hugh Corbett, the king's representative here. And that woman will be tried only by due process of law!'

A low grumble of protest greeted his words. Emboldened, Robert the reeve took a step forward. Corbett, gripping the hilt two-handed, raised the sword.

'What are you going to do, Robert?' he said softly. 'Attack me?'

The reeve hastily stepped back.

'Bring the bitch in!' he shouted over his shoulder.

The ash pole was pulled back and the ducking stool lowered into the shallows at the edge of the pond. Corbett splashed up to it.

'Oh, Christ, have pity!' he breathed.

Gunhilda's dirty grey hair was clamped to her lined, seamed face. Corbett took one look at the heavy-lidded, half-open eyes and the sagging jaw and knew it was too late. He felt for the blood beat in her neck and her scrawny wrists, but there was not even a nutter. Drawing his dagger, he slashed the woman's bonds and took her up in his arms. She was as light as a child. He walked back up the muddy green.

'You bastards!' he roared.

The reeve quietly slunk away. Gurney and Catchpole came up.

'Corbett, what's the matter?'

'The old woman's dead!' Corbett answered. 'Murdered by these bastards!'

He walked on and placed the old woman's corpse on a table that stood outside the tavern. He arranged the body carefully, pulling the dirty skirts over vein-streaked, spindle-like legs. He listened once more for her heart beat.

'Dead from drowning or from shock.' He stared at Gurney. 'Either way, Sir Simon, this woman was murdered.'

Two of Gurney's men brought the blond young man towards him. Corbett went over to him, put his hand gently under his chin and raised his face. Gilbert was obviously slightly simple, slack-jawed and heavy-eyed. An ugly swelling had closed one eye and bloody bubbles frothed at the corner of his mouth. He was also a mass of bruises from head to toe.