Corbett rubbed his face and walked over to the window, drawn there by a clamour from the castle bailey below. He stared down at the small crowd of retainers who had gathered round a makeshift execution platform on which a red-masked headsman was standing. Corbett stood transfixed as a man was hustled up the steps, hands bound behind his back. His head was thrust down on the block, the axe rose, glinting in the sunlight, and fell with a loud thud. Corbett flinched and looked away as hot blood spurted in a curving arc. 'Master, what is it?'

Ranulf and Maltote left the table and peered over Corbett's shoulder.

'See,' Ranulf whispered to Maltote, 'the eyes still flutter and the lips are moving.'

The round-faced Maltote, who could not stand the sight of blood, his or anyone else's, briskly walked away, praying not to faint. Corbett looked at the sheriff.

'A bloody business, Sir Peter?'

'No, a lesson,' Branwood replied, toying with a ring on his slim brown hand.

Corbett flinched as the axe fell again. He caught the glint of amusement in Branwood's eyes.

'What is happening?' Corbett jerked his head towards the window.

'You are a visitor to Nottingham, Sir Hugh. There's an outbreak of plague in the city.'

Corbett shivered and turned away. Thank God, he thought, he hadn't brought Maeve and baby Eleanor here.

'A house in Castle Street,' Branwood explained, 'was taken by the plague and a group of night watchmen, in accordance with city regulations, had the place shut up, marking the door and windows with crosses.'

Corbett breathed a prayer; if the plague visited any house, all the occupants suffered.

'Anyway,' continued Branwood, 'a man, his wife, a girl, a boy, and two servants were declared dead. The corpses were to be removed to the lime pits outside the city gates. Now usually everyone stays away in these cases but this time an inquisitive relative, braver than the rest, came to pay his last respects. He hid in the shadows and, when one of the corpses was dragged out, saw the head roll to one side. The throat had been cut.' Branwood nodded at the window. 'The night watchmen were murderers. They'd killed the entire family and plundered the house. Now they pay the price, to the King and to God.'