Field of Death: Part V

Ian got the directions from the messenger as he saddled Horse, then nodded. "I know the place. My aide Lt. Marcus should be along shortly; tell him I couldn't wait, and that he is to join me there as soon as he has taken care of the matters we spoke about earlier. You go to the barracks and get some food after you've done that, all right? Good lad!" He gave the man a slap on the back before he vaulted up into the saddle and urged Horse out the stable doors and then through the castle gates.

The recent weather had been a short return to colder temperatures, so the muddy roads had frozen over and Ian was able to make good time to where the body was said to have been found. The area around Camelot contained several castles that had fallen into sorry states over the years, and the one that Evan was awaiting him at was one of the more picturesque relics of the days of Arthur. Breached walls, overgrown gardens and crumbling towers had made it a favorite rendezvous for more than one or two couples; on several occasions Ian had been called out by irate parents, sure their son or daughter was doing what they shouldn't in the shadows of the ruins.

He hoped the dead woman was no one he knew.

A half-hour later he rounded a bend and saw Evan waiting up ahead at what had once been the main gate of Castle De Galis. His former squire was leaning against part of the fire blackened wall, arms folded across his chest as he stared at the tips of his boots. At the sound of Ian's approach the young knight looked up, his face a mixture of anger and sorrow. He reached out to grab Horse's halter as Ian slid out of the saddle to stand beside him. "I wish I could say well met, milord, but my heart is heavy with the thing I have seen this day."

"Show me where she is, Evan."

"Very well, sir. She's this way." Evan went through the old gate and Ian fell in beside him, walking past the abandoned outer buildings that once housed troops and a bladesmith.

"How was she found?"

"I've men in the area, checking for any mercenary raiders." Evan's voice took on the tone and cadence of a report to a superior, the familiar routine helping him get control for a moment. "They saw some birds, circling, acting strangely, and when they drew closer realized they were kites and others, the birds one sees in skies over battlefields where the dead have fallen. They investigated, and when they did, they found her. The birds had gotten to her, sir, birds, and other beasts! Whoever did this, Sir Blackthorn, does not live by the Code, nor has any honor!"

"Murderers seldom do, Evan. They seldom do."

By now they were near the center of the ruins and some of Evan's men, perhaps the ones who had found the body, drew themselves to attention. This had been the inner courtyard, and near the center was the body of a woman lying on the ground. Ian looked at the assembled men. "I want you all to fan out and search the entire ruin. Move carefully, mind where you step, and sing out for Sir Evan and I should you find anything unusual." He waved his arm, and the men did as he had bid them. Evan, come with me." He walked over to view the body.

She'd only been dead a day or so, Ian judged. Evan had been right, the beasts had been at the body but not too badly. There was blood pooled and dried beneath her, but he saw a bloodstain a few feet away as well; he pointed it out. "She's been moved, Evan. Tell the men to look for more blood stains." The younger knight moved away as Ian checked for wounds, noting at once that the throat this time was untouched. There were, instead, two deep puncture wounds, both to the side, both of which were close to the heart. The face was not peaceful, but fearful, and there were bruises along one arm that looked to have been made by someone gripping it tightly. He lowered it gently back down to the dead woman's side, then let his eyes be drawn to the coin purse lying on her chest.

The bulge in it was, as he feared, yet another toy block, this with the letter R carved upon it in an identical fashion as the other two blocks. A piece of paper stuffed into purse proved to be a note from a secret admirer, telling the dead woman to meet him there. Possibly it was a coincident, but Ian didn't believe in coincidences. He pocketed the block and the letter as Evan came trotting back over to lead him back to a space between the crumbling wall and a toppled stone pillar. There was a sizable bloodstain near the pillar, not as large as by the body, but enough for Ian to nod.

"He stabbed her here, then carried her over out in the open so she would be seen easier. He wanted to be sure someone found her."

Evan pondered this, hand on chin. "Your pardon, milord, but you keep saying "he" and "him". Might not this be the work of a woman?"

"If it is, it would have to be a strong woman. This last victim is a tall woman herself, and carrying her all the way out there would need strength." Ian paused, a glimmer of an idea taking shape. "And by carrying a bleeding victim, our killer mayhap got some blood on his own clothes, perhaps quite a large stain. That's something to look into." He turned, walking back to the body, Evan beside him. "Did any of your men recognize her?"

"No, milord, I'm sad to say."

"Very well. Start at the nearest farms and villages. Tell all that we are looking for anyone who might have been seen with blood on their clothes recently." He glanced over at the body. "And ask about any woman whose name begins with R and has not been seen the last few days".