David Gemmell – Rigante 3 – Ravenheart

Not so now, thanks to the interfering little apothecary. The officer Mulgrave glanced back to where crowds had gathered beyond the roped-off area. ‘Move those people back, if you would, captain,’ he asked Galliott. The Borderer summoned several soldiers and relayed the orders to them. The crowd was pushed back, many of them grumbling. Ramus was examining the dead girl’s hands now, while Mulgrave held a lantern close. Chara Ward had been a pretty girl, bright and vivacious. Now she was a problem. Galliott moved in closer to the two men.

There is no evidence that she did not climb the tree and throw herself off,’ he said. ‘Can you be sure, apothecary?’

The little apothecary turned the dead girl’s hand, showing the palm to Galliott. ‘The bole of the tree is covered in moss and fungi. The outer bark is rotten. There are no marks upon her palms, and if you examine the trunk of the tree you will see no scuffing.’ He noticed the girl’s eyes were still open, and closed them gently. ‘Your eyes are better than mine, captain,’ he said to Mulgrave. ‘Take a look at her fingernails. What do you see?’

Mulgrave took the girl’s hand and leaned close. ‘I think it is blood,’ he said.

‘I concur. I believe she scratched her assailant – or assailants.’ Ramus transferred his attention to the lower part of the body, lifting the heavy skirt.

‘What on earth do you think you are doing?’ asked Galliott. Ramus ignored him, and drew up the garment. Galliott turned his back on the scene, ordering his soldiers to do likewise. Had he been alone with Ramus he would have stopped him forcibly. Unfortunately, as officer in charge of security, Mulgrave was the ranking soldier, and he seemed content to acquiesce in this disgusting examination.

‘You may turn back now, captain,’ said Ramus. ‘The investigation is complete.’

‘And what did you discover, pray?’ asked Galliott, struggling to keep the anger from his voice.

‘The girl was either a virgin before the attack or a sharp implement has been used on her. I would guess the former, since there is very little blood. She was raped before being murdered.’

‘I agree,’ said Mulgrave, rising from beside the body. ‘There are deep foot marks beneath the bough from which she was hanging. After the rape she was strangled before being strung up.’

‘How do you arrive at such a conclusion?’ asked Galliott. ‘Why would she have been strangled first?’

Mulgrave moved away from the body. ‘I think it unlikely that rapists would have come ready with a rope. My guess would be she fought for her honour and was then killed. The killer – or killers -realizing what they had done set out to disguise their deed. They fetched a rope and hoisted her body up, making it appear to be suicide.’

‘You keep saying they, Captain Mulgrave.’

‘She was tall, and not unduly slender. I think a single man would have experienced difficulty hauling up her body, and then tying the rope to the trunk.’

‘No witnesses have come forward,’ said Galliott, ‘and the ground around the body has now been churned. It will be difficult to identify the culprits.’

‘Witnesses will be found,’ said Mulgrave. ‘Someone carried a rope from the Five Fields and entered the wood. Others will have seen that. Added to which there is blood under four of her fingernails. At least one of the men is bearing her mark, probably on his face or neck.’

Galliott felt his belly tighten. ‘I shall order my men to begin enquiries tomorrow,’ he said.

‘Tonight, Captain Galliott – while the crowds are still gathered. The main questions to be asked are did anyone see Chara Ward enter the woods, and did anyone see men carrying a rope towards the trees?’

‘It will be as you order, Captain Mulgrave. My thanks for your assistance in this matter. You too, apothecary.’

Galliott walked away, his mind racing. Mulgrave was right. Someone would have seen men with a rope. He took a deep breath. Only an hour ago he himself had seen Sergeant Bindoe with deep scratches to his face. Bindoe maintained they came from a highland woman who had entered the Varlish area and refused to be escorted quietly back. Even without this damning evidence everything about the crime pointed to Bindoe. Twice before he had been accused of rapes against highland women, and twice Galliott had found ways of preserving him. Not for his sake, but for the honour of the regiment. If Bindoe were to be found guilty of this crime it would throw a harsh light on previous accusations. That light could prove embarrassing to Galliott himself – perhaps resulting in his dismissal. Or worse.

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