Cadfael's Song : Poison Chalice

Cadfael stooped low beneath the old oak beams of the herbarium. He was working late; mixing a potion for travellers just arrived at the monastery. John and Shadwell Willow were two men seeking help from the old monk. They had been travelling for two days, traversing the Welsh Marches, before reaching Shrewsbury. When Cadfael confronted the men he discerned that they were brothers. One had a malady of the mind, whilst the other had pains all about his person. Cadfael's reputation as a healer was acknowledged far and wide, across hill and dale, mountain range and plain. In the herbarium were many dried concoctions of plants: comfrey and self heal, foxglove and yarrow, motherwort and hyssop. Cadfael thought he might try evening primrose on Shadwell, the brother troubled in his mind, and he set about distilling some oil. John, who had many aching joints, would get treated with hyssop.

The time of year was one of renewed hope, for it was the spring. White florets, like a snow blanket, foamed the buckthorn hedgerows, and witch hazel grew enchantment down the lanes. The bluebell woods were a sea of wedgewood hue and the trees were fresh and newly green, sprouting shoots on winter's branches. The Willow brothers seemed two quiet men, neither in very good spirits. They sought the solace of the dortoir and Cadfael's comforting potions. By ten o' clock they had turned in and they slept peacefully till morning.

That same morning a band of knights errant filled the refectory, seeking accommodation while resting on their journey south. They were gallant supporters of King Stephen, about to declare himself the one and only true heir to the throne of England. John and Shadwell Willow cowered in their places at table, both supporters of Queen Matilda, who they believed the best contender for the throne. Somehow allegiances are known, and Cadfael, more than anyone was aware of this. He gave orders to the monks to separate the brothers from the knights errant when serving the vittels in hall. It is a dangerous thing to set side by side such opposing factions.

Lucy-Ann, the serving wench, cleared away the dishes from table. A simple lass by all accounts Cadfael had taken her in as a girl, taking pity on her selfless ways and her naivety. She seemed bothered by the raised voices of the knights, but said very little and attended to her kitchen duties. Cadfael wished to see John and Shadwell Willow again. He didn't like to turn people away from his infirmary unhealed. The two brothers, one full of choler, the other melancholic, seemed to be brooding and unhappy as if something was on their mind.

Cadfael wished to talk to the men, to see if he could offer any worldly advice; to set them straight on the path that is life. Shadwell seemed recalcitrant to talk at all, but John was more forthcoming. He spoke of his ailing father on their farm back home. A hard taskmaster by all accounts, their father was someone to be feared. Shadwell, preoccupied and suspicious, said little to Cadfael. He would not open up; he seemed to trust no one.

It was a bright night that night; the stars were single diamonds in a velvet black sky. The brothers took their drink of mulled wine back to the dortoir to drink before retiring. The night was not peaceful however. Shadwell, the brother troubled in his mind started screaming in the night as if a devil had taken his soul. Other hostellers woke up, and some of the monks too were awake. The evening primrose oil did not seem to be working thought Cadfael. He is a troubled man indeed.

The next morning Shadwell woke after fitful sleep. He went to wake his brother, but he could not rouse him. An arm fell limply to the floor. John Willow was dead. If Shadwell had been possessed of a demon, it was some much more human hand that had killed John. There were no marks on the man, but Cadfael the physician knew after examination of the body that he had been murdered, more precisely, he had been poisoned. Hemlock grew in the herb garden, and that, decided Cadfael, had killed John Willow.

Cadfael knew a lot of the knights had had distaste for the two brothers. After last night's antics there were accusations of sorcery and magick practises. And they all showed contempt for supporters of Matilda, but murder, would any of them stoop that low. Shadwell Willow had had the same drink as John the night before, but on feeling rather queasy he had not drunk it. On examining the golden goblet Cadfael soon realized it too had been poisoned. It was only luck that had prevented the death of Shadwell too. Whoever was behind this had meant to kill both brothers.

In conference with Hugh Berangar Cadfael asked him what he knew of the brothers. He said he knew only what John had told them: they had an ailing father who lived on a farm in Wales and they both sought help for their respective ailments. Hugh then said a messenger had called at the monastery in the afternoon yesterday with a letter for the brothers, but it was Shadwell who was around at the time and he had taken it. No one knew what it was about. The brothers, as usual, kept silent. Somehow Cadfael thought it was of much significance and wanted to know very much the contents of that letter. He would steal into Shadwell's dortoir and look for the letter.

Cadfael interviewed many of the knights, but somehow thought none had a real motive to poison John. Yes, the brothers were supporters of Matilda, but you would come across many of them in England. It was something you learned to put up with, you did not take it upon yourself to go round murdering people purely for a political purpose. But then these were desperate times; maybe someone had taken it upon themselves to kill. It would have been easy for any one of the band of knights to have poisoned the chalice. Cadfael was keeping an open mind.

Joseph the stable lad prodded Lucy-Ann.
"You better say sommat Lucy-Ann, tell what you saw after I had gone. Best tell Cadfael what you know."
"Do you think it is important Joseph ?"
"Yes, I do."
Lucy-Ann brushed her red hair back off her face, drew her cloak around her ample breast and knocked on Cadfael's cell door.
"Come in," said Cadfael, tired now and weary from the latest goings-on at the monastery.
"What is it Lucy-Ann ?"
"I have something to tell you Cadfael."
"Go ahead then Lucy-Ann."
"Well, I was in the orchard about twilight, near the border with the herb garden, behind a tree, and I saw something."
"What were you doing there Lucy-Ann ?"
"I know its wrong Cadfael, but Joseph told me to come and see you. I had been with Joseph the stable lad, canoodling like in the trees. He had gone and I was lying low to slip away alone."
"Oh I see Lucy-Ann. Well that's not important now, tell me what you saw."
"I saw him, I saw him come into the herb garden and pick some of that poisonous herb. I know it's poisonous because you told me not to go near it."
"Who Lucy-Ann. Who did you see ?"
"One of those two brothers. I am not sure which one, they both look so alike. He didn't see me though, I was behind a tree."
"Oh, I see Lucy-Ann. You have told me a great deal. Thank you very much."

Cadfael knew of course it must have been Shadwell, unless John wished to kill himself, but it was Shadwell who was mentally deranged not his brother. I must see that letter, thought Cadfael. I must know what that letter the messenger brought had in it. I think it is the key to the whole thing. Cadfael drew his monk's cowl over his head and ascended the stairs to the dortoir, knowing Shadwell was in the refectory partakiing of supper. Once in Shadwell's room he looked over his things. He found the saddle bag for his horse and rifled the contents. He was in luck, there was a letter. He quickly read it over. It told the brothers that their father had died. So it seemed that Shadwell was greedy. Rather than share his father's estate with his brother, he wanted it all for himself. He had poisoned both cups of wine and then told that lie about feeling too unwell to drink it, so it would look like they were both targets of the knights of Stephen.

Cadfael sent out a message to the Sheriff of Shrewsbury. Shadwell must be arrested. Lucy-Ann had come through. If it wasn't for her canoodling with Joseph, maybe this would not have been so plain, and a selfish murderer would be free in our midst.

Cadfael took to his cell and sat in quiet contemplation before the cross. He had had many times of enlightenment, but as always he needed good people to tell the truth and solve his cases. He said a quiet prayer for Joseph and Lucy-Ann, probably canoodling at this very instant in the cherry orchard.