In a Dark Wood Read Online Free PDF Page A

terrible thing. Geoffrey shook his head in disgust.
    Baldwin lifted a hand, as if in benediction. “Be at ease, Geoffrey. The king stands in faith with you; he trusts you as he trusts his toes to do his bidding.” Baldwin looked away, no doubt displeased with the image of toes, raising, as it did, the picture of a king wiggling his naked feet. The broad hand fell gently to the back of the chair. “He knows that this problem will be resolved. He knows that you will apprehend the body of this outlaw and deliver justice upon it.”
    Geoffrey was struck by the well-formed speech of this Londoner, ripe, as it was, with the influence of French and the influence of decades of Latin study, the beautiful pagan masters Geoffrey could read only with difficulty. “Let there be no doubt—” Geoffrey began.
    Baldwin waved him silent with an easy gesture. He closed his eyes. “No need. No need.” He dropped, as if exhausted, into the chair. “There are many men seeking honor in the south. I speak as a friend now. As a man who knew your father.” Baldwin massaged his large, square chin. It was like seeing a priest immediately after mass and finding him weary and human, scratching beneath his cassock. “There are dozens of men who would love to be sheriff of Nottingham.”
    Geoffrey poured wine from the silver pitcher. The clear green wine was too tart for Baldwin’s soft London mouth, and the steward rolled his lips into a knot. Geoffrey lowered his cup, feeling it discourteous to savor such an unworthy wine.
    Baldwin drank and touched a cloth to his lips. “I know that you are a gifted administrator.” He looked into his empty cup, and Geoffrey filled it at once. “The king appreciates this.” The key words were gifted and appreciated. Gifted meant that God had endowed his talent. Appreciated meant that the king had appraised Geoffrey as one appraises cloth and knew his value. “But we both know that you are not overfond of wilderness.”
    Geoffrey drank but did not taste.
    â€œNot that you are cowardly. A crisp, worthy man.” Worthy in the mouth of a man like Baldwin was a deep compliment. It summarized all that was esteemable among men. To be worthy was to have weight, as gold has weight. “But administer the forest as well as you administer the city.”
    This combination of praise and criticism made the criticism all the more scalding. To defend himself would be craven. Geoffrey stood and stepped to the lintel and stared briefly at the granite. The quartz flecks glittered in the late-afternoon sun.
    â€œI will,” said Geoffrey at last.
    That simple answer made Baldwin clasp his hands and close his eyes. “I know you will.”
    This meant that Geoffrey might fail but that Baldwin was still a friend. “We hunted boar this afternoon,” said Geoffrey lightly. “It threw itself upon my spear and ran to the cross-shaft just as they are supposed to do.”
    â€œThey have so much courage that they are stupid.”
    â€œI have seen them outsmart the spear,” Geoffrey offered.
    â€œI am like you, Geoffrey. I have little use for blood gluttony. This age of men loves shouting, and the chase, and the hacking of flesh.”
    He refused to acknowledge Geoffrey’s feat. Geoffrey was puzzled. And annoyed. He did not feel much in common with this soft court steward. “It’s important for the city to see the king’s man holding a steady spear.”
    Baldwin tossed a hand in agreement.
    â€œWe interrogate a thief tomorrow.”
    â€œNot a highwayman,” Baldwin chided, with a smile.
    â€œNo,” Geoffrey conceded. But he wanted this agent of the king to know that Geoffrey FitzGodse pursued the breakers of the king’s law with a hungry sword. “A common street thief. But word is that he has hidden some treasure, no one knows where. We will find it.”
    â€œI have seen enough men