The King's Spy (Thomas Hill Trilogy 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

should he leave his sister and nieces unprotected to help prosecute a war which should never have started, and in which innocent women and children are dying every day? This is not a war against a cruel invader. It’s a war between Englishmen on English soil. How can it possibly be condoned?’
    ‘Are there not important principles at stake?’
    ‘What principles can justify innocent blood being spilled?’
    ‘Principles of justice and liberty?’
    ‘You speak as if such principles were espoused by one side alone. They are not. The king would rule without reference to his subjects, Parliament would restrict our civil and religious freedoms,’ replied Margaret with unaccustomed force.
    ‘And what principle are the king’s mercenaries fighting for? The right to kill for money, I suppose?’ demanded Thomas. ‘And what of the turncoats? A sudden epiphany? I doubt it. This war, like all wars, is about fear and self-interest. Claims of justice and liberty are no more than fancy covers on a miserable book.’
    The friar held up his hands. ‘Master Hill, I cannot persuade you against your will.’ He smiled. ‘Nor can I take you to Oxford by force. I can tell you that Erasmus Pole, the king’s cryptographer, has died, and that Abraham Fletcher has particularly recom mended you to replace him. That is all I can tell you. The king has sent for you, and you must decide whether to obey his summons. If I return without you, he will be disappointed, but I don’t think he will send Prince Rupert with a troop of cavalry to do what I had failed to do. Either way, I must leave tomorrow. Not even time to visit your lovely abbey.’
    ‘So, Father de Pointz, you arrive unannounced at our door, you claim to bring a summons from the king for my brother to join him in Oxford, and you expect him to make a decision immediately. Is that it?’
    ‘I fear, madam, that it is. Wholly unreasonable, quite in defensible, insupportable and unjust. That’s exactly how it is.’
    Again Thomas and Margaret exchanged looks. This unusual friar had risked his life in travelling to Romsey and his frankness at least deserved the courtesy of a considered reply, thought Thomas. ‘Then so be it. You shall have your decision in the morning. Do not expect it to be the one you would like. I cannot say that you’re welcome, but you may sleep here.’
    ‘We’ll give you a blanket,’ said Margaret.
    ‘Thank you. Your floor will be much more comfortable than the places I’ve slept these past three days. I shared a barn in Newbury with a blind beggar, two sows and a family of rats as big as hounds.’
    With the blanket, and his bag for a pillow, they left him to sleep on the kitchen floor and went upstairs. Margaret looked in on the girls, then came into Thomas’s room. They sat side by side on his bed. ‘Well, brother. Plundering soldiers, the queen’s priest, a royal summons. Surely this day can bring us nothing more.’
    ‘Other than a visit from Banquo’s ghost, I thinkwe’re safe. But there’ll be no sleep, I fear, until we’ve come to a decision.’
    ‘The decision must be yours, Thomas.’
    ‘No, Margaret. It must be ours.’
    An hour later, they had debated the conflict of loyalties to country and to family, the threat to the safety of Margaret and the girls, Thomas’s own safety on the journey, how Margaret would cope with the shop, what they had heard of Oxford now that the king had made it his capital, and their impressions of Simon de Pointz. Thomas had spoken of his friendship with Abraham Fletcher; Margaret had reminded him of his hatred of the war. They had wondered aloud whether Thomas’s skills would be used as a force for good or evil. And they had reached no conclusion. At last, quite exhausted, Margaret said, ‘Thomas, I have nothing left to say. You have my support whatever you decide, but, if you choose to go, please do so before the girls are awake. It will be bad enough for them without seeing you leave.’ With that,