He found Den alone in his great hall, using a handheld whetstone to sharpen a favorite sword. Aldred began his story with his first visit to Dreng’s Ferry: the unfriendliness of the inhabitants, the decadent atmosphere at the minster, and his instinct that there was a guilty secret there. Den looked intrigued by Wynstan’s quarterly visits, and the gifts he brought; then he was amused at the idea of Aldred sending someone to follow Wynstan around the pleasure houses of Combe. But when Aldred began on the weighing of coins, Den put down his sword and the stone, listening avidly.

“Clearly Wynstan and Degbert go to Combe to spend some of their forgeries and change others for genuine money in a large town where there is lots of commerce and the counterfeits are unlikely to be noticed.”

Den nodded. “That makes sense. Pennies move from one person to another quickly in a town.”

“But the coins must be produced in Dreng’s Ferry. To make perfect copies of the dies used in the royal mints requires the skill of a jeweler—and there is a jeweler in the minster at Dreng’s Ferry. His name is Cuthbert.”

Den was both appalled and eager. He seemed genuinely shocked by the enormity of the crime. “A bishop!” he said in an excited whisper. “Counterfeiting the king’s currency!” But he was also thrilled. “If I expose this crime, King Ethelred will never forget my name!”

When he had calmed down Aldred got him to focus on just how they would pounce.

“We need to catch them at it,” Den said. “I need to see the materials, the tools, the process. I need to see the false money being manufactured.”

“I think that can be arranged,” said Aldred, sounding more confident than he felt. “They do it at regular times, always a few days after the quarter day. Wynstan collects his rents, takes genuine money to Dreng’s Ferry, and there turns it into twice as many counterfeit coins.”

“It’s diabolical. But for us to catch them, they mustn’t be forewarned.” Den became thoughtful. “I would have to leave Shiring before Wynstan, so that he wouldn’t get the idea he was being followed. I’d need a pretext: I could pretend we’re going to search for Ironface in, say, the woods around Bathford.”

“Good idea. I heard a report of goats being stolen there a few weeks ago.”

“Then we would have to hide out in the forest near Dreng’s Ferry, well away from the road. However, we would need someone to tell us when Wynstan arrives at the minster.”

“I can arrange that. I have an ally in the village.”

“Trustworthy?”

“He already knows everything. It’s Edgar the builder.”

“Good choice. He helped the lady Ragna in Outhenham. Young, but smart. He would have to alert us as soon as they begin making the coins. Do you think he would do that?”

“Yes.”

“I believe we have the beginnings of a plan. But I need to think this over carefully. We’ll talk more later.”