“Wigelm and I are going to swear that you murdered Wilf.”

She shook her head from side to side vigorously.

“You could deny it. You could tell everyone the truth about what happened here tonight. You could accuse me and Wigelm of cold-blooded murder.”

He could tell by her expression that she was bewildered.

He said: “But who will believe you? The oath of a slave is worthless—doubly so against that of a bishop.”

He saw understanding dawn in her eyes, followed by despair.

“You see the position you’re in,” he said with satisfaction. “But I’m going to offer you a chance. I’m going to let you escape.”

She stared at him incredulously.

“In two minutes’ time you’re going to leave the compound and walk out of Shiring by the Glastonbury road. Travel by night and hide in the woods by day.”

She looked at the door, as if making sure that it was there.

Wynstan did not want her to be recaptured, so he had prepared some things that would help her. “Take that bag on the table beside the lamp,” he said. “It contains bread and ham, so that you won’t need to find food for a couple of days. It also contains twelve silver pennies, but don’t spend them until you’re a long way away.”

He could see from her eyes that she understood.

“Tell anyone you meet that you’re going to Bristol to find your husband, who is a sailor. In Bristol you can get a boat across the estuary to Wales, and then you’ll be safe.”

She nodded again, slowly this time, taking in his meaning and thinking about it.

He held his knife to her throat. “Now I’m going to take this gag out of your mouth, and if you scream it will be the last sound you ever make.”

She nodded again.

He released the strap.

She swallowed and rubbed her cheeks where the leather had left red marks.

Wynstan noticed that Wigelm had splashes of blood on his hands and face. He assumed that his own body showed similar telltale signs. There was a bowl of water on a table and he quickly washed himself and gestured to Wigelm to do the same. They probably had blood on their clothes, too, but Wigelm was wearing brown and Wynstan was in black so it showed only as unidentifiable stains that told no particular story.

The water in the bowl was now pink so Wynstan emptied it onto the floor.

Then he said to Carwen: “Put on your shoes and cloak.”

She did as she was told.

He handed her the bag.

“We’re going to open the door. If the remaining two guards are awake, Wigelm and I will kill them. If they’re asleep we will tiptoe past them. Then you will walk, briskly but quietly, to the gate of the compound and silently let yourself out.”

She nodded.

“Let’s go.”

Wynstan opened the door softly and peeped out.

Both bodyguards were slumped against the wall. One was snoring.