From the Ashes

Chapter Twenty-One

Richard wasted no time and the very next morning took his favorite stallion in to be shod loosening one shoe just slightly to give him an excuse. "Excuse me," Richard said as he tried to get the attention of the elderly man hammering away in the corner of the shop.

"Pardon me," Richard said again. The man had seemed to finally recognize there was someone in his shop.

"What can I do for you son?" the older man asked wiping the sweat and some dirt from his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

"My horse," Richard said, "has slipped his shoe. Could you repair it?"

"Of course, horseshoes are my specialty. Let's take a look," the farrier said as he rounded the counter to examine the hoof of the black beauty outside. "Fine looking animal you got here," he said as he gave the animal a pat to let it know he meant it no harm, rubbing its muzzle in a comforting way. "You from around here?"

"Thank you. No, just passing through. My name is..." Richard had to pause a moment he couldn't say his given name... "Cyril. Cyril Kane," he said, using the first male name to that came to mind. He did not wish to arouse suspicion. He even took care to dress beneath his station, to make the ruse complete. "And my friend there is Midnight."

"Well good day to you both," he said wiping his hand on his apron before shaking Richard's hand. "Barneby. Barneby Smith."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Smith. I certainly appreciate your taking a look at him right away like this. You seemed awfully busy back there. I thought I might need to come back tomorrow. Do you not have any help?"

"No need really," Barneby said as he looked over the damage to the shoe. "I manage to do just fine on my own. My son used to help me around the shop but I really did not need him here. Besides he had plans to be a famous barrister someday. He is paying for his own education," he said with pride.

"Really," Richard said with the appropriate amount of surprise, "that must be difficult." A killer with an interest in law, interesting, Richard mused. "I could not afford school myself so I up and joined the military," Richard supplied hoping to receive as much background information as he could on Marcus.

"Well my son, Marcus, he has never been afraid of hard work. In these changing times, a man can gain a position from wealth, he seems more driven than ever to make a name for himself. He has taken a position as a groom at Bentley Manor just south of here. Impossible to miss it if you travel that way. The place looks like a palace," Barneby announced as he removed the shoe and tried banging out the obvious bend in it.

Richard was grateful that Barneby was busy working. It gave him time to recover from the shock that a murderer may be living currently under his very roof. "However did he manage a position there?" Richard asked a little louder to be heard over the hammering.

Barneby just shrugged as he examined the shoe for any more dents. "Don't rightly know. The Mistress of the household has been pretty neglectful of us tenants but I understand the new Lord of the Manor has recently returned and is making many needed improvements."

"Does he enjoy employment under the new Master?"

"I really cannot say. I have not seen my son much since he started working there a few months ago. They must be keeping him very busy."

So, Marcus must have been hired at Bentley Manor immediately after Mr. Chase had let him go. With a letter of recommendation from Mr. Chase, Marcus would have been accepted without question if such a position was available within his home. He must talk with Albert, he would be in charge of the hirings.

"Well, good as new," Barneby said after shoeing Richard's horse and dusting off his pants.

"You are craftsmen," Richard said looking over Midnight's shoe admiring Barneby's work. "What do I owe you?"