The Night of the Wolf

ContentsCoverAlso by Cassandra ClarkTitle PageCopyrightPraise for the Brother Chandler mysteriesAbout the AuthorBook OneChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenBook TwoLondon, 1401Book ThreeChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenChapter FourteenChapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenChapter EighteenChapter NineteenChapter TwentyChapter Twenty-OneEpilogueAuthor Note Also by Cassandra ClarkThe Brother Chandler mysteriesTHE HOUR OF THE FOX *THE DAY OF THE SERPENT *The Abbess of Meaux mysteriesHANGMAN BLINDTHE RED VELVET TURNSHOETHE LAW OF ANGELSA PARLIAMENT OF SPIESTHE DRAGON OF HANDALETHE BUTCHER OF AVIGNONTHE SCANDAL OF THE SKULLSTHE ALCHEMIST OF NETLEY ABBEYMURDER AT MEAUXMURDER AT WHITBY ABBEY *MURDER AT BEAULIEU ABBEY *DARK WATERS RISING ** available from Severn House THE NIGHT OF THE WOLF Cassandra Clark This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. First world edition published in Great Britain and the USA in 2023by Severn House, an imprint of Canongate Books Ltd,14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE.This eBook edition first published in 2023 by Severn House,an imprint of Canongate Books Ltd.severnhouse.comCopyright © Cassandra Clark, 2023All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. The right of Cassandra Clark to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988.British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication DataA CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.ISBN-13: 978-1-4483-0666-4 (cased)ISBN-13: 978-1-4483-0671-8 (e-book)This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Except where actual historical events and characters are being described for the storyline of this novel, all situations in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is purely coincidental.This eBook produced byPalimpsest Book Production Limited,Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland Praise for the Brother Chandler mysteries“A compulsive, edgy read about dangerous times … A terrific achievement in a series to watch closely”Historical Novels Review on The Day of the Serpent“The local color and historical detail are outstanding”Kirkus Reviews on The Day of the Serpent“Those who enjoy medieval stories of betrayal and ruthlessness will be rewarded”Publishers Weekly on The Day of the Serpent“A fresh series launch … The story grips. Readers will want to see more of this highly original protagonist”Publishers Weekly on The Hour of the Fox“The history is meticulously researched and depicted … Brother Chandler’s sleuthing may appeal to nonfiction readers looking for variety in their reading just as much as the fans of Clark’s popular Abbess Hildegard of Meaux series”Booklist on The Hour of the Fox“The evil machinations in 1399 England are worthy of a particularly harrowing Game of Thrones episode … Rich historical detail … [An] intriguing introduction to a conflicted hero”Kirkus Reviews on The Hour of the Fox“Chandler is a complex character with divided loyalties and an unusual personal life. I look forward to meeting him again”Historical Novels Review on The Hour of the Fox About the authorCassandra Clark is an award-winning scriptwriter for theatre, radio and television. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed Hildegard of Meaux medieval mysteries, as well as this series featuring Brother Rodric Chandler.www.cassandraclark.co.uk BOOK ONE ONEWilloughby’s house, Chester, 1400Rodric Chandler opened his eyes at the sound of his door being pushed open. Darkness lay like velvet over his eyes. The pad of bare feet approached his bed. He held his breath and listened more closely. There was no sound of steel and yet someone had entered the chamber with the stealth of an assassin.Scarcely breathing he surreptitiously reached for the knife he kept under the pillow. Adjusting to the darkness he glimpsed a shadow flick across the lighted square of the window.In the moonlight he had a brief vision of waist-length hair, gleaming like ebony.She.He let his breath out and waited without moving.In a moment she was sliding into bed beside him. ‘I know you’re awake,’ she whispered. ‘I said I would come to you.’‘You cannot come to me. I am your husband’s guest.’‘I can and I have come to you, dear Rodric, for here I am.’‘Then you must go back to your own bed.’‘Dearest,’ she whispered, ‘you cannot be so strict.’‘I can be very strict,’ he replied, turning away.He felt her hands moving intimately over his body as she tried to draw herself closer, pressing her own hot and seeking body against his own, whispering endearments until her voice sharpened and she asked, ‘What’s this under your pillow?’He twisted to stare at her and tried to gauge her expression in the slant of light from outside. ‘It’s my knife.’‘No, it’s something wrapped in – I do believe it’s the little package you were wearing underneath your friar’s robes when my husband and his men rescued you from that gang on the road from Shrewsbury …!’She gave a knowing chuckle and sat up with something clutched in her hands. Reaching out he prised the package from between her fingers and she stifled a gasp.‘That hurt!’‘I told you I could be strict.’‘You can tell me what it is …’ She sidled against him. ‘Dearest Rodric – please be kind to me. You’ve no idea how dreadful my life is with that horrible old man—’‘You must not do this, Evelyn. Go back to your bed. Where is your husband?’‘Sleeping. Dreaming of money and sheep.’‘If he did not dream of money and sheep you would be living in poverty. Go back to him.’Even as he spoke he could feel her heat as she pressed the length of her body against his with greater urgency. Her shift was no more