Chapter 19

From an early age, Godwin taught Odo to be responsible for his actions, avoid passing blame, admit wrongdoing, and face any outcome with honour.

His cows had trampled crops and caused damage, and that was his responsibility. No proof could be offered at this moment to show that someone deliberately destroyed his fence and herded the animals into the fields. It was unlikely anyone would step forward in his defence and support his claim. If they did, it would be a matter of whose word the lord believed. Not for one moment did Odo think Lord Mellester had any sympathy for him - the outcome was assured to be harrowing. Determined to honour his father's memory, he lifted his head, squared his shoulders and waited.

"Herdsman Odo Read, come forward!" yelled Steward Alard.

A murmur rose around Odo and continued uninterrupted, rising to a crescendo. He stood, obediently stepped forward and waited. The crowd finally settled down, impatient to see punishment meted out.

"Ye come here before me yet again, herdsman," said the lord when Odo faced him.

Odo wasn't sure how to respond, so he chose to say nothing.

"Are ye aware of the charges against ye?" Sir Wystan questioned.

Odo shook his head. "Nay, milord."

Behind him, some took the opportunity to heckle.

"Remind him, Steward Alard." Lord Mellester raised the goblet to his lips and took a gulp.

"Herdsman Odo Read, ye have been brought before Sir Wystan, Lord of Mellester, to face charges of negligence and wilful damage to the lord's crops!" stated the steward.

"What? No, no, there is more, Alard," spluttered Sir Wystan. "Tell him the rest, damn you."

Puzzled, Odo tore his eyes away from Sir Wystan and focused on the steward, who took a moment before replying.

Alard looked up briefly and made eye contact with him, his expression suddenly rueful. "And, uh, and theft."

Spectators began applauding.

Odo couldn't help himself. "Theft? What theft?" he blurted over the din.

In shock, Oswald the priest's mouth fell open.

"Enough!" Sir Wystan yelled, rising from his seat, his anger palpable. "You stole, herdsman... you stole crops!"

Odo shook his head in disbelief. "I did no such thing, milord."

Feeling the effects of too much wine, Sir Wystan unsteadily lowered himself back into his seat and draped a leg casually over the armrest. "Do ye deny these charges, herdsman? Do ye have anything to say in yer defence?"

Odo's heart pounded, and he felt the blood rushing to his face. "I stole nothing. My cows ate the crops, but I knew nothing of it at the time, milord."

"So say ye," Sir Wystan waved his arm disdainfully to emphasise his point.

"Someone tore down my fence and herded my cows into the crops, milord. I didn't know this would happen," Odo turned to face the people behind him. "I can only apologise to the good men whose crops were trampled. I am so sorry."

People began jeering and yelling at him. Sir Wystan slouched with a grin on his face and allowed the disruption to continue unabated. Finally, when the spectators became bored with the catcalls, the lord continued. "Reeve Merick? What say ye?"

Reeve Merick took a step forward. "Herdsman Odo is lazy, milord. If his fences were stout and in good repair, this would never have happened."

"Milord!" Odo appealed.

"Be quiet, I've heard enough. I am growing tired of this. Herdsman Odo, step closer. Steward Alard will inform ye of the amount of restitution."

A hush fell over Mellester Hall.

"Yea, milord." Alard took a deep breath and began. "For wilful damage to the lord's crops... uh, five shillings."

Odo felt sick. This sum was almost beyond his means. There was no way he could pay so much money.

"For negligence - five shillings," added the steward.

Oswald was shaking his head in disbelief.

"Don't forget the theft!" reminded Sir Wystan with a smirk.

"Of course, milord. And as punishment for theft..." Again there was a pause, and Steward Alard risked another quick apologetic glance at Odo.

"One day in pillory and five shillings."

The hall erupted in cheers and cries of glee as this was what many of them hoped for. Mellester Manor hadn't enjoyed a pillory in some time. Oswald raised his hand to his mouth in astonishment; it was an exorbitant amount in damage payments, and overall, a very severe punishment.

Odo was devastated and had no idea where he could obtain fifteen shillings. He shook his head in disbelief.

"Herdsman, you will make your payment to the steward by sunrise tomorrow, and immediately submit to your pillory punishment until sunset."

Odo, overwhelmed, was incapable of speaking.

"Are you deaf?"

He looked up at the smirking lord.

"Do you understand the fines and punishment that have been levied against you?" Sir Wystan waved his goblet around.

"I can't pay that amount, milord," said Odo quietly.

"I can't hear you, speak louder!"

"I'm unable to pay that amount, milord," Odo spoke through clenched teeth.

Sir Wystan rose quickly from his seat, losing the grip on his goblet. It tumbled off the dais and onto the floor, splashing wine over a few people. The lord was oblivious.

"We do have a problem, then, don't we? How sad that ye can't pay... or is it that ye won't pay?"

Odo didn't respond.

"What will ye do, herdsman?"

He shrugged.

"Steward Alard, Priest Oswald, Reeve Merick, take note. If full payment has not been received at sunrise tomorrow morning, Herdsman Odo Read forfeits any rights and title to the land he currently occupies, and all that land will revert back to the manor."