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"I request that both be taken into custody immediately and this hearing adjourned."

Sir Reynald studied him without responding. Fitzwalter turned toward me.

"You stand accused of treason, Bisbane. Do you deny it?"

"I don't deny that you've accused me."

Several people shifted in their seats.

"And yet you presume to accuse me?"

"Yes."

"On the word of an outlaw?"

"On the Crown's own records."

I approached the commissioners' table. "My lords, eleven thousand marks were collected from four northern shires to support the border garrisons."

I laid out the documents.

"Less than four thousand reached their intended destination."

Sir Reynald leaned forward. "The difference?"

"Seven thousand one hundred and forty marks."

I placed the financial record before him. "The missing funds were transferred through eleven warrants over fourteen months into four private accounts held at two London banking houses."

I pointed to the relevant figures.

"The warrant numbers can be checked against the Exchequer rolls. The accounts can be verified against the banking houses' records."

I looked toward Fitzwalter. "I'm not asking you to accept my word or Robin's. I'm asking you to examine the Crown's own books."

Fitzwalter's expression remained calm and I continued. "Once those records are compared, the commissioners will be able to determine where the money went and who authorized the transfers."

Then the testimony began.

It was a lengthy process.

Exactly as I'd expected.

Peverel explained how documents connected to William of Locksley's trial had been removed from the archives under Fitzwalter's authority.

He described the audit of the muniment room and the circumstances surrounding Hugh's arrest.

Hugh testified next.

He had to remain seated because of his injuries.

One side of his face was still badly bruised, and he spoke carefully to avoid aggravating his ribs.

He confirmed that Fitzwalter's soldiers had been waiting inside my former chambers when he attempted to retrieve the letter.

Sir Reynald asked why the guards had been stationed inside a room supposedly being watched for security reasons.

Hugh answered as plainly as he could.