Exile's Return (Book 1) (36 page)

Bella moved across the room. ‘Father, you can’t let her go. You know what he will do. He’s already imprisoned Bishop McCauly on trumped-up charges of treason. We are of the old royal line. He will see Jennifer as a threat to his position. You can’t let her go!’

Jacob shook his head at her pleas then reached out and
took Jenn’s hand in his. ‘That’s exactly why I must let her go, Bella. You know I don’t have the power to stop him.’

‘But …’

‘You’ll go with her. In a week. You’ll take care of her and bring her back safely. You and Lawrence.’

He paused, turning his gaze on Jenn. She said nothing, merely tried to still the rising tide of fear which threatened to overwhelm her.

Jacob nodded slowly. ‘May the gods protect us. The monster wants to meet my child!’

Godfrey emerged from the dark corridor and paused to allow his eyes to adjust to the spring sunshine. The courtyard was glaring but it was much warmer than the dungeon where McCauly now lived, and nowhere near as damp.

As he walked across the cobblestones, Hilderic was waiting for him by the inner gate, his hands clasped together in what should have been pious patience, but was more likely to be the exact opposite.

‘Well, how is he?’ Hilderic demanded.

‘Keep your voice low, Brother,’ Godfrey murmured, eyeing the guards closest to them. They wouldn’t be able to hear but that was no reason to take any risk. ‘He’s well enough. The Queen visits him almost every day, bringing him fresh linen, books and such. He’s a little thinner I suppose, but that’s to be expected.’

Hilderic frowned and shook his head. ‘I thank the gods at least that Selar finally allowed a visit. To keep him confined there without even the Sacraments as comfort is a barbarity below even the King. Did McCauly say anything?’

Godfrey sighed. ‘He said we were to do nothing to gain his release. He refuses to be the instrument of the Church’s destruction. Instead he wants us to be united behind Brome – even if Brome is the King’s voice.’

‘But that’s—’

‘I know, Brother, I know.’

‘By the gods,’ Hilderic hissed, ‘if only we had some help.’

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Godfrey said. ‘I wouldn’t suggest you go looking for help in that direction.’

Hilderic frowned. ‘Why? What have you done?’

‘Nothing, Brother.’ Godfrey murmured.

The older man opened his mouth, then shut it briskly. He
took in a deep breath and drew himself up to his full height. ‘You’ll pay for that lie, Brother.’

‘I already have.’

‘And what makes you so certain he won’t come?’

‘I know him. We used to spar together.’

‘Spar? But you know nothing of swordsmanship.’

Godfrey shrugged slightly. ‘It wasn’t that kind of sparring.’

Hilderic shook his head, obviously furious. ‘You had no right, Godfrey! No right at all. If Dunlorn …’

Instantly Godfrey raised his hand to silence the older man. The guards might not be close, but it was a foregone conclusion that they’d been instructed to report any mention of Robert’s name – especially by the clergy!

He took Hilderic’s arm and led him through the outer gate and towards the Basilica. ‘We should discuss this in private, Brother.’ Hilderic was still fuming, so Godfrey increased his pace. The old man stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately, he was caught before he could hit the ground. Caught by a pair of dirty hands, wrapped in rags.

‘Are you all right, Father?’ the stranger murmured with concern.

Hilderic steadied himself and shot Godfrey an angry frown. ‘Yes, thank you. Deacon Godfrey was not paying as much attention as he should.’

Godfrey rolled his eyes and was about to help Hilderic on his way when he paused to look again at the stranger. The man was his own height, but obviously a beggar. His clothes were filthy and shredded with years of wear. The man’s face was grimy, making the lines around his eyes deep and dark. But it was his eyes which made Godfrey pause. There was something very familiar about those eyes.

As though the man could read his thoughts, he dropped his gaze. ‘Do you have any news of His Grace, Bishop McCauly?’

Godfrey blinked. Why did this man seem so familiar? Even the voice … ‘Father McCauly is well, my son. I have just seen him. But you should be careful being so close to
the castle gates, otherwise they might throw you in a cell with him.’

‘A poor beggar might suffer a worse fate, Father,’ the stranger replied, keeping his eyes downcast.

Still none the wiser, Godfrey took Hilderic’s arm once more. ‘Thank you for your timely help, my son, and remember my words of warning.’

The beggar bowed and Godfrey moved on. What did it matter who the beggar was anyway? Right now, there were much more important things to consider – like how to commit treason and get McCauly free.

*

So … that was Deacon Godfrey, Robert’s old friend. A man close to the leadership of the Church. A man who knew enough to warn Robert not to approach Marsay. And the old priest? Obviously Archdeacon Hilderic. And Godfrey had just seen McCauly. So much the better.

Finnlay melted into the shadows of the Basilica. Godfrey was right. A beggar attracted too much attention in this kind of environment. Time for a change of disguise – and for that matter, time to go and find Murdoch.

It took him little more than half an hour to get from the castle to the other side of town. He paused in an empty alley only long enough to adjust his clothing and then set out to find the tailor’s shop. Although he’d never spent a great deal of time in the capital, Finnlay knew Marsay well enough to find the street without too much trouble. It was down at the bottom of the mount, inside the city wall but close to the river which surrounded the city. On this warm spring day, Finnlay found the rising smell of shops and carters, animals and taverns almost overpowering and it was with some relief that he ducked into the doorway of the tailor’s premises. It was darker in here, and smelt of oiled wool. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and when they did, he saw Murdoch attending a customer.

‘I shall be with you in a moment, sir,’ Murdoch smiled without a flicker of recognition.

Finnlay nodded and moved to wander around the tiny
establishment. Folds of soft Alusian silk lay on a bench by one wall, surrounded by bolts of rough woven hessian.

‘What are you doing here?’

Finnlay turned around and, seeing that they were alone, shrugged. ‘What do you think?’

Murdoch shook his head. ‘You might have warned me you were coming. I nearly had heart failure when you walked through that door. Come upstairs. We can talk there.’

With the shop door closed for the afternoon, Murdoch led Finnlay up the steep narrow staircase to the upper floor. Once there, he poured them both some ale, then moved to stand by the little window which looked down into the street.

‘Are you waiting for someone?’ Finnlay asked, pulling off his filthy cloak.

‘Yes. He’s just coming up the street. Wait here while I let him in.’

Murdoch was gone only a few minutes and when he returned, he brought with him a stranger. Finnlay stood to meet him while Murdoch closed the door and put a warning on it.

‘Unless I’m mistaken,’ the stranger began, moving forward, ‘you are Finnlay Douglas. We’ve not met, but I’ve heard about you. I’m John Ballan.’

‘There’s no point in being discreet, John,’ Murdoch laughed, pouring him a mug of ale. ‘Finnlay will find out everything there is about you, whether you like it or not. He’s that kind of sorcerer.’

‘Thank you, Murdoch,’ Finnlay replied flatly. ‘And just what is it that I will find out eventually?’

‘This is Father John Ballan, Finn, secretary to Archdeacon Hilderic. You’ve never met before because John has made only one visit to the caves. He entered holy orders as a young man and spent his life working here on our – and the Church’s behalf. Now don’t look shocked, Finn. It doesn’t do you justice.’

Finnlay took in a deep breath and sat down. ‘An amazing coincidence. I just met your superior.’

‘Really? Where?’

‘Coming out of the dungeons. Godfrey had been to see McCauly.’

Murdoch’s face went white. ‘What in the name of the gods were you doing there? Have you no idea how dangerous it is? On top of that, Godfrey and your brother were good friends – there’s a good chance he could have recognized you!’

With a shrug, Finnlay replied, ‘He came close. I had to give him a nudge to shake him off. He’s probably forgotten all about me by now.’

Murdoch sank on to a chair by the table, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘You’re a fool, Finn. What were you doing?’

‘Trying to find out about McCauly.’

‘But that’s what I’m here for, to pass on that kind of information to the others.’

‘Yes, well, I’m not living in the caves at the moment. I’m back at home.’

The room fell silent. Finnlay sighed and waved his hands at the two men. ‘Well, go on and ask.’

‘You’re back at home?’ John murmured. ‘With your brother?’

‘Yes, that’s right. Cosy, isn’t it?’

‘I must know something. Godfrey wrote your brother a letter in secret. Is there a chance that the letter asked your brother to do something about McCauly?’

‘No, quite the opposite. He warned Robert to stay away.’

‘And will he?’

Finnlay drained his ale and reached for the jug. ‘My brother is determined to remain completely uninvolved with everything except the management of his estates. I’ve no doubt he’d very much like to do something about McCauly, but I think we all know that the moment he tried, we’d have a civil war on our hands. Have you got any food, Murdoch? I’m starving.’

Murdoch rose and opened a cupboard. He produced half a cold chicken and some bread, which he handed to Finnlay.
With a frown he said, ‘But I felt sure that when Robert chose not to Stand the Circle—’

Finnlay interrupted, ‘So what’s happening here? Are there any moves to free McCauly? Is the Church standing behind him?’

‘The Church,’ John replied, ‘is split – just as that prophecy foretold. There are no real moves planned, but that doesn’t mean things will stay that way. At the moment it’s a waiting game. I fear a lot of it depends on this new man at court.’

‘What new man?’

John glanced at Murdoch. ‘It’s taken some months, but effectively he’s replaced your brother as Selar’s closest friend. His name is Samdon Nash – and he’s a member of the Guilde.’

‘Ye gods!’ Finnlay breathed. ‘Is he Vaughn’s pet? Is this another move by the proctor?’

‘No, I don’t think so,’ replied Murdoch. ‘They’ve grown close. I think it’s only a matter of time before Selar appoints Nash to the council. You should try and get a look at him while you’re here, for future reference.’

‘Very well. But why do you think his presence has such a bearing on McCauly?’

Murdoch stood and refilled their mugs from the jug of ale. He returned to the window and gazed down at the street below. ‘You never spent much time at court, did you? A few quick visits when Robert was on the council.’

‘I came for a couple of weeks, one summer …’

‘Still, you were never around much. You forget how much the King needed your brother. Not just his work and support, but also his friendship. Selar’s a lonely man, in a foreign country, surrounded by enemies and blood-sucking supporters. People like Vaughn and Tiege Eachern are not friends, but tools to use as he chooses. Once Robert left, there was a big hole in Selar’s life and now it’s been filled by Nash. When Robert was around we could breathe easy, but not so with this man. I have a very bad feeling about him, Finn. I don’t like him at all.’

‘Have you scanned him? He’s not Malachi, is he?’

‘No, nothing like that. I don’t get that close to him. John sees him more than I do.’

Finnlay glanced across at the priest. The young man lifted his shoulders, but obviously had nothing to contribute. ‘It is possible, though, isn’t it? I mean, if he’s Malachi, he may have found a way to screen it, so that we can’t tell.’

‘Finnlay,’ Murdoch smiled, ‘not all evil men are necessarily Malachi. I’m just saying that Nash is a man we should keep our eyes on, that’s all.’

‘I see.’ Finnlay emptied his cup once more and turned away from the window. ‘Well, I have to get going. I can only stay in town a couple of days and there is still a bit I have to do.’

‘Before you go,’ John raised his hand, ‘is it true about the Ross girl? About how you found her? Is she really as powerful as they say?’

‘Yes, it’s all true. Why?’

‘It’s just that there’s a story going around within the cave community, that is, that your brother knew where she was all along – and knew about her powers. That he might have had something to do with her abduction in the first place – because of her powers.’

‘What?’ Finnlay burst out laughing. ‘Well, I’ve heard some things in my time but that really beats the lot! Robert? Abduct a child during the Troubles? My brother? The man who is so honour-bound that he won’t stand against the King because of an oath? You must be kidding!’

‘Well, you must admit that it’s a little strange.’

‘Nothing strange about it, Father John!’ Finnlay laughed again. ‘I know – I was there when it all happened. Every bit of it. Think about it. If he really wanted her for some reason, would he just return her to her damned father? Wouldn’t he spirit her away somewhere? And for what purpose? Robert has no need of her powers – he already has more than he knows what to do with. Sometimes I wonder what the Enclave is thinking about!’

‘Finn …’

‘Oh, forget it, Murdoch. No one can hear me and you
know it. Saying that word is no more damning than anything else we’ve said here. Look, I must go. I’ll drop in before I leave Marsay. Anything else you can tell me about this Nash fellow will be welcome.’

Murdoch waved his hand towards the door then added, ‘Please, Finn – be careful.’

*

The courtyard was filled with sunlight and the heat of a dozen men sparring with sword and mace. The crash of steel and occasional cries of triumph or encouragement echoed around the grey sandstone walls and melted into the cloudy sky above. All around the perimeter servants and lords done with fighting towelled themselves dry and watched the continuing conflicts.