Voice Of The Demon (Book 2) (58 page)

‘No matter,’ Robert set about making camp while Aiden watched. He even laid the fire close to where Aiden was sitting.

Once the food was cooking, Aiden’s mood melted a bit. Though his body was worn out, his mind was still alert. The strangeness of the situation was still fresh and he reviewed the things Robert had told him while they’d walked the horses through the day.

‘Very well,’ he began carefully, ‘I understand all this business with Sealing and Seeking, but why do you think these Malachi are responsible for the death of the Queen?’

Robert squatted down on the opposite side of the fire and stirred the pot he’d ‘borrowed’ from the kitchen of Saint Germanus. ‘Of course, I don’t know for certain they had anything to do with retrieving Kenrick – but they’re about the only people who could have. If I’m right, then the person who gave the orders is already safely entrenched at court, with some considerable influence over the King and probably in league with a man I hope never to meet.’

‘Why? Is he something to do with this prophecy?’

‘I’m afraid so. He’s . . . well, I don’t know what he is and I don’t really want to find out. I do know he was
responsible for the death of a very dear friend, among countless others.’

Robert was very businesslike in his responses. Detached almost. And always beneath his tone was a hardness. He may have taken a step back from the edge, but he could still see the abyss below. He was so changeable, so unfathomable that Aiden was hard-pressed to keep up. Drawing his feet close to the fire, Aiden turned his most perceptive gaze on Robert. ‘And this lady of yours . . .’

‘She’s not mine.’

‘Is she in danger from all this? These Malachi? This man you hope never to meet?’

Robert’s eyes darted from the cooking pot to meet Aiden’s, revealing a vulnerability too easy to touch. His gaze narrowed. ‘I doubt she is at the moment. He’s known her since she was a child and he’s never worried too much about her.’

‘So she’s not the real reason you’ve come out of your . . . retirement?’

Robert ladled food into two bowls and handed one to Aiden. ‘Eat your supper.’

The food was awful, but it wouldn’t have been polite to complain. Aiden finished as much as he could, then put his plate aside and drew his cloak about his shoulders. Already his eyes were beginning to close. But still he had questions to ask. ‘What are we going to do when we get there?’

‘Don’t worry about that now,’ Robert replied with a surprising gentleness. ‘We can talk about it tomorrow. Get some sleep. We’ll be up before dawn.’

‘Aren’t you going to rest?’

‘No, I’ll keep watch.’

‘But you need to sleep, too.’

‘I don’t sleep any more, Aiden. Now close your eyes and shut up.’

Aiden raised his head a little and fixed Robert with a baleful glare – at least he hoped it was. ‘Are you always like this?’

‘No,’ Robert replied offhandedly. ‘Sometimes I’m pushy.
I’ve also been known to be arrogant, selfish, pigheaded and stubborn – but I don’t want to brag. Now go to sleep.’

*

They made good time the next day, even though every step the horse took sent a wave of pain through Aiden’s exhausted body. He hung on though, determined not to give away the level of his discomfort. This time they rested in the late afternoon, starting off again an hour after dusk. They rode on into the dark until they reached the crest of a tree-lined hill. Below were the lights of a small town, nestled in the pre-dawn glow. On the southern side were arranged the tents and pavilions of a Guilde garrison.

‘I know you’re exhausted, Aiden, but I’m afraid we can’t stop. If Hilderic is still here we’ll have to get him out tonight.’

‘And go where? Who’s going to hide two renegade priests?’

Robert shot him a wry smile. ‘A renegade lord, that’s who. I can hide both of you at Dunlorn for an indefinite amount of time. Then, when it’s safe, I’ll get you out of the country.’

‘What if Hilderic has already been moved to Marsay?’

‘Then we’ll just have to go after him and pray I don’t lose my temper. Come on. We’ll need to change our horses before we do anything.’

They rode on ahead, but before they reached the first buildings, Robert had Aiden dismount and they led their horses into the town. There were a few taverns still open, but by the look of it, most folk had already long since retired for the night. The streets were almost empty, apart from the odd reveller making an unsteady way home. Robert walked beside Aiden with his hood drawn over his head and, as an afterthought, he directed Aiden to do the same. It would not do for either man to be recognized in this place.

‘I haven’t been here for a few years, but there used to be a courier stable on this side of town. If we smile nicely, we might be able to get the proprietor to open up early and exchange our horses. We’d better buy a spare at the same time.’

Aiden didn’t say anything. The whole idea of this rescue harrowed him to the bone. He was a man of the cloth, not a
soldier. He’d be of no use to anyone in an escape. What was Robert thinking of?

‘Here we are.’

Robert brought them to a halt before the doors of a tall stable building on the edge of town. It was not closed as Robert had expected. Instead, there was a burning lamp hung from a post inside and a man raking up straw beneath it.

‘Good evening, ostler,’ Robert began.

The man looked up. ‘Yes, squire? What can I do for you?’

‘A change of horses. We still have a long journey ahead of us.’

‘Of course.’ He leaned his rake against the post and gave the two horses a quick going over. ‘Reasonable animals. Will you be wanting them back?’

‘We’ll not be returning this way, I’m afraid.’

‘Then you can take those two over there. The black and the grey. It’ll cost you a piece of silver for the two.’

‘That much?’ Robert murmured.

‘Aye, that much,’ the ostler said. ‘I’ve already had one horse stolen tonight. I have to cover my costs somehow.’

‘Ah.’ Robert tossed him the coin. Then, with a nod to Aiden, he began to unsaddle their exhausted animals. Robert led the two fresh horses out of the stall and saddled them while Aiden held the bridles. With his head bent to his work, Robert whispered, ‘There’s something not right here.’

‘What do you mean?’ Aiden glanced around nervously.

‘Can’t you smell it?’

‘What?’

‘Blood. But he said the horse was stolen – so it can’t be the blood of the thief.’ Robert didn’t say any more, but waited until both horses were ready before approaching the ostler with an aspect of casual curiosity. ‘Do you often have animals stolen?’

‘It happens to everyone once in a while. Can’t be helped. This time though, the thief will regret taking a horse of mine.’

‘Why is that?’

‘Because the Guilde is on his trail, that’s why,’ the ostler reported with a grin of immense satisfaction. ‘He killed three
of them in here and almost did away with another two – one of them a governor!’

‘Really? He must have been some swordsman.’

The ostler glanced conspiratorially out of the doorway, then leaned in close to Robert. ‘ ’Tweren’t no ordinary thief, squire. This was a sorcerer. The Guilde said it was the same one caught in Kilphedir last year. They went after him, though he did have a few hours’ start on them. They say he was sore wounded. They also said the sorcerer rescued some priest they’d arrested, but the sorcerer won’t get far.’

‘Oh? And why is that?’

‘Because the Guilde knows where he’s going, that’s why. I heard them myself. They couldn’t stop talking about it. They left not twenty minutes ago, heading east.’

‘East?’

‘Aye, towards Earl Jacob’s lands. Elita.’

‘Thank you,’ Robert nodded a farewell and took both horses in one hand and Aiden’s elbow in the other. Without pausing, he drew Aiden out into the street and towards the edge of town.

‘Walk slowly and don’t look around.’

‘What? Why?’

‘Because that man will probably report my questions to the next Guildesman he sees. The moment we’re clear of the town, mount your horse and follow me, no matter what. When the horses tire, don’t stop, I’ll sustain them long enough to get us there.’

‘But . . . I don’t understand. Didn’t that man just say somebody already rescued Hilderic?’

‘Yes.’ When Robert passed the last building he threw back his cloak hood. ‘And the sorcerer he’s talking about is my brother. Come on, we don’t have much time. We have to get to Elita before the Guilde.’

*

We have to get to Elita . . .

In the name of the gods, what was Finnlay doing out of the Enclave? Was he mad? And to mount a rescue of Hilderic in a camp full of Guilde soldiers?

How badly was he wounded? Had he got the old priest
away to safety? Yes, he must have. The ostler had said nothing about Hilderic being recaptured. At least that much had succeeded, but. . .

What, in Serin’s name, had possessed him to head towards Elita? Why not Dunlorn? Did he think Jacob might afford him a hiding place? But Jacob believed Finnlay was dead. It didn’t make any sense!

Robert urged his horse on through the growing dawn, keeping his head low and his body moving with the animal. A part of his mind kept touch with the Bishop riding behind him. Already exhausted and tested to the limit, Aiden rode as hard as Robert without really understanding why. Yes, he was a very brave man indeed. Especially when he was fairly certain the priest had not yet come to terms with Robert’s involvement with sorcery. That would come later – when the full import hit him.

The land flew past in a blur of spring green and cloudy grey. He couldn’t sense where the Guildesmen were and couldn’t afford to stop and look. He just took the straightest, flattest course to Elita and tried to still the threat of panic if they should get there before him.

He rode on and on through the day and night, into the morning, fogged over with grey and threatening rain. He drew in the mist and wrapped it around him, comforted by its blanket cover, its anonymity. And then, on the edge of desperation, he reached the edge of the lake. The castle stood on the other side, a golden tower surrounded by grey. The Guilde was nowhere to be seen.

Robert didn’t pause. With a shout of encouragement to Aiden, he rode on, pounding along the bank until he gained the castle gate. It was already open for him. Together with McCauly, they clattered into the courtyard. Instantly, Robert jumped down from his horse, calling out for Neil. He climbed the steps to the hall in three long strides, burst through the door – and came to a halt.

Neil was there and so was Micah. The two of them leaned over someone lying on the great table. They whirled around at his approach.

‘My lord!’ Micah cried, a smile as huge as the sun
spreading across his face. Robert gained his side as Aiden followed him into the hall. It was then that he realized the body on the table was . . . ‘Finnlay?’

The wounds were terrible. His face was barely recognizable. A deep gash over one eye, half his face swollen and red. And more. A cut to his side, shallow but bleeding, and others to his shoulder and back. ‘Finnlay? Can you hear me?’

‘He won’t wake up for a while, Robert. I gave him something to make him sleep while we treated his wounds.’

Robert froze at the voice from behind. His heart stopped, his mind came to a complete halt. Then slowly, irrevocably, he turned until he saw her.

She stood not ten feet away. Her hair was bound behind, but some had come loose and fell around her face. In her hands was a bowl of water and the apron covering her gown was speckled with blood. Finnlay’s blood.

And she was having a child.

She watched him gravely as though her first controlled words to him were all she could manage.

A child.

His
child?

The bowl began to shake in her hands, but still neither of them could move. Then suddenly, Aiden was there at her side, taking the bowl. He brought it back to the table.

. . . How could she still look so beautiful. . .

‘Robert?’ Aiden grunted. ‘Do you forget why we’re here?’

‘By the gods!’ Robert swore, coming back. ‘Where’s Jacob? He has to call out the guard. Neil, leave that for Aiden and go order the gates closed.’

‘But why?’ Jenn came closer. ‘What’s going on?’

‘More than a hundred Guilde soldiers are coming this way. I’d say we have no more than an hour to prepare. They’re coming to get Finnlay and when they get him, they’ll execute him for sorcery.’

*

Micah flew about the castle like a madman, passing on messages, relaying orders – and he was only one of many. However, he’d been the only one present when Robert had spoken to Jacob. The old man had sat in stony silence as
Robert outlined the situation and admitted that he’d brought Aiden McCauly with him. For a few seconds, Micah was sure Jacob would turn them all out. After all, why should he risk everything for the sake of a sorcerer? Micah could almost see the thought crossing Jacob’s mind – but if he could, so could Robert.

‘If you want us to go, say so now, Jacob, while we still have time to get away. I don’t know if Finnlay’s fit to travel, but we will go if you want.’

‘What would be the point?’ Jacob snapped. ‘The Guilde would use any excuse to get within these walls – and they certainly wouldn’t believe me if I told them you’d got away.’

Robert swallowed and glanced at Micah. ‘If we can hold out long enough for some help to arrive, we can all get away to safety.’

Jacob shook his head, distracted. ‘Your brother was an idiot for coming here in the first place, involving my daughter.’

‘I agree, and if he lives through this, be assured I’ll make him pay.’

Jacob frowned at this, turning his gaze squarely on Robert. ‘You’re one of them too, aren’t you? A sorcerer?’

‘Yes.’

For a long moment, the Earl said nothing. Then he turned his chair around and gazed out the window. ‘I’m too old for this. Too old and tired. I wronged you, Robert. I wouldn’t blame you if you’d brought this down on me in revenge. Jenn tried to warn me, but like a fool, I didn’t listen. You see, it never occurred to me that a daughter I hardly knew could understand more of people than I did. When I didn’t fight, she did in my place, shaming me.’