was part of the problem. Parry had lived for twenty years without any women in his personal life, wanting none after Jolie. The sudden manifestation of Jolie's personality in a girl close to her age when she lived had jolted him, arousing reactions he had thought long forgotten. Fabiola resembled Jolie in no other respect; she was neither pretty nor bright. If such a manifestation could provoke such a reaction in him, what would a closer match have done? He was a man of God now!
Jolie floated over to him. "You started to see her as a woman?" she asked softly.
Parry nodded grimly.
"I'm sorry. I hadn't thought it through. It was almost like being alive again. I won't tease you anymore."
"Thank you." He did not look at her.
"But I really do think she could help us-and it isn't safe to let her go, yet. That Bofort is a bad enemy."
"Agreed."
"Then is it all right to-?"
"Do what you believe is best, Jolie," he said, yielding reluctantly.
She drifted off. In a moment Fabiola straightened again. "Oh, I wish I were like you!"
Surely so. Parry reflected. He was not at all sure how he felt about this development.
"Now I can remain with Fabiola, or I can explore the castle, when we get there," Jolie said through the girl's mouth. "What do you wish?"
"I'm not sure," Parry said. "I won't be able to speak to you there, lest I give away your nature, so you'll have to use your judgment. Probably you should circulate, to see what is around us, that I may not be able to see, and report to me, but at other times remain with her."
"I will do that."
"Fabiola," he said. "Are you sure you wish to enter the castle? They will not like you there."
"I have the cross you gave me. Father," she said promptly.
"I cannot be banned."
"That is true-so long as your faith is firm. But if you begin to doubt, that protection will falter. Jesus cannot help those whose faith is not pure. They will try to make you doubt."
She gripped the cross, holding it high. "They cannot make me doubt."
Parry hoped that was the case. He knew they could not make him doubt, but her faith was of recent vintage. Still, with Jolie to guide her, she had a chance.
They arrived at the castle. It was not any giant of its type, but it was imposing enough, a motte and bailey with forbidding stone walls. Like any castle, it was highly defensible; twenty men could hold off an army here. They were evidently expected, for the drawbridge was down and the gate guards snapped to attention as they approached. "Our master bids you welcome. Father Grief," a guard said. "We shall take care of the donkey and the wench."
Parry stiffened momentarily; even after the score of years, that term wench bothered him. But he forced himself to relax. "Thank you; the donkey you may care for, but the young woman will remain with me."
The guard paused, assessing the situation. It was not unknown for friars to abridge their vows of chastity when opportunity offered. Parry had investigated more than one such case, and taken the appropriate disciplinary action; it was galling to have such suspicion adhere to him now. But perhaps that was better than the alternatives; at least it gave a pretext to keep the girl close. They were ushered into the main castle. As they walked down the long entry passage, Jolie floated away, then returned. "They are drawing up the bridge," she announced.
Parry nodded, as if to himself. He had expected as much. The lion did not wish his prey to escape without a reckoning.
They came to the main court, which was elegantly furnished. Illustrated tapestries hung on the walls, and the floor was polished wood. Lord Bofort had excellent taste-and the ill-gotten wealth to indulge it.
"There are bowmen watching from concealed recesses," Jolie said. "Crossbows."
Parry reached into an inner pocket and took his large silver cross. He doubted that anyone would fire at him yet,
Jolie floated over to him. "You started to see her as a woman?" she asked softly.
Parry nodded grimly.
"I'm sorry. I hadn't thought it through. It was almost like being alive again. I won't tease you anymore."
"Thank you." He did not look at her.
"But I really do think she could help us-and it isn't safe to let her go, yet. That Bofort is a bad enemy."
"Agreed."
"Then is it all right to-?"
"Do what you believe is best, Jolie," he said, yielding reluctantly.
She drifted off. In a moment Fabiola straightened again. "Oh, I wish I were like you!"
Surely so. Parry reflected. He was not at all sure how he felt about this development.
"Now I can remain with Fabiola, or I can explore the castle, when we get there," Jolie said through the girl's mouth. "What do you wish?"
"I'm not sure," Parry said. "I won't be able to speak to you there, lest I give away your nature, so you'll have to use your judgment. Probably you should circulate, to see what is around us, that I may not be able to see, and report to me, but at other times remain with her."
"I will do that."
"Fabiola," he said. "Are you sure you wish to enter the castle? They will not like you there."
"I have the cross you gave me. Father," she said promptly.
"I cannot be banned."
"That is true-so long as your faith is firm. But if you begin to doubt, that protection will falter. Jesus cannot help those whose faith is not pure. They will try to make you doubt."
She gripped the cross, holding it high. "They cannot make me doubt."
Parry hoped that was the case. He knew they could not make him doubt, but her faith was of recent vintage. Still, with Jolie to guide her, she had a chance.
They arrived at the castle. It was not any giant of its type, but it was imposing enough, a motte and bailey with forbidding stone walls. Like any castle, it was highly defensible; twenty men could hold off an army here. They were evidently expected, for the drawbridge was down and the gate guards snapped to attention as they approached. "Our master bids you welcome. Father Grief," a guard said. "We shall take care of the donkey and the wench."
Parry stiffened momentarily; even after the score of years, that term wench bothered him. But he forced himself to relax. "Thank you; the donkey you may care for, but the young woman will remain with me."
The guard paused, assessing the situation. It was not unknown for friars to abridge their vows of chastity when opportunity offered. Parry had investigated more than one such case, and taken the appropriate disciplinary action; it was galling to have such suspicion adhere to him now. But perhaps that was better than the alternatives; at least it gave a pretext to keep the girl close. They were ushered into the main castle. As they walked down the long entry passage, Jolie floated away, then returned. "They are drawing up the bridge," she announced.
Parry nodded, as if to himself. He had expected as much. The lion did not wish his prey to escape without a reckoning.
They came to the main court, which was elegantly furnished. Illustrated tapestries hung on the walls, and the floor was polished wood. Lord Bofort had excellent taste-and the ill-gotten wealth to indulge it.
"There are bowmen watching from concealed recesses," Jolie said. "Crossbows."
Parry reached into an inner pocket and took his large silver cross. He doubted that anyone would fire at him yet,
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