bubbling away nicely on its own?’
John was silent for a moment. Then he came and sat beside Godfrey, his expression enigmatic. ‘Deacon, may I make a humble suggestion?’
‘If you have any idea how to silence Hilderic, I’d be delighted to hear it.’
John met his gaze steadily, his usual meekness for once absent. ‘It has been many years since Hilderic went on retreat.’
Godfrey’s heart almost stopped. It was the most he could do to prevent himself from jumping up.
‘Archdeacon Francis,’ John continued, ‘spent six months on retreat last year and only came back for Domnhall’s funeral. Archdeacon Ohler was gone for four months the year before. Hilderic refrained because he said his workload was too heavy in Domnhall’s last years. Now, however . . .’
‘Brome’s directing more of Hilderic’s work to others every day. By Mineah’s heart, Father, you’re a genius!’ Godfrey satup straight. ‘Tell me, where did Hilderic spend his last retreat?’
‘St Austell’s, in the west.’
Godfrey nodded slowly and even smiled. ‘Perfect. I agree, Father. Hilderic is long overdue for a long period of rest and contemplation. After all these years, I should think six months would settle him down – or at least. . .’ No. Best not to mention anything of Payne to John.
Coming to his feet, Godfrey beamed his approval at the young priest. ‘I’ll have a word with Ohler. He can put the proposition to Hilderic and leave him no room to refuse. With your support, we can have Hilderic out of the capital within a couple of weeks!’
As John joined him on the path, Godfrey added, ‘Father John, I think you’ve just saved our friend’s life.’
*
Murdoch held the cloak for Ayn as she slipped beneath its warm folds. With summer drawing to a close, her old bones needed the extra protection. She tied the laces up under her chin and turned to face him. ‘I won’t be gone too long. The city is still excited after the execution yesterday. There’ll be too many people roving around and that will hamper my work.’
‘Perhaps you should rest a couple of days before you do too much,’ Murdoch replied. ‘I know you’re a powerful Seeker, but even you need your sleep. Ben is still washed out and he’s thirty years younger than you.’
‘Ben is washed out because he was in the taverns last night, drinking,’ Ayn murmured with a gentle smile. ‘I don’t blame him with this being his first trip to Marsay – but while he was out, I was asleep. I admit I was up early, but I’ve done nothing all day, so please stop worrying, Murdoch. This morning’s effort produced nothing, so I can hardly stop, can I? I’ll be back in a couple of hours, no more.’
Murdoch held the door open for her and she left the warm comfort of his tailor’s shop. She turned left and walked up the slight incline towards the main avenue. On the brink of evening, the streets were almost empty. They would fill again later as people ventured out in search of entertainment.
Ayn crossed the avenue and took a busy street which wound along the city wall. This was a favourite haunt of traders and hustlers and consequently filled with every type of establishment possible. This was just the kind of area an unknown sorcerer would keep to, his identity hidden in the constantly changing crowds. Although Jenn had apparently sensed this presence within the castle walls, there was no need to assume the man belonged there. Besides, Ayn was in no real hurry. It took some time to scan a city of this size from wall to wall.
The street dipped down towards one of the lesser city gates, then turned up again, towards the castle. There was a branch off to her right which opened out on to a small courtyard. In the centre was a well and on each side, a tavern. Neither was particularly busy, though there were plenty of people about. Yes, this would do nicely.
Ayn wandered into the courtyard and paused by the well. With her back to the wall, she dropped her
John was silent for a moment. Then he came and sat beside Godfrey, his expression enigmatic. ‘Deacon, may I make a humble suggestion?’
‘If you have any idea how to silence Hilderic, I’d be delighted to hear it.’
John met his gaze steadily, his usual meekness for once absent. ‘It has been many years since Hilderic went on retreat.’
Godfrey’s heart almost stopped. It was the most he could do to prevent himself from jumping up.
‘Archdeacon Francis,’ John continued, ‘spent six months on retreat last year and only came back for Domnhall’s funeral. Archdeacon Ohler was gone for four months the year before. Hilderic refrained because he said his workload was too heavy in Domnhall’s last years. Now, however . . .’
‘Brome’s directing more of Hilderic’s work to others every day. By Mineah’s heart, Father, you’re a genius!’ Godfrey satup straight. ‘Tell me, where did Hilderic spend his last retreat?’
‘St Austell’s, in the west.’
Godfrey nodded slowly and even smiled. ‘Perfect. I agree, Father. Hilderic is long overdue for a long period of rest and contemplation. After all these years, I should think six months would settle him down – or at least. . .’ No. Best not to mention anything of Payne to John.
Coming to his feet, Godfrey beamed his approval at the young priest. ‘I’ll have a word with Ohler. He can put the proposition to Hilderic and leave him no room to refuse. With your support, we can have Hilderic out of the capital within a couple of weeks!’
As John joined him on the path, Godfrey added, ‘Father John, I think you’ve just saved our friend’s life.’
*
Murdoch held the cloak for Ayn as she slipped beneath its warm folds. With summer drawing to a close, her old bones needed the extra protection. She tied the laces up under her chin and turned to face him. ‘I won’t be gone too long. The city is still excited after the execution yesterday. There’ll be too many people roving around and that will hamper my work.’
‘Perhaps you should rest a couple of days before you do too much,’ Murdoch replied. ‘I know you’re a powerful Seeker, but even you need your sleep. Ben is still washed out and he’s thirty years younger than you.’
‘Ben is washed out because he was in the taverns last night, drinking,’ Ayn murmured with a gentle smile. ‘I don’t blame him with this being his first trip to Marsay – but while he was out, I was asleep. I admit I was up early, but I’ve done nothing all day, so please stop worrying, Murdoch. This morning’s effort produced nothing, so I can hardly stop, can I? I’ll be back in a couple of hours, no more.’
Murdoch held the door open for her and she left the warm comfort of his tailor’s shop. She turned left and walked up the slight incline towards the main avenue. On the brink of evening, the streets were almost empty. They would fill again later as people ventured out in search of entertainment.
Ayn crossed the avenue and took a busy street which wound along the city wall. This was a favourite haunt of traders and hustlers and consequently filled with every type of establishment possible. This was just the kind of area an unknown sorcerer would keep to, his identity hidden in the constantly changing crowds. Although Jenn had apparently sensed this presence within the castle walls, there was no need to assume the man belonged there. Besides, Ayn was in no real hurry. It took some time to scan a city of this size from wall to wall.
The street dipped down towards one of the lesser city gates, then turned up again, towards the castle. There was a branch off to her right which opened out on to a small courtyard. In the centre was a well and on each side, a tavern. Neither was particularly busy, though there were plenty of people about. Yes, this would do nicely.
Ayn wandered into the courtyard and paused by the well. With her back to the wall, she dropped her
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