“Hardly very practical for a herald,” William mocked gently.
Reldo ignored him.
“No one knows what he offered Lord Ruthven. Some say it was the crown of Misthalin, or wealth to restore his family’s respect and influence, while others say it was his wife’s life, and no one knows what was asked in exchange. But whatever the truth of it, his wife did die. She died horribly.”
William and Theodore exchanged a look.
“Well?” the nobleman prompted.
“I have read an account of her last day, given by her Ladyship’s maid before she died. She dictated it to Papelford some years ago. Of course, he believed it to be the ravings of a mind strained by age. But nonetheless… the wife’s illness worsened. The account says it was a terrible affliction, and that at the end of it black maggots burst from her body to consume her, as punishment for her husband’s refusal to deal with the Gaunt Herald.”
“And what happened to the child?” Theodore asked.
Reldo gave a mirthless grin.
“I don’t know. Lord Ruthven has no children now. It might be she was the price asked for by the Gaunt Herald, and that the lord refused. You have to understand, Sir Theodore, that every man in the Society of the Owl has lost someone they loved to the lord beyond the river, or that is what palace whispers say. I am not yet a member myself.”
“Do you hope to be, if you have to lose those you love?” the knight asked.
“In my position as librarian and archivist, Sir Theodore, I should be exempt from that entry requirement. I believe Papelford was, years ago, and though we don’t get along he can’t doubt my ability. I can remember every book I have ever read, chapter and verse. It is Saradomin’s blessing.”
“We all have the blessing of the gods upon us, one way or the other,” William said darkly.
“And who has Lord Despaard lost that has turned him into such a man?” Theodore asked. Reldo shook his head.
“He has been doing his job since before I was born, Sir Theodore. I do not know his story.”
A cry went up from the head of the column as they rounded a bend in the pass. It was Drezel’s voice, raised in a cheer.
“There is Paterdomus,” the cleric said, pointing to the east. In the distance, framed on both sides by the valley walls, a land of trees and bare low hills drenched in evening sunlight extended all the way to a great black cathedral on the river’s western bank, its single tower taller than any Theodore had seen. Beyond that lay a realm in shadow, without feature, as if an artist had first painted the horizon and then smudged it to obscure any sense of detail.
“Paterdomus. I can feel its power,” Arisha said in awe. “This is what protects the Salve. This is Saradomin’s great work for our age.”
“And long may it continue,” Drezel said. “But now we must hasten, if we are to arrive before midnight, for a soft bed awaits each of you.”
He led the column forward, their eagerness to end their journey renewed now that their destination was in sight.
They rode down into the woodland, east along the King’s Road, and for an hour the tower of Paterdomus disappeared behind the trees and the low bare hills. In the darkness under the boughs, it was hard to see very far ahead.
Suddenly Theodore went cold.
If Kara means to run with Gar’rth, then surely this is the place. It’s dark to us, which would not bother them, and there is barely an escort now, since the horses fell ill.
He hastened forward on his mare and drew alongside Arisha.
“Kara promised not to run until Paterdomus,” he said. “That was what you said.”
The priestess nodded in the twilight.
“Are you certain they do not mean to do so now? It would be easy for them-with the escort halved.”
Arisha smiled wickedly.
What is so funny?
“Did you notice those blue plants that grew in the bailey in the King’s palace, Theodore-the ones with five petals?”
“No,” he replied. “What has that got to do with anything?” He felt his face flush in anger.
“I told you I would do what my conscience dictated. Those plants were lupins. I took many of their seeds before we left. Here, can you see them?”
She held her hand close to his face. Theodore could just make out a light coloured collection of round seeds.
By Saradomin! What has she done?
“What are you saying, Arisha?”
“They can be fatal to horses, but I only gave their mounts a small handful, coated in honey, before dawn. My people understand animals and plants Theodore, and we know what makes them ill. Not all the escorts’ steeds have been affected, and those that have been will recover very soon.”
“You… but why?”
Theodore felt his head spin.
“If they wish to go, then I have given them better odds,” she said. “I have done my duty by them.”
“Do they know?”
“Kara might. She knows something of plants herself, but I haven’t told them.”
Theodore looked down the column to where Gar’rth and Kara rode. They were barely visible in the darkness.
“You know how impatient she is,” he gritted. “You may have condemned them both!”
His hand fell to his sword as he galloped up the pathway to Kara’s side.
“What is it?” Albertus asked, suddenly alarmed.
I cannot accuse them of planning to run-not yet. Not in front of everyone else.
“Gar’rth, can you smell anyone?” he asked. “I thought I saw someone in the darkness off the road,” he lied. “We must be sure we all remain together.”
He stared hard into Kara’s face.
“We cannot have people wandering from the path,” he added.
He saw Kara frown slightly.
“Theodore is right,” Gar’rth said, much to the knight’s surprise. “There is someone nearby. But in front, not behind.”
“Unless there is more than one,” Despaard said as he drew his sword quietly.
“They might be pilgrims hiding from us,” Drezel commented loudly.
“Drezel? Is that your voice I hear?” A man called from farther down the road, to the east.
“It is I,” the monk called back. “Is that you, Martin?”
A monk appeared on the road, leading a mule behind him. Despite the gloom, Theodore saw Drezel smile as the man’s face drew close enough to be seen.
“Martin, what are you doing upon the King’s Road at this hour? It is not always safe.”
“I have come alone,” Martin said. “We received word of your arrival by pigeon from Varrock this morning, and with it news for your friends. Where is Kara-Meir and the Knight Theodore? For it concerns Ebenezer.”
“Here!” Kara shouted. “Tell me what word of him?”
“He has woken, but only briefly. However, his nurses are hopeful now. The message says he woke for the first time for an hour before slipping back into sleep, and that when he spoke he did so lucidly. It seems his mind is still his own, thanks be to Saradomin.”
“Now there’s a small mercy,” Castimir whispered with relief. At their side Doric gave a joyful cheer.
“Then come!” Drezel commanded. “This blessed news is an augur of good fortune for the dark road ahead. We cannot be more than an hour from Paterdomus now.”
The column surged ahead, and Theodore made sure he rode at Kara’s side, separating her from Gar’rth.
Let them think what they may, he decided. This is to ensure their own safety, to prevent them from acting stupidly.
It is not a symptom of my jealousy.
20
Kara remained silent for the short distance that remained, and refused to talk to Theodore.
His jealousy is obvious, she fumed. I put aside my conflict with Lady Anne, it is his turn to do so now. We have far more important things before us.
The ride was even quicker than Drezel had promised, and as the dusk deepened into night and the air grew cold against her skin, they crested the final hillock on the King’s Road to face the enormity of Paterdomus.