"We can't thank ye enough, my lady!" the old dormitory master gruffed.
"Don't wax too grateful, old salt," Europe returned tartly, more intent on exit than gratitude. "I had not intended on rescuing the boy's entire staff, but you may come if you wish!"
"We wish it, madam," Fransitart said quickly. "We'll not leave our boy to the world's scarce mercies. Carry on-we shall get Rossamund's dunnage," the ex-dormitory master insisted. "We shall be returnin' presently!" Before any argument could be made he hurried off, no sign of any limp, Craumpalin close behind, both disappearing up the stairs to their temporary quarters.
Rossamund hesitated with his old masters' departure, feeling a strange conflict. The fulgar detained him with a touch to his sleeve. "Stay, little man. You are safest with me!"
They were out of the manse and walking the gravel drive to the coach yard when the Master-of-Clerks and the rest of the Board finally followed, gathering on the steps before the manse. Imperial Secretary Scrupulus Sicus gave a great cry, hollering for the day-watch to "descend and prevent these blighted rascals from escaping!"
Some haubardiers from the wall responded and hurried down from the battlements to the Mead to cautiously bar the way. They were clearly uneasy to be confronting a lahzar. Europe stopped before them and turned to face her pursuers.
The black-eyed wit stepped forward, grim satisfaction clear.
"Cease where you are, Madam Fulgar," the Master-of-Clerks decried boldly. "Whatever the surgeon's wild speculations, there is still the question of this lad's alleged sedonition to be answered for!"
"Tilly-fally, sir!" Europe returned with a sneer. "Bestir me not with your lip-laboring. If talking with a nicker makes one a sedorner, then I would be guilty almost every other day! Stand your men aside! Do not force me to use more physical arguments!"
The black-eyed wit hesitated.
Laudibus Pile snarled and glared.
Podious Whympre puffed himself up, spluttered and even cursed, but did not continue his intervention.
The day-watch haubardiers happily stepped aside even before the order to do so was on the clerk-master's lips.
Among them Rossamund could see Swill at the clerk-master's back, wrapping his own arm with a bandage, staring with inordinate, slow-blinking fascination at him.
Fransitart and Craumpalin returned bearing all their baggage. Somehow Doctor Crispus was with them, bearing some part of the load.
"Clear the way, thank you!" the doctor demanded, pushing through to the young lighter and the fulgar.
With some jostling and snarls, Fransitart, Craumpalin and the doctor were allowed to pass and Europe led them and Rossamund away from the flabbergasted crowd. A lentum rolled up for them-Europe's own hired carriage.
The Lady Vey and her calendars now emerged from the manse and stepped about Whympre's party and out on to the gravel drive. With profound calm Europe and the Lady Vey regarded each other as they passed. Threnody stood alongside her mother, safe among her calendine sisters. She stared at Rossamund with inscrutable intensity, the tracks of tears on her cheeks.
This difficult, abrasive witting girl had stayed true through it all, and Rossamund wanted to thank her, to embrace her. Yet dazed, and baffled by the sudden turn of his fortunes, he remained close by Europe.
"Greetings, Branden Rose," said the august.
"And to you, Syntyche," Europe returned icily.
There seemed a self-satisfied gleam in the Lady Vey's steady gaze. "We had heard you lost that foul fellow Licurius in a theroscade. How sad you must have been."
Europe's top lip twitched. Her iciness became a grim freeze. "Yes, I was," she said, ever so quietly-and that was all. She let herself be handed on to their transport by the — side-armsman.
Desperate to leave this miserable fortress, Rossamund mounted the carriage step. "Good-bye, Rossamund," he heard Threnody call as she was borne away to the coach yard. He was about to cry a farewell of his own when Doctor Crispus suddenly stepped before him, filling his view.
"Fare-you-well, young Bookchild." The good physician extended his hand for a manly shake. "It has been a pleasure to have one of your quality serve here. May you and your masters," he said, looking about the cabin, "find kinder stops along your road."
Rossamund swatted away tears. "Good-bye, Doctor Crispus! Good-bye!"
"Come with us, good doctor," Europe offered, standing on the top step as Fransitart and Craumpalin hastily loaded their goods. "Though I do not know you, the boy trusts you and that says much for me. A man of physics standing ready by is always an asset."
The physician nodded a bow. "I thank you, madam-your offer has its merits. But I would remain, for there are others here who need my care yet."
Rossamund knew Crispus was speaking of Numps. Poor, poor Numps hiding somewhere below them in the dank ancient cellars and pipes. Rossamund was suddenly sharply aware he would probably never see the glimner again.
"I know you will keep care of him, Doctor," he said low and fast. "Tell him good-bye from me if you see him."
Luggage stowed, Fransitart and Craumpalin clambered aboard with admirable activity in such aged fellows.
"Leave now." Crispus slammed the door of the coach shut. "Each moment makes tensions thicker." He called to the driver, "Drive hard, sir, and safe! Get these good people to better places!"
A crack of whip and shout of starting and the carriage shot forward. Rossamund held his breath, not quite believing he was actually winning free of this place. He caught one last confusing sight of Threnody staring after the departing carriage before they were through those mighty bronze gates. Only when the lentum clattered off the Serid Approach and on to the Gainway did Rossamund manage to breathe evenly again. As Craumpalin more properly bandaged Fransitart's puncted arm, Rossamund looked to his old master. Fransitart turned his gaze to him. Deep conflicts showed there, old sorrows and new, a great agonized confusion. It was the nearest Rossamund had seen his old dormitory master come to tears, and it terrified him more than any anger could.
"Master Fransitart?" Rossamund reached out with his hand. Don't cry… he wanted to say, but did not know how. A thousand thoughts collided. Who am I? Is what Swill says true? And as he looked again at his dormitory master, a small frightened voice, right down in his most inward place… Do you still love me?
"Don't ye fret, lad," the old salt said with a determined smile, taking Rossamund's hand, "we'll fathom ye out of all this." The dormitory master looked to Europe.
The fulgar sat straight and proud, staring out of the opposite window, taking small notice of the man.
"Listen to thy ol' Master Frans," Craumpalin encouraged as he finished his mending. "He and I 'ave been in worse dilemmas. We'll see thee right."
Yet as Rossamund smiled to reassure the old dispensurist, it was only face-deep. The doubts persisted. Am I truly some kind of half-done monster? Am I a manikin? A rossamunderling? It's like my stupid name… And a worse thought: Have Fransitart and Craumpalin been lying to me all these years? His smile failed altogether. WHO AM I? his soul cried. In a small voice he dared to ask, "Master Fransitart, who am I?"
The confusion in the old vinegaroon's eyes deepened. His wrinkled lips pressed and squeezed together as, for the first time Rossamund had ever known, Fransitart was struck speechless.
In the aching muteness Europe turned and looked at Rossamund with a mild expression. "Why, little man," she said, "you're my factotum."