Part 5 (1/2)

Odo glared up at her from the floor. ”Idiot!”

Sybil, annoyed by the bird, went to the foot of the bed, where a wooden chest sat upon the floor. She knelt. Trusting the lid screened her movements, she put the stones beneath a bolt of cloth, then took up a small leather pouch-Thorston's money pouch. She let the chest lid slam shut and drew out the few coins that were inside. ”What will give out first-Master, the money-or us?”

”What difference will a few coins make?” spat out the raven. ”All you've insured is that our our deaths will closely follow his.” He shook his head, jumped to the window, and peered out through the gla.s.s, tail feathers twitching with agitation. Suddenly he croaked, ”Sybil-a boy is coming here.” deaths will closely follow his.” He shook his head, jumped to the window, and peered out through the gla.s.s, tail feathers twitching with agitation. Suddenly he croaked, ”Sybil-a boy is coming here.”

2.

”Are you certain?” cried Sybil, forgetting about the stones.

”Where else could he be going?” said Odo. ”There's no other house but ours in this horrid court. G.o.d's mercy! He's with the city reeve.”

”Master Bashcroft?”

”Yes! He's pus.h.i.+ng the boy-who doesn't seem eager to move-forward. Now the reeve has retreated. But not far. He's shaking a fist at the lad.”

”Does the boy have green eyes?”

”Sybil, I don't care if he's entirely green. If it's Bashcroft who's sending him, we should have nothing to do with him.”

Sybil opened the chest, threw back Thorston's pouch, slammed the lid back down, and stood up. ”But green eyes are what I need,” she said. She took up the candle and headed for the steps.

”Are you truly going to let him in?” Odo screeched after her.

”I am,” said Sybil, ”but things will go badly if he hears you talk.”

She hurried to the ground floor just in time to hear a timid knock on the door.

”Who's there?” she called.

”Please, I'm a child,” said a small voice. ”With green eyes. I'm here to see Master Thorston.”

Sybil looked around at Odo, who had followed her down the steps. ”There,” she said, ”my plan worked.”

”Alas! But you mustn't let him in.”

Enjoying the raven's frustration, Sybil removed the crossbeam and pulled in the heavy door.

Alfric stood on the threshold, his head bowed so that Sybil could see nothing of his eyes. She could see his unruly red hair, his ragged clothing, his torn boots, and that he was younger than she.

”Please, Mistress,” said Alfric, speaking in a whisper and addressing the ground, ”I was told a boy with green eyes was wanted.” His trembling fingers-raw with cold-twisted in distress.

”Who told you?” said Sybil.

”Master Bashcroft.” Alfric turned halfway around.

Sybil followed his gaze but saw no one in the courtyard. ”Let me see your eyes.”

A reluctant Alfric lifted his head. Tears were running down his red, chapped face.

”G.o.d's grace, boy,” said Sybil. ”What ails you?”

”I'm frightened.”

”Of what?”

”Of what will happen to me here.” He covered his face with his hands as if to ward off a blow.

Gently, Sybil pulled the boy's hand away and looked at his eyes anew. Seeing that they were green, her heart fluttered. ”By all grace,” she said, ”nothing bad shall befall you here. Step in.”

When Alfric edged forward, Sybil shut the door behind him. The noise made the boy jump.

”May I know your name?” said Sybil as she set back the crossbar.

”Alfric,” the boy said with a shuddering sob. ”Please, Mistress, I didn't want to find out about how to make the gold.”

”Gold?” said a startled Sybil. ”What gold?”

”That your master makes.”

Sybil heard Odo hiss softly. To Alfric she said, ”You appear hungry. Are you?”

”Yes, please.”

”Come. I'll give you something warm.” She turned toward the steps.

The boy hesitated.

”I shan't hurt you,” said Sybil. ”It's only your green eyes that are wanted.”

The boy threw himself back up against the door. ”Are you going to cut them out?” he cried.

”No, no! You need only look look at something with them,” said Sybil. She moved toward the steps, turning to make sure Alfric was coming. at something with them,” said Sybil. She moved toward the steps, turning to make sure Alfric was coming.

Halfway up the steps they pa.s.sed Odo who fixed his beady eyes on the boy. Alfric s.h.i.+ed away but continued on. When he reached the gloomy room, he stopped and looked about, wide-eyed.

Odo went to his customary roost upon the skull.

”Mistress,” the boy whispered, ”is that old man ... dead?”

”Just resting,” said Sybil. She drew the three-legged stool close to the hot brazier. ”Pray sit,” she said.