Part 30 (1/2)

”More air!” Jagu called down to the two bellows boys and heard them groan in response as he attacked the final pa.s.sage yet again. Only when he tackled a task as challenging as that could he try to lose himself in the music and forget about Celestine. Though Saint Meriadec's was filled with memories; the first time they had ever met was here on a wet autumn afternoon. He had been seventeen, daring to play this prelude with all the brash confidence of youth... and she had been in the choir, a novice from the Sisters of Charity. He had never heard a voice so sweet, so clear as hers. From up in the organ loft, it had sounded to him as if a young angel were singing in the dim recesses of the old church...

His fingers slipped again and lost the momentum of the sequence of cascading runs.

”d.a.m.n!”

”Swearing in church, Lieutenant?” came a mocking voice from down below. ”You'll have to do penance to atone for your sin.”

”Kilian?” Jagu swung his legs over the narrow bench and peered down into the church to see Kilian's pale green eyes glinting up at him from the gloom. He heard sn.i.g.g.e.ring from the bellows boys.

”Practice time's over,” Kilian called up. ”Friard's summoned us to the Forteresse. Urgently.”

”Urgently?” Jagu pushed in the stops and pulled the wooden cover over the manuals. He wasn't due back until six o'clock. He hurried down the spiral stair and tossed the bellows boys a coin each. ”You're off duty early today, boys.” As they scampered away, he hurried after Kilian, who was already halfway down the nave. ”So what's this all about?”

”We're to be sent back to Ondhessar.” Kilian set off down the avenue at a brisk pace, his military greatcoat swinging open as he walked.

”What?” For a brief second, Jagu took the bait. For a brief second, Jagu took the bait.

Kilian stopped, turning to face him. ”Ah, you're still so much fun to tease, Jagu.”

These days, it seemed to Jagu that Kilian's little jokes were forced, and that when he smiled, only the corners of his lips crinkled upward, while his eyes remained distant, even cold. But then it was hardly surprising, given what had happened on the day of the great darkness. Kilian had revealed his innermost feelings-and what had Jagu done? He had rejected him. He had done it as gently, as honestly, as he could. But there was a new awkwardness between them. Kilian had laughed the incident away as they hurried to the drill hall. ”I really had you worried there, didn't I, Jagu? You should have seen the look on your face. You really thought I was going to jump your bones then and there! Well, at least my little diversion distracted you from worrying about the end of the world.” Tacitly, Jagu had played along with this, bursting into stupefied laughter. ”Oh, you really had me fooled, Kilian. d.a.m.n you, you'd even joke on the edge of the Abyss.” But he had seen the earlier look in Kilian's eyes, both hurt and shamed. It must have cost him dear to reveal so much of his inner feelings-and dearer still to be rejected.

”I haven't a clue what all this is about,” Kilian flung back over his shoulder, ”but I don't think they're going to give us a raise in pay and a day off.”

Jagu glanced uneasily at his fellow officers who had been summoned to the Grand Maistre's study. Of Ruaud de Lanvaux's elite squad only he, Viaud, Friard, and Kilian remained. Pere Judicael was too frail to leave his rooms these days. There were others here he recognized from his cadet days, but while he had been a.s.signed to special duties overseas, he had lost touch with many of his contemporaries.

The inner door opened and three men emerged from the Grand Maistre's private chapel. All the Commanderie officers turned to stare as Captain Friard ushered in Haute Inquisitor Visant-and Hugues Donatien.

”Gentlemen,” said Donatien, smiling at them, ”I have just come from her majesty and I have the honor to inform you that she has appointed me Grand Maistre of the order.”

Jagu felt a sharp nudge in the ribs. ”Your mouth's open,” Kilian whispered to him.

”The western quadrant is still unstable. And so her majesty has asked me to do all I can to protect the safety of the realm.” Donatien's smile faded. ”We live in difficult times, gentlemen, and it is our duty to set an example to the people of Francia. We must be seen to be above suspicion, upholders of the Sergian Code. If there is corruption in our ranks, we must weed it out.”

Jagu caught Alain Friard's eye; the captain looked utterly dumbfounded. By rights, he should have been promoted to lead the Commanderie. But Queen Alienor had marked him as Ruaud de Lanvaux's right-hand man and confidant. Perhaps Kilian's quip about being sent back to Ondhessar was more accurate than he could have imagined; we're all four marked as Lanvaux's followers. And Celestine... Perhaps Kilian's quip about being sent back to Ondhessar was more accurate than he could have imagined; we're all four marked as Lanvaux's followers. And Celestine...

His heart felt chilled.

Celestine has never been in greater danger.

”You've served the order with distinction, Lieutenant.” Maistre Donatien looked up from an open dossier, fixing Jagu with a benign and approving look. This only increased Jagu's sense of unease. ”You were commended for your bravery at Ondhessar. You and your partner saved the lives of Prince Ilsevir and Princess Adele. And you arrested Kaspar Linnaius together. You've worked as a team for six years. So, where is she now?”

Here it comes. ”I don't know, Maistre Donatien,” Jagu said. It was the truth, after all. Celestine had chosen to disappear. Her behavior had become more and more secretive on their mission in Smarna. It still hurt him to think that she no longer trusted him enough to confide in him-unless she had been trying to save him from just such an interrogation. If he knew nothing, then he couldn't be accused of withholding essential information from the Inquisition. ”I don't know, Maistre Donatien,” Jagu said. It was the truth, after all. Celestine had chosen to disappear. Her behavior had become more and more secretive on their mission in Smarna. It still hurt him to think that she no longer trusted him enough to confide in him-unless she had been trying to save him from just such an interrogation. If he knew nothing, then he couldn't be accused of withholding essential information from the Inquisition.

”Listen, Lieutenant.” Donatien's tone was still benign but Jagu detected a steely will beneath. ”The Commanderie's reputation is at stake. Your partner has been using the Forbidden Arts. Were you aware that she poisoned the two Inquisition agents sent to arrest her? They nearly died and neither man will ever be fit for active service again.”

”Poison?” Jagu took a step back. Had Celestine intended to kill them? Or had she become careless in her use of the potions and spells in her father's grimoire? She had promised him never to resort to magic again after the incident in Azhkendir, and yet in Smarna he had discovered her using another potion to charm secrets from Lord Nagarian's mother, Elysia. It was as if she had begun to lose control. Having employed one spell, she could not resist trying another, then another...

”She must be stopped, Lieutenant.” Donatien's voice penetrated his worried reverie. ”She is a danger to herself, as well as to others. Above all-and this is the tragedy of the situation-she has brought the Commanderie's name into disrepute.”

Jagu found himself nodding in helpless agreement.

”You know her better than anyone. I want you to go after her and bring her back before she loses all self-control.”

”But I don't even know where to start my search.”

”She was last seen in Muscobar. She may have friends there who are sheltering her.”

Jagu felt as if a constricting hand had begun to tighten about his throat. He swallowed hard. One day he had feared it would come to this. Had the spirit in her father's grimoire taken control of her, compelling her to do its will? Celestine had seemed so... different different in Smarna-willful, devious, even cruel. If he could exorcise the spirit, would she revert to her true sweet-natured self? And would that be enough to placate the new Grand Maistre of the Commanderie? Or would Donatien hand her over to Visant and put her through the ordeal of a trial for heresy? in Smarna-willful, devious, even cruel. If he could exorcise the spirit, would she revert to her true sweet-natured self? And would that be enough to placate the new Grand Maistre of the Commanderie? Or would Donatien hand her over to Visant and put her through the ordeal of a trial for heresy?

”Well, Lieutenant?” Donatien was regarding him with a penetrating look quite different from his earlier kindly expression.

”You're asking me to betray my partner?”

”I'm merely reminding you of the oath you took when you became a Guerrier. She has quite obviously forgotten hers. I'm talking about integrity, Lieutenant. I want the people of Francia to look to the Commanderie as a small but steadfast flame burning in the darkness of an uncertain world.”

Then Donatien's tone softened. ”The demoiselle has served Francia faithfully,” he said. ”We must help and support our own if they stray and help them to find their way back to the light.”

The intensity of Donatien's words took Jagu by surprise. He had to admit to himself that the Maistre was right. If the Guerriers were to be trusted in such troubled times, if they were to maintain their spotless reputation as the upholders of truth, they must be seen to punish anyone who betrayed the order.

”Well, Lieutenant?” Donatien held out his hand; his ring of office glinted dully. Jagu hesitated. Then, trying to ignore the heaviness about his heart, he knelt before the Grand Maistre and kissed his ring. When he stood up, Donatien was smiling at him but it was a triumphant smile, as if the Maistre had just won a significant victory.

Jagu shouldered his knapsack and began to descend the steep stone steps that led down to the river. Seagoing barques lay at anchor beside the quay, taking on their first pa.s.sengers of the day for the journey to the port of Fenez-Tyr.

”Hey, Jagu!”

He turned and, gazing upward, saw Kilian hurrying along the busy quay, pus.h.i.+ng through the crowd, greatcoat flapping open as he ran, the rising sun turning his pale hair from ginger to gold.

”Wait!” Kilian reached him and had to lean against the mossy quay wall to catch his breath.

”Is there a change in my orders?” Jagu asked warily. He was not in the mood for one of Kilian's practical jokes.

”d.a.m.n you,” Kilian said, wheezing. ”Trying to slip away without saying good-bye as usual? I really don't understand you.”

Jagu shrugged. Why did Kilian always read him so accurately?

”I hope you've packed a fur coat.”

Jagu shot Kilian a baffled look.

”Won't Muscobar be blanketed in snow by the time you get there? Doesn't the Nieva ice over in winter? You'll be traveling to Mirom by sleigh!” Kilian said, giving him a punch on the shoulder. ”But are you really the right man for this mission?” The playfulness had gone; Kilian's voice dropped to a low, intense tone. ”She's not the innocent young woman you remember. She's been corrupted by the Forbidden Arts.”

”I know.”

”Let me go in your stead.”

”But you don't know Muscobar as I do-”