Part 45 (2/2)
Where it came from, Eldyn didn't know. Perhaps he had inherited some small part of Vandimeer Garritt after all. Fear burned away as a hot rage flared up within him. He clenched his hand into a fist, then with all his might threw a punch at Westen's face.
The highwayman stepped aside and brought his hand up, deflecting the blow. As Eldyn's arm came down, Westen grasped it and twisted it about the wrist, so that Eldyn let out a gasp. His anger burned to a cinder and was extinguished. No, he was not his father.
”You cannot fight me, Mr. Garritt.” Westen's smile returned. ”But I think you see that now. You will resume your work at once. I have no doubt you recall what to do. Simply read the advertis.e.m.e.nts in The Fox as you did before. Do you understand?”
Eldyn stared. His eyes stung, and his jaw throbbed. He wanted to lie down in the street and let the people, the horses, pa.s.s over him, until he was ground into the stones and was gone.
Westen twisted his wrist another degree. ”Answer me, Mr. Garritt. Do we have an agreement?”
No, there was no need to lie in the street; he was already worn down. Eldyn opened his mouth to speak the word he must.
”There he is!” shouted a voice. ”In that alley there-the tall one, just like I told you.”
Eldyn jerked his head up at the sound of boots against stone. Westen turned around. A pair of the king's redcrests ran into view from up the street. They must have come from their post by the Lowgate. In a moment they were upon Westen, gripping his arms from either side.
”Caught in the very act, it would seem,” one of the men said. ”Don't you robbers usually wait until nightfall, or have you become so brazen you'll accost a gentleman in broad daylight?”
Eldyn felt a cacophony of emotions: relief, pain, and a kind of aching grat.i.tude at the soldier's words. A gentleman, the man had called him. Even as Eldyn thought this, he noticed that Westen's coat, so rich a moment ago, now appeared shabby and patched. Eldyn's own coat, decent but plain, was now richly embroidered with gold. Beyond the soldiers, another figure came into view. It was Dercy, grinning.
”You are mistaken,” Westen said smoothly, letting go of Eldyn's hand. Eldyn could only be impressed at his calm. ”My friend and I were merely having a friendly disagreement. I am no thief-as I am sure you will agree if you give me a chance to explain.”
Or, rather, if they give him a chance to bribe them, Eldyn thought. He doubted it would be the first time the highwayman had bought himself freedom with gold.
Eldyn looked up at the soldiers. His gold...
”Is this true, sir?” the redcrest asked him. ”Do you know this man?”
Eldyn licked his lips. ”Yes, it is true,” he said, and Westen grinned.
”It is true,” Eldyn went on, his voice rising, ”that this man is not just a common thief but, I believe, the very worst sort of criminal-a traitor to the Crown.”
In a quick motion he reached forward, his hand darting inside Westen's coat, and s.n.a.t.c.hed away the purse. Westen grabbed for it but only succeeded in knocking it from Eldyn's grasp. The purse fell to the cobbles and burst open in a glittering spray.
For a moment all of them stared at the gold coins that tumbled to the street, then one of the soldiers bent to pick up a coin. He held it in front of him, turning it around so that it caught the sunlight. Seven stars glittered on one side and a sickle shape on the other.
”By G.o.d, no common thief indeed,” the soldier said. ”I suppose there are nine hundred ninety-nine more Murghese crescents just like this one.” He tightened his grip on Westen's arm. ”You should have run to Torland like the broadsheets said.”
The other soldier had already whistled and motioned with his hand. Several more redcrests came into view. They grasped Westen and pulled him into the street. The highwayman did not resist. One of the soldiers asked Eldyn if he was well, if he knew this man. Eldyn said he was fine and that he had never seen his a.s.sailant before. It was only things the thief had said that had made him think he was a traitor. The soldiers told him he could go and that he had done a service for king and country. That this rebel would hang in Barrowgate was a certainty, they said.
Eldyn moved away, but after a few steps he turned and glanced back over his shoulders. Westen was looking at him. The highwayman grinned and shook his head. Despite the warm sunlight, a s.h.i.+ver coursed through Eldyn. Then the soldiers turned Westen around, not gently, and hauled him toward the Lowgate.
”Are you all right?” Dercy said beside him. ”I came as fast as I could. It took a moment to make the soldiers believe me. I had to-” He made a weaving motion with his fingers. ”Well, you know. I had no idea about the gold though. Brilliant stroke of luck that was.”
The soldiers pa.s.sed through the Lowgate and were gone. Eldyn let out a breath. ”Come on,” he said. ”Let's go get a drink.”
”G.o.d be praised!” Dercy said, draping an arm around Eldyn's shoulder as the two went in search of the nearest tavern.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.
B RIGHTDAY CAME, AND again the MadderlyStoneworth Hostel for the Deranged was open to visitors. However, as before, Ivy was allowed only to observe Mr. Lockwell through the small window in the door of his cell.
She watched her father pace in circles, sometimes pausing to make twisting motions with his hands. His hair and beard were matted, his face slack and grayish. Ivy wanted to call to him through the door, to tell him that she had written to Lord Rafferdy, that soon they would take him out of there, that they would take him home. However, before she could speak, the day warden shut the window.
The subject's behavior was very atypical, the warden said as he led her back to the front gate. They did not yet understand the nature of his malady. Until they did, they could not risk any sort of contamination. He must remain isolated. She could come back next week if she wished. They would in no way be surprised if she did not.
”I will come,” she said.
The warden nodded absently and shut the gate behind her.
When she arrived back at Whitward Street, she told Rose and Lily to get ready for church. Lily dragged about. What could G.o.d care, she complained, if they sat in a musty old building and listened to some man droning on?
”We do not go because G.o.d cares,” Ivy said, putting on her bonnet, ”but because we care, and because our mother cared. Now get your shawl. It's chilly out.”
The church was no more than half full, and Ivy was forced to concede the quality of the sermon was likely to do little to change Lily's opinions. The priest mumbled through it, and his surplice, while thankfully clean, was in need of mending. Pigeons flapped among the rafters, unnerving those in the pews-especially the ones who had worn their best hats.
However, when the time came to kneel in prayer, she forgot the birds and the dull sermon, and the dust on the windows only made the light that fell through them all the more golden. Bathed in that light, she shut her eyes and bowed her head in prayer.
She meant to pray for her mother, and for her father, and for Mr. Quent's safe return. Instead, it was the words of the first prayer she had learned as a girl that came as a murmur to her lips. Though I stand in darkness, I will fear no shadow. Though I am lost, I will know the way. Though I dwell in sorrow, I will weep no tears. For I am not alone.
It seemed impossible-nothing in her life had changed, and the old church was as dilapidated as ever-but all the same her heart felt lighter as she walked with her sisters down the steps of the church. When they reached the bottom and saw a tall young gentleman in a gray coat step from a glossy four-in-hand, her spirits rose higher yet.
”Mr. Rafferdy!” Lily shouted before Ivy could say anything. She dashed forward to greet him, Rose barely a step behind her.
Lily held out her hand, demanding that it be kissed. Mr. Rafferdy graciously obliged and would have given Rose the same greeting, but she became shy and bowed her head as he tipped his hat to her.
”I'm very cross with you!” Lily p.r.o.nounced as Ivy joined them. ”We haven't seen you in months, and then Ivy gets to go to a party with you the moment she arrives back in the city.”
”I told you it wasn't a party,” Ivy said. ”We met quite by chance and had tea, that's all.”
”You should at least have called on us,” Lily went on. ”Fifteen minutes would have done. Your manners are dreadful, Mr. Rafferdy.”
”Lily!”
Ivy was prepared to say more, but Rafferdy affected a serious look and bowed toward Lily. ”You're quite right to chastise me. I am, as our liege above certainly knows, an awful man.”
”No, you aren't!” Rose exclaimed, looking up. ”You're anything but awful. The priest said G.o.d is in the light, and there's light all around you. I can see it even when my eyes are shut. It's blue and silver, not green and gold like Ivy, but every bit as bright. Maybe brighter.”
Rafferdy c.o.c.ked his head and gazed at her. ”I'm not quite sure what you mean, Miss Rose.”
”She doesn't mean anything,” Lily said, rolling her eyes. ”Rose says all sorts of silly things. Don't pay it any attention.”
”It's not silly,” Rose said, and it seemed she wanted to say more, but she grew fl.u.s.tered.
Ivy took her hand. ”Come, dearest. We had best walk home before it rains.”
<script>