Before Winter. Nancy Wallace K.

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СКАЧАТЬ “Those people were from Rodez. They had actually gathered to learn Tirolien’s Chronicle. One man was a friend of Absolon Colbert, Dariel Moreau’s apprentice. He’d heard Absolon tell the tales from the Chronicle over and over and learned many of them himself. He’s passing them on to the others.”

      “So they had already heard of Dariel and Absolon’s murders?” Devin asked.

      “News of a murdered Master Bard and his apprentice travels fast,” Marcus said. “Dariel’s murder was more lurid than most. There was no attempt to cover it up as an accident or natural causes. When Absolon was murdered as well, there was no evidence to prove that the murders might have been prompted by robbery. The people of Tirolien are furious!”

      “As well they should be,” Devin agreed. He gave a violent shiver. “Aren’t you cold? I’m about to freeze to death. Is it safe for us to retake our hut?”

      “Yes, they’ve all gone home,” Marcus said, scrambling back up the hill. “I’m chilled, too, but I thought you’d be relieved that at least Tirolien’s stories are being retold.”

      Devin followed him up, his wet boots rubbing his feet in a dozen nasty places. “I was just afraid you were going to get caught, lurking behind them like a thief,” he said. “I had hoped that some of the bards who knew the stories would retell them and teach them to others; even though that isn’t the way that tradition dictates that the Chronicles be taught. I hope it happens all over Llisé and the stories of their murdered Master Bards spread across this empire like a plague!”

      The moon slipped slowly toward the western horizon, leaving the stars to shine bright and glassy in the dark sky. The grass crunched beneath their feet as though a crust of frost had covered it in the still, cold air after midnight. It seemed that fall had already laid its icy fingers on the northern part of Llisé and their mission seemed more urgent than before.

      The hut felt warm and still held the smell of lamp oil, wool, and sweaty bodies. Devin dropped down on the hay, shrugging out of his wet jacket and rehanging it on a stray branch.

      Marcus began shifting the hay around by the wall, piling it up and spreading it out again, his back to Devin.

      “It’s unfortunate when you are warmer without your jacket on than with it,” Devin observed, scooping out a small nest for himself in the hay.

      “Don’t!” Marcus said suddenly.

      “Don’t what?” Devin asked.

      There was a sudden deafening silence. Devin looked up but Marcus’ face was hidden in shadow. His voice when it came sounded ragged. “Don’t move the hay around. I left the journal here when we ran. I think it’s gone, Devin.”

      Devin fumbled for the lantern, jamming it into Marcus’ hands. “Light the lantern so we can see!”

      Marcus struck a spark and the lantern illuminated the small space. Though they searched for at least an hour, moving every wisp of hay at least twice, there was no sign of the journal in the hut.

      Devin fought an irrational urge to yell at Marcus. “You could hear what these people who met here were saying, couldn’t you?” he snapped.

      Marcus nodded. “Most of it. I wasn’t close enough to hear everything.”

      “Did they mention the journal?” Devin demanded. “Did anyone say anything about it?”

      Marcus shook his head. “No.”

      Devin paced the small space, his breath misting in the cold air. “Do you think that whoever took it, kept it a secret? Just pocketed it until he could look at it later?”

      Marcus threw out his hands. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure where I dropped it. When we heard the voices and saw the lanterns, my only thought was to get you away safely. I realize what I’ve done, Devin, I’m not minimizing it. It was what I warned you about doing and why I told you to put the journal back in your jacket lining when you weren’t using it.”

      “You didn’t …?”

      Marcus patted his pockets. “No, I’ve already checked.”

      Devin sank down on his knees.

      “I know how much it meant to you,” Marcus said.

      Devin steepled his hands against his mouth. “I felt as though we were on the verge of understanding the beginning of this Shadow Government. Father Sébastian mentioned the Forneaux family and the fact that there were two brothers and some apparent feud between them. It sounded as though the people of Albion might have become innocent victims of that feud. We have to find the journal, Marcus. It would strengthen our case if I had some written evidence to present to Council.”

      “We can’t take the time to look for it, Devin,” Marcus said. “I’m sorry. If we are to get back to Coreé before winter, we have to reach La Paix as soon as possible.”

      “And yet, Rodez is on the way,” Devin pointed out. “It’s only a few miles north of the route we took when we went to Calais to search for the Provincial Archives. We didn’t pass it then because we stayed on the main road.”

      “We don’t have time, Devin,” Marcus repeated.

      “We’ll have to stop for food,” Devin rationalized.

      “How would you determine which person took it?” Marcus asked. “There were ten men and two women here tonight.”

      “Who seems most likely?” Devin asked.

      “No one!” Marcus snapped. “No one seemed like the type to take it without telling the others. They were here to remember and repeat their history. They were meeting in secret … afraid for their lives. Something like that journal would only have added to their goal. They would have been happy to discover any information against the government.”

      “But none of them could read!!” Devin exclaimed suddenly. “They would have taken it to someone who could, probably the closest priest! I wonder if there is still a church in Rodez?”

      “Was there a church there on the map?”

      Devin nodded. “Yes, but that map was old. There was no indication when it was drawn up or by whom. It’s worth taking a chance though, isn’t it, Marcus? It would only mean a few hours out of our time and it might provide valuable information.”

      Marcus sighed. “Get some sleep. It’ll be dawn before you know it.”

      “Marcus, we can’t allow this journal to disappear,” Devin begged.

      Marcus held up a hand. “Don’t push me. If you do, the answer will be ‘no.’ Let me think about it. In the meantime, shut up and get some rest.”

      Initially sleep seemed impossible, but Devin did finally nod off. His dreams were filled with soldiers, floods, and last of all, just before he wakened, Lavender appeared. She held the journal in her hands. “We gave this to you,” she said. “If you lose it, there isn’t another one. We’re depending on you.” He woke with a startled exclamation and the determination to find the journal whether Marcus agreed or not.

      “What’s the matter?” Marcus asked.

      “I’m СКАЧАТЬ