"Twenty-one came out; we left eleven dead and have ten prisoners. Unless some stayed in the keep-and I wouldn't have, with what Zinthys did." Mindful of spies, Paks did not elaborate on that.

"They don't-they don't look so bad," said Ambros though tfully.

"Who, the brigands?"

"Yes. I thought-"

Paks glanced at him. "They'd all look like ores?"

He flushed. "I know I don't have your experience-"

"Don't be silly. I didn't mean that." Paks found herself annoyed with his sensitivity. "I was surprised myself, if you want to know. The only brigands I'd seen, in Aarenis, looked as vicious as they were. These men look like any poor farmer or soldier. The leader-that one in the litter there-he said something about not wanting to be a robber-"

"Eh, once he's caught, what'd you expect him to say?" The uninjured merchant had pressed close to Paks's side. "He's not likely to admit he's been a thief from birth."

"He hasn't been," said Arvid, with a certainty that made Paks wonder.

"How do you know?"

"Lady, I, like Master Zinthys, prefer not to reveal all the sources of my knowledge. But I will tell you that had he been a thief from birth, he would not have been in that keep."

"But how do you know?" Both Paks and Ambros stared at Arvid. He smiled, bowed, and pa.s.sed on toward the inn.

"That one," muttered the merchant, idly putting his hand on the black horse's neck. It jerked aside; by the time Pales had it calm again, the merchant and most of the 238.

group had pa.s.sed. Sir Felis beckoned; Paks moved the black horse beside his at the tail of the procession.

"Come on out with me to the keep, will you?" he asked. "Yd like to hear what happened. My cook should have something ready, too."

Paks nodded. She realized that Sir Felis might want her to be present when he questioned the prisoners. She wondered what the customs were.

"And you, too, yeoman marshal, if your duties permit," said Sir Fetis smoothly. "Since die Marshal is not here, I would hire a representative from the grange to be present"

Tne granges honor, Sir Felis," said Ambros. "May I ask how long this might take? It is customary for die yeoman of Gird to give thanks in the grange for the success of such a mission; I would like to tell them when-"

Sir Felis pursed his lips. "I am not certain, yeoman-marshal, but surely by dark. These men do not look so desperate as I thought."

Paks had feared that Sir Felis might, like Alured the Black of Aarenis, torture his prisoners; he did not need to. By the time Sir FeUs, trailed by Paks and Ambros, came down the stairs to question them, the brigand leader had decided to tell what he knew.

"We was all honest men once, sir," he said weakly. "I was a farmer, myself. Some of the others was trade or craft, but most was fanners. But that bad drought three years ago, in Verrakai lands-that's what drove me out. The taxes-and then no gra.s.s, and the cows dying-so my lord Verrakai put me out, and I went wandering. No one had honest work, sir, and that's the truth of it." He closed his eyes a moment; Paks looked around at the other brigands. The wounded lay quietly; the rest squatted against the dungeon wall, heads down. "I suppose Elam and I were the first," the man went on after a long pause. "He and I'd known each other back home-we traveled together. We come on this place in a storms-went in to get dry-and then-seems we couldn't leave."

"What stopped you?" asked Ambros.

"I don't know. Something. It-it called, like. We stayed there a couple of days-shot a bird for food, Elam was a .

239.

good bowman. I stuck one of those things in the moat, but we couldn't eat that."

"What thing?" asked Sir Felis.

"You know. One of them-big things, like a frog only near man-sized. Smell rotten. They have teeth, too. Anyway we stayed there. Took a goose from a farm nearby-I d asked for work, and they drove us off. Called us robbers, they did, and we hadn't robbed before that. Made me mad." He stopped again, and rubbed his nose. "Elam wanted to go on somewheres else, but when we got an hour or so away, we both got the cramps bad. Had to come back. Then the others came." He nodded toward the other men. "One or two at a time, every week or so. Soon we'd hunted out all the woods around. If we took from the farms-well, most of us had farmed. We didn't want to."

"So then he said take caravans," put in one of the others, leaning back against the wall and tilting his head up to look at Sir Felis. "He says what's a caravan to you-them merchants are all rich, and what has rich done for you? That's what he says. Steal from caravans, and get rich yourself." The man spat. "Rich! Heh! All we ever see's enough to eat, and that not all the time. A few coppers now and then-a new cloak-that's all."

"You shouldn't talk about him," said the first robber, pushing himself up. "It's bad luck. h.e.l.l-"

"He can't do much here," said the other. "Teriam, think! It's listening to him has got us here-in jail, when we were born honest men. Robbers, we are, and it's him as profits by it."

"But you know what he said. He can reach us anywheres -that's why we couldn't leave. He could touch us here- right now-and-"

"And what? Kill us deader than they will, when they're through talking?" The man gave Sir Felis a bitter grin. "Tell you the truth, sir, if you can kill that devil, you'll do yourself more good than killing us. And III be glad of it."

Paks saw that some of the other brigands seemed very frightened, but they said nothing. The leader had fallen back, and now lay silent with eyes closed and jaw clenched.

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"Who is this man that ordered you to rob?" asked Sir Felis. "Was he captured or lolled?*

"Not him," said the spokesman angrily. "Not him. He's got his own place, safe and deep, and all we know's his orders. I don't know his name, sir, or who or what he is-and I'm not sure he's a man, even. Teriam knows, I think-" he glanced at the leader.

"I don't." It came out as a harsh whisper. "I swear I don't know-I never seen him but the one time, and after that I couldn't-I couldn't-" He gripped his head, rocking back and forth. "He-he had black robes, that's all, and some land of-of dung on a chain-it-like a hand spread out, only it had too many fingers-*

Paks felt, rather than saw, Ambros stiffen beside her. "Gird's arm!" he said softly. Then more loudly, "Lite a spider, maybe?"

The man's head turned towards him. "It-it might be- tf-NO!" He began to flail about on the straw. "No! Don't let him-not here-I"

Sir FeMs swore, a soldier's curse Paks had heard many tunes. She could see nothing but the frightened man, waving his hands at nothing and trying to flee something no one could see. Ambros moved forward before the others shook off their surprise, and caught his arm.

"Be still, man-Tenant's your name? Be still; Gird will ward you from that evil."

"No one can-he said he could-"

"Gird's grace on you, Teriam. Gird Strongarm totfl ward you; give him a chance."

"You-you're a Marshal? Of Gird?"

"I'm the yeoman-marshal of this grange," said Ambros. "I am sworn to Gird's service, and Known to him. I give you my word that I place your name before Gird."

"Please-** the man's eyes were open now, and fastened on Ambros. "Please, sir-I'm not afraid to die-just not that filth, please sir-"

Ambros freed one hand and held out his medallion. Teriam touched it with the tips of his fingers. "You have been spelled by some evil, is that not so?* asked Ambros. "You fear that it will take your soul?"

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Teriam nodded. "He said-he said he could do that. Wherever we tried to run, whatever we did-he would find us, and see us in-" He stopped, and lowered his voice. Paks could not hear what he said to Ambros, but she saw the sudden twitch of Ambros's shoulders.

"Well, and do you believe that the High Lord and Gird are stronger than that one?"

"I-I know I should, sir, but I'm feared-I'm feared they won't be for me-"

Ambros looked around at the other robbers. "And you? What do you think of the power of that evil one, when you are here? Do you think the High Lord is weaker?"

Some shook their heads; some simply stared. The man who had spoken so boldly before pushed himself to his feet. "Sir-yeoman-marshal-I was a yeoman of Gird once. Not a good one, youll say, and I won't argue that. I never thought to find myself bound by such evil-just a drover like me. I don't know what that black-cape can do, but I will say the High Lord is right, if he kills me for it." Ambros gave him a bleak smile. "Yeoman of Gird, you must face the Count's judgement, but the High Lord knows his own servants."

The man's face lighted. "I swear, yeoman-marshal, that it was not fear of the Count's court that kept me there. Whatever the grange-court demands-" "Gird will have somewhat to say in that, yeoman." "Aye, yeoman-marshal." He turned to Sir Felis. "Sir, if you will, if the court demands my life, permit the grange to report the death of a yeoman." Sir Felis looked at Ambros, brows raised. Ambros nodded.

"The Marshal would say the same, Sir Felis. A yeoman may be spelled into evil deeds; I judge it was so with him, and perhaps with some others. The punishment must fall, but their names remain on the grange rolls. Only those who willingly serve evil, and refuse to repent, are cast out."

"He won't tell you," said Teriam softly, "but I will. He tried to get away more than once-we kept him until the curse softened him."

242.

"I pray the High Lord's mercy on you, Teriam, for your deeds and your confessions."

Back upstairs, in Sir Felis's conference room, Ambros reddened under their gaze. Zinthys was studiously ignoring the others, setting wine to heat on the hearth. Sir Felis simply watched Ambros, his weathered face fixed in a neutral expression. Paks tried to see, behind that youth and inexperience, the power he had seemed to have with the prisoners.

"Well," said Sir Felis suddenly, as if he'd made a decision. He looked at Paks. "I say again, Paksenarrion, that you did very well. Very well indeed. I am not now surprised that your Duke recommended you for advanced training. I do not think many novice commanders could have taken over a score with a dozen, and had no casualties."

"I could not, without Master Zinthys's help," said Paks. "And your soldiers caught the stragglers."

"Even so," said Sir Felis. He looked her up and down. "And you, yourself, have no injury? I see your tunic "is slashed."

"No, sir," said Paks. "I wear armor, of course."

"Hmmph. Yes. Well, then, I think we'd better have a formal report to the Council-you know the sort of thing- 111 speak to the mayor, and I expect we'll meet tonight. You'll be summoned. Yeoman-marshal-" Sir Felis turned to Ambros.

"Yes, Sir Felis?"

"Since some of the prisoners claim to be yeomen, I will delay trial until the Marshal returns."

"Thank you, Sir Felis."

"I will not promise that it will make any difference-**

"Of course not, Sir Felis. The grange understands that."

"Good. I'll see you later, then-will you be at Council in the Marshal's place?"

"Yes, Sir Felis."

"Good. Paksenarrion, do you wish to make your own reckoning of the arms recovered?"

"No, sir." Paks saw no reason to distrust Sir Felis's count.

243.

"Then 111 see you later. If you'll excuse me-" He shrugged into his heavy cloak.

"Certainly, sir." Paks and Ambros followed Sir Felis down the winding stairs and out to a sunny afternoon. A soldier brought their horses forward; Sir Felis was already mounted and riding off.

They were almost back to the Jolly Potboy when Ambros turned to Paks. "Can I have a talk with you?"

"Me?" Paks had been thinking about the report she would have to give to the Council; she dreaded it. "Of course-but what about?"

"Come on to the grange; I don't want to talk about it here."

Paks sighed. She had been up since long before dawn, and she had looked forward to a not bath. She had not had time for more than a brief handwash before the simple lunch Sir Felis had served. But Ambros looked so concerned that she nodded finally and turned the black horse away from the inn.

"I should have thought-" Ambros said quietly, nodding to a child in the street. "You're tired, aren t you?"

"I'm dirty and stiff as much as tired. And don't you still have to do whatever ceremony you were talking about?"

"Oh-yes. I'd forgotten, Curd forgive my thick head. Blast. But youll want to see that, even you aren't Girdish. The Marshal would want you to be there."

"All right." Paks wished he'd get to the point. She saw Sir Felis's horse and escort outside the Brewmaster's gate as they pa.s.sed.

Once at the grange, Ambros took charge quickly. "Ill rub down the black, and put him up-with the Marshal away, we have plenty of s.p.a.ce. You can wash up if you want-there's plenty of water in the scullery-and if you need any bandages or anything-"

"No," said Paks, abandoning the idea of a good soaking bath. "Just to get this dust off-" She took off her helmet and sluiced her head as Ambros led horses away. The cold water woke her up; she wiped her neck with a wet cloth and had most of the grime off her hands and arms before Ambros returned.

244.

"Now," he said, leading the way into the grange proper. "I expect the other yeomen will be here soon-they saw us ride by. What I want to know is whether you'll come with me when I go to seek that blackweb priest."

"What?" Paks was completely confused.

"Didn't you hear him? There's a blackweb-a priest of Achrya-somewhere in that keep. I've got to go and-"

"Wait-Ambros, didn't the Marshal tell you not to go after the brigands?"

"The brigands, yes. And I didn't. This is different. A true evil, Paks-something like this-I can't let it alone."

"But, Ambros, you're not a Marhsal. Can you fight such a thing? Wouldn't it be better to wait for the Marshal to come back? He said to stay with the grange."

Ambros shook his head. "What if he moved? Now we know where he is-the center of evil for this whole area:- and it's my responsibility."

"What about your dream?"

"That's just it." Ambros looked sober but determined. "Paks, such a dream could be an evil sending-to keep me from doing what I should. If I don't try-for fear of dying- what kind of Girdsmen am I?"

"It could be a warning from Gird, couldn't it?"

"Yes-but I can't tell."