Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,128

spiral staircase. Get out of sight,” she hisses at everyone, using her hands to motion them along.

Father Effram murmurs, “This is where I think I shall leave you. My presence will be better spent trying to divert Madame.”

While we all scramble toward the shadows of the gatehouse, he backs up a number of paces so that he is adjacent with the central tower, then begins strolling toward the spiral staircase, hands folded and eyes cast down in thought. Just as we reach the safety of the jutting wall that will hide us from her view, Father Effram’s voice rings out. “Madame Regent! What a pleasant surprise.”

“Father Effram!” The lilt in her voice does not speak of pleasant surprise but a most unwelcome one. “What are you doing here?”

“One of the servants has taken ill, and I promised I would pray for him. Sometimes I find it helps my praying if I walk. Or mayhap it is not my praying it helps, but my wakefulness.”

“Outside? In the dark of night?”

“I always feel closer to God outside, Madame—is it not so with you? And, I must admit, the cold helps keep me awake.”

And what brings you out here, Madame? The question is there, hanging like a ripe plum ready to be picked, but he does not ask it. It would be too great an affront.

“I hope everything is well with you, Madame? I should be happy to add you to my prayers as well, if you’d like.”

“I do not need your prayers, old man. And you’d best find your way to your bed before you catch a chill and others must take care of you.”

Her words are followed by the sound of clipped footsteps as she crosses the courtyard. To our great relief, they do not veer in this direction, but move toward the opposite wing. Sybella puts her lips against my ear. “What is she doing up and about at this hour?”

“I have no idea.”

“And where is the be-damned count?”

“Maybe he saw her coming and is hiding until she has passed?”

But long moments tick by, and he doesn’t show. Beast joins Sybella and me. “If he is not coming, we’d best figure out another plan. Can you tell how many are in the gatehouse?”

She draws closer to the wall, places her hands against it, and closes her eyes. “One,” she says, after a moment. “There is only one guard inside.”

Just as Beast’s face brightens at this unexpected good luck, the door to the gatehouse opens and out steps Count Angoulême.

Relief gushes through me, propelling me forward. “What are you doing here?” I try to peer around his shoulder. “Where are the guards?”

“Good evening to you, too.”

“Do not play games right now. The regent just passed by here not moments ago.”

“That is why I did not open the door sooner.” His face grows sober. “I did not trust that the guards would keep their mouths shut. Instead, they received conflicting orders so that there was some confusion about who is on duty tonight, leaving the way clear for me to assist you.”

I am momentarily stunned—it is far more than I would have expected of him. “Why?”

“As you so eloquently argued, I owe you. Not to mention, I abhor what the general is doing to some of the best young knights that have ever graced our battlefields. I am also hoping this will even the score between us.”

I stare into his puffy, hooded eyes and wonder if the debt between us can ever be settled. But debts can also be forgiven. I nod. “As even as it can ever be.” He looks disappointed, but resigned. “However, I must warn you, we will come for Margot’s babe. She is of Mortain.”

“She is also mine, and I care for her deeply.”

As deeply as a man such as himself can care for a daughter. “Nevertheless, we reserve the right to claim her.” I feel a whisper of movement at my back and know that Sybella is behind me.

“Is everything all right here?” she asks.

Angoulême stares at her, then back at me. “Yes. Now, would you all like to come in, or shall we stand here arguing until the regent decides to return?”

“Thought you’d never ask,” Sybella mutters.

As the others file in, I linger behind for a moment, “Have you come up with a way to get General Cassel away from here for a few days?”

“There is good hunting north of Paris, and the king is growing both bored with court and disgusted with his advisors. A