doors down from you, across from the stairway." The portly headmaster glanced that way, his expression clearly revealing an invitation for the young priest.
Cadderly only nodded, then winced again as another drop of imaginary blood ran the length of his forearm.
Avery did not miss the sour expression. "Is something wrong, lad?" the headmaster asked with compassion.
"Nothing," Cadderly replied curtly. He mellowed immediately, guessing that his demeanor would inspire further curiosity. "I am just tired. I was sleeping . . ."
"My pardon," Avery said, straining to be lighthearted, "but you are not sleeping now." He took a step forward, as though to push his way into the room.
Cadderly shifted to block the door. "I will soon be sleeping again," he said evenly.
Avery stepped back and, for the first time since he had arrived, regarded Cadderly with a less than appreciative glint in his puffy eyes.
"Still stubborn?" Avery asked him sharply. "You tread on dangerous ground, young priest. Your absence from the library might be overlooked. Dean Thobicus has promised that he will allow you to make up your missed duties and studies."
"I do not care for his promise."
"If you continue on your wayward path," Avery went on, his voice a growl against Cadderly's biting remark, "then you may move beyond the order altogether. I am not certain even kind Thobicus could forgive your transgressions against Deneir. . . ."
"What do you know of Deneir?" Cadderly asked. In his mind he saw Avery again, lying dead across the table, but he shook the evil thought away, realizing how much he loved this man who had been a surrogate father to him. "And why would you care for me? Did you not once call me a 'Gondsman'?" Cadderly asked sharply, referring to the order of inventive priests who created without conscience, without regard to the implications of their creations.
His tirade exhausted, Cadderly looked at the headmaster, the father he had just terribly wounded with his impertinence. Avery couldn't respond to his last statement and seemed more on the verge of tears than an explosion of anger. Behind him, Kierkan Rufo wore an almost amused expression of disbelief.
"I am sorry," Cadderly stammered. Avery put a large hand up to halt him.
"I am tired, that is all," Cadderly tried to explain. "I have had some terrible dreams of late."
Avery's expression shifted to one of concern, an4 Cadderly knew his apology had been accepted, or would be soon.
"Ws are but four doors down," the portly headmaster reiterated. "If you feel the need to talk, do come and join us."
Cadderly nodded, though he knew he would not go to them, and shut the door the second Avery had turned away. He fell back against the door heavily, thinking how flimsy a barrier it was against the doubts and confusion of the outside world. He looked to his table by the window, to the open tome. When was the last time that book had been closed?
Cadderly couldn't even muster the strength to go to it; he slipped over to his bed and collapsed, hoping that he had put this night's evil dreams behind him.
Bogo Rath released his spell of clairaudience and cracked open the common room's door. The common room was on the southwestern wing of the inn's second level; almost directly across from him, over the hearth room, loomed Cadderly's door, closed once more. Avery and Rufo rounded the corner diagonally to Bogo's right, moving toward the door directly opposite the wide staircase. The hearth room
was quiet now and Bogo could hear their conversation clearly.
"His surliness has not relented one bit since he passed through the library," Rufo said in an accusatory tone.
"He appeared weary," Avery answered with a resigned sigh. "Poor lad - perhaps Danica's arrival will brighten his mood."
They entered their room then, and Bogo considered using his eavesdropping magic to hear the rest of their discussion.
"Who is Danica?" came a quiet, monotone question from behind Bogo. The young wizard froze, then slowly managed to turn about.
There stood Ghost, in the otherwise empty common room. The puny man held no weapon and made no move toward Bogo, but the wizard felt vulnerable nonetheless. How had Ghost come in so easily behind him? There was but one door to the room, and it had no outside balcony, as did the more expensive private rooms.
"How did you get in here?" Bogo asked, managing to steady his voice.
"I have been in here all along," Ghost replied. He turned and pointed to a pile of blankets. "In there, awaiting