fire into the crowd—”
“I don’t know that for certain.”
“But if it did, then he would not be guilty of murder, would he?”
“He pulled the trigger. Hundreds saw him do it. He will be charged with murder, and though I’m no attorney, I find it impossible to imagine that he won’t be found guilty.”
“That’s not really what I asked,” Adams said, a haunted look in his eyes. “In the eyes of the law, he may be guilty, but you’re suggesting that he may not have acted of his own volition.”
“Aye.”
“In all of our dealings—yours and mine—I have tried to accept that your ability to conjure does not make you a devil in the eyes of God. But it seems to me that whenever we speak, it is to discuss some new atrocity committed with these same powers that you possess. Forgive me for saying so, but I fear your witchery.”
“Many feel as you do, sir. I can only respond by telling you that I’ve done great good with my spells. I’ve healed wounds, saved lives, and discovered the perpetrators of crimes who might otherwise have gone unpunished.”
Adams nodded, but said nothing.
After a brief, uncomfortable silence, Ethan said, “I should allow you to return to your friends downstairs.”
“Not so fast, Mister Kaille. There is still the matter of Hutchinson to discuss. You’ve indicated that he doesn’t think me a murderer, at least not yet, for which I am grateful. But you also said that you defended me in his presence, which is why you’re here. I would like you to explain that.”
Ethan’s cheeks burned. He fixed his eyes on the floor in front of him. “The lieutenant governor suggested that while you might not kill a child, you would not be above using the lad’s death to your advantage and that of your cause. I disagreed, and told him that you would never make use of tragedy in that way. Mister Hutchinson is paying me, in his capacity as leader of the province, to find the conjurer who cast this spell, assuming that the spell was directed at Richardson. And we agreed to a bit of a wager. If I was right about you, and you made no effort to turn Christopher Seider’s murder to your purposes, he would pay me extra. And if I learned that he was right, I was to come to you on his behalf and try to convince you not to organize yet another assembly.”
Adams said nothing at first, but turned and walked back to the snow-covered window.
“And here I’ve been speaking of being disappointed in you.”
“Mister Hutchinson fears that another gathering like the one on Middle Street will lead to more bloodshed.” Ethan paused. “Truthfully, sir, I fear that as well.”
Adams turned. “So do I. So does every man downstairs. But what are we to do? Even if Hutchinson’s expressions of concern are sincere, his solution, essentially, is for those of us who agitate in defense of liberty to surrender. The lieutenant governor stands on the side of angels and exhorts us simply to give up. And if we refuse, then we are cold-blooded and self-seeking. I’m sorry, Mister Kaille. We must carry on with our plans.”
“As I told him you would.”
“Do you think so ill of me?” Adams asked through a brittle smile.
“I don’t think ill of you, sir. I know that the cause of liberty is the foundation of your life’s work. And I know as well that Hutchinson’s request was as much a political calculation as it was an attempt to prevent further violence.”
Adams grinned. “Indeed. Are you sure you won’t join us, Mister Kaille? We could use a man who thinks so clearly.”
“Thank you, sir, but no. I will be there on Monday, however, at whatever sort of assembly you have in mind. I wish I could have saved the boy’s life, but I was as powerless against his wounds as the surgeons who treated him. I want to pay my respects to the lad.”
“Very well,” Adams said in a solemn voice. “Shall we return to the Dragon? I have a good deal of work to do.”
“Yes, sir.”
They left the warden’s office and descended the stairs once more. Before they reached the tavern’s great room, Ethan whispered in Latin, “Veni ad me.”
Uncle Reg appeared beside him, gleaming like the moon in the dim light.
“Did you say something, Mister Kaille?” Adams asked.
“No, sir.”
Reg watched him as they emerged from the stairway, an avid look in his bright eyes.
I need to know if there