The Scrivener s Tale - By Fiona McIntosh Page 0,197

majesty,' he now said, bowing, 'it gladdens my heart to see you safe.'

Florentyna stepped forward and held out her hand. He took it and kissed it gently. 'Master Fynch,' she said and he heard the slight tremble in her voice. 'It is I who am the more glad. Forgive me for not paying your warnings enough heed.'

'That is the past, your majesty. Don't look to it now. Worry only about staying safe while we rid the land of the curse that has come upon it.'

'No, but if I'd listened, Chancellor Reynard might still be - '

'Even if you had taken my warnings to heart, I believe Reynard would have followed the pathway he took and it is only because of Reynard that we have Gabriel with us, my queen.'

'You know Gabriel?' Cassien chimed in, looking up from where he knelt by Romaine, stroking the wolf.

'He and I have spoken.'

'Spoken?' the queen and Cassien repeated together.

Fynch smiled. 'I will explain. Come. You have made a long journey. Let us return to your old hut, Cassien, and give the queen a place to rest her head for a while.'

He turned and his companions fell in step, following the wolf into the forest.

'Ride like a demon is chasing you,' Tamas roared over his shoulder, laughing bleakly at his own dark humour.

Ham was grateful for it, though. It made him feel more secure if Tamas presented confidence. He'd seen death before but not like that: not cold, calculated and so very cruel. But as the wind tore at his hair and turned his horse's mane into a wave of undulating gold, Ham was reminded that the woman who had died was not Princess Darcelle but merely the puppet of a demon that had stolen her corpse. It had to be done and he admired Tamas for his resolve; the courage it took for him to destroy Cyricus and Aphra and give Darcelle's body to Shar's keeping, where it belonged. He wished the corpse had not been dragged behind its horse, but there was no point in worrying over that now, especially with Morgravian riders giving chase in the firm belief that the heir to the throne had just been murdered.

Tamas had been right. The men had no idea where the arrow came from and had scattered in various directions, including theirs. If Ham's last glance had been correct, three had headed their way, which was easier to stomach than thirty-six angry legionnaires. No doubt the Cipreans had been forgotten and left to get to their ship without another moment's thought.

He urged his horse forward. 'Where are we going?'

Tamas shrugged in his saddle theatrically. 'I'm just trying to get us away. You get to choose where we go.'

Ham was not as familiar with his realm as perhaps the king presumed, but he knew Tamas couldn't be expected to make the most informed decision either.

There was only one direction to ride. 'We head north, back the way we came.'

'Where in the north, though? Not that it matters to me ... I have no idea where I am even now,' Tamas admitted.

Ham wanted to say the Forest. But the Forest was huge. He wouldn't have any idea where to start looking for Cassien even if they did make it to the Great Forest. He frowned and it occurred to him that apart from Orkyld, there was one other place that he and Cassien had shared and that Cassien may think to go to as a meeting point.

'We'll head for Rittylworth Monastery,' he finally yelled as they galloped, knowing he sounded more confident than he felt. 'It's a direct route northwest. We can avoid Pearlis too.'

'You're in charge, Ham. Lead the way,' Tamas said.

Gabe was holding to the Void as instructed but was relieved that he could still sense the familiar grey stone of Pearlis Cathedral. He knew he was sitting by the great dragon and that his hand was still placed against one of the huge toes of the beast's clawed foot and it reassured him.

What Fynch had told him had been startling, but there was no time to reflect on his past, the discovery that he had family in this world, or the identity of his real parents. He was now part of a triumvirate of power that had to link together in order to destroy Cyricus and he wouldn't let his companions down.

'Everyone will be counting on each other, none more important than the next ... but you, Gabe,' Fynch said, fixing him with