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gnawing at you. Is it Paul? I thought you were finally getting over his death. You should never have gone
off on those stupid campaigns, the werewolf hunts. I should never have let you go."
"They helped;"
"Did they? Every time some fool jumped at his own shadow and shouted 'werewolf!' you went racing off
to track it down. And how many did you find, out of all those dozens of hunts? One. Just one. That was
why the King made you resign, wasn't it? Not just because you'd reached the retirement age, but
because you were never there when he needed you!"
"Don't," whispered Roderik, squeezing his eyes shut. Elaine rose quickly out of her chair and hurried
over to kneel beside him. She put a hand on his arm, and he reached blindly across to squeeze it tightly.
"It's all right, my dear," said Elaine softly. "I'm not angry with you, I'm just worried. Worried about you.
You've been so; different lately."
"Different?" Roderik opened his eyes and looked at her uncertainly. "How do you mean, different?"
"Oh, I don't know; moody, irritable, easily upset. I'm not blind, you know. And there've been other
things;"
"Elaine;"
"Once a month, you go off on your own. You don't come back for days on end, and when you do, you
won't tell me where you've been or what you've been doing."
"I have my reasons," said Roderik gruffly.
"Yes," said Elaine, "I think you do. You mustn't feel badly about it. Rod. When a man gets to your age I
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know that sometimes they, well, start to feel insecure about; themselves. I just want you to know that I
don't mind, as long as you come home to me."
"You don't mind?" said Roderik slowly. "Elaine, what are you talking about?"
"I don't mind that you have another woman," said Elaine steadily. "You shouldn't look so astonished, my
dear. It wasn't that difficult to work out. You have a mistress. It really doesn't matter."
Roderik stood up, took his wife by the shoulders and made her stand up, facing him. He tried to say
something, and couldn't. He took her in his arms and held her tightly. "Elaine, my dear, my love. I
promise you I don't have another woman. You're the only woman I ever wanted, the only woman I've
ever loved. I promise you; there's never been anyone in my life but you, and there never will be."
"Then where have you been going all these months?"
Roderik sighed, and held her away from him so that he could look at her. "I can't tell you, Elaine. Just
believe me when I say I don't go because I want to, I go because I have to. It's important."
"You mean it's; political?"
"In a way. I can't talk about it, Elaine. I can't."
"Very well, my dear." Elaine leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Tell me about it when you
can. Now let's go to bed. It's been a long day."
"I think I'll sit up for a while. I'm not sleepy. You go to bed. I won't be long."
Elaine nodded, and turned away to pull back the sheet. She didn't see the tears that glistened in
Roderik's eyes for a moment. When she looked at him again, having first settled herself comfortably in
bed, he was sitting on the chair, staring at nothing.
"Rod;"
"Yes?"
"Who do you think killed William?"
"I don't know. I can't even see how he was killed, never mind who or why."
"Are we in any danger?"
"I shouldn't think so. Gaunt is on guard now; nothing will get by him. And there's always the two Guards
downstairs. They're proficient enough at the simple things, I suppose. There's nothing for you to worry
about, my dear. Go to sleep."
"Yes, Rod. Blow out the lamp when you come to bed."
"Elaine;"
"Yes?"
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"I love you. Whatever happens, never doubt that I love you."
The witch Visage lay in her bed and stared at the ceiling. She didn't really like the bed. It was very
comfortable, but it was too big. She felt lost in it. She stirred restlessly under the single thin sheet covering
her. She felt hot and clammy, but she didn't like to throw back the sheet, not in a stranger's house. She'd
feel naked and defenseless. Not that she was in any danger. She'd locked the door and set the wards.
No one and nothing could get to her now. She was safe.
But only for the moment. She'd worked for William Blackstone all her adult life, and she didn't know
what would become of her now that he was dead. William had always been much more than an
employer to her; he had been her god. He was wise and just, and he fought the forces of evil in Haven.
He always knew what to do, and he was always right, and if he hardly ever noticed the quiet young witch
at his side, well, that was only to be expected. He always had so many important things on his mind. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]