Game of Kings - Dorothy Dunnett [31]
His boots they shone as black as jet—”
The break was as violent as if death itself had struck. The four strings gasped, once, under clenched fingers, and there was silence.
Alone with the hammering of her heart, with infinite patience, Christian waited.
“Memory’s a strange thing.” What aspect of the bold, ill-fated frog had opened the gates? Frogs—and wells. What lay at the bottom of a well? Cats; and kelpies; and curses; and cures for warts … and Truth, of course.
As if the thought had reached him, there was a movement beside her. The light insouciant voice showed no inclination to dive into wells.
“—Tweedle, tweedle, twino. I have a confession to make. The first rule of prison life is to curry favour with your jailer. This I have done with some success: Sym tells me he has no desire either to hang or to impoverish me. On the contrary: this afternoon he showed me how to escape with the key of the postern and over a secret path in the bog. I promised not to use it without your permission.”
Christian said, “I see. You seem to have been working very hard. And what is the rule when there are two jailers?”
He was silent for a moment; then said, “Look: swear me God from top to toe in one breath if you will; but remember, I exposed myself voluntarily.”
“All right,” she said. “Provided you have a clear idea of the situation. I take it you’ve recovered your senses, and your identity is not one that would be pleasing to Hugh. You are likewise unwilling to be a source of profit or revenge to Simon or myself. You are therefore asking us both, in view of past favours, to connive at your escape.”
If she had expected him to betray any further emotion, she was disappointed. “Admirably just, and justly damning,” said the voice equably. “Well, the remedy is in your own hands.” And he quoted mockingly:
“Se’l ser un si, scrivero’n rima
Se’l ser un no, amici come prima.”
There followed a pause, during which Christian came to the annoyed conclusion that she had once more been outmanoeuvred. Possessing the key, he had flung himself on her mercy. Why? It occurred to her that when referring to the enslavement of Sym, he had refrained with the utmost tact from drawing a parallel. He had left her to do that. To betray him now would suggest the vindictiveness of a disappointed woman, and she might well, in his opinion, shrink from that.
“Amid come prima, indeed!” repeated Christian viciously to herself, and added aloud, “I assure you that if you’ve persuaded Sym out of his dream of wealth through sheer weight of personality, I’m unlikely to insist on furca and fossa out of spite or low curiosity. But what I must and will have clear is that once free, you’ll do us no harm.”
“I could give you my word on that, except that, like the wonders of Mandeville, my probity is problematical.”
“The thought had occurred to me,” admitted Christian. “Therefore while accepting your promise—of course—I must make one other condition. Tell me your interest in Jonathan Crouch.”
“God!” he said; and this time she heard genuine amusement. “Next time I’ll make straight for Hugh. Rather the thumbscrews than the confessional. But I warn you, it’s a poor bargain. You won’t trace me through Crouch.”
“I’ll risk that,” she said, and then had further words struck from her by a sudden, vast commotion, echoing among the towers. At the same moment, a familiar voice rolled down the stair. “Good news, Christian! Are you there? Can I come down? Christian!”
She said, “It’s Tom Erskine—Outside the postern, quick. Where’s Sym … oh, there you are. Yes, I know: he’s told me. Look: go with him, take him to the cave and come back … it’s a small cavern halfway along the path; well hidden. You can stay there till dark. I’ll get a cloak and some food over to you later.”
“My sword—”
“I’ll send it. Here’s the postern key. Quick!”
She turned, as their running footsteps receded. “Tom, my dear! Wait and I’ll come up!”
Christian Stewart lifted her skirts and began climbing the stairs thoughtfully. “Damm the man!” said she, as she went; and it was not at all clear which