Game of Kings - Dorothy Dunnett [32]
* * *
With Erskine were all his troops; tired, filthy and in the wildest of spirits. Biggar opened its doors to them: Bizzyberry echoed with laughter and music and at the castle, officers and garrison, suitably freshened up, shared a happy excess of food and drink in the banqueting hall.
Sitting beside Tom, smelling the white soap he used and picturing him, clean, rosy and normal, Christian was moved to say, “Tom, I’m so glad you’re here!”
He said apologetically, “I’d have been here long before if I could. You look tired to death. Idiotic of Jenny Fleming to leave you.”
She smiled. “It’s only my capacity for intelligent sympathy that’s exhausted—I’m longing for simple, positive, cheerful conversation. Tell me more of your news.”
For it was not only good, but miraculous. Lords Wharton and Lennox, dug deep into Annandale, had turned tail; and pursued by himself and Lord Culter had scampered back to England. There was a garrison still at Castlemilk—no very great danger—but the deadly thrust north had been stopped: the western arm of the nutcracker had broken.
“Why?”
“Overconfidence, we think. They spread a rumour they meant to march north, and got a shock when Culter assumed the opposite and charged in. Made a mess of poor old Annan, but nothing to what Clydesdale missed, thank God. Although I don’t mind saying,” he added frankly, “that Culter took a chance I wouldn’t have touched with a billhook.”
“But it worked,” said Christian. “And now?”
“Report to the Queen Mother. Dispatch rider ahead, of course, with details but I follow tomorrow. You’ll come, won’t you?”
“I think I shall, yes,” said Christian. “If there’s no threat to the castle they can dispense with me here. And I ought to take those children off Lady Fleming’s hands. Is there a moon tonight?”
“No: It’s got overcast,” said Tom, surprised. “Why?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter. Sym wanted some night fishing. And I must finish packing as well,” said Christian, with the appearance of absolute truth.
* * *
The path through the bog was not easy to find. Even steered firmly by Sym, her booted feet kept gouging into wet sponges and clucking, half-dug hags. Her gown was soaked and her spirits still damper when she heard a murmur ahead.
Sym, a joyful conspirator, whispered. “There’s someone else with him in the cave, my lady.”
Christian said, “Be quiet!” but the low voices stopped, and there was a stealthy sound to their right. She pushed Sym a little, and he stepped forward, rising surprisingly to the occasion with a bold voice. “Stay where you are! We bring food from Boghall, but we’re armed, too.”
“Doubly armed, I trust,” said the voice of their former prisoner. “My faith, yes. Food, my sword and dagger—Sym, you’re a hero.… Good God!” it said plaintively. “Good God! Lady Christian. The most determined creature since Bruce. I owe you some information, don’t I?”
“You do. How do you feel after your walk?”
“In good heart and excellent health. Happier than Augustus, better than Trajan. And one of my own senators, to boot, has already traced me and is about to restore me to my empire. It’s the new moon. Like the elephants of Mauretania, my friends are foregathering to perform mysterious rites … Jonathan Crouch is an Englishman I want to speak to, that’s all. I know nothing about him, except that he’s a prisoner in Scotland, but I mean to trace him, if it takes me to Hell and back.”
“It needn’t do that,” said Christian. “Because I can do it for you, through Tom. He has access to all the lists at Stirling, and he’ll be discreet, if I ask him. Come to this cave on Tuesday, and I’ll leave word for you.”
The voice this time was brief. “Thank you, Shahrazad, but I think not.”
She spoke bluntly. “Crouch will be ransomed back to England long before you can find him yourself.”
“Nevertheless, no.”
Meeting the rock of his will, she had no mind to plead. “Well, whether you want it or not, the information will be there,” said Christian. “Ignore it if you want to. Good night.” And pulling Sym’s coat, she moved.
She was stopped at three paces by long, wiry fingers