Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [163]
Nicholas answered before Wodman could, in a thoughtful way. ‘It’s possible, but, as I said, time is the problem. Simpson will have to stop now and then, if only to try and pick up fresh horses. It’s my guess that he’ll follow the Newbattle route. The monks travel this way all the time, and are well thought of in the cots where they stay. The same places will welcome Davie, and perhaps hinder us, if he’s told them some story. I think we’d be better avoiding them meantime. I’d like to know when he’s close to the tower, and then take him before he gets in. After that, it’s his life in exchange for the hostage’s.’
Henry said, ‘He wouldn’t agree. If he did, you’d just besiege him and kill him.’
Gelis said, ‘Or what about swearing an oath? If he has the hostage brought out, you will let Simpson and his men escape to wherever they want. They could ride to Dumbarton and take ship.’
‘Dumbarton wouldn’t do,’ said Nicholas. ‘In fact, none of it will do, because he wouldn’t trust us.’
‘So?’ said Tobie. She had thought he had gone to sleep in the saddle.
‘So,’ said Wodman, ‘it’s not worth talking about, because he’s got a head start, and the chances are that he’ll get into Beltrees long before dawn, while my men are still trying to track him. In fact, he may not be going to Beltrees at all. His prisoner may be somewhere quite different, and we are not going to get there by daybreak.’
‘So we go home,’ Henry said. The sneer was familiar.
‘We could,’ Nicholas said. ‘Or we could think it through a bit further. Beltrees is where Simpson has protection, on a route that he knows well at night, and far enough away to dodge large-scale pursuit. He’s likely to go there. And he’s likely to have told us where to go, because above all else he wanted me to follow. Now he’s got Andro and Gelis and Tobie as well, he’s going to be ecstatic.’
‘Why?’ said Gelis. The streaming torchlight showed Wodman looking surprised. Men.
‘I suppose because he wants them all dead,’ Henry said. ‘I rather think I come into that category too. So we may have to storm the tower? We could do with more men.’
‘I thought of sending to Semple,’ said Nicholas. ‘He’s the sheriff of Renfrewshire. We’ll get there before he does, but it might help.’
Wodman said, ‘I told you. I sent to Semple while I was waiting for you. Then I wondered if I’d done right.’
‘I’m sorry. It must have been the soup,’ Nicholas said. ‘No. I’m sure it was right. We’ll get there first to negotiate. Then the heavy troops can come up.’
Very soon after that, Wodman’s first henchman appeared out of the darkness to tell them that Simpson had been seen. He was still riding west, and on a route that would take him to Renfrewshire.
The messenger was reeling with tiredness. Wodman kept him for a bit, then sent him off to beg an hour on the hay in some farm. Henry helped him find one.
While he was away, Gelis moved beside Nicholas. He said, ‘Are you tired?’ There was no weariness in his own face. He looked calm, and steady, and competent. He was concerned for her. He did not show what he might be feeling for Robin.
Gelis said, ‘Yes, of course, but not beyond reason. Nicholas? This is all because Davie wants you to face him. Wants you more than his own life, perhaps.’
‘It’s the one problem,’ he said. ‘What will Henry do when he discovers, too late, that the prisoner isn’t a prince with a marriageable daughter?’
‘Blame you,’ she said. ‘Then act like any careless superior, throwing a crumb to some once-favoured cripple.’ She paused. ‘Not as good for his character as you’d like.’
‘You can’t have everything,’ Nicholas said. Behind, a faint drumming told that Henry was now catching up. Gelis prepared to drop back. Nicholas said, ‘No. Stay. To hell with Henry and his character. It’s one of the privileges of being married, to ride with one’s wife. Especially when being shown so much leg. I like that one.’
‘I’ve got another just like it,’ said Gelis.
He smiled: the