The Seeker - Isobelle Carmody [159]
“At first I heard nothing useful. It was a menial job, and I began to think I would have been better off applying to be a soldierguard. Then I realized I could not have found a better way to spy on the Councilmen. Once my face was familiar, it was as if I were nothing more than a broom or a mop, and they talked quite freely in front of me.
“I heard them talk of a sweeping investigation of the highlands planned for next year, after the first thaw, to flush out traitors and seditioners. I heard enough to make me certain the Council knows the Druid is alive. I also heard much talk about the Black Dog and his efforts to undermine authority and plunge the Land back into chaos. They think of you as a terrible threat, Brydda, and hunger to get hold of you. They were expecting word of your capture from Aborium. My guess is that news has come by now but that it was bad news.” He grinned at Brydda.
Domick paused to drink thirstily from a mug Katlyn had given him.
“What about the Druid’s friend? Did you learn who he is?” Kella asked.
Domick looked grim. “Almost from the start, I heard talk of a special agent who worked for both the Herder Faction and the Council, getting information to help expose seditioners. He had masterminded the capture of the man who betrayed your network, Brydda. And he forced him to talk when he refused to betray you. The agent was said to be brilliant and completely ruthless.”
“Then you heard no talk of Obernewtyn?” I asked.
Domick shook his head. “I had heard no mention of Obernewtyn—until two days ago. I overheard a conversation between two Councilmen about this special agent and his certainty that something was going on at Obernewtyn. One Councilman said he didn’t think there was anything in it, and the other reminded him that the agent had seldom led them wrong. I became certain then that this special agent and the Druid’s friend were the same person.”
“That sounds right to me,” I said. “The Druid befriended Rushton at one point, and maybe his agent resented this. It may be why he decided to play Druid for a fool.”
But Domick frowned. “That’s what I thought, because what other reason would this agent have for wanting Obernewtyn investigated?” He looked so stern, I felt suddenly frightened of what he was about to say.
“I never saw the agent,” he went on slowly. “Though I often heard him spoken of, there was never any mention of his name. But I was curious. Someone told me he came only at night to make reports, so I managed to get myself assigned to night duty.
“I was able to catch glimpses of him, but he always wore a hooded cloak that concealed his face. When I heard him talk, I had the strangest feeling I had heard his voice somewhere before. That made me more determined than ever to see what he looked like. Last night, I hid in a cupboard in the meeting room. I watched him through a crack in the door, but he kept his hood on the entire time he talked. I could not see his face, but I could hear him clearly.
“He told the Council he had been torturing more suspected seditioners in Aborium. Most knew nothing, but one seemed to think Brydda had family in Rangorn. A mother and father. Apparently, the poor man had only overheard that, because everyone else believed Brydda an escaped orphan. The agent said soldierguards had been in the area recently, and their report showed only one couple fitting the description. He wanted Council permission to bring them in for interrogation.
“The Council voted to send a troop of guards to Rangorn. They are on their way here now.”
Brydda’s face was pale and tense. “I did not think anyone knew. I was too careless.”
I said nothing. Something in Domick’s manner warned me the story was not finished.
“I was desperate to get away to warn you, but I had to wait until the room was empty. At last the meeting ended, and all the Councilmen left but this agent. Only then did he take off his hood, and I saw his face.”
“You … you recognized him?” Kella