The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [295]
She did not answer. Instead, she said, ‘You have set poor Jan a wearisome task. Will he thank you?’
She saw him stiffen again. ‘Perhaps not,’ he said. ‘Perhaps he is made for secular life. Perhaps the new husbandman spoils the first shoot of the vine, and it blossoms but does not come to fruit. I should be sad.’
She said, ‘Are you sad, then, at my news?’
The face he showed her was startled. ‘Of Nicholas? No!’ He placed his hand in reassurance over hers. ‘Where would we be without such a competitor? Such a bold, extravagant, unpredictable spirit? No, I am relieved. You have lifted one burden from my shoulders. Although one should send to St Catherine’s, don’t you think, to warn them what is coming? A warning such as the Scythians sent to the Persians: a bird; a mouse; a frog –’
‘An arrow,’ finished Katelijne; who seldom recognised when silence was golden.
It did not occur to either of them that Nicholas de Fleury might already be there.
It need not be a jewel. A nut, a ring, a pebble will seek out the person you want, provided you are willing to spend what is asked of you.
The day after the celebration of the Abundance, Nicholas left for Mount Sinai. It was, of course, against Tobie’s advice. The previous night, Tobie had come back to their rooms on the island and forbidden him to make the attempt.
‘What does the gold matter? You can’t ride; you can’t walk. Sail to Alexandria. De Salmeton can’t harm you there. We’ll come with you. The Sultan will alter the pass. Surely all that matters is Gelis.’ He had paused. ‘You do believe she’s alive?’
Coming in, he had turned up the lamps and set one deliberately at the other man’s pillow. He sat down beside it. Nicholas continued to gaze at the ceiling. ‘Yes, I believe it,’ he said. He eased his shoulders distastefully.
Tobie grunted. ‘John thinks so as well. He has another funny idea. He thinks she arranged her own apparent death.’
Nicholas looked down his nose. It presumably saved him from moving his head. ‘She didn’t mean to. She didn’t want me to divine where she was. Now she doesn’t mind.’ He depressed one cheek and returned his gaze to the ceiling leaving the bearded dimple, as it were, in Tobie’s possession. Tobie analysed it and spoke, with some disbelief. ‘Gelis is at Mount Sinai?’
‘Yes.’
‘And she wants you there?’
‘En défaut de mieux.’
‘What else is she hoping for?’ Tobie said with impatience. ‘Nicholas? Whatever you are trying to say, you are not saying it.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Nicholas. ‘Put the light out. At least you see I must go. I don’t want you or John. You can make for Alexandria.’
‘I shall certainly put it to John,’ Tobie said. ‘I feel bound to come with you, myself. That child Katelijne is going to need help.’
Nicholas lifted his head. Tobie said, ‘Didn’t you know? She’s with Adorne, dressed as a boy. I’ve told her you’re safe: she’d be worried.’
Nicholas swore.
Tobie said, ‘Your brain worked better than that at nineteen. You’ve told me half. Do you want me to guess at the rest?’ He saw, as he was speaking, that in fact that was what he must do. It dismayed him.
He remembered then, as he occasionally did, that he was the elder, and experienced in medicine. He said, his tone changing, ‘Tell me, then. Who gave you the ring?’
‘David de Salmeton,’ Nicholas said.
Tobie heaved a deep sigh and, rising, walked to the window. He spoke without looking round. ‘Gelis sent it, or gave it, to David de Salmeton?’
He turned. Nicholas didn’t speak. Tobie said, ‘It wouldn’t surprise me, or many others, if you confessed to an estrangement. You were quick to get her with child. But you’ve persuaded yourself that de Salmeton did what he did with her sanction? That she wishes you dead? Why should she?’
‘I don’t know. You must be right,’ Nicholas said. ‘I ought, though, to see her at Sinai. Before Adorne and his niece can arrive.’
Slowly, Tobie began to see light. He said, ‘It’s the gold. You think Adorne and she are in league? You think she has discovered something – perhaps she called at St Sabas? She knew your Captain Ochoa, who lost the gold from