In total, they still numbered only twenty, not counting their allies.

  Pentarch moved to the next order of business methodically.

  “We’ve managed to escape the Curia after the blow we’ve dealt them, but it’s only a matter of time before they regroup. They may be marshalling their forces to attack us as we speak. They already know about this storehouse. Tomorrow we’ll take everything we can carry from here, then alert the local authorities about the rest before we depart. The city watch will need it when our pursuers arrive here after us.”

  “The question,” he continued, “is where will we go? As I see it, we have three priorities. To inform our absent masters what has transpired. To keep Veronique out of the traitor’s clutches. And to gather allies willing to help us reclaim our home.”

  No one objected.

  “I intend for us to split our forces. Diana and Phillip will take half our journeymen east, into the Alfsteppe, to search for Konstantin. Michel and Tobin will take the other half west, to search for Dimitrius in the highlands. It’s my hope that by keeping most of our numbers near this latitude, Fra Heward and I will be able to slip south unnoticed with Veronique. We’ll take the priest and the woman too, it’s too dangerous to leave them behind. If we can make our pursuers believe that Veronique is with either of your parties, it will be easier for us to hide our trail.”

  “I’ll dye my hair red. See if we can’t leave confused reports behind,” Diana offered. “We’ll darken hers before you leave,”

  “If we can make it to the Fer-mark, I know Jean will help us,” said Vero.

  Pentarch grunted. “I don’t deny that we may need the assistance of the Marquis de Fer eventually, but that is precisely where they expect us to go. My intention is for us to vanish. It’s better that no one know our true destination until we depart. This present company included. We must proceed under the assumption that anyone at this council can and will be captured.”

  The mood darkened.

  “I don’t want to leave any illusions. Most of you will be acting as bait. Our highest priority is to prevent Veronique’s capture. Any one of our lives must be considered expendable towards that end. That includes her own. I am ordering journeyman Veronique to carry a vial of lethal poison at all times, to be used in the worst case.”

  Vero worked with lethal poisons often, and usually carried more than one at any time. It caused her no anxiety, but the pronouncement mollified the others, so it accomplished its goal. At least everyone knew they all were on an equal footing.

  Vero was not pleased to have her fate dictated to her, but she had no objections.

  Except one. “I want Conner to come with us.”

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  “Why do you want to take the lad with you?” Diana asked.

  So, I can protect him, she thought.

  “So, he can protect me,” she replied. “He was the one who rescued me in that tower in the first place.”

  Conner blushed.

  “I-” Pentarch looked into her eyes, she did not intend to back down.

  Vero could tell he was weighing the difficulties she could make for him by refusing to cooperate. “-Very well, Conner comes. Elizaveta, in light of the intelligence you’ve provided us regarding the Curia and your father, I am declaring you exempt from our hunt for the time being. I suggest that you remain here, keeping watch on the Curia and their allies.”

  “Very well,” replied Elizaveta.

  A palpable undercurrent of discontent ran through those assembled, but it was Phillip who gave voice to it. “Dark times, when even we are forced to consort with those we should hunt.”

  Pentarch was about to chastise him, but Elizaveta spoke first. “I am no happier to be among you. But as you stated, neither of us has any choice in the matter. Anticipating your concerns, besides the tokens of friendship I granted to Veronique in our time together, I also brought you all a further sign of my goodwill.”

  From a satchel she carried, Elizaveta removed the severed and desiccated head of Kunigard the Wretched and placed it on a table before all of them. No one questioned her qualities as an ally any further.

  “Velois should make a stable place for us to rendezvous. I expect that war is going to start spreading across Teutonia very soon. When we’ve finished our appointed tasks, we’ll reunite in the Fer-Mark. Veronique and I will contact you there when the time is right. Agreed?”

  Everyone voiced their support.

  “Then this council is adjourned,” Pentarch concluded. “Gather everything you can carry, and lay down for a few hours rest. Our party will march just before daylight, the rest of you right after. Diana, your group will be the ones to alert the cathedral about this storehouse before you leave. Make as much noise as you can, we want all eyes on you. Michel and Tobin, I want your group to move quickly and quietly. Everyone should try to hide their identity and let our foes believe that Veronique is somewhere hidden among your number. Understood?”

  Diana answered for them all. “Understood.”

  Vero felt a rarely pure joy, waking up with Dora clasped in her arms. She just stayed there for a time. Then woke the girl with many kisses when it was time for them to leave.

  The two of them packed up quickly, and departed the inn under heavy cloaks. Dora did not approve of the weight in her pack, although Vero left it as light as she dared. The others met them outside.

  They went to the stables for their horses, and Vero could not believe it when she found Ramiro there waiting for them. Not only was he awake before daybreak, he was whispering with Papillon.

  It could only be that he had not gone to sleep yet in his binge. She had no explanation for how he learned to speak with animals.

  “Why are you talking to my horse?”

  “There you are!” He stood up. “Well, I had to do something as I sobered up. Those letters you gave me are with your saddle, incidentally. I didn’t read them. Or show them to anyone else.” He winked at her.

  “My thanks. I suppose this is farewell, Ramiro. Perhaps we shall meet again someday. Don’t tell anyone you know me.”

  “Don’t be hasty. I was just considering coming with you.”

  “Ramiro, I cannot go into detail, but I’m pursued by dangerous enemies.”

  “As am I. But I’ll warrant that yours are probably deadlier. So deadly, that I suspect they’ll kill me for the mere fact that we once shared a room together for a fortnight. If we are both fugitives, then let us all be fugitives together. At least if we are sent to the Veiled One, it shall be with boon and fair-faced companions.”

  “Will he be able to keep up with us?” Pentarch asked.

  No.

  “I’ll make sure of it,” Vero answered.

  Ramiro suddenly appeared to realize that his reach may have exceeded his grasp.

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