“Where?”
“I don’t know yet,” Thomas opened the gate, peered out. “All clear. Come on.”
Chapter 20
They waited in the apartment all morning and most of the afternoon, sipping at left-over wine and water, and eating left-over food. Thomas spent the time pacing and glancing nervously over the balcony rail to the empty yard below. He had cast his robe aside and put on his sword. There was something comfortable about it, even though he knew it wouldn’t do him a bit of good if twenty of the bishop’s guards came after them. Still, he kept his hand on the hilt as he paced back and forth through the room.
George spent the day sitting on the balcony, looking moodily at the courtyard and the fountain below. Thomas didn’t bother to ask the big man’s thoughts. He was sure they were bleak, and probably focused on who got him into this mess. George, of course, said nothing of the sort. Thomas still felt guilty and morose.
He paced some more, stared off the balcony beside George a while, then went back into the apartment. He went to his room and found Eileen sitting at the desk, reading.
“How are you doing?” Thomas asked.
“Oh, badly,” Eileen said, attempting to muster some cheer and not succeeding. “I think I’ve been reading the same page for the last hour.”
Thomas stepped in beside her, once more aware how dingy the room was. “I really should have cleaned more often.”
“Probably,” she agreed. “I still like it, though.”
Thomas snorted at that. “You should be here in the winter. We all sleep in the middle room to keep from freezing.”
“Even so.” She waved a hand around the room. “Look at these books. Could anything be better?”
“Warmth in winter and fewer insects in the room.”
She looked at him, eyes sharp and head tilted to the side. “Would you trade it?” she asked. “For anything?”
Thomas sighed and shook his head. “No. I wouldn’t. It’s all I wanted to be.”
“Me, too.” Eileen turned back to the book and shut the cover with more force than it needed. “Of course, I’m not allowed.”
“I suppose not.”
“Why not?” she demanded. “The nuns tell tales of women who taught at schools or led armies. Why aren’t I allowed to go to school?”
“I don’t know,” said Thomas. “Things have changed.”
“Not for the better.”
“They’re back!”
George’s shout echoed through the apartment. Thomas and Eileen rushed to the balcony. Henry and Benjamin were walking rapidly across the courtyard, neither looking at all happy. Thomas tracked their movements all the way.
“Well?” Thomas demanded when they reached the top stair.
“You were right,” said Henry, his expression dead serious. “You’re in trouble.”
“How much?”
Henry ignored him. “Alex, come here.”
Eileen stepped forward, warily. “Yes?”
“Turn around, will you?”
Bewildered, she did what she was told. He stopped her when she was facing the back wall.
“See that?” Henry said, indicating her backside to Benjamin. “How could I have mistaken that for a boy’s?”
“Hey!” Eileen spun around, indignant.
“I don’t see how we missed it,” Benjamin looked stern and shook a finger at her. “You are a girl.”
“She is rather skinny,” said Henry.
“I’m standing in front of you, you know.”
“And very flat up top, too.”
“I’m tied down, you lout!”
Thomas felt his jaw tightening. He stepped forward, blocking Henry’s view of Eileen. “Very funny. Hilarious, in fact. What happened at the meeting?”
“You’ve been accused of witchcraft and conspiracy to commit murder,” said Henry, off-handedly. “Nothing we didn’t know.” He looked over Thomas’s shoulder to Eileen. “You aren’t being courted by anyone right now, are you?”
“George!” Eileen turned to her brother. “Do something!”
“Was there any other news?” demanded Thomas. “And stop staring at her.”
“I’m sorry,” said Henry, “but she has lovely legs.”
Eileen headed for the bedroom. “I’m putting on a skirt!”
“Oh, please, don’t,” Henry stepped around Thomas and in her way, “there’s so much more to say.”
“That’s enough,” the rumble of George’s voice, low though it was, filled the apartment. Henry saw his expression, and stepped aside, leaving Eileen to huff off into Thomas’s room and slam the door behind her.
“So,” Henry smiled at Thomas, “is she courting with anyone?”
“No,” George replied, his voice sounding like a bear’s growl. “And she won’t be starting with you. Now leave her alone and tell us what happened.”
“The bishop read off a list of charges,” said Benjamin. “He says you three were seen in several towns down the river, heading this way.”
“He also took the time to inform us of how we at the Academy are a bad influence,” interrupted Henry. “Apparently, we are as responsible for your troubles as you yourself.”
“He threatened to have the king remove the Theology school,” Benjamin said. “To keep the future servants of the High Father from falling into bad company.” Worry filled his eyes. “I don’t want to leave the Academy.”
“He hates this place.” said Thomas, remembering the bishop’s speech at John Flarety’s table.
“Probably wants to keep the clergy from learning anything but the teaching of the High Father,” Henry patted Benjamin on the arm. “It could ruin an impressionable young man like you, you know.”
“I think it already has,” said Benjamin, the worry spreading from his eyes to the rest of his face. “Because when the bishop was talking about removing Theology, I kept thinking about the books in the vault, and what he would do with them.”
The idea of the bishop possessing books on witchcraft sent a shiver through Thomas. “He’ll use them if there’s anything to use, and destroy anything that could expose him.” He began pacing again. “We have to get them tonight.”
“He’s posting guards outside all the Academy’s gates,” said Henry. “All students entering or leaving will be required to show their faces. Any suspects will be held until the bishop or his familiar sees them.”
Thomas swore and paced harder.
“At least he didn’t put guards inside as well,” said George.
“It’s the king’s Academy. He needs a writ before he can put soldiers on the grounds,” said Henry. “If he tried it without, the students would rise up in protest.” He smiled, and the expression was not at all pleasant. “In fact, they’re already complaining about the guards outside.” Henry turned back to Thomas. “And it gets better.”
“How could it?”
“Well,” said Benjamin, “the bishop summoned all those Theology students working in his house to attend him at once. We waited for them to get back before we came here. That’s what took so long.”
Thomas had a very bad feeling. “What did they say?”
“Two things,” replied Benjamin. “First, the bishop had all students working in the house come in for confession.”
“Is that unusual?” asked George.
Benjamin nodded. “The bishop never does confession for the house. He’s too high for that, and certainly too high to lay hands on foreheads during benediction.”
It clicked in place in Thomas’s mind at once. “He’s searching for magic.”
“We thought you’d say something like that.” said Henry.
“The bishop also told them all to pack the house for another trip,” Benjamin continued. “He’s moving to the summer house at Seaview early this year.”
“What’s at his summer house?” asked George.
“Less stench,” suggested Henry. “The city gets rather rank in July.”
“What
else?
” demanded Thomas.
“The remains of an old battlefield,” ventured Henry. “A stone circle, some lovely country, lots of sheep.”
“Thank you,” snapped Thomas.
“—And the bishop, in three days,” said Benjamin. “Those working in his household are excused from classes for the next two to help him pack.” He sat down at the table and looked at Thomas. “What are you going to do now?”
Thomas had no answer, but Eileen’s appearance saved him the need. She was wearing her green skirt and bodice and a white blouse. Henry whistled appreciatively and received a glare. “That’s enough of that,” she said. “You’d swear you’d never seen a girl before.”
“Not one so pretty as you,” assured Henry.
“You’re a liar,” Eileen went over to stand by her brother. “And a scoundrel, I’m certain. Now, what’s happened?”
Several voices joined in the telling, and Eileen was brought up to date. When they were done she, too, looked to Thomas. “So, now what?”
Thomas’s mind was whirling. He tried to think of some alternatives, but in the end realized he couldn’t do anything except keep going or run away. “I say we keep with the plan; we just need to get past the guards.”
“We’ll need to change your appearances,” said Henry, “or go over the wall.”
“The wall,” said Thomas. “It’s easier.”
“We also need to find some tools,” said George. “If I’m to open the door, that is.”
“Right.” Thomas resumed pacing, going back and forth across the apartment a dozen times. “Right. Benjamin, can you take George to the Street of Smiths and get what we need?”
“Are you sure we should go?” asked Benjamin. “I mean, we’re not exactly easy to hide.”
“Nay, you’re not, but they’re not looking for two big men, and on the Street of Smiths you’ll blend right in.”
“He’s right,” said George.
“He is,” agreed Benjamin. “Come on.”
“Take the stairs away from the Academy,” Thomas added. “There’s no sense in letting one of the bishop’s guards get lucky.”
George nodded. “We’ll stay out of sight.”
“Just get what you need and get back fast.”
“What about me?” asked Henry.
“Go around the Academy. Find out where the guards are posted and then come back and tell me. We’ll work out how to get in after that.”
“And what are you going to do?” asked Henry, archly, looking at Eileen.
“Nothing that you need worry about,” Eileen answered sharply.
Thomas raised a hand to forestall any other comments. “Eileen will stay here. I’ll get us food for tonight.”
“No you won’t,” said Henry. “If you’re caught, we’re all in trouble.”
“He won’t have guards at the market.”
“I didn’t think he’d put guards on the Academy,” said Benjamin. “But they’re there.”
“They won’t—”
“They might,” said George. “And I’d rather you didn’t leave Eileen alone, in case they come here.”
Thomas tried to think of an argument, but came up with nothing. All his friends’ eyes were on him, and all of them were looking very determined. “All right, I’ll stay here.” He pointed at Henry. “You get the food for tonight.”
“And who are you to order me?” asked Henry, pulling his long length upright and raising his nose.
Thomas tossed him a pair of silver coins. “The one who’s paying.”
Henry caught them, and without changing tone or posture said, “Good enough.”
“And no wine.”
“No wine?” Henry repeated, appalled.
“No wine,” Thomas repeated back. “We all need to be clear tonight.”
Henry sighed. “All right. I’ll get the food on my way back. And no wine. You two stay out of sight.” He smiled. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
Benjamin and George left out the back while Henry sauntered out the front. Thomas watched the lot of them go, then turned and went into his room. Eileen followed him.
“So,” she asked, “What is it that we
are
going to do?”
“Find my map, first,” Thomas replied, opening the drawers on his desk and digging through the papers there. “Every new student gets a map of the grounds. If I can find mine, I can figure out the best place to go over the wall. Here!” He came up with a ragged sheet of paper and spread it out on the desktop. “As soon as Henry gets back, we can start planning.”
“And until then?”
Thomas found himself at a complete loss. He sank onto his chair. “You know, I have no idea.”
Eileen sat on the bed, facing him, their knees almost touching. Worry was etching lines into her forehead, and Thomas had to force himself not to reach out and smooth them. Instead, he smiled at her, trying to lighten the mood.
“You know, you do look much better as a girl.”
She managed to force a smile back. “Thank you.”
“Though I’ll miss the sight of you in breeches.”
She leaned forward and gave his leg a swat. “You’re as bad as Henry.”
“He has been a terrible influence on me.”
“I think he has.” For a moment Eileen’s smile looked a little less forced, then it faded. Worry tried to make its way back into her face, but Eileen pushed it aside, and put the smile back on. “You could hurt a girl’s feelings,” she said, nearly succeeding in making her tone light, “saying things you don’t mean.”
“Who says I didn’t mean it?” protested Thomas. “You look very pretty.”
“I look terrible,” Eileen countered, she raised a hand to her head, her fingers catching in the tangled mop. “My hair is a mess.”
“You look fine,” Thomas felt something deep within coming to the surface. “Even the hair.”
She tilted her head at him. “You’re beginning to sound like you’ve come to court me.”
Thomas laughed without humour, “Not just now.” He pushed the feelings back inside; pushed himself up from the chair and paced the short length of the room. “I don’t think this is a good time for it.”
“Too bad,” said Eileen quietly.
That brought Thomas up short. His heart sped up of its own accord, and he felt suddenly light-headed. “Do you mean that?”
She nodded, not looking at him. “Aye.”
Thomas sank down on the bed, as much to keep from falling over as any other reason. His shoulder was touching hers, and the warmth of the contact felt to be spreading through his entire body. “You couldn’t have told me on Fire Night?”
“Oh!” Eileen laughed and pushed him. “With you just back and only having spoken three words to me?” She laughed again. “You’re lucky I held your hand, let alone jumped with you.”
“Why did you?” Thomas asked. “Jump with me, I mean?”
Her eyes twinkled. “For the village,” she said, piously. “The village and the luck.”
He snorted. “Right.”
She giggled some more. “I think I did it mainly to annoy Sister Brigit. And because…” she began to blush, “because it was you.”