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"There are bowmen watching from concealed recesses," Jolie said. "Crossbows."
Parry reached into an inner pocket and took his large silver cross. He doubted that anyone would fire at
him yet, but there was no sense in taking unnecessary chances. Fabiola felt the same way; she clutched
her small cross tightly.
Lord Bofort awaited them at a great oaken table. He was a stout man of perhaps fifty, very well dressed
with embroidered robes. "Welcome, Father Grief," he said expansively. "To what do we owe the honor
of this visit by a man of the cloth?"
"Bofort," Parry said without preamble, "there is a warrant for your arrest for abuse of your power. I have
come to take you to the magistrate."
"Friar, you are overstepping your bounds," Bofort said curtly. "You have no business meddling in my
affairs."
"I shall be satisfied to let the magistrate decide that," Parry said. "I ask you to leave this castle and come
with me now to the town, so that this matter may be settled."
"Because of the reckless charge of a foolish young girl? Surely you know better than that, friar."
"You were satisfied with her testimony when you meant to use it against your neighbor," Parry
reminded him. "Now we have ascertained that testimony was purjured, the result of the torture and
threats you made against her. She is a more credible witness against you than she was against your
neighbor."
"I think she will not be a witness at all," Bofort said grimly. He made a gesture, and two guards stepped
forward.
Fabiola straightened, and Parry recognized Jolie's aspect. She lifted the small silver cross. "Creatures of
hell, touch me not, lest you be chastened," she said.
The guards hesitated.
"Do not be daunted by a superstition!" Bofort snapped. "Take her!"
The guards resumed their motion. Fabiola fixed her gaze on the face of the nearest and swung the cross,
shoving it against his forearm.
The man screamed and fell back, holding his arm. Parry knew that Jolie had drawn on an item of magic
they had learned since her death: the mesmeric burn. The guard had not really been hurt, but he had felt
the pain where the cross touched-because of the guilt on his conscience. He had known it was wrong to
interfere with a witness protected by a friar. Superstition had indeed daunted him.
"So it is of this manner," Bofort muttered. He made another gesture.
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r r
"Deflect!" Parry cried, warning Jolie.
Two crossbow shafts came down from the bowmen in the alcoves. The arrows swerved slightly and
thudded into the wall on either side of the girl. Jolie had invoked the spell of deflection, causing the
barbs to miss. Conjuration or levitation was difficult magic, but deflection was its simplest aspect, and
they had more than a decade to study it.
"If your guilt were in doubt," Parry said, "that doubt has been resolved by your action. Come with me."
He strode around the table toward Bofort.
"Clear the court!" Bofort cried. "I will talk with this man alone." The guards and attendants hurried out,
as did the bowmen.
In a moment Parry and Fabiola were alone with Bofort. "Who are you?" Bofort demanded. "I know
sorcery when I see it!"
"I am sure you do," Parry agreed. "You have practiced it for decades."
"On behalf of the Church!"
"On behalf of Lucifer."
"How dare you charge me with that? I gave invaluable magical aid to the crusade!"
"You systematically eliminated your competition-in the guise of that support. That was the work of
Lucifer."
"Who are you?" Bofort repeated. "I know of all competent sorcerers, and there are none among the
monks!"
"I am the one that got away. You killed my father and my wife. Now I bring the power of that God you
wronged, to see that justice is done."
Bofort reflected. "There was one that escaped! A novice, a stripling, who murdered a crusader and
slipped the noose. I had all but forgotten."
"I had not forgotten," Parry said grimly. "Now you will come with me voluntarily to the magistrate, or I
shall reveal your nature to the personnel of this establishment. That will demolish your reputation as
well as your estate."
"You seek to make a deal, friar?" Bofort sneered.
"My calling requires mercy for the sinner, no matter how grievous his sins may be. Confess your sins,
and accept your punishment, and I shall not add to it. Come with me now, and some part of your estate
may survive."
"I cannot come with you," Bofort said. "You know whom I serve."
"I serve a greater one."
"No, you merely serve a different one."
"Must we try our strength? My Lord supports me; does yours support you?"
Bofort thought about that a moment. It was known that Lucifer quickly lost patience with those who
were clumsy in the pursuit or practice of evil. "Perhaps we can after all deal. I will give you information
that is worth far more than I am, if you will depart in peace."
"I seek no deal, merely justice. Come with me; perhaps you can make a deal with the magistrate." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]