The Hidden Land by PAMELA DEAN Read Free Book Online Page B

warmer than the room.
    “Well,” said Fence. “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece. Say you still that Randolph’s hand is in this?”
    “I don’t see how he could have done it, Fence,” said Ted, truthfully enough. “I was watching him every minute.”
    “My mind tends to Andrew,” said Fence, “but that is for a mere dislike; and he was in favor; why would a cut’s own throat?”
    “Could it have been a mistake?” asked Ted.
    “I would I had been here,” said Fence. There was a silence. “And I am remiss,” he added. Ted turned around. Fence had stooped over the King and raised the blue cloth. Ted was just as pleased to be unable to see what he was doing.
    “Dear heaven,” said Fence.
    “What?” said Ted.
    “This is the very smell of sorcery.”
    Oh, of course. But Edward would be surprised. “What?” said Ted.
    “This is not a natural poison. It cannot be got save by sorcery.” Fence let the cloth fall from his hand and stood up. “Conrad, Matthew, Andrew, Randolph,” he said. “All had a chance at cup or bottle; and all have dabbled save Andrew.”
    “His sister could have made it for him,” said Ted, viciously.
    “So she could,” said Fence. He joined Ted at the window. “Or, think you, to Randolph?”
    “No,” said Ted. “When he spilled the wine, I gave him a different cup, and I was right next to him the whole time. Besides,” added Ted, thinking that a little truth could do no harm, “he was very cheerful while we were setting the table.” He had become cheerful after seeing the spiderweb in the cupboard, whatever that meant.
    “And Andrew was marvelous distempered at the spilling of the wine?”
    “Yes, marvelous.”
    “Now thou hast seen the deed, thou hast less stomach for the thought that Randolph did do’t?” said Fence, belaboring the point as was his occasional regrettable habit. Ted remembered the scolding Laura, Patrick, and Ellen had gotten for disobeying Fence’s orders, the night Claudia came up the stairs to Fence’s tower with a sorcerous knife in her hand. Arguing had done them no good; Randolph had shut Fence up eventually. Ted was silent. Fence put an arm around his shoulders, and a little of his stillness had seeped into Ted when Randolph came back with Benjamin. They had brought two torches.
    Randolph still looked sick. He stayed by the door, leaning on the wall next to the bracket he had slid the torch into. Benjamin’s face, as he stared at the disordered room and the body of the King, was stunned and furious. Fence came away from the window, almost dragging Ted with him. Benjamin stooped over the King as Fence had done, and grief began to overtake the fury on his face. Then he started, and sniffed the air, and looked up at Fence.
    “Aye,” said Fence.
    “So Melanie haunts us still,” said Benjamin. He kissed the King’s forehead, and looked at Fence again. Ted braced himself for the alas-speech; he had a horrible feeling that he might laugh.
    “The bright day is done,” said Benjamin, as if Fence were personally responsible, “and we are for the dark.”
    “See to thy torches, then,” said Fence.
    Benjamin seemed a little taken aback; then, shocking Ted, he laughed. “Aye,” he said. “Fire is the test of gold.” He stood up and looked at Ted. “A was better pleased wi’ thee these last weeks,” he said. He put his head out the door. “Bear him away,” he said.
    Four women Ted had never seen before came in and did so.
    Benjamin looked at Ted again. “Leave all the rest to me,” he said, and went after them.
    “Well, my lord,” said Fence to Ted. “you cannot have a council whilst your lords are penned with an inquisitor, but by your gracious will Lord Randolph and I might impart to you what we these six months have done.”
    “Only if you promise not to go on talking like that,” said Ted.
    “While we are private I will not,” said Fence. He sat down in Andrew’s chair and fished a map from the folds of his robe.