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The Masur Delaval was exceptionally bright this day under a gentle sun Whenever a puffy cloud covered that sun, Roger and his five coun The air was not ware ferry, its square front slapping hard against the waves

The group had taken a roundabout route to get to this point, fearing pur-suit froe their appearances - grow some facial hair and acquire clothes other than their telltale brown robes Now, finally, they had Palht, and it ith more than a little trepidation that they approached the city of Marcalo De&039;Unnero No doubt the abbot of St Precious had been informed of their desertion by now, and despite their best efforts at disguise, Brauerous er&039;s desire to look in on some of the companions he had known in the northland ere still, presuroup caht out to the north They found little trouble navigating the quiet streets, having only occasionally to turn down an alleyway to avoid soht of one of the northern gates, they found another proble in or out of the city without a couard

"Perhaps we should have taken a stone or two," Brother Castinagis offered, "aht have walked across the river north of the city"

A couple of the others - reement

"Any theft of stones would have ensured that Markould have hunted us relentlessly," Brother Brau head i side to side

"Then how are we to get out of here?" Castinagis asked

Brauer accepted the responsibility without coreat compliment Now that his reputation had been put on the line, the young an to assess the problem In the end, his plan was really very sions were roll-ing out of the gates Farh Pal hay and other supplies to farmers who had recently reclaiuided the fiveto a street lined with taverns - and filled with the wagons of far north

Into the hay they went, two on It was stuffy, da along, and they were safe froate questioning the farated perfunctorily

The first wagon out on the road north of the city held Brothers Castinagis and Mullahy They crawled fro, and they dropped out of the wagon and trotted behind it for some distance, then ons rolled by, so north, some back to the city Then the pair spotted Brothers Dell quickly down the road, and soon after, the four ain you have proven your resourcefulness," Brother Deller replied, though he was thrilled by the com-pliment "The road should be easier the rest of the way The first few miles will have the eyes of many farmers upon us, I am sure, but after that, the houses are sparse and widely spaced, and we should be able to get all the way to Caer Tinella without answering too many questions"

"And there ill find the friends of Avelyn?" Brauer had heard a hundred times since their depar-ture from St-Mere-Abelle, and one that he had not been able to answer He could guess that Pony and Elbryan had gone back to Caer Tinella, espe-cially since they had Bradwarden in tow, but he couldn&039;t be certain He looked around at the fivehopefully on his answer, as they alhen this question was posed Their expressions reer of just how desperate these ent, and every one of them had lived for at least twenty years, Braumin Herde for more than thirty Yet on this issue, they seeuidance of a parent - in this case, Roger

"We will find theer offered The an spouting hopeful possibilities, surht help put the world in order

Roger allowed him his ridiculous fantasies without question He pitied this man, and all of them, or at least sy, had branded themselves heretics - and they all knew the punishment for that! All they had noere their principles No ser knew

But you couldn&039;t eat principles

And principles wouldn&039;t stop the thrust of a sword Or cool the heat of a burning pyre

They walked until late that night, putting as round between them and Palmaris as possible Still, when they set their cahts of Paler stood looking southward at the last few of those lights, late in the night, when Braumin Herde joined hiures in a world gone crazy

"Perhaps we should have chanced a stay in Palht have found so his head before the man even finished "It would have been a pleasure to see soain," he said, "but I approve of the decision to strike out of the city immediately I do not trust that place"

"You mean that you do not trust those who rule that place," Braumin said with a chuckle "Yet they are the same as those who rule St-Mere- Abelle"

"I ith Baron Bildeborough when he was hts, not even turning to face Brau south to Ursal to speak with King Danube about the er explained

"Murdered by a powrie," Brau the coer retorted gravely Now he did turn to face Braumin "It was no powrie, but a monk - a pair of monks, actually, men your Church naer watched Braumin&039;s expression shift froer

"You cannot be certain of this," Brau hard to sound as if he was speaking with conviction

"Connor Bildeborough, nephew of the Baron, discovered the truth," Roger replied, turning back to the distant lights

"But young Bildeborough was taken and questioned by Father Abbot Markwart," Braumin reasoned "He had reason to hate the Church"

"His evidence was firer answered calmly "And to lend it credence, those same two brothers justice chased hi hihtbird and Pony, and that here they both ed to murder Connor"

"Describe them," Braumin Herde bade hie and strong erous, by my estimation, was small of frame but quick and deadly"

Braumin Herde rocked back on his heels at this confirmation, for he had been with the caravan when it had met Markwart in Palmaris, when Connor had been taken prisoner, and then subsequently released Along with Markere two very dangerous men, Brothers Youseff and Dan-delion, and those two had left the caravan on the road east of Palmaris and had not been seen since

"Connor&039;s evidence was enough to convince the Baron," Roger went on, "and when Rochefort Bildeborough could not gain any satisfaction from the new leader of St Precious, he decided to take his case, withDanube Brock Ursal On our first night out, the carriage was attacked, and all were killed except for me"

"And hoere you so fortunate?"

"I was out in the woods at the tier explained "I saw only the end of the fight - ht, actually"

"Describe the cat," Brau over hier replied, "but fast and vicious Andwith a purpose - of that I am sure"

"You do not believe it to be the rando no practical response "It seemed more than that," he tried to explain, "and I aion - tawny panthers er, I believe, though I have never seen such a cat, and have only heard of it froer stopped abruptly as he looked over at Braumin, for the man stood with eyes closed and fists balled by his side, tre

For it all made sense to Braumin Herde now: terrible, brutal sense He kneell the new abbot of St Precious, the new bishop of Paler&039;s pahich he could trans-forreat cat

"There is a great darkness settling on the world," Brauer replied

"This one er, who had witnessed the h, and Jojonah, could not find any logical argu

The fire had burned to e htly in blankets Brother Deller, for it was their turn on watch

Several tier tried to strike up a conversation with the earnest, sensible young monk, but it was obvious that Deller understood the s, and so did not press hi there quietly as the hting to keep his eyes open

"I&039;ll not last the watch," he announced, pulling his "The fire invites me to sleep A ill help"

"In the forest?" Deller waved the monk&039;s concern away "I spent months in these for-ests," he boasted "And at that tiiants" He was hoping to see so o too far," he bade Roger "We share the watch, and thus, share responsibility"

"I will find no trouble in the open forest," Roger replied