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"You would allow your beloved husband to be tortured for the sake of your outlaw, adopted daughter?" Father Abbot Markwart asked the poor woht Dark bluish bags circled her eyes and all of her skin see, for she had not slept more than a few hours in many days, ever since Grady had died on the road Pettibwa had been heavy for race and a light bounce in her step Nothose times when sheer exhaustion laid the wohtmares, or by her captors, who seemed as wicked as any dream could ever be

"We will take his nose first," Father Abbot Markent on

"Right to here," he added, running his finger along the crease of a flared nostril "It ht indeed, and assures that poor Graevis will be forever an outcast"

"Why would ye be doin&039; such a thing, and yerself claimin&039; to be a man o&039; God!" Pettibwa cried She knew that the old , that he would do exactly what he had threatened She had heard hi room in the south-erne area but now converted to hold the two Chilichunks and Bradwarden Markwart had gone to Graevis first, and Pettibwa heard the agonized screah the earthen wall Now the woreen, the symbol of the Abellican Order

Markas unrepentant and uni his leering visage to within a hair&039;s breadth of Pettibwa&039;s face "Why, you ask!" he roared "Because of your daughter, foolish woman! Because your dear Jilly&039;s evil al-liance with the heretic Avelyn could bring about the end of the world!"

"Jilly&039;s a good girl!" Pettibwa yelled back at him "Never would she do - "

"But she has!" Markwart interrupted, growling out every word "She has the stolen gemstones, and I will do whatever is necessary - pity Graevis! - to see that they are returned Then Pettibwa can look upon her disfigured outcast husband and know that her own foolishness condemned him, as it condemned her son!"

"Ye killed hi down her face "Ye killed me son!"

Markwart&039;s expression went perfectly cold, stone-faced, and that, in turn, seeaze "I assure you," the Father Abbot said in even tones, "that your hus-band, and then you, will soon envy Grady"

The woht to the ground had not Brother Francis been behind to support her "Oh, what&039;re ye wantin&039; o&039; poor Pettibwa, Father," she cried "I&039;ll tell ye I&039;ll tell ye!"

A wicked sh he had been looking forward to cutting off the stupid Graevis&039; nose

St-Mere-Abelle was buttoned up tight, with guards, young monks armed with crossbows, and the occasional older student ar every section of wall Master Jojonah, recognized by all and liked by h

Word of his arrival preceded him, and he was met in theBrother Francis Many other monks were in that hall, as well, curious as to why Jojonah had returned

"The Father Abbot will speak with you," the young h playing to the audi-ence, showing them which of them, he or Jojonah, was truly in the favor of Markwart

"You seeotten respect for your superiors," Master Jojonah replied, not backing off an inch

Francis snorted and started to reply, but Jojonah cut hiravely "I a in this life I know that you fancy yourself Father Abbot Markwart&039;s adopted son, but if you continue this attitude toward those who have attained a higher rank than you, toward those who, by their years of study and the wisdo you before the College of Abbots Father Abbot Markwart may protect you there, in the end, but his eeance upon you"

All the hall went deathly silent, and Master Jojonah pushed past the stunned Brother Francis and exited He needed no escort to Markwart&039;s roo the otherstares He re-sponded with a threatening glare, but for now, at least, Master Jojonah had stolen the bite fro&039;s bark Francis stor the eyes of his lessers upon him

Master Jojonah entered the Father Abbot&039;s rooh the unlocked door and ht up to the desk of the oldand sat back in his chair, sizing up the man

"I sent you on an important matter," the Father Abbot stated "Surely you could not have completed your ot near to Ursal," Master Jojonah admitted "For I was taken by illness on the road"

"You do not seem so sick," Markwart remarked, and not kindly

"I was edy in Pal- Markwart closely as he spoke the words, trying to see if the Father Abbot would inadver-tently offer any clue that the death of Abbot Dobrinion had not been unexpected

The old edy," he replied "The issue was settled with the Baron arinof the murder of Abbot Dobrinion," he said

Markwart&039;s eyes widened and he came forward in his chair "Dobrinion?" he echoed

"Then news has not reached St-Mere-Abelle," Jojonah reasoned, going with the obvious bluff "It is good that I have returned"

Brother Francis bumbled into the rooer le powrie, at least, entered St Precious and asped, and it seemed to Master Jojonah that the neas a true surprise to the younger man "As soon as I heard, of course, I turned back for St-Mere-Abelle," he went on "It would not do for us to be caught so unawares; it would seeled out their prey, and if Abbot Dobrinion is a target, it only stands to reason that the Father Abbot of the Abellican Order - "

"Enough," Markwart interrupted, putting his head down in his arms Markwart realized what had just happened here, understood that Jojonah, ever the clever one, had just turned his feigned sur-prise back against him, had just justified his return to St-Mere-Abelle beyond any question

"It is good that you returned to us," Markwart said a edy indeed that Abbot Dobrinion met with such an untimely end But your business here is finished, and so prepare again for the road"

"I am not physically able to make the journey to Ursal," Jojonah replied

Markwart eyed hiiven the demise of the chief sponsor for Brother Allabarnet&039;s sainthood Without Dobrin-ion&039;s backing, the process will be set back years, at least"

"If I order you to go to St Honce, then you shall go to St Honce," Markwart answered, the rough edge of his ire beginning to show through

Still, Master Jojonah didn&039;t back away "Of course, Father Abbot," he replied "And by the code of the Abellican Order, when you find justification to send a sickly o But there is no reason for that now, no justification Just be pleased that I was able to return in tier fro his sht in front of Brother Francis

"Step aside, brother," he said ominously

Francis looked past hierously close to a trial before the College of Abbots," Jojonah said calmly

Behind hiet out of the one, Markwartmonk to close the door

"You should have sent hiued immediately

"For your convenience?" Markwart replied sarcastically "I am not the supreme dictator of the Abellican Order, but only the ap-pointed leader, forced to ithin prescribed guidelines I cannot simply order a master, particularly a sickly one, on the road"

"You did so before," the young monk dared to put in

"With justification," Markwart explained, rising fro around the desk "The canonization process was very real, but Master Jojonah is correct in saying that Dobrinion was its chief sponsor"

"And it is true that Abbot Dobrinion is dead?"

Markwart gave the young man a sour look "So it would seem," he replied "And thus, Master Jojonah was correct in returning to St-Mere-Abelle, and is correct in refusing to go back out at this time"

"He did not look so sickly," Brother Francis res had not played out as he had hoped; he wanted Jojonah settled at St Honce in Ursal long be-fore news of the abbot&039;s death reached him Then he would have sent news to Abbot Je&039;howith to use thea temporary appointment of Jojonah to St Honce - a temporary appointment that Markwart meant to make last until the portly master had died Still, this scenario did not seerowing sharper and longer daily, it seemed - but at least with Jojonah here, he could keep an eye on him

Besides, it was hard for Markwart to be upset Youseff and Dan-delion had completed part of their erous part in Pal blamed One very formidable enemy had been eliminated, and the other had no proof that Markwart had been in-volved All the Father Abbot needed noas the return of the stolen stones and his position would be secured He could deal with Jojonah, could crush the man if need be

"I will attempt contact with the Brothers Justice," Brother Francis offered "We should keep abreast of their progress"

"No!" Markwart said suddenly, sharply "If the thief with the stolen stones is wary, such contactBrother Francis&039; questioning stare In truth, Markwart meant to use a soul stone himself to speak with Youseff and Dande-lion; he didn&039;t want anyone else, including Brother Francis, to con-tact thes in Palmaris

"Keep an eye and an ear bent always toward Master Jojonah," he instructed Francis "And be wary, too, of your peer, Brother Brau their free ti while before nodding his under-standing So s of which he knew so very little But again, as was typical for the man, he saw the opportunity to irowth, and he was determined that he would not fail

The neas not so disconcerting to Father Abbot Markwart as Brother Youseff had feared Connor Bildeborough had escaped and could not be found He had gone underground, into the bowels of the city, or perhaps out to the north