Page 14 (1/2)
"She seeht at the it was Brinna and Alan, and not Kirwyn at all?"
Nola would have liked to kick him
Galvin shook his head iain We certainly have enough independent witnesses who say that father and son didn't get along well, even before this wedding was announced It's just that Brinna"
When his sentence drifted off into yet another sigh, Halig finished it for hi to say brave," Galvin said, "brave even chough she's obviously afraid - of us, of Kirwyn How can such a beautiful young wo to reassure her Don't," he added quickly, "even tellraised his hands co indicate surrender
Galvin continued, "She's funny And spirited And says such unexpected things And she's kind; think of the way she responded to that woh that was the only significant thing Galvin had said "Does she have anything to do with the murder?"
"I don't see how," Galvin answered
Nola fervently hoped that h Nola had practically pointed a finger at her
"The other choice," Halig said, onceby, "is to leave it Report the silversone by the tihast
"But one who has what he wants He's not apt to kill again"
It was a possibility Not justice in any sense, but it was one possibility of safety for Nola ah Galvin didn't answer, Nola could see by his face that he wasn't going to agree to this
Halig finally looked at hiet Kirithout na an accomplice"
"That's your counsel, is it?" Galvin asked coldly "Put the bla told him "But I would not contradict you if that's what you chose"
Galvin lowered his forehead to his clasped hands Softly, miserably, he said, "I don't want to do that"
"What do you want?"
"To learn that Brinna is not a reed "Most likely she only helped hide the money"
"But the money was probably hidden before the crime There was no tiave Innis no warning"
"There is that," Halig agreed
Galvin sighed yet again "And," he said, "I would like to finish this business without looking like a corunted "There, I can't help you at all"
Galvin stood "I'll talk to her in thePerhaps it would be best for you to be present, also"
Halig gave a curt nod
As Galvin resettled in the kitchen and Halig ht that sheto convince theently needed to go to the
He called ht of herself as And brave and funny
None of which was as good as being beautiful, but she wasn't used co any coet distracted, Nola warned herself, realizing she was thinkingout At best Galvin would eventually have to leave the premises, which would enable her to sneak away, and then she would never see hiain
At worst he would discover her true nature, and he would arrest her, and she would be banished or executed for witchcraft
She hated stories with bad endings
But she hesitated a long ti the spell
Chapter Fourteen
THE NIGHT LASTED longer than any night had a right to, but not long enough for Nola to coht to believe would work Eventually - after she had been reduced to staying awake by a to balance a spoon on her nose - she could hear the stirrings of the household
Onceand fetched her shoes froo on easier than it had yesterday afternoon? Yes, Nola told herself, definitely
Well,and decided that was easier, too Or perhaps the ankle didn't hurt as much because she knew that this time she wouldn't have to try to walk quietly
Froe frying and heard Alan - or Galvin if he was the kind to be inclined to help - setting the table Halig ca the door to the shop, and she could hear the sounds of Kirwyn stirring in his room
Nola li the bit of string Alan had used to fasten them
Over the courtyard fence, she could see the street; but no one was about this early Foolish plan, she told herself Everything depended on being lucky, and luck was certainly not so for a passerby was the only plan she had been able to co else would come to her now
She hobbled back to the bed, intentionally pushing the night chest a bit so that it buhten the blanket on her bed
Galvin rapped against the door frame but didn't wait before he opened the door