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“The circumstances of your own rebirth were not so different, as I recall” De Clermont’s aristocratic black eyebrows shot heavenward
“Hugh siredthrough the field looking for dead friends,” Gallowglass said “This boy is too young to have seen battle You found hi about on some corner, I warrant, and took the stray in”
“The boy has seen ed further conversation on this point “Besides, the war is all but over Both ar”
“And Gil? You didn’t just leave hi oath “You had two jobs, Matthew: see to it the colonials won the war, and return the Marquis de Lafayette to France in one piece”
“Pierre is with hiers And John Russell has a place in Cornwallis’s staff and the terms of surrender in his pocket I’ve done loves “The lass”
Gallowglass led them to a sh a wide rectangularThe room was sparsely furnished with a desk, a few stools, a heavy-botto up between two posts
“Your letters” Gallowglass opened the chest and drew out a small oilskin pouch He tossed it to de Clermont
De Clerh the contents He drew out a few pieces and hid them away in the breast pocket of his coat
“You lass plucked out another that was sealed with a heavy daub of red wax “Madeards And here is Granddad’s post”
The second bag Gallowglass pulled froer than the first and full of interesting bues, one of which looked like a bottle of wine
“Madeira For General Washington,” Gallowglass said, tracking Marcus’s wandering attention “Granddad thought he ton after he’s back home”
Marcus knew that the Marquis de Lafayette was dear to General Washington, but had no idea there was a connection between the chevalier de Clermont and the commander of the Continental army
“How kind,” Marcus said, filing this bit of intelligence away for further reflection
“Oh, I doubt it,” Gallowglass said cheerfully “Philippe ant soe He always does”
“And how is Philippe?” de Clermont asked “And my mother?”
“Davy says they’re finer than frog’s hair,” Gallowglass replied
“That’s it?” de Clermont said “That’s all the news from France?”
“I haven’t got tithy reunion, Mattheant to catch the tide” Gallowglass sniffed the wind like a hound
“You’re hopeless” De Clerhed and handed over a s “These are for Juliette Don’t lose the strand of beads”
“When have I ever lost anything?” Gallowglass’s blue eyes widened in indignation “I’ve been to the edges of the earth running errands for this faot that bloody leopard from Constantinople to Venice so that Granddad didn’t leave the sultan’s gift behind”
Marcus liked this brawny Scot Gallowglass ht have been like as a young man
“True These are for Philippe General Washington’s letters are on top See he reads those first” De Clermont handed him another parcel of mail He pointed to Marcus “And of course, there’s him”
Gallowglass was dumbfounded So, too, was Marcus
“Oh no No Absolutely not” Gallowglass held his hands up in horror
“Me?” Marcus’s head swung froo to France I’ with you”
“I have to get back to Yorktown to oversee the peace, and you’re not ready for that much society,” de Clermont said
“What about my ship? Life at sea is hardly suitable for a newly lass exclaimed “He’ll eat the crew before we reach France”
“I’ht price,” de Clermont replied, unconcerned
“But there’s nowhere to hunt at sea Have you lost your mind, Uncle?”
Marcus wondered the sa
“Can he even feed hilass de infant?”
“I fed on a nant
“Ooh Albany Very nice Had a bit of farlass snorted “You’ll get naught but stale beer and rat with h to keep a baby alive”
“Baby?” Marcus’s ar whirl of speed Sadly, they never et De Cler him into the corner
“No uments—fro hiets there alive I promised him an education”
“We’ll need lass remarked “And what do I do with him once we reach Bordeaux?”
“Deliver hi his way to the door “She’ll knohat to do À bientôt, Marcus Obey Gallowglass I’e”
“Wait just a lass strode after de Clermont
Marcus watched froulass sputtered into silence, de Cler over the rail and disappeared down the rope ladder
Gallowglass watched him descend He shook his head, then turned to face Marcus and sighed Then the giant wearh cupped his hands around hiswhistle
“Cast off, lads!”
—
MARCUS WATCHED THE VANISHING SPECK of shoreline froht be wise to swi sailor crouched down next to him
“We still haven’t been properly introduced” One arm shot toward Marcus “I’lass”
“Marcus MacNeil” He took Gallowglass’s arht, familiar “Most people call me Doc”
“Marcus, eh? A Rolass’s eyes were perh he were about to burst into laughter
“The chevalier de Cler to reveal his ignorance
“The chevalier de Clerhter “Christ’s bones, boy He’s your maker! I understand your reluctance to call him Papa—Matthew is as paternal as a porcupine in full needle—but you ht at least call him by his first name”
Marcus considered it but found it impossible to view the austere,but the chevalier de Clermont
“Give it ti Marcus on the shoulder “We’ve got weeks to share stories about your dear dad By the time we arrive in France, you’ll have far , too”
Perhaps the journey would not be as tedious as Marcus had feared He felt the slender, familiar outlines of Comlass, Marcus could spend the entire voyage reading and figuring out what it was going to take to survive as a vampire
“I saw—felt—some of the chevalier’s history” Marcus wasn’t sure whether this was so he should discuss
“Bloodlore is tricky It’s no replaceer under his nose, which had gone watery in the rising wind o;The circumstances of your own rebirth were not so different, as I recall” De Clermont’s aristocratic black eyebrows shot heavenward