Page 19 of Peregrine's Call
Despite his yearning, the prospect of tracing that path—with only a few tiny clues to go on—seemed too daunting. Maybe that was why he accepted Denis’s offer, because it was a clear path forward. Perhaps he wasn’t smart enough or strong enough to follow the other path, the one leading back.
You can go anywhere. Robin had spoken with sublime confidence. And she was correct about one thing. He was older now, and much more capable. Perhaps a task that was impossible for him as a boy would be possible as a man.
The thought stirred him. He could go anywhere, and perhaps even find out where he truly came from.
In her sleep, Robin turned from one side to the other. He glanced down, remembering his more immediate problems. Before he could consider leaving for home, he had to finish what he started, and that meant focusing on the task at hand, and the complicating presence of Robin.
No matter what else happened, he swore silently, he’d keep Robin safe.
Chapter 8
Robin awoke with a rimeof frost on her blanket, but she felt much better than the day before. They broke camp and got riding as soon as possible. The sooner she got her blood running through her veins again, the warmer she’d be.
The afternoon of the next day, they reached the gatehouse of the manor she had hoped to find.
“Hood low,” Octavian muttered as they rode closer. “Keep your head down and your hands hidden if someone gets too close. This is our first test.”
Robin did as he said, bowing her head as if in prayer.
“Halt there!” the guards near the gate called. “State your names and your business if you wish to enter.”
“God keep you,” Octavian said pleasantly. “I am Sir Octavian de Levant. This is my companion, Brother Robin, who I have sworn to protect while we travel. We aim for the holy well of Saint Winifred in Wales, but we hope to stay the night here.”
“The brother does not speak for himself?”
“He has taken a vow of silence,” Octavian explained easily. “Yet another penance to chasten his soul while on pilgrimage. He did the same while we traveled to Bethlehem, and spoke not a word until we were in the presence of the relic of the True Cross in the cathedral there.”
The guards murmured to each other in a quick conference, and then the one said, “Do you both swear as Christians to uphold the laws of our lord who holds these lands?”
“We do,” Octavian said.
“Then you both may enter.” The guard still sounded dubious, but he had no grounds to turn them away.
Robin breathed a sigh of relief.
The lord was not in residence, so the guards escorted them both to the seneschal, who governed the manor in the lord’s absence. He was a white-haired man, as thin as a rail, but tough-looking as a gnarled oak tree. He looked them over, and at Octavian with special doubt.
“The monk’s alliance is clear, though you are a puzzle. You are Christian?” the old man asked, staring hard at Octavian.
He merely gestured to the cross on his shield. “All my life, sir. I was baptized in the Church of Saint Thomas in Aleppo.”
“You know the Lord’s Prayer, then. Recite it.”
No reaction showed on his face, but Robin saw his shoulders tense up, a response similar to her own body whenever she knew she’d have to fight. So this was another sort of fight he had to deal with regularly. He said, “Would you care to hear it in Latin, Greek, French, or Aramaic?”
“Latin is the church’s chosen language,” the man declared.
Octavian recited the prayer in clear Latin.
“Our priest could not say it better,” the man declared, a bit unwillingly. “And everyone knows that devils cannot say the words. Very well. You both may stay the night.”
Octavian looked to Robin. “You’ll want to spend some time in the chapel, brother,” Tav said, his expression making it a clear command. “Go there, and I’ll come find you when your meditations are complete. I have a few questions about the road ahead that only the seneschal can answer.”
Stay out of trouble, Robin interpreted. She bent her head and shuffled off to the church.
The church was small and dark and cold, with only the candles on the altar providing light. At Vespers and Compline, more lights would be lit, but for now the place was empty except for her.
Robin sat on a bench toward the front, trying to remain calm and think holy thoughts.
