Chapter 13: The Book

Bram let her in, but he searched the mule first.

He went through the saddlebags himself while the whole yard watched, and then he went through the oilcloth bundle.

He found a book, a folded note and a heel of bread.

"That's all," he said, and looked at me.

"Let her up to the hall," I said. "Maud, can you hear her out?"

Maud was already crossing the yard with her shawl over her nightgown.

Elspeth walked in on her own feet, but she took the stairs with both hands on the rail.

By the time she sat down at the long table her lips were blue.

Bram put a cup of hot wine in front of her, and she held it with both hands and did not drink.

"He said I was to give you this first," she said, and slid the note across.

I opened it.

It was in Torin's small, tidy hand.

*Hesper. Read the last page of the book. Then think about who you are without me. Come home by dusk and I will keep you alive. T.*

My own name, written by him.

He had never once written it in seven years.

"He thinks the mark is still in me," I said.

"Is it?" said Elspeth.

"It's in a bowl on Maud's washstand."

For a moment she only stared.

Then she laughed, one cracked breath of it, and put her hand over her mouth.

"He's going to be so frightened," she said. "He's never been frightened in his life."

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