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‘Ye gods!’ In her surprise Lady Tay spoke almost as loudly as the chief bard.
Malyc merely smiled and speared a fragment of pork with his table dagger. After that he spoke somewhat more quietly, and only of the funereal details.
Alyssa left the table as soon as she could. She needed to pack supplies for her journey north. Dovina took charge of wheedling provisions out of the hive’s cook. Mavva gathered bits of spare clothing from those women who could afford to give it. One of the other senior students handed over a pair of fine leather saddlebags.
‘You’d best take as much clothing as you can in the saddlebags,’ Dovina said. ‘You’ll have to make a decent appearance in Cerrmor, you see. I’ve scrounged up what coin I can for the first part of your journey. Once you get to Haen Marn and use the draft, you’ll be able to buy what you need.’
‘We’d best travel as fast as possible, anyway,’ Alyssa said. ‘If we can get over the border into the Bear clan’s demesne, we’ll be out of your father’s reach.’
‘True, but you’ll have to get the book to Cerrmor. I wish you could go by ship, but you won’t dare return to Eldidd. Best go overland to Dun Trebyc and down from there, though ye gods, it’ll take so long!’
‘Better a long journey than one that ends too soon. In your father’s gaol.’
Later that night, before the chaperones locked the doors into the women’s hall, Dovina, Mavva, and Alyssa met Cavan and Rhys out on the lawn. Travaberiel joined them at Rhys’s invitation. By the light of candle lanterns they all walked down to the back wall where they were less likely to be overheard.
‘Be cursed careful once you reach the Bear lands,’ Travaberiel said. ‘If this feud turns into a war, Standyc’s likely to arrest anyone from Eldidd. Lie if you have to. He’s a suspicious man, Standyc, sure that he has hidden enemies somewhere.’
‘Is he right about that?’ Alyssa said.
‘Not to my knowledge. He’s got plenty of enemies right out in the open among my folk. You’d think that would be enough for him.’
‘My thanks.’ Cavan made him a half-bow. ‘I’ll remember that.’
Alyssa felt the night air turn cold around her. Dovina held up her punched-tin lantern and cast spangles of gold light over the silver dagger.
‘Will you keep her safe?’ The cold in her voice made Alyssa shiver again. ‘If I find out you haven’t, I’ll turn you in to my father.’
‘On my honor, my lady.’ Cavan made her a full bow. ‘I swear it on my silver dagger, and that’s the truest oath a man like me can swear.’
Rhys glanced at Travaberiel, who murmured, ‘I believe him.’
‘Done, then,’ Rhys said. ‘But you might remember that Wmm’s priesthood is like a net cast over the kingdom. Messages do travel.’
‘I know it well.’ Cavan laid a hand on the pommel of his dagger. ‘Fear not. I swore I’d guard the lady, and I cursed well will! I may be a silver dagger and scum of the road, but I’ve still got some sense of honor.’
Dovina and Rhys nodded in satisfaction.
‘Lyss, I’ve got summat for you.’ Rhys reached into his shirt and brought out some sheets of pabrus, folded into a square in the Bardekian fashion. ‘If you find yourself needing help, show these around at the nearest temple of Wmm.’ He dropped his voice to whisper. ‘Two copies, both signed by a couple of the masters here. Not a word of their names to anyone outside the priesthood, mind. And a third one only for the Advocates’ Guild.’
‘A thousand thanks!’ Alyssa took the packet. ‘Please tell those men who don’t exist that I’m truly grateful, not that they’ve done anything.’
‘Lyss!’ Mavva broke in. ‘Do you really want to do this? It’s horribly dangerous. I don’t think I realized it at first. It was all like a gerthddyn’s tale or suchlike. But—’
Alyssa gathered her breath with a gulp. ‘I will not let Cradoc die in vain. If this book will help bring the gwerbret round, then I’ll do my best to get it to Cerrmor and the advocates there. Our cause is just, and justice we shall have.’
When she glanced at Cavan, she found him smiling at her in honest admiration. She felt, very briefly, brave.
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