They heard children's laughter, the final notes...
They heard children's laughter, the final notes of a sung prayer
"She is still alive then?" Alessan asked, looking up at last
"She is," said Torre emotionally He could not finish the sentence
"There is no point in the three of us being careful if you are going to spill tears like a child," Alessan said sharply"Enough of that, unless you want me dead"Forgive me," he whispered
"No! Not 'my lord'Not even when we are aloneI am Adreano d'Astibar, musician Alessan's voice was hard"Now take me to Danoleon
The porter wiped quickly at his eyesHe straightened his shoulders"Where do you think we are going?" he snapped, almost managing his earlier tone againHe spun on his heel and strode up the path
"Good," Alessan murmured to the priest, from behind"Very good, my friend Trailing them both, Devin saw Torre's head lift replica tiffany jewelry at the wordsHe glanced at Erlein but this time the wizard, his expression thoughtful, did not return the look
They passed the kitchens and then the outer school where Savandi's charges, children of noblemen or wealthy merchants, sent here to be educated, would study and sleepAll across the Palm such teaching was a part of the role of the clergy, and a source of a goodly portion of their wealthThe Sanctuaries vied with each other to draw student boarders, and their fathers' money
It was silent within the large building nowIf the dozen or so boys on the games-field with Savandi were all the students in the complex, then Eanna's Sanctuary in Lower Corte was not doing very well
On the other hand, Devin thought, who of those left in Lower Corte could afford Sanctuary schooling for their children now? And what omega watch orange shrewd businessman from Corte or Chiara, having bought up cheap land here in the south, would not send his son home to be educated? Lower Corte was a place where a clever man from elsewhere could make money out of the ruin of the inhabitants, but it was not a place to put down rootsWho wanted to be rooted in the soil of Brandin's hate?
Torre led them up the steps of a covered portico and then through the open doorway of the High Priest's houseAll doors seemed to be open to the spring sunshine, after the shuttered holiness of the Ember Days just past
They stood in a large, handsome, high-ceilinged sitting-roomA huge fireplace dominated the southwestern end and a number of comfortable chairs and small tables were arranged on a deep-piled carpetCrystal decanters on a sideboard held a variety of winesDevin saw two chanel shopping bags bookcases on the southern wall but no booksThe cases had been left to stand, disconcertingly emptyThe books of Tigana had been burnedHe had been told about that
Arched doorways in both the eastern and western walls led out to porches where the sunlight could be caught in the morning and at eve
On the far side of the room there was a closed door, almost certainly leading to the bedchamberThere were four cleverly designed, square recesses in the walls and another smaller one above the fire where statues would once have stoodOnly the ubiquitous silver stars of Eanna served for painted decoration on the walls
The door to the bedroom opened and two priests came out
They seemed surprised, but not unduly so, to see the porter waiting with three visitorsOne man was of medium height and middle years, with a sharp face and 18k omega watch close-cropped salt-and-pepper hairHe carried a physician's tray of herbs and powders in front of him, supported on a thong about his neck
It was at the other man that Devin stared, thoughIt was the other man who carried the High Priest's staff of officeHe would have commanded attention even without it, Devin thought, gazing at the figure of what had to be Danoleon
The High Priest was an enormous man, broad-shouldered with a chest like a barrel, straight-backed despite his yearsHis long hair and the beard that covered half his chest were both white as new snow, even against the whiteness of his robeThick straight eyebrows met in the middle of a serene brow and above eyes as clear and blue as a child'sThe hand he wrapped about the massive staff of office held it as if it were no more than a cowherd's hazel chanel diamond watches switc