“Yes, of course, I’ve sworn her on the Bible until she was blue-scared, the jade. But this thing?”
Cosgrove reached out and took the placard. He tore it across, placed the pieces together and tore it again, and repeatedly, and handed the bits back to Crofts.
“Make a small fire in the Hall.”
It impressed me as a really brave thing, and I believe that Crofts felt the same admiration for him who dismissed such a message, apparently out of the air, from man or superman or sub-man.
“Here goes, then.”
“Has the boy come back with my bag?”
“Not for at least another hour, I’m afraid. He has a long hilly road to ride—down through New Aidenn and all the way around by the south skirts of Aidenn Forest.”
“Sir Brooke?”
“Not a nail of him. But the others have come.”
I echoed, “Others? Guests?”