The Robin And The Kestrel

all of this I can take. I don't know about you, but I've seen everything I need to; I can tell the Gypsy Chiefs who is betraying our secrets, we can warn the Free Bards, the nonhumans, and the Gypsies about what is starting here. Now I want out of here, before they do something like that to one of us!'

Kestrel nodded. 'There's n-nothing back in our r-room at the inn th-that c-can't b-be replaced,' he told her. 'W-we k-kept everything important in th-the w-wagon. How ab-bout right n-now?'

Her face lit with a smile of relief. 'That's the best idea I've heard in a long time!' she exclaimed. But then her face fell.

'What about Orlina Woolwright?' she said, hesitantly. 'She's innocent_and we know that, and we didn't do anything to stop them _'

Jonny paused for a moment, hand reaching for the door, then turned. 'W-we g-go after her,' he replied. And wondered if Robin was going to argue with him. 'W-we c-can take her t-to one of the J-Justiciars. Wren kn-knows one _'

He expected Robin to object, but she nodded with enthusiasm_a change in her that made his spirits rise. 'I know her too!' she exclaimed. 'And I doubt she'll have forgotten me! That is the perfect solution_surely what Padrik is doing can't be legal, even by Church standards. And_well, the Justiciar we both know is impartial enough that she has made judgments against Priests before this.'

'All r-right, then,' Kestrel agreed, opening the door. 'Th-then let's g-get out of h-here b-before s-something else happens!'

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Getting out was easier said than done.

Robin noticed that the square was filling up with people as they readied the horses and headed for the street of the inns; and that was odd, because at this hour, things were usually winding down and people were going home. But the moment they maneuvered the wagon out of the Cathedral market square and onto the street itself, it seemed that everyone in the city was determined to go towards the Cathedral while they struggled to move away. One or two folk struggled against the growing flow-tide of Gradford citizens, but most were trying to get to the very place she and Kestrel wanted to leave.

A pity that they weren't real merchants; they'd have sold everything they owned with a crowd this big!

I'd be doing my best to stay out of the street in this part of town, if I lived here, Robin thought grimly, a headache starting to form in both temples, I'd lock my door and not open it until morning. It must be that they've heard about the demon and all the rest of it, and maybe they're trying to stream in to show their piety. Come to evening services and prove that you aren't a sorcerer! What a clever way to make certain no we ever decides to oppose your will! Surely every Councilor by now has seen the proverbial handwriting on the wall. Get in Padrik's way and he'll see that you wind up being accused of demon-summoning!

And there would be no proper court of law for those who were so accused. Padrik had just set a precedent; he was judge and jury for those he accused_and his mobs would see that punishment was dealt out with a heavy hand.

Their wagon was forced to the far side of the street and kept there by the press of bodies. A blind cripple would nave been able to walk faster than the horses could, and every time there was an intersection, there was a City Constable there, stopping traffic to let another stream of people onto Inn Street.

In the end, it was full dark long before they reached the city gates, and they had actually been able to retrieve their belongings from The Singing Bird after all. Robin simply hopped out and shoved and elbowed her way through the crowd when they were two buildings away; by the time the wagon reached the opening to the courtyard, she had gathered everything up and was waiting for him. It had been easy, and she hadn't even needed to give a parting explanation to the innkeeper, for The Singing Bird was so full of people she couldn't even see him. Not that she thought he'd be the loser in this; he was going to have the money they'd paid in advance for their next week. She was glad of that; it made leaving a little less distasteful. In fact, the only thing she regretted was leaving Ardana without entertainers, with no notice whatsoever. But if Ardana had heard what had happened tonight _well, she would probably understand.

She might even be thinking about a swift relocation herself right about now. What was the cost and difficulty of packing up and leaving, when compared to waking up to find yourself accused and convicted of dark sorcery?

Robin tossed the bags of their personal things up beside Kestrel and climbed onto the drivers bench, pushing open the doorway over the bed and shoving the bags in there quickly.

A good thing I went back, too, she reflected, as they inched along, both of them trying very hard to look relaxed and completely unconcerned about the press of traffic. If Padrik or someone in his train is working magic, and he gets an inkling that we were something other than what we appeared