bloodstains from his face.
Brother Barnaby stood near him. “Father, you are weak-”
“This from a man who sticks leeches on people!” Father Jacob said irritably. “Stop hovering! Tend to yourself.”
“I have suffered only minor injuries, Father,” said Brother Barnaby. “And I have seen to them already.”
“Then help Brother Paul. He needs you. I do not. God has already ministered to me.”
Brother Barnaby cast Sir Ander a long-suffering glance as the knight entered. Sir Ander gave a rueful smile and shrugged. Brother Barnaby shook his head, then went to Brother Paul, who lay stretched out on the knight’s bed.
Father Jacob straightened and turned around. His face was dripping wet, his eyes squinched shut against the water. He groped about for a towel. Sir Ander brought over the towel and gave it to the priest.
“You should be in bed,” said Sir Ander.
“Nonsense,” said Father Jacob. “I’m fine now that I’m not being bombarded with…”
He paused, glanced at Brother Paul, and said abruptly, “I’m fine.”
Father Jacob dried his face and then threw the towel aside and said briskly, “I want you to take a look at the damage to the Retribution. Master Albert tells me the yacht is not air worthy. That is not acceptable.”
Sir Ander patiently pointed. “Did you happen to see the gigantic hole in the front?”
Father Jacob waved the hole away as unimportant. “Albert also tells me that the damaged naval cutter has limped into the docks. That presents a problem. I can’t have sailors running around Rosia telling tales about demons riding giant bats. I will have to place them under Seal. I will need to speak to the dragon brothers, as well-”
“Father, I can deal with the dragons and the yacht and the navy. You should rest-”
Father Jacob looked pointedly at the jagged, bloody gash on Sir Ander’s head and said testily, “Look in a mirror. You are in worse shape than I am.”
Sir Ander glared at the priest.
“I know,” Father Jacob said, suddenly grinning, “I’m a pain in the ass. Where is Master Albert?”
“Outside, but-”
Father Jacob cast a significant look at Brother Paul and said, “Walk with me.”
Sir Ander accompanied the priest outside. Father Jacob stood for long moments gazing gloomily at the charred patch of ground in front of the yacht and the clumps of greasy ash that was all that was left of their attackers.
“Dragon fire does not leave many clues.” Father Jacob said bitterly.
“Nor does holy fire,” Sir Ander pointed out. “You were the one who called down God’s wrath and incinerated them.”
“I was attempting to exorcise them, not kill them,” said Father Jacob. “As you see, that did not work.”
Sir Ander’s head throbbed, his stomach heaved from the horrible smell of burnt flesh and hair. He shut his eyes against the bright sunlight and thought back to the horrific attack and how they had both been within moments of death or worse-capture and torment. And now Father Jacob was saying he had been trying to exorcise evil spirits! Sir Ander could only stand and marvel.
Father Jacob was now yelling up at Albert, who was crawling over the roof of the yacht.
“How bad is the damage, Master Albert?”
Albert looked down from the roof. “The control conduits on the both sides of the yacht have been reduced to cinders. Both of the primary lift tanks are intact, but there is no way of setting buoyancy levels or maintaining the ship’s trim. There is impact damage all across the hull, but the main structure should hold together as long as you don’t get caught in a storm.”
“And both our wyverns are dead,” Sir Ander added.
“Ah, yes, poor Brother Barnaby,” said Father Jacob somberly. “He told me the beasts died trying to save him. Remarkable. I’ve never known wyverns to show such courage and loyalty. I promised him that we will give their remains a proper burial. What was I saying? Oh, yes.” He turned back to Albert. “How soon can we get to work?”
“On what, Father?”
“On repairing the Retribution, of course?”
Albert had to struggle to keep a straight face. “You need a shipyard to handle extensive repairs like this, Father!”
“Damn and blast it, man, I must return to the Arcanum at once!” exclaimed Father Jacob in loud and angry frustration. “The matter is vital! I won’t be marooned-”
Father Jacob stopped suddenly and turned to look in the direction of the docks. Sir Ander thought he was looking at the cutter, perhaps contemplating the meeting he would have with the captain. He was therefore surprised when Father Jacob said suddenly, “The Trundlers.”
“What about them?”
“Master Albert, could the Retribution be towed?”
“A short distance, maybe,” said Albert. “Not as far as to the Arcanum.”
“I assume you have shipyards in Westfirth. That city is not far.”
“You could probably make it to Westfirth, yes, Father.”
“We will ask the Trundlers if they can tow us,” said Father Jacob.
“What about the Seal of the Arcanum?”
“I know Trundlers,” said Father Jacob with confidence. “They will keep quiet about this if I ask them.”
Sir Ander smiled. “As it happens, my godson is aboard that houseboat.”
“Your godson?” Father Jacob was amazed. “Captain de Guichen? Son of the Countess de Marjolaine? He’s here?”
“He is not only here, he saved my life,” said Sir Ander with quiet pride.
“Then I am deeply indebted to him,” said Father Jacob warmly. “But why is the son of a countess sailing the Breath in a Trundler houseboat?”
“You can ask him yourself,” said Sir Ander, who had caught sight of someone running up the hill. “If I am not mistaken, that is Stephano coming this way.”
Father Jacob touched Sir Ander’s arm, drew him close. “A quick word while we are alone, my friend. The demons asked both Brother Barnaby and Brother Paul about books.”
“Books?” Sir Ander was troubled. “What books?”
“Undoubtedly the books mentioned in the Prince-abbot’s journal.”
“And that is why the demons didn’t kill them,” said Sir Ander. “I was wondering. So the fiends can talk. What did they say?”
“Brother Barnaby reported all he heard was a buzzing in his head repeating the words, ‘books, the books’ over and over. Brother Paul told me the same. I believe them. I heard it myself.”
Sir Ander was troubled. “But this doesn’t make sense, Father. Brother Barnaby wasn’t with us when we found the books of Saint Dennis. He doesn’t know about them. Nor does Brother Paul.”
“And we must keep it that way. No one must know about what we found, Ander. I will not place such a burden on Brother Barnaby or anyone else, including your godson.”
“Whether they know or not, we’re all still in danger,” said Sir Ander. “And we will bring that danger down on everyone who comes into contact with us.”
“I will find a way to tell your godson as much of the truth as I can,” said Father Jacob. “Give him the choice of aiding us or not.”
“You know perfectly well he will.”
“Of course, I do,” said Father Jacob. “He’s your godson.”
Stephano had run all the way up the hill and was gasping for air by the time he arrived. Sir Ander made introductions, giving Stephano time to catch his breath.
“Lord Captain Stephano de Guichen, this is Father Jacob Northrup. ..”
“I need… a healer,” Stephano spoke between gasps, “A friend. .. a young woman… gravely ill…”
“Sir Ander, send Brother Barnaby to me,” said Father Jacob at once. “He and I will tend to this young woman. You stay with the yacht and Brother Paul.”
