Desire

'Aye.' Gareth glanced out the window at the new day. The storm had passed, but there was a heavy quality in the air. 'If someone can get out that easily, someone else can get inside just as easily. Add an extra guard here at the hall, Ulrich.'

'I'll have to pull one of the guards away from the convent to do that.'

'I do not believe the convent is in danger now. The alchemist knows the book is here in the hall.'

Gareth found the indentations in the shoreline. 'I also want a watch kept at these locations as well as at the village harbor. Check the small cliff caves after every tide.'

'We're going to be spread very thin around the isle, my lord. The three men you sent to guard the perfumes that London merchant purchased have not yet returned. We are still short-handed.'

'You and I will take a watch. My squire-in-training will also take one.'

Ulrich looked up with a curious glint in his eye. 'You're going to trust Dalian with guard duty?'

'Dalian is my man. He's frightened of his former master, but he does not serve him. He serves me.'

Ulrich hesitated and then nodded. 'Very well. You have always been a good judge of men. We'll let him take a watch near the convent.'

'I will stay here in the hall,' Gareth said. 'You take the harbor with two of the men.'

'Aye, my lord. Do you believe this Lucretius de Valemont will attempt to bring armed men onto Desire?'

'I do not know. He must realize how difficult it would be to bring an armed company ashore without being seen.'

'At this point he has no way of knowing that you are aware of him or his intentions.'

'He will soon reason it out.' Gareth studied the map. 'I have a feeling that when Dalian does not bring him the book, he will come here to look for it. He has already stepped foot on our isle on one previous occasion.'

Ulrich looked up with an inquiring frown. 'When was that?'

'The night he came to search the convent library.'

'You believe it was he who murdered the recluse?'

'Aye.'

'Ah, yes. Our mysterious ghost who walks through locked gates,' Ulrich said thoughtfully.

'More likely a man in a monk's cowl who knows how to pick a lock. I suspect he came and went in a small boat that he brought ashore at one of these two locations.' Gareth stabbed a finger at the small coves drawn on the map.

Ulrich smiled without any of his usual amusement. 'If the magician returns a second time, we'll have him.'

'Aye. He's only a man, despite what Dalian believes.'

'Where is young Dalian?'

'Clare took him out to the kitchens to feed him. He's suddenly starving now that he has recovered from his adventures and no longer fears he will be hung.'

Ulrich frowned in thought. 'I would like more information about this magician.'

'As would I. But Dalian's fear of him is such that he finds it difficult to speak of him. Clare says the minstrel will become more talkative once he is fed.'

'You have assigned your lady to question the boy?'

'It was Clare's idea,' Gareth admitted.

***

'He's a magician?' Joanna's mouth fell open in astonishment. 'Are you certain?'

'That's what Dalian claims.' Clare looked at Dalian. 'Is that not so?'

'Aye, my lady.' Dalian sat at the trestle table in the kitchen. He had a large slice of leftover roast chicken in front of him which he was devouring with the air of a man who had not eaten in weeks. William sat across from him, nibbling on a bit of cheese.

'Sir Ulrich says there is no such thing as magic,' William said. 'He says Lucretius de Valemont is likely an alchemist, not a real magician.'

'Lucretius de Valemont can walk through locked doors,' Dalian insisted.

'Is that true?' William asked, intrigued.

'I have seen him enter a locked chamber without using a key,' Dalian said around a mouthful of chicken. 'I have also seen him make objects appear and disappear. I know that Lord Gareth does not believe me, but 'tis true.'

'I'll wager he is not a great knight like Lord Gareth and Sir Ulrich,'

William said confidently.

Dalian stopped chewing. His eyes were troubled. 'I told you, Lucretius de Valemont went on Crusade.

He is a fierce knight, although he says only a fool uses a sword when he can use magic.'

William took another bite of his cheese. 'Is he as large and strong as Lord Gareth and Sir Ulrich?'

'Nay.' Dalian looked more cheerful for a moment. 'He is not as large as my lord.' His face fell again. 'But he is very skilled with a sword. And he is extremely clever. He says big men are easy to defeat because they always rely on their muscles instead of their wits.'

'The magician has obviously not met Lord Gareth, has he?' Clare sat down on the bench beside William and looked across at Dalian.

'Nay.' Dalian appeared to relax slightly at that thought. 'Lord Gareth is very clever, too, is he not? Mayhap he is even more clever than the magician.'

'I expect he is.' Clare helped herself to a slice of hot bread. 'Is the magician married?'

'Nay. Women find him handsome. Indeed, they are much taken with him. I have often seen them vie for his attention. But he says he has little use for females.'

Joanna set out a portion of custard. Her eyes met Clare's. 'Does he prefer the company of men, then?' she asked very casually.

Dalian shrugged. 'Nay.'

'Young boys, mayhap?' Joanna suggested quietly.

Clare held her breath as she realized the implications of Joanna's question.

But Dalian merely seemed confused by the remark. He shook his head and helped himself to the custard. 'Nay. In truth, the magician does not care for anyone. He is devoted to his studies of the black arts. But I have seen him be most courteous to ladies when he wants something from them.'

Clare did not move. 'What do you mean?'

'He gives them romantic gifts when he wishes to lure them into doing some service for him.'

'What sort of gifts?' Clare asked.

'A single blood-red rose. Sometimes he composes poetry for them, even though he thinks it foolish.' Dalian grimaced. 'The ladies are much impressed by such gifts. They do not know that he feels nothing for them.'

'A single blood-red rose.' Clare drummed her fingers lightly on the table. 'Tell me, Dalian, does the magician perfume his clothing or use a scented soap?'

'Nay. He does not care for perfumes and scents. He says they are for women, but in truth, I believe he does not like them because some of them make him sneeze.'

Clare exchanged a glance with Joanna. 'What color hair does the magician have?'

'He is fair.' Dalian looked at her. 'Why do you ask?'

'With golden brown eyes?'

'Aye.' Dalian frowned. 'How did you know?'

Clare met Joanna's uneasy gaze. ''Twas a guess based on some of the other things you have said of him.'

William was visibly impressed. 'But how did you guess the color of his eyes, Lady Clare?'

'I believe we know this magician, William.'

'We have made his acquaintance?' William stared at her.

'Aye.'

'But that is impossible,' William said.