Brother Cadfael 07: The Sanctuary Sparrow

and go back unmolested into his own country, and I'll go freely, to my death or my wretched life, whichever falls on me. I am the one you want. Not he. I have killed, I tell you so open ...'
    'She's lying,' cried Iestyn hoarsely. 'I am the guilty man. Whatever she did she did only for me ...'
    'Hush, love, they know better! They know which of us two planned and acted. Me they may do as they like with - you they shall not have!'
    'Oh, fool girl, my dearest, do you think I would leave you? Not for all the world's treasures ...'
    Those below were forgotten in this wild contention above. Nothing was to be seen but the agitated tremor of certain pallors within the dark frame, that might have been faces and hands, faces pressed despairingly cheek to cheek, hands embracing and caressing. Next moment Iestyn's voice lifted sharply: 'Stop her! Quickly, stir! Mind your fawn!' And the shadowy embrace broke apart, and a faint, frustrated cry from deep within made Liliwin shiver and start against Cadfael's arm.
    'That was Rannilt. Oh, God, if I could but reach her ...' But he spoke only in a whisper, aware of a tension that ought not to be broken, that was spun out here like the threatened thread of Rannilt's young life, and his own hope of happiness. His desperation and pain was something he must bear, and keep silent.
    'Since she cries out,' whispered Cadfael firmly into his ear, 'she is alive. Since she made a bid to slip away out of reach while they were beset, she is unharmed and unbound. Keep that in mind.'
    'Yes, true! And they don't, they can't hate her or want to harm her ...' But still he heard the extreme anger and pain of those two voices crying defiance, and knew, as Cadfael knew, that two so driven might do terrible things even against their own natures. More, he understood their suffering, and was wrung with it as though it matched his own.
    'No comfort for you,' shouted Iestyn from his lair. 'We have her still. Now I offer you another choice. Take back the girl and the gold and silver, give us the two horses and this night free of pursuit, together.'
    Walter Aurifaber broke free with a whimper of half-eager, half-doubtful hope and approval, and darted some yards into the open. 'My lord! My lord, that might be acceptable. If they restore my treasury ..." Even his lawful revenge did not count for much by comparison.
    'There is a life they cannot restore,' said Hugh curtly, and motioned him back so sternly that the goldsmith recoiled, chastened.
    'Are you listening, Iestyn?' called Hugh, raising his eyes once again to the dark hatch. 'You mistake my office. I stand here for the king's law. I am willing to stand here all night long. Take thought again, and better, and come down with unbloodied hands. There is no better thing you can do.'
    'I am here. I am listening. I have not changed,' Iestyn responded grimly from above. 'If you want my woman and me, come and fetch us forth, and fetch away first this little carcass - your prey, not ours.'
    'Have I raised a hand?' said Hugh reasonably. 'Or loosened my sword in the scabbard? You see me, clearer than I can see you. We have the night before us. Whenever you have ought to say, speak up, I shall be here.'
    The night dragged with fearful slowness over besiegers and besieged, for the most part in mourn silence, though if silence continued too long Hugh would deliberately break it, to test whether Iestyn remained awake and watchful, though with care not to alarm him, for fear he should be driven to panic action in expectation of an attack. There was no remedy but to outwait and out endure the enemy. In all likelihood they had very little food or water with them. They could as easily be deprived of rest. Even in such tactics there was the danger of sudden and utter despair, which might bring on a massacre, but if all was done very gradually and softly that might yet be avoided. Weariness has sometimes broken down spirits braced implacably to defy torture, and inaction sucked away all the resolution armed for action.
    'Try if you can do better,' said Hugh softly to Cadfael, some time well past midnight. 'They cannot know you're here, not yet, you may find a chink in their mail that's proof against me.'
    In those small hours when the heart is low, the least surprise may prick home as it could not do by day, in the noon of the body's vigour. Cadfael's very voice, deeper and rougher than Hugh's, startled Iestyn into leaning out from his watch-tower for one incautious stare at this