Tyvain scowled. ‘Now listen, it won’t do ya boy any good at all if ya fade away to nothin’. Astaroth needs ya in one good, solid piece, Mr Mercer. I’ll bring eggs and some cheese and bread, and if I ’ear a word out of either of ya about it, I’ll start singin’ till you stuff your gobs. You think that tart daemon can’t hold a tune? You ain’t ’eard nothin’ yet, I assure you.’
Silas gave her the smile he knew she was working for, and thin as it was, Tyvain gave a grunt of satisfaction. ‘Will see what I can find out about dear Reginald’s whereabouts too. For all we know he might just be priggin’ one of the staff in the attic. Maybe torture gives him a rod that needs playin’ with. Saints know if anyone needs it, it’s that uptight bastard. Now don’t be doin’ no wheelchair races while I’m gone, ya hear?’
‘Tyvain,’ Silas called as she limped her way along. ‘If you have a moment, could you ensure Byleist is still alone? That Lucifer is not with him?’
‘Worried about that bastard, eh?’ The soothsayer looked over her shoulder, auburn hair like a red tumbleweed atop her head. ‘I thought your cock only lifted for the prince. You’re not doing anythin’ I wouldn’t approve of with the ’eadless ’orseman, are ya?’
Despite it all, Silas’s laughter jumped from him. ‘Of course not. It’s what Lucifer may do with Byleist that concerns me. Since when did you become Pitch’s ally? I thought you could barely stand him.’
‘No denyin’ ’e’s a bit of a prick. But I ’eard what ’e did for the folks of Sherwood. And the Forest of Dean before that…Marcus told us all what went on in that ’ouse with the witch bottles, too.’ She shrugged. ‘Since ’e’s ’ad you between his legs, ’e’s not so much of a cock as ’e used to be, I suppose. Or maybe he never was and you’ve just got ’im naked in all ways. ’Ere’s ’opin’ that eye on a church thing means somethin’ to someone. I kind of miss the silly cunt.’
She sniffed as though her own words offended her, and then she was gone.
Leaving Sybilla and Silas alone.
The first time they’d been so since he’d brought her back to life. But after Tyvain’s declarations, all Silas could do was work against the near-overwhelming urge to break down. To let the tears that slammed at the backs of his eyes pour from him.
He turned his head, working his fingers against the small area of stone that still clung to Lalassu’s coat, pretending he was studying it hard enough not to speak just yet.
‘Silas–’
‘Are you in pain?’ He coughed, clearing the husk from his throat. If another word was said about Pitch right now, he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t lose his mettle. ‘Please tell me the truth, Sybilla.’
‘There is a little discomfort, I’ll be honest, but it is easing with every breath I take. Silas…what you did…’
‘Was selfish.’ He dug his fingertip against the stone. It loosened with his attentions, and came away like chalk pushed too hard against the board. ‘I am so sorry–’
‘For keeping me alive? How can that be a selfish thing? You are a true marvel, Silas. I heard you, calling me, showing me the way. I will never be able to thank you enough for giving me the chance to amend my mistake.’
Silas turned, looking at her for the first time. ‘Your mistake?’
The angel’s eyes shimmered. ‘I had him…’ She lifted her hands, fingers gnarled and rigid beneath taut flesh. ‘I had him in my hands, he was safe…he should have been safe…I hope you can forgive me, Silas. For letting him go.’
Silas stared at her. ‘There is nothing to forgive. You gave your absolute all to protect him. While I….I was occupied with playing a game. I left Pitch alone. I had promised him I would never do that…’ He truly could not go on without fear his sorrow would overcome him. ‘But this will get us nowhere, remonstrating ourselves for things already done. What we must do now is find him. Does the eye on the church mean anything to you at all? Do you think Tyvain is right? That I’m being kept at arm’s length for fear of acting irrationally?’ Infuriating as it was, it could account for Lucifer’s hurry to escape him.
And it was not an unreasonable assumption. But it was not the Order’s, or the king’s, place to keep him in the dark.
‘I do think it is possible,’ Sybilla whispered. ‘Lucifer wants to find Pitch just as desperately as any of us, I’m sure. He was the one who brought the daemon here, after all. It was Lucifer too, who brought the pendant watch. His actions are what began all of this.’
Sybilla wheeled the chair out of the stall, straining to do so, but Silas stayed his hand. She was panting by the time she’d rolled but a foot or so into the passageway.
The lengths of Lalassu’s mane shifted, touching gently at the angel’s cheek and eliciting a tight but welcome smile from the Valkyrie.
‘And the eye upon a church? A new church?’ Silas said. ‘It’s terribly vague, but can you guess at what he meant?’
‘It doesn’t strike me as familiar…but I’ve hardly been paying attention to church builds.’ Sybilla’s smile lost what little veracity it had. ‘And my mind is not what it should be. My thoughts are like eels at the moment, and they don’t wish to be caught.’ She glanced at Silas and must have seen something she did not like upon his face. ‘Better with every hour though, truly, Silas. I could barely lift my head from the pillow two days ago,’ She raised one arm, indicating her lap. ‘Now look at me, practically ready to grace a dance hall, and I dare say there’s a few brothels where I’d be most welcome with this voice.’
Her laughter was choked, her pain evident, but he was not about to let her weak attempt at humour go to waste.
Silas grinned at her, thanking her silently for lifting him just clear enough of his own dreadful melancholy to take a breath. ‘I dare say, indeed.’
‘I hate to ask…but…’ Sybilla pointed a finger over her shoulder. ‘Would you mind giving me a push? I may have exaggerated the readiness for a dance, to be honest. We can meet Tyvain in the kitchen, and I’ll take my meal in my room.’
‘Of course.’
But before Silas could position himself, let alone reach for the handles, Lalassu settled herself in front of Sybilla’s chair, and the strands of her tail wove through the spokes, urging the wheels to turn. Sybilla laughed as the mare pulled the chair behind her like a chariot. Silas followed, one hand touched to a handle. He could not help one more question, even as he watched Sybilla prop her elbow on the armrest and lean her head into her hand.
‘I suppose you have not recalled where Charlie and Edward might be? I do not expect you to tell me where,’ he said quickly. ‘I understand it’s in their best interests to keep such things secret…but please, if you know–’
