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“I know of no Garra in d’Almerita, but they would be accepted there.”
Her expression is beyond incredulous.
“The king is a good man who cares for his people,” I continue.
“He is a fool.”
At least her vitriol extends beyond me. I will not argue her point, not even for Galfrid, but I cannot allow our conversation to continue on in this vein.
“My purpose,” I say, changing topics, “is to learn what I can of Master Aldwine in order to sway him to our cause.”
I can tell she’s taken aback by my candidness. Which I hadn’t been prepared to offer. But whether it’s her profession or her nature that makes it so, Aedre is unnaturally astute. Half measures will not do with her.
“Which is?”
“One question each day,” I remind her.
“But I’ve asked none.”
She does not flinch. Recalling her words, I realize she is correct.
I do not know your purpose here. Tell me, Vanni, why you’ve secured my services.
“You are clever, indeed. Go ahead then, ask it.”
“What cause sends you to Murwood End to speak with Master Aldwine?”
She does know him.
I see the truth of it in her eyes. Too eager for an answer that has little to do with her. The question now is, how well? Is she the woman with whom he’s been linked?
Are they . . .
Something tightens inside me, and I ask, “How do you know him?”
“You first.”
Though I cannot tell her the entire truth, some of it will suffice.
“I’ve a message from the king for him.”
Unsatisfied with my answer, she’s about to ask another question when I stop her.
“One each day. Now tell me how you know him.”
Even I can hear that my voice is too tight.
“I mean to say, ’tis clear you know the man. Will you tell me how?”
She lifts her chin and smiles, although this isn’t at all the smile I’d hoped for. There’s something secretive about it. Triumphant. “We were raised together,” she says, “here in Murwood.”
Which is an interesting answer, but she gave me precisely nothing useful.
“You asked why I’ve secured your services.” I breathe in the crisp sea air.
“And you answered already. To gain information.”
I sit up and cross my legs to match her manner of sitting.
