Quoted By:
"I would have sworn that I had ~~~ something."
"No doubt you did, Goodman-Master, it just ... what?"
"You swear I was sent for, just I as I swear ~ ~~~ something. Something is afoot - and I intend to find out what."
You strain your ears until you feel as if you can hear your own heartbeat, but nothing more is being said. There is, however, some more noise, footfalls - moving away, if you are to judge.
"No, no. You wait here, in case this moon-woman of yours makes another appearance."
"You believe me then?"
"Yes, if only because it would be the stupidest thing imaginable to lie about."
"Oh, thank you. Thank -"
"And if you do see her again, don't let her out of your sight. I'm not about to start allowing those who have paid neither room nor board freedom of the house at such a preposterous hour. Doubly so for women! "
That is the last word spoken in this room, of that you are certain. Of what you are to do next, that is ... markedly less certain. If Machares were to get to the night grooms before you, then you would expect it to be harder - and more expensive - to induce the husbandmen to make ready your stage and team. They might no do it at all. Now, as you listen to his retreating footsteps with an insistent, nagging dread, you have to wonder if that is where he is heading. Judging from what may be gathered about his heading, you doubt that he is looking to exit the room from the door that you entered, but ... oh, by the Heights of Hell, there could be a way to the stables through the house. There <span class="mu-i">would</span> be a way, wouldn't there? If your luck is running white though, he could just as easily be looking for you elsewhere in the house. If that were the way of it, then you would still have a window to sneak yourself back into the yard, find the stable, find the <span class="mu-i">grooms</span>, see your team back in tack and harness then be off before Machares imposed himself upon you.
