Exile's Return (Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

archdeacon into a corner and, in a few moments, apprised him of what Rosalind had said.
    Hilderic’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You can’t be serious! Dammit, Godfrey, if this is one of your jokes …’
    ‘It is no joke, Brother,’ Godfrey whispered, his eyes darting back to the others. Eluned could be trusted – but the lords? Did they already know? Would they help? ‘At least my friend’s conclusion about war is misplaced. We are to be spared that.’
    ‘Really?’ Hilderic murmured, attaching his formidable mind to the problem. ‘McGlashen was just telling me about the problem with these nomadic raiders stirring up trouble in the west. They’re moving east and no one knows anything about them. It is said they come from Mayenne but there’s no proof. If Selar wanted a war with his brother then this would be a useful way to gather support from the people.’
    Godfrey considered that for a moment then shook his head. ‘This is nothing more than speculation, Brother. We could be completely wrong. We’ve no evidence at all …’
    ‘No? Think about it, Godfrey. There was only ever one man who was a good influence on Selar, but he’s gone now and never likely to come back. If Selar wanted war, who better to help him than Vaughn? He’s ambitious, greedy and entirely self-serving. He’s completely capable of arranging these raids as a deliberate reminder of those during the Troubles. From what McGlashen says, these raids are very similar to those fifteen years ago. Back then there was barely a House in Lusara which didn’t suffer as a consequence. Raids and those evil abductions. Children of the great Houses taken and never seen again. McGlashen’s cousin Peter was one such – taken when he was only four years old. The child’s father died in the battle of Nanmoor fighting Selar, and his mother in childbirth only months later. Don’t tell me Selar can’t be behind this.’
    ‘Then what do we do?’
    ‘For the moment, nothing – and not a word to these others here. We don’t dare compromise McGlashen andPayne. Their presence on the council is too important. The people have already lost their most beloved champion, we cannot afford to lose more. After we’ve finished here, I’ll go and see Domnhall. After that …’ With a shrug, Hilderic turned back to his supper guests and ushered them to their seats around the table.
    Godfrey moved to the sideboard and poured himself some wine. As he brought it to his lips, there was an urgent knock on the door. Hilderic’s secretary, Father John, entered breathless, his eyes casting about the room.
    ‘Archdeacon,’ he gasped, bowing quickly to the others. ‘The doctor asked me to send for you. Bishop Domnhall has collapsed.’
    *
    Nash waited across the courtyard, wrapped in a old wool cloak. In the darkness he knew he was almost invisible unless someone looked directly at him. Not that anyone was about. It was a cold night and for the last hour light drifts of slushy snow had fallen from the sky, making the night altogether too miserable to contemplate. This was the first snow Marsay had had this autumn and it boded ill for the coming winter. With his eyes on the small ornate door opposite his sheltered corner, Nash let his mind wander for a moment. Inevitably, his thoughts returned to Gellatly – and Osbert.
    He had a problem. It was not insurmountable – but it was a problem, nonetheless, one which required delicate handling and very careful timing. Gellatly had that afternoon once again drawn Osbert’s wrath on the subject of the King. The governor’s attitude had been stern but even so, was more generous than the official Guilde position. However, Gellatly had obstinately stuck to his strict moral code, endangering his position with Osbert – and handing Nash a singular opportunity.
    To further his ambitions, Nash needed to rise. Not quickly – at least, not too quickly. In order to get close to Osbert, and therefore Vaughn, he had to remove