Page 29 of A Crown of Darkness

But though she said nothing else Vivienne didn’t look comforted. She withdrew a little, watching them closely.

‘I don’t understand,’ Roland replied. ‘Did you enchant the paths here to hide the College?’

Vambray smiled, as if that was the most natural thing in the world, the strain vanishing like morning mist in the sun. ‘It was necessary, Grandmaster. These are dangerous times. We have been waiting for you to come for some time now.’

Roland frowned. Vambray seemed so certain, adamant in that assertion, but much in this made no sense to Roland. ‘But if you had word from Pelias and you were waiting for us, why hide the roads? How could we find our way?’

‘And yet here you are. Or almost. We sent Robin and Lark to guide you, did we not? Come, we can be at the College within an hour. However,’ he paused and Roland felt that uncomfortable stutter in his chest again, ‘we have secret paths to speed us there, and we will need to blindfold you all so that you can come with us.’

At this, the chill suspicion that had nothing to do with the snow and the frigid air returned. Roland glared at him but there was nothing obviously deceptive in the man’s face.

‘Blindfolded?’ Anselm asked sharply. ‘Why? We are Knights of the Aurum. Our word should suffice if you wish us to remain silent about your paths.’

Vambray spread his hands wide. ‘Secrets are not to be shared lightly. The chancellor demands it. Besides, it is for your protection.’

Their own protection? Roland doubted that.

‘Are you not the chancellor? I thought?—’

Tobias shook his head. ‘No, I am no longer chancellor. I stepped aside. It was…it was necessary.’

‘Tobias,’ said Vivienne again, her voice a little more plaintive, but the man ignored her. His eyes darted away, as if loath to make contact with any of them. ‘Really, we should make haste.’

‘I see,’ Roland said, despite his own misgivings. He really didn’t see. But they didn’t have a choice. They needed to reach the College and find something – anything – that might help Elodie. If there was knowledge to be found, someone who could help, it would be there. ‘We agree to be blindfolded if that must be.’

So long as they had their weapons, all would be well, he told himself.

‘Chancellor Vambray – I mean, Tobias,’ the woman beside him said. The slip over the man’s title was interesting though. He might deny his title, but others still used it. What was going on here? ‘Please, reason with the children. They won’t come with us.’

Vambray shook his head, fondly, his earlier discomfort forgotten. ‘Lark and Robin are free to come and go as they wish.’

Roland frowned at the two witchkind children who had already backed up to the treeline. They had that stubborn look about them he was already beginning to dread.

‘We brought them here, as you asked,’ said Lark. ‘But we aren’t going in there. Not yet. There’s no place for us in there. And we like the open air.’

This suspicion was almost as bad as what they had displayed towards the knights. Olivier shifted uncomfortably, unwilling to let them go.

‘Come now,’ said Vambray. ‘We should be going before the shadow kin regroup and attack again. We should not even be out here. Their number grows all the time.’

‘The shadow kin?’ Roland asked. There shouldn’t be any shadow kin in this area, not the number they had encountered and certainly not enough to cut the College off completely. Heneeded to know the truth. Or as much of the truth as these witchkind might tell him. ‘What has been happening here? You were the chancellor.’

Vambray cast him a look of dismay.

‘Not anymore. I was honoured to step aside just two weeks ago, as my people required. The new chancellor has ordered us all to remain with the walls but…’ He shrugged. ‘Well, we still watch the paths in case anyone is in need of help, as is our way. And just as well, it seems. Now, we should move on, all of us.’

‘You sent the children out to find us?’ Roland asked. He liked this less and less.

‘We did as asked,’ Robin said. ‘But the College are not in charge of us. Now we’re leaving.’ Lark threw her arms around him, holding him close. The forest seethed again, and suddenly plants surged up around them, hiding them from view. By the time they receded the children were gone.

‘Find them,’ Roland barked at the others. ‘Quickly.’

But Vambray shook his head. ‘No need. They are safer than we are, I promise you. They are not children, Grandmaster. Not really. They are wild creatures and will not thank us for trying to control them. And they are right, they shouldn’t be in the College, not now.’

Roland exchanged a worried glance with Olivier and Anselm, but what could they do? The children were gone as if they had never been there. Wild creatures? What did that mean?

But had his own instincts not told him that they were not quite…normal either?

Tobias Vambray cleared his throat. ‘I swear to you, Grandmaster, no harm will befall them. They go as they will in this world. We know them of old.Oldmagic, you see? Now, if you please, let us get you to safety.’

---