Page 109 of Angel's Flight

“Off to keep Sir Edward alive for another day,” Erik replied bitterly.“Do you think it will kill the poor man to discover no one will be taking this place?”

“That’s not true, is it though?”Christine better understood now.“Pauline was accelerating what would happen anyway.This manor will eventually go to some Englishman who will either keep neglecting it or suck this land dry.”

“Isn’t that a good reason to throw her in the stable and leave?”Erik asked, more sarcastic than hopeful.“I guess that won’t solve everything.”

“I offered her money,” Christine confessed at last.“I asked how much it would take for her to go away.She didn’t say no.”

“Even if she goes away, we still have Bidaut to deal with.”Christine hated that he was right.“You’re still in danger.If you let me—”

“That’s not an option.I’m going to see if she’s decided.Maybe she can be of use if so,” Christine declared, and left Erik in the hall.She felt like she was keeping him near her by the thinnest thread.If she let go or said the wrong thing, he’d be gone forever, back to the dark, where she’d never find him again.

Pauline looked asleep when Christine opened the carriage door.Christine resented her finding a single moment of peace but kept herself from shaking her too hard to wake her.She also took care not to be bitten when she removed the gag.

“Have you made a decision?”Christine asked, trying to keep herself cold and aloof.“I’ll be feeding you no matter what you say, so don’t worry about that.”

For a second, Pauline looked relieved.Grateful even.

“It would cost quite a lot.To disappearandbe of service,” Pauline said slowly, not smirking for once.She looked...sad.“Not that I want to help.”

“You couldn’t just leave?I guess we could drop you somewhere.”

Pauline looked up from her bonds at Christine, her customary smugness returning.“You should consider how much you’re willing to pay to make me and Bidaut go away.Because he’s coming.”

West of Dublin

All things considered, Monsieur Bidaut had been an accommodating hostage taker.Shaya had been allowed to sleep, rest, and relieve himself, and had not been restrained.The food had been a problem, as all Bidaut had on offer was salt pork and turnips cooked with it.Nor had Shaya been able to turn towards Mecca and pray, but he had made a note of it in his mind and said his prayers to Allah in his heart.He assumed his current predicament would earn some dispensation from the Merciful Almighty.

Bidaut had not been a particularly talkative host, which, at this point, Shaya found more boring than annoying.If he was to be hauled across two countries (was it two?He was always confused as to what the United Kingdom considered its own or a vassal), he wanted to learn something new.

They had been on the train for over an hour.Bidaut was absorbed in a paper in English next to Shaya.Nothing in it was worth reading.

“I don’t suppose you intend to tell me where we’re going?”Shaya asked, keeping his eyes on the scenery rolling by.He wondered if anyone would think it curious to hear the foreigner in their midst speak French.

“I’m sure you’re aware of Erik’s history in this part of the world, or his connections to it,” Bidaut replied without looking up.

“I am.But, I must know: how did you discover it?”

Bidaut gave him a sidelong look.“Professional curiosity?”

“Of course.I did hunt the man myself for quite a while.”

Bidaut considered him for a moment, then sighed and closed his paper.“Yes.I was made aware of your failures.”

Shaya scowled.“By Sabine de Chagny, whose brother, I’m sure, was talkative.”

“Sabine de Martiniac, if we are being precise,” Bidaut corrected, though there was a look on his face that said it was a convenient fiction.“To your question, however: Erik, despite his best effort, has left some mark on the world.His mother’s origins were easy enough to discern when investigating his history with the Baron de Martiniac.Easy to exploit as well.”

“You lured him to Ireland?”Shaya was almost impressed.Erik was hard to manipulate.

“My assistant in these matters was useful in that respect.Her methods, however deluded and byzantine, are predictable.”Bidaut stopped talking and chuckled to himself.“She’ll be furious to see you in my power.All her work, reduced to a contingency.”

“You think I’ll be that useful to you?”Shaya scoffed back.“I wouldn’t think you’d underestimate Erik after he stabbed you.Yes, I know about that.”

“Impressive.Though Pomeroy let me know that you had to use – what was it?A ballet rat to do your spying.I guess it’s understandable.I had pickpockets doing mine.”

“Sounds expensive.”Shaya was learning, though slowly, what Bidaut was willing to do and how far he would go.His associate seemed to be the dangerous one.“Desperate, even.”

“We were growing impatient,” Bidaut drawled.

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