He wrote of the Venicones and how they crippled and cast him out to die, and of his rescue by Prydn.

Padrec paused in reflection and added the word "Faerie"

in parentheses. Very likely Meganius never heard of Prydn.

Indeed, no one south of the Wall, including himself, had a clear notion of them beyond dark fables to frighten chil- dren into obedience. Padrec almost laughed aloud. Fright- ening? A woman deeply lovely as DoreTei, a man bright as Bredei, vulnerable as Drust?

We are two days north of the Venicones, among the Taixali. God knows where after this, since they are nomads who must follow the herds. My fasting vows have lapsed since it is very hard to know from one day to the next what mere will be to eat at all, and I must take no more than my share. Your indulgence in absentia would be appreciated in this....

723.

And for that I love a woman and the love y a thorn. But until I can confess, I will wrestle that alone, Meganius.

Still they have made me one of them and hear my preaching. And so your grace will be pleased to learn I have my first congregation.

Congregation? He rarely fell like a priest these days, more often the prisoner of benevolent jailors or an idiot uncle more loved than heeded. They were yet small ves- sels for the wine of faith. They could hold so much, and the rest spilled over to waste.

They love the miracles, which are much like their own, and the Psalms for their music, so at least there is a beginning. Farewell for the time.

Patricius asks your prayers and sends his to his holy bishop.

He considered adding "and mentor" but could not yet bring himself to it. He rolled the vellum, wrote the name and destination on the outer side, and handed it to the trader with his bit of gold, not concerned about the pri- vacy of the contents. If it got to Corslopitum at all, no one north of the Wall could read it anyway.

Shadows lengthened eastward. Dorelei gave the sun a glance and passed the word to collect by the ponies near the gate. She met Padrec coming out of the trader's house and passed him the bolts of cloth.

So you couldn't resist the linen," he noted with a twinkle. Dorelei felt secretly guilty over the extravagance.

"And why not? Sister much wanted it."

"And you? A fair gown for summer. Perhaps with- yes, the necklace of sapphires."

"Sa-?"

"Your blue stones. They always become you."

"Ah. Perhaps. Do nae think on such things."

Cru and Malgon appeared, carrying baskets of feed between them, Artcois and Bredei laden with more be- hind. They deposited the goods by the pack animals and hurried back for the second load, all aware of the time and the need to depart. Padrec felt the tension in Dorelei as they worked quickly to toad the ponies.

124 "Need not haste so." he eased. "None staring at us now."

"Be thy first trading, Padrec." Doretei went on hitch- ing and tying with quick, sharp twists of her fingers. "A do watch always."

"I think it's gone well."

"Will say that when fhain is wel! gone." Dorelei men- tally ticked off her people, wishing them finished and visible. She breathed easier when Cru and Matgon secured their last load to the pack saddles and freer yet when Artcois and Bredei and Neniane were waiting by her side.

Only two missing. "Guentoie and Drust? They went for the oil."

Padrec pointed across the village common. "In that storehouse."

"With what tallfolk?" Doretei demanded.

Cru read her unease and added his own. "That Taixali who laid Blackbar athwart the gate. Did nae like it, but was Naiton's wish."

Hearing it, Malgon started to move. One look be- tween Padrec and Cru and they were abreast of Guenloie's husband as he strode toward the storehouse, Cru subtly brushing Malgon's hand from the hilt of his knife. Padrec was in the lead when the cry rose from inside the storehouse-Guenloie's voice, high and shrill, edged with fear. The door burst open and Drust literally fell out of the house with the Taixali youth after him, knife in hand.

Even as the Taixaii lunged, Drust rolled cat-quick out of the way and up, knife on guard, circling. Padrec broke into a run, seeing the whole miserable sense of it: the Taixali blood-striped as Drust, Guenloie terrified in the doorway. And now other villagers left off their business, running, eager to see what happened, what would happen.

"Cru, lake Drust," Padrec snapped. "I'll take the boy."

"Will do that myself," Malgon hissed.

"No, you won't." Padrec pushed him aside. He and Cru didn't pause at the edge of the fight. Agile Cru slipped behind Drust and pinned his arms as Padrec lunged in front of the Taixali knife that froze its forward thrust a bare inch from his own gut. "Put it up!"

The young man was cut across the chest; not badly, 125.

but pnde demanded retribution beyond the wound in Drust's arm. "Get out of my way."

Padrec didn't move. "I do only as your own elder would. Put it up, boy."

The youth deliberately placed the edge of the knife against Padrec's throat just under his left ear. "I am no boy to you or any Roman."

His heart pounded so hard. Padrec found it difficult to keep his voice steady. He concentrated all the wilt into that. "You tried us like a boy at the gate and no better now, testing other's courage where you are not sure of your own. Put up your knife before your women laugh at you."

There was a larger crowd around them now, the women sibilant, pointing at Guenloie in the doorway.

"She's to blame."

"She did it."

"Did what?" one reasonable voice piped, quite lost in the tide of accusation.

"The whore, she's to blame. They're all alike."

The circle began to shrink tighter around them-then quite suddenly the crowd washed to either side like wake from the prow of a swift keel as Naiton plowed through, beefy and choleric. "Now, what is this? What is this?"

In the face of Naiton's unquestionable authority, the youth faltered and whined. "He cut me, Elder. See how he did cut me."

"And you him, and over what?" Naiton jabbed a scorn- ful finger at Guenloie. "That? What happened?"

Cowed, sickened at the blood streaming down Drust's arm, Guenloie could only stammer and choke into silence.

Naiton read it as confirmation of his quick suspicion.

"Didn't he pay you enough, whore?"

"Was nae that!" Drust raged from the prison of Cru's arms. "Did try to take Guenloie's circlet and-and touch her. Nae, see Guenloie's face where a did strike her."

True enough. The girl's cheek was bruised from a blow with some force behind it, but that meant little to Naiton, who kicked or cuffed stupid women a dozen times a day. "Only that? Here, give me that knife until you grow, halfling."

The young Taixali handed it over meekly. Naiton

126 turned on Dorelei, towering over the tiny woman. "Out, Faerie."

She didn't move. "Will have our oil."