«Quick, I think you've had too much. Owen was killed after the Count was staked.»
«Clever, isn't he? That's what I was coming to tell you about. He fooled us. He's still around.»
«What? How?»
«When I reached the peak of my indulgence the other night,» he replied, «I suddenly felt terribly lonely. I didn't want to be alone, so I went looking for someone, something, lights, movement, sounds. I went over to the Gipsy camp, which was perfect. I curled up beneath a wagon, planning to spend the night there and sleep it off. But I overheard parts of a conversation from the wagon which led me to make my way up between its floorboards. I had chosen the wagon, and a pair of guards were in it. Sometimes they'd speak in their own tongue, sometimes in English, the younger one wanted the practice. I spent the night in there instead of below. But I learned the story. I even found an opening that gave me a view of the casket».
«He's with the Gipsies?»
«Yes. They guard him by day as he sleeps, guard the casket at night when he's away.»
«So he'd faked it,» I said. «Dressed the skeleton we'd found in his garments, put the stake into it himself.»
«Yes, the crumbly skeleton that was already there.»
«… And that's why the ring wasn't on it.»
«Yes, and he was safe in that, too. Anybody finding the remains would assume that the staker had taken it.»
I felt a chill.
«Quick, he did make this arrangement after the death of the moon, didn't he?»
«Yes. Your calculations would be unaffected.»
«Good. But this I don't understand, the Count killed Owen because the vicar killed Rastov. Owen was an opener. Does that reflect a particular sympathy on the part of the Count? Or was he simply out to check the vicar and keep the violence from spreading?»
«I don't know. Nothing was said on the matter.»
I growled softly.
«This is a complicated one,» I said.
«Agreed. Now you know everything I do.»
«Thanks. Want to come with me?»
«No. I'm really out of the Game. Good luck.»
«'Luck, Quick.»
I heard him slither off.
It rained a little that afternoon, and stopped shortly after sunset. I went outside to look for the moon, and Bubo came with me. The clouds still veiled her, however, and all we could see was the big area of brightness she shed in the east. The wind blew chill.
«So this is it,» Bubo said. «By morning it will all be decided.»
«Yes.»
«I wish I could have been playing all along.»
«A wish on the moon,» I said. «It may be true. You have been playing, in a way. You've traded information, you've watched things develop, same as the rest of us.»
«Yes, but I didn't really do important things like the rest of you.»
«It's mainly the little things, all added up, that give us the final picture, that make the difference.»
«I suppose so,» he said. «Yes, it was fun. Do you think, Could I possibly come with? I'd like to see it happen, however it goes.»
«I'm sorry,» I said. «We couldn't be responsible for a civilian, too. I think it's going to be a rough one.»
«I understand,» he replied. «I'd guessed you'd say that, but I had to ask.»
I left him there after a time, watching the sky. The moon was still hidden.
And so… .
We left before midnight, of course, Jack and I, he in a warm coat and carrying a satchel containing the equipment. Under his other arm, he bore a few small logs for the fire. We left without bothering to lock the door.
The sky was beginning to clear overhead, though the moon was still masked. There was sufficient light just from its glow-through, however, to show our way clearly. There was a chill, damp breeze at our backs.
Soon, Dog's Nest was before us, and Jack decided we should circle it and mount its eastern slope.
We did that, and as we came in sight of the top a small glow was already apparent off in the circle toward the stone with the inscription. Moving nearer, we saw that Vicar Roberts and Morris and MacCab were tending a small fire they had obviously just gotten going, nursing it to achieve greater compass. The vicar's ear was unbandaged now, and light showed through two high perforations in it. The heap of kindling was much larger than when Graymalk and I had been by earlier.
The banefire is a necessary part of our business. It goes all the way back into the misty vastness of our practices. Both sides require it, so in this sense it is a neutral instrument. After midnight, it comes to burn in more than one world, and we may add to it those things which enhance our personal strengths and serve our ends. It attracts otherworldly beings sympathetic to both sides, as well as neutral spirits who may be swayed by the course of the action. Voices and sights may pass through it, and it serves as a secondary, supportive point of manifestation to whatever the opening or closing object may be. Customarily, we all bring something to feed it, and it interacts with all of us throughout the ritual. I had urinated on one of our sticks, for example, several days earlier. There are times when players have been attacked by its flames; and I can recall an instance when one was defended by a sudden wall of fire it issued. It is also good for disposing of evidence. It comes in handy on particularly cold nights, too.
«Good evening,» Jack said as we approached, and he added his contribution to the woodpile.
«Good evening, Jack,» the vicar said, and Morris and MacCab nodded.
Lynette lay on her back upon the altar, head turned in our direction, eyes closed, breathing slow. Well drugged, of course. She had on a long white garment, and her dark hair hung loose. I looked away. Obviously, the protest had been overridden. I sniffed the air. No sign of Jill or Graymalk yet.
The fire bloomed more brightly. Jack set his bag down and moved to help with it. I decided on a quick patrol of the area, and I made a big circuit. There was nothing unusual to be found. I went and stared at the huge stone. Just then the edge of the moon appeared from behind the clouds. Its light fell upon it. The markings had become visible again, dark, upon the illuminated surface. I went and sat by Jack's satchel.
The vicar had on a dark cloak which made a swishing sound as he moved. It did not conceal the fact that he was a short, slightly fat man, and it neither added to nor detracted from his appearance of menace. That was all in his face, with its intense expression of controlled mania. The moon was doubled in his glasses.
Under their joint ministrations the banefire grew to a respectable size. The vicar was the first to toss something into it, a small parcel which crackled and flared bluely. I took a sniff. It involved herbs I'd encountered before. Morris added two parcels, which I could tell involved bones. Jack added a very small one which produced a green flash. I tossed in one of my own, along with the pissed-on stick. The moon slid completely free of the clouds.
The vicar went and stared at the inscription, not even glancing at his stepdaughter. Then he backed away, turned to his left, took several paces, halted, turned back toward the stone. He adjusted his position slightly, then scuffed at the ground with his bootheel.
«I will position myself here,» he stated, glancing at Jack.
«I have no objection,» Jack said. «Your associates will be to your right, I presume?»