"Under torture questioned?" von Münster demanded.
"Possibly."
"Only possibly?"
"Very probably. We must make quite certain that he is telling the whole truth, you understand."
"And what his penalty will be?"
The friar shrugged as if such details were unimportant. "Assuming he is found guilty, I would expect him to be sentenced to a series of public floggings followed by some years in the galleys. At least ten years. It will depend on the evidence."
Even Hamish could not smile at that.
"One of my comrades he to slay was seen!"
"Of course, there is that, too," the friar agreed. "Then, Leopold, my son, I can assure you that the man Campbell will ultimately be handed over to the civil authorities for execution—to be hanged for murder or burned at the stake for consorting with demons. Do you agree with my opinion, Antonio?"
"I am no lawyer, Father." Captain Diaz was much too wily to get caught in that mill. "My orders were to arrest these two men, take them to Barcelona, and deliver them to you for examination. His Excellency reserved only the right to ask them a few questions if he so wishes. Before you ask any, that is." His emphasis implied that after the Inquisition began its interrogation would be too late to obtain useful answers. "Longdirk has been granted asylum here, but I shall take Campbell and deliver him to the Inquisition. Does that satisfy you, von Münster? Have I your word that you will return your troop at once to Lerida and make no attempt to interfere with the transportation of these prisoners?"
The mercenary displayed his gargoyle smile again. "I so promise."
Father Vespianaso rubbed his hands in undisguised pleasure. "You will also take the witness into custody, Captain. And these other witnesses also."
Senora Collel wailed like a trampled cat.
"No!" Hamish snapped. "I confess to the killing. There is no need to arrest anyone else, Captain."
Toby moaned. Hamish was headed to torture and death, and he was to live on, growing old pottering contentedly around the monastery herb garden? It was intolerable. Everyone else here was bargaining madly—couldn't he? He was the one Oreste and Vespianaso really wanted. Could he buy back Hamish's life with his own?
"Your confession is recorded," the inquisitor said with a macabre smile. "But there is another matter that must be investigated. The massacre here tonight—was that also the demon's doing? Or do we have another demon to hunt down?" He peered at Josep, Senora Collel, and Gracia. "I still think we need to interrogate these witnesses."
Gracia uttered a shrill cry of alarm.
And Senora Collel opened her mouth...
"Yes!" Toby yelled. "The brigands' deaths were my doing also! My demon slew them and I gloried in it. If I change my mind and refuse the exorcism, will you release all these others, including Campbell, and swear not to molest them in future?"
Would the tutelary expose his lie? Or had it planned this to fulfil its agreement with Diaz?
Father Vespianaso considered his confession with sly calculation. "Whom are you protecting? Only Campbell?"
"We accept those terms for the others," Diaz said. "But not Campbell. The two of you come and the rest can go."
Toby's mouth was incredibly dry in marked contrast to the rest of him. He knew what was in store, and strappado would be the least of it. But he could not let the inquisitors get their claws in Gracia. And he could not betray Josep, either. Hamish was beyond saving, thanks to Eulalia.
"And what happens then?" demanded von Münster. "A sword through the monster's heart? It is too good for him."
Father Vespianaso continued chafing his fingers. "He will be taken to Barcelona for examination."
"Examination?" barked the mercenary. "What is this examination? Has he not confessed? What need is there of examination? He slew our friends, and justice we seek."
The friar shook his head regretfully. "It is revenge you seek, my son, and we cannot countenance that. The Holy Office is guided by mercy and does not put men to death. It seeks only to drive out their demons. As the accused is refusing exorcism, it will be necessary to use harsher means."
"You mean you will torture him until the demon he expels?"
"Regrettably, we will have no choice. But we are moved by compassion, not a craving for vengeance."
"So he will suffer, suffer a long time?"
"He is a strong man and apparently a very determined one."
"That means yes?"
"I fear this may well be so." The friar blew on his hands again.
The scar made Hauptmann von Münster's smile particularly horrible. "Then I am satisfied. Will it be possible to view the body?"
"No. It would be too distressing for those who do not understand the need for—"
"That is enough!" said the spirit. "Antonio will take the two men named in the warrant. Leopold and his men will return peaceably to their post. And Vespianaso renounces any further proceedings against the rest. Is this your decision, Tobias?"
Unable to speak, he nodded, not looking at Gracia or Josep. He wouldn't mind taking Senora Collel and Eulalia by the scruff of their necks and banging their heads together, but that was not possible. The Inquisition would have him.
"So be it," said Montserrat.
The audience was over. When the golden shimmer vanished, the abandoned incarnation staggered. Her companions steadied her, whispering inquiries. She nodded reassuringly, and they all walked away with their heads down. One of the torchbearers went with them to light their path. Josep and the three women were hustled after them by more monks before anyone could think of suitable farewells.
Failure, despair, cold, exhaustion...
"Sorry, friend," Toby said. "This looks like the end."
"Ah, you're as daft as I am." Despite his pallor, Hamish managed to produce a faint smile. "We never died before, did we?" He widened the smile into a reasonable facsimile of his favorite grin. "I hate ships, anyway! I didn't really want to go home. Life around you is never dull."
"You may wish it was before long."
"Trust the hob!"
Too late. Toby would be damned if the hob intervened and damned if it did not, but he must not let Hamish outdo him in courage. "Of course. We must be as strong as the rocks in the hills."
"Strong as a billy goat's third horn," said Hamish.
Horses clattered and snorted. Men were hurrying around: Captain Diaz taking over the torches from the departing monks, von Münster mounting up and preparing to move out. The wagon Toby had heard earlier had been waiting in the background and now began squeaking forward. He was not at all surprised to see that it carried a bear cage.
"Longdirk!"
Toby looked down. "What can I do for you, Captain Diaz?"
The soldier studied the prisoner for a moment. "You're a cool one."
"I'm a very cold one at the moment. We're also hungry."
"I'll see what I can do. You are going to come quietly?"
Father Vespianaso and three other friars were standing guard around them, all four holding jeweled crucifixes. A circle of a dozen armed men backed them up. The cage would certainly be warded. It was almost flattering to inspire such precautions.
Toby managed a hollow laugh. "I know when I'm beaten."
The captain nodded. "Hands in front of him, sergeant." The last remark was addressed to a man standing beside him holding chains, and it was a welcome concession, a surprising one. It produced a frown of disapproval from Father Vespianaso.