“She’s just a kid,” Steve muttered.
“She has her growth.” Bedwyr laughed. “Not too young to become a queen, eh?”
“You know her?”
“Only by sight.”
When they reached the stall, Harriet introduced Gwenhyvaer to Hunter and Steve. In turn, Steve introduced them both to Bedwyr. Gwenhyvaer nodded primly to them all and turned back to the crockery.
“We met Bedwyr in the village last night,” said Steve. “We drank together.”
“We won’t see many taverns on the campaign,” said Bedwyr, grinning.
“Are you from this area?” Harriet asked. “I wondered what it’s like. We’re from Linnuis.”
“Yes, my village is not far. Half a day’s ride. Life is good there. But we must send good men to ride with Artorius, or else the Saxons will have it all.”
“Would you tell me about your village? Really tell me, I mean.”
“As you wish, of course. I doubt it’s much different from your own.”
“Let’s sit down somewhere and visit,” said Steve. “What do you say, Hunter? After all that riding today, I’d like to relax.”
“You go on,” Gwenhyvaer said to Harriet. “After I browse some more, I’m going back to the palace. I’ll remind the sentries to let you in.”
“ All right.”
“I have no objection,” said Hunter.
Wayne encouraged Emrys to leave the village at midday, while Hunter and Steve remained on maneuvers with the troop. He did not know for sure if Hunter would cooperate with his demands or not. However, he told Ishihara to keep a careful watch behind them as the cart left the tor, and Ishihara reported no sign that Hunter or Steve had followed them.
In the late afternoon, Emrys left the hut to hike back to his son, tending the main flock. Wayne waited until Jane used the outhouse and was out of hearing. Then he approached Ishihara and spoke quietly.
“Hunter almost certainly spotted us leaving the tor,” said Wayne. “He will know which direction we took. What do you think the chances are that he will risk trying to rescue Jane instead of catching MC 6 and trading him to me?”
“He has a great deal of room for interpretation of the First Law in this case,” said Ishihara. “However, I believe that my presence gives him the freedom to move slowly.”
“I think so, too. Without you, he would feel he had to rescue Jane right away because I can’t protect her effectively alone. You can.”
“Yes. Given that Hunter knows I must keep Jane from harm, he does not have to come for her immediately.”
“When I spoke to Hunter, I got the impression that he accepted my terms,” said Wayne. “He’ll consider trading MC 6 to me for Jane. But I have to ask if you’ll allow it. I don’t know of any interpretation of the First Law that will cause you to prevent this deal. Do you?”
“No. As long as I protect you and Jane until the time that she is released directly to Hunter’s care, I can cooperate with you in this.”
“Good.”
“I must offer another interpretation of Hunter’s moves, however.”
“What?”
“Hunter may not worry about Jane further, since he knows I must take care of her. He may just get MC 6 and forget about dealing with you for her.”
“You think he can do that under the First Law?” Wayne frowned, gazing out over the cool, gray sky in the distance over Cadbury Tor.
“Perhaps. I cannot be certain. However, since MC 6 is the only component robot remaining at large, Hunter knows you will have no further interest in Jane if he simply takes MC 6 back to our time.”
“You mean he’ll figure you and I will just return, too, and let Jane go.”
“He knows I cannot allow harm to come to Jane. That may free him to ignore your deal entirely.”
Wayne drew in a long, slow breath and let it out again. “I must proceed on the assumption that the First Law will pressure him to act more aggressively toward Jane. To that end, I may instruct you to remain here with Jane while I return to Cadbury. Will this be acceptable under your interpretation of the First Law?”
“I do not like separating from you. I must protect you, as well.”
“In the absence of a clear danger under the First Law, you should have no problem. Cadbury will be safe for me. Do you agree?”
“Yes.” Ishihara lowered his voice. “If you wish this to remain private, we must change the subject. Jane is coming back.”
Hunter sat down in a small tavern with Bedwyr, Harriet, and Steve. Harriet asked Bedwyr many detailed questions about life in his village; Hunter could hear the historian behind her questions. Steve listened politely, sipping from a goblet of mead, sprawled back in his seat comfortably.
A bell began to ring loudly, clearly, and rhythmically outside. Bedwyr promptly put his goblet down on the table and got up. Then he looked in surprise at the others, who had not moved.
The other patrons in the tavern, and the tavern-keeper, hurried out the door.
“It’s the village bell,” he said. “Aren’t you coming? Important news must have come.”
Steve started to get up.
“No,” said Hunter, gently placing a hand on Steve’s arm. “Please inform us of the news.”
“As you wish.” Bedwyr shrugged and hurried out of the tavern.
Outside, Hunter heard many feet from allover the village moving quickly up and down the streets.
“What’s wrong, Hunter?” Steve asked.
“The three of us have not had a chance to confer freely for some time,” said Hunter. “We can talk now and find out what the news is later.”
“Well, what do you want to talk about?” Steve set down his goblet.
“If MC 6 has not returned to full size, or if we cannot find any clue to his location, Steve and I may have to consider leaving the troop we have joined. If we do, I judge that we cannot expect to be welcome in the village any longer. Is this accurate?”
“Yes, if you just quit or disappear,” said Harriet thoughtfully. “No army tolerates deserters, though in this time, organization is not very formal. Quitting now probably would mean that you would simply not be welcome back. Deserting on campaign, however, is likely a hanging offense. But I wonder if you can arrange to be reassigned to garrison duty here in the tor.”
“Is that likely?” Hunter asked.
“No. New arrivals are not likely to be trusted. But I can ask Gwenhyvaer if she can help.”
“If we go out on campaign, we could be wasting valuable time,” said Hunter. “But suppose this is necessary. Will you be safe here?”
“Yes. Gwenhyvaer seems to like me. And if my husband has gone out to fight with Artorius, I will look better to everyone in the palace.”
“I asked a couple of sentries last night if they had seen anyone of MC 6’s description in the palace,” said Steve. “I guess if you’d heard anything like that, you would have said so already.”