Assassin's Quest

I had burned my finger on a coal and I stuck it in my mouth before answering. " `Burnt Crossfire led, and those around were like him, not of body sound, but strong of heart. And true of soul. And herein let me count their roll for you. 'Twas Hist the halt, and Cleave the-blind, and Kevin of the wandering mind, hare-lipped Joiner, Sever was deaf, and Porter, who the foe men left for dead, without his hands or eyes. And if you think you would despise such ones as these, then let me say … "

"Whoa!" Josh exclaimed with pleasure, and then asked, "Had you bard's training, Cob, when you were small? You've caught the phrasing as well as the words. Though you make your pauses a bit too plain."

"I? No. I've always had a quick memory, though." It was hard not to smile at his praise of me, even though Honey sneered and shook her head at it.

"Could you recite the whole thing, do you think?" Josh asked challengingly.

"Perhaps," I hedged. I knew I could. Both Burrich and Chade had drilled my memory skills often. And I'd heard it so often today I could not drive it from my head.

"Try it then. But not spoken. Sing it."

"I have no voice for singing."

"If you can speak, you can sing. Try it. Indulge an old man."

Perhaps obeying old men was simply too deep a habit with me for me to defy it. Perhaps it was the look on Honey's face that told me plainly she doubted I could do it.

I cleared my throat and began it, singing softly until he gestured at me to raise my voice. He nodded his head as I worked my way through it, wincing now and then when I soured a note. I was about halfway through when Honey observed dryly, "The fish is burning."

I dropped the song and sprang to poke stone and wrapped fish from the fire. The tails were scorched, but the rest was fine, steaming and firm. We portioned it out and I ate too rapidly. Twice as much would not have filled me, and yet I must be content with what I had. The waybread tasted surprisingly good with the fish, and afterward Piper made a kettle of tea for us. We settled on our blankets about the fire.

"Cob, do you do well as a scribe?" Josh suddenly asked me.

I made a deprecating sound. "Not as well as I'd like. But I get by."

"Not as well as he'd like," Honey muttered to Piper in mocking imitation.

Harper Josh ignored her. "You're old for it, but, you could be taught to sing. Your voice is not so bad; you sing like a boy, not knowing you've a man's depth of voice and lungs to call on now. Your memory is excellent. Do you play any instruments?"

"The sea-pipes. But not well."

"I could teach you to play them well. If you took up with us …"

"Father! We scarcely know him!" Honey objected.

"I could have said the same to you when you left the loft last night," he observed to her mildly.

"Father, all we did was talk." She flashed a look at me, as if I had betrayed her. My tongue had turned to leather in my mouth.

"I know," Josh agreed. "Blindness seems to have sharpened my hearing. But if you have judged him someone safe to talk to, alone, at night, then perhaps I have judged him someone safe to offer our company to as well. What say you, Cob?"

I shook my head slowly; then, "No," I said aloud. "Thank you all the same. I appreciate what you are offering, and to a stranger. I will travel with you as far as the next town, and I wish you well in finding other companions to travel with you from there. But … I have no real wish for …"

"You lost someone dear to you. I understand that. But total solitude is not good for any man," Josh said quietly.

"Who did you lose?" Piper asked in her open way.

I tried to think how to explain without leaving myself open for more questions. "My grandfather," I said at last. "And my wife." Saying those words was like tearing a wound open.

"What happened?" Piper asked.

"My grandfather died. My wife left me." I spoke shortly, wishing they'd let it be.

"The old die in their time," Josh began gently, but Honey cut in brusquely with, "That was the love you lost? What can you owe to a woman who left you? Unless you gave her cause to leave you?"

"It was more that I did not give her cause to stay," I admitted unwillingly. Then, "Please," I said bluntly. "I do not wish to speak of these things. At all. I will see you to the next town, but then my way is my own."

"Well. That's clearly spoken," Josh said regretfully. Something in his tone made me feel I had been rude, but there were no words I wished to call back.

There was little talk the rest of that evening, for which I was grateful. Piper offered to take first watch and Honey second. I did not object, as I knew Nighteyes would prowl all about us this night. Little got past that one. I slept better out in the open air, and came awake quickly when Honey stooped over me to shake me. I sat up, stretched, then nodded to her that I was awake and she could get more sleep. I got up and poked at the fire, then took a seat by it. Honey came to sit beside me.

"You don't like me, do you?" she asked quietly. Her tone was gentle.