Blood roses : a novel of Saint-Germain by Yarbro Chelsea Quinn 1942-

Author:Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn, 1942-
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Saint-Germain, comte de, d. 1784, Vampires, Plague
Publisher: New York : Tor
Published: 1998-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

"No. She never wakened while I was with her for her dreams: I made sure of that. No; she told me one afternoon after I had been playing for the Vidame and his guests, and she became sad, I think because one of the songs reminded her of the woman—it was 'Lament deles Regines'; you know, the old ballade from Rouen?—and she told me about the woman, then became frightened and asked that I say nothing of this to anyone. She said Pol watched her." He glanced back the way they had come. "I hope nothing happens to her." His expression clouded. "If the pages heard what she told me—" He did not go on.

"They watched everyone; who knows what they made of what they saw—they will tell the Vidame what they suppose he wants to hear," said Rogres, checking the pack-saddles on the donkey and mules for any shifting of their loads. "How long are we going to be here?" He indicated the herders hut next to the gate.

"Until midmoming. The animals will be ready to travel then, and we will want to make the most of the day." He raised his head, staring into the sky. "There is a haze near the horizon and a heaviness slowing the wind. We may get a thunderstorm in the afternoon."

Rogres had seen Saint-Germain read the air enough times to trust his pronouncements. "I will go cut some hay for these animals." He was about to climb over the gate when he said, "We should be on guard. This road is traveled."

"Yes, "We should," Saint-Germain said at once. He put his hand on his mount s breastplate, checking for any chafing the thick leather straps might have caused on their long night ride; the darkness did not hamper his vision as he examined his tack. When he was finished he straightened up, saying, "Bells will not be sufficient to alert us in time."

"I can remain awake," said Rogres, going over the gate.

"For half the span of our rest; then I'll relieve you. We must put more distance between us and Silenrieux. We do not want to be detained on the Vidame s orders." He frowned. "I would rather not take that gamble."

"Yes; I share your caution, my master," said Rogres as he set to cutting the wild hay in the pasture, pulling out the brambles and trailing weeds as he worked. When he had an armful he brought it back to the horse, mules, and donkey; they were already grazing on the grass growing in tufts along the gate, but began to eat the hay as soon as it was piled at their feet. Rogres went back to cut more while Saint-Germain entered the herders hut.

"Nothing much to sleep on and the thatch is old and musty, but it is out of the sun," Saint-Germain reported as Rogres finished gathering hay for their animals. "I've swept out the worst of the refuse; we may have to be careful of rats."

"Rats are ever-present," said Rogres philosophically.

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