The Bone Jar: An Owen Archer Short Story (The Owen Archer Series) by Robb Candace

Author:Robb, Candace [Robb, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781682305409
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2016-04-03T04:00:00+00:00

Owen went out to the rock as soon as he had word Magda was back. She sat on the bench beneath the serpent, mending a shoe. Without looking up, she said, “Magda knows the worst.”

He sank down beside her. “I failed you. I’ll make no excuses.”

“Thou wert there to protect the innocent fool, Bird-eye.”

“But the bones are gone. Sold by now, no doubt.”

Magda chuckled. “If only Magda might have seen the thief’s face at dawn, when he took out the bones and saw his treasure. Or woke to its smell.” She was overtaken by a bout of mirth.

Owen had a sinking feeling. How many people had fooled him? “What were they?”

“The bones of an old goat that strayed onto the mud flats and died.”

“And the bones for the bone man?”

“He came before Magda left.” She patted Owen’s knee. “Magda is not disappointed in thee. Thou hast done as Magda had hoped. John will heal, and he has seen the folly of his search for a miracle. The thief is gone, no more spying on Magda.”

“No doubt I’ve learned something, too, though I cannot see it. Why did you have me here?”

“If he had felt no danger, the thief would have examined the bones, Bird-eye, and spoiled Magda’s fun.”

“But what of poor John?”

“Fortescue respects thee. He will not wish to appear a fool to thee again, so he will behave now. So.” She snipped the thread, squinted up at Owen. “How dost thou like working for Magda? A nice change from politics?”

Owen rubbed his scar. “In truth I’d rather a month on the road for the archbishop than another night in your hut.”

Magda turned the mended shoe inside out, tugged it on, stood up, hopped, nodded. “Suit thyself, Bird-eye,” she said with a shrug and went inside.

Owen did not leave at once, but sat there, staring down at the rising tide, trying to remember what it had been like to be able to see upstream as well as down. At last he gave up. A useless exercise. That had been another life. He headed for home.

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