The Marriage of Gryphons by Chrys Cymri

Author:Chrys Cymri [Cymri, Chrys]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-12T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

‘James!’ I shouted up the stairs. ‘It’s a quarter to four. We’re going to be late!’

‘I can’t find clean underpants!’

‘That’s what you get for lying to dwarves.’ Then I did a double take. ‘We moved in six days ago, and only now you’re looking for clean underwear? Actually, forget I asked. Come on, you’ll just have to cope. We’ll have a search later.’

He appeared at the top of stairs, fully dressed from waist up. Fortunately, his long shirt reached down to his knees. ‘But what if I meet someone?’

‘You are banned from meeting anyone,’ I said firmly. ‘Get your trousers on. I'm not going to be late to my own licensing. Come on, Morey’s left already.’

As James grumbled himself back to his room, I bent down to let Clyde slide onto my palm. ‘Now, remember,’ I told the snail, looking him in the eyespots, ‘the left front pew is for family. You’re to sit there next to James and Peter for the whole service, okay? No wandering off. Promise?’

‘Promise.’

I turned him sideways. As James pounded down the stairs, I asked him, ‘You didn’t put anything on Clyde’s shell, did you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t know.’ I ran a finger along the whorls. ‘It looks darker than usual. Maybe it’s the light.’

‘We’d better get going, or we’ll be late.’

‘Thanks, James.’ I picked up my garment bag and followed him out the door.

To my great satisfaction, there was a small queue forming to enter the church. James took Clyde and joined the end of the line, behind two rather pretty vampires. I strode away, trying not to watch as he turned his charm on the women. There was only so much I could do to protect my brother.

A side door led directly into the vestry. I left behind late afternoon sunlight for the flicker of oil lamps. The Archdeacon of Ocheham was already inside, her black cowl dark against her gleaming grey-white neck. ‘Father Penny,’ she greeted me. ‘I expect the Bishop shortly. Do you have everything you need?’

‘All in here.’ I hung up my jacket, slipped into my black cassock, and pulled the white surplice over my head.

‘Lovely stole,’ the unicorn said as I placed it around my neck. ‘I like the sheep.’

I held up the scarf so she could better see the heavy embroidery. ‘And the sheepdog, see? Christ is the true shepherd. The priest is the sheepdog, trying to move them towards the true shepherd. If the dog is doing her job well, the sheep hardly notice that she’s there.’

‘And does the dog ever have to nip the heels of the sheep?’

‘Sometimes.’ I grinned. ‘But surely not at Saint George’s.’

At that moment Bishop Aeron arrived. Although the vestry was large, the Archdeacon and I still moved to the far wall to give the dragon room. ‘Father Penny, Archdeacon, good. Has the Rural Dean arrived yet?’

‘I have yet to see Father Andras,’ the unicorn replied. ‘But he will be here.’

‘With only minutes to spare, knowing him,’ the Bishop said. A white cowl lined with purple rested against her orange-red scales.

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