DON’T GO SOUTH,” CERDIC SAID as soon as we were outside and alone.
“Why not?” I said, trying to push away my disquiet.
“It’s what I told you: the steward will be looking north. Why should he have said that if he wished to keep it secret? I think he wants you south. Go a different way.”
“But which way?” I said.
“If the steward says he’s looking north, go the way they least expect, west. That’s what Father Quinel said to do.”
“But that would take me by the manor house,” I said.
“The last place anyone would think you’d go.”
Though I was not sure I trusted Cerdic, what he said made sense. But I said, “I want to go by the church first. Maybe Father Quinel’s there.”
“You’d better hurry.”
With Cerdic at my side, I made my way through the village. For safety’s sake I kept away from the road, skirting behind the cottages, moving quietly along the back lanes.
Upon reaching the church, I knocked on the door to the priest’s room. When no one answered, I went into the church proper. No one was there either.
Cerdic must have sensed my thoughts. “Perhaps,” he said, “he’s waiting on the other side of the river. Maybe that’s why he said to go that way.”
Grasping at any hope, I swung round to the road and moved in a westerly direction. Cerdic stayed close. Soon Lord Furnival’s manor house loomed before us. Light beamed through a window upon the road that ran before it. The light illuminated the boundary cross and I could see the mill just opposite the manor. To see the cross moved me greatly. It meant I was truly about to leave. I hesitated.
“It’s the only way,” Cerdic said. He made the sign of the cross over his heart.
I peered into the dark, seeing no one but praying that Father Quinel would be waiting for me across the river.
“Keep walking,” Cerdic said.
I took but a few more steps when a beating sound, as if someone were striking a drum, came from behind. Startled, I halted, and peered back into the darkness.
There was still nothing to be seen, though the drum kept beating. Then I realized Cerdic had begun to back away from me. I turned to face the boundary cross again. This time I saw shadowy forms rise up from the side of the road. It was four men. They lumbered across the road, blocking my way.
“Cerdic,” I called.
When he made no reply, I looked around. He was gone.
I swung back. I saw now that two of the men were armed with glaives. In another’s hands I saw the shimmering glint of a sword.
I turned around to see if I could retreat, only to see four more men approach. I had been led into a trap.