He let them go. Why not? They had already spoken all too eloquently, they had nothing to add. He turned to see Susanna withdrawing into the hall, and the little maidservant scurrying towards him, with a knotted bundle of cloth held out before her.“Mistress Susanna says, Dame Juliana wants these out of the house.” She opened the twist of cloth, and showed a glimpse of painted wood, scarred from much use. “They belong to Liliwin. She said you would take them to him.” The great dark eyes that dwelt unwaveringly on Cadfael’s face dilated even more. “Is it true?” she asked, low and urgently. “He’s safe, there in the church? And you’ll protect him? You won’t let them fetch him away?”“He’s with us, and safe enough,” said Cadfael. “No one dare touch him now.”“And they haven’t hurt him?” she questioned earnestly.“No worse than will mend now, in peace. No need to fret for a while. He has forty days grace. I think,” he said, studying the thin face, the delicate, staring cheekbones under the wide-set eyes, “you like this young man.”“He made such lovely music,”
