An Encounter That Should Never Have Happened (2)

Beynon looked down at the crystal ball in his hands, then back up at me.

“You want me to tell the bishop I bought it?”

“Of course not. Wouldn't that only make him more suspicious?”

“Then what were you talking about?”

I glanced toward Leviham, who was still watching us.

“Just hold it as though it's yours for the moment. I'll keep the bishop occupied. You take the crystal ball inside, go straight to my office, and leave it on the desk.”

From where Leviham stood, he could see the object Beynon carried, but not the witch's mark on it. Unless he inspected it closely, it might pass for an ordinary crystal ball purchased as an ornament.

That was our opportunity. If I drew his attention long enough for Beynon to reach the mansion, we could avoid an unpleasant misunderstanding.

Beynon slipped the sphere inside his coat, looking concerned.

“It might work. But doesn't it put you in danger? If I'm caught carrying it away, the whole scheme will be exposed. Isn't deceiving a church official a serious crime?”

“I told you, didn't I? Sometimes one person must sacrifice himself for the common good. If we're discovered, I'll accept the blame.”

“Ah. So that's what you meant…”

Beynon sighed and nodded.

“Very well. Once you have his attention, I'll go inside as quickly as I can.”

“Very well.”

We exchanged a look. As Beynon quietly headed toward the mansion, I strode in the opposite direction with the widest smile I could manage.

“Hahaha! Bishop Leviham! It's been a long time!”

He had been following Beynon with his eyes. At my greeting, he turned toward me, and a fresh smile spread over his face.

“Indeed it has, Viscount. Have you been well?”

“Very well, thank you. The God of Light has watched over our household.”

“I'm glad to hear it. By the way, your knight seems to be in a tremendous hurry. Has something happened?”

His gaze began drifting after Beynon again.

Don't look over there!

“Ah! Did you come because of the magic?” I asked at once.

“Magic? Oh, yes.”

The bishop turned to the enormous magic circle marked into the courtyard lawn. It looked as if fire had burned its intricate lines into the ground, so clearly that anyone could make out the design.

“I did hope to speak with you about it. I wasn't present myself, but I heard from the faithful that a great column of water rose here, followed by rain falling upon the Deharem estate.”

“Yes. We had the assistance of the imperial palace magicians and a professor from the university's Mage Tower.”

“How modest. Surely they merely lent their hands. The man who first conceived this miracle was you.”

He examined the circle, then turned a gentle gaze on me.

“A man who dares defy the order of the heavens.”

My palms grew damp.

Defy the heavens?

The bishop studied my reaction for a moment. I did my best not to let anything show.

Then his smile took on a mischievous edge.

“A jest, of course. Rain brought forth for the benefit of the world could hardly violate the commandments of the God of Light. Forgive me if I troubled you.”

“Ah. No, Bishop. It's quite all right.”

The silence that followed was painfully awkward.

I gestured toward the mansion.

“Would you care to come inside? The weather is hardly fit for a long conversation out here. Please allow me to offer you some hospitality.”

“That's kind of you, but as a humble servant of God, I couldn't expect such treatment.”

Don't fall for that.

Priests frequently declined hospitality in words. There were more than a few households that had taken the refusal literally, sent a cleric away without refreshments, and suffered for their discourtesy afterward.

“Hahaha! I mean nothing elaborate. Just a cup of tea. Surely the God of Light would pardon us that much.”

After I pressed him again, Leviham nodded as though yielding reluctantly.

“If you insist, I shall accept.”

“Then allow me to show you to the drawing room.”

Thank goodness.

Normally Havid would have seen to a guest of the bishop's standing, but the steward had come down with a cold. I would have to escort him myself.

Beynon ought to have reached the office by now.

If I could entertain Leviham for a while and see him politely off the estate, everything would end well.

I refused to let myself relax just yet. Keeping the conversation as light as possible, I walked him to the drawing room.

“Have you tried Balgeum chocolate, Bishop? It melts almost the instant it touches your tongue…”

I opened the door while speaking.

And stopped.

The elf was sitting at the table, eating chocolate.

There was even a cup of black tea before her. She was enjoying a proper afternoon tea as though she owned the place.

Damn it, Havid really must be too sick to supervise her!

Get out of that chair. The bishop is here!

I tried to tell her with my eyes and a silent gesture. The elf merely stared back, red eyes fixed on me, her cheeks puffed out with chocolate.

For some reason the sight made me even more desperate.

I closed the door slowly.

Leviham tilted his head.

“Viscount? Is something wrong?”

“Well…”

What excuse could I possibly give?

My slave is eating chocolate, so you can't come in? Absurd.

I've changed my mind; let's go back outside? Even worse.

There was no way around it.

“…Nothing at all.”

I opened the door again, resigned to whatever awaited me.

And blinked.

The elf had left her chair. She stood a proper distance from the table, hands clasped before her, looking like a perfectly trained servant.

“Welcome, Master. And welcome, Bishop Leviham.”

What?

Had yesterday's events finally taught her to cooperate? Or was she behaving because she expected the severe punishment I'd promised?

Whatever the reason, relief swept through me.

“Haha! Wonderful, isn't it? My slave must have seen your arrival and prepared refreshments.”

“Indeed. An excellently trained servant.”

Leviham didn't step farther into the room. Instead, he rubbed his stomach with a strained expression.

“Actually, might I use your bathroom before we sit down? I haven't felt quite well since leaving the service.”

“Of course. I can have a servant show you the way.”

He waved the offer aside.

“I wouldn't wish to trouble anyone. I've visited this estate on several occasions, and I believe I remember where the bathroom is. I'll return shortly.”

“If you're certain… Very well.”

Leviham excused himself and slipped away through the open door.

Did I do something wrong?

As I stood there wondering, someone tugged gently at my sleeve.

It was the elf.

“M-Master… I suddenly need to relieve myself as well…”

“You impudent creature.”

Another excuse to be scolded?

I caught her pointed ears and pulled upward. She rose onto her toes with a squeal, tears spilling from her eyes.

“Do you have no shame? If you need to use the bathroom, then go. Why come to your master and announce such filthy things?”

“I-I'm sorry, Master…”

“This once I'll overlook it. Next time, think before you open your mouth.”

I let her ears go. She touched one gingerly and looked up at me.

“Th-then… may I use the bathroom, Master?”

“Don't ask what ought to be obvious.”

“Y-yes. Then from today onward, I'll use the bathroom… Thank you, Master.”

She bowed and departed through the doorway.

I watched her go without giving it much thought.

Then her words came back to me.

From today?

Where had she been relieving herself before now?

She can't still be going to Father's statue… can she?

No. Surely not.

Don't jump to conclusions. Even that elf couldn't be such a monster…

---

After leaving the drawing room, Bishop Leviham went directly to Theorad's office.

Suspicion in itself might be a sin. Certainty, however, was another matter.

If I search his office, perhaps I'll find proof.

He intended to find what had so thoroughly broken Hamtarshin's confidence and bring Theorad before the Inquisition.

He entered with that resolve.

And almost immediately found something troubling.

A witch's crystal ball?

It rested openly on the desk. The mark engraved upon its surface left no doubt of its origin.

Leviham moved closer. Then his surprise deepened.

Isn't that the mark of the Dokwol Guild's master?

A red inverted cross had been painted upon the sphere, with a climbing rose twining about it. That device was associated specifically with the leader of the Dokwol Guild.

Theorad is dealing with the guild master?

What relationship could possibly have brought them together?

Leviham didn't know. The thought left him deeply uneasy.

Have they been trading weapons capable of mass destruction? Are they plotting against the Church?

The viscount presented himself as a faithful believer, but perhaps he was involved in something far darker.

The bishop wanted to summon holy knights at once. Yet a crystal ball, by itself, was not sufficient evidence.

The compact concluded on Walpurgis Night recognized the witches' freedom to conduct their affairs. A person could not be condemned as a heretic merely for doing business with one of them.

I'll have to investigate further.

He couldn't remain absent much longer, either. Theorad believed him to be using the bathroom. Any prolonged delay might arouse suspicion.

There was something serpentine about that young viscount's serene smile, Leviham thought. If he realized he was being watched, the bishop might find himself in the same position as Hamtarshin.

Retreat and preparation would be wiser than rash action.

Leviham left without touching the crystal ball or anything else. He carefully closed the office door behind him so that no one would know he'd been inside.

Then he turned—and froze.

“…Ah.”

Theorad's elven slave was standing in the corridor.

She was looking straight at him as if she'd been expecting him to emerge.

“There's no bathroom in there,” she said.

She approached one step at a time.

She was merely a slave walking down a hallway. Yet the air seemed to grow heavy around her, and Leviham could neither move nor speak.

“How strange,” she murmured. “Why would Bishop Leviham be coming out of Master's office?”

Her light footsteps stopped close before him.

Cold sweat slid down his face.

You're… a slave, aren't you?

Nothing about her eyes or bearing belonged to the meek servant she'd pretended to be. There was arrogance in her gaze, and a cold authority that seemed to permit his continued breathing only as a courtesy.

She parted her lips languidly.

“Answer me.”

Beneath her shining silver hair, her blood-red eyes gleamed.

“Didn't I ask you a question?”

Leviham understood, with terrible clarity, that something had gone very wrong.