In a swift movement he had the lady in his grip, one large hand over her mouth. “Don’t scream,” he advised. “Tell me what you’re doin’ in Mistress Cooper’s house.”
He took his hand away, and the woman drew a slow, shuddering breath. “She’s ill. I’m a healing-woman, come to stay with her till she’s better.” She faced George, and indignation lit her brown eyes. “George Cooper, such a fright you gave me! What d’you mean, sneaking into your mother’s house like a thief!”
Recognizing her, he grinned. “Mistress Kuri, I am a thief.” As she gasped with shock, he added, “What’s wrong with my mother?”
“I don’t know. Since All Hallow she’s been as weak as a new kitten. Only now does she get her strength back.”
George looked upstairs. “I’ll go to her as soon as may be. Meanwhile, I’ve a patient of my own who needs lookin’ after.”
Kuri shook her head mournfully when he brought her to Marek. She got the wounded man braced on her shoulder easily, handling him as if he weighed nothing at all. “Open the door to the work chamber.” George obeyed and lit the lamps as Kuri gently placed Marek on the long table. “I’ll need boiling water. Make yourself useful,” she commanded, cutting the jacket away from Marek’s shoulder.
Back in the kitchen, George put the kettle on to boil as Ercole warmed his hands. Telling the older man the situation in the house, George placed him at Mistress Kuri’s orders before running upstairs to his mother’s bedchamber.
Eleni Cooper looked at her son, her hazel eyes alert. “I thought I felt you in the house. Did you frighten poor Kuri to death?”
“She seemed unshaken to me. What’s happened? I saw you not long before All Hallow, and you were fit enough then.”
“I tried probing someone’s magic too deeply. The guards set on it were very strong.”
“Thom!” George hissed. “By the Dark God, Mother, if he’s hurt you with his precious ’experiments’—”
“Lady Alanna’s brother? I should have guessed. Only he has such power, these days.” The woman shook her head. “If only I knew what he was up to!” She sighed and returned her attention to George. “And what are you doing here, at this hour? I thought you’d be stuck fast to Lady Alanna’s side.”
He shook his head, looking away. “We’ve parted, Mother—she to go adventurin’, and me—”
“This house has been watched for five weeks now.” She read his thoughts, as she always had. “A man who wouldn’t give his name tried to question the girl I have in to clean. She has her orders, though, and she won’t talk against my wishes.”
George could hear Mistress Kuri’s uncompromising tread on the stairs. “I’ll be goin’ out again, as soon as I’ve made sure Marek is well.”
“Young Marek is hurt?” She had never met him, but George had often entertained her with stories of Marek’s attempts to get the throne of the Rogue for himself.
“He’ll survive,” Kuri announced, having heard her question from outside. “He lost a deal of blood, though, and I put him in one of the small restchambers.”
“But he’ll live?” Only now did George betray his anxiety for his long-time rival and sometime friend.
“He’ll live, and cause more trouble, I don’t doubt.”
George nodded, relieved. “Mother, I need house-room for myself and another of my men, only for tonight. We’ll go to earth elsewhere tomorrow.”
“Of course.” His mother’s voice was serene, but her eyes were worried. “George—”
“I can’t help bein’ crooked, Mother,” he said. “And this is the price I must pay.” He kissed her cheek and looked at Mistress Kuri. “I’ll be takin’ Ercole with me. We’ll let ourselves back in.”
“I’m sure you will,” the healer replied severely. George laughed and patted her cheek before seeking Ercole out downstairs.
They were outside the walls of the house with the doors locked behind them before Ercole asked, “Where might we be goin’?”
“The Dancin’ Dove,” George said grimly before pulling a wool muffler over his chin. Ercole swore fluently and followed him.