Запретный лес

           TherearetimeswhenIscunneratmynativeland.There’sarumourthatMontrosehasescapedabroadandisnowattheEmperor’scourt,andifitwerenaforyouandKatrineIcouldfinditinmetojoinhim.There’sablightonthecountrywhichaffectsevenabriskheartlikemine,andI’mgettingmortalsickoftheeternalcrackofnowtandwedders."

           ButthoughMarkcametothemanseeveryeveningandwouldhavenursedhimlikeamother,Davidcouldnotrelaxthetensionofbodyandspirit.Hesleptbadly,andinspiteofIsobel’scoaxingatelittle;hisnightswerefilledwithwilddreams,and,worse,thesedreamsseemedtopursuehiminhiswakinghours.Hefeltnospecialailmentofbodytowhichhecouldattributehisdistress,beyondanextremefatigue.Hewouldtakelongwalksbydayandnight,butthoughhereturnedfromthemverystiffandweary,theydidnotbringhimhealthfulsleep.Hetriedtomasterhimself,tolaughathimself,butthemalaisewouldnotbeexpelled....Hewasthepreyofchildishfears,lookingnervouslyforsomethingmaligntocomeoutofthedarkorroundthecorner.Andpresentlythebarriersoftherealseemedtocrumble.Hesawfaceswheretherewerenone,helistenedtovoicesinthedeepestsilence.Once,comingatnightupthemanseloan,heheardfootstepsonthedryearthapproachinghim.Theygrewlouder,passedanddiedawaybehindhim,andherealizedthatthefootstepswerehisown.

           AwordofChasehope’sstuckevillyinhismemory.TheLordhaddemandedasacrifice,butthesacrificewasnotyetcomplete,themanhadsaid.