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。。。 and saw a young page with five Soldiers； in Lord Core's livery。
Suddenly me Bedlam seemed a very pleasant place to be； warm and secure。。。
Then his eyes finished adjusting； he looked more closely at the page's face and recognized Madelon。 He took a deep breath and decided he'd never been so glad to see a woman in his life。
Dirk turned to look more closely at the five horsemen and recognized Hugh and a couple of his other old acquaintances from the arena。 He was sure he'd seen the other two around the campfire the night before。
〃Get them up on their horses； lad；〃 Hugh growled。 〃The Lord grows impatient。〃
〃Aye； right quickly。〃 Madelon turned to the warder。 〃I thank ye； goodmen。 I shall bear word to His Lordship of your excellent night's lodging for his guests。〃
The warder looked a little worried； but he shrugged stubbornly。 〃We do what we can； young Gentleman。 We are not； after all； given overmuch to do it with。〃
Public institutions were the same everywhere。 Dirk decided。
〃I will speak to His Lordship of it；〃 Madelon promised。 〃Thanks； and farewell。〃
She led Dirk to a waiting horse as the warders shrugged and went back into the Bedlam。 The door slammed shut with a hollow echo as Dirk swung into the saddle； he breathed a huge sigh of relief。
Then he looked down and saw the giant standing； blankly； in front of a percheron。 The horse eyed him and snorted uneasily。
Madelon frowned。 〃e then； mount！ Drop your pretense； no one watches but us。〃
〃Don't worry about that part；〃 Dirk said dryly； 〃he's not faking。〃 He dismounted and went to Gar； picked up a huge foot； and set it in a stirrup。 Then he lifted the two； massive hands…he hadn't known a human arm could weigh so much…and balanced them on the saddle…horn。 He stepped back to survey his handiwork； the huge body still stood； unblinking； poised on one foot。 Dirk sighed； went around behind； and gave him an upward shove。 Reflex took over； the giant body swung up。 Dirk caught the right leg and swung it up and over the horse's rump； and Gar sprawled down onto the horse's back。 Dirk scurried around to the far side； secured the right foot in its stirrup； and came back to Madelon and Hugh； mopping his brow。 〃I think he'll do now。 Once he's in position。。。〃 He broke off； seeing the look on their faces。
Then Madelon turned away and mounted。 He followed suit； thinking about the look on her face。 Stricken； he could understand…but devastated？
〃Away！〃 Hugh growled。 He swung his horse about。 The party turned away after him； toward the forest。 Dirk looked back over his shoulder； at the gloomy； granite building； reflecting that； if the revolution succeeded； he had an excellent purpose for Lord Core's chateau。
As they reached the shade of the trees； a mule trotted out from a thicket to join them。 Dirk nodded to its rider with a smile of thanks。 〃A timely rescue。 Father。 How did you manage it？〃
〃I？ Not at all。〃 Father Fletcher smiled； amused。 〃 It was Madelon's scheme。〃
Dirk glanced at the topic of discussion and decided she wasn't in a mood to explain。 〃Where'd she get the uniforms？〃
Hugh pursed his lips and looked up at the leaves。 〃Why； as to that； a few of Lord Core's men seem to have lost their way in the wood t'other night； and； taking pity on the poor lads； we thought to give them a home。。。〃
〃Under the roots；〃 Dirk suggested。
Hugh shrugged。 〃It may have been something of the sort。 Of course； I would know nothing of such details。 Nonetheless； there were their liveries and armor； doing no good to any man； being far too cumbersome for forest travel。 So our lasses worked quickly with their needles； and we had a page's suit to fit our likely lad； here。。。。〃 He nodded toward Madelon； she looked up； frowning； seeming to notice them for the first time。 〃For the rest。。。〃 he shrugged。 〃'Twas nothing at all to draw up a letter and draw Lord Core's seal on it。 After that； you know the tale yourself。〃
〃But I do not；〃 Father Fletcher said ruefully。 〃You shall have to tell it to me； friend Dulain； when we have more leisure…or perhaps yourself； my great friend？〃 He rode ahead to catch at Gar's arm； gave him a shake。 The great body rocked； came back to an even keel； and rode steadily ahead。
Dirk saw the sick realization ing into the priest's eyes。 He nodded。 〃It was timely rescue； Father； you came as quickly as we could hope for。 But even had you e at midnight； you would have e too late。〃
〃But what has happened to him？〃 the priest whispered。
Dirk shook his head。 〃There was madness all about him； Father。 It seeped into him； claimed him。 Where his mind has gone； I do not know…but it's gone。〃
〃Tell us the manner of it；〃 Madelon whispered hoarsely。 Dirk glanced at the agony of her face； glanced away…and despised himself for a bitter stab of jealousy。 〃He went into a rage； went stiff； and collapsed。 Since then； he hasn't spoken a word； and he's looked…like that。〃
Madelon looked at Gar again and looked away； squeezing her eyes shut。 〃If only we could have e earlier。。。〃
〃He was gone by two hours after sunset；〃 Dirk said quickly。 〃Any ordinary man could make it through at least a night in there。 How could you have known？ I certainly didn't。〃
She flashed him a look of gratitude； and there was something of appeal in it； which surprised him。 In fact； it tied his tongue； but he managed to smile back at her。 For a moment； their glances held； then she turned away； with a shuddering breath； and set her face toward the depths of the forest。 〃We must ride。 Core's Soldiers must certainly have told him of the two madmen they left at the house of Saint Orthicon。 Only good luck kept him from ing before us。〃
〃Aye；〃 Hugh growled。 〃He'll e behind us； never fear； when the warders tell him the tale。〃
〃Yes。〃 Father Fletcher nodded。 〃And he'll call for dogs when he follows our trail to the forest。〃
〃How about it； Hugh？〃 Dirk said softly。 〃This is your country。 We can run if we want to； but sooner or later well have to hide。〃
Hugh scowled。 〃I've thought of it…and there is only one place near to here。〃
The other outlaws looked up at him； startled…almost； Dirk might think； scandalized。 Then foreboding settled onto their faces； and one muttered； 〃Hugh…desecration brings curses。〃
〃Is it desecration to sing at the tomb of a minstrel？〃 Hugh demanded。
〃But we bring the sound of battle；〃 the outlaw objected。 Hugh flashed him a grin； and rode on。
From the brightness of the light filtering down through the trees； Dirk could tell it was midday。
The outlaw Hugh had sent riding back to scout the trail came crashing out of the underbrush。 〃They're onto us； Hugh。 A mile behind； I could hear the hounds。〃
Hugh nodded； and reined in。 〃We've gone as far as we can with horses as this。 e； free your beasts…and； friend Dulain； do you lead our silent one。〃
They all dismounted； unbridled their horses； bound the bridles to the cantles。
〃Away！〃 Hugh cried； slapping his horse's rump。 〃Be off to your freedom…and leave a good； clear trail for hounds to follow！〃
The horse leaped away into