“Take what you like,” I told her. I wondered what she wanted them for, but she didn’t volunteer the information and I didn’t ask. Despite our alliance, the witch assassin did not share everything with me. There was much about her that would forever remain a mystery.

I walked across to inspect the pit Jenny had dug, and then sent her back to the house to study in the library so that she wouldn’t be part of the grisly task I now had to perform.

Grimalkin helped me to bury what was left of the Kobalos assassins. Apart from the two sabers, I stored the rest of their weaponry in the small room where I kept the spare staffs.

The entry into the garden by these assassins only made me more certain that I was doing the right thing in traveling north with Grimalkin.

The Kobalos threat was indeed imminent.

24

The Journey Begins

THE following day, we started to prepare for our journey.

We bought provisions, and Grimalkin carried a tent into the western garden, setting it up to show us the quarters we would share on the journey. It wasn’t like the ridge tents that I’d seen the County military use; it was a tall, conical structure—a covering of skins was supported by five long poles that bent over to meet at the top. Each pole was formed of three short sections that could be slotted together when erecting the tent. It made them easier to carry.

One thing caught my eye. Stitched onto the skins were a number of circular pieces of what appeared to be silk; each was embellished with the image of a red County rose. The tent was functional, no doubt well suited to its purpose, but the roses made it look somewhat grand.

Grimalkin told me that we would need such a tent in the far north, where it was difficult to keep warm at night, but she didn’t mention the roses. I wondered where she had gotten the tent.

I bought long sheepskin jackets for me and Jenny; we could wear them under our cloaks. At the moment, the County weather was chilly enough to make them welcome. Winter would come early this year.

By the end of the week, our preparations were complete. Grimalkin already had her own horse and had procured three more—one each for Jenny and me, and one to carry most of our supplies. My final act was to leave a note for Judd Brinscall, telling him of the assassins and their fate at the hands of the boggart. I wanted him to be aware that there could be further intrusions into the garden.

With that, we set off, heading eastward. At the end of that first day, we rode through a valley in single file, high hills on either side. Grimalkin was in the lead, while I brought up the rear. The sun had already sunk, and darkness was not far away. I’d already had enough. I was far from comfortable in the saddle, and the prospect of weeks of riding filled me with dismay.