Grasp suddenly never felt more sober. He made sure that a serving woman was sent to keep the young child company, feed her, and soothe her to sleep. It would not do to have his evening interrupted by the screeching of a commoner. Salix and Alnus were summoned to keep careful watch and apprehend the boy if he should turn up. They were not to kill him, at least not until he had answered several questions. Then they could do what they liked.

As his father ascended the stairs, Petronio carefully made his way back through the courtyard, hugging the shadows and easily avoiding the two guards. He slipped quietly into the kitchens to make a flask of chicory coffee. The night ahead was going to be cold. He crept from the house, down the woodway along which any unexpected visitor would have to come. This was one part of the plan he had no intention of sharing with his father, let alone those two imbecilic guards.

Petronio chose his spot, where the branch had a natural kink and its curve created a hollow of deeper darkness. He sat carefully in the shadows, pulling the knife from his belt and sharpening it on a small whetstone. Spots of light rain began to tip-tap on the woodway. Perfect. If Ark turned up … when Ark turned up, Petronio would make sure that this time, he would not get away.

22• FLIGHT AND FIGHT

The party was in full swing.

“Good stuff, eh? Get it down yer neck, mate!” Mucum shoved a rough-carved stone cup at Ark, almost splashing him. “S’not bad down ’ere, really.” His eyes had already glazed over and his words were thick with the drink.

Ark held on to the cup without sipping. “They’re good people” was his only response.

“The best!” Mucum was squeezed next to Flo on a dried-moss bed. Sitting down, they almost looked the same size. She’d changed into a flowing red skirt and green velvet bodice embroidered with patterns of curling roots, laced tight round the front. The effect was startling.

Mucum nudged Ark in the ribs and grabbed his friend’s head with both hands to whisper in his ear. “I really like ’er, you know.”

Ark struggled to free himself. “Yes. I got that.”

“No, really, really,” slurred Mucum, his eyes nervously flickering back to Flo, whose smile now rose above the noise of the party. “Secret, right, between you and me, us being buds and all?”

“Of course.” Ark desperately tried to retreat, but Mucum’s pudgy fingers gripped even tighter.

“I’d like to kiss her, but I’ve never snogged anyone before!”

It was Ark’s turn to go red. It wasn’t as if he was an expert in that area, either. “Right. Great. Go for it.”