Free The Light of Heaven by David A McIntee Page B

anything."
    "But you may have overheard something?"
    Hasso shook his head. "Scarra and Kell walked out together, away from us, for their chat. They wanted to keep it quiet. But when a Brotherhood organiser looks to hire a mercenary company, you have to think he's got a good reason. And when I got here and heard about the Eminence, that sounded like a good reason to me." He finished and looked at the two Knights. "Are you interested?"
    Erak led Gabriella a few steps to one side. They didn't worry about Hasso as they knew that other guards around the courtyard would be watching, with bows at the ready. "What do you think?"
    "I think he's telling the truth about this meeting between two Brotherhood types called Scarra and Kell. Probably also that he doesn't know what they were up to. They'd be idiots to take the hired muscle into their confidence."
    "Let's see what Preceptor DeBarres thinks."
     
    DeBarres and Kesar were in conference with Freihurr in his office in the central keep. It was Kesar's voice which called out "enter" when Gabriella knocked. When she briefly described Hasso's story, all three were immediately on alert.
    "These two names this man mentioned?" Kesar said with a frown.
    "Scarra and Kell," Gabriella said with a nod. "Both Brotherhood men."
    "Karel Scarra and Goran Kell." Kesar echoed. "Ah, I think I understand."
    Freihurr turned to a guard and snapped his fingers. "Fetch a scribe to copy a proclamation. The men named Karel Scarra and Goran Kell are hereby declared outlaws. Double the usual reward, if they're taken alive."
    "Indeed," Kesar agreed.
    "You know these two men?" Freihurr asked.
    "The names Scarra and Kell are not particularly rare in themselves," Kesar said, "but those two men who've been named are known to the Final Faith." He turned to DeBarres. "Your two Knights have done some excellent work today, but it's only the beginning. This assassin can't have been working alone in Kalten, not counting the fact that we have these two names as potential paymasters."
    "There were men running interference for him during his flight," Gabriella said.
    "And they won't escape the city." Freihurr promised.
    "I shall remain in Kalten for two or three more days before returning to Scholten," Kesar said. "It would be nice to take further good news with me when I next have an audience with the Anointed Lord. Preceptor, I think this duty takes precedence for you." He gave a short bow and Gabriella knew that the Knights of the Swords were dismissed. DeBarres accompanied she and Erak out.
    "Preceptor," Gabriella said as they left the office. "I was wondering who Goran Kell actually is?"
    "How'd you mean?"
    "This mercenary has told us who Scarra is, but Eminence Kesar and yourself seemed to recognise the other name also, Kell."
    "It's no secret," DeBarres said. "In fact I apologise for not having made sure everyone out here was kept up to date on the Brotherhood's faces."
    "Kell also belongs to the Brotherhood of the Divine Path?" That made sense to Gabriella.
    DeBarres nodded. "Goran Kell is what the Brotherhood call a Bishop - the equivalent of our Archimandrites - responsible for spreading their heresy in Fayence. Scarra probably joined with them to spite the Makennon family. If your mercenary isn't on the level, then he's remarkably lucky to pick such a name. Let's find Confessor Kamil and see what she makes of him."
     
    Confessor Kamil had been up all night hearing the confessions of the many people who had been brought in since yesterday's attack. Most of them were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, or a little drunk, and had been given penance and thrown out of the castle. A few, in Kamil's opinion, bore closer scrutiny to determine whether they had been involved in interfering with the pursuit. They had been kept in separate cells overnight, so they wouldn't conspire over their stories, and Kamil could get back to them later.
    One of the men Gabriella had fought had survived and Kamil was with him