closer and the stench of death ruined the late-summer sweetness. He could tell from the color and taut dryness of the face that the man had been hanging several days at least.
Kate reined in, listening to the sound of merriment beyond the trees. âWill they not cut him down at least?â
âDoubtful. Iâm surprised resurrectionists didnât take him; weâre not so far from London. But heâs no good to the surgeon now.â
âBarbaric.â Kate scowled. âExecuting men and women and leaving them hanging like worthless meat.â
âI was a housebreaker,â came a dry voice from the gibbet.
Kate started and her horse reacted to her, neighing and clattering his hooves on the rocky path. The dog lunged at the cadaverâs dangling heels.
Simon looked up at the hanged man. âI beg your pardon?â
The dead countenance slowly revolved toward them with the creaking of the rope. As starlight hit the grey features, milky eyes moved. The lips quivered. âI said, I was a housebreaker. I struck a man with a maul, nearly killing him. And I stole silver from him.â The corpse continued to rotate. âI deserve to be here.â
Kate narrowed her eyes. âIt isnât a matter of your character; itâs a matter of ours.â
âYouâre arguing with a dead man,â Simon interrupted. âThatâs pointless enough, but thereâs even less point in arguing with Ash.â
Kate grunted in annoyance at being drawn out by the reanimated presence of the vile necromancer.
The hanging cadaver seemed to chuckle though it came out more of a strangled gurgle. âIâm glad you found me, Archer.â
Simon took a deep breath and clenched his teeth. He tried not to think of his poor mother. Finally, he said, âThe note you sent to Hartley Hall was fairly specific, Ash. Couldnât you simply come by and speak as yourself?â
âI havenât survived for centuries by letting others know my true identity. I called you out here because London is full of spies. I trust no one.â
âEven me?â Simon asked, coolly covering any reaction.
The cadaver moved quietly in the breeze. âWe need to work together to bring Gaios down.â
âWhy?â
âYou know his agents are seeking the Stone of Scone. He wants its power.â
Simon feigned surprised interest. âFor what purpose?â
âI donât know, but it must serve his goal to destroy me. Donât delude yourself, however. He wonât be satisfied with my death. Once Iâm gone, he will mow through the magicians of this world like a thresher. Heâll come for you and your people eventually because he fears power. And heâs quite insane. You have no idea the carnage he is capable of wreaking.â
âI do actually. Heâs reputed to have caused the eruption of Vesuvius.â
âWhich is true, and he did it in a mere fit of pique. A temper tantrum that doomed thousands. His insanity is why Pendragon imprisoned him in the Bastille. Unfortunately the dim-witted mob freed him and his vile allies. That terrible moment cost Pendragon his life.â
âGaios killed Pendragon?â
âHe did.â The cadaver tried to nod for emphasis. âIn Paris. He killed Pendragon, and tried to kill me. With one stroke he shattered the old Order of the Oak, which the three of us had founded centuries before. But it cost him. Gaios went into hiding, sending his Bastille Bastards around the world to do his bidding, waiting for the time when he would unleash his vengeance on me.â
âWhy you?â Kate asked sharply. âIf Pendragon was his gaoler, and he had settled that debt, whatâs his quarrel with you?â
The hanged man was caught in the wind and began to swing faster. âI was Pendragonâs lover. Our great love threatened Gaios. He always feared we would join forces against him and take the Order of the Oak