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On my knees by his side, I took up one of his hands. It was cut and very raw. Bear,' I said. It s me. Crispin. Crispin, I
repeated even louder.
Gradually, Bear lifted his head. His face was so bruised it took a moment for him to open his eyes. Or only one eye, for the
other was swollen shut. At first he merely gazed at me, uncomprehending, repeatedly blinking.
'Crispin?' His broken lips managed a hoarse whisper.
'I'm here, Bear, I said.
He continued to gaze at me as if not sure who I was.
Then he said, 'Crispin... I do love you like a son. Did ... did I betray you!'
'No, Bear, you didn't, And now you re to be set free.
When he didn't seem to understand, I took up his raw hand and gently pulled at it. Can you come, Bear! Can you walk!
We re going to leave Great Wexly. The steward swore a sacred oath to let us go.
He let out a deep sigh of exhaustion.
'Bear, you must come with me, I urged as much as begged, pulling at him again.
'Have they caught you too!' he said between parched lips.
'I'm not caught, Bear. We're both leaving. To go free. But you have to come. Now, You must move yourself
At last he seemed to understand. Letting forth a great sigh, he summoned up enough strength to heave himself to his hands
and knees. Then he began to crawl after me towards the entryway.
I left the little room first, Bear followed. When he came out, he only just managed to squeeze through.
By the time we emerged a ring of soldiers had gathered and were looking on in hostile silence. Aycliffe, I saw, had found a
sword. It was in his hand.
I stood up. But when Bear remained on his hands and knees I knelt before him. 'Can you stand!' I said, holding out my hand.
He reached up and grasped it.
'He needs help, I said. 'Get him some water.'
No one moved.
'Help him, I commanded.
All eyes went to Aycliffe. He gave a small nod. Three of the men stepped forward and reached out to Bear. But when they
touched him, he reared back like a wounded beast and, with a spurt of energy, struck away their hands.
'Crispin, he called.
I went before him, He looked up - seemingly to make sure it was me - then lifted one of his long arms, and set it on my
shoulder. By sheer strength of will, he began to pull himself up, leaning much of his weight on me. When he finally stood, I
could see how cruelly battered he was. Yet he was still large enough to make some of those looking on step bade in awe.
I was handed a jug of water, which I passed on to Bear. He clutched it in both hands and drank from it deeply, then Let the-
rest cascade over his head and body. That done, he flung the jug away, letting it smash. The water helped him, though his
breath was still laboured. He stood somewhat taller. He had managed to open his other eye, if only partly.
'He needs some clothing, I said.
Once again all eyes went to Aycliffe, who nodded.
One of the men came forward, offering me a cloak. I placed it around Bear's shoulders.
'Put a hand on my shoulder, I said to him. 'We re leaving.
Bear, standing behind me, did as I bid. But before me, in a semicircle, stood the steward and some ten other men. All were
armed.
I took a step forward. No one moved.
Heart hammering, I lifted my hand, the one that held the cross of lead. 'Shall I read what is written here!' I said directly to
Aycliffe.
Bear's hand tightened slightly on my shoulder.
'Shall I?' I repeated.
For a moment there was no reply. Then the steward said, 'You must give it to me,
'You swore a vow to let us go first, I said.
He said, 'When you give it to me, you'll go free.
I shook my head. 'Once we re beyond the walls, you'll have it.
'I could kill you here, he said. Both of you.
'This man made a sacred vow to let us go, I said loudly. 'He did so on this cross.
With all looking at him, Aycliffe seemed unsure what to do.
Then I said, 'Shall I tell them who I am!'
The steward didn't reply. In the silence I was sure all must have heard my heart hammering,
Then Aycliffe said, I ll take them to the city gates.
The men stepped to either side, allowing us a narrow passage.
Aycliffe took the lead. I followed. Bear, his hand still resting on my shoulder, shuffled right behind me. I turned to look at
him but could not read his emotions.
Moving slowly, we made our way through the cellar regions, then to the steps, Once there, I offered myself as a crutch to
Bear, and he accepted, though I sensed that he was regaining something of his old strength. Even so, the climb was slow and
painful, When we reached the first level I could hear, if only dimly, church bells ringing. I wondered if they were tolling a
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