Circle of Shadows

II.5

Pegel’s room was in an attic in the oldest quarter of the medieval city. As the stairs were uneven and narrow, and he had to fetch his own water and fuel, the rates were low for the space he had. He could have used some of the gold in the lining of his coat and bought the whole building, but the money was not his and the man who had given it to him would expect him to account for his spending. In any case his new home suited him. The attic ran the whole length of the building and the south end gable was dominated by a large window which overlooked the small market square of the quarter. The few sticks of furniture provided seemed to make it look more cavernous, it was impossible to heat and if he wanted to avoid freezing as he sat at his desk in the window, he had to carry his fire with him in a brass coal-carrier such as maids cradled to church to keep their mistresses’ feet warm. But it was secure. No one could approach without the complaints of the stairs giving notice, and no one had any business to hover outside his door. Also, for all the chill, he liked the view. It made him feel like some wise bird watching the comings and goings below. A king, or a magician able to watch the people move about on their paths like little walking toys.

He dropped Florian onto the couch a little heavily — getting him up the stairs had been uncomfortable — rolled his shoulders and crouched down to get a fire going in the grate. When he was satisfied that the flames were alive, and felt a little heat crawling off the coals, he turned his back on them to study his guest. Florian had his chin tucked into his chest and his arms wrapped about him. ‘Your Grace? Does it pain you much? Perhaps we should get you to a sawbones.’

He looked up sharply at that. ‘No, no, it’s sore is all. I’d rather stay here. And you may call me Florian, if you wish.’ He tried to smile and winced a little.

Pegel remained seated on the floor by the fire, but extended his hand. ‘Jacob.’ He nodded to the decanter of wine and glasses by the couch. ‘Can you move enough to pour us a glass then, Florian?’

The young man blushed slightly as his Christian name was spoken as if he were not used to hearing it out loud, but reached over and filled the glasses. Pegel took the glass offered him with his right hand and with his left pushed his hair back, revealing the redness on his jaw. He heard Florian gasp, and was glad that the giant had not pulled his punches.

‘I am so sorry you got hurt, Jacob. And thank you for coming to my assistance.’

Pegel sniffed. ‘Can’t leave a fellow on the ground like that. Not sure what morals I have, but I know that isn’t right.’

‘I think you are a good man, Jacob.’

He yawned and studied the ancient bowing beams above them. ‘Don’t know. I just do as I do and leave good and evil to the priests. It’s why I like numbers. No good and evil there, but there’s still wonder. Here I am, mind of man, that’s all, and now I can explain how the planets move. That I like.’

Florian was frowning. It seemed a strange expression on that rather childlike face. ‘But you must seek something more than that, Pegel. You are a member of the Brotherhood, are you not? Your watch is marked with symbols. You mentioned a Lodge in Weimar. You are a Freemason, I know it.’

‘I … I try to be,’ Pegel said, turning away slightly so he could stare soulfully into the fire while still displaying the reddening on the side of his face. ‘My uncle introduced me to his Lodge and for a while I thought there was some … higher purpose worth serving. But, I don’t know, Florian, mostly I’ve just found it useful as a way to meet people as I travel about. That stuff in the lecture hall today — it’s the work of a man called Laplace I met in one of the Paris Lodges.’

It was a lie, of course. The work was Laplace’s but Pegel had no uncle and had never been introduced at any Lodge. He knew enough about Freemasonry to fake his way along with a green boy like Florian though, just as he knew the right air of wistful longing to assume when talking about the higher dreams of men.

He felt a touch on his sleeve and found Florian had reached forward to place a hand on him. His face was terribly earnest. ‘Oh, but there is! There is a purpose, a great purpose.’ He withdrew his hand, and it seemed to Pegel that the room suddenly became a little colder. ‘You must have been wondering why that man attacked me; you have been terribly good by not asking.’

Pegel gave a little attention to the fire. ‘Not my concern, Florian. Don’t want to intrude.’

The young voice became firm. ‘It would give me great pleasure to talk on these matters. Before I do though, I must ask you, Jacob Pegel, to swear to keep secret what I reveal to you, by everything you hold dear. I don’t want to sound like an idiot, but it is terribly important.’

‘I’ll swear if you like,’ Pegel smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Florian. I know how to keep a secret.’