'' father claude , '' the priest i had been helping said , '' this is my irish savior . '' i shook hands with father claude . he was easily as old as the other priest , and seemed slower in his movements . i could see why the first priest had been the one to visit the parishioner . '' you might want to sit with ... '' i began and then turned to the first priest

'' he has n't done anything to you . '' '' on the contrary , little flower , he has perpetrated quite the offense . and , sweet as it is for you to come to his rescue , young bo here knew what he was getting into , knew the risk he was taking . i 'd wager that he even expected death to come calling for him some day soon , is n't that right bo

'' he was shocked to see me , but glad i think . we both avoided mentioning you and we made our peace and i went home , leaving him alone - and alive - in the backyard . '' '' are you sure you were alone ? '' '' yes . i would n't have talked to him otherwise

after about an hour they heard the slow plodding of another horse coming up the rutted road from emsat . the horse stopped at the top of the hill . ' sparhawk ? ' the quiet voice was vaguely familiar . sparhawk quickly put his hand to his sword hilt , and he and sephrenia exchanged a quick glance . ' i know you 're in there somewhere ,
sparhawk