20. Tertius Moves On and So Do WeAn Interlude in Blue Tower

20. Tertius Moves On and So Do We

Outside, the suffocating haze had lifted and the drone had gone silent for good. The lake smelled fetid still, but the wind was blowing sweetly from the east. Peregrine whistled for Tertius, who waded through the water to them. Peregrine washed himself in the lake, but Yarrow could not bring herself to, messy as she was. And she could hardly bear to board Tertius again. Around its lips was a rusty scum of ape blood.

When it reached the far shore, Yarrow spoke. "I'll go the rest of the way by myself."

"Are you sure, little Mother?" said Peregrine.

"I am." She did not give her reasons. Whatever Peregrine knew or guessed, he did not say. He only passed her pack to her.

"Maybe we'll meet again," he said.

"I would like that," said Yarrow.

"So would I." Peregrine rummaged in the pink tent for a moment and took out a bottle. "This is mine, but I think you need it more than I do right now."

Yarrow stored it in her pack. "Thank you." She curtsied. "And thank you for your help, Butler Itinerant."

"Thank you for the most interesting journey I've had yet, Mother of Grey House." Peregrine laughed, but the bright shape of Yellow Tower caught his attention and he sighed. "They'll want to know what happened here. Over at Black, they'll ask."

"I'll tell them the truth," said Yarrow. "They can't do worse to Grey than what's already going on."

"You have to tell the guardian of the Passage," said Peregrine. "Only she can handle the Beast. According to the songs."

"There is no guardian till I make one," said Yarrow. Among the women, the knowledge of the Beast belonged to the Goldenseals; Yarrows had no part of it.

"Try guarding the Passage yourself," said Peregrine. "What's one more deed for Yarrow LXXVI?" He rapped on the platform and Tertius got up from its elbows. "But I suppose it would need to be a new day for a Mother to do that."

Yarrow laughed bitterly. Indeed. Things needed to go back to the way they were. If you had enough old days, who needed new ones?

"If you want to shorten the way, you can take the train from Angel's Head," said Peregrine. He flipped a little disc to her. "That token will get you to Black, if you're sure you don't want a ride."

Yarrow thanked him, slipping the token into her sleeve. They waved to each other as long as Tertius was in view. Then Yarrow turned and, of course, the West Passage yawned before her. She looked over her shoulder for one last glimpse of Yellow Tower.

At first nothing seemed odd. Then she saw: in the rippling lake, the golden reflection of the tower shimmered. A grey flag broke from its pinnacle. Yarrow smiled, set her jaw, and went on her way.