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hrjThey had never exactly been friends. Margerit recalled Antuniet once describing it more as "interests that fell together." The events that had sent Antuniet into exile made it no surprise that their paths hadn't crossed at all since Antuniet's return to Rotenek. That all changed one cold, wet, miserable morning on the crowded steps of the cathedral.
* * *
It wasn’t until Marken shifted—in that way an armin had that both warned of and warned off trouble—that Margerit noticed the woman working cross-wise through the crowd in the porch, coming towards them. The movements were vaguely familiar despite a worn cloak wrapped tightly around her, hiding her face in shadow. When she came close enough for Marken to step deliberately into her path, the familiarity resolved itself.
“Antuniet?” Margerit exclaimed, pausing in the flow of worshippers. At her back, she felt Barbara turn sharply, while Aunt Bertrut and Uncle Charul moved on toward the doors, unheedingly.
Antuniet tried unsuccessfully to step around Marken, looking daggers at him when he laid a hand lightly on her shoulder in warning, but she knew better than to persist. Margerit stepped forward, on the verge of calling him off, but Antuniet glanced around wildly, then drew a package from under her cloak, thrusting it into Marken’s waiting hands. Margerit knew Antuniet’s words were meant for her ears as she said urgently. “Keep it safe! Whatever you do, keep it safe!”
* * *
It wasn’t until Marken shifted—in that way an armin had that both warned of and warned off trouble—that Margerit noticed the woman working cross-wise through the crowd in the porch, coming towards them. The movements were vaguely familiar despite a worn cloak wrapped tightly around her, hiding her face in shadow. When she came close enough for Marken to step deliberately into her path, the familiarity resolved itself.
“Antuniet?” Margerit exclaimed, pausing in the flow of worshippers. At her back, she felt Barbara turn sharply, while Aunt Bertrut and Uncle Charul moved on toward the doors, unheedingly.
Antuniet tried unsuccessfully to step around Marken, looking daggers at him when he laid a hand lightly on her shoulder in warning, but she knew better than to persist. Margerit stepped forward, on the verge of calling him off, but Antuniet glanced around wildly, then drew a package from under her cloak, thrusting it into Marken’s waiting hands. Margerit knew Antuniet’s words were meant for her ears as she said urgently. “Keep it safe! Whatever you do, keep it safe!”
