The sudden flare of light provided by Davison's torch stunned them all. Brin sat on the floor of the room, shivering violently, the head of the fairy in his lap. She was in bad shape, worse than Col had thought. Several of her delicate feathers were completely burnt away, the rest of them blackened. The clothing she wore had melted onto her body, hopefully protecting it from the worst of the burns. Blood caked the side of her head.
"Tell me she's not dead," Col said to no one in particular, kneeling next to her on the hard floor.
"You broke into the archbishop's office?" Dirkson asked in disbelief, looking around. The female on the floor didn't seem near as important as this fact to him. "Or his secretary's at any rate." Then seeming to realize that no one was paying any attention, he knelt on the floor next to Brin. "Here, man, take my cloak"
"Thanks." Surprise crowded out pain in his dark eyes.
"I can't-" Rand's pale blue eyes were fixed on the figure on the floor in horror.
"She's a sentient being, same as you and I. Can you walk away from that?" Col asked fiercely, pulling the man to the floor next to her.
"I suggest we all walk away from this office as soon as possible. How long until the Watch notices the broken window and our light? So far the fire has kept everyone distracted but it should be out soon, shouldn't it?" Dirkson asked. They had skirted the remains of the building to get here and seen exactly how far it had burned down. Thankfully the cathedral wasn't touched, otherwise there would have been several people in the building trying to salvage the contents.
"I never took you for a coward," Brin said, coughing slightly.
"There's a difference between a coward and a fool. Col, you're about done in. You help Brin to our rooms. Rand and I will take the…er…girl."
"You're kidding, right? Dirkson you can't be thinking-"
"We can't leave her here. Col did the right thing. You know what the church would do to one such as she? Put aside your prejudices and think like a healer. How can we get her out of here?"
Chastened, Rand scanned the room. "We'll need a litter or sorts."
"The table would do," Col said, his gaze lighting on a flimsy wooden affair next to the door.
"That belongs to the church!" Rand protested, his eyes going wider if that were possible.
"It's high and holy purpose appears to be the holding of hats. It will hardly be missed," Col shot back, surprising even himself.
"Heavens, Col, don't make me laugh like that!" Brin begged, holding his sides.
Dirkson shook his head. "I would suggest we make haste, gentlemen. Unless I miss my guess isn't the clock just now striking 2? The Watch changes then - we have a small window to escape unless I miss my guess."
"How does he know these things?" Col asked no one in particular as he brushed a black felt hat to the floor and moved the table to the center of the room. Together the men lifted the bleeding fairy to the table, covering her carefully with Col's and Rand's cloaks. Dirkson doused the light and they cautiously left the room, stumbling under their burdens.