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the
great hall, but remained out of sight behind the arch of the entrance. She
peered in to see several dozen people sleeping on the floor, wrapped in
blankets. But none of them looked like John or Philip.
She could not search every chamber, so she headed back to John s. He would
not
abandon her. Even if she ascribed the worst motives to him, he would not
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abandon
Alderley, and its power and wealth.
But nay, he was not like that. He might have come to fulfill a bargain
between
their families, but he had feelings for her now. He was a good, honorable
man.
Whom she d proven over and over again she didn t trust. Had she driven him
away?
She had to stop thinking such things. When dawn arrived, she would not rest
until she discovered what had happened to John.
But before she reached John s bedchamber, she spotted what she had not
noticed
earlier his crutch laying against the corridor wall. She picked it up and
stared
all around her, as if suddenly there was menace in the darkness. She ran into
his room, slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, her every sense
alert to the possibility of someone out there trying to get in.
Minutes passed, and nothing happened. She clutched the crutch to her as if it
were the last remnant she had of John. For a moment, her future stretched out
endlessly, and without him it seemed bleak and lonely and frightening.
Where was he?
When John next awoke, it was still black as pitch in the dungeon, but he had
an
instinctive feeling that dawn was approaching and his confrontation with
Bannaster.
Before he could speak, Philip suddenly said, I remember!
You remember what?
Oh, tis good you re awake. I spent half the night wrestling with the
identity
of our captor.
Hardly half the night. You were snoring almost immediately.
Then I must have awakened hours ago. But I ve finally put a face to that
voice.
I can t tell you his name, but he s a common soldier in Bannaster s army.
I ll
recognize him when I see him. He challenged me one day, and I might have made
the mistake of defeating him rather too easily.
How intelligent.
I know. I humbly beg your forgiveness.
I ll grant it when we re free.
At least you re confident.
They settled into a tense silence that seemed to last a long time.
Do you think he s forgotten about us? Philip asked.
I cannot believe so.
John found himself picturing Elizabeth in his bed, sleeping there without
him.
That made him a little too uncomfortable. He adjusted himself, and then sat
up.
Though he still had a lingering ache in his head, he felt good. He was
restless
with the need to move, but he couldn t pace and risk falling.
Perhaps he could hear something. He went to press his ear to the door and
found
it ajar.
Philip, the door is open, and you didn t hear it happen. He felt Philip at
his
back as he opened the door wide and moved out. I knew you weren t awake
hours.
Philip only snorted.
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John s hands encountered the wall soon enough, proving that they were indeed
in
a corridor. They went left first, hit a dead end, and then walked back the
other
way. They found another door ajar, and stairs leading up.
What do you make of this? John asked, hesitating at the bottom. Could it be
a
trap?
He had us well held. What would be the point?
I wish I had a sword, John said in frustration. But let s go.
He led the way, climbing up slowly, regretting the annoyance of the splint
still
bound to his lower leg. He held one hand in front of him, and one trailing
against the wall. After awhile, he wished he would have counted the steps,
because it seemed to go on a long time.
Until he slammed his head on something above him.
Ow!
What happened?
John reached above and ran his hands over wood. I think it s a trap door.
It
budged, although not much. Come up beside me and help push.
Between the two of them, they lifted it up enough to see the shadows of a
storage room, lit by a single torch in a wall bracket.
Tis the undercroft beneath the castle, John said, upon spotting the curved
arches supporting the ceiling. If there s someone in here, he s not paying
attention to us.
But someone left a torch to light our way, Philip said.
I ll hold the door up, and you climb out and lift it farther.
The trap door was more unwieldy than heavy, and John was able to brace it
with
his legs spread and elbows locked. Philip climbed out, remaining low to the
ground as he looked about.
He nodded down at John. All set.
When John was beside him, and the trap door lowered, they discovered another
set
of steps, leading to the first floor above them.
Someone deliberately let us go, Philip said, as he squinted up at the next
trap door.
John eyed him. Or tis a way to make sport out of our capture.
Or tis the League of the Blade, Philip said solemnly.
They said they wouldn t help me.
Aha! So you believe!
I did not say that. But our fireside visitor told me I wasn t worthy.
He had his doubts then. Apparently the League has decided in your favor.
So somehow strangers got into the castle, found the dungeon, silently left
all
the doors open when they could have just told us what they were doing.
They don t like to work hand-in-hand with people. You have to be intelligent
enough to work on your own, within their plans.
You mean we were supposed to wake up at the right time? he asked darkly.
We did, did we not?
Hmph. Regardless of who let us out, we still have to tread carefully until
we
find this soldier who imprisoned us. He might have told Bannaster everything
by
now.
Philip shook his head. I think not. He was all about the surprise and
consequent adulation.
So we need to find him before he sees us.
Philip looked him up and down. You re filthy. We have to wash before anyone
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sees us.
You, too.
After they climbed up through the next trap door, they found themselves in a
corridor behind the kitchens. It was just dark enough that they only received
an
occasional curious stare from the servants they passed.
John opened the door to his chamber, Philip trailed in behind him and then he
saw Elizabeth. Her expression was shocked and relieved, and he thought there
might be an extra sheen to her eyes.
But she simply drew herself up and calmly said, I was worried when you
didn t
return. Her eyes widened as she took in their appearance. What happened to
you?
John found himself wishing she would have thrown her arms around him, but she
had herself well in control. He explained what had happened, and though she
remained calm, he could sense her rising panic.
Philip recognized the soldier s voice, John said. We will find him.
And do what? she demanded. You can t mean to kill him.
John shook his head. We ll have to imprison him as he did to us, and hope
that
no one finds him until we ve resolved this situation.
Tis getting more and more complicated, she whispered. I feel like a
failure.
You both will be in even more danger. When will it end?
John tried to touch her arm, but she stiffened, and he let her turn away from
him. Elizabeth
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