“Wait! Where are you going?” Justina demanded. “It could be the Hungars.”
“The Hungars do not listen to music. Not music like this.” Aurora rushed through the brush with Justina following.
Justina grabbed her arm as they came to a road. “Wait.” She pulled her down, so they knelt beside the road, behind a bush, and pressed her finger to her lips. She looked down the road one way and then the other. Toward the castle, she saw a small wagon and a campfire. She couldn’t make out how many people were there, but she saw shadows moving. Then, again, the music started. Flutes playing soft tunes. A drum joined in and then clapping started.
Aurora leaned toward her to whisper, “Gypsies. They were at the castle to entertain us.”
Justina was surprised there was no malice in her voice, only acceptance. Many didn’t like gypsies, seeing them as thieves and whores. She wondered if they would recognize Aurora. That could be dangerous. What if they sold her to the Hungars? She was about to tell her they should continue on, when a small voice came from behind them.
“I like yer dress.” The voice was thickly accented.
Justina and Aurora turned to see a small girl standing close to them next to a bush. Justina was amazed the child had been so quiet, quiet enough to sneak up on them.
“Thank you,” Aurora replied. She looked around the roadside. “Where’s your mother?”
“At the camp,” the girl answered. She shoved some beautifully thick black hair from her forehead. She wore a woolen skirt, tied around the waist with a black sash and a green tunic that was too big for her and fell off her shoulder. She squinted her eyes at Aurora.
“Where’s your father?” Justina wondered.
“Papa is hunting in the woods.”
Aurora straightened in dread. She looked at Justina and there was fear in her eyes. “We have to tell them.”
“Tell us what?” The bushes parted, and a large man emerged. He was very tall, a bow and arrow slung over his shoulder.
Aurora stood immediately. “There are Hungars in the woods. You must be careful. They --”
Justina jumped up and seized her arm in a tight grip. “They were moving toward the castle.”
He eyed them suspiciously.
Justina’s hand dropped to the dagger in her belt.
“What are two women doing out alone in the woods at night?”
Cautiously, Justina answered, “We were trying to make it back to the castle, but we’re cut off by the Hungars.”
“Hmm.” He eyed them again. Suddenly, a smile split his lips. “Then you must come back to camp and have some food!”
“We would, but we have to find a way into the castle.”
“Pah!” He swept his arm out from side to side. “You cannot see in the dark. Wait until sunrise for your journey. I insist! I, Nicodemus, will see to your comfort this night!”
Justina swallowed her misgivings. What was she to do? She held Aurora’s arm as they walked toward the camp. Run? She could run, but she wasn’t sure how to convey that to Aurora. She followed with trepidation.
The small girl tugged on Nicodemus’s pants leg. “I know her, Papa.”
“I know, little one. I know.”
Dread swirled up inside of Justina. He knew who Aurora was! He must have recognized her from the castle. This was not a good idea.
“Can you escort us to the castle?” Aurora asked.
“The drawbridge is raised. The gates are closed. You will not be able to enter until morning.”
Aurora glanced down the road toward the castle anxiously. “They closed the gates?”
“Aye.”
