AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That was all Conrad needed to hear. He picked up his sword and gripped it tightly, wanting to fight the knave again. He might have done just that if Earl Alnwick hadn’t run out from the stable waving his hands above his head. “It’s gone!” he shouted, sounding frantic.
“What’s gone? What are you shouting about?” asked Lord Beaufort, rushing out onto the practice field.
“It’s my ruby. Someone has stolen my ruby!”
The crowd became restless, and Lord Beaufort had to raise his hand in the air just to be heard. “Don’t anyone move!” he called out. “There is a thief among us, and no one will exit my castle walls without being searched.”
Conrad looked back over his shoulder. Willow, Hazel, and Sir George were gone.
* * *
“Thank you for the escort,Sir George, but Lady Hazel and I are going to the garderobe, so there is no need for you to come with us.” Willow tried to sound convincing.
“We are?” asked Hazel, not understanding that Willow was trying to get away from the man. Because of Sir George, Conrad had lost the challenge. At one time, this might have made Willow happy, but today it made her sad. She found herself wanting Conrad to win, and he didn’t. Now there were only two spots left. If he didn’t secure one of them, she would have no chance of marrying him at all.
“Sir George,” called out Sir Chester, running across the courtyard to meet them. “Did you hear? Someone has stolen the earl’s ruby.”
“It’s gone?” Willow’s heartbeat picked up in pace. That was an expensive stone and very important. Without it, the earl would lose his castle to John of Gaunt, and there would be no chance of making alliances with the Scots. “When did it go missing?” she asked.
“Sometime yesterday, I guess,” said Chester. “The crowd is in chaos and everyone is up in arms about this. The earl won’t let anyone leave until they are searched. Look, they are closing the gate now. The rest of the competitions are being postponed until the morrow.”
The crowd filled the courtyard, being trapped inside the castle walls. People pushed and shoved, and Hazel covered her head and screamed, hunkering down on the ground.
“We’ve got to get you out of here,” said Willow, pulling Hazel to her feet. The girl was frantic and started crying. Willow figured she was frightened of the angry crowd. “Take my hand,” she said, grabbing Hazel and pulling her toward the keep. When the guards moved forward in a line with their weapons drawn, Hazel turned pale and looked as if she were about to swoon.
“Willow, I can’t breathe,” said Hazel, gasping for air.
“Hazel, what is the matter?”
“I feel trapped! I have no air. This happens when I am in small, enclosed places.”
People pushed from all sides now, and Willow started feeling faint as well. She spied the stable nearby and knew of only one way to get Hazel out of the crowd and into an open area where she would feel safe.
“We’re going for a little ride with the wind in our hair. You will have all the air you need in a few minutes.”
“Where are you taking me?” asked Hazel, as Willow pulled her into the stable, yanking open the stall gate, and quickly throwing a bridle on her mare.
“We are going somewhere where we will stay until the frenzied crowd calms down.”
“But you heard what Sir Chester said.” Hazel tried to catch her breath and held a hand to her chest. “They are searching everyone. They won’t let us leave.”
“They won’t be able to stop us.” She pushed a bench over to the horse and nodded. “Now get on the horse.”
“But it isn’t saddled.”
“We don’t need a saddle. We’ll ride together and leave through the hidden postern gate. We’ll stay in the secret garden until the earl opens the gates and the crowd dissipates.”
“Aye, I like the garden,” said Hazel, calming down at the thought. “Willow, please don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone. I’m frightened.”
“There’s nothing to fear. I’m sure Lord Beaufort will find the thief. We are safe.” She mounted behind Hazel and took the reins. “Now hold on because as soon as we go through the postern gate, we’re going to ride fast. I don’t want your brother seeing us and confining us to our chamber again.”
“Nay, we don’t want that,” said Hazel with a shake of her head. “Thank you, Willow. I’ve never had a true friend before. I feel as if you are my friend to risk being caught and punished just to help me.”
“I feel that you are a friend, too, Hazel.” Willow said the words to calm the girl, but it wasn’t the only reason. In her heart, she wanted to help Hazel because she had started to care for the girl. And in these past few days, she felt she’d made a new friend, too.
* * *
“What doyou mean you don’t know where Lady Hazel and Lady Willow are?” growled Conrad, pushing his way through the frenzied crowd in the courtyard while the guards searched one person after another looking for the ruby.
