Outside again, Hannah had time to herself as long as she stayed out of sight of the Overseers. The stables were out because Cleanup would find her there. She glanced at the main gates taller than three men standing on the shoulders of the one below. Two soldiers attended the gate and questioned anyone leaving or entering. She had never been outside, but she felt the need to begin planning her escape.
She went straight to the nearest guard and said, “I’m going to look for mushrooms.”
“Better take a basket,” he said, and both of the guards laughed.
She stared them down. When they finished laughing, she said in a scolding tone, “I’m not gathering them. As I said, I’m going to look for them. Then when I need mushrooms, I’ll know where to go.” She turned her back to them and strode through the gates for the first time as if it were her right and duty to do so.
Neither guard called her back, and they’d think twice before stopping her next time and getting dressed down by her again. She walked along a narrow dirt road for a stretch, then noticed a wide path leading off into the forest. There were plenty of shallow holes in the road, some still filled with water from the recent rain, and the uneven footing was treacherous. But she was the only person on the road, and it was her first venture beyond the gates and her spirit soared.
She took the path, with underbrush growing nearly to the sides, brushing past unfamiliar plants and one that bore little red berries. The air tasted fresher and cleaner, a sharp contrast to that in the castle. She inhaled deeply the scents of tall grass, flowers, and trees instead of dusty hallways and hot kitchens.
The footing on the path was smoother than on the road, although barely wide enough for one. Branches reached out and grabbed her, and birds sang their welcomes. She paused at the edge of a shallow stream. The water ran fast, and when she dipped a toe into it, she found it cold.
She noticed a place on the bank where she could sit and let both feet soak. After a while, a noise drew her attention. A deer looked at her from only a few steps away as it twitched its ears. Hannah extended a hopeful hand to draw it nearer, but the movement caused the deer to leap away, bounding into the dense forest with a crash each time it landed.
Tiny fish swam near her feet. She watched to see if any would nibble a toe, but a blue jay landed on a branch and scolded her, and she looked up at it. Higher above she saw a squirrel leap from a branch of one tree and land in another. What must it be like to have that sort of confidence?
What other animals are here watching me? She started to feel the eyes of the forest on her. Still, for her first venture from the castle, it felt like an accomplishment. The guards would soon get used to her hunting for mushrooms, herbs, and berries, until one day she left and never returned. Humming a small tune to match the chuckling of the brook she followed the path back to the road and then towards the castle gates.
Instead of the original two guards, there now stood ten, all of them dressed in the Earl’s blue and white colors. One of them addressed the rest, barking orders in a loud voice while nine stood at attention and listened, until someone shouted, “There’s Hannah!”
All of the soldiers turned as one and looked at her. The leader stalked in her direction. Just because I went outside?
CHAPTER FOUR
All ten soldiers ran to her, the leader followed by nine others. Their heavy boots struck the ground at the same time hammering out a heavy military rhythm. Their response happened so fast that Hannah turned to see who behind her they were chasing. In her entire lifetime, she had never drawn so much as a wit of notice from the palace guards. But today ten of them were after her.
“I didn't mean any harm,” she wailed as one took her firmly by the arm.
“You’re sure that’s her?” The soldier wearing more gold stripes and loops than the others asked.
Another soldier answered, “Seen the girl a hundred times before. It’s her, alright.”
The leader of the soldiers then stood taller and faced her. He ignored the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Are you the one called Hannah?”
“Yes,” she sobbed, knowing she would never leave the castle grounds again after this.
He reached out and took her other arm, pulling her along. “Come on, now. Don’t fight me.”
The others fell into a double line behind, their feet striking the ground at the same time as they fell into a marching step, two-by-two. Inside the gate stood more people gathered to watch her capture. They looked at Hannah and whispered behind hands held to their mouths to cover the words. She recognized most of them, but not one called out to her or waved. None smiled, laughed or offered support.
Hannah didn’t know what she would say to the Overseer when they stood her before him. It had just been a little walk in the forest to clear her head. That’s what she’d say. She hadn’t been out of sight of the castle walls. Not really. Then, in resignation, she quit resisting the guard and tried walking beside the soldier, head held high, back straight. Whatever happened, happened.
The guard led the procession directly to the stable instead of taking her back to the kitchens. The main doors stood open, but they used another smaller door that took them into the wide area where the wagons and carriages sat, instead of where the horses were stabled. One carriage stood alone in the center of the wood chips covering the floor, ready to be pulled by the matching steeds already in the harness. It was the gleaming white one that shimmered in the light. Cleanup stood in the shadows; half hid near the other doorway, his shovel and pail ready, but his eyes focused on Hannah, a look of fear on his face.
The other soldiers remained outside as if they were not good enough to occupy the same barn as the wagons and horses. Only the one who held her arm entered with her. Hannah became reluctant again and drew back. The Overseer would shout and threaten, and maybe give her a swat or two, but she had no idea of what might happen in the stables and she had no intention of entering without a fight.
Four other horses were saddled, including the beautiful mare, and men in uniforms stood beside each. Their eyes looked resentfully at Hannah, even uncaring. They wore the dark blue and red colors of the King. The four were Knights.
A small group of noblemen gathered beside the wide stable door the carriage would use. The palace guard holding her arm announced, “Found her, the one called Hannah.”
The Earl, his eldest son, and the Old Mage turned to face her as one. The Earl asked the Mage, “You’re sure about this?”
“My duty, and my pleasure, your grace.”
“Okay then, I wish you well.” He took the arm of his young son in the crook of his and strolled away to the main entrance of the Royal Wing without another glance behind.
The Mage moved slowly to stand before Hannah. In a voice filled with gravel, he said, “Have you anything of worth or sentiment you cannot live without?”
It sounded like a threat on her life. She owned nothing but the shift of a dress she wore, and even that was not technically hers. The Earl provided for all her needs. But she didn’t like the tone or the way he and the others were looking at her as if she was a specimen or a spider. I will not show fear. Her voice was short and firm, “No.”
“You are angry at me?” The Mage asked softly.
“Scared.”
“At the prospect of leaving here? I thought that was your intent.”