“My lord,” she said, keeping her voice as appeasing as she could. She curtseyed to add the, hopefully, proper effect.
“There is a way we can find out if you are indeed my princess warrior. Are you she that stands in my presence or a pretender?” He whistled and called, “Gareth.”
Emlyn stiffened when the man stepped in the doorway. As much as she wanted to run at him and display her wrath, she remained still.
The two men walked around her as if she were on exhibition. Their stares did cause a bit of gumption in her and she sorely wanted to shout a blasphemy or two. That or stick a dagger in that quisling’s heart.
“Is this she?”
“I recognize her, my lord. Aye, ‘tis Princess Emlyn that stands before ye. Only she has hair of that color.”
Marshall turned and gripped the man by his neck. “There’s one thing I abhor in a man more than anything.”
Gareth wheezed and his breath garbled. Marshall’s hand tightened.
“I cannot abide a liar.” Marshall continued to strangle Gareth until his body went limp.
Several minutes went by and her own death flashed in her mind. Would he do the same to her when he finished with the traitor? Emlyn couldn’t believe he killed the man in front of her. Her eyes widened when Marshall released him and tossed Gareth’s body to the stone floor.
“I’m regretful you had to see that, my lady. The man told me you had skill at warfare. That you were skilled at weaponry and were a soldier in your father’s army. He lied to me. I do not abide by liars.”
She shook her head. “My mother would never allow my sisters and I to partake in anything to do with arms, my lord. I don’t know why he would tell you such a tale. Mayhap he was ireful when he was banished from my father’s land for his treachery. That is the only reason I deem he told such a falsehood.” Emlyn should’ve felt badly at the man’s death, but he was a traitor and deserved such a penance.
“There’s been a misunderstanding. I might be an enemy in your father’s eyes, but I do not harm gentle maidens.”
She raised her eyes and looked at him for the first time since he’d entered the chamber. His expression softened and he no longer scowled.
“I had heard you were as chivalrous as your father, my lord. For my father often spoke of the great knight and he respected him. His reputation reached Wales.”
“I deem it has reached beyond, even further. I would that my reputation be as coveted, as my father’s, for it is what I aspire to. I will have this rabble removed, my lady. I bid you the freedom of the castle whilst I am away for I must depart for an important meeting with my king.”
She curtseyed. “I thank you, my lord. Will I be returned to my father?”
Marshall reached the door and turned. “As soon as can be arranged. I will have food brought and comforts.”
Emlyn nodded, but remained standing. She was amazed that she’d fooled him, but she couldn’t let her excitement show.
Two guards entered and removed Gareth’s body. Within a few minutes, a maid came with a tray of foodstuffs. She set it down and hastily left, closing the chamber door behind her. Left to her own accord, a silence stilled the chamber and her heart. If she wasn’t overwhelmingly worried about James, she might have celebrated the victory with a gleeful shout. Instead, she released a grated sigh.
How she’d escaped unscathed from her meeting with Marshall, she would have to offer up a prayer to her father’s deity. Now alone, she was unsure what to do. Outside, noise rose from the courtyard and the sound of soldiers vacating the castle reached her. She went to the window casement and saw Marshall leaving with a troop of soldiers. Two rows of men rode side by side in a great line that went on for at least a mile.
She wondered if the door to her chamber was locked but was hesitant to move toward it. Emlyn went to the trencher and wrapped several chunks of bread in a cloth that had been left. She reached for her satchel and pulled out garments and stuffed the bread inside. She changed back into her tunic and breeches and shoved the gown back in before she put her mind to figuring out a way to get to James.
Hours went by and Emlyn was reluctant to move forward with her plan. For one thing, she had no weapon to use and for another, she didn’t know where James was.
Morning light streamed in through the window casement. It was early enough that very few people would be about. She went to the door and tried it. The door opened. Emlyn was both surprised and relieved. She snuck to the steps and reached the bottom without being seen.
She didn’t see anyone about. Before she vacated the keep, she searched for a weapon. In the great hall, on a table in plain sight was the dirk she’d taken from James. She laughed to herself and snatched it, and put it inside her boot.
Near the buttery, she found a helmet. It was a little large for her head, but would have to do to hide her hair. She tied up her tresses with a tie from her tunic before pulling on the helmet. She appeared as a lad and suspected none would deem otherwise.
Emlyn slipped through the door of the keep. The stable was in sight of the door so she headed in that direction, knowing someone was going to call out. She hastened through the bailey and entered the dark domain. No one called out to her, and she stood inside the stable entrance, rasping for breath. She made quick work of finding her and James’ horses. No lads or stable masters were about yet, and she led the horses outside where she tethered them to a wooden pole.
Now to find James.
Most keeps had a garrison or place where soldiers or prisoners were kept. It appeared Marshall had taken most of the soldiers with him for she only saw three slumbering in the garrison. She bumped into one of the sentries on his return.
“What do you here, lad?”
Emlyn kept her head down. “My lord bid me to retrieve the prisoner. I’m to take him and follow.”
The man scratched his beard and scowled. “He said nothing about that.”
She shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t question my lord. I only do his bidding.”
“Well, be about it, lad.”
“Where is he? Is he …” She tried to appear aloof, hoping he’d give her direction.
“They took him to the pit, behind the kitchens.”
Emlyn turned away and left the garrison. As she approached the kitchens, she saw a stone structure next to the lean-to that they used for cooking, but no pit. It was large and looked foreboding. She hoped James was within, because she saw nothing that was likened to a pit. She kept her head down and stepped inside the building. It smelled rank and of death. With each step, she prayed she’d find James alive.
Several men were chained and bound, and they called out to her as she passed. Never had she seen such deplorable conditions as what the men were kept it. Emlyn couldn’t imagine being imprisoned there and considered the black-stall at home heaven in comparison to this place.
She reached a cell at the end of the hallway and called out to the guard. He opened the door and stepped in front of her. Her breath ceased for he was a giant among men and looked to be stronger than any man she knew. Surely she couldn’t take him with the small dirk she had. Emlyn decided again to use trickery for that was the only way she’d gain his help.
“Is this the prisoner brought yester eve?” Emlyn kept her voice low and gruff, trying not to give herself away.
“Aye. Who are you?”
“My lord’s new squire. I’m to take him and follow my lord as he bade.”
The burly man approached her and stood so close she smelled his rank odor. “What for?” He didn’t look as if he had an intelligent thought in his head.
“I know not. Mayhap my lord plans to ransom him. I need to get him and follow.”
“He’s in no condition to be moved.”
Her heart pitched at hearing that. “Get me a cart then. We shall put him in it. I must hurry for my lord awaits ahead on the road.”