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“Everyone has their secrets, my lady. And Sir Jacob Quincey has many secrets that he’s yet to reveal to you.”
“Sir? Are you saying he is a noble? I don’t understand.”
“Didn’t you hear his squire call him, my lord?”
“His squire? Do you mean Will? Imanie, tell me what you know.”
“I know that you, my dear, need to listen to your heart more and less to your head. Then you will know exactly what to do.”
Maira awoke to a soft knocking at her door. With the reflexes of a trained warrior, she jumped out of bed, reaching for her weapons that were no longer there.
“Who’s there?” she called out, hurrying over to dress as quickly as she could.
“It’s Tommy,” came a muffled voice from the other side of the door.
“Tommy?” she asked, pulling her gown over her head and rushing over to let him in. The little boy stood there with a candle in his hand. The corridor was dark since it was early morning and the sun had not yet risen.
“Tommy? What are you doing here?” she whispered, scanning the corridor quickly.
“Follow me, my lady,” said the boy.
“Wait.” She ran back and slipped into her shoes, then took her crown from the bedside table and placed it on her head. She didn’t want to leave it behind because she wasn’t sure she could trust that the High Sheriff wouldn’t want to take that from her next. “Where are we going?”
“Alf has someone in the stable who wants to meet with you in secret. I suggest we take the secret passageway so we don’t alert anyone.”
“Who is it that wants to meet with me?” she asked.
“He didn’t say. But he did say to hurry. And thank you, Lady Maira, for coming to my aid when the High Sheriff threw me in the pillory.”
“I would do anything to help you, Tommy, but you need to promise me that you won’t follow me again.”
The boy stopped at the entrance to the tunnel and looked up to her with wide eyes. The light from the candle threw shadows upon him.
“Please, don’t leave us again, Lady Maira. We need you. We will die without you.”
She took a minute to digest his words, feeling the need in her heart to be here for Tommy and the others, just like Imanie told her. “I am not going to abandon you or the others. I promise.” She laid her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. “Now take me to the stable so I can meet this mysterious stranger.”
* * *
Jacob paced backand forth in the stable, keeping his eye on the horizon. He was lucky enough to have been able to swim the moat and climb the wall to get inside. He could have taken one of the secret tunnels, but it looked as if the guards were too near and he didn’t want to chance that they would see him. Having lived at this castle for ten long years, he knew every way possible to sneak in or out. He sincerely doubted the High Sheriff knew about the secret passageways because no one who knew would be willing to tell him.
Jacob needed to get out of here before the sun rose or he might not be as lucky to leave without the High Sheriff catching him.
“Here they come,” said Alf, leaning on the door to the stable, watching in the dark for Tommy to return with Maira. Jacob felt his throat tighten and there was a churning in his gut as well. What if Maira didn’t want him here? If she called out to the guards when she saw him, he would be imprisoned and would never have the chance to lead the attack. This was all a huge risk and he hoped he read her right, but it was a chance he felt he just had to take.
“Alf, who is it?” asked Maira when she entered the stable. “Is someone here to see me?”
“Aye, it’s me, my lady.” Jacob stepped out of the darkness and into the light of a lantern hanging from a hook. He lowered his hood to let her see his face.
“Jacob!” she said in surprise, her beautiful blue eyes opening wide in surprise. Her brows raised and then lowered in an inquisitive manner “Why are you here?”
“I had to see you again,” he admitted, hoping not to be turned away.
“Sir Jacob said it was important, or I wouldn’t have sent Tommy to fetch you,” Alf broke in.
“Hello, Sir Jacob,” said Tommy with a smile.
“Hello, Tommy,” answered Jacob, happy to see the boy again. “You have grown much since I last saw you.” Jacob reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. Tommy smiled shyly and looked to the ground.
