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“I could use someone like you who is skilled with a blade. I want you to help me finish training my army. Will you do it?”
“Me?” The tone of her voice told him she was honored but, at the same time, hesitant to agree. “I can’t get away from the castle without Sir Gregory knowing about it. He has ordered that I stay at his side at all times. I’m afraid it would be impossible.”
“Sneak out the tunnels at night, and come to the woods,” he told her. “The boys can show you how to get in and out without being seen.”
“There’s a tunnel that leads to the woods and yet you look as if you swam the moat?”
“I like a challenge,” he told her, reaching down to kiss her once again.
“You’re wet,” she said, pushing him away. “Next time, use the tunnel if you want to get close to me.”
“Next time?” he asked, thinking this sounded promising.
“Lady Maira, Lord Jacob, someone’s coming,” whispered Tommy from the bottom of the ladder.
“I have to go,” whispered Jacob, looking down into the stable. “Promise me you’ll come see me again.” Jacob didn’t wait for her answer. He kissed her once again and then grabbed a rope on a pulley that was hanging from the ceiling. In one fluid movement, he used it as support as he swung out the window and left Maira standing there alone.
“Jacob! Nay!”cried Maira running to the window. She clutched the sill tightly and frantically looked down, afraid he had hurt himself with the fall. But when she saw his shadow as he ran toward the back wall, she realized he would be all right.
“Hurry, my lady,” called Tommy.
“I’m coming,” she said, fastening the rest of her weapons to her waist belt and hurrying down the ladder.
“It’s all right. It’s just the guards at the watch tower switching posts,” announced Alf from the door.
“Either way, I need to get back to my chamber before Sir Gregory discovers I’m gone.” Maira followed Tommy through the shadows, noticing the sun starting to light up the horizon. When they got to the entrance of the tunnel that was inside the mews, two guards were talking right outside the door. There was a hidden opening that led into the courtyard from the keep. It was inside the mews that butted up to the main structure. The opening was small and at the back of the dark are where the birds were kept. No one who didn’t know it was there would ever notice it.
“Now we’re doomed,” said Maira as they watched from behind a wagon.
“Nay, we’re not,” said Tommy. “There’s another way in, but you might get wet.”
“I don’t mind,” she said. “Where is it?”
They made their way to the well and Tommy started to climb over the edge.
“Wait, what are you doing?” she asked.
“Once you drop into the well, there is a hole part way up. It leads right into the tunnels.”
Maira looked down into the well not wanting to drop into the water with her weapons, and not wanting to have to go back to the hayloft to hide them again.
“I have a better idea,” she said. “All we have to do is cause some kind of distraction to take the guards’ attention. Then we can sneak into the tunnel the usual way.”
“I think Alf is already ahead of us on that. Look.” Tommy smiled and pointed across the courtyard over toward the barn. She saw Alf letting the huge sow out of her pen. Then he rushed over and opened the door to the kennels. Two dogs rushed out chasing the squealing pig that took off across the courtyard. A moment later, both guards ran after it enabling Maira and Tommy to sneak in through the mews in the usual way.
Maira and Tommy laughed as they hurried through the tunnels in the dark. Maira lived for excitement. Being on the edge of danger made her blood pump wildly through her body. She supposed she got that from her father who was once a pirate.
“I can make it on my own from here, Tommy,” Maira told him when they got to the bend in the tunnel that led to the kitchen. “You go to the kitchen immediately and mention this to no one.”
“Thank you, Lady Maira. I consider you a good friend.”
Maira made her way to the hidden exit and pulled back the tapestry, scanning the darkened corridor. Satisfied no one would see her, she hurried to her room feeling invigorated from the excitement and alive from Jacob’s kiss.
Now that her dream with Imanie was verified that he had once been a titled man, it made her anxious to help him retrieve his standings. But being excommunicated by the pope, not to mention murdering a bishop, were serious offenses. Even if Jacob had been framed, he would have to find a way to prove it and convince the pope to reverse the charges. It would be nearly impossible. Her heart ached for Jacob because no man should have to suffer the way he had for something he didn’t even do.
She pushed open the door to her room, feeling jubilant that she hadn’t been caught. A smile lit up her face but soon disappeared when she saw the High Sheriff lounging back on her bed with his hands behind his head.
“Hello, Lady Maira,” he said snidely. “How nice of you to finally arrive. Now, why don’t you tell me just where you’ve been?”
