Kristen sat up slowly and looked around her. Only a few women slept nearby, but not close enough that she might disturb them. She had waited only until Eda fell asleep. She would have liked to wait a little longer on the chance that someone else could still be awake, but she could not afford to waste that much time.
She was leaving. The decision had been easy, for this was the only chance she was likely to have. She had asked Royce last eve how long his King would stay. It was the only thing she said to him after he made love to her, and he had been unable to give her an answer. It could be on the morrow, or a week from now, but when Alfred did leave, Kristen would be fettered again. She was also likely to be ensconced back in Royce’s chamber, and it would be harder and much more risky to try to leave his side, if he even left the door unlocked, than it would be to slip out of this crowded hall.
Here, the windows were left open, and there was only a slight jump to reach the ground outside. And she had plenty of time to get far away before the morn when she would be missed.
The decision had indeed been easy. Kristen just hadn’t counted on the heavy feeling of gloom that accompanied it. Even though she knew she had no hopes here, she still felt heartsick in thinking she would never see Royce again.
She glanced one last time at Eda, who lay on her back in weary slumber. She would miss this old woman, too, with her crankiness and her gruff concern. And little Meghan, whose curiosity and silent appeal for friendship had managed to make Kristen forget her troubles for a while today.
However, these thoughts did not stop Kristen from making her way toward the window next to the cooking area. No call rang out as she eased her legs over to sit on the ledge. But it was a mark of her dejection that she hesitated for several long moments. And at last it was pride that gave her the final push.
A nearly full moon bathed the yard on this side of the hall. Kristen landed on her feet and jumped back immediately to the shadows by the wall. Cautiously, she worked her way behind the hall and over to the side where the stable was, and the storehouse, and the hut that housed her cousin and the others.
She had not seen their shelter herself since it had been finished, but knew it was only a narrow, windowless room. How miserable it must be to sleep there after the stout door was locked at night. But no more miserable than sleeping out in the rain as they had done before that.
She wished it were raining tonight, to hinder visibility and help conceal the sound of her movements. But there were only a few clouds above, and these were not even near the overly bright moon. This would not deter her, though. Everyone was indoors, sleeping. There was no one to see her.
From the back of the stable, she could hear the soft nicker of one of the horses, reminding her that horses would be needed. But none of these. The large wooden gate was closed and locked at night, and no doubt a guard set to watch. Even if there was no guard, taking any of the stabled horses would make too much noise. This was no problem, though, for she knew that most of Royce’s horses had been taken to pasture. She would just have to find the pasture.
The problem she did face was coming around the prisoners hut and seeing a guard sitting in front of the only door. She ducked back behind the side of the building, her heart racing. Had he heard her footsteps? Had he seen her? But she heard no movement from him, and after a short time more she found the courage to peek around the corner.
The man was still sitting there, his back against the door, his head leaning back, too, and bent to the side. She let out the breath she had been holding, realizing he was asleep. This was something she had not counted on, for the door was locked, a guard not needed. But this was minor in comparison to the problem she had known she would face: getting that locked door open. Then again, this would be a blessing if the guard held the key to the heavy lock.
Kristen moved back behind the building to look for a stone large enough to render the fellow unconscious. She could have swiped his dagger while he slept and killed him instead, but couldn’t bring herself to do that. Unfortunately, there were no stones about the yard that were big enough, and she finally had to work her way over to where the rock wall was being built. There, it took a while to find a stone that wasn’t too big. She did find one eventually, and she did make her way back to the guard without incident.
Her pulse accelerated as she approached him. If he made a sound when she struck, she would be done for. If she struck too hard…God help her, she didn’t want to really hurt him, just put him into a deeper sleep.
The stone hit near his temple and the man sagged to the side. He breathed. That was enough to satisfy Kristen’s conscience for now, and she made fast work of searching his body for the key. Her luck did not extend that far. She would have to waste more time trying to pry the lock loose. But at least this unexpected guard provided the dagger to work with.
She went quickly to the task, calling in an urgent voice that did not carry far, “Ohthere. Thor—”
A large hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her, while another gripped the wrist that held the dagger. “Drop it. Do it now.”
She did, feeling a strange mixture of dread and joy as she recognized that voice. He let go of her wrist as soon as the dagger clattered to the ground, his hand then going round her waist. It was not a tight hold he had on her, but she knew it could be if she struggled.
And then she felt nothing but regret, hearing Thorolf on the other side of the still-locked door. He had heard her soft call. He thought she was there to help them escape.
“Kristen? Kristen, answer. Tell me I was not dreaming.”
“What does he say?” Royce whispered by her ear.
“He knows ’tis me.”
“Then tell him what has happened.”
She swallowed hard. Whathadhappened? How? She had got this far. No cry of alarm was raised. Yet she was stopped, and by the one man here whom she would not turn around and fight in earnest. If it were anyone else…
“Thorolf, I am sorry. I nearly succeeded, but the Saxon lord has found me out. He is here.”
There was a long silence from behind the door, and then: “You should not have come for us, Kristen. You should have flown while you were able.”
“That matters not now.”
“What will he do to you?”
How could she answer that? She said to Royce, “He wants to know what you will do to me.”
“What would have happened if you had succeeded in opening that door?”
