Page 76 of King’s Knight

“Then hurry, for the guard will certainly return.”

She set down the candle, turned and ran, racing up the stairs, glad for the lanterns that lit her way. As she neared the top, she slowed, listening. Hearing nothing, she peeked around the corner, her heart pounding. But the guard had not yet returned.

Behind the tapestry closest to the stairs, she found a ring of iron keys she had not noticed before. Carefully, she lifted them from the peg and pressed them close to her body so they would not jingle.

When she returned to the King of Gwynedd’s cell, she fumbled in the dim light of the corridor, trying three keys before she was able to locate the one that freed the crossbar. Lifting it, the door opened.

Gruffydd stepped as far away from the wall as his chains allowed. “Good lady, you have done it!”

She hurried to his side and handed him the ring of keys.

In short order he had the fetters unlocked. “Go quickly and I will follow. Speak loudly of the weather should you encounter the guard.”

Merewyn picked up the snuffed candle and slowly retraced her steps. As she climbed the stairs, she listened for any sound. But for whatever the reason, the guard did not appear. Then she thought of the hounds she would have expected to see lying about. The earl must have taken them with him. And for that, she was grateful. She was certain the Welsh king would kill any guard or hound that got in his way. After years as the earl’s prisoner, she could hardly blame him.

Behind her she heard his faint footfalls.

She froze, seeing someone moving in the hall. A servant woman swept across the large room blowing out candles.

Merewyn stepped into the light. “ ’Tis a gloomy night with snow on the way. Might you leave some candles lit?”

The woman of middle years, judging by the face beneath the head cloth, started. “Oh, my lady! Ye gave me a fright. I did not see ye. Are ye alone?”

“Yea, the countess retired. I was just admiring a tapestry, but I am on my way to my chamber now.”

“Here,” said the servant, lighting Merewyn’s candle with one of her own. “Yer candle has gone out. I will return later to snuff the ones we do not keep lit for the night.”

Merewyn waited until the woman left the room before turning to face the Welsh king. “There will be guards at the gate and men in the bailey,” she whispered. “How will you get past them?”

“Leave that to me. You have done the impossible. What is your name, my lady?”

When she told him, he said, “You have risked much to free me, Merewyn. Be certain Iorwerth will know of this.”

Merewyn moved aside, allowing him to go before her. He moved like a shadow, skirting the edge of the hall, before disappearing through the door that led to the kitchens.

Never would she have believed she could free Gwynedd’s king imprisoned for so long. She was both excited for what she had done and afraid. What would Alex think of her treachery against Earl Hugh and England’s king? But after all Rhodri had done for her, how could she have done otherwise?

* * *

Alex had just defeated Guy in a second game of chess when Merewyn opened his chamber door. “Still playing?” she asked.

Her face was flushed as if she’d been running, making her unusual eyes all the more striking. When he looked at her more closely, she averted her eyes. Now what has she been up to?

“Alex is having a good night of it,” said Guy, beginning to gather the chess pieces off the board. “Took my queen with his rook.”

“I was able to beat him once,” said Rory, who had been watching their game.

“Want to play?” Alex asked her.

“Nay. I just finished two games with the countess,” she said, closing the chamber door. Again, Alex wondered what had left her ivory skin so flushed. Her breathing was more rapid than normal, her chest heaving slightly.

Guy put away the chessboard and set the pieces in their velvet-lined box. Rory rose from the bench he’d been sitting on and stabbed at the coals in the brazier.

“We will come for you at dawn’s light,” said Rory. “I will make sure the horses are saddled.”

“We cannot leave soon enough for me,” said Alex. “I am tired of lying about. Besides, I want to be gone before the earl returns. He would only pester us with questions we do not want to answer.”

As his friends departed, Merewyn walked to the window. “Do they leave us alone because they believe we are wed?”