Dark One Rising by Leandra Martin Page A

move. She crouched down and slunk passed the three workers who now all had their backs to her. She opened the larder door just enough to squeeze in and slipped quietly inside. She hurriedly packed as much food as she could into the pack: dried meat, a couple loaves of bread, a hunk of cheese, several apples, and some leftover tarts that were left from last night’s dinner.
    She opened the door just a crack again and peered out. The three woman were busy working and chatting among themselves, which made her padded footfalls on the stone floor almost undetectable. She crouched down again and headed for the far stairs that led down into the cellar. The only time anyone was in the cellar was on the afternoons every other week when the supplies came in. Three kitchen workers would unload the cart that brought the supplies, check them in, and load them onto the overstock shelves. It was quiet this morning so she had no trouble getting in and going out into the inner bailey from the loading ramp. Getting across the bailey would be another matter entirely. The day shift of guards would be in place by now, and that meant a group of four standing watch at the gate, right across from the entrance to the stables. If she was seen, she would be stopped, and Gerard never missed anything. He had eyes like a hawk, that was why he was Captain of the Guard. She would then have to explain her cut hair and the travel bag she carried, and, if she did that, her escape would be foiled. She had to be out of the castle and far away before her father or anyone else discovered she was gone. She had to have a good head start or Fallon would surely catch up to her.
    She waited until there was a clear path, when the sentries were turned away from her, pacing back and forth across the gates. When their backs were to her, she ran across the bailey, staying as close up against the wall as possible, but she didn’t see the guard coming out of the kitchen door. He stepped in front of her and smiled down at her.
    “Where could you possibly be going this time of morning, Princess?” he asked her, eyeing her now cropped hair. He didn’t look angry, in fact, he had a look of amusement on his face. She knew him. He was a young knight, newly appointed into her father’s guard, who had always been nice to her. He was the same young squire who always covered for her whenever she was breaking the rules. She didn’t want to get him in trouble again, but she really needed him today.
    “I wanted to go into town and get some things for myself. I wanted to get to the merchants before the crowds. It may be a while before I ever see the people of Kingswell again.”
    He touched a short curl falling on her ear and frowned. “What happened to your lovely hair?”
    “It was a hindrance. I decided I liked it better short, if it is any business of yours.”
    He wasn’t buying it. He frowned at her and glanced over his shoulder to see if Gerard was at the gate yet. He looked back down at her. She was nervous.
    “I believe Your Highness has been put into a terrible situation.”
    She swallowed and looked at him. She decided maybe truth was best. “Please, Tomas, I must leave. I have no choice.”
    He glanced over his shoulder again, saw Gerard coming out of the guardhouse and stepped in front of her to block her from view.
    “Let me help you,” he said as she nervously looked toward the stables. “I will not let that barbarian have you. If Lucan is helping, I will to.”
    She was shocked that he would risk losing his post for her. “Thank you.”
    He walked along with her toward the stables, keeping her hidden from the view of the Captain of the Guard, and she slipped into the stables. He glanced her way quickly. “Good luck, Your Highness.”
    She nodded. “Thank you, Tomas, I will not forget this.”
    The stable door closed behind her. She tip-toed across the hay covered stalls and slipped out the back door, crouching down behind the grain bins. She was almost