this tunnel is discovered. It is good he is traveling. If a message can reach him, ask him to remain away for a time."
Russell moved a heavy wagon over the trapdoor and piled boxes around it. He looked to Hal who nodded and they crept through the warehouse door out into the night air. Shadows bathed the area near the warehouse and they walked unseen for several blocks. Their luck seemed to be holding.
The city was noisy and people hurried past but few glanced in their direction. Edward as king did not appear to be welcome news. There was no celebration in the city and only Edward's men and Cane's men smiled and laughed.
Two soldiers stepped out of the doorway of a tavern, wiping the ale from their chins. They stopped in front of Hal.
"Here now, wait a moment," said one. "Where do you think you are going? Do you have a pass from Sergeant Berand? No one is to leave the area."
"Do you know who I am?" asked Plucker, looking down at the soldier.
"Yes, I do, Sir Plucker. But I have my orders and with King Henry dead, I must take no chances."
"I am Berand's superior."
"Not no more. Word came as you are a traitor, like Prince Hal."
"Do you believe Hal murdered his father?" asked Plucker.
"Sir Plucker, that's a terrible thing to ask me, I'm just a poor guard. I can't be making those kinds of decisions."
"Make it now," said Hal, his sword leveled at the guards.
"Prince Hal!"
"King Hal," said the other guard who dropped to his knees. The first guard followed his companion's example.
"No pass needed,"
"Thank you, gentlemen," said Hal. "Let's move before we are found out."
"We never saw you," said the second guard.
"Quite right," said Plucker. He spoke quietly to Hal. "Let's move out before they have the chance to talk, guards always do, at least to other guards when ale is involved."
They turned north and moved quickly into the fields. Near a giant oak, they found one of Plucker's men, Bert Kalen, with a half dozen horses. Without a word, they mounted and rode toward Far Greening.
After the sight of Riverdowns faded from view they rode for another three miles, then stopped for food and water. Bert Kalen kept watch for following riders while the others rested. Hal ate in thoughtful silence away from the others. Teresa's face was flushed with the excitement of their journey. Elizabeth smiled to herself. She would let Teresa enjoy the moment and she would enjoy the girl's new wonder. The reality of their situation would strike soon enough.
Hal thought about what to do. He was clearly King, no doubt, but how to show the people of Eslenda that Edward framed him for Henry's murder? Should he resort to force to take the crown? Edward wouldn't give it up even if he were proved to be Henry's killer. It was war.
They rode slowly through the cool night and as the new day dawned, they saw movement on the plains far to the east. They journeyed close to the western forests far from the main roads of Eslenda to avoid watching eyes. The trees were crowded close together, gray and gnarled from great age. The grassy plains neatly stopped by the edge of the forest so abrupt did the land change. The trees blocked part of the coastal wind, keeping the chill from them. The shadows from the trees and their reaching branches shielded them from the sight of the riders they watched. The plains flowed away from them with green grass waving in the breezes.
The distant riders appeared as navigating a great sea. The greens and blues of the grasses bent in the wind appearing to caress the legs of the horses. They rode up a hill and their shapes were clearer. Hal put up his hand and they halted. He stared at the soldiers heading north to Far Greening.
"Looks like Edward has sent someone against you already," said Plucker. "It's a good size force."
"It's Howard Cane," said Teresa, squinting into the dawn sun. "Those are his colors. Edward doesn't want to give you a chance to get ready for him."
Hal watched the movement, his jaw set. Elizabeth
Russell moved a heavy wagon over the trapdoor and piled boxes around it. He looked to Hal who nodded and they crept through the warehouse door out into the night air. Shadows bathed the area near the warehouse and they walked unseen for several blocks. Their luck seemed to be holding.
The city was noisy and people hurried past but few glanced in their direction. Edward as king did not appear to be welcome news. There was no celebration in the city and only Edward's men and Cane's men smiled and laughed.
Two soldiers stepped out of the doorway of a tavern, wiping the ale from their chins. They stopped in front of Hal.
"Here now, wait a moment," said one. "Where do you think you are going? Do you have a pass from Sergeant Berand? No one is to leave the area."
"Do you know who I am?" asked Plucker, looking down at the soldier.
"Yes, I do, Sir Plucker. But I have my orders and with King Henry dead, I must take no chances."
"I am Berand's superior."
"Not no more. Word came as you are a traitor, like Prince Hal."
"Do you believe Hal murdered his father?" asked Plucker.
"Sir Plucker, that's a terrible thing to ask me, I'm just a poor guard. I can't be making those kinds of decisions."
"Make it now," said Hal, his sword leveled at the guards.
"Prince Hal!"
"King Hal," said the other guard who dropped to his knees. The first guard followed his companion's example.
"No pass needed,"
"Thank you, gentlemen," said Hal. "Let's move before we are found out."
"We never saw you," said the second guard.
"Quite right," said Plucker. He spoke quietly to Hal. "Let's move out before they have the chance to talk, guards always do, at least to other guards when ale is involved."
They turned north and moved quickly into the fields. Near a giant oak, they found one of Plucker's men, Bert Kalen, with a half dozen horses. Without a word, they mounted and rode toward Far Greening.
After the sight of Riverdowns faded from view they rode for another three miles, then stopped for food and water. Bert Kalen kept watch for following riders while the others rested. Hal ate in thoughtful silence away from the others. Teresa's face was flushed with the excitement of their journey. Elizabeth smiled to herself. She would let Teresa enjoy the moment and she would enjoy the girl's new wonder. The reality of their situation would strike soon enough.
Hal thought about what to do. He was clearly King, no doubt, but how to show the people of Eslenda that Edward framed him for Henry's murder? Should he resort to force to take the crown? Edward wouldn't give it up even if he were proved to be Henry's killer. It was war.
They rode slowly through the cool night and as the new day dawned, they saw movement on the plains far to the east. They journeyed close to the western forests far from the main roads of Eslenda to avoid watching eyes. The trees were crowded close together, gray and gnarled from great age. The grassy plains neatly stopped by the edge of the forest so abrupt did the land change. The trees blocked part of the coastal wind, keeping the chill from them. The shadows from the trees and their reaching branches shielded them from the sight of the riders they watched. The plains flowed away from them with green grass waving in the breezes.
The distant riders appeared as navigating a great sea. The greens and blues of the grasses bent in the wind appearing to caress the legs of the horses. They rode up a hill and their shapes were clearer. Hal put up his hand and they halted. He stared at the soldiers heading north to Far Greening.
"Looks like Edward has sent someone against you already," said Plucker. "It's a good size force."
"It's Howard Cane," said Teresa, squinting into the dawn sun. "Those are his colors. Edward doesn't want to give you a chance to get ready for him."
Hal watched the movement, his jaw set. Elizabeth
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