THE WARLORD by Elizabeth Elliott

be going to yer family in the village then?"
    "Aye." Tess held her breath.
    The gatekeeper cursed all troublesome females then poked a foot against a boy sleeping at his feet. "Climb down and see to the lower bar."
    "Someone is bringing supplies?" the boy asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. " 'Tis dark. Why would—"
    "Cook's wife needs to go to her family in the village." The gatekeep ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. "See to the lower bar then go on home to yer warm bed, son. I'll not be needin' yer help the rest o' this night."
    Tess released her breath as the bars were pushed aside. She couldn't believe she was actually being allowed to leave until the gates swung open. What a good liar she was becoming! She did allow that being mistaken for the cook's wife certainly helped.
    The gates shut behind her and she started uncertainly down the dark ramp, the treacherous walk lit only by faint moonlight. It appeared steeper than the one at Remmington, though she'd never actually set foot on the thing. The gatekeeper called to her over the wall, as if he read her mind.
    "Watch yer step. One tumble and ye'll break yer neck."
    "Thank you for the warning," she mumbled.
    Tess picked her way down the steep ramp, tempted to kiss the ground when she finally reached the bottom. She hurried down the castle lane, pausing a moment where the lane met the king's road. She quickly took the direction opposite the one they'd ridden in from Kelso Abbey, and at the edge of the forest she turned around for a last look at the forbidding castle. She still couldn't believe she'd escaped so easily. She didn't feel very satisfied over the accomplishment. If the truth were known, she would almost face being returned to the MacLeiths someday if she could stay in Kenric's beautiful room until she felt better. Every bone in her body ached.
    Tess turned and walked away from the castle before self-pity could interfere with her plan. Walk until dawn, she told herself, then find a hiding place to rest during the day. That plan seemed reasonable. Staying warm while she slept would be a challenge, but she could face that problem later. Her immediate concern was getting as far away from Kenric as possible, before he discovered she was missing. She'd escaped once from Langston Keep, so why couldn't she escape again? Of course she lacked a horse and a knight's protection, but as long as the impossible odds were ignored, that bit of logic made some sense.
     
    The sun was well over the horizon when John shuffled toward the kitchens to take his morning meal. He noticed the baron's men running in all directions on his way from the postern and learned the reason for the commotion from a passing soldier.
    "The new baroness has disappeared," the soldier told him, shaking his head in disbelief. "You didn't see anything on your watch?"
    "Nay," John replied, perplexed by the news. "Cook's wife was the only female at the postern gate last eve." John scratched his beard. "At least… Nay, I'm sure 'twas Cook's wife. The master's lady is a pretty thing, I'm told. Small and dainty, ain't that the way of it?"
    "Aye. The baron is half crazed thinking someone snatched her. As if any would dare risk that one's wrath."
    " 'Tis unlikely," John agreed. The soldier hurried away to search the buttery, leaving John deep in thought.
    "Nay, it could not be," John told himself, grinning at his foolishness. Still, it wouldn't hurt to double-check. Cook would probably think him strange indeed, but he'd rest easier once he knew for sure.
    The kitchen was in as much chaos as the rest of the castle, the servants busy searching every barrel and store for the new mistress. John thought it laughable, the tiny crevices being searched for a grown woman. 'Twas unlikely any lady could fit in the small turnip barrels, yet their lids lay scattered about the room. He finally located Cook near the flour bins, but the gatekeeper's face turned as pasty as the flour when he spied the big woman standing