A Wlk in Wolf Wood by Mary Stewart

Author:Mary Stewart [Stewart, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: UK, Children's Adventure
Published: 1980-05-30T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

They had not thought they could sleep, but the excitement and strain of the day, and perhaps the enchantment, too, told on them. They fell soundly asleep, curled there on the floor, and slept until the morning sun sent a bright slanting beam through the window, and woke them.

John sat up, stretching, and yawned, then jumped up and ran to the window. Outside, bright in the sunlight, glittered the wide water of the moat, and across the causeway, clattering and calling, came carts and people.

"Like a market," said Margaret, at his elbow. "They're bringing things in to sell to the castle people, eggs and vegetables and things. There's a donkey with panniers, and big jars in them. I wonder what's in the jars? And look, there's a peddler, with a tray slung round his neck."

"And a cart with oxen," said her brother.

"And–oh, here's the hunt coming back! They must have been out again at dawn. We never heard them. I wonder–I suppose they were after Wolf again."

Both children craned to look. The market people were making way for the gay troop of riders who clattered now over the causeway. There were the hounds, there the chief huntsman on his big bay horse, and there was the same lady dressed in green. "And the prince," said Margaret. 'That must be the prince. See, on the white horse. He's awfully like his father–the young man on Wolfs amulet. Well, they haven't caught Wolf. They've got nothing with them. We'd see easily from here, if they had."

And if they have killed him down there in the forest, thought John, we shan't know until tonight, when he doesn't come back here to the window. And by then it may be too late for us.

But he said none of this aloud. He turned from the window, and began to tidy his clothes. "We'd better get out of here. Everyone's around now, and if there's a crowd it'll be easier to mix in and not be noticed. Did you say you'd brought a comb? After you. Thanks. Now, we'd better go if we want something to eat. Remember, Wolf said everyone got up terribly early, and they have dinner at about nine, and then nothing more till suppertime. I wonder what they have? I'm hungry enough to eat anything."

"Probably just as well. It'll be things like herring pie and lampreys and boars' heads and small beer," said Margaret.

"Whatever it is, I hope there's lots of it. And large beer, too, for choice. Let's go, then. We've got it all straight, haven't we? If we get separated, or if things get tricky, we meet again here. And back here at night, anyway, if it's possible. Right?"

"Right. Let's get it over, and the sooner the better. I'm starving... Only," added Margaret, "let's find what Wolf called the privy chamber first, shall we? I've forgotten which door it was on the plan."

"The third, in the passage upstairs. It'll only be a hole in the floor, if it's anything like ones I've seen in mediaeval ruins before.

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