While Angels Slept by Kathryn le Veque

Author:Kathryn le Veque
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Published: 2012-10-25T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It was fortunate that Cantia knew all of the in’s and out’s of Rochester, for when came to sneaking the group of women and children out of the castle under Geoff’s nose, her knowledge was invaluable.

Within the hour, they were able to pack one satchel per person, including Arabel, so that they could travel swiftly and lightly. Cantia changed Hunt into durable clothing, layers of it, including a little wool cap all the way from Monmouth. She was dressed in durable travel clothing as well, as was Val, who took charge of Arabel and made sure she was ready to leave. The older women moved swiftly and silently, knowing it was essential that timing was everything in this case. Tevin wanted to get them free of the castle when Geoff was the most distracted.

So they chose the evening meal to make their escape even though it would be dark and more difficult to travel. But it would also make their escape more difficult to detect. Tevin had been with Geoff for the remainder of the afternoon, keeping him occupied, until the evening meal was served and then he accompanied the man into the hall. Excusing himself on a pretext, he appeared at the chamber door to find four occupants, ready for travel.

There was palpable fear in the air, apprehension with the certainty of being able to execute their plan without being caught. Taking Arabel in his arms, Tevin led the way down the spiral stairs as Cantia took Hunt in hand plus their two bags, and Val took her possessions plus Arabel’s. They moved quickly, carefully, like hunted animals. Hunt kept trying to get ahead of Tevin on the stairs and more than once, his mother hand to yank him back. As they neared the bottom of the steps and into the range of the great hall where Geoff was in the process of getting drunk, the big yellow dog appeared.

“George, go back,” Cantia hissed. “George, go!”

“Mam,” Hunt grabbed the dog. “I want him to come. He isth my friend. Pleasth?”

Tevin shushed them both; he didn’t want them to be overheard. “Quiet,” he whispered. “Hunt, take the dog. Move along.”

Hunt grabbed the dog by the rope collar around its neck and, with his mother urgently herding him, followed Tevin to the base of the stairs. Sounds and smells from the banqueting assaulted their senses. They could hear the low hum of conversation and the clanking of utensils. Tevin peered out of the stairwell, his dark eyes on the entry to the banqueting hall and the movement beyond. He felt like a fugitive, waiting to be discovered at any moment.

The placement of the table inside the room gave it a view of the doorway but not the entry hall beyond, so Tevin silently slipped from the stairwell and to the keep entry about twenty feet to his right, which led into an enclosed stairwell that sloped down to the bailey. He made sure Hunt, Cantia and Val were into the enclosed stairwell before following.

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