little headway.
He would simply torture Bryant instead, until the squire complied with his requests.
Scant moments after Theodore rode across the moat, Doric rounded the corner.
“Not you again,” the guard said, noting the dwarf’s breathlessness. “What do you want this time?” He moved to stand on the centre of the bridge, his arms crossed tightly as if to dissuade the dwarf from any more nonsense.
Doric was angry. He was wet from the rain, he had been on his feet all day, and he was certain the monster was in the city and that the old woman knew where. A feeling in his gut had made him afraid of her house, as if he could somehow sense the monster’s presence there. It was a feeling he would never forget.
He needed Theodore, and nothing would deter him now.
“I only want to speak to Squire Theodore” he replied.
“Squire Theodore is not here” the man responded. “He has gone out in response to a letter that came from a citizen in the southern quarter.”
Doric’s attitude changed at once. His face paled, and his voice shook.
“Not Dagger Alley, not the Dens?” he said.
The guard nodded. “It is in the Dens but I do not know the address,” he replied. “Why should he not go there? Every citizen is entitled to the protection of the knights, no matter what their situation of birth or wealth. Saradomin is not an exclusive deity.”
“But he is in danger!” Doric insisted. “I trailed the monster there today.”
“Why would the monster want Theodore?” The guard’s patience appeared to be at an end.
“It followed us on our journey south! If it does not want me, then surely the only alternative is Theodore? Quickly, man, you must send help!”
“I will not be ordered about like a common guard. I am a knight of Saradomin!”
“Then Saradomin take you!” the dwarf roared, and before the guard could answer Doric turned and ran, heading south.
For a moment the guard stood on the bridge, his mind racing as he wondered what to do.
Dagger Alley, was that what the note had said?
A deep echo of thunder rolled across the rooftops, prompting his decision. He turned and ran from the bridge, heading for the ward to retrieve the note he had delivered to Theodore, just a short time before.
As the storm rumbled overhead, the kitchens of the knights were busy. The visitors from the almshouse expected the best from those for whom they had spent their lives fighting, and the cooks were eager not to let them down.
Elise moved with purpose. She was keen to get out of the hot kitchens and return to the ward with Kara’s meal.
“It is not ready yet, Elise,” the cook told her. “I have prepared Lady Kara’s drink. I have even mixed some chocolate into it for a treat. From the gossip going around the castle, I think she deserves it.”
The woman sighed and looked at the retired knights. Eager to look in on the places where they had spent their youth, they had even invaded the domain of the kitchen. Two of them-Sir Erical and Sir Balladish-were standing close by, and as she waited she listened to their conversation.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been down here,” the one-armed knight said with fond nostalgia.
“And for me, Sir Erical,” his companion agreed. “I was taught to cook on this stove as a peon.”
“And can you remember what you learned, Sir Balladish?” a voice called from the stairwell. Sir Finistere ducked his head under the lintel and entered the room with a broad smile, his eyes looking eagerly over the food that was on display. He noted the chocolate drink and darted toward it with a suddenly greedy look, scooping it up.
Sir Balladish laughed.
“Hand’s off, Finistere. That is Kara’s drink.”
Upon hearing who it was for, the old knight handed it to Sir Balladish, who placed it on the tray close to Elise.
“I am surprised that Master Troughton isn’t here” Finistere said. “I have not seen him for some time.” Although he was not an actual knight, Master Troughton had served the order for many decades as a capable master-at-arms before handing the responsibility over to Nicholas Sharpe. He was not as friendly with the retired knights as they were amongst themselves, for he had not gone through their extensive training and had missed many of their shared experiences.
“He will be here shortly, for he has a good appetite,” Sir Erical replied, laughing.
The group of old friends remained in the kitchen for several minutes, each poking their deft fingers toward whatever food came within their reach as they relived their youth.
Finally, Elise was called to take Kara’s meal to the ward. Her eyes hovered enviously over the hot chocolate. It seemed as if everyone in the castle was eager to please Kara, and she thought how beautiful the young girl was, how strong and capable she had proved in her battle with Marius. Not like Elise at all, who slept on duty and felt awkward shuffling around in her frumpy robes.
Suddenly, in spite of herself, she was jealous.
A few minutes later, Elise opened the door to the ward quietly, eager to avoid Kara’s attention.
But the room was empty.
“Kara? Where are you?” Panic gripped her stomach. She knew that Sir Amik had left the matron specific instructions that the girl should be kept in the ward. “Kara? This is not funny” she said, her voice high with alarm.
She put the tray down and explored the ward carefully. Stepping around Kara’s bed, she saw a motionless guard on the floor. Her training took over as she knelt by the young man’s side. She saw instantly that he was breathing steadily, though there was a dark bruise on his temple.
He moaned, his eyes fluttering open.
“The girl” he whispered. “She’s gone after Theodore. She thinks he’s in danger, that he’s being led into a trap by the letter. She knocked me down to go to his rescue.”
“What letter?” Elise asked.
“I asked her for it when I came up-said the dwarf thought it was meant to lure Theodore in. But she took it and she’s gone… to a house in Dagger Alley!”
The young man tried to stand, but as he did he fell back into unconsciousness, his head dropping to the tiles.
Elise knew it was up to her. She would raise the alarm. She would tell the knights that their beautiful and headstrong visitor was pursuing Theodore to Dagger Alley. She would be the hero!
She walked to the door, noting the hot chocolate on the tray. She hadn’t had such a luxury since she was a child and the delicious taste came back to her in an instant.
She took a deep gulp of the hot drink,
On the third draught she knew something was wrong. A stinging pain erupted in her stomach and she dropped to the floor in agony, unable to cry out for help. Her tongue began swelling up, choking her, and she knew that there was only one way she could become so ill so quickly.
“Poison!” she gasped. “Someone’s tried to poison Kara.”
She made it as far as the door before she gave in to the darkness.
THIRTY-TWO
Kara ran across the battlements in the gloom. Two more guards had tried to stop her and she had left them both unconscious. She knew Theodore was riding into danger-she had grown up amongst the dwarfs and she knew
