- Damn it! - ...I've stirred up.
- Calm down, Prince! - a soft voice echoed from the stairs.
Soon the shadow of a slender person covered by a hooded cape revealed itself. She came walking up to the cell and I could see her face.
- Annabel? - I said amazed. - What are you doing here?
- I've come to release you! - she responded by opening the bars. - You'll have to follow me in silence. There are guards in the main hall and much of the castle.
- How come I didn't see them when I came in? - I asked by frowning.
- Because they were waiting for you. - she answered seriously.
- Waiting for me? - I asked confused. - How can I wait for myself if I didn't even tell you I was coming?
Annabel took a deep breath, walking again. Even though I was suspicious, I started to follow her. He might as well be drawn into a trap, which wouldn't make much sense, because she herself had opened the cell to free me. What if she was trying to figure out what I was doing there?
- My mother found out that a black knight had been asking questions about Aideen and by description, assumed he would be her cousin. - she took a break staring at me. - At this point, I believe you know about what happened to my sisters.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- I don't know what upset my mother, but I heard her talking to some men who arrived a few days ago. - she paused looking one way and the other when we got to the top. - I don't know where they came from, but they were ordered to arrest him and kill him. You'd be executed tomorrow morning before more soldiers came...
- Why did she request men and who did she request them for?
- Probably because he thinks you came to take her to the gallows, so it happened to Aideen. - Annabel said stopping to face me. - I told her it wasn't your fault. It was Roy who raped my sister and almost killed Aila. On top of that, the guards disobeyed her and didn't come to her rescue. All she had to do was tell us everything that had happened and justice would be done, but she was afraid.
I stared at her without believing what she was saying. Annabel was an excellent actress, or she didn't really know anything about what had happened.
- Annabel, why do you think I'm here with so few guards? - I asked.
- Well, she shrugged her shoulders, getting serious. - You came to question her about not taking the matter to the king so that Roy could be tried. Did I get it right? I know that you condemn this barbarism and, as he is one of the lords, I believe that you would like Roy to be subjected to the laws and customs of the clans.
I was stunned by the theory she had in mind. Annabel pulled a big cloth that wrapped something hidden behind a curtain. It was my sword and the bow I was carrying.
- She was very angry at Aideen because she had disobeyed her. That's why she locked us in the castle and blamed my sister for all that tragedy. - Annabel sighed. - Actually, part of it's my fault. If I hadn't helped Aideen get to the lake...
She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
- As for the part of coming with little garrison, I believe that you are very foolish or severely insane.
She looked around again and then put on the hood. Pulling a part of the curtain, Annabel revealed a wooden door painted black.
- I'll take you out of the castle and you can return to Dunhill to bring more men. - she said opening the door quietly. - I will try to delay the departure of my parents so that they can explain themselves when you return to question them.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. I followed Annabel until we walked through the door and left in a dark corridor.
- We should go this way and get out in the yard. - she said smiling. - I don't mean to brag, but I know every passage of this castle. That's how I sneaked out to ride.
Annabel started chatting about how she ran away from her mother whenever possible to see the world beyond the walls. I had a strong heart beating, apprehensive about what was waiting for us outside. I was watching every step of the way
