Page 61 of The Sword and the Damsel

“No. You?” replied his companion.

“No, but I thought I saw something a moment ago. I could have sworn I saw someone moving along the street, but now I see no one. If it’s her, she must be hiding. Let’s check every alley.”

Alais twisted her skirts in worry beneath her cloak.Please don’t let them find me.

She didn’t dare move until they passed. She could only hope they wouldn’t think to examine the construction site. Hardly daring to breathe, she grasped for a stone she could use for a weapon if needed.

“Come out, my lady. We know you’re here somewhere.” The voice sent chills down her spine. She curled into a ball, hoping she looked like a covered pile of building materials.

Steps came closer. Her hand became a fist around the rock she held. Victor would know what to do if he was here. But he wasn’t. She was alone with nothing but her own wits to get her out of this. Well, she would show these two idiots she wasmore than just a decorative second daughter. They would pay for underestimating her.

“Come over here,” one of the men said. “I bet she’s hiding in here somewhere.” Two sets of steps came closer. And closer. “What’s that bit of fabric over there by the rocks? You don’t think it’s—”

Alais jumped up and began pelting her pursuers with rocks. One rock hit home, knocking back the closest one, who grasped his face. She got him in the nose.

“Easy there, girly. We mean you no harm,” the man said in an oily voice, oozing with threat. “Just come with us and we’ll keep you nice and safe for Sir Robert.”

“Never!”

She kept throwing and hit the man in the chest and then the shoulder.

“You little bitch. That hurt,” he hissed.

She threw again and caught him in the eye, and he reeled back.

Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, she ran. At first, she could hear them staggering after her, but then the sound of their footsteps disappeared into the night. She looked up and, outlined against the stars, were the turrets of Lady Helisende’s castle.

Running up to the closed castle gates, she pounded with all her might.

“Who goes there?” asked a sleepy-looking guard emerging from the guard house.

Throwing back her cloak, Alais announced herself with all the hauteur she could summon. “I am Lady Alais, daughter of Lord de Vere, wife of Sir Victor of Guestling, Lady Helisende’s nephew. I was attacked, and I seek shelter within the castle.”

The guard looked her up and down and laughed. “And I’m King Louis of France. David, there’s a doxy here for you. Says she’s a real lady here to see the countess.”

Another guard emerged, this one bigger and more muscular than the first. Taller too. Alais took a step back and pulled her cloak back around her. The man walked over to Alais and grinned lasciviously.

“Well, hello. What have we here? Such a pretty young thing you are. Much prettier than Rose’s usual selection. You must be new.”

He grabbed her chin and tipped it up. Alais shrank back from his touch.

“I am Lady Alais. I am married to the countess’ nephew, and if you touch me again, the countess herself will make you pay. Now let me in.”

“I’d be happy to let you come upstairs with me,my lady. I like a little company to keep things interesting on the night watch.”

He grabbed her and squeezed her bottom. She stomped on his toe with all her might, and he yelped, hopping back.

She ran as fast as she could back out into the night, ignoring the angry epithets the guard shouted after her. If she couldn’t get in at night, she would have to try again during the day. Perhaps then someone would recognize her from the month she’d spent imprisoned as a guest at Lady Helisende’s behest.

What she needed was a safe place to spend the night so that she could try again in the morning. For hours, she searched the streets, and every time she thought she had a hiding spot, she heard voices and fled. At last, she descended through an archway and found herself in an enormous, stone underground warehouse. Who built it and when, she couldn’t guess, but she had never been more grateful for this strange, arched construction. No one was down there but rats. Silence anddarkness curled around her as she leaned against grain sacks, and at last, she drifted off to sleep.

*

A shaft ofdawn light filtered in from some unseen opening, and Alais blinked her eyes open. Where in heaven’s name was she? Why did she ache all over? Taking in her surroundings, everything came flooding back—the escape, the night of being chased, her encounter with the guards at the castle.

She jumped up and brushed herself off, determined to get to the castle before most of the city was out and about. Cautiously looking around as she exited the warehouse, she wasn’t far from the castle. She pulled her hood as far over her head as it would go and made her way back to the castle gates. To her relief, they were open this time, and she could see that the guards had changed.

Once again throwing back her hood and hoping her appearance wasn’t too frightful, she approached the guards. One of them had a familiar face, so she walked up to him.

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