Page 149 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
The large common area at the bottom of the steps was dark, cold and unsettling. Holding the candle high, she scanned the area. The well room door on her left stood ajar, held in place by the only crate in the room. At the far end was a passageway that went deeper under the castle.
There was little debris in the new castle, fewer places for a small bead to get lost. She searched every inch, but found nothing. They had to be here, or had only one bead fallen down the stairs? Tired and frustrated, she leaned against the crate deciding what to do next and accidentally moved the door. Startled, she looked down. Underneath the door was the seventh bead.
She didn’t think the last bead had gone down the passageway. Perhaps it bounced against the door and rolled into the well room.
With the candle in hand, she entered the well room. She raised the candle high and slowly turned around. The well, level with the floor, was in the middle of the room covered with a wooden board. Rows of buckets and pitchers lined the wall, ropes curled neatly on the floor. One full pitcher waited to be brought to the kitchen.
A glint of light caught her eye. The last bead had rolled next to the well. She quickly counted all the beads. Satisfied she had them all, she returned them to her pocket. Relieved and ready to return to the hall, she picked up the pitcher.
A chill crossed her shoulders and she froze. Someone watched her. Rather than turn, she looked out of the corner of her eye. She could barely make out a form in the doorway.
“Jamie, is that you? I was just getting some water.”
“Lady Laura. Are you here alone?” came a man’s slow, careful response.
“Holger, is that you?” She spun around to face him. Get out, a warning voice echoed in her head. She didn’t bother with the candle.
He stood in the doorway and didn’t move when she passed. She took a breath and her heart raced. The noxious odor of the poison drifted into her nostrils.
The heavy pitcher began to slip out of her hands. Holger reached out and caught it the water spilled and doused his shirt, plastering it to his chest. The candle flared and the outline of a leather pouch with a raised engraving of an angel was clearly visible.
Holger looked at his shirt. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at her, his face set with a maniacal grin.
Laura pushed the pitcher out of his hand. It fell to the stones and smashed to bits. She rushed through the puddle of water. Tugging at her heavy wet skirt, Laura ran up the first four steps. Her feet twisted in her skirt and she lost her footing.
The tinker grabbed her from behind and dragged her down the stairs. Holding her arm like a vise, he pulled her around to face him.
“Give me what’s mine,” he demanded. Fear and anger twisted her insides. Keep him talking. She needed time to think.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have anything of yours.” She pulled her arm away and stepped closer. With all her heart, she prayed her tactics with Bryce’s men would work.
The man held his ground.
“How dare you touch me?” Her scream bounced off the stone walls. With all the noise in the kitchen, she had little hope anyone would hear her. Perhaps, if she was gone too long Mrs. Turner would send someone after her.
“My pin. And don’t say you don’t know what I’m talking about. You were wearing it on your wool all around the courtyard.” His eyes were black and fearless.
“Your pin?”
A moment of doubt in his eyes quickly cleared. “A barter. Your life for my pin.”
“Lord Jamie, youmust come now. Lady Laura.” The voice echoed in Jamie’s head. “Now. By the well. Hurry,” the young girl’s shrill voice insisted.
Jamie came out of the shadows. Laura? He didn’t hesitate. He ran through the courtyard into the kitchen passageway. He pushed people aside until he reached the stairs.
He took the stairs slowly not wanting to make a sound. Halfway to the bottom he heard voices.
“Your pin?” There was indignation and command in her tone. Not fear.
“A barter. Your life for my pin.” Jamie stopped and straightened. Holger?
“My life? Do you think you will live if you harm me?”
“They’ll all think the ghost did it.” He let out a sniggering laugh. “You have no idea its value to certain people. It’s worth much more than your life.”
Jamie, his back pressed against the staircase wall, inched down the steps and peered around the last bend. Holger held Laura around her waist, her arms pinned to her side and the candle in the other and dragged her down the passageway toward the dungeon.
Jamie’s hands fisted at his sides. He came down the last steps and followed them at a distance. With each step, his anger grew until it became a scolding fury.
