A Dishonorable Knight - By Morrison, Michelle Page 0,150

buttery and made her way out the back kitchen door. Crossing the dirt bailey between the main hall and the north tower, she peered in the open door. Three men were sitting about a small table.

"Now what do I do?" she muttered. She was trying to figure out a way to get the men--or at least two of the men--out of the tower when she overheard Gareth's name being spoken.

"I can't believe Sir Gareth would betray the king," one of the men said. "He's always seemed like the most upstanding of all the knights."

A second voice spoke up. "The king sees ghosts in every shadow anymore. If Tudor doesn't invade soon, the king will have us all in prison for being traitors." There was a pause before the second man spoke again. "Do you know where they've put Sir Gareth?"

"Down in the old cellars. I wouldn't keep a dog there, but we've so many prisoners in here, he had to be put somewhere."

Elena sent an unformed prayer of thanks heavenward. Perhaps there wouldn't even be a guard! she thought hopefully. Shifting the heavy tankard and cloak to her other hand, she was about to sneak off when the third man spoke.

"Sir Gareth deserves to lose his head and he will by week's end. He's a traitor and a liar and you two will die with him if you don't stop slandering the king. Now get on with your duties. You've had more than enough rest."

Elena heard the scrape of stools against the stone floor and she turned and ran as quickly as she could with her heavy burden. The last thing she needed was to be caught eavesdropping on the prison guards. Making her way back into the main keep, she wound through the labyrinth of back halls trying to find the stairs that led into the cellars. She had only passed by it once before since coming to Nottingham, being content to send servants on any unsavory errands. With each corner she turned she grew more and more frantic. Suppose the king was angry enough to order Gareth's execution tonight? Suppose the executioner found the cellars before she could? With each step the tankard of wine seemed to grow heavier and her arm muscles trembled with the strain. She was on the verge of panic when she turned a corner and discovered the staircase. Taking a deep breath and trying to compose her face into a pleasant smile, she prepared to put all her skill at flirtation and flattery to work.

She descended the dark stairs, bracing her hand against the cold walls and ducking a low-hanging beam halfway down the steps. She finally emerged into the cramped cellars and wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant aroma that permeated the cold moist air. She glanced in the cell closest her and saw a sickly older man curled on the pallet, shivering and coughing in his sleep. A large grating sound behind her made her jump and she quickly whirled around, sloshing wine over her hand and onto the cloak. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she discovered the cause of the noise: a snoring guard propped against the wall.

God is with me this day, she thought. Perhaps I can free Gareth without this man even waking! Quickly setting the cloak and tankard down, she rushed from cell to cell, trying to find Gareth. She found him in the cell right in front of the sleeping guard. He was huddled in the corner of the cell, his legs pulled up against his chest, his arms wound round his knees and his head resting on his forearms.

"Gareth!" Elena hissed. "Gareth! Wake up!" Gareth didn't budge and fear seized Elena's heart. Glancing behind her to make sure the guard was still asleep, she turned back to the narrow window in the door and whispered louder, "Gareth! It's me, Elena!"

Gareth lifted his head suddenly, looking confused. When he realized who she was, he pushed himself to his feet and quickly crossed the few steps to the door. "Elena! What are you doing here? If you're caught--"

"Shh!" she hushed him. "I've come to free you. Gareth I..." she was about to tell him she loved him, but the unfamiliar words stuck in her throat. Swallowing, she chastised herself and drew to mind the picture of him being led to the executioner's block. That thought spurred her on and she said, "I--I love you, Gareth. I can't let you die." Slightly embarrassed, she took a