Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,91

journey, watched anxiously by Walter and Aaron.

He moved quickly and silently, and Aaron felt a flash of pride in his father. There was a pause, but no challenge came from a guard, and the arm waved again, beckoning Walter on his way to join the other two. Now Aaron could see that they were all huddled together, in a corner of the wall. A longer pause, and Aaron, waiting in the doorway, was just beginning to wonder if something was wrong, when he saw the signal. Taking a deep breath, he closed the door gently behind him, and ran down the stairs and across the BOSON BOOKS

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ground towards the others. As he arrived, he could that the corner into which they were huddled was deeper than he had realised. Even he was able to squeeze in beside them, and lean in the shelter of the walls.

It became darker. The moonlight, which had helped them so much thus far, vanished behind a cloud. Hubert’s voice whispered close to his right ear.

"We must find a way of getting into the building," he said. "There are four towers, but he has most likely been taken to Maud’s Tower."

"How can you know that? We might have to try them all," said Benjamin.

"There are four of us," came Walter’s voice, from his other side.

"We cannot take one each," said Benjamin, firmly. "It is too much of a risk, to search an unknown building alone. We must stay together, for our own protection."

"If we part now, we might never meet again!" said Aaron, promptly, in agreement. "We must find Master Gregory and return to Westminster in one group. My father is right together we

can all protect each other. Two smaller groups double the risk of discovery."

"I still believe we should try Maud’s Tower first," said Hubert, insistently. "It is the most likely and we shall know it, because it is the only round tower. If I am wrong, we may have to search the rest of the building but let us try that place first."

There was a silence, while all four thought it over.

"Well," said Benjamin, in a resigned tone. "I cannot think of a better plan. All four together will take the longest time, unless we find Master Gregory at our first attempt, but it is by far the safest way."

"I agree," said Walter, suddenly sounding confident. The other two murmured assent.

So they set off. The moon reappeared and showed them each other’s faces, and the anxiety that showed in their expressions. Slipping down the side of the wall, trying to make as little sound as possible, they searched for an entrance to the White Tower.

They found it after searching two sides of the great building. After some anxious minutes, with all four straining every sense in an effort to be forewarned of any danger, Hubert suddenly stopped and held up his arm. They were at the foot of an extension to the wall they had been walking beside. Looking up, they could see the top of an arched doorway. Hubert slid his head round the corner, and could see where the steps began, leading to the door. They had found one entrance and it was guarded.

"That’s the end of your turn, then, you lucky scoundrel!" said a rough voice. "And just the start of mine!"

"I should feel sorrier for you, were I not so pleased for myself!" said the man he was relieving. "Did you leave any ale in our quarters?"

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"I did!" said the second man. Although I cannot vouch that it will be there long. I’d get to it quickly, if I were you, before they change the guard on the prisoner!"

Hubert turned round quietly and faced the other three and shook his head, gesturing that they should retreat again. As they turned to do so, the first guard continued speaking.

"Well, at least we need not fear the gullet of Sir Roger de Tourney’s man any longer!" he said.

Aaron froze suddenly, and put up a hand to stop the others, as he listened to the rest of the conversation.

"...a very unfortunate accident," the man was saying, with a chuckle. "How could we know that a sergeant-at-arms would be such a poor horseman?"

"And an even worse swimmer!" said the second man.

They both laughed.

"It’s not often a man can enjoy such sport in his killing, and know that he was only obeying orders!" said the first one, with a sigh of contentment. "We’ll never know what the fool had done to deserve