Читать книгу Theopolda's Quest - Linda Wisely - Страница 14

As Theo was pacing in her room, she heard steps outside her door. When the door opened, there stood Brother Justus with the guard. She almost ran to him, but saw the small imperceptible shake of his head, just in time. She stopped where she was and waited for him to speak.

"This friar is here to pray with you and give you God's blessing in your last hours. Don't try anything," the guard warned sternly.

"My child, the Lord cares about your soul in these your last days. Have you made peace with God?" Brother Justus stepped forward.

"Please leave us so I can pray with this poor young woman in private," he said to the guard.

As soon as the door closed, Theo ran to Brother Justus and gave him a big hug. "I thought I would never see you again! Why weren't you at court? I was fearful that some harm had come to you."

"Father Guardato thought that he would be able to get you free more easily than I, since he is known to the court. King Ferdinand obviously has secret plans for you. We fear he is planning to sell you into slavery, so that he can add more gold to his coffers."

"Oh no, I wondered why I was put in this tower room, and why the King would visit me personally."

"He visited you himself?" Brother Justus exclaimed.

"Yes, yesterday, and he brought another man with him. They both gave me the creeps."

"Have you been mistreated in any way?"

"No, the King ordered me a hot bath and a clean gown. There is a maid whose name is Sarah. She brings my meals and has been very kind. But what are we going to do? Please tell me you have a plan."

"Yes, I was supposed to see you before you brought before the King and let you know what we were working on, but they wouldn't let me in until this evening," Brother Justus explained.

"Have you seen Will and Sagan? Are they all right?"

"Yes, I talked to them, under the guise of praying with them, about an hour ago. We are planning an escape later tonight after everyone is asleep."

"But how? Who is helping us? How do you plan to get us out?"

"The Santa Lorenzo Monastery has many monks who have volunteered to help us, along with the Abbot. There are tunnels below the castle. I don't have time to say more. Just be ready."

"I still have my rapier hidden under my mattress. I will put it in my boot until you come."

Just then the guard opened the door and saw Theo on her knees beside the priest, who was in the process of giving her the Blessing of the Trinity.

"Time to go, Father." The guard motioned him to leave.

"Yes, my son, I am done here." Brother Justus turned and followed him out, while talking to him about his salvation.

Brother Justus went back to the monastery where the monks were assembling. Each had a weapon of some kind. Some had swords, some knives, and some just clubs.

"We don't keep very many weapons here, as I am sure you know. We have armed ourselves as best as possible," Abbot Francesco told Brother Justus.

"You all know the plan. We will go quietly through the tunnels. When we get to the entrance to the dungeons, you six go with me." Brother Justus pointed to the group that was carrying the swords. "The rest of you wait in the tunnels in case the castle gets alerted and the guards follow us back. When everyone is safe, come back to the monastery as quickly as possible, so that you will be here if someone from the castle comes here looking for us."

"Phillipe', you have your orders." Brother Justus turned to his young assistant.

Brother Justus had purchased four horses from the city stable earlier. Phillipe' would go back to the monastery after the escape. Abbot Francesco had already told him that he could stay as long as he wanted and learn a trade. This was a plan that Phillipe' was glad to accept.

The Abbot would stay back at the monastery in case he needed to vouch for his monks.

He lead them to the opening to the aquaduct tunnels under the chapel. One by one the monks lowered themselves down into the narrow, dark tunnel preceded by Brother Justus, who carried the lantern.

They made their way silently through the damp tunnels. It became so narrow in some places, they had to walk sideways to get through. Quickly they followed Brother Justus, who had committed the map of the tunnels to memory.

After what seemed an interminable time, Brother Justus saw the opening that was below the castle dungeons. He motioned to the six that he had appointed earlier to go ahead. They began pulling themselves up over the ledge one by one. The torches were left in the tunnel with the rest of the monks.

There was no one in this part of the dungeons. In the dim light, an occasional rat could be seen scurrying out of their way. As they stealthily crept down the hall, they began to hear the coughing and moaning of the prisoners.

Brother Justus put his finger to his lips to indicate that they keep silent. They stayed close to the opposite wall of the cells, hoping none of the prisoners would give them away.

As they got almost to the arch that opened into where the dungeon guard was sitting, Brother Justus threw a small rock across the floor.

The guard immediately jumped up and poked his head through the archway. Upon seeing the rolling stone, he bent down to pick it up.

As he did, Brother Justus and another monk hit him over the head with the handle of their swords. He went down with a grunt. They quickly tied his hands and feet with a rope they had brought from the monastery, and grabbed his keys.

Brother Justus went immediately to Will and Sagan's cell and unlocked it.

"Someone took Will, and I don't know where they went," Sagan said as he jumped out.

"Did you see which direction they took him?"

"I watched but only saw them turn left down that hall." Sagan pointed into the dark.

"Do you think you can find him? I need to go get Theo out of the tower."

"I won't stop looking until I do."

Sagan grabbed a sword from one of the monks and headed down the hall. Brother Justus told two of the other monks to go with Sagan. They quickly and quietly followed.

Sagan peered carefully into the darkness, sword drawn, before he turned any corner. Several turns later when he looked, he saw two guards posted outside of a heavy wooden door. He motioned for the monks to stop.

"I will go forward and try to talk to them. As soon as I have their attention, you two jump them." They nodded in understanding.

Sagan nonchalantly walked around the corner toward the guards. "Hey there, do you know how to get back to the main castle? I seem to have lost my way."

They both turned towards Sagan in surprise. Before they could pull out their swords, the two monks jumped on their backs. Sagan hit one guard straight in the nose, causing him to fall down.

The monk on the back of the fallen guard hit him over the head, which knocked him out. The other guard was turning in circles trying to get his monk off his back. The monk was pushing his thumbs into the guards eyeballs.

Sagan put out his leg and tripped the guard, who went sprawling and hit his head on the stone walls. Before they could decide what to do next, the door opened, and a tall, thin man in a dog mask stepped out into the hall.