Part 8 (1/2)
”I remember,” said Walter ”Even most of the Mockers don't kno to find it, and since the spot above where the old mill burned down's been paved over with that new road, it's i in those crates to eat?”
”If there is, it's long since turned,” answered the man named Josh
'This place hasn't been used since Hull turned Prince'sfor the Crown”
James looked around ”How many others do you think know of this place?”
Walter shrugged ”Notany of them lived after the raid Hull's men did most of the slippin' in and out, and just a few of us in the bashers”
”Then let's keep this our little secret” Ja his hand on the wall, he steadied himself and said, ”What of the clock?”
”An hour after sundown, or thereabouts,” answered Henry
”daet back to the palace, and you've put et up to the watch station two streets over, and get soo back with you to the palace”
”That will take too long,” said Jaetme”
Walter smiled, for the first time ”Well, there was always that about you, wasn't there? You could find ways around no one else could That's why you were always able to take those extra little jobs without the Nightmaster's writ”
James returned the shtravity ”What, and risk you and your lads findingood to see you've kept your humor,” said Henry, as he looked from Josh to Walter Then he looked at James ”What are we to do?”
”Stay here I'll try to be back before thewith some food and drink for you”
”Why would you do that?” asked Josh
”Because you asked,” answered Ja for an Josh
”-is only valid if there are Mockers,” finished Ja to the wall farthest froht Man returns, you'll not be bound by me I knohat it is to break oath with hiot soood side of the law”
”Good side of the law?” asked Josh
”Fancy that,” reer at each ht now I may be the only one you have”
Walter nodded once ”You've got the right of that, Jimmy”
”It's Squire James, from now on”
”Yes, squire I see,” answered Walter
Ja for He tripped a latch and a door, fashi+oned to look like a random cluster of stones in the wall, creaked open
”I didn't know that was there!” said Walter
”Few do,” James replied As he was about to enter, he added, ”Look, if I'm not back in a couple of days, assuest you find the sheriff and tell hih boot, but he's fair”
”Don't know about the fair part, but I'll grant you tough,” said Walter ”We'll think about that if we have to”
Jah the door He pulled it closed behind hi in the utter darkness He kneas only one hundred steps up an inclined passage to a trap that had been laid into the floor of what had once been a root cellar in the house next to the burned-out mill Fortunately for James, that part of the house hadn't been paved over, and was shi+elded from curious eyes by heavy weeds and brush
Once he was above ground, he hfares as he ate just north of the palace itself, and hurried through, passing a surprised-looking guard who recognized hih Jaer to hear it
James reached the small square, which served to separate the palace proper frouardsnized him One said, ”Squire Janaling for the gate to be opened One of the soldiers hurried to accommodate him, and James swept past him without another comment
James reached the top of the steps to the palace and waved over the first page he spied ”Carry word to the Prince that I have returned and will join hie wrinkled his nose at the sewer aroma that trailed Ja ”Squire!” he acknowledged, and hurried off as quickly as he could
Ja He'd take a co the best he could e was a quick ith a cloth dipped in the water basin
Ten ed froe had return frohness says he will await you in his offices”
James hurried to Arutha's offices, knocked, and entered when bidden Inside, Janear the door, while the Prince sat behind his desk
”This young felloas looking for you,” said Arutha, indicating the constable with a nod of his head ”When no one could find you, Gardan sent him to me The constable said you were due to meet him on some matter the sheriff and you deemed ireed to be”
Ja held against my will”
Arutha's face reht hint of amusement in his voice as he said, ”It appears you saved uard to rescue you”
”My captors and I careement”
Arutha indicated he should sit Before he did, Ja man and said, ”You're Jonathan Means?”
”Yes, squire,” answered the young constable He was perhaps the sae as Williahness that Ja city constables In the presence of the Prince he ht appear to be an aard boy, but in a brawl Jonathan Means could hold his own, James was certain
Arutha said, ”I'll listen to your tale of escape later What I need to know is, what is going on in ood As Jonathan and the other constables can no doubt testify, there's been a rash of killings lately that appear to s seem rando it”
”You have soht?” asked Arutha
James nodded ”The Crawler It appears he has e the Mockers, and frooal”
Arutha s and pickpockets supplants another? People will still be bullied and robbed”