Castles - Book 5 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Twenty-Six

 "Ranée, I did baking every day in the kitchen at Elliad's Castle... the Baltic Castle. I sent gingerbread bears and cookies to the children."

Ranée paused briefly to listen.

"I wanted to read to them but Hagen refused it." Continuing down the stone stairwell, they were breathless when at last they arrived on the ground floor.

"Princess Jobyna." The light was dim but Jobyna could make out a group of soldiers. One of the men took her hand. Intertwining his long lean fingers in hers, he held her tightly, his sword at the ready in the other hand. "We have no time for protocol, I am Doctor Sleven's son, Michael, and this is my brother, Adolf. Our father told us you are a sister because you helped Chezkovia. We're going to help you escape." A soldier held the door slightly ajar, peering cautiously out into the courtyard.

The watching man called, "The signal!"

Jobyna was pulled to run at speed across the marble courtyard, her feet scarcely making an impact on the slabs. She was swung up on a horse's back. Grasping onto the animal with all her might, she felt the accelerating hooves break into a gallop. As they clattered past a blur of torches and soldiers, mens' voices shouted for the escapees to halt! Jobyna thought of Ranée who had given up all to save her this night, and she prayed they would all make a safe escape, not daring to imagine the consequences if they were apprehended.

Chill night air stung her face. The sheer robe and thin dress were no match for the cold breeze. Gooseflesh raised on Jobyna's arms and legs causing her teeth to chatter uncontrollably. She leaned closer to Michael, absorbing some warmth from his body. Brenna had spoken of Michael and Adolf, their two sons. They were both married with young families. What a risk they were taking!

Some of the horses veered off in another direction. Before long, the posse was at the city wall. Soldiers with flares waited by a small gate. Michael swung Jobyna from the horse's back.

"You ride, don't you." Michael's words were not questioning, but stating a fact. He removed his red and white jacket and Jobyna turned as he held it open for her to enter its warm recesses. She rolled the long sleeves back from covering her hands, and Michael helped her do up the tricky toggles.

"Do you know which is your horse?" he asked.

There were many horses in the company. She whistled softly, a special low whistle, and heard a familiar whinny in reply. The animal found his mistress before she located him, and Jobyna jumped with fright as Brownlea nuzzled affectionately into her tangled hair.

Michael guided her to Brownlea's side. "Wait a minute," Jobyna said as she reached down and gathered the cumbersome brocade dress and robe, pulling it up between her legs as she had done with her skirts as a child, tucking the hem into the front of the wide belt of the jacket. Sleven's son lifted her up on the horse, and she sat astride, ready to depart with the men. Other horses arrived and Jobyna looked to see if she recognized any of the riders. She gasped at his severely bruised and battered face before her eyes met his.

Holding Brownlea's reigns with one hand, she reached across, placing her small hand on his. "I'm sorry, so sorry," she murmured.

Kenrik didn't speak. His immense suffering and pain were obvious. Jobyna perceived a defiant gleam in his black eyes. His arms had numerous lash cuts on them. On his neck, thick streaks of clotted blood had congealed in angry raised and reddened welts. Kenrik wore a simple oversized sleeveless brown tunic, and Adolf helped him don his red and white jacket. The girl remembered Brian's words about the 'prize prisoner'.

The horse under Kenrik quivered, turning its head towards Jobyna who recognized the animal. "Speed!" She cried, reaching to pat him.

Michael, now mounted, spoke quickly, "Our father waits for you at Walden, Princess. We wish you good speed to make it there before dawn. Tell him we battle for Chezkovia but are not winning yet." He turned to Kenrik, "Czarevitch Kenrik, you must listen to us and stay in Proburg, for the sake of your life and for Chezkovia. We will gain a hearing from your father, be sure of that, but for now, your safety in Proburg will be our first victory."