More Secrets and the Horse Race - Book 8 - The Frencolian Chronicles

Chapter 7

After seating Jobyna and closing the door, the girl closest to Jobyna screamed as grating sounds filled the chamber, stone grinding upon marble.

"It's HIM!" Vanezza cried, "He's found a way up here!"

"He's back!" Svenja cried.

"I'll fetch help!" a maid said, running from the room.

Svenja looked petrified as if she couldn't move or blink. Vanezza ran to the door, screaming, "Help, help! Guards, Guards!"

A man garbed in black from head to floor, with what appeared to be half-sized legs moved away from the wall. Bowing, he scurried over to Jobyna who saw a small portal at the base of the wall.

 Bowing to her, the little man spoke in breathless tones, "Princess... Princess Jobyna... I'm both glad to see you, and yet sad, that you're here... I must speak with you..." He bowed again.

"Do you know me?" Jobyna asked, frowning at the little man who had spoken with a very strange accent.

"Yes, come." Taking her hands and drawing her to stand, he talked quickly while turning her around to face the door, "I've not met you, Princess, but I've heard a lot about you. I knew your parents. I'm here to help you escape. You're not safe here. The passage we forced to open a little isn't wide enough for you yet so we'll have to leave through the door over there..." he turned back as a quad of guards wielding spears entered through that very door. 

Or not; or, maybe, later," he said before spinning her around and dropping her hands, facing her with his back to the guards. Pivoting, he pushed her before they rushed to surround him.

Jobyna stumbled backwards all the way to the wall, sliding down it to the floor. She stared in amazement as the little man twirled himself around and around, spiraling in a way she'd never seen anyone move. Within seconds, all four guards were scuttled to fall on the marble floor, one of them, writhing and moaning in pain.

Gathering the spears, David slid them into the hole in the wall, tilting them when other hands grasped them to draw them down out of sight.

Two guards, brandishing swords, entered. Others followed. As the little man stepped towards them on what appeared to be stubby feet shod with square leather boots, they backed away.

"Go! Go! All of you!" he shouted, swinging his arms, cutting the air with his hands. Followed by Svenja and the other maids, the guards retreated into the corridor. 

Pushing the door shut, the man darted back to Jobyna, saying, "I can't stay, Princess. I mustn't add to your danger. Stepping close to her, he said, "Come, I'll help you back to the seat. 

"Whatever the master says to you, Princess, agree with it; play the submissive part. It will save your life. Promise anything —even to marry him if he asks —we'll rescue you before that happens. He's mad, delusional, but dangerous..."

"But..." Jobyna had so many questions.

"I'll be no good to you if you're dead!" he declared. "I'll be back. Just remember, you must consider the master to be insane and worse. Humor him. Be compliant; he likes that."

Running to the aperture in the wall, he lay down on his back and shuffled to push his feet and legs into the gap. Pulled by his feet with hands from below, he disappeared. The sound of marble on stone screeched until the wall was as it had been before.

The door flew open and Jobyna stood. The guards, still carrying their naked swords, preceded the master, moving around the chamber, searching for David before standing in a line with their faces to where the portal had been.