“I’m sorry!” I called out, running after the carriage and jumping up onto the back. Crouching low, I waved cheekily after the two ladies as I rode away.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Randolph Greenfield’s carriage pulled up to a grand two-story stone house on the edge of the city. The iron gate was marked by the same guild symbol he wore on his cloak. When the coach approached, the gates opened, and I slid from the back and hung beneath the carriage, holding onto the frame, my skirt dragging along the gravel.
The carriage slowed at the front of the manor, and a footman came to open the door for Randolph. I slipped out the other side and ducked behind the nearest row of hedges. My adrenaline kicked in; my heart was racing, but my hands never trembled. This is what I lived for. This used all of my training as a scout, except I didn’t have any weapons . . . yet.
Peeking between the bushes, I stared up at the manor house and studied all of the various ways I could get in. The easiest would be to wait for everyone to fall asleep for the night, and then sneak in, but my problem came when I didn’t know where Randolph would place his newly acquired weapon? What if it was in a cellar, or a locked trunk? I didn’t have all the time in the world to search every nook and cranny for Rumple. And I hated waiting.
When the driver took the carriage to the carriage house and the last servant followed Randolph inside, I ran for the side of the house, staying low to the ground, pressing my back to the wall. I went from window to window, peeking inside, searching until I found Randolph in the main hall.
He was showing off the axe to one of the servants. When the servant tried to take the axe, Randolph shook his head and headed up the main stairs.
Backing up, I studied the stone wall and plotted my route. Stepping on the window ledge, I pushed up and grabbed onto an ornate stone that jutted out farther than the rest. The muscles in my arms screamed as I once again put them to the test, but I was getting used to using my arms to climb. Reaching higher, I felt along the stones until I found another handhold.
It was slow going, hand over hand, but I wasn’t going to give up until I reached a second-floor balcony. Slipping over the railing, I crouched just outside the double doors and waited. A match flared to life, and then one by one the candles were lit within the room, revealing a lavishly furnished bedroom. An elaborate four-poster bed with blue velvet curtains, a tufted chair, and a gilded mirror that ran the length of the wall filled the space. Above the stone fireplace were hooks where other blades hung in honor.
Randolph took Rumple and hung him next to a beautiful two-handed sword and a deadly mace.
Now, I needed to pick the balcony doors lock and wait till he was asleep.
Randolph came toward the balcony. I leapt to the side ledge, pressing my back to the cold stone and prepared to jump down to the ground, but I heard the click of the key, and he opened the door to let in the night air.
Well, he just made that easier for me.
When Randolph retreated into the room, he started a fire in the fireplace and settled into a chair while he stared up at the wall at his new axe.
I waited outside in the cold until the fire burned low. Randolph never got up to restock the fire or move to his bed. I had to assume that he fell asleep in the chair.
I had to take my chance. I tiptoed into the room, only slightly saddened that I didn’t get to use my lock-picking skills. My feet moved silently over the floor, light like butterfly wings, barely putting pressure down on the wood, testing to make sure there weren’t any loose floorboards.
When I came to the rug, it muffled my steps even further, and I craned my neck and glanced around to the front of the chair.
Sure enough, Randolph had fallen asleep. His eyes were closed, his chin had dropped onto his chest, and his hands clasped over his belly. Soft snores punctuated the night, along with the crackling of the dying fire.
The huge fireplace was going to be a problem because I could barely reach the end of Rumple’s handle, and I had to stand on tiptoe to raise him high enough to unhook him.
“No,” a harsh voice said.
I spun, thinking I was caught. But Randolph was still asleep. Although he opened his mouth and let out a yawn.
I waited a few terrifying, long seconds, and looked back up to Rumple. “You decided to talk, after all,” I whispered.
“You abandoned me,” he pouted.
“I didn’t abandon you.”
“You did. I came through the veil and was all alone.”
“Did you see the apprentice who cut through the veil?”
Rumple fell silent again. I took it as another chance to reach up and unhook him from the wall.
“I said no. I want to stay here.”
“Why?” I asked, wanting to know his reasoning.
“Because it’s warm here and . . . I’m appreciated. The whole carriage ride, he marveled over me. Said nothing but good things about me. Where all you do is insult me.”
“I don’t always insult you,” I said.
“Yes, you do. I’m staying here.”
This wasn’t working out how I’d planned. “Look, I came to rescue you.”
“Does it look like I want to be rescued?” Rumple’s voice grew loud.
Randolph snorted, and I jumped back behind the chair, crouching low and waiting until he fell back asleep completely.
I waited until my legs began to cramp, and then I made my way back over to Rumple. “What do you want me to say? I’m sorry, I made a mistake. I’m here now. We can make a great team again. Plus, Rhea will miss you.”
Silence.
I was being ignored.
“Fine,” I spat. “Stay there on the wall and rust away, where you can be admired by firelight, but won’t have any enemies to vanquish. I doubt you’ll ever see battle again. You’re too high and lofty for that.”
There was the slightest noise from Rumple, which could’ve been the hint of a whimper. I decided to play hard to get. I backed away toward the window and continued to whisper. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ll encounter that pack of hellhounds again, and I’ll make sure to take all of them down by myself with a knife. Not just any knife, but a dull knife.”
This time, a snort came from Rumple.
“Yeah, I’ll take a table knife. Because they never get to see any action and will appreciate cutting into things besides butter. They never talk back, unlike some weapons I know.”
“You wouldn’t,” Rumple whispered.
“I would. Besides, if I lose one, there are a million others just like it, ready to take its place. But you can stay here and dream about all of the battles of old and not take part in anything new. I’m sure you’ll become a family heirloom, and sit on that wall for hundreds and hundreds of years.”
I had made it out onto the balcony and was about to close the door.
A great caterwauling ensued.
“No, take me with you! I don’t want to sit here forever! I’m a dwarf! I’m destined to fight!”
I froze as Rumple’s screaming woke up Randolph, who was looking around the room in a terrified frenzy. The knife from his belt was already in his hands as he prepared to attack.
I groaned.
“Honor, don’t leave! Take me with you. I can’t stay with this big ogre anymore!”
Randolph stiffened, turning slowly toward the fireplace, his eyes wide with terror. His mouth dropped open when he heard Rumple continue his tirade.