Chapter 1, part 4

When they reached the castle, they had to skirt past more fighting men in the courtyard. The two women slinked through a large pair of wooden doors into an enormous room. There were people talking loudly and running everywhere. It sounded like they were looking for someone. Agatha stuck to the wall and led the way to a staircase. After several twists and turns, they ducked into a bedroom and closed the door behind them. The furniture was large and adorned with ornate scroll work. It looked like someone important slept there.

“Whose room is this?” she asked, not for a second thinking it was Agatha’s.

“Does it matter? We’re safe for now.” The old woman went over to an upright bureau and began rummaging through it. Naomi leaned against the wall. She hoped someone would show up soon to help them. She couldn’t wait to get back home.

“Here put this on.” Agatha took the sword and pushed a gown into her hands.

She took at it in befuddlement. “Why?”

“For a disguise! You need to look like one of us.”

She nodded thinking it sounded like a good idea. She did stick out in her jeans and sweatshirt. She quickly stripped off her clothes and threw on the gown.

“How do I look?”

Agatha nodded with approval. “Like a lady.”

“Is that good?”

There was pounding at the door. Naomi jumped and looked at it in trepidation. “Where’s the sword?”

“You won’t need it.”

“What should we say to them?”

“No, ack, don’t, let go! That sort of thing.”

“What?”

Before she could demand further explanation, the door burst open, and a group of men with swords streamed in. One turned back and shouted into the corridor, “Alert the others, we’ve found her!”

“Found who? Wait! What’s going on?” They grabbed her by both arms and began to drag her from the room. The men pushed Agatha back.

“Don’t fear, Lady Naomi. Everything will be all right!”

“What? Agatha!”

The men hauled Naomi out. She kicked, and yelled, but the men wouldn't let her go. She only knew one thing. Agatha had set her up. That just went to show, never trust crazy old women. They’ll give you up to medieval throwbacks every time

The men took her back into the large hall where now there were more men, but thankfully no fighting. The men hauling her muscled their way through the others until they reached the dais at the end of the hall.

One man broke off and stepped forward. He knelt on one knee and announced, “Sir, we’ve secured the Lord’s lady. The castle is yours.”

She looked up at the dais to see who the soldier was talking to and gaped. The man that stood above her had on some sort of full-head mask. The mask was made of a dark metal and shaped like a demonic skull. It had a perpetual ghastly smile. Like Skeletor but scary. The eyes holes were black and empty. He had on full armor which had wet splashes of red still on it. In one hand, he gripped a massive sword. It dripped red too. All he needed was a severed head in his other hand to complete the picture. When he turned toward her, she felt the weight of his gaze like a shroud. She hoped her head wasn't supposed to complete the picture.

She gulped and said, “I really think there’s been a mistake.”

Continue to Chapter 2, part 1