Chapter 4

When Agatha and Naomi 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 Naomi to a stairway. 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?” Naomi 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 go home and get back to normal.

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

Naomi took at it in befuddlement. “Why?”

“For a disguise! They’ll know who you are otherwise.”

Naomi 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 brushed Naomi’s hair back and nodded with approval. “Like a lady.”

“Is that good?”

There was pounding at the door. Naomi jumped and looked at the door 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 Naomi 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! Agatha!” They grabbed Naomi by both arms and began to drag her from the room. The men pushed Agatha back.

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

“What? Agatha!”

The men hauled Naomi out. She struggled, kicked, and yelled, but the men would not let her go. Naomi 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 everytime.

The men took Naomi back into the large hall where now there were more men, but thankfully no fighting. The men hauling Naomi 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.”

Naomi looked up at the dais to see who the soldier was speaking to and gulped in alarm at the man, at least she assumed he was a man. He was man-shaped, but he wore a full-head mask. The mask was 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. His body was broad shouldered with heavily muscled limbs. Ugly white scars broke the deep tan of his skin. In one hand, he gripped a massive sword. He turned toward Naomi, and she felt the weight of his gaze like a shroud.

“I really think there’s been a mistake,” she said.

Continue to Chapter 5.