Free The Marus Manuscripts by Paul McCusker Page B

whatever the general and the king tell them. You must leave— now. ”
    Darien eyed her warily. “You’re the king’s daughter. Why should I believe you?”
    The princess opened her mouth to speak, but tears fell from her eyes instead. “I know my father wanted me to marry you so I’d keep an eye on you for him. And I know you’re marrying me only because the king wants you to. No one stopped to ask my feelings, though. And the truth is, I love you. I have from the first time I met you.”
    A sympathetic smile crossed Darien’s face, and he took the princess’s hands in his and kissed them both. “I’m humbled and undeserving of your love, my princess,” he said.
    A hard pounding at the front door interrupted their tender moment. Darien, Princess Michelle, and Kyle raced into the hallway just as Edward, the head servant, made his way to the door.
    “Wait!” Darien told him. “You have to stall them, Edward. Tell them I’m in bed. Give me time.”
    Edward’s dull expression didn’t change as he bowed slightly and answered, “Yes, sir.”
    The three of them turned and raced up the steps to the second floor and Darien’s room.
    “What do we do now?” Kyle asked after Darien closed and locked the door.
    Darien quickly pulled the covers down to the foot of the bed and then went to the corner of the room, where he grabbed a suit of armor that stood there indifferently. Do they have suits of armor in every room? Kyle wondered.
    “Help me,” Darien said to Kyle. Together they pushed the armor onto the bed. Darien yanked the covers over it. He then dimmed the light in the room so that it genuinely looked as if someone were asleep in the bed. “There,” he said. “Sleeping like a baby.”
    Deep voices shouted in another part of the house. Darien went to the window and threw it open. Satisfied that no one was waiting below, he turned to Kyle and asked, “Are you coming?”
    “Where else would I go?” Kyle said.
    Darien then turned to Princess Michelle. “It’s going to look bad for you,” he said sympathetically. “Liddell’s men will wonder why you’re here. Tell them I threatened to kill you if you didn’t help me. Attempted murder won’t surprise them if they think I’m a traitor.”
    Michelle nodded silently.
    Darien kissed her. “I suppose our wedding day will have to wait,” he said with an ironic smile.
    She smiled sadly as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I suppose it will,” she agreed.
    Heavy footsteps invaded the hall just outside the room. Someone jiggled the handle, then began to break down the door.
    “Farewell,” Darien said to Michelle. Then he hoisted Kyle out of the window, where he grabbed on to a branch of a nearby tree. Darien started to follow, then stopped. “I’ve forgotten my pistol and my sword!” he exclaimed. “Where are they?”
    “You don’t have time!” Michelle said firmly.
    Darien frowned, then leaped to the tree. He and Kyle climbed down to the ground and ran off into the night.

    In her dreams, Anna saw a woman standing in a bedroom. It wasn’t the king’s bedroom this time—this room was smaller and more modest—but it was the same woman she had seen before. The room wasn’t lit very well, so Anna had a hard time making out the shadows. The woman moved to the bed and sat down. Someone slept under the covers. Whoever it was didn’t stir. Anna had the impression that the woman was a nurse taking care of someone ill.
    The bedroom door was suddenly thrown open. Several men stood silhouetted in the doorway. They were dressed as soldiers, with guns in hand and swords at their sides. The woman stood up and crossed quickly to the men before they could enter the room fully.
    The men stopped, surprised to see the woman there. She gestured in appeal to them and then back to the bed as if to say that they shouldn’t disturb the sleeper. One of the men waved his arms anxiously at the woman and also pointed to the bed. The womanresponded. Finally the man