Free The Unwilling Apprentice (Book 2) by Heidi Willard Page B

to hurry inside before your friend here is found," Martley suggested.
    Fred grabbed both girls by the wrists, bowed his head at the Lady, and dragged the pair into the castle. They shut the doors behind themselves and tiptoed over to the nearest column, where they hid. Fred peeked around the side toward the kitchen while Pat looked around the other.
    On Pat's end she heard many frantic voices in the large dining hall, and the king boomed over them. "Quiet now! I tell you there is nothing more to worry about. All has been taken care of by Lady Martley, and our lives are in no danger whatsoever."
    "Lady Martley?" Pat repeated in bewilderment.
    "But what about the monster?" a frightened woman asked him.
    A fist pounded against a hard table. "Damned be that monster! It's probably just a child dressed as a creature to scare the light of heart."
    One Fred's side he heard a pot rattle and many noises down the hall. They would have to concoct another distraction to get the cooks out of there. Fred felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to find it was Pat. "Let's get her upstairs for now. After everyone's gone to sleep we can help her get back to the cavern," she suggested.
    Fred nodded, and they guided the gargoyle up the stairs and onto the balcony. When they neared the opening to the hall that led to their bedrooms, the door to the dining room burst open and the king stomped out. "I shall prove to your doubting eyes that all is well!" he screamed at those still in the room. A retinue of well-dressed people followed behind him like lost chicks, and the three companions squished against the wall and slid down to the floor to avoid detection.
    Fred could see through the rungs of the balcony banister and noticed a familiar face among the group. It was Lord Sturgeon of Tramadore, and his son Percy followed close at his side. The pair were less troubled with the city's problems than the other guests, and paused at one of the columns while all the others went outside.
    The doors shut behind the other guests, and Percy turned to his father. "Has King Stephen told you what plans he has for Lady Lamikan?"
    Sturgeon raised an eyebrow. "Lady Lamikan? She is no more a lady than that fool is a king," he snapped, and gestured to where Stephen had gone.
    "If you insist, father, but have you perceived his intentions toward her?" Percy insisted.
    Sturgeon frowned and shook his head. "I can't get any information from him, but now is hardly the time to speak. Let us talk further in my room."
    They turned toward the stairs and the companions slunk into the hall. Once out of sight they rushed down the hall and came to the intersecting passage. Pat and Fred turned to her bedroom, but a servant girl was in a room not far down the hall. Thinking quickly, Fred grabbed the gargoyle and guided her to the room he shared with Ned. Pat noticed them halfway down the hall.
    "Not that way!" she hissed, but hurried to catch up.
    The three slipped into the room and Fred closed the door behind them. He leaned against the wood and wiped his sweaty brow. "That was close," he muttered.
    Pat was in his face in a moment while the gargoyle stood back and watched them. "We need to take her to my room!" Pat hissed.
    Fred rolled his eyes and gestured around the room. "She'll be just as safe in here! Nobody comes here except Ned and me," Fred snarled back.
    Pat scowled, and grasped one of the gargoyle girl's arms. "What about that chambermaid that told us about the cavern? She came in here." She pulled the girl toward the door, but Fred grabbed her other arm. He yanked them back
    "Only to make my bed. She won't come back now, but you'll have a bunch of girls in there helping you get dressed tomorrow," he replied.
    Pat yanked at the poor girl, and Fred pulled back. "Tomorrow? How long do you think either of us can hide her? We need to get her back to her father before he's driven mad with worry!" she pointed out.
    "Pull any harder and you may have a problem in all of your hands," a