The man across from the Regent looks somewhat familiar. I've seen him around before, but I don't know his name. I know he comes and goes from the castle all the time. He simply smiles at the Regent and says, "You know my terms. I'm happy to serve, for a price."

"I'll pay when it's done, Searl!" the Regent barks.

"No," Searl replies. "That's not the way I work."

I feel someone grab my arm, and I almost pull myself away, but then I see it's Ellcia. In the darkness, she points down the corridor. Hemot and Marleet, along with Rulf and Mic, have already moved on.

I follow, trying to make sense of what I've seen and heard. The Regent has been nothing but kind and gracious with everyone. The last time he had anyone killed was when he hanged the rebels after they murdered the king. The Regent even shared with me once that he would rather have jailed them than take their lives, but the people had demanded blood for their king.

I push the whole matter to the side while I try to keep up with the others. Even though it's a stone floor, we still need to be quiet. I fear someone in one of the rooms will hear us. I don't know what might happen if we're caught, but I don't want to find out.

Rulf stops after a little bit, and we all come up behind him. He peers through a small hole for a moment and then puts his ear to the same hole. Once he seems satisfied, he sticks his hand into a small crack in the wall and pulls. There's a slight creak as the wall swings into our dark corridor.

I step up close and see the inside of another tapestry. I wonder how many tapestries have secret doors behind them and how Rulf knows of them, but I don't ask. I've lived in the castle since birth. How could it be that I had never even heard of such a thing?

Rulf slowly pulls the hanging tapestry back and peers into the room. Wherever we are, he's worried we'll be caught.

He pushes his way through, and Mic follows without hesitation. Before Hemot moves through, he looks back at me. Even in the dim light, I can make out the big smile on his face. He's having a great time.

Marleet follows after Hemot. She's breathing heavily. I know it's not from the running. The poor girl is terrified. Ellcia goes next. She looks more annoyed than anything. Not much scares her, but I know she would never want to be caught.

I push through the tapestry, and Rulf shoves me roughly to the side while he reaches through to pull the door closed. He then turns around and rushes past me.

I glance around the room, and my heart nearly stops. The place we're in... it's huge. To my right, on the one end of the room, is a large set of double doors made of oak. The design is intricate, but solid. The room itself is just as beautifully designed as the door. It's longer than it is wide and along the long edge of the room are rows of beautifully shined suits of armor and stone statues of kings from days gone by. Everything in the room, from the tapestries to the tiles on the floor, is all designed to draw one's attention to my left where, placed near the back wall on a platform reached by climbing seven steps, sits an empty throne.

I have been in the throne room many times, but never without an armed guard with me. The room is sacred. If you're in here without permission, the penalty is death. Part of the requirement for an armed guard is to remind us of how important the room is, but the other part is to remind us that no one is ever to sit on the throne except the king.

I have never told anyone this, but I remember being in here once with my dad before he was killed. He let me hide in the room while he searched for me. I know he was an important man in the kingdom because no one questioned him—ever. At one point, while his back was turned, I ran up the steps and sat down on the throne.

My dad had scolded me for doing that, but I remember seeing a certain twinkle in his eye that let me know he wasn't upset. He told me it was natural to want to see what it felt like. He even hinted that he might have done the same thing when he had been my age. I had never told anyone about that day—not even Ellcia. I was afraid I'd get in trouble. I feared when the Prince returned, he would be angry.

But at this moment, it all seems so silly.

"Caric!" Ellcia hisses.

I look around, and I'm shocked to see Rulf detaching a sword from one of the suits of armor. I run over to him and whisper, "Rulf! No, you don't understand. This isn't the armory. You can't take this stuff. This all belongs in the throne room. They'll charge you with treason for taking even a tassel from a tapestry!"

Rulf ignores me until he has the sword strapped securely at his waist. When he's finished, he turns to me and grunts before saying, "This doesn't belong here. This belongs to me. It's mine. It was stolen by the Regent."

I open my mouth to answer, but I'm distracted by Mic. He's climbed the stairs and has grabbed a short sword from beside the throne while saying, "I want this. I want this."

I rush forward to stop him. I don't think it's any worse to take the King's sword than it is to take one from on display in this room. Either theft would carry with it the penalty of death, but it just seems more wrong to me to steal that sword. Besides, I think I can physically stop Mic, whereas I have no hope of stopping Rulf. Before I get two steps, however, Rulf grabs me and says, "If he wants that sword, he'll take that sword!"

I realize I have no choice but to allow it. If Rulf makes a scene, the soldiers who are undoubtedly standing guard outside the room will rush in and arrest us. We'll each die for our crimes. At least if I stay quiet, we might make it out alive.

I nearly groan out loud at what happens next. Once Mic has the sword in hand, he drops down onto the throne and takes a look at it. His face breaks out in a large grin. He looks at Rulf and says, "I like sword. I like sword."

"Then it's time to leave," Rulf says quietly. He lets me go and growls, "This way!"

Rulf runs across the room to a large painting on the wall. He grabs it and swings it around to the right. I had no idea the painting was on hinges. I glance at Ellcia, and she looks just as surprised.

Behind the painting is a solid stone wall with no sign of a doorway. Without a moment's hesitation, Rulf pushes on a stone about chest height and a small door opens. The door is about the size of my shoulders—and I'm not an overly large guy. I wonder how the average man would get through it. It's also high enough that I think we're going to struggle to get through.

By that point, Mic has reached us, and Rulf grabs him and shoves him into the hole. Without asking, he picks up Marleet and tosses her in. She lets out a little scream as she disappears from sight, and I turn to the door. It wasn't loud, but I hear upset voices outside. They don't sound like they're concerned, but they're likely discussing whether to open the door and check.

Rulf notices it too and grabs Hemot and tosses him in after. He's carrying one of the sacks of food that Tereese gave us, and Mic had the other one. I'm surprised that neither sack spills open. I expect Tereese tied them well.

I hear Marleet grunt when Hemot flies through the little doorway and think about how it's only going to get worse. Ellcia goes in next. I'm sure she'd be arguing with Rulf if it weren't for the guards just outside the room.

My heart goes cold as I notice the voices of the guards just got louder. At least one of them has turned toward the door.

I feel my feet lift off the ground, and I go sailing through the small opening. I hit something hard and realize that Ellcia and the others must have scrambled to get out of the way. I feel hands grab me and pull me along. It reminds me that Rulf is sure to follow.

I wriggle out of the way just as Rulf squeezes into the tiny passageway. Once inside, he spins himself around and pulls the picture over the hole just as I hear the footsteps of soldiers in the room.

None of us move, and Rulf doesn't close the stone door. At first, I want him to slam it shut, but then I catch myself. It didn't make much noise when it opened, but it would be enough to alert the guards to our location.

We wait while the guards search the room. I'm hoping that neither of them notice the missing swords, and I almost laugh when I hear them close the door behind them. They must have satisfied themselves that no one was in the room and left.

I breathe a sigh of relief, and Rulf quietly swings the stone door shut. We're in complete darkness. Even through the small cracks around the door, no light shines through. I figure it's the painting that's blocking any light from that direction.

I feel Rulf move up next to me, and he grunts, "Whoever this is, follow me."

I scramble around and hiss to everyone, "Follow Rulf, everyone."

"Which way?" comes a whisper that I'm pretty sure belongs to Marleet.

"I think there's only one way to go," I say, "but try to follow the noise we make as we crawl."

The tunnel is high enough that we can manage on our hands and knees, but if I raise my head, it scrapes on the roof above me. We crawl for a while, but it's nice and cool in the tunnel, so I don't mind so much. I'm filled with wonder once again that I had no idea this or the other tunnel were here. I had thought I knew every corner of the castle. I have been in every room, or so I thought, and cleaned just about everywhere, even the Regent's bedroom.

My heart feels like it sinks into my stomach as I remember the Regent's words. I want to find some other meaning for what he said, but it is hard to find good in a phrase like, "I want them all dead!"

My head bumps into something, and I back away quickly, thinking I just ran into Rulf's butt. Unfortunately, that was a bad move as I run butt first into what feels like the top of someone else's head. I whisper an apology, and they apologize back. But then I'm distracted by movement ahead. I can just make out the shape of an opening. Rulf and Mic have climbed through. I follow after them and step down onto a stone floor. A moment later, all of us are out of the tunnel and in another hidden corridor. Rulf leads us to the left.

After just a few steps, Rulf grabs something on the wall and starts to climb. When I get there, I see it's a solid wood ladder. We climb for a long time—I'm guessing we've gone up at least a couple levels—before he leads us off to the right into another tunnel.

Around a corner, I see plenty of light through tiny holes shining in from rooms on either side of this passageway. Rulf walks ahead just a short way and peers through one of the holes. He then pulls a handle on the wall, and a doorway opens through which he and Mic step. I follow through, brushing off dust and notice everyone else is doing the same. Most of us look pretty terrible, but Marleet looks the worst. She always wears a beautiful dress whenever she can, but it appears as though a dress like that does not fare well in tunnels and dusty places. She looks ready to cry, so Ellcia puts her arm around her and tells her not to worry about the dress. I almost add in a comment about how she won't be looking her best on the journey ahead, but catch myself. It's probably not helpful.

Rulf grunts, and we follow him around a corner. I'm surprised to find we're in the northern wing of the castle. I keep losing track of where I am with the tunnels.

He wanders around another corner, and the rest of us stay close. Hemot shifts the sack of food over to his other shoulder. He looks unimpressed that he has to carry it, so I steer clear of him. I don't really want to carry it myself, but I know if he asks me, I'll say yes.

We enter a large doorway and Ellcia, Hemot, Marleet, and I come to a halt. I had not expected to end up here.

The room we've entered is called "The Forgotten Armory" because it's just that—forgotten. On the official records and when the castle is being toured, everyone talks about the six armories—which includes this one—but no one's ever brought to see this place.

Most of the swords here are chipped or broken, and the armor is old and rusty. And no one, absolutely no one, uses the place. The room doesn't even get cleaned, which is evident by the spiderwebs and cobwebs in every crevice and corner. The only one who ever comes here is Hob. He's the old soldier who oversees the Forgotten Armory. I only know his name because they mention him now and then, and I've seen him around, but I've never met him.

Sleeping in a chair in the middle of the room is a man far too old for most people to have continued living. Somehow, the man sprawled out before us has managed it successfully.

"Wow!" Marleet whispered. "I don't think I've ever seen a man that old before."

I just shake my head. I wonder if we should wake him or just get what we need and leave.

Rulf clears his throat, and Hob opens his eyes. The old man stands up straight and moves like there's far more energy in him than is natural. He smiles to show a set of nearly perfect and entirely present teeth and lets out a big cackle.

"You've come!"

None of us know how to respond. I'm not surprised that Ellcia, Hemot, and Marleet look to me, but I don't expect Rulf and Mic to. I step forward and say, "We have."

My face goes red. I'm sure there was a better thing to say, but I'm not cut out for speeches.

The man runs right up to me and brings his face in close. Our noses nearly touch, and I can smell his breath. Something inside that man's gut is not right.

"Didn't we fight together in the Battle at Reber's Gate?" he asks me. "I think you were in charge. Yes, I remember you. You were there, and you led us to victory."

"I think you have me mixed up with someone else," I say awkwardly. "We're here for some armor."

The man frowns and says, "Orders, please."

Rulf hands him the paper from Captain Tilbur, and Hob runs out of the room and stands by the window. He holds the note up to the sunlight and examines it closely. After a moment, Hob runs back, hands the paper to Rulf and then circles each of us, one at a time. As he moves, he looks us up and down and mumbles under his breath. At Marleet, he stops and says, "You will have to take off that dress!"

"What?" Marleet screams, and each of us quickly step next to her.

I'm surprised to see Rulf place himself right between Marleet and Hob. It makes me wonder if this is the way he views Mic. He sees the boy as someone in need.

"No, no, no!" Hob explains. "I don't mean here." His face screws up in some kind of expression that includes a mix of shock and embarrassment... I think.

He peers around Rulf's bulk and says, "I'm sorry, Lady Aldora, but you will have to change out of your dress in one of the change rooms in the back of the armory. You can't wear a dress while you wear any of my armor. It won't fit."

Hob turns around and grabs a tunic and trousers off a shelf that appear as though they'll fit Marleet and hands them to her. He points toward the back of the room and says, "My Lady," before skipping to a shelf with chain mail.

He begins to collect chain mail and leather armor off the shelves and then races them back to each of us. He drops sets of armor down in front of us in clouds of dust, then heads off to find us swords, mumbling about how two of them already have their swords, so he only needs four more.

As Marleet moves off to find her change room, I bend down and take a look at what Hob has left for me. I'm not overly familiar with armor, but I'm disappointed to see that what he picked out is old and well used. My leather armor has cuts and slices in it, although nothing appears to have gone through. I glance around at the others and see a similar reaction from each. Rulf growls in disgust.

"Hob is required to give us the armor we need," I say, "but he's not required to give us nice armor."

"Then we'll take what we want," Rulf says.

"Oh, no!" I say. "If you rob an armory, we'll be arrested." I lower my voice to a whisper and say, "You can't expect to get away with stealing from this room. Not with Hob around."

"Put on that armor!" Hob screams from the other end of the room.

"I don't think we know how," Ellcia hollers back.

The man runs back to us. I have no idea how the guy moves like he does, but he reaches us quickly. He jumps in front of me and starts shoving the armor onto my body, explaining as he goes. I do my best to watch how everything goes on, but he moves fast. He moves on to Rulf, then Mic, then Ellcia, then Hemot. By the time he's finished, Marleet comes out of the change room. She has a big frown on her face and, to be honest, I struggle to recognize her.

I'm not sure I've ever seen her in anything less than something beautiful. What she's wearing at this moment is plain, brown, baggy, and entirely unflattering. To add to it, she's tied her hair back behind her head. Aside from when it's been done in braids, I've never seen her with her hair anything like that.

The three of us stifle laughs while Rulf looks confused. Mic just mumbles, "Girl not happy. Girl not happy," under his breath.

Hob runs for Marleet, grabs her by the arm, and drags her to where he has her armor laid out. When he's finished throwing it on her, she looks far better. I see her touch a small, pretty purple crest near her left shoulder, and a slight smile creeps onto her face.

"Weapons!" Hob hollers and runs off again. He comes back a moment later with swords and bows and arrows and even a crossbow. He grabs a sword and rushes it to Marleet, along with a small dagger. He does the same for Hemot, then Ellcia. Rulf and Mic already have swords, so he gives them each a knife. Finally, he comes up to me and straps the sword belt on me himself, attaching the dagger on my right and the sword on my left.

He comes up right into my face again and whispers, "You have a nice sword."

When he's finished, he offers a bow and arrows to anyone who wants it. Hemot takes him up on it, and Mic takes the crossbow. Mic says to Hob, "Show me how. Show me how."

Hob beams a smile back at him and screams, "Okay! Okay!" A moment later, he's walked Mic through using the weapon.

Personally, I'm terrified at the thought of Mic having a crossbow. At least with a sword, we can stand far enough away from him. But a crossbow is another matter. I had heard that those kinds of things can sometimes punch a hole through plate armor.

When he's finished giving all the instructions, Hob tells Mic to shoot the arrow at a shelf on the other end of the long armory. Mic awkwardly raises it up while saying, "Shoot now. Shoot now." When he releases the arrow, it fires across the room and sinks into the shelf. I don't know if he meant to hit that spot, but he drove it right into a red piece of cloth hanging down. If that was on purpose, then Mic is a deadly shot. If he didn't mean to hit that exact spot, then... well... either way, Mic is a deadly shot.

When we're all suited up and our weapons are secured to our belts and backs, I stop and look around at each of us. Marleet's armor is well fitted and quite nice. She actually looks beautiful in it. Hemot looks dangerous in his armor. It's beat up, but it's obvious that it was expensive and high-quality workmanship. Rulf's armor hangs off his body in a sloppy manner, but it actually adds to the effect and makes him look even bigger than he is.

Ellcia looks stunning in her armor. I catch myself with that thought and feel my face turn red. I actually take a moment and try to figure out if I said what I was thinking out loud. I don't think I did, so I relax.

Mic looks unimportant in his armor. It's as if Hob didn't think Mic was even worth the armor, yet I can tell that it'll offer solid protection. I decide not to worry about him. His armor is so unimpressive, I find it easy to ignore him like everyone else does.

Once I'm done examining the others, I realize everyone is staring at me. I look down at my own armor and realize why they look so embarrassed. I'm wearing what appears to be the poorest made armor imaginable. It's in far worse shape than anyone else's armor, and I'm confident the soldiers in the city and at the gate will laugh at me.

I don't normally like to complain, but I'm not sure I'll even see Hob again. "Hey, Hob!" I begin, trying to sound confident. "Why did you give me this armor? It looks like it's the worst armor in the kingdom!"

Hob responds with an actual giggle. He runs up to me and whispers, "This is why, Sir!" He reaches out and grabs my dagger. Before I can respond, he plunges it into my chest.