The soldier shook bits of grass and dirt from his jacket as he gave Gar his report. The group huddled in the lee of a stony outcrop overlooking Nygard.

"I recognized two of them. One is William something or other, the King's valet, and the other is Argon Smoot."

"Who the devil is Argon Smoot?" Gar growled.

"He's one of the Count's palace guards. I've seen him on occasion at the inn. They're lady soldiers." The man sneered, using a term the regulars applied to those who stood by the chamber doors all day.

"Who else was there?"

"A young maid and a scruffy looking man. All the men have gone toward Nygard. Oh, and there was also a wagon and a mule."

Gar spun around, glaring at the man in disbelief. "A wagon and mule! Didn't you think that was of importance? Didn't we follow a wagon and mule to Dyst?"

The soldier blinked and shrugged.

"WELL?" Gar reached out and slammed the man's head back and forth until he stumbled away on rubber legs. "Am I surrounded by total imbeciles!" He moved threateningly toward the others, pointing a shaking finger. "You two. Go and fetch the girl, we will wait and see how our little friends fare against the Duke's men. If they are successful, she will be a bargaining chip. If not, well..."

*****

"What's this?" Mokum protested, seeing the soldier he'd captured now untied and seemingly a member of the group.

"Shhh! He's on our side, and we can use his expertise as a soldier." William whispered back.

"Expertise! Doth thee know it was I who captured this expert with very little trouble?"

"Forget that," Derrick broke in, "we're not here to debate relative merits. Now, what's the plan?"

"Plan? I have no plan. Thee are the ones seeking this lad." Mokum shook his head in disgust.

"Quit bickering." William hissed. "Where are they?"

"Mokum jabbed a thumb toward the window above. "In there, and the Duke has sent some men to find an innocent child to threaten thy friend Jep into talking."

"Have they come back?" William seized on a possible plan.

"Not yet, but they're just down the road a short distance."

"Good. Listen then, here's what we'll do."

*****

Rodney fell face first onto the Duke's chamber floor; his hat and cape fluttering around like garbage blown in the wind. When the Duke saw the Huth straddle him with a dagger aimed at his neck, he commanded his men to stand down.

"What do you think you're doing?" He demanded.

"Just stay where you are and don't move unless you want your nephew filleted on your clean floor." Derrick moved quickly to Jep, untying his hands and helping him to his feet.

"Gwendolise... free the girl..." He pointed weakly, the abuse by Rodney and the soldiers leaving him weak and light headed.

Gwendolise jumped up from the corner and ran to Jep. "I wasn't tied, it's all right." She looked at William and the others. "Who are you? I don't understand..."

"I am William Kendrick, valet to the King of Graf and old friend of Jep Pennistyle. You must be Gwendolise Bogendancer, the young woman he's been looking for."

She gave him a puzzled look but Derrick was urging them to deal with the formalities later. "We have to get out of here before more of the Duke's men show up, or worse, Gar and his crew."

"Make him give up the stones," Gwendolise said, pointing at the Duke. "We can't leave without them."

The Duke's mouth dropped open and he turned, making a dash for the door. Both Derrick and William started after him but Argon stepped forward, felling him with one blow to the chest.

"Don't kill him!" Gwendolise started. "He's the only one who knows where the stones are kept."

Argon reached down and dragged the coughing Duke to his feet. "The stones. Now!"

"Never!" He croaked, holding his stomach.

"Perhaps a slice of nephew might change your mind." Mokum pressed the blade of his knife into the screaming Rodney.

"You wouldn't... you couldn't..." The Duke looked on in dismay, knowing full well they could and they would.

"Last chance." William said, with more strength than he felt. The Huth seemed too eager to begin.

"Perhaps a little of what his nephew was going to do to Jep might change his mind." Gwendolise suggested, retrieving the stone from the pillow and starting toward the Duke. "Hold him steady, soldier, while I push this into his ear."

"NO! NO! I'll tell you! Please don't- don't do...this... to...me..." Keebooten Teacher, the Grand Duke of Nygard, collapsed sniveling to the floor.

"You coward! You stupid, weak coward!" Rodney turned his head and screamed at his uncle.

"Enough from thee." Mokum banged Rodney hard behind the ear, letting his head hit the floor with a wet thwack.

*****

The soldier stood back from Gar as he made his report; the earlier treatment of his companion still fresh in his memory. "It was actually quite well executed, Captain. They ambushed the Duke's men, freeing the child and taking his nephew hostage in return. Argon was helping them."

Gar scratched at his eye patch, shifting his attention to the girl his men had tied and placed on their spare horse. Shuddering with fear, Mary watched the ugly Captain approach.

"Why did the King's soldier help your friends? What is that Huth doing with you, and who is the wagon owner?"

"We are just trying to help our friend, Jep Pennistyle." She trembled. "His parents were killed by- by..."

"I know how his father died," Gar growled. "What of his mother?"

"She was- she... the Queen..." Mary began to sob, drowning out the last of her words.

Gar bared his teeth and stalked away. He could guess what happened. The fools couldn't wait for him to succeed; they had to meddle themselves. But what was so important that it drove them to murder right in the palace courtyard? Now he was faced with this strange collection of opposition, just another unnecessary obstacle to contend with.

He returned to his men and issued his commands. They would bide their time here until they saw how the rescuers fared, then they would make their move, using the girl as currency.

*****

"Do you think this wise, Your Majesty? What guarantee do you have that this old woman is telling the truth?" Consiflore grabbed his hat and straightened it on his head as the carriage bounced through a rut in the road.

"Suffice it to say, I know, my dear Count. Do not fret yourself, just be prepared to do what is necessary when we get the key." The carriage hit another nasty pothole and Hella screamed a vile threat at the driver, pounding her staff against the roof of the compartment. "When we reach the valley I want that man flogged."

Consiflore winced but dared another protest. "The Wye Valley is two days journey, Your Highness, how can you be certain that is where they will head?"

Hella turned a withering glare on the Count, letting her mouth curl up in a wicked smile. "Perhaps you would care to finish the trip up there with the driver. You can discuss how many lashes it would take to correct your behaviour."

"Ahhh... no, your Highness. Please, my most humble apology. I was- I just..." He sank back, tilting his hat and wig askew, afraid to dab at the trickle of sweat coursing down his temple.

Hella smiled to herself and looked away out the window at the rolling countryside. She knew Prize was telling the truth because no one else could possibly know so much about her sister. Besides, knowledge and description of the stones was too accurate to be false.

It would be interesting to see her beloved sister again, Hella thought, maliciously. Another pothole jarred her reverie and an evil glance at the Count indicated that something more severe than a flogging awaited the unsuspecting driver.

Prize bounced contentedly next to the driver, sharing his glee as the carriage wheels sought out all the major ruts in the roadway. When they reached the Wye Valley, he would be gone like wisp of smoke; there would be no expectation of clemency from the Queen.

His plan, revealed to Prize during the trip, had always been to get away from Graf and the intolerable service to Hella. So, the two new conspirators giggled and laughed their way across the bumpy countryside, winking and nudging as they scanned the road for bumps and holes.