David nodded once to us, going over to one of the nonshouting guards. I saw him speak with him, point at me, and speak with him again. The guard shook his head, and then shook his head again. David’s face got grim looking, and he came back to us.

“I told him the earl was expecting you,” he said. “They won’t let us in.”

My stomach dropped.

“But he said there was someone they could send with a message, but he got angry when I wouldn’t give your name. What can we tell him, my lady, that won’t betray you?”

“Huntingdon,” I told him quick, the title that should have been Rob’s rolling fast off my tongue. “That’s the only word he’ll need to hear.”

Allan glanced at me, but David nodded, not questioning. David told the guard and the guard went off to the castle.

We moved off the road, going to a tree and sitting in its shade. The spring day weren’t overwarm, but the sun made me feel weaker.

“This is because of the tax, isn’t it?” I said.

Allan nodded. “Winchester has the reputation as the very best of overlords, my lady. He won’t let his people suffer for this tax. I’m certain many people want to be counted amongst his vassals right now.”

“Ourselves included, it would seem,” David said. “How are you feeling, my lady? You should be able to rest for a few days here.”

“I’m fine,” I said quick, but Allan looked at me.

“You’re ill?” he asked.

I scowled. “No.”

“She was imprisoned,” David grunted. “For three months. That takes something out of the body, sir.”

“Weren’t you her jailer?” Allan asked.

David met his stare. “Yes. And I took the best care of her that I could.”

I patted his arm. “I’m very well, David.”

“So what does that entail?” Allan pressed on. “He let you eat occasionally? Didn’t beat you quite as badly as he was meant to? You must tell me more so I have new fodder for a grand song about your brave and valiant acts, Sir Knight.”

David stood.

“He killed another man to save my life,” I said, looking at Allan. “And I won’t let you mock him for that.”

Allan sighed, lying down in the grass. “Fine. I’m too pretty for all this serious business.”

“I can make you a little uglier, if you wish,” David said.

Allan lifted his head. “So you agree—I’m pretty,” he said, smiling.

“Christ,” David muttered, putting his head in his hands.

It took a while for the guard to return with a letter in his hand. I opened it.

My lady M—

This guard will take you to my private hunting lodge outside the city. You will not be safe within the walls. I will join you as soon as I’m able.

—W

I handed it to David as the guard tapped two others and came back over to us. He bowed. “We are fetching horses, my lady. My lord instructed us to take you to his lodge. Forgive our earlier mistake.”

“Hasten your efforts so the lady might forget the slight,” David snapped. I frowned at him, and David gave me a tiny hint of a smile.

The horses appeared in short order, and we mounted ours as the guards readied themselves. They led us down the road and into the forest near the walled city, to a guarded but modest manor house.

We’d bare set foot within the manor wall when the doors opened again and Winchester appeared, the same tall, handsome young lord I remembered. He saw me and stopped, drawing a deep breath.

Shaking his head, he came to me and bowed. “My lady Princess,” he said quiet. He kissed my good hand. “I never thought to see you alive again.”

I squeezed his hand on mine. “It’s good to see you, Winchester. My lord, this is Sir David, and you may remember Allan a Dale.”

Winchester nodded to both of them. “Welcome. Forgive the location, but we are currently entertaining Prince John’s knights in the castle, and I assumed by your subterfuge regarding your name that you did not wish to be known. You must come inside, rest, and tell me how it is you came to be here.”

“Yes,” I told him. “But first, I want you to know that I asked Eleanor to meet me here. There is important information she needs to hear—not the least of which is that I’m still alive.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Eleanor? And her ladies?”

I frowned. “Yes.”

He near smiled. “Oh. That’s excellent. Fine. Of course, I would love to receive the queen. I’ll make sure she is diverted here so the city is not aware of her presence.” He dropped his head in a bow. “Come. Let’s go inside. I’m sure you and your men are hungry.”

“Yes,” Allan said, grinning.

“Shameless,” I heard David grunt.

“There’s no glory in shame,” Allan said back.

“So,” Winchester said, sitting at a rather intimidating table after bringing us food and drink and seating me beside him. “Please tell me how you came to be here, my lady.”

“Prince John tried to kill me,” I told him.

Winchester’s eyes flicked to Allan. “I had heard he had accomplished that deed long ago.”

“He held me in prisons. Away from Eleanor, I believe.”

Winchester tapped the table. “I was helping her,” he told me. “Eleanor. She didn’t believe John had killed you, and she tasked me with finding you. I think I came rather close too. Were you ever at Arundel or Brackley castles?” he asked.