The Siege Scare Read Online Free

somewhere closer. He could carry a message to the innkeeper.’
    The cat nodded. ‘The question is,’ she said, ‘who should write the message? It should be someone the innkeeper knows and would obey without question.’
    Tommy thought for a minute, then smiled. ‘I know just the person,’ she said.

    Tommy brushed at her tunic and tugged it straight, then ran across the great hall and climbed the steps to the upper floor of the south tower.
    She drew in a breath as she gazed around the bower that was Lady Beatrix the Bored’s private room. Colourful tapestries hung on the walls and the big bed in the centre of the room was scattered with beautifully embroidered cushions and covers. Lady Beatrix herself was lying on the bed with her lady-in-waiting sitting on a bench beside her.
    â€˜Sieges are terrible, Eliza,’ Lady Beatrix was saying. ‘And terribly boring, too. What will happen if Sir Walter and Sir Benedict don’t return in time to save us?’
    â€˜I couldn’t say, my lady,’ said Eliza.
    â€˜Excuse me, my lady,’ Tommy said from the doorway.
    Lady Beatrix sat up. ‘Eliza, look – it’s the little sword girl from the armoury. The one who was my champion at the tournament last month. What are you doing here, Sword Girl?’
    â€˜My lady, I have a plan to save the castle – but I need your help.’
    â€˜A plan to save the castle? My dear girl, I admire your spirit, but how can a little thing like you save the castle?’
    â€˜I’ve found a tunnel that goes under the castle walls and comes out in Skellibones Forest. If I can arrange to have a horse waiting for me, I could ride to Roses to fetch Sir Walter and the knights. Would you write a message to the innkeeper of The Twisted Tree for me, my lady, asking him to ready a horse? I’ll get the pigeon to carry the message to him.’
    Lady Beatrix was staring at Tommy with her mouth open. ‘Why, Sword Girl,’ she said, ‘I beg your pardon for doubting you. I most certainly will write a message for you.’ She turned to her lady-in-waiting. ‘Eliza, fetch me some ink and paper.’
    When Eliza returned, Lady Beatrix immediately began to write. When she was done she blotted the paper, folded it and fixed it with her wax seal.
    â€˜There,’ she said, as she handed the message to Tommy. ‘I’ve outlined your plan and instructed the innkeeper to prepare a horse for the Keeper of the Blades and have it ready just before dawn, when it’s darkest.’
    â€˜Thank you, my lady,’ Tommy said, turning for the door.
    â€˜Sword Girl?’
    Tommy stopped. ‘Yes, my lady?’

    â€˜We don’t want you to catch a chill on your journey. Eliza, fetch one of my woollen cloaks – the dark blue one – and one of Sir Walter’s belts. She’ll need it to hold her sword while she rides. Oh, and one of my ribbons, too, Eliza; you shall be my champion again, Sword Girl.’
    As Tommy hurried down the stairs, the cloak around her shoulders and the belt around her waist, she heard Lady Beatrix say, ‘Do you know what I like about that girl, Eliza? She never bores me.’

CHAPTER 6

    T HE SUN WAS LOW in the sky when Tommy stepped from the great hall into the courtyard.
    â€˜Pigeon,’ she called. ‘Where are you?’
    â€˜Here!’ a voice croaked.
    Tommy traced the sound to a bedraggled pile of feathers sitting on the edge of a water trough. If anything, he looked worse than when she had seen him earlier.
    â€˜Pigeon, are you okay?’ she asked.
    The bird waved a weary wing. ‘I had to give more droppings,’ he gasped out.
    â€˜Oh no,’ Tommy said. ‘I was hoping you’d carry an important message for me. Not to Roses – just to The Twisted Tree in Skellibones Forest. It might be our only chance to save Flamant!’
    With some effort, the pigeon got to his feet and stuck out