The thud of the bar shoved back and the creak of old hinges, roused Rotaida. Brother Simeon came in, saying, “Here’s a student’s robe. Martin and your horse will be at the old stable.”

“Go quickly,” he said. “I told the attendant I would take his place for a short while. He’ll come back in a trice.”

“Thank you with all my heart, Brother.”

The noise of the river rushing below the bridge drowned the patter of her bare feet. At the old stable, she found a stone to sit on and waited for Martin. And waited. And waited. The moon moved a handspan across the sky, and still he did not come.

He must have been caught, she decided. I’ll have to fetch the mare myself, but the bridge guard will be back long since. For me, the water door under the bridge, alors, but what if Martin comes, and I’ve gone back into the castle? And how will I get the mare across the bridge if it’s guarded?

Bien, I’ll worry about that later.

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