Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay That evening, I was very careful as I made my way down the darkened hall in Hamond’s castle. I noticed a few guards, but Hamond’s “faithful” guards were totally drunk, and I easily slipped past them.
I crept down the hall to find Hamond’s office. I needed to find proof, anything that would allow me to have him arrested. Maybe there was a treasury somewhere. I crept along quietly in the darkened hall. When I reached the stairs, I heard a soft sound from below. I inched my way down the steps and listened intently. At last, I heard light footsteps, so light I could have easily missed them if I hadn’t been completely alert. I could see that someone had lit a lamp downstairs in the cellar. I hid in the shadows behind a pillar and waited. Soon, a slender figure crept quietly past me, dressed in dark colors. The bandit was holding a sack filled with jewels and other precious items. After the bandit passed me and the footsteps died away, I began to follow. The woman heard me, then stopped and turned around to look at me. “Who are you?” I asked. There was silence as we regarded each other. Then the bandit held up a hand towards me and seemed about to speak. “Luzena,” she whispered. Suddenly I heard the sound of breaking glass and loud voices getting closer. The drunk guards were coming back! The bandit took a step back and then suddenly shot forward, through the open window. I jumped out as well, soon losing sight of the mysterious woman who knew my name. * When I returned to the room I shared with Jazer, I saw that he had waited up for me. He was sitting at his desk, staring out the window. He leaped up as I came in from the balcony. “You’re finally back!” he said, relieved. “I was so worried.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I met a woman who knows my name,” I said. “She too was spying around Hamond’s castle, mostly in the cellar.” “I wonder who she is,” Jazer wondered. “Anyway, it’s late and you must be tired.” I yawned. “Yeah, if I find that woman, maybe she and I could work together and find out what Hamond is up to.” * The next night, I visited Haunild. “Luzena, thank you for meeting me,” she said. I had told her repeatedly she was welcome to call me “Luzena” and she had finally done it. “I have the strangest news to tell you. Hamond came by today and returned all the money he’d taken from the villagers. He even acted friendly. It was very strange.” “Interesting,” I said, surprised. “So he finally listened to us?” “I’m not completely sure he’s sincere,” Haunild said. “There’s something suspicious about him. I think he’s doing all this for some specific purpose, perhaps power or fame. But I have no proof.” “I will investigate further,” I said. I needed a better plan, and maybe others to come with me. I could see if Sabina wanted to come along, but I also didn’t want to put her in any danger. But then again, she was more than capable of dealing with tough situations and escaping unharmed. And most of all, I wanted to find that mystery woman.
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