Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #16 July 2015 | Página 41

The crowd of escaping prisoners followed
them, the lures of freedom, food, and a wash pulling
them like an angler’s fly attracts a hungry trout.
Only one man remained; the one who had sought out
Juliana. “If there is anything I can do to help? I am
very grateful for my release. I’m sure the others are
too, but they are too excited to say so.”
Jhamed looked at him and smiled. “Thank
you, my friend. You have already done us a great
service. Hurry off now and enjoy your freedom.
Prince Christopher will need your help soon enough.”
The man bowed low and hurried off. “Now, despite
Simon’s new found leadership, there is something I
must do or I fear there will be tears before bedtime.
Will you pick up a sword and join me, Captain? You
two are more than capable of holding the fort here.”
Jhamed and the Captain followed Simon and Juliana.
Dawit looked at Taran and shrugged. “Who
would have thought it? A dwarf and an elf holding the
fort. These are strange days indeed. I had hoped to see
the witch.”
“Be careful what you wish for. If Simon is not
successful you may see more of her than will be good
for you,” Taran said.
Juliana guided Simon through the cold stone
corridors of the dungeon. They climbed slowly until
they were at ground level, where they stopped to
take stock. “The dungeon forms the lower levels of
the central tower of the castle. The Queen’s treasure
room is at the very top of the tower. We can use the
servants’ stairs to get most of the way up there. There
is a single stair for the last two floors. Her apartments
are on the second top floor. No one is allowed up to
the top floor. Someone is coming, quickly, this way.”
They hid behind a wall tapestry as a group
of chattering servants passed by and then crept to a
door that opened into a narrow stone stairway. The

stairs were worn from generations of use and lit only
by a faint light from slit windows at regular intervals.
Simon hoped that they would not meet anyone on the
stairs. He didn’t want to have to use the sword he was
carrying on innocent people. Fortunately, there was no
one around and they climbed steadily. Even so, Simon
was out of breath by the time they reached Freda’s
levels. The higher they got, the more urgent were the
demands in Simon’s head. He tried to shut them out,
to keep his head clear but it was impossible. Yes, yes,
come to me. I am waiting. Without Juliana leading
him, he probably wouldn’t have had the wits to find
the chamber, such was his distraction. The servants’
stairs disgorged them onto a landing. A wide, carpeted
stairway lit by wall-mounted oil lamps would take
them to Freda’s quarters. They paused for a moment
and Simon forced his head to clear a little. “What does
she look like? How will I recognise her? In my mind,
she looks like an ugly old crone.”
Juliana looked at Simon. “Oh, no! She is the
most beautiful woman in the world.”
Simon was confused. He wanted to tell Juliana
that, to him, she was the most beautiful woman in
the world, even as dirty and ragged as she was now.
The noise in his head got too loud again, so he said
nothing. Be careful. She is here. She is waiting for you.
They tentatively climbed the stairs. Again, they saw )