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“I’ll hold the door up, and you climb out and lift it farther.”

The trap door was more unwieldy than heavy, and John was able to brace it with his legs spread and elbows locked. Philip climbed out, remaining low to the ground as he looked about.

He nodded down at John. “All set.”

When John was beside him, and the trap door lowered, they discovered another set of steps, leading to the first floor above them.

“Someone deliberately let us go,” Philip said, as he squinted up at the next trap door.

John eyed him. “Or ’tis a way to make sport out of our capture.”

“Or ’tis the League of the Blade,” Philip said solemnly.

“They said they wouldn’t help me.”

“Aha! So you believe!”

“I did not say that. But our fireside visitor told me I wasn’t worthy.”

“He had his doubts then. Apparently the League has decided in your favor.”

“So somehow strangers got into the castle, found the dungeon, silently left all the doors open—when they could have just told us what they were doing.”

“They don’t like to work hand-in-hand with people. You have to be intelligent enough to work on your own, within their plans.”

“You mean we were supposed to wake up at the right time?” he asked darkly.

“We did, did we not?”

“Hmph. Regardless of who let us out, we still have to tread carefully until we find this soldier who imprisoned us. He might have told Bannaster everything by now.”

Philip shook his head. “I think not. He was all about the surprise and consequent adulation.”

“So we need to find him before he sees us.”

Philip looked him up and down. “You’re filthy. We have to wash before anyone sees us.”

“You, too.”

After they climbed up through the next trap door, they found themselves in a corridor behind the kitchens. It was just dark enough that they only received an occasional curious stare from the servants they passed.

John opened the door to his chamber, Philip trailed in behind him—and then he saw Elizabeth. Her expression was shocked and relieved, and he thought there might be an extra sheen to her eyes.

But she simply drew herself up and calmly said, “I was worried when you didn’t return.” Her eyes widened as she took in their appearance. “What happened to you?”

John found himself wishing she would have thrown her arms around him, but she had herself well in control. He explained what had happened, and though she remained calm, he could sense her rising panic.

“Philip recognized the soldier’s voice,” John said. “We will find him.”

“And do what?” she demanded. “You can’t mean to kill him.”

John shook his head. “We’ll have to imprison him as he did to us, and hope that no one finds him until we’ve resolved this situation.”

“’Tis getting more and more complicated,” she whispered. “I feel like a failure. You both will be in even more danger. When will it end?”

John tried to touch her arm, but she stiffened, and he let her turn away from him. “Elizabeth⁠—”

“Do you think the League really helped you?” she asked with sudden hope.