Menagerie - Martin Day [39]
'Told you it would work,' he said.
Cosmae shrugged, his darting eyes searching for signs of movement. 'I think that old guard knew me.'
'That's as maybe,' said Jamie. 'Now, give me the dirk.
Whatever happens, I feel safer with this.'
Now what do we do?' asked Cosmae.
Jamie was beginning to find the boy's whining just a little irritating. 'Where are the cells?' he asked.
'Somewhere under the castle, I would imagine.'
'Aye,' said Jamie. 'That figures.'
There was a loud creak from the stairway closest to them, and then the sound of footsteps. Jamie grabbed Cosmae by the shoulder, and the two of them ducked through the archway and underneath the steps. Most of the space was taken up by old curtains and sheet, roped together in bundles, but Cosmae and Jamie were just able to squeeze into position. Jamie breathed in a lungful of disturbed dust, and had to hold his nose to stop himself from sneezing.
Moments later Jamie peered around the edge of the stairs and caught a glimpse of a knight in full ceremonial armour.
The sky-blue cloak and helmet plumes were a clear indication of senior rank. The huge sword at the man's waist was a reminder of the danger he and Cosmae were in.
The knight paused, a few steps from the bottom. He removed his helmet, his head moving from side to side like a falcon alert for the minutest sounds of prey. The knight's hands were roughly level with Jamie's head, Jamie withdrew as far as he could into the shadows.
Jamie's heart sounded like something being hammered into shape at a forge, his breathing like huge bellows. He was sure to give away their position. He stared at the shadow of the knight on the stairs, expecting sudden movement and capture. He drew in breath as quietly as he could.
After an agonizing silence Jamie heard the man sigh. The knight trotted down the last few steps. He stayed out of sight for a few moments, presumably still searching for something. A few moments later the sound of footsteps moving', further down the corridor was music to Jamie's ears.
He turned. Cosmae seemed to have stopped breathing, his skin an odd blue colour. Jamie nudged him and he drew in a great whooping breath that sounded not dissimilar to badly played bagpipes. 'It's Zaitabor,' Cosmae said when eventually the colour returned to his cheeks. 'Second only to the Grand Knight.'
'Maybe we should follow him,' said Jamie. 'The Doctor's bound to be in some sort of trouble. He's probably being interrogated by the leaders at this very moment.'
Cosmae nodded. 'It's possible if we find this Doctor fellow he'll know where Kaquaan is as well.'
Jamie and Cosmae emerged slowly from their hiding place. When they crept into the corridor they were just in time to see a flash of blue close to a stairway to their left.
The stairs of rough, yellowed stone led downwards and into darkness. Even at the top of the staircase they could smell dampness and decay. 'The cells?' asked Jamie.
'Possibly,' said Cosmae.
They walked quickly down the stairway. Jamie descended first, clutching his dirk tightly. Cosmae followed, glancing upwards for movement in the hallway. Both wondered at the quietness of the castle so far — as if the knights were otherwise engaged. A chill gripped them as they moved down the twisted stairway.
As Jamie reached the bottom he saw the knight about twenty yards further down the corridor. In that direction the walls were damp with mould. The doorways which led off from it were of stout, dark wood, with little metal gratings towards the top.
Zaitabor was talking to another knight. Although dressed much like the others, keys jangled from the man's belt, elbows and knees. His dirty helm had a large copper key as some sort of standard in the place of the usual flowing plumes. He held a thick torch of soaked rags and twigs, which provided almost the only illumination in the entire corridor.
Midway between the knights and the bottom of the stairs was a recessed alcove. Thankful for the semi-darkness Jamie edged towards