“And what did Bishop Saldur have to do with Captain Lawrence raising the alarm?”
“Oh, right. So when the captain opens the wardrobe and there’s nothing there, he knew something was going on. We finally told him about Rose, and he said we should go find her and take her home. But Saldur started going on and on about what a big deal it was. He kept referring to Rose as an intruder and squawking about how she could be a spy or assassin or whatever. He told Captain Lawrence that if he didn’t raise the alarm, he’d go to Percy Braga himself and tell the chancellor that the captain was putting the king’s life in danger. He was making a big fuss over nothing, but Saldur’s not a soldier and doesn’t understand these things. I think part of the reason Captain Lawrence agreed was just to get the bishop to calm down. Well, that and he didn’t want to get on the wrong side of his new boss.”
“And you are absolutely sure that the bishop is wrong? That this girl isn’t a danger? Where did you find her?” Exeter resumed his tilt-headed glare.
“A brothel in the Lower Quarter.”
“You got the captain a Lower Quarter whore?” Richard was too shocked to keep quiet.
“Oh no, it’s not like that.” Barnes shook his head. “It’s new. They call it Medford House. Even though it’s on Wayward Street, it’s a real nice place, clean, classy even. And Rose is a real sweet girl. She’d never do anything—”
“Oh really? Then tell me, Sergeant, why isn’t she here? Why didn’t this sweet girl do her job, collect her money, and go back to the Lower Quarter?”
Barnes remained silent.
Exeter started to pace, deep in thought. He tugged on his lower lip, and his cape flared dramatically each time he turned and walked in the other direction. Richard, and presumably Barnes, thought it best to leave him to his thoughts. They stood silently at attention. After several minutes Exeter stopped and addressed them.
“Rose’s disappearance is indeed cause for concern, and finding her should be the realm’s highest priority, but not for the reasons stated by our esteemed bishop. To think that the girl is a spy or assassin is ludicrous. You selected the girl to come here, not the other way around. Am I correct?”
Barnes nodded his agreement.
“Melengar has many enemies, and I suspect spies do indeed lurk in many places, but the likelihood of you picking one at random from a local brothel is absurd, as is the possibility of someone finding out about her coming to the palace and bribing her to open a door or lure a guard away from a post.”
“She wouldn’t have any time to do that anyway. We walked in, picked her out, and brought her right back. She didn’t talk to no one.”
Exeter walked until he was nearly nose-to-nose with Barnes, fixing him squarely in his gaze. “If the girl is part of a conspiracy, the most likely explanation would be that Barnes here is a traitor.”
“Oh no, Your Lordship! I swear I’m not.” He looked as if he might faint.
After studying his face, Exeter said, “I’m inclined to believe you. If that was your plan, there would be no reason to make up a story about her being a gift for Captain Lawrence. You would have just hidden her in the castle and none of us would be here.
“Perhaps we are making too much of this. Could it simply be that you were taking too long to fetch Captain Lawrence, and she just got bored, walked down the stairs, and is home right now?”
Barnes shook his head. “We had Grisham watching the hallway downstairs. You know, keeping an eye out for the captain? If she came down, he would have seen her.”
Lord Exeter went to the window, leaned over, and looked down. “So that leaves only one remaining possibility.”
“You think she went out the window?” Richard asked.
“Unless Sergeant Barnes is mistaken or lying, I see no other alternative. And since we found no body from a fall, she must have climbed down.”
“No one in their right mind would climb down from here,” Barnes said, and this time he did let out a little chuckle.
Richard cringed for him.
“No?” Exeter asked. He crossed the room and closed the door. “I think someone who is highly motivated might give it a try. But you’re right. It’s not a task one tries without good reason, and it may not even be possible no matter how hard one tries.”
He turned his attention to Richard. “Sergeant Hilfred, draw your weapon.”
Richard did as ordered while His Lordship did likewise. Exeter pointed the tip of his broadsword at Barnes, motioned to the window with a nod of his head, and simply said, “Give it a try.”
Barnes glanced at the window, then smiled uncomfortably. “You’re not … you’re not serious, Your Lordship.”
“I assure you I am. I have to determine if it is possible, and I’m providing you compelling motivation.”
“But, Your Lordship!”
“Do as ordered or Sergeant Hilfred and I will kill you where you stand. You could draw as well. It’s your choice, but I’ve seen you use your blade and you’re not very good. You stand a better chance of survival out the window.” Exeter sidestepped to his left, placing Barnes between them. “But if you draw, be sure you can kill me. Anything less and I’ll have the king quarter you. I am, after all, his cousin.”
Exeter rushed forward and slashed. Barnes shuffled backward toward the window with a slice in his tunic. He winced and clutched his chest, suggesting Exeter cut more than just cloth. His eyes were wide as he watched Exeter’s blade, but he never touched his own.
If Barnes had drawn, Richard would have fought him. He had to—it was his job to defend the castle nobility, no matter the situation. He also never cared much for Barnes. He and the other King’s Men had always looked down on him with expressions that said, Even after all these years you still aren’t one of us, and you don’t deserve to guard the king.
Maybe that’s why Barnes did it. He had no choice—neither of them did.
Barnes grabbed hold of the stone and climbed up so that he was standing on the sill, framed in the window. He looked down and Richard could see him shaking.
“Relax, Sergeant,” Exeter said. “I’m fairly certain the young girl—that local whore as you put it—successfully climbed down.”
Lord Exeter’s observation didn’t appear to help. Panting with tension, Barnes turned around, crouched, and taking a firm hold, slid his legs out the window until his stomach rested on the sill.
“There’s a ledge here,” Barnes said with sudden delight.
Richard suspected anything positive would be joyous to Barnes at that moment.
The sergeant continued to slip out, dropping until only his fingers were visible and then he let go. “I did it.”
Exeter leaned out the window. They both did. Barnes was just an arm’s length below, standing on a tiny decorative ledge no more than a foot wide.
“Keep going,” Exeter ordered.