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cloister who jumped forward to
escort Pennington into the castle. He then turned to Jack and
Aubrey with a wordless sigh.
    It was Jack who spoke the words they were all
thinking. “Where the hell are we gonna get ten thousand marks?”
     
    In the shadows of the corridor that opened
out to the cloister, Ethan and his men listened to Pennington’s
revelation. Toby met the news with a troubled scowl. He stole a
sideways glance at his master. Ethan was clearly conflicted. Toby
was certain that his master wanted King Richard home as soon as
possible and equally as certain that he wouldn’t take it well if
Crispin and Jack were instrumental in the return.
    “Come on,” Ethan whispered over his shoulder,
turning to dash down a side corridor. “I’ve heard enough.” Roderick
followed him. Tom lingered by the door. “Come on, Tom!” Ethan cut
back to get him.
    “He … he looks well,” Tom muttered, face
slack. Toby followed his line of sight. He was watching Jack. “He’s
gained weight. He looks fit, happy.”
    “We don’t have time to stand around
contemplating how much Lord Jack has been eating,” Ethan frowned
and yanked Tom away, pushing him on.
    “A hundred and fifty thousand marks!” Toby’s
thoughts flew back to the problem at hand as they skittered down a
side hall and out into the castle gardens. “I can’t believe
it!”
    “Well, believe it.”
    “What do you think Huntingdon will do to
raise ten thousand marks?” Tom asked as they neared the corner of
the wall where they had left the cart they’d snuck in with.
    Ethan didn’t answer. He motioned for them to
wait until the way was clear. “Whatever it is,” he nodded for them
to sprint forward, “you can bet that we’ll put an end to it.”
    Toby stopped near the cart as Roderick shot
past him, bending over to catch his breath. “Yes, but do we really
want to stop him if it means bringing the king home?”
    Toby’s thoughts were cut short when Joanna
walked out of the kitchen door. She glanced up and gasped, her eyes
popping in surprise. Ethan froze and for the briefest moment his
dark frown of concentration melted away into a cocky grin.
    “Well hello,” he turned on all of his charm
even as her surprise hardened to irritation. “Who are you?”
    “Joanna!” Toby ran forward, pushing past
Ethan. He threw his arms around his sister and hugged her close.
Then he all but fell to his knees in front of her. “Please don’t
tell! Please don’t tell!”
    Ethan blinked and glanced from Toby to his
sister. “Joanna Dunkirke?” he asked, taking another look at her.
“It can’t be.”
    Joanna took one look at the way Ethan was
making eyes at her and pursed her lips before ignoring him,
planting her hands on her hips, and turning all of her attention to
her brother. “I warned you, Toby,” she shook her head, “Didn’t I
say if I ever caught him in Derby Castle I would turn you in?”
    “Yes, I know, but-” Toby stammered.
    Joanna reached out and put a hand on Toby’s
face, leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then tore off past them
and out into the courtyard shouting, “Help! Thieves! Brigands!
Ethan of Derbywood and his gang!” She kept running through the
courtyard towards the cloister.
    Ethan’s face dropped. “I thought she was on
our side.” He jumped into the cart’s seat as Tom and Roderick
scrambled into the back.
    Toby covered the deep blush coming to his
face by hauling himself into the seat by Ethan’s side. “No, my
lord, she’s not.”
    “Pity,” Ethan smirked and snapped the
reigns.
     

Chapter Three

    “Oy! I bloody knew it!” Jack hollered as he
ran out of the cloister along with Crispin and Aubrey after Joanna
sounded the alarm. “I knew I saw those bloody wankers loiterin’
about the place!”
    The three of them met Joanna in the center of
the courtyard. “They came from the garden,” she reported.
    “How long have they been here?” Crispin
demanded.
    “I don’t know, my lord.”
    “I’m