"I'll show her to the gate, Your Majesty," Agnes said, moving to lead Janesse out."I'll show her to the gate, Your Majesty," Agnes said, moving to lead Janesse out. She could still feel Brianna's hand in hers as they walked to the waiting wagon. "The night can be chill. Snuggle into the furs," Janesse told them as they climbed aboard and Jess started the wagon moving. The guards at the gate motioned them through without even bothering to stop them, and Jess again caught sight of the one guard she knew from somewhere else. He grinned and waved at her and Janesse as they departed, in a manner that was friendly enough but not to her liking. They left the palace and drove through Tavect. The town was quieting as the taverns began to open. Brianna stayed quiet and hidden. Agnes was beginning to become puzzled as they drove out of the city. She left Brianna and moved to the front. "Where are you taking us?" she asked. Seeing no reason to lie, Jess answered, "Dark Hold. You're both to be sold to the Dark Lord. It shouldn't be too bad for you, since you're not pretty. Brianna abuses you, doesn't she?" "Well, she's not always kind," Agnes admitted. "Now's your chance to get revenge. The Dark Lord may put you over her while she's there. Even if he doesn't, what have you lost?" "Go back to the princess, Agnes," Janesse broke in with a sidelong wink at her mother. "Don't worry yourself. We're friends and I won't let anything ill befall you." Agnes thought for a moment and then returned to Brianna. The Princess was starting to reappear. She had fallen asleep upon leaving the city. Jess drove south-west through the night, paralleling the Handel River. Reaching a point along the river, the slaver stopped the wagon. She and Janesse got down and began uncovering a punt, hidden in the underbrush. Waking Brianna and Agnes, they got their charges aboard and loaded the furs. The horses were skittish about stepping on to the flat-bottomed boat, but some tugging and swearing got them aboard. |