Saving Thanehaven by Catherine Jinks Read Free Book Online

that.”
    The princess flicks Noble a sharp look, as if she suspects him of some deep and cunning motive. But if she has any reservations, she doesn’t voice them.
    “After what you just said about the gargoyles,I think a large escort
would
be wise,” she finally concedes. “It would also mark the importance of this occasion. So feel free to join us. We should all feel free to do as we wish, now.”
    “In that case, I’ll come, too,” Rufus decides. “The gargoyles might listen to me. They did before.”
    Noble can’t argue with that. He remains silent while orders are given for an armed platoon to be assembled at the front gate. He doesn’t even exchange a parting word with Lord Harrowmage.
    It’s Rufus who, on his way toward the exit, tells the gloomy old wizard, “Stay with the program. Things are going to be different. You’ve gotta take that on board because change is good. Without change, you can’t have growth.”
    “Change. Yes. And growth,” Lord Harrowmage mutters.
    “The only thing is, if you see something
especially
different—if someone really strange turns up while we’re gone—then you’d better sound the alarm.” Conscious of a sudden shift in the atmosphere, Rufus adds cheerfully, “It’s just a precaution.”
    “What do you mean, ‘someone strange’?” Noble demands. “Are you talking about an enemy agent?”
    “Enemy agent?”
the princess repeats, aghast. By now she’s poised on the threshold. “What enemy agent?”
    Rufus sighs. “Look—what
I
want to do is set you free. Like I said before. Right?”
    “Right,” Noble affirms. Lord Harrowmage nods.
    “But there are certain parties who’d prefer to keep you locked into your programming,” Rufus continues, “and it’s hard to tell how they might react, now that you’re making your own decisions.”
    “What parties?” Lorellina wants to know.
    Noble, beside her, says, “Not the clans?”
    “No, no. Not the clans. Just a bunch of jerks and dingbats. Like the one who was in charge of Smite, for instance.” Again Rufus shrugs, spreading his hands in helpless apology. “What can I say? There are always people who try to keep all the power for themselves.”
    “Then we must oppose them!” the princess cries. “We must oppose those who wish to enslave us in an unfair system!”
    “Right.” Rufus nods. “Solidarity.”
    “We cannot retreat now. We
will
not retreat!” Lorellina’s voice rings out like a bell. “Hearts and minds are not like gargoyles! Once unchained, they are free forever! As my cousin says, there are some actions that, when taken, cannot be undone!”
    “Well, I hope not,” Rufus remarks a little doubtfully. “But it’s hard to figure out what kind of stunt these parties might pull. That’s why you need to keep your eyes open.” He surveys his audience with a lopsided grin. “Because the price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” he concludes, “especially when you don’t even know what to look for. So my advice is: Stay sharp. We’ve still got a big job ahead of us.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    A fter descending a circular staircase, Noble and Rufus pursue Lorellina into a long and winding tunnel. Then they follow her up a ladder, over a drain, through a series of guardrooms, under an arch, past a privy, and down another circular staircase into the gatehouse. Along the way, Noble catches the odd glimpse of what he might have faced had Rufus never shown up; things that Rufus calls anti-Noble devices. There are murder holes, trapdoors, and strategically placed spikes. There’s a net full of cannonballs poised over a flight of stairs. There’s a passage dense with cobwebs spun by a million spiders, and another that oozes something sticky from its scabbed walls.…
    With every step he takes, Noble becomes more confident that he’s made the right decision. Peace
is
better than war. He can’t imagine how he could have freed Lorellina if he’d tried to fight his way into the fortress, with or