Exile (13 page)

Faruk clambered up onto the roof, took hold of Anoosh under the arms, and pulled hard. Anoosh popped out, in a shower of soot.

“Be reassured,” he called down to me. “I spied the Queen's dog and he looks happy enough. It seems he has found something to eat!”

“But what are we to do?” I wailed, looking pleadingly up at Faruk. “Poor Henri is a brave animal. He does not show his fear, but he will pine to death if we do not free him!” It was clear that Faruk was the only one who could possibly be the thief. I was determined to get him to do the test.

At this moment Sharokh came strolling past. He stopped in astonishment when he saw his two fellow pages perched on the smokehouse roof. “Ah! I have found you at last!” he exclaimed. “But in such a strange place. The Banoo has been calling for you both to attend her. We are to listen to music in the Great Hall.”

“They must rescue the Queen's dog first,” I put in hurriedly. “He is locked inside this smokehouse and the only way in is through the chimney. Anoosh got stuck, so Faruk is about to try. I hope you can spare him for a few more minutes.”

“It will be quicker to do it myself,” declared Sharokh, jumping nimbly onto the roof.

“Please do not trouble yourself!” I called. I did not want him to stop Faruk attempting the rescue and so ruin my test. But it was too late. Sharokh already had his head inside the chimney. I could not quite see what he was doing, but he seemed to be wriggling his shoulders in a very peculiar way. Suddenly he slithered out of our view.

“I have the dog,” we heard him call from inside the smokehouse. “I will pass it up. Eurgh! Desist from licking my face, hound!”

“Do not be alarmed,” I called grudgingly. “He is just thanking his rescuer.”

Faruk reached into the chimney and pulled a wriggling Henri out. Gingerly he handed him to Anoosh, who passed him down to Masou. As soon as Henri was set on his feet, he rushed for the door of the smokehouse and started scraping at it. I slipped over to him and tried to hold him off with my skirts, but he was determined to get back inside to his bone. I put my hands behind me and clung to the doorknob, hoping no one would notice.

I heard the hooks clanking together. Sharokh must have been swinging on them to get back out of the chimney. A moment later he stood before me, bowing proudly. I thanked him and tried to sound gracious but I was spitting inside. Sharokh had
displayed the very skills that I was looking for. If only he slept in the room above the Banoo's I would have my thief.

A faint hope dawned! I decided to try and find out exactly where Sharokh's chamber was. But I needed a good reason to ask such a strange question, of course. I thought I was really quite clever about it.

“Oh, Sharokh, the Queen will be most relieved that little Henri is safe—and most pleased with your assistance. Might I know where your chamber is situated, in case Her Majesty should choose to honour you with a message of thanks?” I inquired sweetly.

Sharokh looked very pleased with himself. “Why, certainly, my chamber is on the first floor, near that of Mr. Somers. Though I share with other pages, of course.”

So his chamber is nowhere near the Banoo's apartments. He may have the skills I seek in my thief, but that is of no consequence when it seems he had not the opportunity to thieve the Heart of Kings! I sighed and thanked him, and he hurried away with Anoosh and Faruk to attend the Banoo.

Hell's teeth! I am most disheartened. Though Sharokh's arrival thwarted my attempt to test Faruk's skills as a snake man, in truth I fear Masou
is right—neither Anoosh nor Faruk seems skilled enough to be the thief. And I am no closer to clearing Ellie's name.

I have just realised that the music must have stopped a time ago, for the whole Court is on its feet and talking about it. I hope I am not expected to say anything clever, for I did not hear one note! While everybody is milling around, I am going to slip out and see Ellie. I have no good news to give her but I will take her some food. Mistress Berry is now convinced that I am having a growth spurt and will outgrow my strength if I am not fed regularly. So she has a little something for me every time I go to the Privy Kitchen.

We are all sitting at dinner and I have my daybooke in my lap. I should not really have it at table. I hope no one notices that I am doing more writing than chewing. I am sure I should be ravenous by now. Dinner is very late—after a long trek through the Glass Gallery—but I am too nervous to eat!

I had hoped that we would all be dismissed after
the music so that I could make my visits to the kitchen and to Ellie. But unfortunately, the Queen caught my eye and I had no choice but to go to her and curtsy. My heart sank, for I had nothing good to tell her.

“We spoke before of someone who has tried to capture the ‘Heart' of a noble lady,” she said gravely. “Has he made himself known to you, Grace?”

Her Majesty was being very clever. Anyone who overheard would think we were discussing a suitor for one of the Maids. If only I had something to tell her that would help Ellie. “I fear not, Your Majesty,” I admitted. “But I gain hope that I will do so with each hour that passes.”

“Mayhap you mistook your man,” said the Queen, “and it is time to leave it be.” Her eyes were kind, for she was telling me there was no hope for my friend.

“I pray that that time is not yet come,” I murmured. I dreaded that she would tell me that my investigation must end and Ellie be punished forthwith.

“Dear Grace.” Her Majesty took my hand. “Then let us say that it is not yet come but will be soon upon us. You may have a few hours more but that is all.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said with great relief. I did not have long but it was better than nothing.

It was with a heavy heart that I set off to see Ellie. First I went to the Privy Kitchen, where Mistress Berry pressed slices of salt beef upon me, telling me they would keep my stomach from growling until the midday meal. Then I found Masou and together we went to visit Ellie.

I gave her the slices of salt beef and Ellie fell upon them. I fear the guards may have been forgetting her meals, as she seems even hungrier than usual.

Ellie had made herself a paltry sort of nest among the discarded boxes and sparkly curtains.

“You are living like a monarch here!” laughed Masou.

“Maybe so,” said Ellie dully. “But I'd sooner have the starch room floor and Mrs. Fadget's acid tongue.” She looked at us both. “You've said nothing of the thief. That means you know nothing, or you'd have told it straight away.”

She was so downcast. I put my arm round her. “We have tried all manner of things to flush the thief out,” I said. I told her how I had knocked all the Maids over on the ice and how Faruk and Anoosh were avoiding me. Then Masou tried to
entertain her with the tale of the tree as if it were one of Mr. Somers's dramatic masques. But Ellie did not even raise a smile.

“All that and still there is no one who could have taken the cursed jewel!” she sighed mournfully. “I think it must have been me after all. The Bandy bewitched me and I did it in a sort of walking dream.”

“Of course you didn't, Ellie,” I assured her, and sighed. “In truth, we did find one perfect suspect.”

“Who?” asked Ellie. “Tell me.”

“The page Sharokh is a fine climber and snake man,” said Masou. “But alas, he does not occupy a chamber anywhere near the Banoo's, so it cannot be him.”

To our astonishment Ellie jumped to her feet, her eyes wild and bright. “But it is him!” she cried. “It must be him. And I may yet be free!” And she collapsed on the floor and burst into tears. I began to think she was wood-wild from all her time spent in her prison. I glanced at Masou. He looked as worried as I was.

He bent down to her. “Be still, Ellie,” he urged. “You will only make yourself worse by weeping.”

Ellie looked up. “But you don't understand,” she gulped. She was about to say more when the door
burst open and two guards came in. They hauled poor Ellie to her feet.

“Beg pardon, my lady,” said one of them, “but we have to take the prisoner now.”

“What?” I gasped. “Where are you taking her?”

“To the cell by the guardroom at the Palace Gate,” he told me.

“But that is so cold!” exclaimed Masou. “There is no glass in the windows in the guardroom cell. She will surely freeze to death.”

“It's too good for the nasty little thief, in my opinion,” grunted the guard, giving Ellie a violent shake. Ellie began to whimper.

“But why must she go?” I demanded as they pulled her out of the door.

“We await Her Majesty's orders,” replied the guard, “and soon as they come she's off to the Clink. They know how to deal with felons there.”

“But she is guilty of no crime,” I protested. “At least treat her like a human and not an animal!”

The guards took no notice but dragged her away, leaving Masou and me watching helplessly.

“Let me go!” shrieked Ellie, struggling fiercely.

“I've got something to tell Lady Grace. It's very important.”

We ran full pelt along the passageway to catch her words.

“What is it, Ellie?” called Masou. “Speak quickly!”

“It's about Sharokh!”

“Be quiet or it will be the worse for you,” the guard snapped at her.

But Ellie would not be silenced. “Sharokh did sleep in that room with the other pages,” she yelled. They had reached the door to the Conduit Court and Ellie was being hauled through. “I am sure of it,” she shouted over her shoulder, “for I saw him still abed in the morning when I went in to gather the linen! Ohhhh!” One of the guards cuffed her and the door was slammed shut.

Masou and I looked at each other in excitement.

“We have heard that Sharokh is an adept climber and seen that he is a snake man besides,” I began. “If he was also sleeping in Anoosh and Faruk's chamber the night the ruby was stolen …”

“Then he could be the thief!” Masou finished, turning a somersault in delight.

Then I had another thought. “But there is one stumbling block,” I wailed. “How do we prove Sharokh's guilt to the Queen before she gives orders for Ellie to be taken to prison?”

“There is little time,” Masou said gravely. “Can you not drum up another test, my Lady Pursuivant?”

“We have tested his skills,” I said. “If only we could test his honesty …”

“Perchance it is only the Heart of Kings that he covets,” said Masou, “for surely more jewellery would have gone missing if he were just a common thief.”

I stared at him. “You have it, Masou,” I squealed. “You are wonderful.”

“I am indeed.” He grinned. “Although I do not know what has caused your admiration on this occasion. Enlighten me, dear Grace.”

“We will set a trap,” I told him, “so that Sharokh will steal the ruby again—and this time, we will catch him in the act!”

Masou ran off back to the troupe and I went in search of the Queen. If I wanted to use the Heart of Kings ruby for my trap, I needed her permission. I feared she would not agree, for it would mean taking a great risk with the precious jewel. I wondered how I could persuade her that this was the only hope of catching the real villain.

But where was the Queen? I could not find her anywhere. And every minute that went by, Ellie was
nearer to being dragged off to the Clink. I ran up and down the corridors looking for someone who could help me. I knew that this morning Her Majesty had told the Court what she had planned for the rest of the morning, but then my head had been too full of tumblers and tests for me to pay any heed. As I dashed round a corner towards her private chambers, I collided with one of Mr. Secretary Cecil's clerks. He was carrying a whole mountain of papers—well, he was until I bumped into him. My reputation for clumsiness will outlive me at this rate!