After an hour or so, the Baroness and Matthew came to the crossroads. Matthew was by now tired but the Baroness seemed like she could go on forever, a little like Hannah, he thought with fondness. This gave him more energy, as they got on the road to the Castle. They had to get there before the Baron harmed her, Matthew thought. The sun was now quite high in the sky and Matthew was getting physically as well as mentally hot in his hoodie.
After about ten minutes of walking they heard the noise of a wagon behind them. Matthew went to hide in the forest but the Baroness held him back, ‘No more hiding and running from my brother. Our having the Spear means we don’t have to do this anymore,’ she said.
Matthew realised she was right, stayed on the road, and got the Spear out of his rucksack. They stopped and waited for the wagon to come. As it got closer Matthew could see that it did not contain any soldiers: it was Hannah’s grandfather! What the hell was he doing here? Matthew wondered. As the grandfather got closer and stopped, he asked Matthew the same question.
‘We – he looked over at the Baroness – are going to the Castle to try to free Hannah and the others,’ said Matthew
‘Oh, I’m sorry, my lady. I did not recognise you,’ Walter said.
‘No need to apologise. After what I have done, I do not deserve the respect of any of my people,’ said the Baroness.
Walter gave her a quizzical look. Matthew then realised that he did not know everything that happened last night and gave him a short account of it.
‘That explains much, young stranger. ‘Hannah always did think of others before herself,’ said the grandfather. ‘Silly girl. No disrespect intended, my Lady.’
‘No, you are right. Hannah should never have done what she did. Hopefully, I through Matthew can repay her sacrifice,’ said the Baroness.
Matthew then asked ‘What are you doing here anyway? The Baron’s soldiers could easily catch you. Tobias told us you were in some hideaway in the forest.’
‘Curt and Tobias left me last night while I was sleeping and when I woke up I was all alone,’ said the grandfather. ‘I suppose they thought I would be more of a nuisance than a help. Anyways, I took this wagon to see what had happened. On the way, I met some others who told me the Baron’s soldiers were putting out the message that if you Matthew did not give yourself up with the Spear then the Baron would kill all the prisoners.
I then went to find you. I thought you might be at the Clearing for some reason. Anyway please get on, Matthew, my Lady. We’ll get to the Castle quicker,’ he finished.
Matthew helped the Baroness onto the wagon.
‘I just hope we are not going to be too late,’ Walter said as they moved off. He then pulled on the reins to make his horse go quicker.
Matthew and the Baroness looked at each other as the wagon began to shake a little. Walter then said, ‘It’s funny that the soldiers made no mention of you Baroness and his soldiers are not even bothered to look for either of you.’
‘My brother knows that Matthew will have no choice. He will not want his friends to die, ‘said the Baroness.
‘Especially your granddaughter,’ said Matthew.
‘He is also trying to give the impression that he does not fear my using the Spear by not demanding I return, but this is exactly what he is scared of,’ said the Baroness.
‘But what can we do?’ asked Walter. ‘Can you two use the Spear against the Baron and stop him? For we have no way of beating him without it, with all the able people either captured or dead.’
Matthew looked at the Baroness.
‘Yes, we can use the Spear against him and we will do it before anyone gets killed. And I think I now know exactly how we will achieve this,’ said the Baroness.
The Baron was not happy and knew that he only had himself to blame. He had thought that the boy he lured into his world was just the sort of weak pawn he needed. But he had misjudged him and the boy surprised him again. He had the cunning to steal the Spear, rescue his friends, and be the catalyst for a near successful defeat of him. What is more, he was now with his sister, the only other person in this land who could use the Spear against him. How could he – he! – have been so stupid as to have not controlled the boy better?
He now knew that either the boy would have to give himself up, which was unlikely, or he would have to confront his sister who would try to use the Spear against him. But it was not in his sister’s nature to kill him, so he did not fear this. But she could try something else, he thought; something, perhaps worse than death – she could turn him away from his dark desire to rule the Land. He could be changed into - no - he could not finish the thought.
But he would be ready for his sister and the boy who would soon be his conduit to victory. He could change the boy’s will; in fact, he thought, he should have done this in the first place. The boy would be damaged mentally but this mattered nothing to him.
Yes, he was ready for his sister and her using the Spear. But it was certain she would not be ready for him and his little surprise.