Stolen Child: The Janna Chronicles 2

by Felicity Pulman

  “Bones was here before.” Hamo’s voice was so quiet they strained to hear it. “Serlo told me he had Bones. That’s why I came away with him, even though Mistress Cecily told me not to go anywhere without her. But Bones was missing and I wanted to find him.” His voice hardened as he said angrily, “Serlo kicked Bones, I saw him. He hurt Bones.”

  “I know. I know.” Janna felt somewhat reassured by the fire that had come into Hamo’s voice when he spoke of his beloved pet; his earlier silence and apathy had frightened her. She felt even more reassured as Hamo flung his arms around Bones. Miraculously, the dog had finally stopped barking.

  “Look at all this!” Godric gave a silent whistle as he gestured at the riches that surrounded them. “I’ll wager my life that the lord of the manor doesn’t know about this secret storeroom!”

  Janna nodded in agreement. “Serlo will be hanged for this. The lord Hugh will never forget or forgive what he has done.” Her words brought home to her the danger of their position, and she stirred uneasily. Serlo wouldn’t go willingly to face his punishment. In fact, he’d stop at nothing to prevent his secret being found out.

  “We must go,” Godric said again. “The sooner we get Hamo safely to the manor house, the better.”

  And the safer we’ll be too, Janna thought. “Do you think you can walk?” she asked Hamo. He nodded, and climbed stiffly to his feet.

  “Ow!” His face crumpled and he began to hop around as he felt the prick and sting of blood flowing freely through his cramped limbs once more.

  Godric swung him up and carried him to the trapdoor. “Up you go,” he said, and turned to Janna. “Your turn.”

  A muffled scream rent the air. Heart pounding in fright, Janna snatched up the candle to see what was wrong.

  “I have the boy and this time I’ll show no mercy.” Serlo’s face appeared briefly as he bent down to smile at them. “As for my cellar—no-one knows about it so no-one’s going to come looking for you here. Its contents will keep…but you won’t.” His chuckle was cut off by the sound of the solid oak panel thudding into place, sealing them into the earth.

  “No! No!” Janna screamed the words in defiance, while beside her Bones began to howl. She pushed against the panel, but Serlo held it down. Godric sprang to her aid and, together, they strained to shift it. Scraping sounds above told them that Serlo was pushing something over the trapdoor to secure it. They were trapped, sealed tight into an earthen tomb. Serlo had spoken the truth. No-one knew they were down here, no-one would come looking for them. Soon enough their air would run out. The candle would flicker and die, and so would they.

  Janna looked at Godric in despair. “What are we going to do now?” Her voice was almost inaudible against the noise being made by Bones.

  But Godric had already seized up the sword. Arm raised above his head, he began to saw at the wooden panel.

  “Wait!” Janna stayed his arm as a thought occurred to her. “The trapdoor was in place when we found it, but there was still air enough for Hamo to breathe while he was trapped here. We should look for an air vent somewhere.”

  Godric thought for a moment. “The air seemed a little fresher where Hamo was lying. We should start by looking there.” He laid down the sword and followed Janna. She squeezed into the cramped space behind the barrels, gave the candle to Godric, and began to run her hands over the rough earthen roof. “I can feel a small hole!” She poked an exploratory finger through. “Give me your knife!”

  She thrust the blade into the hole and jiggled it around, enlarging the space. “It’s blocked at the top,” she said finally. “Serlo must have shoved something over here as well to make sure we’ll suffocate and die here.”

  “Then we’ll just have to try to saw through the trapdoor,” Godric said. “We’re not going to give up, not yet, and not without a fight.”

  He walked back to the trapdoor, and began a determined sawing once more. Using Godric’s knife, Janna began to attack the panel from the other side. Silently, desperately, they sawed through the wood, neither of them voicing their fear that their air would run out before they could cut a hole big enough to escape through.

  “Help!” she shouted, just in case there was anyone around to hear her. She put her full voice into the cry. “Help! Somebody, please help us!”

  Time slowed to a crawl. Terrifying images ran through Janna’s mind as she realized that Serlo would have to carry out his threat now that events had forced his hand. It was a miracle the child had survived as long as he had but from now on his life could only be measured in minutes, if he wasn’t already dead. She had promised Hamo that he was safe, that Serlo could never harm him again, and she had failed him. The knowledge was shattering; she felt almost paralyzed with grief and fear.

  “Hurry!” she begged, although she knew Godric was as frantic as she was to escape. She fancied that the air in the small crammed cellar was already becoming foul with their breath. She could hear Godric panting, or perhaps it was her own gasps for air. She put her hand over her nose and mouth to see if it would help to filter the stink, but instantly felt as if she was suffocating.

  She quickly snatched her hand away and took in several deep breaths. It was not enough to satisfy her need. She looked about for Bones. He’d collapsed on the ground nearby. Janna could see the rapid rise and fall of his tiny stomach. Beside her, Godric sawed on with grim determination.

  The candle, burnt down to a stub, guttered and died, leaving them in darkness. Somehow, their fate seemed even more horrible now they could no longer see each other. Janna stopped cutting for a moment, and reached out to touch Godric. She needed to connect with someone. She needed to feel that she was not alone. He took her hand, and kissed it, his lips warm and comforting. Neither of them said anything as he released her and began sawing at the wooden slab once more.

  They worked on in silence and with growing despair, until there was a crack and part of the wooden lid fell down into the cellar.

  “We’re through!” Godric shouted. Janna sensed movement beside her as he reached up to feel the opening. Why was no light shining through?

  Her question was answered by Godric. “Serlo must have pulled something really heavy over the trapdoor to make sure we can’t escape. Help me try to shift it, Janna.”

  Together they reached up and pushed, trying to slide the blockage aside. But the angle was too awkward, and the object too heavy to budge. They strained until their arms ached, until they had to stop and rest, and acknowledge that whatever was obstructing them had not moved by so much as an inch.

  Janna closed her eyes, swept by a wave of fierce anger that this was to be their fate. “Help!” she screamed again. “We’re trapped inside Serlo’s cottage. Somebody, help us please! For the love of God, save us!”

  Chapter14

  “Bones! Bones, where are you?”

  The voice sounded muffled, far away. Janna wondered if she was imagining things. She put a hand on Godric’s arm. “Shh.” She listened intently, sure she’d heard a voice.

  “Bones? Where are you?” The voice was louder now.

  “Here!” Janna shouted frantically. “We’re here under the ground of Serlo’s cottage! Bones is here too!”

  Silence. Janna wondered if she was hallucinating, conjuring up what wasn’t really there. “Did you hear anything, Godric?” she asked at last, reluctant to give up this tiny fragment of hope.

  “Something. I don’t know. Maybe.” He raised his voice. “Help!” he bellowed. “We’re trapped in a cellar underneath Serlo’s cottage. There’s a trapdoor with a chest or something on top of it.” He stopped, and they listened intently.

  Silence.

  Janna heard a faint creaking above her head. Her heart leaped high with elation. “We’re down here!” she shouted. “Hurry! Please, please hurry!”

  A scraping noise was followed by a sudden waft of smoky air. Janna sucked it gratefully into her lungs. A faint beam of light from the fire slanted down the hatch, the light blocked suddenly
as their savior peered down at them with a worried expression. Urk. The boy was as welcome as the angel after whom he was named.

  “Gabriel!” She bent to scoop up Bones, and thrust the dog through the hatch into Urk’s arms. “Thank God you’re here. You’re just in time to save us! And Bones too.” She turned to Godric. He cupped his hands together and Janna put her foot in the cradle. He heaved her up while, from above, Urk grasped her arms and hauled her through. Then it was Godric’s turn. Snatching up the sword, he pushed it through the trapdoor then pulled himself up after it.

  “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for saving us.”

  “I heard you shouting.” Urk smiled his big smile at them both, and turned aside to pick up Bones once more. The dog had recovered somewhat, and licked his hand. Godric took only a moment to catch his breath before seizing hold of Urk and Janna and hustling them out of the cottage and into the darkening night.

  “Go and fetch my lord Hugh,” he told Urk urgently. “Tell him he must come at once. Tell him Serlo has taken Hamo. Tell him to bring men-at-arms to hunt Serlo down.”

  Urk looked bewildered. He clutched Bones tighter to his chest. “Bones ran away,” he said slowly. “I looked all over for him. And then I heard you shouting.”

  “I’m so glad you did, Gabriel. But now we have to hurry and find Serlo and Hamo. And you must take my message to my lord Hugh. Do you remember what I told you?”

  “Go and fetch the lord Hugh,” the boy repeated obediently. “Tell him Serlo has taken Hamo. Tell him to come at once. He must bring men-at-arms to hunt Serlo down.”

  “Good boy.” Godric patted his shoulder. “Hurry, it’s almost dark. There’s no time to lose.”

  Still the boy hesitated. “Go!” Godric gave him a shove.

  “You can take Bones with you. Look after him,” said Janna, understanding at last what was delaying their messenger. “And thank you for finding us, Gabriel. You’re a hero, just like the lord Hugh.”

  Urk’s face split into a smile. He set off at speed, straight as an arrow toward the manor house. Janna prayed that he would remember their message, and that Hugh would believe the boy. Although impatient to be on the move, she forced herself to stand quietly while she peered across the fields, carefully scanning the landscape in the lambent light of the evening sky. They had no way of knowing where Serlo had taken Hamo, for there was no sign of him now. If he hadn’t risked dumping the boy in the forest before, he certainly wouldn’t risk going there now, not while bands of villeins might still be roaming about the water meadows in search of Hamo. Where else might he go?

  “I can’t see them anywhere,” Godric muttered, sounding discouraged. “You realize, don’t you, Janna, that Serlo can’t afford to leave the boy alive, not now. We may already be too late.”

  “No!” Janna said fiercely. “I’m not giving up, not yet. It’s not quite dark. People may still be out searching for Hamo, so Serlo will take him somewhere that’s already been searched, and where he knows they won’t be seen.”

  “Like this copse?” Godric flung out a hand to indicate the grove that stood guard over Serlo’s cottage.

  Janna thought for a moment. She swallowed hard. “Even if Serlo has silenced Hamo forever, I don’t think he’d bury him here. It’s too close to his cottage. Besides, the villeins might be allowed to forage through here for kindling, while the pigs will soon be let loose to hunt for acorns and beechmast. Serlo would know that the grave would be found sooner or later.”

  An idea flashed into her mind. “What about the river?” She turned to Godric, her eyes full of hope. “The banks have already been searched thoroughly, but no-one will question another drowning, not when Hamo so nearly drowned that first time. Come on!”

  “While we’re here, we must search the copse, just in case he’s hiding Hamo here until it’s properly dark.” Godric sheathed his knife and uncoiled his slingshot as he ran toward the bushy cover.

  Janna ran after him. “Please, God, let us find Hamo before it’s too late.” She repeated the prayer under her breath as they hastily inspected the small copse. In spite of their fears, there was no sign of a small body or the reeve among the bracken and weeds that grew rank beneath the trees.

  “He’s not here.” Janna wiped her sweating face on the sleeve of her smock. Godric nodded in agreement. Together, they left the shelter of the grove and hurried down toward the river. It spread before them like a long silver ribbon in the dim evening light. Finally Janna stopped for a moment, and bent over, clutching hold of her aching sides. “He’ll probably hide among the trees until it’s dark,” she gasped. “But where do we start looking?”

  While Janna caught her breath, Godric searched the ground for a handful of flints. Finally he straightened and looked toward the river, narrowing his eyes to see more clearly, watching for any movement that might betray the reeve’s whereabouts.

  “We can’t waste any more time,” Janna said. “Let’s split up. You go downriver and I’ll go upstream.”

  “No.” Godric stood his ground. “You can’t face Serlo alone. We must stay together. You can hold the sword.”

  Janna stuck out her jaw, looking stubborn.

  “I mean it,” Godric warned. “I’m following you, whichever way you choose to go.”

  Janna clicked her tongue. “Look,” she said impatiently. “The closest cover of trees is over there. Maybe that’s where he’s taken Hamo? He can’t risk the boy being seen, not while there are people about.” She began to run once more, with Godric keeping a steady pace beside her.

  As they came closer, Janna slowed and tried to quieten her panting breaths. Godric crept forward; she followed close behind. It was dark in the thicket of young alders that crowded beside the river bank, and they heard Serlo stumbling through the trees before they could creep close enough to actually see him. Janna felt an unutterable relief when she spied the small boy clasped tight in his arms, being dragged along against his will.

  Alive! Hamo was still alive. He was silent, and Janna’s fists clenched as she imagined what Serlo must have done to keep him quiet. Truly the reeve would pay dearly for his treatment of the boy.

  Godric crept stealthily forward, slingshot at the ready. He was gaining on Serlo, who was encumbered by the struggling child. Janna knew how accurate a shot Godric was, but even so her heart thumped in fear at the thought that he might miss and bring Hamo down instead. She stopped, hardly daring to breathe, frightened that she might make a noise and alert Serlo to their presence.

  “Be careful,” she whispered, knowing that Serlo wouldn’t hesitate to use Hamo as a shield against any attack. She couldn’t bear it if, in the end, it was Godric who brought the boy to harm. He was busy fitting a flint into his weapon. Janna prayed that the flint would find its mark in Serlo’s back and bring him down.

  Godric took another step forward. A twig cracked and snapped. Serlo whirled and saw them. At once, he pulled Hamo close in front of him. Janna saw that he held a knife at the ready. No wonder Hamo had been so silent, she thought, as she understood that they were powerless now to save him. She reached out a hand to Godric, to stop him from doing anything that might jeopardize Hamo’s safety. But she was too late. Godric’s arm swung around. As Serlo whipped the knife up to the boy’s throat, Godric loosed the flint.

  Time stood still. Janna stood motionless, listening to the fearful silence. Then, with a grunting sigh, Serlo fell to the ground, taking Hamo with him. Janna forced her legs to move. She ran to Hamo, dreading what she might find: that Serlo had slit the boy’s throat and Hamo might be dying or already dead. She became aware that Godric was beside her as she fell to her knees beside the reeve. There was blood everywhere. Neither Hamo nor Serlo was moving. She reached out to Hamo with a trembling hand.

  “Ohhh.” It was a long, drawn-out sigh of relief as she saw that the blood soaking Hamo’s tunic had come from the reeve. The flint had hit Serlo’s forehead. It was bleeding profusely, and so was a long cut in his arm where his knife had sliced t
hrough his sleeve as he’d fallen.

  Ignoring Serlo, Godric snatched Hamo from the reeve’s limp hands and carried him to safety, while Janna bent over Serlo to inspect his wounds and determine if he was dead or merely stunned. She wanted the reeve alive to face Hugh, to know public humiliation and disgrace before the hangman put an end to his pathetic, miserable life. As she leaned closer, his hand shot out and grabbed her. She cried out, but it was too late. Serlo had her firmly in his grasp. She lunged sideways for his fallen knife, but he was too fast for her. He snatched it up and staggered to his feet, holding her in front of him as a shield.

  “Drop the sword.” She felt the prick of his knife against her throat.

  Frightened into silence, she obeyed his command. Godric put Hamo down. He rose to his feet, knife in hand, and faced the reeve. Janna stared at him in despair. He could do nothing to save her without risking her life at the same time. The reeve pulled Janna closer. He pressed himself against her; his arms trapped her tight. She couldn’t move; there was nothing she could do to free herself. Fighting panic, she waited numbly for death.

  “Give me my life, or I’ll take hers.” Serlo’s voice rumbled behind her. Godric nodded acceptance. He dropped his slingshot and slowly sheathed his knife.

  “No!” Janna’s mind cleared as she remembered how she’d been trapped like this once before. Before Serlo could move, she raised her foot and stamped down with all her strength onto his instep. He stumbled, loosening his hold as he struggled to keep his balance.

  Janna wrenched herself free and ran to Godric. With a wide gesture, he swept her out of his way while, with his other hand, he pulled his knife out of its sheath and, in one fluid movement, sent it flying toward Serlo. Silver glinted in the dim light, and Janna heard a thud.