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e carpets； past the picture rugs hanging on the walls。 Before she got to the guards at the doors； she slowed down； so they wouldn't see her running。 When they saw her ing； they pulled up the big bolt and didn't say anything as she went through the door。 The guards on the outside of the door just glanced at her as she came through； then looked back out； watching the grounds。
Rachel wiped some tears off her face as she went down the cold stone steps。 She had tried to keep them from ing； but a few got out before she could stop them。 The guards on patrol ignored her as she walked fast over the cobblestones； toward the garden。
Away from the torches hung on the walls outside the castle it was dark； but she knew her way。 The grass was wet on her bare feet。 At the third urn； she knelt down； looking to see that no one was watching； then reached under the flowers。 She felt the cloth around the bread； and pulled it out。 Untying the knots； she laid the four corners back； then reached in her pockets and put the meat； the three hard rolls； and the cheese on top of the bread and tied the corners of the cloth back up。
Just before she started running for the outer…wall gate； she remembered； and made a little gasp。 She froze stiff； her eyes wide。
She had forgotten Sara Her doll was still in her sleeping box！ Princess Violet would find her doll； she would throw Sara in the fire！ Rachel couldn't leave her doll there； she was running away and not ing back。 Sara would be afraid without her。 Sara would get burned up。
She pushed the bundle with the bread back under the flowers； looked around； and ran for the castle。 She had to slow down and walk when she got close； back into the torchlight。 One of the guards at the door looked down at her。
〃I just let you out；〃 he said。
She swallowed hard。 〃I know。 But now I have to go back in for a few minutes。〃
〃Forget something？〃
She nodded and managed to make herself say； 〃Yes。〃
He shook his head and lifted the little window。 〃Open the door；〃 he said to the guard inside。 She heard the heavy bolt open。
Once back inside； she looked down the hall。 The big room with the black…and…white floor and the grand stairs was ahead； a few turns down some long halls and through a couple of big rooms。 One of the big rooms was the dining room。 That was the shortest way。 But the Queen； or the Princess； might be there； or even Father Rahl。 They might see her。 She couldn't let them see her。 Princess Violet might take her up to her room and lock her in the sleeping box； it was late。
She turned and went through the little door on the right。 That was the servants' passageway。 It was a lot longer； but no one important would be in the servant halls or on the servant stairs。 None of the servants would stop her； they all knew she was the Princess's playmate； and they didn't want the Princess mad at them。 She would have to go down through the place where the servants stayed； down under the big rooms and under the kitchen。
The stairs were all stone； worn smooth on the front edges。 One window at the top was uncovered and it let in rain； and the steps always had water leaking from the stone walls； running down them。 Some places it was just a little； some places more； and there was green slime on some of the steps。 She always had to step careful to keep from stepping in the slime。 Torches in iron brackets made the stone and the steps look red and yellow。
There were some people in the halls on the bottom floor； servants carrying linens and blankets； washwomen with buckets of water and mops； and men carrying bundles of firewood for the fireplaces upstairs。 Some of the people stopped and whispered to each other。 They seemed excited。 She heard Giller's name and it made her get a lump in her throat。
When she went past the servants' quarters； all the oil lamps were burning； hung from the big beams of the low ceilings； and there were bunches of people gathered around； telling each other what they had seen。 Rachel saw one of the men talking loud； with mostly women； but some men； too； standing around him。 It was Mr。 Sanders； the man who wore the fancy coat and greeted the fine ladies and gentlemen when they came to dinner； and announced their names when they came in。
〃Heard it myself； from those two that stand watch over the dining room。 You know who I'm talking about； the young one； Frank and the other； with the limp； Jenkins。 Said the D'Haran guards told them personal that there's going to be a search of the castle； top to bottom。〃
〃What're they lookin' for？〃 a woman asked。
〃Don't know。 Least they didn't tell Frank and Jenkins。 But I wouldn't want to be the one that had whatever they're after。 Those men from D'Hara could give you nightmares when you were wide awake。〃
〃Wish they'd find whatever it is under Violet's bed；〃 somebody else said。 〃It'd do her up right to get a nightmare for a change； 'stead of givin' 'em。〃 Everyone laughed。
Rachel went on； through the big storeroom with all the columns。 Barrels were on one side； all piled up in rows on top of one another； boxes and crates and sacks were stacked up on the other side。 The room smelled damp and musty； and she could always hear mice scratching about。 She went down the middle； past the lamps hung on the side of columns； to the heavy door at the other end。 The iron strap hinges creaked when she strained and pulled on the iron ring and opened the door。 Rust from the ring got on her hands； so she wiped them on the stone。 Another big door to the right led to the dungeon。 She went up the stairway。 It was dark； with only one torch at the top； and she could hear water go plink； plink； plink and echo。 Through the door at the top that stood open a crack； she went down the stone block halls like the wind that was always in them。 She was too scared to cry。 She wanted Sara to be safe； with her； and away from here
On the top floor； at last； she peeked her head around the door； looking up and down the hall that ran past Princess Violet's room。 The hall was empty。 Tiptoeing across the carpet with the pictures of the boats on it； she reached the entryway set back from