Part two

I find myself walking across the courtyard of the same castle, I am carrying a fairly large basket of eatable goods in my right hand and a bag of flour over my left shoulder and my sisters three children following at my side. Looking down I look at the blue worn and faded dress I was wearing, then remembered that pretty gown in that store window then turned away to go to the market place to  purchase a few items of food for my sisters children and for the other girls whom had pooled resources together to buy the food. We all resided in a large subterranean chamber under the old mill. I made my way down the passageway and down some stone stairs that lead to the chambers below.

The passage was lit by dim electrical light bulbs and wires which were just strung from one concrete spike to another which had been haphazardly pounded into the concrete, the wires drooped the distance between spikes. I remembered myself over time buying what I could and if there were no other means I stole what I could of the wires, the lights, and fixtures from a local hardware shop in another near by village. Much of the electrical wiring and fixtures in the main chamber had been strung up by me along with the help of a few of the girls.

I knocked three rapid times on the heavy wooden door then heard the rusty ancient hinges screeching as the door opened slowly. It was Beth and she was obviously looking both anxiously and excitedly at me, she nodded, smiling hugely then hastily pulled the heavy door open the rest of the way. Dianna and Jade ran up to me Jade relieved me of the heavy basket and Beth took the bag while Dianna was incessantly enquiring about the latest happenings down at the village, especially if I had seen her cousin Doreen and what she had been up to.

Jade set the basket on a heavy ancient wooden table and Beth set the bag along side of it. Soon after a meal was mustered up hastily and set on the table every one eagerly pulled up a chair and the feast began. I looked around the table at the rag tag bunch of girls whom I had become quite fond of after a few years of banding together we had become like a tight knit family. We had all come here a few years back to escape from the rough shod abusive treatment that girls such as we were quite susceptible and likely to end up with such would be male masters. Regretfully to many young homeless girls fell victim to this type.

I and some of the other girls had jury rigged a furnace in the main chamber which helped to keep the dampness down and kept the temperature fairly comfortable. There was also a boiler attached so the furnace and we had hot water for baths and cooking. We had also restored an ancient stone fire place where the girls could sit around the open flames and share their day with each other, some busied themselves sewing garments and others did quilt work and other crafts from different pieces of cloth and what ever other baubles they could scavenge, barter for, or if no other recourse steal on their occasional visits in the  village.

None of the girls were older then their late teens, myself being one of the oldest at 19 years old. One place was off limits by mutual agreement by all of us, and that was none of us would ever even contemplate, let alone dare to venture out anywheres within sight of the castle, including myself. For the exception of maybe watching from a safe distance on the mill's roof top which was four floors above ground level. It would be almost impossible for anyone to enter the old mill since all entrances had been blocked off by debris that the girls had built up through the years. Unless someone knew where the week points were it would be a nearly impenetrable fortress.

A pathway had been cleared through the years through the Black Forest which meandered it's way around the castles grounds to come out just outside the village. The village was a risky enough place to go but it was necessary for the existence and survival of the band of girls of which I was part of. The girls bartered, sold arts and crafts, or did any odd jobs around the village, and if necessary, steal what they needed for the sustenance and survival of the band of girls who lived under the mill. 

One night I was awoken by a loud crash and a babble of men's voices, A light suddenly lit up the room. my sister three children had begun to whimper and rubbing their eyes having been rudely awakened. I ushered them under the bed and was in the process of crawling under myself when I felt something tighten around my leg at this very instant I heard all the other girls screaming, glass being broken then silence. The other girls had been made to stand against the wall while another man picked up the kids and began to walk away with them, I moved forward and was stopped by one of those infidel pigs holding a knife to my throat.

No one else had been taken all were accounted for except my sisters three kid. I knew this wasn't the work of the village folks, it was from the castle where my sister had been held by the resident priest who had claimed my sister unclean because she was living alone with three children and no husband. She was being held to atone for her sins. I also knew that someone now had the knowledge of the main entrance to our safe place, the one and only week point. An informant. So now there may no longer be safety even among us, I began to cry at this thought.   

The next day I found Dennise shaking me awake. I sat up as she said in an urgent loud frantic voice, "You must come, you need to come right now!" We came out unto the path in the Black Forest and I began to walk towards the path but Dennise pulled me back and pointed around the side of the mill. We came out on the other side of the mill unto the open grounds that led towards the castle. Two men stood there holding a woman between them.

They pushed the woman and she stumbled forward  then ran right towards me and began to beat me on the shoulders crying and cursing that I had let them get her children. After she calmed down some I told her what had happened the she feigned crying on my shoulder then whispered to me in my ear, beggingly "Please help me escape the priests custody and help me get my children back.  I responded, whispering back that I would do what ever I could. 

I sat at the table that night, pondering, I stared at the flickering flames and the snaping of the wood burning in the fire place. I though about the maze of tunnels that ran between different areas of the castle and the mill all that would be needed is a rough map of the layout of the different parts of the castle.

Later that night I stood on the roof of the mill watching the lights slowly going out here and there in the windows of the castle. When all was in darkness except for a few faint lights I spread my arms and the veil at my back appeared to miraculously manifest into wings and I flew over the grounds and over the castle.

The next day I sat at the table studiously poring over the make shift map of the different roughly drawn floor plans of the castle. Dianna brought over a coffe for me and queried as to what I was planning, and I pointed out to her my plans on how to get my sister away from the priests custody. Dianna informed me that if I were to execute this plan that I would need at least a couple of helpers to stand watch for her at the very least. She then added,  "shortly after wards we will be in readiness to evacuate the mill." 

I am fully aware that no amount of barricades now will keep us safe, and all the girls put together with what few weapons they have would not sufice to keep us safe from the Kings men from the castle after this rescue mission whether succesful or not." "How do you propose to get the kids out?" she asked. I informed her that I knew where the kids were located and that they would be the easier part of the rescue mission. Dianna then asked me if I had any plans after the rescue has been acomplished? "And I do pray it is all a successful rescue she added."  A sharp twinge of pain went through me and a tear formed at the corner of my right eye. I only responded in a low soft voice, I will go where ever you wish for me to go my sister. She embraced me and only said one word very softly, "sister."

The following night the resident priest never knew what hit him. I flew as quietly as a ghost and struck the priest on the back of the head with his own heavily ornamented Bible. I took the keys that I had watched him use the night before to unlock the cell to my sister was held in Dianna and  Jade both watching opposite ends of the halfway, both motioned that all was clear then I proceeded to unlock my sisters cell and when the cell door opened and the hallway light streamed into the cell I could see my sister about to let out a blood curdling scream. I rushed forward her and put my hand on her mouth just in time, all that could be heard was a loud Mmmmmmph!

At the ground level floor I drifted through a window into this apartment then gathered the three children in my arms and flew back out through the window. I knew the flight would be short with the extra weight I carried, but as I had known, Betty had already opened the front gate for us to walk out. To the left and right lay two unconscious guards, I just marveled at Beth's work and just said, you do know how to handle that little weapon don't you? A bag filed with musket balls. That was as far as the dream went.

Cindy