The Princess and the Pirate, Ch 19: The Fight from Nowhere

Laura jumped up, almost screamed, and looked around wildly for some place to hide. Arthur and Matthew both leaped to their feet and reached for their swords. Fioretta and Mirabelle sprang up with looks of relief and joy on their faces. Just as the men were about to dash to the door, Fioretta grabbed their arms and said, "It's Christopher. That is our code."

Though they appeared more calm, the men did not put away their swords. Laura, far more calm now, and Mirabelle sat back down, holding hands in nervous anticipation as Matthew, Arthur, and Fioretta calmly walked to the door. The men stood ready as Fioretta cupped her hand, placing it on the door so the men could not see what she was doing. She pressed three places with her other hand, and a tiny door slid back. "Scallions," she breathed. Then she put her ear to the small opening. Matthew and Arthur looked at each other in bewilderment.
Christopher's voice replied, "Potatoes and cheese," but it was so quiet that no one could hear it except Fioretta. She slipped her pinky finger in the tiny hole then pulled it out quickly as the little door closed.

"It's definitely Christopher," Fioretta smiled calmly at Matthew and Arthur as she unlocked the three locks. "And all is well."
The three men met each other with their swords drawn as Fioretta opened the heavy oak door. Christopher stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Fioretta quickly engaged the locks. The men all put their swords away.
Christopher grasped Fioretta by both upper arms, and urgently said, "I have found the king and queen, but Captain Sweeney and his men have all disappeared. I can find them no where."

Matthew and Arthur looked concerned. Laura almost fainted. Mirabelle and Fioretta both looked relieved.
Fioretta answered eagerly, "You must take me to them." She could think of nothing else but seeing her beloved parents.
"I think our trip is going to be very dangerous," Christopher announced, tearing himself away from Fioretta's eyes. "I can only take the ladies to the king and queen right now. I will have to come back for Matthew and Arthur."

Matthew and Arthur immediately began to protest. "You will need our protection if something happens," Matthew declared imperiously.
"Someone needs to watch your back," Arthur cried.
Fioretta, however, agreed completely with Christopher. "No, I understand. No. You men must stay here. Christopher will come back for you." Her entire disposition had changed from caution to urgency.
"Listen, Princess, I think we really need to stick together for your safety," Matthew insisted.

Christopher opened his mouth to speak, but Fioretta drew herself up in a fine temper. "Matthew, I am in charge here, not you. You and Arthur will agree to wait here or you will suffer the consequences. Now, I really do not want to hear another word about this." She spoke with such authority that everyone in the room stared at her in wonder. She almost glowed with emanated energy. All diplomacy had vanished from this newly revealed tigress.
Arthur walked back over to his chair and sat down. After staring at Fioretta and Christopher for a full minute like a defiant child staring at his parents, Matthew turned on his heel and followed Arthur's example.

Matthew sulkily watched as the foursome slipped out the door. Fioretta locked the door behind her, so now Matthew felt like a rat in a trap. His mind raced through all the scenarios that could have caused Sweeney and his men to go missing.
Clearly, they could have gotten lost in the castle. Its many passageways could easily have turned anyone around. However, Sweeney was old and had been in the king's service for years and years. Surely he would know his way around the castle to some extent. Of course, they were in the passages that had been kept secret from public view for sixteen years. Perhaps Sweeney had never been allowed the privilege of entrance. Why then would Christopher, who seemed completely at home with the ins and outs of the secret passageways, have that privilege when he was hardly more than a lad himself?

Christopher could be a traitor. He could be working with someone who helped him capture the other men. He might have simply tricked the other men into a trap. He was a pretty fair fighter, but Matthew could not see him defeating all of the men at once unless he knew of a way to ambush them. Additionally, Matthew could not quite figure out Christopher's relationship with Fioretta. It was very obvious that they were closer to one another than just a princess and one of her guards. Was he her friend? Her confidant? Her secret boyfriend? Something else? Perhaps that would explain how Christopher intimately knew the secret royal chambers. Was he close to her for innocent reasons? Or had Matthew's father gotten to Christopher?

Then again, Sweeney and his men could be traitors. Perhaps they were laying ambush for Fioretta and the others right now. What if Sweeney's ship had gone astray on purpose?
As these thoughts chased one another around in Matthew's mind, it seemed that he could see nothing else. The room itself existed not at all - only the scenes in Matthew's mind formed believable realities. But somewhere through the dense fog that surrounded his thoughts, Matthew's instincts took over and everything occupying his brain emptied as if from a vast whirlpool. He ducked just in time to avoid Arthur's sword meeting his neck.

He did not pause. He rolled onto the floor and pulled out his own sword as he sprang to his feet. Here the muscular enemy danced before him, and the two met in battle like enraged bulls. Matthew did not stop to wonder about Arthur's change in demeanor. He focused every ounce of his energy, mind power, and strength on defeating his assailant.
Clash. Slash. Jab. Leap. Arthur fought zealously, as if he were a demon.
Matthew returned everything he was dished out, clanking his sword into Arthur's in a cacophony of sound. Thrust. Parry. He foined time and time again until, at last, he stood over his adversary as the last light left Arthur's eyes.

Sweat poured from Matthew's body from exertion and fear. He had been confused before, but now, as he cleaned his sword and tried to find a way to escape the locked room, his gut screamed of entrapment. He did not know who was ultimately responsible for Arthur's deception, yet he knew, like you know when you are about to die, that he, Fioretta, and anyone on their side were in extreme danger of an ambuscade.
His hearted pounded maddeningly. He prayed Fioretta and the others were safe. He prayed for guidance, so he could protect Fioretta and live to tell the tale.

The minutes ticked by. His racing heart slowed to its normal pace as he gradually calmed down. He sat down and waited once more, every muscle in his body tense and vibrating.