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too. “We are not spies,” he managed to say.
    â€œWhy do you speak? You’re but a child,” the girl snapped. “You, the tall one. What is your name?”
    Roland said hoarsely, “My name is Roland Winters. And we are not spies. We do indeed come in peace.” Sarah knew that he had not slept at all the previous night. At the moment he probably could barely see. The bright sunlight streaming through the window appeared to be half blinding him. He blinked at the three figures seated at the table. “We are not spies, Your Majesty,” he repeated.
    King Falmor fingered the medallion with an eagle carved into it that hung around his neck. He continued to gaze at Roland with a hard light in his eyes. “We’ve had spies before, have we not, Lord Zarak?”
    â€œYes, we have, my lord, and these three are certainly not of our people.” “Your Majesty,” Josh croaked, “we come in peace. We come from—”
    â€œKeep silent!” the man called Lord Zarak shouted. His face was cold, and his black eyes glinted with an unearthly light. “Take them away. They will be good sport for the Hunt of Death.”
    â€œYou speak far too quickly, Zarak.” The princess lifted her eyebrows and gave the wizard a haughty look.
    The king glanced at his daughter, and a puzzled expression came over his face. “Why do you speak so, my daughter, and thwart the will of Lord Zarak?”
    The princess suddenly rose from her chair. She came gracefully around the table, and the light from the windows falling upon her gown made it sparkle like green diamonds. She halted before the three prisoners and looked them up and down. “There may be some use for them,” she said with disdain. “The tall one, for example. My groom is getting old and soon will be unable to attend to my horses. This one will do to clean stables at least.”
    Roland stiffened and said, “I won’t clean stables for anyone!”
    Sarah knew that was a mistake.
    â€œOh? Is that what you believe?” Lady Lara laughed, and for all her beauty there was cruelty in her eyes. “I think you will change your mind. You could not like it all that much in the dungeon. You will like the dungeon even less after a month. The flesh will fall off your bones by then for you’ll be fed nothing but a crust of bread and stale water. But the choice is yours. Will you go back to your dungeon and starve, or will you clean my stables and obey my commands?”
    Sarah saw that a struggle was going on in Roland. It’s probably the first time he’s ever had to take such an order, she thought. But he’d better do as she says, or he’ll die down in that foul place.
    â€œWell, what shall it be?” Lady Lara said. “Quickly! Choose!”
    Roland Winters bowed stiffly. He might not be accustomed to showing this kind of submission, but the memory of the stench of their foul cell would be very painful for one who had known the outdoors all ofhis life. To be caged like an animal was no doubt more than he could bear. “I will do as you say.”
    â€œYou may address me as ‘my lady.’”
    â€œYes, my lady. I will do as you command.”
    Lady Lara laughed. “I thought you might,” she said. “Take him away and clean him up. We’ll let him begin by cleaning the stables immediately.”
    â€œYes, Lady Lara.” Two guards stepped quickly forward. Gripping Roland by the arms, they drew him outside.
    When the door slammed, the king chuckled. “You will have good sport with that one, daughter. He has spirit, I see.”
    â€œWe shall see if his spirit or mine is the stronger.”
    Lord Zarak looked unhappy. “He might escape from the stables. Then what?”
    â€œI will be responsible for my servants, Lord Zarak,” the princess said coldly.
    â€œAnd what about these other two?” the king said. “Are they not for the