Anne-
Cassie said that the hostlers are going scouting for new horses for our
brothers, what luck! We can meet in the stables themselves, oh perfect. I
know where we can go, Hilian, that is the land where the king lost his wife
after the birth of his 7th son. I also need to know if Marta can build a
fire, she worked in the kitchen her whole life, but still, we must know! I
cannot talk long, mother is going to come up here and talk to me. Later!
Julie
Oh, my goodness!! I don't know if mother has talked to you yet, but they are planning to send us to the convent, so that we can learn how to act!! We leave tomorrow at 9 A. M. We must leave, and soon! I am getting jumping, what if they send us away today and then we don't have time to run away! I am so scared, I don't want to marry those, those... THINGS. I hope that you think of something, you are always the reasonable one in a time of danger. I would definitely say that this is a time of danger!
Julie-
OK, here's the story:
Marta can build a fire, and she has found us a way out. You must read this
carefully, everything must go EXACTLY as planned. Be ready at 10:00. We shall
meet in the kitchen. If anyone asks why you are up, say you couldn't get to
sleep so you were taking a little walk to get a snack or something or other.
In the kitchen is the servants passage way. We will meet in front of it
(Marta and I will already be there.) We have to go through there to get to
the stables. The 2nd exit is the exit to the stables. At the stables, as soon
as we get our horses saddled and we are on them, there is a dirt road that
leads away from the palace that we shall take. The only problem is that we
first must get across the field to get to the road, and the field is watched
closely. Thankfully, Marta has gotten her brother into this. (don't worry,
he's trustworthy.) He shall be dressed in the horsemaster's clothes, so it
will appear that he is leading the horse to a clear place to graze, or
pretend the horse is sick. We MUST be dressed in boy clothing so that it will
look like we are servants in the dark. If you have any questions, write to
me, but hurry, we haven't much time!!!!!
-Anne J
Hey Anne ~
That is a fine plan. There is a forest about a 2 hour ride from our
home. We can try to get there, bring a double saddle for you and Marta, I
will get one for me and Cassie. I cannot talk, mother is to come and help me
pack for the school. She will ask where my best dresses are and my other
clothes, I will say dirty. Tell her the same. I must leave, she is at the
door.
With love and hope,
Julie
Julie and Cassie tip- toed down the servants' staircase. Their bags were already in the stables, and everything was there, except them. A small gray mouse ran across the floor, "OH MY!" Julie screamed. The old cook came running, "What is it my lady, what do you want?" "Um, nothing Clara, Cassie and I are getting a snack together, we were hungry." "Do you want me to make you something?" "Oh no, I wouldn't dream of keeping you up, go to sleep, Clara," Julie told the older woman. Meeting in the stables, Julie and Anne gave a sigh of relief that they both were safe. The girls waited for an hour, but Marta's brother never came. "Oh, no, they must have sent him on draw bridge duty." Marta wailed. "Well, that's ok," Anne said with a strained smile on her face. "Hey, idea, idea, we already are dressed like boys, so why don't we pretend that we are the stable hands? If someone calls for us, we can grunt, that's what they do," Julie exclaimed. Walking across the open field, from above, they looked like boys. "You, boys, I thought I told you not to sneak off any more!" A voice screeched. Jumping on their horses, they rode as fast as possible. "Marta, hold on tight!" Anne told the frightened girl behind her. They rode for an hour, without out any stopping slowing the pace eventually. They entered a forest, decided to stop and set up camp.
