Someone nudged Leah awake. She turned her head on the urine-soaked straw and glimpsed an elderly guard fumbling with keys on a large ring. She didn’t know whether to be frightened or relieved. After this sleepless night listening to gnawing rats, she felt she’d aged ten years.
"Captured as spies, aye?” He spat as he talked. “Now there was no reason for Leche to shackle you like this, the miserable old bugger." He sprang the lock and the iron gauntlet slid off her ankle. She sat up and rubbed her aching joints, grimacing in pain.
"Thank you," she managed to whisper, turning to Hugh. "Can you free him too?"
"I am freeing both of you, taking you to a holding cell "til Lord Woodville returns.” He freed Hugh as two hulking guards filed down the stairs and escorted them into separate stone ce
