Quickly making up his mind, Humphrey pulled back and stood up. He motioned for Isabelle to stay where she was, then placed the slouch hat firmly on his head and checked that his sword would slide easily from its scabbard. Reaching beneath his dark cape to the small of his back, he made sure the long dagger which was strapped there was accessible to his left hand. Only then did he step out into the corridor and stride purposely toward the two guards.

The guard who leaned against the stall railing pushed himself up as he saw Humphrey approaching, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. As the knight entered a pool of light cast from one of the near lanterns, the guard recognized him. "Sir Humphrey," he said, surprised to find anyone of his stature about at this hour. "What do you here?"

"What do you think I am doing in a stable," he replied, gruffly, acting as if he were put out by the question. "I have come for my horse." The second guard rose and moved up to just behind and to the left of his companion, effectively blocking Humphrey's advance. He stopped and gave the men a hard stare.

"My regrets, sir knight," the first guard said, "but we have orders to bar any from leaving the castle grounds."

"On whose authority?" Humphrey growled.

"By his grace, Minister Moorcroft's orders," the guard answered, straightening and staring back at the knight.

Moorcroft, that snake, Humphrey thought. So he is involved in this, somehow. "I am on the king's business and must be in Hampstead Heath by first light," he said, playing out the game.

"Again, sir knight, my regrets, but with the king away, Minister Moorcroft is acting regent. Any who leave the castle must therefore have authorization from him, else we may not allow them to pass."

"I see," Humphrey said. He sounded somewhat annoyed, but seemed to acquiesce. "It appears I will have to wait until the minister arises, then." The guard relaxed, slightly, as Humphrey made to turn and depart, his left hand sliding down the edge of his cape.

Humphrey took a short step back with his left foot and suddenly snapped up his left hand, the weighted hem of his cape flying straight toward the face of the foremost guard. Instinctively, the man ducked, but sensing treachery, he began to draw his sword. His billowing cape hid Humphrey's movements and when the material was jerked aside, the guard had time to see only a flash of steel before a long sword entered his throat just above the useless breastplate. The sword passed easily through the guard's neck, but its sharpened edge became momentarily lodged within the victim's severed spine. With the sword still trapped, the lifeless body dropped to its knees, then began to topple to one side.

The other man had also drawn his sword, but the dark knight struck so quickly, the guard wasted a few precious moments trying to decide if he should press an attack or run for help. Seeing that Humphrey's blade appeared to be stuck in the neck of his companion, he made a fatal mistake and rushed to attack, intending to take advantage of the knight's misfortune.

As the body fell over, Humphrey saw the attacker coming, so he twisted his sword loose from the man's neck and yanked it free, even as the second guard charged in. To strike a killing blow, the guard now had to leap over the body of his former comrade, so was forced to thrust rather wildly at Humphrey while in the air. Unable to adequately parry the other's attack since he was still pulling his sword back from the body, Humphrey stepped to one side and threw a backhanded slap with the flat of his weapon at the guard's sword as it shot past, sending both sword and the man's arm up and away from him. His sword arm useless for a moment, Humphrey stepped forward with the dagger now in his left hand and plunged that weapon into the guard's chest, just below his right armpit. The sharp blade pierced his lung, then the heart, and he gurgled helplessly as hot blood filled his throat. Humphrey gave the blade a twist and then pulled it back as the man took a few more faltering steps, then fell forward, dead before he hit the straw covered floor.

To be continued...