1“I’m going to kill her,” muttered Jack.

2He threw his stuff into his pack and moved toward the drawbridge.

3He hoped no one would see him.

4It was getting darker. It must be night.

5When he got to the bridge, he started across. The wooden planks creaked under his feet.

6He peered over the edge of the bridge. Were there any crocodiles in the moat? He couldn’t tell.

7“Halt!” someone shouted. A guard on top of the castle wall was looking down.

8Jack dashed across the bridge. He ran through the castle gate and into the courtyard.

9From inside the castle came the sounds of music, shouting, and laughter.

10Jack hurried to a dark corner and crouched down. He shivered as he looked around for Annie.

11Torches lit the high wall around the courtyard. The courtyard was nearly empty.

12Two boys led horses that clopped over the gray cobblestones.

13“Neeee-hhhh!”

14Jack turned. It was the knight’s black horse!

15“Psssst!”

16He peered into the darkness.

17There was Annie.

18She was hiding behind a well in the center of the courtyard. She waved at him.

19Jack waved back. He waited till the boys and horses disappeared inside the stable. Then he dashed to the well.

20“I’m going to find the music!” whispered Annie. “Are you coming?” “Okay,” Jack said with a sigh.

21They tiptoed together across the cobblestones. Then they slipped into the entrance of the castle.

22Noise and music came from a bright room in front of them. They stood on one side of the doorway and peeked in.

23“The feast in the Great Hall!” whispered Jack. He held his breath as he stared in awe.

24A giant fireplace blazed at one end of the noisy room. Antlers and rugs hung on the stone walls. Flowers covered the floor. Boys in short dresses carried huge trays of food.

25Dogs were fighting over bones under the tables.

26People in bright clothes and funny hats strolled among the crowd.

27Some played funny-shaped guitars. Some tossed balls in the air. Some balanced swords on their hands.

28Men and women dressed in capes and furs sat at long, crowded wooden tables.

29“I wonder which one is the knight,” said Jack.

30“I don’t know,” whispered Annie. “But they’re eating with their fingers.”

31Suddenly, someone shouted behind them.

32Jack whirled around.

33A man carrying a tray of pies was standing a few feet away.

34“Who art thou?” he asked angrily.

35“Jack,” squeaked Jack.

36“Annie,” squeaked Annie.

37Then they ran as fast as they could down a dimly lit hallway.