The Runaway Princess Read Online Free PDF Page A

down and back up again.”
    â€œLet’s just start with the getting-down part,” Cam said. “Three heads are better than two.”
    â€œThat’s true …” Dilly said slowly.
    â€œDo you have an idea?” Cam asked.
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    Early the next morning, Cam came across the meadow with the basket of food. Nort looked sleepy, having just come on duty. He had taken to dropping his spear in the grass and slouching against the tower with his arms folded.
    â€œGood morning, Princess!” Cam called.
    Meg was sitting cross-legged on the floor ripping up a mustard-colored gown, but she came to the window when she heard Cam’s voice. “Good morning!”
    â€œYou might say good morning to me,” Nort told her testily.
    â€œNever mind that,” Cam said to the apprentice guardsman. “I need your help.”
    â€œWhat?” Nort asked, surprised. “Why would I help you?”
    Meg’s expression mirrored Nort’s. All that waiting, and this was their plan? Then the princess saw Dilly.
    â€œBecause you’re bored,” Cam informed him. “Also because you might disappear into the woods and never be found if you don’t.”
    Nort reached uneasily for his spear, but it was gone. “What are you talking about?”
    Meg smiled. One way or another, it was going to work.
    â€œWe’re here to help the princess,” Cam said. “You do like the princess, don’t you?”
    Nort looked up, catching Meg’s eye. “Well …”
    â€œGood,” said Cam. “We’re going to get her out of the tower, and you’re going to join us.”

    â€œWho’s we?” Nort made a sideways move, but Cam was faster, standing very close. “You can’t do this!” Nort cried.
    â€œWe can if you help us,” a voice behind Nort said evenly as a spearpoint touched his back.
    Nort spun around instinctively. The spear scraped his arm and ended up just over his heart. “Dilly?” he asked, bewildered by the sight of a small, angry lady’s maid. “No! You can’t make me! I’m true to my duty! To the death!” he said wildly.
    â€œLower the spear, please,” came Meg’s voice from above. “Nort, don’t you want to have an adventure?”
    Dilly lowered the spear. Nort scowled.
    â€œYou do,” said Cam. “Admit it.”
    â€œOr what? I could have you both thrown in the dungeon!” he said, sulky.
    Dilly laughed. “I was changing the linens.”
    â€œI brought the princess her food and went back to work in the garden,” Cam said, his face beaming with innocence.
    â€œYou bumped your head a bit too hard the other day. You’re raving,” Meg said sweetly.
    â€œI still think we should dump him in the woods, at least till we’re finished,” Dilly remarked. “I brought extra rope.” She pulled a coil of rope from a bag over her shoulder and dropped it on the ground. Cam produced an even heavier length of rope and threw it down, too.
    â€œYou’re all crazy!” Nort hissed. He paused, curious. “What do you mean, adventure? Finished with what?”

    It took another fifteen minutes to convince Nort that theirs was the path of glory for anyone who really wanted to become a knight someday. Still, Meg noticed that Dilly didn’t offer to return the spear. And Cam insisted Nort swear an oath of allegiance to Meg and her purposes.
    â€œPurposes?” Nort asked anxiously.
    Dilly hefted the spear. “You know what happens to knights who fail to keep their oaths, don’t you?”
    â€œOf course,” Nort declared. Meg suspected he didn’t, but at least Nort seemed suitably impressed.
    After a bit more discussion, Meg lowered the wire basket so Cam could tie his rope to it. Then she pulled the basket up and removed the rope, retying it carefully to the bedpost. She thought it would probably hold her