"The complete plans for the coup are all here. My people, we are ready for this!"
The Fruit Baron held the leather portfolio aloft, waving it with fervour and determination in the air. His charisma had long held the room but now all eyes feasted on the manuscript. The Barons murmured and nodded in unison. Victory would surely be theirs, and soon. They could almost taste it.
"We shall be triumphant; we shall overcome this tyranny under which we are subjugated! The Pizza Baron will have no choice but to bow to our demands and we will install our own choice of High Baron to rule the land."
The glasses thudded in agreement on the tables once more, the ground vibrating with the stomping of feet. Hands clapped wildly in support as cheers rang out.
"We have people in position already. We have been receiving inside information for some time. Words so many words have been spoken on this. But now, my friends, now it is time for action! We need each and every one of you in order to succeed. Your continued patronage is vital to the success of the mission and your loyalty will be duly rewarded, mark my words, my fellow peers."
Delilah could not believe what she was witnessing. But she was no longer staring at her father. Only one thing now held her gaze; the bound leather tome gripped tightly in the palm of his hands, and there and then she vowed to make its acquisition her most urgent priority.
Delilah started! Her wandering thoughts interrupted rather abruptly...
"Who goes there?"
The voice boomed as the double-barrel emerged first out of the shadows. Delilah and Henry froze. Their instinct to run was overshadowed by the realisation that as they had let the horses free in their haste on arrival, they now had no way of immediate escape.
"Well, who are you, show yourself and speak!"
Delilah glanced across into Henry's ashen face. Eyes clenched tight, mouth grimaced, expression pained; he was the picture of defeat. She had to think fast. She smiled, this was something she was good at! She stood up and spun around.
"Halt sir, and lower your weapon. Do you not recognise a Baron's daughter?"
she demanded.
"Erm...what?"
The guard stumbled and stammered over his words, taken aback at the unexpected and audacious response.
"Delilah...what are you...?"
"Hush, Henry," she whispered back fiercely.
Henry's mouth hung open, as he stared back at her in disbelief. What was she thinking?
"Good man, I am Delilah, daughter of his Lordship, the Fruit Baron. Can you not tell that I am obviously lost? Why else would I be on foot in the middle of the night so far from my home? My groomsman, my father's obedient servant, and I were out riding. The weather turned on us and we got terribly lost. We dismounted a few hundred yards from here to take rest in a nearby copse and as the weather improved, we decided to seek aid as our horses wandered off in the night. We saw the light from this here open window and thought we would see if we could attract somebody's attention. Thankfully, we did!"
The commotion outside the window had attracted the attention of the Barons inside and a few of them had approached the window to investigate further.
The guard was still trying to decide how to respond to the young girl and her companion when another voice boomed out of the window.
"Guard lower that weapon immediately! Delilah! Henry! What the heck is going on out here?"
Henry trembled. This was going to be a long night!
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