Malcolm, who was riding point on his Hobnob, signaled for our small escaping party to stop when we reached some hills several kilometers from the Western Kingdom.

“Why are we stopping?” asked Amos from the rear, in as loud a voice as he dared. Malcolm dismounted and walked uphill a short distance before taking out his binoculars, as he had called it.

Scanning the horizon behind us, Malcolm declared, “No sign that anyone’s noticed we’ve left. That’s curious.”

“No one will come after us until first light. Everyone sleeps very soundly in our kingdom. Especially the guards,” Kelvin informed us, seated between Merlyn and me in the basket atop Emma.