Chapter Thirty-Seven
There was no easy way to go about the attack.
The only possible answer was a full frontal assault, hoping to catch Botmore and Stoneley off guard before they raised the bridge.
Not expecting assistance so soon, Gaston was sure they would not be prepared for an onslaught.
In this case, he was pleased to be correct.
Ingilsby’s army pounded up the road to Mt.
Holyoak with grim determination, the earth quaking under their feet.
Botmore’s army was in the process of burning the bodies of Gaston’s soldiers in great pyres when the army came upon them.
Startled, they began to scramble for the road that led to the keep, but by that time it was already too late and Ingilsby’s army engaged them where they stood.
Inside the keep, the alarm was sounded and chaos broke loose.
Gaston and Taran charged the bridge, followed closely by Hubert, Adam, and Alex.
“Jam the wench,” Gaston hollered above the roar of the ensuing battle. “Jam it so they cannot raise the bridge.”
Alex promptly wedged his sword into the wheel, jamming it solid when the soldiers on the wall tried to activate the pulley. Adam, on the other side, dismounted his horse and grabbed a fallen spear. Shoving it through the chain, it broke off and rendered removal completely impossible.
With the bridge properly waylaid, Gaston roared into the outer bailey with a vengeance. His outer bailey.
*
Guy was inside the castle when the alarm sounded.
Startled, he barely had time to make it to the nearest window when he saw his men scrambling to ward off invaders.
There was a good deal of shouting and panic and then, suddenly, there were enemy knights pouring into the outer bailey. His outer bailey.
Rushing into the hall, he was met by Keith.
“What’s happened?” he demanded.
“De Russe,” Keith gasped. “He’s come.”
Guy looked awestruck. “But….Christ! How could he have come so soon? My God, we secured the castle not three hours ago. How could he have come?”
Keith shook his head. “Who knows, Guy? All that matters is that he is here with Ingilsby’s army. They carry more men, and they’re fresh.”
Guy growled in frustration and pushed past Keith. “’Tis of no matter!” he snarled. “Where are the boys?”
The flush in Keith’s cheeks drained. “In the tower room. Why? What are you planning?”
Guy paused recklessly at the top of the stairs. “De Russe’s defeat, what do you think?”
Keith followed him warily to Charles’ tower room, which had become a prison for the three young men. When Guy threw open the door, three sets of wide eyes greeted him.
He smiled thinly at his son. “I am returned. It would seem we have a problem.”
Dane and Trenton were stone-faced, but Charles was quaking.
“What problem?” Charles asked.
Guy’s eyes riveted to his young cousin. “Shut up, woman. I wasn’t speaking to you.”
Charles flushed, looking at the ground, but Dane remained calm. “What problem, my lord?”
Guy stepped into the room, followed by Botmore.
His steps were leisurely, amazing for a man who was under attack.
“It would seem de Russe is here. Will you tell me, then, if your companion is his son? I heard rumor he had a son, and this lad looks conspicuously like the duke. I want an answer, Dane.”
Dane clamped his mouth shut. Already they were in trouble.
Their first mistake had been coming to Mt.
Holyoak in the first place. Secondly, when the siege started and Sir Roald told them to retreat to the tower, they did the opposite and plunged into the battle, helping the soldiers in their warfare.
They stood atop the parapet when the enemy army shot flame arrows into the drawbridge and partially burned it, and they furthermore watched in horror as ladders were laid out across the moat and men began to cross.
When the bridge was burned enough for men to pass through, they went down into the outer bailey to help in the fight.
The break in the bridge was manageable. But, suddenly from inside Mt.
Holyoak, enemy soldiers began pouring out of the castle and they were trapped.
Dane suspected that the soldiers came in through the blocked-off kitchen gate and he was ashamed he had not thought of the possibility sooner.
But by that time, it was too late. There were rival soldiers everywhere, and he and Charles and Trenton found themselves in the heat of the fight.
It occurred to Dane that very few people knew of the kitchen gate.
Horror rose in his throat as he realized his father must have spearheaded this attack to gain Mt.
Holyoak back, and at nearly the same moment he realized his fear, his father strolled from the interior of the castle as if he were God himself.
Charles, Dane and Trenton were all that remained of Gaston’s elite force. Dane had watched in horror as Roald lost his head. After that, they were sequestered in the tower.
Until now.
Dane stared back at his father, into the hated eyes. “I am not going to tell you anything.”
Guy did not react for a moment. Then, he charged at Charles and grabbed the young man around the neck.
Charles shrieked and Dane and Trenton yelled loudly as Guy carried Charles toward the narrow window.
They watched in horror as Guy thrust his cousin into the windowsill and half-hung him from the opening, a gaping five-story drop below.
“Tell me or he dies!” Guy yelled.
Dane hurled himself at his father, pounding him with his fists and Guy kicked his son away brutally. Dane slammed to the floor, dazed, but scrambled to his feet for another try. Over his shoulder he could hear Trenton yelling at him to stop.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Trenton was shouting. “Yes.”
Dane charged his father again, but Guy reached out this time and grabbed him by the tunic. Holding his terrified cousin in one hand and his struggling son in the other, he focused on Trenton.
“What did you say?” he asked, almost calmly.
Trenton’s handsome face was dark. “I said…yes. I am his son.”
Guy let both young men go just as they were. Charles would have tumbled to his death had Dane not rushed to grab him. Guy crossed the floor to Trenton, eyeing him intently.
“I knew as much. What is your name?”
“Trenton,” the youth replied with a steady voice.
“Trenton de Russe,” Guy repeated, flashing Botmore a confident look. “You see, Keith? The battle is won already.”
“What do you plan to do with the lad?” Botmore asked warily. “He’s just a boy, Guy. Surely you are not thinking to….”
“Of course not; not yet, anyway,” Guy crooked his finger at Trenton, indicating for him to stand. When the boy was on his feet, Guy silently motioned for Dane to take position next to Trenton.
With the boys side by side, Guy grabbed a length of leather and lashed their hands together, Trenton’s right to Dane’s left.
Dane and Trenton passed glances at one another, wondering what was in store for them, yet neither one was truly frightened.
Dane was too busy hating his father to be frightened, and Trenton was simply angry.
Over near the window, Charles was exhibiting enough fear for all three of them.
“Come with me,” he motioned the two young men, exiting the room with Botmore bringing up the rear.
Charles continued to hover by the window, his heart still in his throat from his fright. It was all he could do to stand, much less follow. Guy had not even bothered to close the tower door, knowing Charles was no threat.
Charles swallowed hard, regaining his wits about him and trying to steady his shaking.
He truly had no idea what Guy was planning for Dane and Trenton, but he was terrified that whatever it was, the boys were in mortal danger.
Far below in the double baileys he could hear shouting and sounds of combat engagement and he peered from the window to observe the clash.
He would have liked to help. Roald had been kind to him in recent months, training him with various weapons and schooling him on the knightly arts.
The thought of his mentor killed before his eyes was almost more than he could bear, but with it brought an unfamiliar anger.
An anger so deep that he realized it could only be the fire of revenge.
Dane and Trenton needed his help. Roald was dead. ’Twas time to stop cowering or he was truly the woman Guy accused him of being.
Squaring his narrow shoulders, Charles moved to his work area that housed all of his potions and experiments.
No threat indeed.
*
Guy took Dane and Trenton down into the foyer area, but he paused at the base of the stairs and turned to Keith.
“Do you know de Russe on sight?” he asked.
Keith shook his head. “I have never seen the man. I’m told he’s a big bastard.”
Guy glanced around him as if looking for something. Keith watched him curiously for a moment, but Guy focused on him and smiled. “He’s in the outer bailey, I suspect. You will send him to me.”
Keith’s eyes widened. “He shall kill me if I approach him.”
“Then send one of your men if you are a coward. If you mention his son’s name, then I am sure he will do nothing rash.”
Keith cleared his throat, glancing at the boys before doing as he was asked. Guy waited until he was gone before turning his attention to the young men in his control.
His smile was most sinister.
The battle in both baileys was raging. Keith exited the castle and promptly took to the inner way, scanning the boiling mass of men for the largest man he had ever seen.
’Twas not difficult to spot the Duke of Warminster, cutting down men with a broadsword as tall as the young boys held captive inside.
It was the biggest sword Keith had ever seen and he was struck with fear as he watched the man fight.