There was noeasy 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 grabbeda 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.Hisouter bailey.
*
Guy was insidethe 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.Hisouter 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 havespearheaded 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.
