“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, butwith 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 Daneand 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 wasthe biggest sword Keith had ever seen and he was struck with fear as he watched the man fight.
