Caius, Morgan, and William followed her as she marched up to the keep, right underneath the door.
“Caspian?” she called up. “Caspian, are you there? Please answer me!”
She was met by silence, but it didn’t deter her. She began to walk along the keep, where there were windows, and shouted up to them.
“Caspian!” she called. “Please answer me!”
Caius, Morgan, and William followed her all the way around the keep as she continued shouting up to it, calling for her brother. They ended up back at the entry door and she stood there, begging her brother to respond. She even took to throwing rocks at the closed entry door. William thought it might be agood idea, too, so he picked up a bigger rock and hurled it at the door, creating a loud thump. Between him and the lady throwing rocks, it was inevitable that there was an eventual answer.
There was a window next to the door, shuttered tightly, and the shutters suddenly began to move. Emelisse rushed up, standing directly beneath the window.
“Caspian?” she called eagerly. “Please open the window. It is me! I have returned with help!”
The shutters had been nailed shut because she could see someone trying to pry them apart. The four of them stood beneath the window, watching and waiting, until one of the shutters was finally pulled free and a grizzled, old head appeared.
Emelisse gasped.
“Harcourt!” she said. “You survived!”
The very old soldier seemed glad to see her. “I did, m’lady,” he said. “And you are well, also. Praise the saints. We were certain you had been taken away to your death.”
Emelisse shook her head. “Nay,” she said. Then, she sobered greatly. “But Papa did not survive. He is with God now. Where is Caspian? I must speak with him right away.”
The old soldier sighed heavily. “If you think to ask him to surrender the keep, he won’t. You should not waste your breath.”
“I did not come to ask him that,” she said. “I told you I have brought help with me. This is Sir Caius d’Avignon and he serves William Marshal. Harcourt,whereis my brother?”
The old man eyed Caius before looking to Emelisse to see if she was being forced to say such things. He seemed confused, but finally, he shook his head.
“He has gone to be with your papa,” he said as gently as he could. “Your brother died from an arrow wound last night, but he told us that we aren’t to surrender the keep under any circumstances. We are to die here.”
Emelisse stared at him, her hands flying to her mouth to hold back the sobs that were struggling to burst forth. “Nay,” she breathed. “Not Caspian… God, please…”
That was as far as she could get before tears overwhelmed her and she hung her head, silently sobbing. Caius looked at her with concern, with sorrow, before stepping forward to take charge of the conversation.
“As the lady has explained, I serve William Marshal,” he said. “I am not siding with Winterhold, nor am I siding with Hawkstone, but I am here to see that the hostilities cease until this situation can be settled. Where is the lady’s brother?”
“In here, with us,” the old man said. “He did not die alone. We made sure he was comfortable. He feared greatly for the lady and their father, and we tried to be of some comfort.”
“Please,” Emelisse whispered hoarsely. “I must see him. Please let me see him.”
Caius heard her heartbreaking plea. He turned to the old soldier again.
“Please open the door,” he said. “I am not asking you to surrender the keep, but the lady has a right to see her brother.”
The old man hesitated a moment before nodding wearily. “And you’ll keep those Winterhold bastards away?”
“I will.” Caius leaned in Morgan’s direction and muttered. “Once Hallam has the Winterhold men out of the bailey, put our escort at the gatehouse to block them from entering again. And find Maxton; I want him on the gate, also. Keep them out while we are conducting our business.”
Morgan nodded and rushed off. Meanwhile, the old man had disappeared and Caius went to Emelisse, who was standing there with her head down, trying desperately not to collapse. First her father, now her brother… Caius could only imagine what she was feeling. Gently, he reached out and took her by the elbow.
“Come, my lady,” he said softly. “Let us see your brother.”
Emelisse nodded and looked up at him, trying very hard to be brave. He’d called her brave, once, and somehow, she didn’t want to disappoint him. Shewouldbe brave. But the moment she looked into his sympathetic face, a man she was coming to view as her savior, her features crumpled and she ended up burying her face against his chest.
Shocked, Caius wasn’t sure what to do. With Morgan gone and William now beneath the keep door as those inside labored to open it, he was virtually alone with Emelisse. The woman was seeking comfort, perhaps from him personally because she felt safe with him. He gave her a sense of security, of hope, things she desperately needed at the moment.
It wasn’t as if she had anyone else to turn to.
