"Who are you?"
"I am Father Anselm, priest to LordGervais. My lord is expecting me at this very moment."
Guy's mind raced with this news. Obviously he wouldhave to include this priest in his new plan if they wanted to get beyond thegate. "Do you always ride about with two armed knights as your escort?"he queried tersely, thinking it strange.
"No, no. They were sent out to find me," theman answered in a nervous rush. "I-I was in the village paying a call. MylordGervaiswants me to prepare some specialdocuments which must be sent to the archbishop by morning. I tell you, heawaits me with great impatience! He is sure to send out more of his men if Idon't arrive soon—"
"What kind of documents?" Guy cut in coldly,his intuition pricked.
"Annulment papers for his sister. She has left herhusband, Lord deWarenne."
An annulment, Guy thought grimly. If not for what Henryhad told him, he might have truly believed Leila hated him. Now he could seeher actions for what they were, all part of a desperate plan to sway Rogeragainst fighting him in a trial by combat. If the annulment was approved, shewould be free to marry whomever that bastard chose for her.
His heart filled with anguish. Ah, my brave, sweetlove, did you so fear for my life that you would be willing to make such asacrifice?
Guy lifted the priest's trembling chin with his sword. "Hearme well, Father Anselm. I am Lord Guy deWarenne.There will be no annulment papers drawn up this night, for I have come for mywife. You are going to help us get into the castle."
The rotund clergyman crossed himself several times,gulping air. "Wh-what do you want me to do?"
"I and one of my knights are going to ride withyou to the gatehouse. You will act normally and say only enough to have thegate thrown open for us. When we are inside the bailey, get out of the way ifyou value your life." His voice fell to a fierce whisper. "I warnyou, Father. I am willing to risk hell's eternal fire for my wife. If you giveus away, your blood will stain my sword."
"You need have no fear," the priest blurted. "Iwill not betray you."
"A wise decision," Guy said, easing the bladeslightly away from the man's throat. "Now, I take it you know the castlewell. Where will I most likely find Lady deWarenne?In the keep, or are there private chambers in the great hall?"
"She . . . she's in the keep's dungeon, my lord."
Guy stared at the man incredulously. "In thedungeon?"
"Yes. LordGervais'smentold me she will be held there until she agrees . . . Oh, it is a terrible,terrible business, but what can I do? I have no sway in such matters. I knowlittle else but that my lord wishes his sister to rid herself of the babe shecarries in her womb."
Guy's initial shock that Leila was pregnant with hischild was quickly swept away by blinding rage. It was clear Roger's greed andcruelty knew no limits!
Sheathing his sword, Guy grabbed the priest by the cowland shoved him toward the horses, calling over his shoulder, "Burnell! You will ride with us. Bring me one of the deadmen's cloaks and you put on the other. Langton, see that the men are preparedto storm the gate as soon as it is opened. Montgomery, take a half dozenknights with you to the curtain wall and tell the men waiting there to forgothe ladders and rush the gate as well. Go!"
A round of whispered "Ayes!" sounded in thedarkness as heheavedthe fat priest into a saddle.
"Remember what I told you, Father," Guyhissed, throwing the proffered cloak around his shoulders. He mounted and drewhis horse alongside the priest's. "One wrong word—"
"I-I have not forgotten, my lord."
Guy kept his head down as they left the cover of thetrees and rode up the barren incline to the gatehouse, he and Robert flankingthe frightened priest. His fury intensified as they drew closer, and when theywere almost at the gate, he tightly gripped the rains. His every muscle wastaut, his blood running hot in anticipation of battle.
"Name yourselves!" a castle guard demandedfrom a lighted window in the gatehouse.
"Surely you can see who it is," the priestcried, his voice quavering slightly. "Father Anselm! Open the gate. LordGervaishas summoned me in great haste!"
Guy glanced at his knight as the immense timbered gateswung fully open, a look of grim understanding passing between them. Togetherthey drew their swords and in the next instant, Guy's enraged battle cryshattered the night's stillness. He was answered by the fierce shouting of hismen as they raced toward the gatehouse.
Spurring his horse forward, Guy cut down with mightystrokes the astonished guards who rushed at him whileBurnellslew the men who frantically attempted to close the gate. Screaming in terror,the priest slid from his mount and took off running toward the great hall. Hebegan to wave his arms hysterically and yell that the castle was under attack.
Guy decided not to waste his time on Father Anselm. Theman's cries of warning came too late. Already his own knights and men-at-armswere streaming through the gate, trampling the fallen guards and almostslipping in the slick blood that covered the ground. It was clear from themeager forces upon the battlements that Roger had not prepared for a surpriseassault. Blessed fool!
"Strike down any man who will not surrender!"Guy shouted as his men surged with brandished swords across thetorchlitbailey to meet thoseGervaisknights who were just now running from the hall. Still other deWarennemen forged up the stone steps to the battlements,holding high their shields as arrows began to rain down upon the castle yard.
Guy chose a different path, riding hard for thetowering rectangular keep. His only thought was to find Leila.
Jumping down from the horse, he cursed as pain shotlike hot flames through his leg. He shoved open the arched door to the keep andstepped inside, his eyes quickly adjusting to the hazy light cast by a singlehanging lantern. He was about to descend a flight of stone steps which hebelieved led to the dungeon when a side door crashed open and RogerGervaisrushed into the room. The sword he carried wasdripping blood.
