"So my priest saw fit to assist you and your menthrough the gatehouse," Roger said harshly, his narrowed gaze full ofhatred. "My dead priest. He will not betray me again. Before I struck himdown, he told me you had come for your wife, deWarenne.How did you know to find her with me?"
"Suffice it to say I know Leila's heart."
"And suffice it to say you will not be taking herwith you. Stand away from those stairs!"
Guy held his ground, his back against the wall and hissword poised in front of him. "You would do well to surrender,Gervais. This battle has already been lost. Our suddenattack has overwhelmed your forces. Throw down your sword."
"Surrender is a word unknown to me, my lord."Roger's blade swiped menacingly at the air as he edged closer. "To fightto the death has always been my creed, and so it is for my men as well. I thinkyou will find if you step outside the keep that the battle still rages."
"I will not leave this place as long as my wife isin your dungeon,Gervais."
"Then die here!"
Cold steel rang out against steel, Roger's enragedcurses echoing all around them. The ferocity of his attack forced Guy toretreat into the middle of the room and then onto the circular stairs which ledto the keep's upper floors. He backed up step after excruciating step, painripping through his leg and sweat drenching him as he deflected Roger's viciousblows.
"You should be the one to surrender, my lord deWarenne," Roger sneered, his breath coming harder ashe drove Guy relentlessly up the stairs, around and around. "You're weak.I can feel it. I can see it in your face. That poison must have sapped yourstrength. Give up now . . . while I might have a mind to let you live."
"And let you drive your sword through my heartwhen I lower my weapon?" Guy demanded, responding with a wild thrust thatRoger barely managed to dodge. Swearing vehemently, Roger clutched his armwhere Guy's blade had sliced into his flesh, although he continued to swing hissword in a wide, deadly arc.
"You were never the fool," Roger mutteredthrough clenched teeth. "These stairs make as fitting a killing ground asany jousting field. My revenge . . . has been a long time in coming, deWarenne. Perhaps you would not have despoiled ourfriendship so readily . . . if you had known it would one day lead to yourdeath."
"If by honoringRanulf'sdying wish I spawned your hatred,Gervais," Guycountered, grunting with exertion as he parried a fierce blow, "then ourswas no true friendship. I think . . . it was not Christine you loved but herrich dower. My supposed betrayal has not ruled your actions so much as your ownjealousy and greed! You forget that I, too, have a score to settle!"
Roaring in fury, Roger attacked him with such avengeance that Guy was forced to retreat still higher up the stairs, passingthe fourth floor. Fiery sparks flew as hard steel struck and scraped againstrough stone walls. Guy's ears rang from the clamor of battle. Ducking a savageswipe, he swore loudly when he backed straight into a stout wooden barrier, andhe realized that there were no more steps to climb. They had reached the roof.
Swinging his sword violently at Roger to buy himself a fewprecious seconds, Guy slammed his full weight against what proved to be a doorbehind him. The wood splintered and gave away, and he tumbled onto a graveledsurface. Groaning in pain, he rolled out of the way just as Roger's sword camedown where his head had been only an instant before, and he hauled himselfquickly to his feet.
It was dark, but Guy could faintly make out hisopponent's massive silhouette from the light cast by torches far below in thebailey. As he bettered his stance, he dragged in greatlungfulsof cool air and fought against the weakness that was plaguing his limbs. A warmwetness was oozing down his leg, and he knew that his wound had reopened, thatblood was soaking through the bandages.
"Come on, deWarenne!"Roger shouted, his blade whistling as he swiped viciously. "So far thisbattle has been no contest but a game of cat and mouse. Strike like a man, damnyou, or I shall feel I've killed a green youth and not a trained knight!"
Guy did just that, taking the offensive now that he hadample room with which to maneuver. Their swords met again and again in thedarkness, grunts and curses and ragged inhalations of breath melding with thesharp ring of clashing blades and the dim sounds of battle still raging belowin the castle yard.
Just when it seemed neither man could gain theadvantage, both being so well matched in skill and size, Roger again took theupper hand, driving Guy almost to the battlement with his furious blows.
"Say a fast prayer, deWarenne!Death is upon you!"
As he fended off a mighty swing, Guy's sword wasknocked from his grasp and clattered upon the stones a few feet away. He duckedand lunged for his weapon at the same moment Roger rushed at him with abloodcurdling cry of victory. But with amazing swiftness Guy swept up his swordand rolled free just as Roger's arm descended in a brutal downward thrust. Inan instant Guy was on his feet and smashing Roger's weapon from his grasp in ablow so powerful that his arm reverberated with the impact. Then, withoutthinking, bloodlust coursing through his veins, Guy clamped his massive handsaround Roger'ssurcoat, lifted him bodily, and, asRoger's screams echoed in his ears, pitched him headlong over the battlement .. . The abrupt silence seemed deafening to Guy.
Heaving for breath, he picked up his sword and went tothe parapet, where he leaned on the cold, damp masonry for support. Sweatdripped onto his hands as he peered down into the bailey at Roger's brokenbody. He felt no great sense of triumph. He knew it could have easily beenhelying still and lifeless upon the ground.
As Guy wiped the sweat from his face, his gaze sweptthe bailey. It appeared his men had subdued the bulk of Roger's forces. Many ofhis knights, Robert and Henry among them, were busy rounding up prisoners nearthe great hall.
His eyes were drawn to the slender figure of a womanrunning toward the keep, her long blond hair flying behind her, and herecognized Maude. She collapsed to her knees beside Roger and began to rock hisbody back and forth as if she sought to rouse him. Suddenly she shrieked inanguish at the realization that he was dead.
Staggering to her feet, Maude raised her clenched fistsat the keep. Her face was twisted in crazed fury as she shouted at him, "Murderer!I curse you, deWarenne. Curse you! Your preciouswife shall die for this deed!"
Oh, God. Leila.
Guy's stomach roiled as Maude grabbed a blazing torchfrom a bracket and disappeared into the keep. He rushed to the roof entrance,and in his desperate haste, he nearly tripped as he vaulted over what was leftof the door. He began to run down the winding stairs, his blood pounding in hisears, his heart battering against his chest. The pain in his leg was so acuteit felt as if sharp spikes were driving into his flesh with each step. But itdidn't matter. Nothing mattered but Leila.
He was only to the second floor when he heard terriblescreaming, shrill and high-pitched. The piercing sound sent chills down hisspine and filled him with dread. By the time he reached the ground floor, acridgray smoke was flooding up the narrow flight of stairs which led to thedungeon.
As Guy took the steps three at a time, the smoke grewthicker and he began to cough, his eyes stinging. The agonized screams grewlouder, more horrible. At the bottom of the stairs, the smoke reflected thefiery orange of flames shooting out from an open cell. Terrified rats skitteredand squeaked around his feet. He raced to the door but was pushed back by theintense heat. Then he saw a sight which flooded him with stark horror. He couldhave been staring straight into hell.
Maude was engulfed in flames and staggering around thecell, screaming . . . screaming . . .
God help him! Leila must be in there, too!
