Sean’s emotions had the better of him and he struggled against the anguish that threatened. “I was ambushed after I left you,” he said truthfully. “I was rendered unconscious and the lady was taken.”
Guy’s big brown eyes widened with dismay. “Why are you not out looking for her? Why are you here wasting time with me?”
Sean’s jaw ticked dangerously. “I tell you this because I require your help,” he rumbled. “In spite of my reputation, I cannot be everywhere at once. The lady is missing, presumably in danger, and as much as I loathe the idea I require your assistance. I will get you out of this place, but in return you must do everything in your power to help me find the lady. You are allied with her. You have many mutual friends and acquaintances. Perhaps one of them will know where she is. They will speak to you far more easily than they will speak to me.”
It suddenly all came clear to Guy. De Lara was taking him from the vault because he needed Guy’s help to find Lady Sheridan. He began to feel his sense of worth where a moment ago, he had none. Now, the mighty de Lara needed him.
“In spite of the fact that we both lay claim to her, you would ask this of me?” Guy repeated, somewhat guardedly. “Are you so desperate, then?”
“Nay,” Sean shook his head slowly. “I am only concerned with her welfare. I care not for our petty contention at this point, de Braose. All I care about is finding the lady safe and whole. I believe you are the one man who can help me accomplish this.”
“And if I find her and marry her? What then?”
Sean lifted an eyebrow. “I would ask that you not, but I cannot order or demand it. I will leave it to your conscience to do the right thing. All I care about is that she is found. Will you do this?”
Guy was seriously attempting to ascertain Sean’s motives in all of this. Either he was up to something, or Sean was the most selfless man he’d ever met. He wasn’t sure which but he was impressed with the man’s altruism nonetheless. Slowly, he nodded his head.
“I will.”
There was nothing more to say. The two enemies would, for the moment, work together for the common cause of Lady Sheridan. Guy was easily half Sean’s size, so it was little effort for Sean to literally throw him over his shoulder and carry him up the stairs to the next level. This floor of the vault was busier, however, and the master jailer focused his attention on the pair as Sean carted Guy through the area. He went to them.
“You found him, I see,” the burly, one-eyed man spoke to Sean. “Is he dead?”
“He is. I am sending the body back to his father as a message against all those who would oppose the king.”
Thankfully, the jailer didn’t check. He took the Shadow Lord’s word for it. Sean continued to lug Guy through the vault, up the next set of stairs, and up into the gatehouse. There were soldiers everywhere and smoke from the battle filled the air as Sean passed into the ward beyond. Even though it was the north and east sections of London that were burning under attack, the wind had carried the smoke and ash to the Tower. It was an eerie sight as the late afternoon sun turned red behind the clouds of burnt orange and black.
Guy peeped an eye open, noting the tense mood of the courtyard and the soldiers in battle mode going about their business. He could smell the smoke and knew, without being told, what was happening. The siege was well underway.
Sean pulled Guy into a shadowed corner against the wall. It was apparent that he was searching for something, or someone. Guy winced as his broken ribs brushed against each other, historso wedged up against Sean’s massive shoulder. After several moments of hovering in the shadows, the pair rounded the corner of the gatehouse and headed straight for a small, enrobed man pulling a donkey cart along the edge of the western wall.
Without a word, Sean lifted Guy over the side of the cart, burying him beneath the mounds of hay that filled it. Guy sputtered as dried grass hit him in the mouth, but for lack of a better response, lay there as Sean and the tiny old man threw great piles of hay over him. When they were finished satisfactorily burying Guy, Gilby peered out at Sean from beneath his hood.
“He is badly hurt,” Sean said quietly. “Take him somewhere safe where you can tend his wounds. Then send him back to his men. I don’t care how you do it, but get him there.”
“It will not be a simple thing,” Gilby said. “The gates are sealed.”
Sean lifted an eyebrow. “The gates are not the only way in and out of the Tower.”
“And if I need your help?”
Sean shook his head. “I am riding for the Marches in two hours. If you need help, you’ll have to seek it elsewhere. I cannot help you.”
Gilby’s brow furrowed. “Why are you riding to the Marches, man? London is under siege.”
Sean’s normally emotionless face rippled with disgust. “Be that as it may, our king has ordered me to the Marches.” He lowered his voice dramatically. “And I need you to deliver a message.”
“As you wish.”
“The Chapel, one hour.”
As Gilby watched the enormous knight slip off into the darkness of the Tower yard, he couldn’t help wonder what de Lara was doing. For the king to order him away from Londonin the face of a siege was most unusual. It was a curious move on the monarch’s part. Behind him, Gilby could hear the straw rustling about. He turned in time to see Guy’s dark head pop up amongst the hay.
“He is going to the Marches?” Guy repeated what he’d heard. “Why is he going there? And who are you?”
Gilby cocked a bushy eyebrow. “Which question would you have me answer first?”
“All of them.”
