Frederick tensed again, eyeing the men in the room, a group that was numbering around twenty. He knew he wouldn’t make it out alive if O’Byrne ordered his men to swarm on him. So he backed up, ending up against the wall that was adjacent to the hearth. His dark eyes were nervous and edgy.
“If you want to take Black Castle, now is the time,” he said. “De Bermingham is occupied with the de Cleveley settlement to the south. He fears they are planning to attack him, as Kildare did, so his focus is there. In fact, when last I spoke with him, he was planning on going to the settlement. He was leaving Black Castle.”
Daniel was very interested. He knew that with Black Sword in the heart of any battle, his victory was assured. But if he had removed himself from Black Castle, then the fortress, and the men, would be without their beloved leader. And they would be vulnerable.
“I see,” he said, contemplating. “Was he at the fortress when we attacked it those days ago?”
Frederick nodded. “He was,” he said. “But it was his plan to leave Black Castle immediately after you retreated.”
“He was going to the English settlement?”
“Aye.”
“How many men was he taking with him?”
“None.”
Daniel’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “None?” he repeated. “Then how does he plan to lay siege?”
Frederick shook his head. “You misunderstand,” he said. “Black Sword has a spy in the settlement. He was returning to gather information. While he is gone, the fortress is not only compromised since the beating it took from your attack, but it is further vulnerable because de Bermingham is not there. Don’t you see? If you really want to destroy Black Sword and take his castle, now is the time.”
Daniel looked at his son, who seemed to be taking the information quite literally. When Brandon spoke, it was to his father.
“If what he says is true, then we would be foolish not to take advantage,” he said, but then he looked at Frederick. “If you are close to Black Sword as you say you are, then why are you so willing to betray him?”
Frederick lost some of his confidence. He seemed to deflate, consumed with depression. “Because…,” he began, then recovered and stood tall. “Because he chooses others over me. I have always been true and faithful to him, but he would reward others before me. He will not listen to my advice. It is clear he has no use for me. I am an excellent commander and deserve all recognition.”
“So this is about rewards?”
“This is about getting what I deserve.”
Brandon eyed his father a moment before continuing; they were starting to get into the heart of the traitor’s visit. “So you feel that you deserve more than Black Sword is willing to give,” he reiterated. “Does de Bermingham know this? Have you ever spoken to him about it?”
“He will not listen to me.”
“So you come here to betray him and to punish him.”
“Aye.”
Brandon believed him. “At least you are being honest,” he said. “Unlike my father, I have no reservations about placing you in command of Black Castle if we breach it. But you are going to help us accomplish this.”
“How?”
Brandon crossed his arms; he was a bright young man with a cunning mind. He was about to prove it.
“You will return to Black Castle,” he said. “In three days, on the rise of the full moon, you will open the gates and we willcharge in. We will be hiding in the woods to the north of Black Castle and once the gate is unlocked, you will send us a signal. When we see the signal, we will come, and Black Castle shall be ours. Will you do this?”
Frederick didn’t want to refuse him; he’d fled Black Castle after killing Shain and attempting to poison his cousin. He’d seen Devlin from a distance as he’d fled Black Castle, so he knew his attempt to murder him had failed. Naturally, he was reluctant to return, but if he wanted to prove his worth to O’Byrne, and if he wanted to have command of Black Castle when Devlin was deposed, then he had no choice. After a moment, he nodded faintly.
“Very well,” he said. “I will return and open the gates for you. What sign would you have from me?”
Brandon considered that for a moment. “Exit the open gates with two torches,” he said. “We will be able to see them from a distance. Wave them into the night and we will know the gates are open and come.”
“I will have to do this without raising suspicion.”
“That will be your problem. If we do not see the torches, we will not come because we will assume you have failed.”
“I will not fail.”
