A Stormy Knight (30 page)

"
Where your horse be?
"
The man studied him.

"
Lost. I came on foot nearly a fortnight past. It threw me afore I could get here it did,
"
Nicholas said lamely.

"
Ye can take mine,
"
the man said, obviously relieved someone else was going to ride out of the gates to check things out.
"
Come ta the stables and I show him to ye. He be a nasty beast
,
but he rides fast and hard.
"

Nicholas followed the man to the stables
and
tried to keep an even stride with him, as if he knew where he was going. He pulled his cap lower over his eyes and prayed he did not run into Gavin or Hugh.
There was
no doubt after his last run in with Hugh the man would know him on the spot.

They made it to the stables
,
and the man led him to a stall. The stable boy came and deftly fitted the horse with saddle, bridle
,
and reins. It was a large horse, but it was not the size of his. He could handle this one easily
, but he
wished for his own destrier, as he had not been in battle without him since he got him three years prior.

The stable boy was staring at him, so he decided to make haste. He had found the perfect way to get out to meet his men
,
and he had better go before his luck ran out.
Alternatively, he wished to
run up, grab Gemma from her prison
,
and be do
ne
with it
.
However,
without his sword, his armor
,
or his own horse, he knew they did not have a chance to get out alive.

He mounted the testy horse and made his way to the gate. Many were staring at him, but the gate rose so he could exit.
Offering a nod to those standing there,
he took off
toward
the woods.
Kicking his horse into a
gallop
, he
did not look back until he made it to the trees. He glanced over his shoulder to see none followed.
Then, he slowed the horse to an easy
trot
and went around the edge of the woods.
Initially, he
did not see his men, but he knew they would be well hidden with a few lookouts waiting for his signal.

The lookouts must have been doing their job. When he approached his men
,
they did not startle. They knew it was him. They remained quiet, but all broke out in grins as their lord approached. All of the men, no matter from where they had come just a few months before, respected Nicholas. He had won their loyalty.

Matthew moved his hor
se forward.
"
The lady is well?
"

"
Aye, she is
,
but I do not know for how long,
"
he
said as he made a mental count of the men hiding in the wood. His squire came quickly, asking if he
wanted his armor and his sword.

As his squire and two other men helped him dress in his armor, he continued,
"
The lord is still Hugh Bigod, but this is not his war. He simply harbors the enemy. The man who holds Gemma is her brother, Gavin.
"

There were a few gasps within the crowd of men. Oliver, who sat in lead, spoke first.

"
Are you sure, milord?
"
he said
.
"
Young Gavin left many years ago, but did visit occasionally. It has been a while, but surely he had not grown bitter over the years so he would wish to harm his father and sisters.
"

"
I do not know how to explain this to you,
"
he
said a
s he stood
in full armor before them,
"
b
ut I do know
'
tis him
,
and he is indeed a bitter man. He has no intentions of releasing Gemma alive. I do not know why, but I do know how. He had himself blend in with the lot of you
, but
stayed away f
rom those he may have known. M
ost of you do not know him on sight.
"

Oliver tipped his head down as if staring at his saddle.
"
Surely
'
tis not the fault of our men, milord,
"
he said and
raised his head again
.
"
I do not know half of the men there, as some came with you and some came from Henry. I do not expect the rest to know.
"

"
Nay,
"
Nicholas shook his head emphatically,
"
I do not hold the men responsible.
'
Twas my duty to know
,
and I did not. Gavin guarded a tunnel
that
went under the walls. He came and went that way
,
and no one thought to question him.
"

There was silence as the men pondered the traitor
who
had been in
their midst for quite a while.

"'
Tis no matter now,
"
Nicholas
said,
"
we will make the necessary changes when this is over. Right now our concern is Gemma. She must be safe
,
and Gavin must be taken down. Hugh is just as responsible in my eyes, even though he was idle. He harbored the enemy and knew of it.
I want him
alive
,
if possible. Gavin may be a fierce fighter as he is not of his right mind, so be wary of him in battle.
"

A lookout came near and reported there had been no more movement at the gates. Nicholas knew if he did not return soon, those within the walls would be notified a soldier went out and did not return. He had to hope reinforcements were on their way and
his wife
would be safe.

He and Oliver went over their plan while a few riders were sent off to skirt the backside of the woods to watch the river. Oliver had already given the men the battle plans, but
he
went over things again, sharing what he had learned about the layout of the castle and where men-at-arms would m
ost likely hide to lie in wait.

When the lookout came back at full gallop, Nicholas knew it was time to go. The signal had been given
,
and there was no time to waste. They had to move now or all would be lost.

He
lifted his sword and his men were ready.
They marched
out of the woods to face the castle
,
and
he
let out a cry so loud no one could mistake his intentions. His men sat in formation behind him, swords ready and shields up. Some of his men behind them were on horseback, and their horses pranced as if knowing battle was upon them.
The rest
would go on foot, as the march was s
hort and the space was limited.

"
Hold back!
"
he
shouted
as he saw the archers line the catwalk atop the castle facing them. The horn sounded within the walls
,
and all would be aware he had appeared. They were planning to ride out at sunset, so he hoped he had caught them somewhat unaware. After what he had seen within the walls, he knew this to be true.

The arrows were let loose
,
and his men knelt behind shields, just as they had been trained. The arrows fell short
,
as Nicholas had known they would. They had to advance though, and the best way to achieve that was to let the forces within open the gate to come for them.

"
Show yourself, Gavin de Vere! I am Nicholas de Reymes
,
and I have come to avenge the deaths at Blackstone. You shall turn over Lady Gemma and give yourself up to the mercy of the king,
"
he
yelled
.

Arrows flew again as
more
men ran atop the castle wall. It would be a waiting game
,
as he allowed them to exhaust their supply of arrows. He stood fast and heard the call behind him. Henry
'
s men were riding up behind them. Reinforcements had arrived.

Inside, Gemma peered nervously out of an arrow loop. She had heard the shout. Her heart soared at the sight of Nicholas in full battle armor, coming to right t
he wrongs done to her family. Though he did not love her,
he would avenge her father and her people. He would save her.
Arrows
rain
ed
down, falling just short of where
he
stood. She held her breath
,
but not one of the men fell. He was a sight to behold. Her heart pounded as she watched him.
Only a foo
l
could not see
why Henry held him in high regard. He was a fearsome knight.

As she stood on tiptoe to see more, she heard the shouting above and below her. She hoped she would be forgotten in the panic
that
was overtaking the castle. Footsteps sounded behind her
,
and she feared someone was coming for her.

"
Gemma!
"
a female voice cried
.
"
C
ome with me now.
"

She
paused
and stared at Helena in amazement.

"
Come!
"
she repeated,
"
I have to help you. I no longer trust my husband. I will see you to safety if you do as I say and come now. All I ask is you
would
offer me protection when this is done.
"

With a nod,
she
ran to the door.
"
Aye, I will do as you ask.
"

Helena pulled out a key and fumbled with it. She had a bundle under her arm. She must have been planning to help her long before now
,
as the battle outside had only just begun.
Fumbling, s
he got the lock open and pulled Gemma from the room.
After the door was
locked,
they
made their way down the steps.

Helena s
tumbled
as a few men raced down the steps around them and into the bailey.
Both women stopped
,
but they
were not bothered. She pulled
a scarf out of the bundle and ordered Gemma to put it around her hair to hide the color and to shield her face.

Helena stepped out so she could see the bailey, holding Gemma back so she would not be seen. With shaking hands,
Gemma
wound the scarf around her head the best she could. She feared the scarf would draw more attention, but it was better than nothing. Footsteps pounded around the bailey in all directions. Men were shouting at each other in total confusion. They had not been ready for Nicholas.

Helena pulled Gemma out the archway and ran along the curtain wall with her closely behind her. To anyone looking, they appeared to be the lady with a servant running for cover. Gemma stumbled when she heard Gavin
'
s voice start to shout commands, but they kep
t running without looking back.

Helena took her behind many of the outbuildings, occasionally running out in the open, but no one stopped them. They were all focused on defending the hold and did not pay any attention to two women running the other way.

Like Blackstone, Renoir had a gatehouse
on the R
iver Thames. Helena was leading her outside the walls to safety. They were stopped by two men at the gate.
She
thought for sure they were caught, but the
men barely paid them any heed.

"
Gavin sent me with a servant to safety,
"
Helena said, clutching her bundle under her arm.

The men
peered
at her
but
barely glanced at Gemma. It was dark in the gatehouse so she ducked her head, trying to appear meek in hopes they would not question her identity. The guards lifted the gate just a foot so they could crawl underneath and urged them to hurry. Gemma held her breath the entire time, but before she knew it, they were out and standing around the corner from the gate, out of sight of the guards atop the catwalk. She could see the woods to their left
. The river was to their right.