The Golden Braid (28 page)

Rapunzel looked around for something else, anything she might use as a weapon, but there was nothing big or heavy enough. The knives would have to do.

He finally reached into the hole in the door, scrabbling at the small but thick iron bolt. She drew back her knife to thrust it into his hand but decided to wait. Stabbing his hand would not stop him.

He lifted the bolt, flung open the door, and stepped inside.

He did not even glance at the older woman but walked toward Rapunzel. She aimed for his shoulder and threw the knife, but it slipped off her fingers and went flying past his ear.

Fear slammed into her like a lightning bolt and she stumbled
backward. Frau Adelheit was screaming so loud, she was drowning out Balthasar's laughter.

“You missed me.” His hair was sticking out in every direction and his eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot. He didn't seem in any hurry to reach her, though.

If only Frau Adelheit would think to toss her the other knife or to fetch the one she threw past him.

During a brief break in her screams, Rapunzel said, “Go get help.” Perhaps the calmness of her voice would bring Frau Adelheit back to her senses.

Frau Adelheit ran toward the door. Balthasar did not make any move to stop her.

Now Rapunzel was alone with him and without a weapon.

“What will you do?” she said, her voice steady. “Claybrook's guards will be here soon and will stop you from harming me.”

“They won't stop me.” He shook his head, still smiling. “I've already gotten Sir Reginald's permission to get my revenge on you, as a reward for my loyalty to him. He said I could do anything I want to you, as long as I don't kill you.”

Rapunzel heard noises in the background. From the pale light behind him, she could see it was dawn. Muffled shouts came to her, as if from far away, and the clang of metal on metal. Someone was fighting.

Balthasar took another step toward her. “You are sorry for stabbing my arm, are you not? Perhaps you would like to know what it feels like.”

Rapunzel forced herself not to step backward so she wouldn't be pinned against the wall. Instead, she took a step to the right. Balthasar followed her, his hands up, as if ready to lunge.

Something was lying on the floor a little farther to the right. She forced herself not to look directly at it. If it was the knife she had given Frau Adelheit, perhaps she could—

He lurched toward her, but she threw herself on the ground and closed her hand over the object, which was indeed the other knife. She brought the blade up as she twisted her body around to face him—just as he threw his body on top of hers.

Gerek was the first of Duke Wilhelm's men to reach the castle gate. Two of Claybrook's guards were in the gatehouse. Only one drew his sword. But instead of charging Gerek, they both backed away. They must have seen they were outnumbered.

Gerek plowed forward, leaving the two so Duke Wilhelm's men could take them as prisoners.

The castle courtyard was strangely empty. Three guards rushed to the door of the castle. Gerek roared his battle cry and ran at them. He struck the first one with all of his strength, bringing his sword down and knocking the man's sword to the ground.

He slammed his sword into the shoulder of the second one while sidestepping a swing from the sword of the third. They, too, must have seen Duke Wilhelm's men behind him because they laid down their swords and surrendered.

Duke Wilhelm's men surrounded them, and Gerek pushed through the door and into the castle. The first thing he heard was the repeated screams of a woman. He ran past the Great Hall, which was empty, and continued down the corridor.

One of Claybrook's guards came running at him with his sword drawn.

Gerek slashed at the guard, who blocked the blow with his blade. They fought for a few moments before Gerek beat him back and pinned him against the wall. Behind him, Duke Wilhelm's men were making their way through the corridor. Gerek once again
turned his opponent over to them, and he rushed to see who was screaming.

“Over here!” Frau Adelheit was motioning him forward. “In the linen room.”

Another scream came from the linen room, but this time he recognized the voice. Rapunzel. Strength rushed through his limbs. He raced toward the open door of the linen room, which lay on the floor in splinters.

Another of Claybrook's guards came at him, stepping into the corridor from the outside door, his sword drawn. With both hands, Gerek swung his sword and knocked the man to the ground.

Gerek yelled as he charged through the doorway. Rapunzel was lying on the floor, pushing her way out from under a man's body. Gerek kicked the man off of her and onto his back. A knife was sticking out of his chest, over his heart. His eyes were staring up and blood was trickling out of his mouth. Balthasar.

Gerek placed his hands under Rapunzel's arms and lifted her to her feet. She looked into his eyes for a moment, then threw her arms around him.

He pulled her close with one arm, still holding his sword in his other hand. “Shh. All is well . . . All is well.” Her golden hair was falling around her shoulders in disarray. How his heart swelled with joy at seeing her safe, her arms around him, the way it felt to touch her and hold her . . . which he should not be doing. But the way she was clinging to him felt so good he could barely breathe.

She suddenly pulled away and looked up at him, her face quite pale.

He glanced past her at the body lying on the floor. He was definitely dead.

“Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?” He held her at arm's length and looked her over.

“No. He fell on my knife. I turned and he fell . . .” Her voice shook
and she shuddered. “I was only trying to protect myself. Do you think God will forgive me?”

“Of course. He deserved it. And if he hadn't fallen on the knife, I would have killed him myself.” He had such a strong urge to pull her to him that he wrenched his gaze away.

“Are you hurt? There's blood on your face.” She reached out and touched his cheek.

“It's not mine.”

Her mouth suddenly broke into a smile. “Good.”

Even with dark circles under her eyes, she was beautiful. So beautiful.

“I should get back to the fight.”

A cheer resounded inside the castle, and another cheer echoed from outside. He let go of Rapunzel's arms and went into the corridor. Through the window he saw Duke Wilhelm's men were rounding up Claybrook's guards and confiscating their weapons. It was strange that they had prevailed so easily. Where were all of Claybrook's men? The ones they were leading out of the barracks looked as if they were either drunk or sick.

When he turned around, Frau Adelheit was embracing Rapunzel in the corridor behind him.

“Oh, thank God, thank God,” she said. “You are safe and unharmed. You are so brave. Such a brave girl.”

She was brave, but she looked exhausted. He strode over to her. “Duke Wilhelm has defeated Lord Claybrook. Hagenheim is safe again.”

“Thank you. We are so grateful,” Frau Adelheit said.

He had been too late to help Rapunzel. A stab went through Gerek's chest at what might have happened to her. “Are you sure he did not hurt you? What was that man doing, running around loose in the castle?”

“The first thing Lord Claybrook did was set all the dungeon
prisoners free. He's been trying to get me, and he finally almost did.” She let out a shaky breath. “Frau Adelheit and I were locked in the linen room for the last few hours, with him pounding on the door. Then this morning he started beating a hole in the door.”

No wonder she looked so tired.

A maidservant came running toward Rapunzel. “You are safe!” She threw her arms around her. “We were afraid something terrible had happened to you. Is that blood?” She gasped, staring at the bloodstain on the front of Rapunzel's clothing.

“It's not mine.” The edges of Rapunzel's lips lifted as her eyes met Gerek's. She took her friend's arm and led her to the door of the linen room. She showed her Balthasar with the knife in his chest.

“Is he . . . dead?”

“Yes.”

The two of them stood talking for several minutes while droves of Duke Wilhelm's men came in through the outside door to the Great Hall. They spilled into the corridor, and Duke Wilhelm and several more of his men came down the stairs from the solar. They began to swap stories about the guards they had defeated. Apparently Colin le Wyse, the Englishman, had disarmed Claybrook himself. Not a very difficult feat since he'd been poisoned the night before—or so they were saying.

Duke Wilhelm broke away and approached Frau Adelheit. Gerek heard him ask her, “Do you think Cook could have some food prepared for my men?”

“Of course, your grace.”

Rapunzel and her friend followed Frau Adelheit. Rapunzel hesitated and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes locked on his for a moment.

She was his friend, a maiden he had taught to read, to whom he had loaned some books, whose life he had saved twice and who had
saved his once. But that was all. And if he thought about her a lot, it was only because she was his friend, and he was hers.

Soon he would be married and no longer living at Hagenheim Castle. He would forget her, and she would forget him. But if the pain in his chest was any indication, it might be a painful process.

He looked out the window. The men were clapping each other on the back, trying to be heard as they all told their tales of bravery and battle prowess. A woman caught his eye. She very much resembled Rapunzel's mother. He stared, trying to make sure, but she was hidden from view as she slunk off behind the kitchen, as if trying to avoid being seen.

If it was Rapunzel's mother, surely she wouldn't try to harm Rapunzel or force her to leave, as she had once threatened. There were too many people around. But it was strange that she was here, especially now, while the castle was being freed from Claybrook's clutches. Could Rapunzel's mother have had anything to do with the capture?

Lord Glynval, Colin's father, suddenly appeared and clapped him on the shoulder. He asked Gerek about his battles, and they moved toward the Great Hall where the rest of the knights and Duke Wilhelm's men were congregating.

He didn't want to worry Rapunzel, but perhaps later he should warn her that he thought he had seen her mother.

Rapunzel's mind was still whirling as she went to the servants' quarters and changed her kirtle, which was soiled with Balthasar's blood. She braided her hair with trembling hands, replaced the head covering that she'd lost, and walked back toward the kitchen.

She pressed her hands over her cheeks. She had killed a man this morning, albeit in self-defense and rather accidentally. It still
made her feel sick when she remembered it. But, truth be told, she had been willing to kill him, and had even intended to kill him if she had to. Besides, Sir Gerek would have killed him if she had not.

She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering how it had felt to see Sir Gerek appear, reaching down and pulling her up. She sighed deeply. His arms were so strong and comforting around her, holding her tight against his broad chest. She drew in a hiccupped breath, a cross between a laugh and a sob.

Oh, Sir Gerek . . . was it just as Mother had said? That she was in love and would do anything he wanted her to, no matter how wrong or foolish?

But she could
not
be in love with him, and she would
not
do anything Sir Gerek asked her to do. She would no longer allow Gothel to poison her mind and make her believe that all men were evil. Sir Gerek wouldn't ask her to do anything foolish or wrong, not only because he was honorable, but also because he didn't even want her.

He wanted his wealthy widow.

But she didn't want to think about that. She would think about how her breath had stuck in her throat when he had looked into her eyes. How fierce and protective he had been. How rugged and masculine he had looked with several days of stubble on his cheeks and chin.