The sword and the flame

FORTY-THREE

“I DO not like this, Ameronis,” said Lord Kelkin. “If it is true we hold the ransom for the King’s son, we must give it. I do not want the Prince’s blood on my head.”

The friends of Ameronis were gathered with him in his council chambers, a room high in the tower keep above the dungeon. The windows were open so that the breeze might stir the air, which lay still and heavy in the room. Ameronis sat on a sill gazing out across the escarpment toward where Theido and Ronsard had retreated only a few minutes before.

“You had stomach enough for it when we rode to the King himself,” said Lupollen. “I did not hear you complain then. If it is true that he who holds the sword is King, then here is our King!” He gestured to Ameronis, who placed his hands on the sill and rose, facing them, silhouetted in the narrow window.

Lord Denellon muttered beneath his breath, “If he is King, why are we hiding behind bolted doors, waiting for a fight?”

Ameronis ignored the remark. “Do you not see that this is exactly what they wanted?”

The others looked at him askance. “What do you mean?” demanded Gorloic. “Speak plainly.”

“Oh, but plain it is, sir. It is a trick of theirs to make us relinquish the sword without so much as an arrow exchanged. Theido is a crafty old fox; he knew this would cause dissension among us, and that is why he spread the lie.”

“You doubt him-after all that happened in Askelon?” asked Denellon.

“Oh, I do not doubt that the Prince was abducted-that is true enough. Most likely he was abducted by simple highwaymen who

“How is it with them?” asked the sandy-haired knight.

“You were right, my friend,” replied Theido hotly. “It is a jackal’s den. Though the others with him-Gorloic, Relkin, and Denellon-seem inclined to reason, they allow themselves to be led astray by his smooth tongue.”

“So the siege is begun.” Ronsard stared off at the castle rising before them. “Those walls will not be easy to breach. And we cannot starve them out. We must go over the top.”

“Perhaps it will come to that,” replied Theido, following Ronsard’s gaze. “But not yet. I want to examine that fourth side of the castle, the west wall on the river.”

“How do you propose to do that?”

“It will have to be tonight, under cover of darkness.”

“Very good. I will arrange a diversion as well; that will mask our true purpose. But what do you hope to find?”

“A postern gate. I have never yet been inside a castle that did not have a rear entrance of some kind. A man like Ameronis will have a secret gate if nothing else-if only we can find it.”

Ronsard nodded and added, “If only we can find it in time.”

For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, the camp bustled with activity. The woods nearby rang with the sound of axes as trees were felled and stripped of their branches; men combed the forest gathering dry pine needles by the armful; the forge and bellows of the smiths sent black smoke rolling up through the trees and into the sky.

By nightfall all was in readiness. A pale half-moon rose in the treetops, casting a glimmering light upon the escarpment, bleaching the castle walls and the granite outcroppings on the field white as dead men’s bones.

“All is in readiness,” said Ronsard. He came to stand beside Theido who was instructing a group of knights he had chosen for the night sortie.

“Good. We are ready here too.” Theido dismissed the men, saying, “Rest now. I will sound the call when it is time to go.” The knights departed into the darkness, leaving Theido and Ronsard alone with the embers of a slowly dying fire. “Now to wait. The moon will be well down in a few hours; it should be dark enough then to move without being seen.”

“Once we start in, not a soul in Ameron Castle will think to look for you. I will make certain of that”

“How long can you keep up the diversion?”

“As long as you require it. We are well-provided.” Theido sighed, “Ah, well, then all is ready. We may as well take some rest too. We must have our wits about us if we are to beard the lion in his den.”