Page 47 of Knight of Havoc
“Hold still, you little hellion,” Richard said whilst holding her tighter.
“You have no right to take me prisoner,” the woman hissed, fruitlessly trying to break free as Richard towered over her.
“You and I have met before briefly at Winchester,” Richard said as he began tugging her along toward the keep. “I lost you once before and have no intention of doing so again so you can wreak further mayhem on the empress’s army.”
“You know nothing about me and have no right,” she called out again.
Reynard smirked. “You have your hands full with this one, Richard, but you best hasten. Decide immediately if you plan to take her with us or else let the lady go. ’Tis no time to dally with a woman when we must needs still fight our way to the keep. I’d advise leaving her. She will only hinder you.”
No sooner had Reynard’s words left his mouth, then Stephen’s forces pressed forward. Richard lost his grip on the woman knight, and he watched her flee from sight.
“Damn it,” Richard cursed, but he had no chance to run after her when he had his hands full fighting to stay alive.
A trumpet sounded in the distance and Reynard and Richard shared a knowing look between them. They fought their way toward the gate leading to the castle, avoiding one blade after another to stay alive. They barely made it before the barbicangate shut into place, its deadly porticus burying itself deep into the ground.
Their breathing ragged, Reynard hunched over, putting his hands on his legs and taking deep, long breaths to calm himself. Knights began turning a large wheel whilst another door was slowly lowered into place for protection of those on the other side. ’Twould not take long before machines of war were built to destroy the barriers that were currently keeping them safe… at least for a while.
Richard and Reynard clasped hands and were soon met with Blake, Oswin, and Kingsley. They were all still alive to fight another day, but Reynard had a feeling in his gut that ’twould be months before they all might taste freedom again. Oxford Castle was now under a heavy siege and he, Elysande, his friends, and even Empress Matilda were going nowhere.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Elysande stood atopthe battlement wall of the keep. Her knuckles were white from her tight grip on the stone barrier. Black plumes billowed from the many fires that burned throughout the city of Oxford, turning the sky dark. The taste of ash and smoke had formed on her lips causing her to choke. Somewhere down below, Empress Matilda’s knights continued to fight in her name hoping to prevent Stephen’s army from gaining access into the interior of the city. But their quest had failed. Now Elysande could only pray that her husband was still alive somewhere down below among the havoc of those making their way to the castle for protection.
The empress stood next to Elysande with Lady Eden on the opposite side. Beatrix, Petula and Rovena stood behind as though afraid to get near the edge of the wall.
“We are doomed,” Petula whined and then proceeded to break down in a crying fit.
The empress looked at the two ladies standing behind her. “Take her below, Lady Rovena. The last thing I need right now is to hear one of my ladies whining about our circumstances.”
“As you wish, Empress,” Rovena replied, taking Petula’s arm and guiding her toward the entrance to the stairs.
Beatrix came to stand next to Elysande and clasped her hand. “I pray Richard has survived.”
Elysande briefly stole a glance at the older woman. “I’m sure he has. There is too much fight in him than to let an enemy defeat him.”
“You sound so sure,” Beatrix said as though she doubted Elysande’s words.
“If he is anything like these Norwood brothers I have heard so much about then, aye, I am certain he will survive, much like my own Reynard,” Elysande declared with a confident smile.
“I wish I could share your sentiments, Elysande,” Beatrix said. Elysande watched her chin quiver in doubt and worry over her sibling.
The empress gave a sound much like a grunt of displeasure. “If you cannot be optimistic that my most loyal knights will survive this skirmish, Lady Beatrix, then you may also go below to cower in fear.”
Beatrix held her tongue and lowered her eyes. Her lips began to silently move as if in prayer.
Silence continued from the women who remained by the empress’s side as they endured the torment of the scene before them. Clashing swords rang out amongst the sounds of those who battled one another to gain another foot of ground. They came closer by the moment, and inside, Elysande was quaking in fear knowing what was to soon come. The empress’s men would not win this fight, not when she did not have Earl Robert and the reinforcements she had hoped he would bring from her husband in Normandy. Nay, a siege was imminent, and Elysande dreaded the moment when the barbican gate would shut out the outside world and doom them to their fate.
The empress looked over her shoulder to a knight standing near the entrance to the stairs. “Sound the alarm for the gates to close,” she ordered.
The knight stepped forward and began to blare the ivory olifant signaling a warning to those still without Oxford Castle’sgates. The empress’s knights began to enter the bailey whilst others went to stand at the ready to close the portcullis and barbican gate at the gatehouse.
The empress took Elysande’s hand and repeated the gesture to Eden. A rare show of affection to two women she trusted. She was as worried as the rest of them but continued to show her bravery even though she surely also trembled in fear.
“They will make it through the gates. I have no doubt,” the empress murmured and Elysande felt her hand squeezed.
“Aye. I believe you, Empress,” Elysande replied, searching the bailey below for signs of Reynard. Her heart lurched seeing those entering and the wounds that would need to be cared for.
Eden leaned forward to peer below. “Many will be in need of our care to see to their injuries.”
