“
Nay, lady, I fear
--
”
“
Listen,” Chandra pleaded.
“
My door. Watch my door, and when the guard moves away, tap lightly. I will flee
--
” The door, which had not closed behind the maid, squeaked as it was pushed farther open.
“
Out!” the guard barked at the maid. The lass skittered
f
earfully from the room.
“
It will not work, lady,” he said to her.
“
I do not leave this post.”
Chandra’s fingers tightened about the tray in anger.
“
Why do you bother to feed me if it is your intention to murder me?” she asked tartly.
The guard chuckled.
“
Your husband would not have you starve,” he taunted.
In a fit of temper she hurled the metal tray at the guard, but he used her door as a shield and the thing never came close to hitting him. When her food and drink were scattered about the floor, he opened the door again and smiled tolerantly at her.
“
Your dinner is wasted.” He shrugged, closing the door behind him.
Fists clenched and face reddened with anger, she walked toward the door, looking down on the cold chicken that would have fed her. She thought to retrieve a piece but could only kick at it, scattering it farther, tears of frustration stinging in her eyes.
She sat again before the fire, hugging her knees to keep warm, her throat aching from holding back useless tears. Her ears caught a distant sound and she crept near the chamber door. There was no sound from the corridor. She listened another moment and heard the guard shift and grunt. She could not decide whether relief or disappointment would be in order. It did not sound as if they were coming to kill her now.
She settled again on the pelt, sighing in resignation. But again she heard the sound. She craned her neck to find the location. A soft scratching came to her ears. It came from the balcony and she went there swiftly, leaning her ears against the oaken door. A light tapping, so soft she could barely hear it, came from the other side. She tapped her fingernail against the thick oak and she was answered in kind: tap, tap, tap.
She leaned against the door and her mind raced. Conan! It had to be Conan! She felt a rush of fear and relief at once. What was his plan? The bolt had been removed from her chamber door, and the sound of the balcony doors opening would bring the guard. Did he intend to stand against the entire force that occupied the hall?
She had no alternative but to open the terrace doors as quietly as she could. There stood the one she expected! No
s
ooner did she behold him than the door to her chamber opened. Conan backed away from her quickly with a finger to his lips. He silently mounted the balustrade, and she saw his intention to jump to the twin terrace. Hoping to hide the sound of his landing, she turned abruptly to the guard entering her room.
“
And am I not even allowed a breath of fresh air?” she questioned tartly.
The guard smiled lazily and came to where she stood, brushing past her and going to the balustrade to look over. A torch lit far below to the left silhouetted the guard who stood watch there. The sound of the water against the rocks was loud, but the first guard’s whistle alerted the second to look up to where Chandra stood. The man below raised an arm to signal he was alert and keeping his post.
“
Don’t try to make my work easy for me, my lady,” the guard said.
“
It would be most difficult to find your body on the rocks below.”
“
That would surely disappoint my lord husband,” she snapped.
“
And it would no doubt disappoint you as well, since you are so anxious for your chore.”
“
You do me wrong, lady,” he said in feigned hurt.
“
It will not be an easy task to take the life of one so lovely.” He reached out to touch her soft cheek, but she jerked away from his hand. He laughed at her distaste.
The guard walked to the door of her bedchamber and turned once more in her direction.
“
Do not attempt the climb, lady. It is useless.”
“
I value my life more than you think,” she returned.
“
I do not intend to make it easy for anyone to end it for me.”
He chuckled again and left her. Her breath came out in a sigh and she turned to look across the space between the balconies. Two figures rose from a supine position on the deck and stood. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes until she heard the soft thump of one man’s feet as he came safely across the space between the balconies. Conan stepped aside to make room for his companion’s flight, but Mallory did not make the jump as skillfully. He did not clear the balustrade and he grappled desperately for something to hold. Conan’s hands came out quickly to grab him, and Mallory found the lower ledge with his feet. He regained his balance and paused on the outside of the balustrade, his
k
nuckles white and his arms stiff as he held on. He looked at Conan and whispered,
“
I am not going to do this again
--
for anyone.”
Chandra gave an anxious look toward her chamber door and decided the slight noise of Mallory’s slip had not reached the guard. When a moment had passed and they were all convinced the guard would not bother her again, Chandra turned to Conan.
“
How did you come around the guard below?” she whispered.
“
We didn’t,” Conan returned, looking down.
“
It is Thur
well.”
Conan and Mallory stealthily entered her bedchamber and blew out the candies that lit the room. Should the guard enter now they would at least have a chance at surprising him. Conan drew Chandra near the fire.
“
Enjoy the fire for now,” he whispered, barely audible.
“
When that log is finished we will let it die.”
She nodded her head, afraid to speak. But Conan had many things on his mind and risked discovery in whispering,
“
Why did you not tell me of my son?”
She looked up at him and tried to study his eye
s, but the room was too dark. T
ears gathered in her eyes.
“
I was afraid you would act too hastily,” she murmured.
“
You were sore tired and needed rest before this battle.”
“
And you did not tell me how Tedric treats you,” he said.
Her chin trembled and the tears came against her will. She had not cried since being shut in this chamber, but Conan’s presence eased her fear enough so that old worries took precedence over courage.
“
My baby,” she quavered.
“
He is safe,” Conan comforted.
“
Chandra, why did you not tell me of Tedric’s abuse? I have learned from others that he has killed and stolen.”
Her voice came in a pitiful squeak.
“
I could not burden you; you were only lately come from war!”
“
Could it be you did not want me to be the one to free you?”
“
Nay,” she breathed.
“
But neither could I ask it of you.”
“
Chandra,” he said softly, hurt in his voice.
“
I thought you would beg it of me.”
“
Beg?” she said.
“
Conan, my love, would I beg you to risk your life for me? Has my love not hurt you enough but that I would ask more of you?”
“
Your love will never sting,” he answered,
“
until you hold it back. When you cannot take what I offer, then there is pain.”
She shook her head and the tears ran down her cheeks.
“
Conan, you have risked so much without my asking.”
He just looked down at her, watching the golden light from the fire make a play of moving shadows on her face. There were tears in her eyes.
“
I did not want to hurt you,” she said gently.
Conan did not speak again. He turned to see that Mallory had made a quiet corner for himself near Chandra’s chamber door. Conan drew the long broadsword carefully from his belt and laid it on the floor. He then settled himself against the wall, his sword ready before him. With his arm he indicated she should sit beside him.
Chandra settled next to him and his arm brought her comfort. There were no more words between them even though there were many things each wanted to say to the other. Chandra stilled her tongue lest the sound of her voice would bring the guard, and Conan held silent in hopes there would come a better time to declare himself.
Chandra dozed against his shoulder, and every time she awakened she could feel the tension in his arm. He was alert through the night. She had no reckoning of their plan, but she learned it quickly, for the morning came with a near explo
sion. A shout from below caused Conan to bolt to his feet. Mallory and Conan stood ready, legs spread and swords drawn, just inside her chamber door.
Moments later, the door to her chamber was thrown open, and the first man entered and was slain before the look of surprise could fade from his face. His cry of pain brought two more guards. These two held up the fight longer, and Chandra backed away from the sight with a hand covering her mouth to still her own cries of fear. She wished to close her eyes but could not.
The noise in the hall below became greater, with shouting and the screams of those losing the battle. She covered her ears, for she could not guess the victors. It seemed an eternity before Tedric’s men lay dead and Sir William stood in the frame of her chamber door.
“
As easy as plucking an apple from a tree,” Sir William beamed.
“
Cordell has fallen.”
Thurwell appeared
in the door.
“
Conan, some of T
edric’s men have escaped. We must ride quickly.”
Conan turned and look
ed at Chandra. She smiled.
“
Cor
dell is yours, sir knight. My men serve you now.”
“
Nay, my lady, it is yours as promised by your father. I only do my part to wrest it from Tedric’s hands and free you from your imprisonment.”
“
And the lady of the hall?” she asked.
“
You lay no claim?”
“
Nay, Chandra. You are not a prize of war. Your life is your own.”
She looked at him closely.
“
Nay, Conan. My life is yours. It has been thus for a very long time.”
“
I must reach Phalen quickly before Tedric hears of this. Where do you wish to go? You would be safe here. Your son could be brought to you or you could go now to receive him. I will provide protection for you from now on.”
“
Take me with you, Conan.”
Mallory had hurried out just behind Thurwell, and Conan stood alone with Chandra in her chamber.
“
That could well be the most painful journey of your life,” he warned.
She nodded. She might see her husband or the father of her child slain. Indeed, her own life would be in danger. But she would see the battle through. She turned and grabbed her mantle from the peg near the door. She stood before Conan, ready, determination in her eyes.
“
You’ve liberated me and provide my protection now,” she said softly.
“
But you speak naught of love,” she whispered.
Conan looked at her for a moment, and then, taking two large steps, he reached her. One hand reached around her and the other lifted her mouth to his lips. His lips covered hers hungrily, devouring her, silencing her doubts. Quickly he released her and his breath was warm in her mouth.
“
There are battles ahead, love. When those battles are won, we can talk more freely of what is to be.”
“
Tell me there is love,” she whispered.
“
Aye,” he breathed.
“
‘Til the end of time.”
That said, he turned on his heel and went quickly out of the room, leaving Chandra to follow him.
Chapter 26
They set out at once for Phalen Castle. Despite their haste, the journey could not be completed in one day. At nightfall they were forced to make a camp.
Conan helped Chandra make a pallet on the ground and he fashioned something akin to a tent by attaching a length of heavy linen to the limb of a tree.
“
You need not fear to sleep, lady,” he told her.
“
There will be guards posted through the night. It will not be comfort
able, but it will be safe.”
“
Will you sleep, Conan?” she asked tenderly.
“
Nay” was his simple answer.
She braved a smile for him. She wanted to lie beside him and feel the strength of his arms to comfort her through the night, but it would not be so. Conan was bent on the business of fighting and could not give his thoughts to gentler things. She could wait.
“
I am not afraid, Conan,” she said softly.
“
Then rest,” he returned.
“
And pray.”
Conan settled himself on his own pallet and the familiar churning thoughts kept him from sleep. Mallory had warned him that Tedric would aim for his back and would one day have to be dealt with. Tedric was his determined enemy. Would things have worked out very differently if Conan had not taken Edwina to wife? Would Tedric have married her, acquiring Phalen Castle legally, and still have eventually found a way to come to blows with Conan?
He closed his eyes on what might have been and focused on what was. He hoped to avoid family wars, but if there was a battle, he would fight.
As they approached Phalen Castle, Conan could see where his brother had positioned his men. Galen had raised a tent a fair distance from the barbican so that he could easily see if any force came across the bridge. A fair number of men were there and others were patrolling the perimeter of the wall in twos and threes. They were sent to watch, not to fight.
On the bastion’s wall and surrounding the keep were Tedric’s
men, many of whom had once sworn
to serve and protect this keep for Medwin. Conan knew it would be only moments before Tedric learned that he had arrived.
Chandra was kept to the rear of Conan’s troop, and on both sides of her his men rode. Beside Conan were Mallory and Thurwell, but as they approached Galen’s pavilion, Conan went alone.
A few moments passed while Conan spoke to his brother and heard his report of what had been taking place. Soon they sighted forces of Alaric and Theodoric approaching. The two aging knights rode side by side, and behind them rode the four sons who had been with Conan on Crusade, with a large mounted troop behind them.
Conan stood in wait for them, and when they finally drew in rein he bowed low before them. Rising, he saw Theodoric’s angry face.
“
My lords,” he greeted.
“
Is this some new custom of war, to have enemies escort each other to battle?” Theodoric asked brittlely.
“
It is my hope that you will leave here friends, my lord,” Conan explained.
“
You are prepared to battle my son, by the looks of your army,” Theodoric boomed.
“
My lord,” Conan invited politely,
“
a few moments of your time is all I ask. This can be finished here and now.”
“
And why am I called to this conference?” he asked.
“
You were delivered the message Tedric sent to me. You know that he invited me to come to Phalen without arms to gift him with this castle in return for his wife and the child. But look yonder, my lord,” Conan said, indicating Chandra.
“
She was held prisoner at Cordell, the order left to slay her when Tedric’s message arrived that I was already dead.”
Theodoric and his four sons dismounted. Alaric responded in kind. Mallory and Thurwell came closer.
“
You tread on thin ice, Conan,” Theodoric said.
“
You
h
ave sinned against my son and yet you bring me here to gain my support.”
“
I am prepared to make my sins right, my lord.”
“
You will yield him this castle?”
“
What was his offer to me? He claims his right to Phalen through the money he gave Medwin and through the only heir to any of Medwin’s daughters. First, the money that bought Chandra came from my mother. She borrowed from the Jew, Aaron, and when Richard is returned and the records sur
veyed again, we will see the proof of this. Tedric did slay the Jew and begged more money from my mother in return for her silence. And the child that is a wedge for the inheritance of this estate is mine. I will gladly return Tedric his own bargain; a sum to cover the cost of Chandra’s keeping and to ease the insult of my sins against him.”
“
And you claim the lady?” Theodoric asked.
“
Nay, my lord. I offer her protection and freedom from her husband. He has brutally abused her. He lately murdered the priest that tried to give her aid. You have seen how he treasures her; he offers her life in exchange for this keep, a promise he would not have kept. There are other crimes that Tedric will have to answer to when Richard is home, but I will not be the fool twice. My next charges will come with more proof. Take yon army and travel to Bury Saint Edmunds. Ask those who survived the massacre of Palm Sunday if your son was among those nobles who slew the Jews. Ask those in Cordell who stood and watched as the priest in that burgh was hung on a gibbet.”
Theodoric’s jaw was set and his face became red. He did not wish to believe Tedric capable of such horrors.
“
If not for my other sons, I would not be here.”
“
Regardless of what others say of me, ill or well, you have never had just cause to doubt me. I have been faithful. I present myself now as your enemy, if that is your wish.”
“
My wish,” he sputtered.
“
You, of all people, would know that I feel as if two of my sons did battle against each other.”
“
Royal sons have battled, my lord,” Conan said.
“
As with Richard and John. Even now John plots his brother’s death
--
our king. And to his death, Henry fought for John; and when King Henry was slipping into death, John deserted him.” Conan paused and looked closely at Theodoric.
“
But Richard saw his father properly buried.”
“
It is an old story
--
” Theodoric said, looking askance at Phalen’s walls. The old knight felt a hand resting on his shoulder and turned to look into his eldest son’s eyes.
“
Father, I have known Conan well. It is not his way to slay a man with words, but rather meet him on equal ground. He tells you this that you might see your son’s worth should our families come to war. Tedric is not worthy of your support.”
“
And you desert him, too?” Theodoric huffed.
The man looked away in discomfort. He had never defied his father.
“
Will you support your brother?” Theodoric insisted angrily.
With sadness in his eyes, he shook his head. Theodoric turned full circle to meet eyes with his other sons. Each one looked down and held silent.
Theodoric clenched his fists at his sides. It was not an easy thing to walk away from a son in need.
“
This day has been coming for a long time,” Theodoric said to Alaric.
“
Have you any notion where this fight could end?”
“
We can fight until the last wall has crumbled,” Alaric returned.
“
Your sons have sons now
--
and they will have sons one day.”
“
There is another way,” Theodoric said humbly.
“
We can let them have their day, your son and mine. I will give my oath not to avenge this day. Will you?”
“
Yea, I will let this battle be the last. And I will not look upon it,” Alaric replied.
The two old lords clasped hands and moved together to where their horses stood. They had led the troop of many horsed knights into this clearing before the barbican and their horses stood at the
forefront of all the others. His
knights mounted their steeds and prepared to ride away.
Chandra was helped down from her horse and ran to Conan.
“
What will happen?” she asked anxiously.
“
It is between Tedric and me,” Conan said quietly.
Tedric had watched from the high wall of the barbican as Theodoric walked away with Alaric. He would not have his father’s support in a battle against Conan. And if his rage was not intense enough, he saw the small and slender form of a
w
oman as she ran to Conan’s side, a wisp of her blond hair falling from under her snood.
Tedric stood in muted rage. He whirled and looked to the men littering the courtyard below. No horses were ready to mount except those few he anticipated needing to send riders out. His plan was not to do battle but to see Conan quickly slain when he came to negotiate for Chandra’s life. How could the Falcon have known she would not be here in Phalen’s walls?
He was not prepared to do battle and, indeed, knew better than to put his forces against Conan’s. He could hold off a sizable army for many days behind Phalen’s stout walls, but never did he intend to fight the Falcon on equal ground.
Tedric shouted his anger from the high wall, but his father did not turn. How could his own father desert him now? When he needed him most! When Conan’s final defeat was so close at hand. With the help of his father and brothers, he could have bested the mighty Conan!
He looked again at those outside the wall and saw only Conan, his men far behind him. The knight stood alone with his falcon on his shoulder
--
in wait.
“
Lower the bridge,” he bellowed.
“
Mount!”
Long strides took Tedric below to the courtyard where the screeching and clanking of the bridge could be heard. He looked about and saw his army standing idle.
“
Mount! We fight the Falcon now!”
No move was made and he looked at the closest of his men-at-arms with an angry glare. The man shrugged.
“
You promised there would be no battle.”
“
And I was wrong! We fight Conan now!”
The man shook his head.
“
No one here will ride against the Blue Falcon. We would defend ourselves, and even then with little heart: he is strong.”
“
You defy me?”
The men inside Phalen turned from their privy lord. In a battle between Conan, whose reputation was well known, and Tedric, only a fool would ride against the Falcon.
Tedric stomped toward a ready horse and mounted just as the bridge came completely down. Enraged at his father’s abandonment, he had no hope that Conan might still bargain
--
still yield him his life. He saw but one end to this day: his
c
ertain death should he fight Conan’s forces with his own modest army.
Tedric spurred the charger, and the horse came bounding over the bridge. Conan stood midway between Theodoric’s departing army and his brother’s pavilion outside the barbi
can. Many of Conan’s men scrambled for their horses as the rider from Phalen came into view, but Conan stood his ground afoot. He had no weapon to defend himself but a simple bow. In an unhurried manner, he readied it with an arrow.
With lance braced and head down, Tedric raced in the direction of his departing family. A cry of fury from the charging knight split the air. Tedric did not charge Conan. He rode toward his father. Here, now, riding toward his own father with lance ready, a scream curling his lips, he showed how much he would betray for his own wants.
Theodoric heard the cry and turned. A look of pain and surprise showed on his face as he saw Tedric’s horse racing toward him. He made no move for a weapon. In agony he watched his charging son.
Tedric threw up his head in shock as an arrow pierced his chest. The lance fell from his hands as he grasped the arrow. Blood stained his hands and gamberson. The horse slowed as Tedric looked in shock at his father and then, turning slowly, looked to the side where Conan stood with a bow in his hand. The charging knight gave an agonized moan and fell from his horse.
Theodoric looked past his son to Conan and saw the bow. Their eyes met over the distance, each standing as still as time, each knowing the other’s thoughts. Armies behind Theodoric and Conan and all those looking from Phalen’s walls held silent and still.
Theodoric’s sons began to dismount and go to the body of their brother. There was no movement and the expres
sion frozen on Tedric’s face was one of fear and surprise. Conan walked toward Theodoric, the bow limp in his hand. Chandra rushed past Conan and stood above the body of her husband.